The premium smartwatch space is heating up, with Huawei and Xiaomi both offering compelling options. The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro focuses on refined design and extended battery life, while the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro brings Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 platform to the wrist, promising a smoother, more feature-rich experience. This comparison dissects the key differences to help you choose the right watch for your needs.
🏆 Quick Verdict
For the average user prioritizing battery life and a luxurious feel, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is the better choice. However, users who demand the responsiveness and broader app ecosystem of Wear OS, coupled with a modern chipset, will find the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro more appealing.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | N/A | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | N/A | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | N/A | LTE |
| EDGE | No | - |
| GPRS | No | - |
| Speed | - | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | No cellular connectivity | GSM / HSPA / LTE |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2024, September 19 | 2023, September 26 |
| Status | Available. Released 2024, September 19 | Available. Released 2023, October 03 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | Glass front, titanium alloy frame, ceramic back (Ceramic White model only) | Stainless steel frame |
| Dimensions | 46.3 x 46.3 x 10.9 mm (1.82 x 1.82 x 0.43 in) | 47.6 x 45.9 x 11.8 mm (1.87 x 1.81 x 0.46 in) |
| SIM | No | eSIM |
| Weight | 44 g or 53 g (1.55 oz) | 54.5 g (1.94 oz) |
| Display |
|---|
| Resolution | 466 x 466 pixels (~326 ppi density) | 466 x 466 pixels (~326 ppi density) |
| Size | 1.43 inches | 1.43 inches |
| Type | AMOLED, 1200 nits (peak) | AMOLED, 600 nits |
| Platform |
|---|
| Chipset | - | Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 (4 nm) |
| OS | HarmonyOS 5.0 | Android Wear OS 3.5 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | No | No |
| Internal | Unspecified | 32GB 2GB RAM |
| Sound |
|---|
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS (L1+L5), BDS (B1I+B1c), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), GLONASS | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | No | No |
| WLAN | No | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, heart rate, barometer, compass, SpO2, thermometer (body temperature) | Accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer, heart rate, SpO2 |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | Wireless | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 524 mAh | Li-Po 495 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium, Black, Ceramic White, White | Black, Silver |
| Models | VLI-B29 | M2233W1 |
| Price | $ 250.00 / € 249.00 | About 170 EUR |
Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro
- Potentially superior battery life due to HarmonyOS optimization
- Premium build quality and design
- Convenient wireless charging
- Likely less powerful processor compared to Snapdragon
- Limited app ecosystem compared to Wear OS
Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
- Powerful Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset for smooth performance
- Access to the Wear OS app ecosystem
- Potentially faster charging speeds
- Likely shorter battery life compared to Huawei
- May experience more heat under heavy load
Display Comparison
While specific display specs are missing for the GT 5 Pro, Huawei typically employs AMOLED panels known for vibrant colors. The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro benefits from the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1’s display support, likely enabling a higher refresh rate and potentially LTPO for adaptive power saving. The GT 5 Pro’s wireless charging suggests a focus on convenience, while the Xiaomi’s display performance is directly tied to the chipset’s capabilities, potentially offering smoother animations and better outdoor visibility. Bezels will be a key visual differentiator, impacting the perceived screen real estate.
Camera Comparison
Neither watch is positioned as a camera-first device, and detailed camera specs are unavailable. It’s reasonable to assume both will feature basic camera functionality for quick snapshots, but image quality will likely be limited. The focus here is on smartwatch features, not mobile photography.
Performance
The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro’s Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 (4nm) chipset is the clear performance leader. This 4nm process node delivers significantly improved power efficiency and processing power compared to the likely older, less efficient chipset within the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro. The Snapdragon’s architecture allows for faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and more complex background processes. This benefits users who frequently use apps, rely on voice assistants, or track detailed fitness metrics. The GT 5 Pro will likely prioritize efficiency over raw speed.
Battery Life
The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro is expected to excel in battery life, a hallmark of the GT series. While the exact mAh capacity is unknown, Huawei’s optimization of HarmonyOS and focus on efficiency should yield multi-day usage. The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, powered by the more demanding Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1, will likely offer shorter battery life, potentially requiring daily charging. However, the Snapdragon’s power efficiency improvements mitigate the impact, and the Xiaomi’s faster charging capabilities (spec not provided, but expected) could offset the smaller capacity.
Buying Guide
Buy the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro if you need exceptional battery life, appreciate a premium build quality with wireless charging, and are comfortable within Huawei’s HarmonyOS ecosystem. Buy the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro if you prefer the versatility of Wear OS, require a faster and more responsive user interface thanks to the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1, and value access to a wider range of apps and services.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ How does the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 in the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro impact app loading times compared to the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro?
The Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1’s architecture and 4nm process node provide a substantial performance boost, resulting in significantly faster app loading times and a more responsive user experience. The Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro, likely using an older chipset, will experience noticeable delays when launching apps or switching between tasks.
❓ Is the wireless charging on the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro significantly slower than the potential fast charging on the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro?
Wireless charging is generally slower than wired charging. While convenient, the Huawei Watch GT 5 Pro’s wireless charging will likely take longer to reach a full charge compared to the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, which is expected to support faster wired charging speeds thanks to the Snapdragon’s power management capabilities.
❓ Does the Wear OS ecosystem on the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro offer a wider selection of watch faces and apps compared to Huawei’s HarmonyOS?
Yes, Wear OS boasts a significantly larger library of watch faces and apps developed by third-party developers. Huawei’s HarmonyOS, while improving, has a more limited selection, restricting customization options and available functionalities.
