The wait is over. Huawei‘s latest flagship wearable, the Huawei Watch 5, is officially released in the Philippines today, June 19, bringing with it a blend of sophisticated design, groundbreaking health technology, and a comprehensive suite of smart features. Pricing for the new smartwatch kicks off at P22,999 (roughly $400), and Huawei is rolling out attractive early-bird offers for those looking to upgrade their wristwear.

The Huawei Watch 5 is available now across multiple channels, including the Huawei Online Store, Shopee, Lazada, TikTok, and Huawei Experience Stores nationwide. Here’s the breakdown on the local prices and the launch offers you need to know:

• Huawei Watch 5 46mm
  • Black: P22,999 ($400)
  • Purple: P24,999 ($435)
• Huawei Watch 5 42mm
  • Beige: P24,999 ($435)

For those quick to jump on the new release, the company is bundling some enticing perks. Every purchase of the Huawei Watch 5 comes with a free Huawei FreeBuds 5 valued at P7,499 ($131) and a free 3-month Huawei Health+ subscription worth P387 ($7). If you head to a physical Huawei Experience Store, you’ll also receive P3,000 ($52) worth of trade-in tokens for your old device. Online shoppers aren’t left out either; a Huawei Early Deposit promo allows you to pay a P500 ($9) deposit and receive a P3,000 ($52) discount on your Watch 5 purchase via the Huawei Online Store. Plus, from June 20 to July 31, you can collect vouchers worth P2,000 ($35) on Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok.

Our feature video: Everything you need to know about the Huawei Watch 5!

The X-Tap advantage: Health, refined, and actually useful?

We’ve already spent some time with the Huawei Watch 5, and it’s clear the Huawei X-Tap 3-in-1 sensor is a significant pivot in how health tracking works on your wrist. By integrating ECG, PPG, and pressure sensors into a single, compact module, the X-Tap aims to deliver real-time, fingertip blood-oxygen or SpO2 readings in under 10 seconds. The company’s reasoning for ditching the wrist for the fingertip is sound, at least on paper: Leveraging the dense vascular distribution and thinner skin should translate to more accurate and consistent data, sidestepping the common pitfalls of wrist-based sensors — think body hair, varying skin tones, or even just how tightly you’ve got the smartwatch strapped on.

Beyond a quick SpO2 check, the X-Tap also powers Health Glance. Hold the sensor for three seconds, and in about a minute, you get a snapshot of 11 key metrics, from heart-rate variability to emotional well-being. The idea is to bake comprehensive health monitoring into your daily routine without needing to constantly fish out your phone or dive into complex menus. It’s about actionable insights, not just raw data.

The X-Tap also drives the Huawei Watch 5’s advanced gesture controls. Imagine answering calls, skipping tracks, setting timers, or even remotely taking photos with just a pinch or a swipe. This hands-free interaction, if it works as advertised in everyday scenarios, could genuinely streamline mundane tasks, adding a layer of convenience that feels truly futuristic. And yes, it will even unlock NFC-enabled doors, turning your smartwatch into a digital key. Welcome to the future, indeed.

Beyond health: Smart features for modern life

The Huawei Watch 5 isn’t just for the health-obsessed. Its eSIM calling functionality means you can leave your phone behind and still stay connected, sharing a single number across both devices. That’s a fundamental shift for many. Battery life is also promising, a perennial pain point for smartwatches. Think up to 7 days in Standard mode, stretching to an impressive 11 days in Ultra-long Battery Life mode, with a quick 3-second toggle.

SEE ALSO: How to set up GCash payments on your Huawei Watch via Watch Pay

For the active crowd, the Watch 5 packs over 100 sports modes, ranging from golf to 40-meter free diving and trail running. It plays nice with third-party apps like Strava via Bluetooth, which is essential for serious athletes. And for local users, the Watch Pay feature enabling GCash QR payments directly from your wrist is a thoughtful inclusion, making it a more practical daily driver.

Design: Where luxury meets technology (mostly)

Huawei hasn’t skimped on the physical package. The Watch 5 comes in two sizes, a 46mm and a more compact 42mm, both sporting a design language that leans into “sophisticated” rather than overtly “sporty.” We’re talking Karman line-inspired curves and that signature watch crown. For materials, the 46mm gets aerospace-grade titanium, while the 42mm uses 904L stainless steel — both choices typically reserved for traditional luxury timepieces. Both are capped with an ultra-tough spherical sapphire glass screen, a welcome touch for durability.

Then there’s the display: a vibrant LTPO 2.0 AMOLED panel pushing a frankly ridiculous 3,000 nits peak brightness. That’s very bright, meaning legibility under direct sunlight should be a non-issue. Combined with what the brand calls the “highest screen-to-body ratio in its class” thanks to razor-thin bezels (1.8mm on the 42mm and 2.2mm on the 46mm), the Huawei Watch 5 looks sleek and modern. It’s an understated elegance that aims to make this wearable fit seamlessly, whether you’re at the gym or a dinner party.

Huawei Watch 5 specs

• 42mm/46mm case
• 1.38-inch/1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display, sapphire glass, 466 x 466 pixels, 3,000 nits peak brightness
• X-TAP 3-in-1 sensor with ECG, PPG, and pressure sensing
• eSIM function with 4G data, Bluetooth calling
• Over 100 workout modes with dedicated golf mode
• Up to 11-day battery life (on 46mm)
• 10-watt magnetic wireless charging
• HarmonyOS NEXT

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