The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is the latest smartwatch from Honor, bringing a sleek design, advanced health tracking, and impressive battery life. It is compatible with both Android and iOS, making it a versatile option for users looking for a premium smartwatch without the limitations of brand exclusivity.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Stylish and durable titanium build
- Bright 1.5-inch AMOLED display
- Comprehensive health and fitness tracking
- 15-day battery life
- Water-resistant up to 5ATM
Cons:
- Only available in one size
- Lacks fall detection and sleep apnea tracking
Design & Comfort
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra features a premium-grade 5 titanium case with sapphire crystal protection, ensuring durability against scratches and everyday wear. The octagonal shape adds a distinct touch, setting it apart from traditional smartwatches.
Available with fluoroelastomer or leather straps, the watch offers comfort throughout the day. Despite its rugged build, it remains lightweight, making it comfortable for extended wear. Its IP68 and 5ATM ratings make it water-resistant up to 50 meters, suitable for showering and swimming.
Display & Touchscreen
The 1.5-inch AMOLED display offers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and a 60Hz refresh rate, ensuring a smooth experience. Auto-brightness adjustment makes it easy to view in different lighting conditions. The rotating crown provides tactile feedback for navigation, while the secondary button can be customized for quick access to fitness tracking.
The Honor Health app allows for display customization with thousands of watch faces, including classic analog and digital styles. Users can also adjust how notifications appear for a personalized experience.
Health & Fitness Tracking
Honor has packed the Watch 5 Ultra with a range of health tracking features, making it a reliable companion for users focused on fitness and wellness.
- Heart rate & SpO2 monitoring: Tracks real-time heart rate and blood oxygen levels.
- Sleep tracking: Provides detailed insights into light, deep, REM sleep, and wake times.
- Stress monitoring & breath exercises: Helps manage stress levels with guided breathing exercises.
- Sedentary alerts: Reminds users to move after long periods of inactivity.
- Over 100 workout modes: Tracks activities including running, cycling, hiking, and even niche sports like laser tag and ballet.
One of its standout features is the ability to record snoring and sleep talking, helping users understand their sleep quality. However, it does not track sleep apnea, which some competitors offer.
Smartwatch Features
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra comes with essential smartwatch features, including:
- Call and message notifications (works with eSIM for calling support)
- GPS navigation for workouts and directions
- Weather updates, calendar alerts, and music playback controls
While the notification system is responsive, the watch lacks support for mobile payments, which may be a drawback for some users.
Battery Life & Charging
One of the biggest advantages of the Honor Watch 5 Ultra is its 15-day battery life on a single charge, making it one of the longest-lasting smartwatches in its category.
- 5 days of heavy use (continuous tracking, notifications, and GPS) resulted in only a 28% battery drain.
- Supports reverse wireless charging using compatible Honor smartphones.
- Charges fully in under 90 minutes using the magnetic charger.
In comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 and Apple Watch Series 9 last less than two days on a single charge.
Should You Buy It?
If you’re looking for an Android-friendly smartwatch with a premium design, great health tracking, and exceptional battery life, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra is a fantastic option.
Buy it if:
- You need long battery life and reliable fitness tracking.
- You want a stylish titanium to build with a bright AMOLED display.
- You prefer a watch compatible with both Android and iOS.
Skip it if:
- You need fall detection or sleep apnea tracking.
- You want multiple size options.
- You rely on mobile payments on your smartwatch.
At €279, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra competes with OnePlus Watch 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, offering better battery life and a premium build. While it lacks some smartwatch features found in Wear OS devices, its fitness tracking and longevity make it a strong contender in the smartwatch market.
