Huawei Tap The Next: We Tried the New ‘Space’ Huawei Watch 5

Even before Huawei presented its new innovative products at the exclusive Innovative Product Launch event in Berlin, the latest smart watch from Huawei, Watch 5, landed in my hands. Although I usually do not wear watches, especially smart ones, because I do not like to see how my heart works (too fast), and the one I bought long ago sits in a drawer like new, this Huawei one calmed me a bit thanks to its range of health functions. They are certainly one of the most impressive parts of the Huawei Watch 5 and do not act as an addition to the watch but as the heart of the entire device. Here we are not talking about classic heart rate and sleep counting because Huawei, with its new advanced X-TAP technology, has pushed the boundaries of what a smart watch can measure. And that from the tip of the finger.

However, we will return to that a bit later; it is time to first talk a little about the design itself because that is what first catches the eye when talking about watches. I had the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful purple watch sized 46 mm (it also comes in a 42 mm option). Its minimalist look, rounded and elegant, is built from titanium with a case made of premium stainless steel equipped with scratch-resistant spherical glass (which is second in hardness only to diamond). A truly beautiful and rounded watch that draws inspiration, as they say from Huawei, from the Kármán line, the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and space, so it is no surprise that the watch appears so rounded, smooth, and elegant.

The watch comes with three types of straps; in my case, it was a composite strap that imitates leather but is odorless, waterproof, and stain-resistant, and is also in purple like the watch itself. Additionally, the edge of the strap is interspersed or trimmed (I think) with thread, which is also a detail often praised in the automotive industry.

Smart Features and Connectivity

Managing the watch comes down to a single wheel that, when pressed, takes you into the watch’s menu, while everything else is done with gentle movements left, right, up, and down on the watch screen itself. Also, if you are the lazy type to type and touch the watch, Huawei thought of that too, as this watch comes with an option called ‘Gesture Control’ with which the watch starts to respond to movements rather than tapping. Namely, if your hands are busy and you cannot reach for the watch, Gesture Control allows you to manage the watch without touching it, just with finger movements. Huawei Watch 5 supports two basic gestures. These are ‘duble slide’ and ‘duble tap‘. Double Slide literally means sliding your thumb twice along the joint of your index finger, from the middle joint to the tip of the finger. This serves to navigate through options on the watch, as if you are scrolling through a menu. Double Tap is a double touch with your thumb and index finger, as if you are trying to ‘pinch the air’.

This gesture serves as confirmation, for example, for answering a call or selecting an option you have marked. Although you need to get used to this, it can become a really useful option, say when you are driving and you answer just by double tapping your thumb and index finger. Also, Huawei says that the watch is smart enough to distinguish real gestures from unconscious hand movements, and an additional plus is that these controls are useful for people with visual impairments or motor difficulties because you do not need to look at the screen, so a big plus for this option.

Additionally, Huawei Watch 5 supports eSIM, which means you can receive calls, messages, stream music, and use navigation without a mobile phone nearby. You can use the same number as on your phone (One Number option), or activate a special number just for the watch, which is ideal for, say, running without a mobile phone or in my case, mowing the yard. Let’s also add Wi-Fi 6, which allows for faster app downloads and updates, and the watch is compatible with both Android and iOS.

X-TAP: Multi-Sensor Health Revolution

Now we come to the part where Huawei really shines, the health aspect. Of course, the watch is not a substitute for doctors, but this watch can alert you that it might be time to visit one. Namely, Huawei has installed Multi-sensing X-TAP technology in this watch, which represents the first such system in the industry that combines EKG, PPG, and tactile sensors with a focus on measurement from the tip of the finger. Everyone has probably heard of EKG and been on one, while PPG is an optical technology used to measure changes in blood volume in blood vessels, most often for monitoring pulse rhythm, blood oxygen levels (SpO2), and stress. In general, Huawei uses an advanced PPG sensor in combination with X-TAP technology, so instead of measuring only from the wrist, Watch 5 uses the fingertip where the blood flow is denser and the skin thinner. This, they say from Huawei, gives us a cleaner signal, less interference, and faster, more precise readings than classical methods.

In any case, the watch has an option that allows you to check your entire health in just a few seconds. It is enough to hold your finger on the sensor for three seconds, after which One-Tap Health Glance is activated, which scans up to 11 indicators in just 60 seconds. Huawei describes this system as a ‘mini-health station on your wrist’ that really behaves that way. A quick overview includes heart rate, stress level, temperature, oxygen saturation (SpO2), heart rate variability (HRV), energy level, breathing…

Also, the watch continuously measures blood oxygen levels in real-time, and as Dr. Beck said at the early presentation of the watches, ‘if the watch constantly shows a low blood oxygen level from normal, it is time to visit a doctor’.

You also read above about breathing because the watch has a ‘Cough Test’. Huawei has implemented cough detection in Watch 5 as part of the respiratory health assessment. During 15 seconds, the watch analyzes your cough while you cough at your watch, then gives you results. That is a text I nervously completed, not to go into details. In general, everything is fine, as they say on the internet.

For Recreational Users, Athletes, and Everyone In Between

Although I like to boast that I was once an athlete, that career is long behind me, so I can classify myself in the in-between category from this subtitle, so you will not see run routes, empty kilometers, and the like, even though this watch offers a bunch of sports modes and covers various sports that you would never think of.

It also offers running and training programs, so it serves as a small personal trainer. Whether you are a recreational user who enjoys a casual walk or an enthusiast training for the next half marathon, this watch offers an impressive range of options. The watch supports activities such as hiking, cycling, trail running, swimming indoors or outdoors, skiing, snowboarding, rowing on a machine, and more while measuring activity time, heart rate, calories burned, distance traveled, and elevation changes. Additionally, Huawei uses the Sunflower GPS system, which combines multiple satellite signals to ensure reliable positioning even in challenging environments such as dense forests, urban canyons, or mountainous areas. In practice, this means that the watch does not easily lose signal, and your route remains precise. For those who prefer indoor spaces, whether you are in the gym or at home, Watch 5 has predefined modes for treadmill, elliptical machine, rowing, jump rope, stationary bike, free training, and more. During exercise, the watch continuously monitors heart rate, calories burned, and activity duration. Interestingly, after exercise, the watch also tracks heart rate recovery, which is an important aspect for all athletes and recreational users, and everyone likes to see how quickly they recover after some effort.

As you can see from the photos, my sport has not yet found its place in the watch, but who knows what the future holds.

In general, the possibilities are enormous for people on the move, and all those options and alerts that the watch provides, say in case of prolonged inactivity, can also motivate those who have glued themselves to the couch to lead a better and more vibrant life.

Everything in the App

Everything you do can of course be seen in the Huawei Health app, from heart rate to cough, everything automatically syncs with the app. Here you do not just look at graphs that look nice because the app gives you real context and practical advice that can help you make better decisions about your health.

One of the most useful aspects is sleep analysis. The app shows total sleep duration, distinguishes between deep and light sleep, and records when you wake up during the night. If it notices changes in your sleep pattern, for example, if you are going to bed later, the app will alert you to that and offer tips for improving sleep quality, like for me who usually sleeps after 1 AM.

In addition, Huawei Health continuously monitors heart rate variability (HRV) and stress levels throughout the day. When it senses that you are under greater pressure, the app will suggest breathing techniques or a short break to help your body return to balance. All of this is integrated with daily activity data, including step count, calories burned, and exercise duration. The app even rewards you for consistency through weekly reports, which can be a good motivational tool for those who like to track progress.

Equally impressive is the monitoring of blood oxygen levels (SpO2) and body temperature. These values are recorded in real-time, but also long-term, so you have insight into trends. If, for example, SpO2 drops below 90 percent, the app will immediately alert you and advise you on what to do, just like Dr. Beck.

Huawei Health is not just there to show you how much you have walked; it actively monitors health irregularities and sends alerts at critical moments. If the watch detects something suspicious during the day or night, such as atrial fibrillation (AFib), arrhythmia, low blood oxygen, elevated body temperature, or even unusual movements during sleep, you will immediately receive a notification on the watch and a detailed overview in the app. What particularly distinguishes the app are personalized recommendations. Huawei uses artificial intelligence that does not offer generic advice but recommendations based on your actual behavior and habits. If you skip workouts or sleep irregularly, Huawei Health will not yell at you, but will gently and persistently remind you that it is time for small corrections, so you can see who is more persistent.

In Conclusion…

Huawei Watch 5 surprised me in many ways, first visually, as it looks really good, even for someone who does not wear watches, and then functionally, as it is full of little things that are actually useful and that do not just fill the menu. Gesture Control may sound like a gimmick for geeks, but it can really be useful, and the health and sports functions are where this watch shines. Of course, it is not a substitute for a doctor, but if you listen to it, you might be able to avoid a visit or get to the doctor on time.