Huawei Watch Fit 5 - SCIENTIFIC Review!
In a Nutshell
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 delivers identical scientific performance to the pricier Pro model, scoring 97/100 for heart rate tracking, 60/100 for sleep staging, and 77/100 for GPS accuracy. It performs among the best devices for heart rate during running, cycling, and indoor workouts, but like the Pro, it struggles significantly with REM sleep detection and weightlifting heart rate tracking. The core takeaway is that the non-Pro Fit 5 offers the same measurement accuracy as its higher-priced sibling, making the $100 premium for the Pro version justified only by aesthetics and build quality rather than tracking performance.
These notes were generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies.
This video is the scientific review of the normal Huawei Watch Fit 5. The Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro review is already available, with both devices tested during the same period using identical protocols. The main question addressed is whether the cheaper Huawei Watch Fit 5 performs similarly to the Pro model or if the Pro model performs better in meaningful areas.
A third video focusing on Huawei sleep staging update will follow, as Huawei has changed their sleep approach and explicitly highlights stable sleep and updated sleep staging as part of True Sleep 5.0.
The reviewer is Rob, a post-doctoral scientist specializing in biological data analysis. A scoring system from 1 to 100 was introduced in the Pro video for heart rate tracking performance, sleep stage tracking performance, and GPS tracking, and the same system will be applied here for direct comparison between the Pro and non-Pro versions.
Huawei positions the normal Fit 5 as a slightly lighter version with a slightly smaller display. The normal Fit 5 has a 1.82 inch AMOLED display with up to 2,500 nits of peak brightness, while the Pro has a larger screen at higher brightness. In daily use, the Fit 5 feels more minimal but remains wearable and comfortable for bedtime wear.
The main difference noticed is that bezels are not exactly the same size across the entire screen, with minor differences visible especially at the edges. This is a minimal difference only noticeable when directly comparing the two models.
For indoor cycling testing, each dot represents a single heart rate measurement, with the Polar H10 ECG chest strap as the reference device on the horizontal axis and the Huawei Watch Fit 5 measurements on the vertical axis. Points should align with the blue line for perfect agreement, and results showed very close alignment. The correlation value reached 0.99, indicating excellent performance.
Individual session analysis showed near-perfect agreement between the Polar H10 reference and Huawei Watch Fit 5 across both testing sessions, with only tiny deviations that do not affect practical use.
When comparing to other devices, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 achieved a correlation of 0.98 or higher, placing it among the best-performing devices. Performance is effectively identical to the Huawei Watch Fit 4, Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro, and Huawei Watch GT Runner 2, with correlation differences between 0.98 and 0.99 not being statistically significant.
Running results showed a correlation of 0.96, which is good but not perfect. Individual run analysis revealed some deviation, particularly at the beginning of runs, with later portions showing better agreement. A slight shift was observed in one run due to the algorithm finding the best match possible.
The second run showed similar patterns with minor deviations and slight shifts, but overall agreement remained very good and acceptable for practical use.
The 0.96 correlation places the Huawei Watch Fit 5 among devices with correlations of 0.95 or higher. Performance is very similar to other Huawei devices including the Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro, Huawei Watch Fit 4, and Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro. Based on limited testing, no significant performance difference exists between these models.
The heart rate sensor in the Watch Fit 5 is more or less identical to the Huawei Watch Fit 5 Pro, though not exactly identical.
Outdoor biking, consisting mostly of shorter commutes, showed a correlation of 0.96 with decent performance. Some straight lines in the data indicate periods where the detector maintained stable heart rate readings, which may be related to Huawei export issues.
Individual ride analysis showed very good agreement overall, with minor drops in some sessions. Performance is considered admirable given that many devices struggle with biking heart rate tracking.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 performed among the best devices for outdoor biking, similar to the Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro, GT 6 Pro, Huawei Watch Fit 4, Huawei Watch GT6, and Huawei Watch GT Runner 2. The Pro model performed slightly worse in this specific testing, though the difference is attributed to random variation rather than true performance differences.
Weightlifting heart rate tracking showed a correlation of 0.94, with the device detecting too low heart rate readings during sets due to wrist tension. Individual session analysis revealed missed peaks, particularly during chest and triceps workouts compared to back and biceps days.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 is considered not good enough for weightlifting applications. Only Apple watches and possibly the Amazfit Helios strap worn on the biceps provide adequate performance for this activity.
When comparing devices with correlations of 0.90 or higher, the Huawei Watch Fit 5 performs similarly to the GT Runner 2 and Watch Fit 4 Pro. The recommendation for weightlifting is to use an ECG chest strap as the best method for accurate heart rate measurement.
The heart rate score is calculated as the average correlation across running, indoor cycling, and outdoor cycling, multiplied by 100. Weightlifting is excluded as it is not considered a good use case for wrist-based heart rate measurement.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 achieved an average correlation of 0.97, resulting in a score of 97, identical to the Watch Fit 5 Pro score. Minor variations occurred across specific activities, but overall performance is considered equivalent between the two models.
A score of 97 places both devices in the "great heart rate tracking" category.
Huawei describes an updated sleep monitoring approach with True Sleep 5.0, explicitly mentioning improved performance and a new stable sleep metric. The dedicated sleep video will provide deeper analysis of these changes.
The Z Max EEG headband served as the reference device, providing brain wave measurements for scientific sleep tracking. While not a gold standard, it provides sufficient data to evaluate device performance.
Sleep stage agreement analysis showed deep sleep agreement at approximately 80% and light sleep agreement at approximately 78%. REM sleep tracking performed poorly with only 23% agreement between the reference device and Huawei Watch Fit 5.
Example night analysis confirmed that deep sleep periods aligned well between devices, but REM sleep periods showed significant discrepancies, with the Huawei Watch Fit 5 detecting very little REM sleep.
Huawei devices have historically performed poorly for sleep tracking, but the Watch Fit 5 Pro and Watch Fit 5 show improvement in average sensitivity. However, poor REM sleep tracking on the reviewer's wrist places them lower on worst sleep stage sensitivity metrics.
Huawei contacted the reviewer after seeing previous videos, stating that results are not in line with their internal testing and that other users receive more REM sleep detection. Testing with additional users like Rafael will examine REM sleep percentage performance.
The best sleep tracking devices currently include Apple, Google Pixel watches and Fitbit devices, Oura Ring, Whoop Strap, and Eight Sleep Pod. The Whoop Strap is preferred as an overall tracker due to its performance across sports, health, and sleep tracking with an effective dashboard presentation.
The Eight Sleep Pod is favored as a sleep improvement device due to its ability to control sleeping environment temperature independently for each side of the bed, which is particularly beneficial during summer months.
The sleep score is calculated as the average sensitivity for light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. The Huawei Watch Fit 5 received a score of 60, identical to the Pro version score. Both devices classify as having "okay sleep stage tracking" - not terrible but not good.
GPS tracking performance testing involves cycling the same route multiple times and checking signal overlap consistency. Quick signal acquisition is noted as positive, with consistency between signals indicating good performance.
Cycling GPS testing included three trips to work and three trips from work. Signal acquisition was quick, with some deviation at the beginning of rides and around roundabouts. Overall performance was considered pretty solid but not top-tier.
Individual cycling route analysis showed good consistency between signals, with some routes performing better than others. Performance was slightly better for trips to work compared to return trips.
Running GPS testing involved two runs in a circular route with varying obstruction levels. The left side of the route had fewer obstructions, while the right side featured a large wall causing more signal deviation.
Individual run analysis confirmed better performance on the left side of the route and slightly worse performance on the right side due to the wall obstruction, though overall performance remained solid.
The GPS score is subjective, ranging from 1 to 100. The Huawei Watch Fit 5 received the same score of 77 as the Pro model, placing both in the "good GPS tracking" category.
The Huawei Watch Fit 5 achieved a heart rate score of 97 (great), sleep score of 60 (okay), and GPS score of 77 (good). The Pro model performed identically with the same scores and ratings.
The purchasing decision depends on whether spending an additional 100 dollars for Pro-specific extras, better materials, and improved aesthetics is worthwhile. A dedicated sleep video will provide more context on Huawei's algorithm improvements.
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