The Honor Watch 5 Ultra has officially launched, marking a bold step forward in Honor’s premium smartwatch journey. Equipped with advanced eSIM support, ECG tracking, and an impressive 15-day battery life, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra blends health-focused technology with premium materials to take on the industry’s top players.
Positioned as the flagship model in the Watch 5 series, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra elevates the brand’s wearable lineup with features like a sapphire crystal display, titanium casing, and diving-grade water resistance up to 40 meters.
Honor Watch 5 Ultra – Features at a Glance
| Feature Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 1.5″ LTPO AMOLED, 466×466 pixels, 310 ppi, 60 Hz, Always-On Display |
| Build Material | Grade-5 Titanium Alloy Case, Sapphire Crystal Glass |
| Water Resistance | IP68 rated, 5 ATM, Free-diving support up to 40 meters |
| Battery Life | Up to 15 days (typical), 7 days with AOD, 3 days with eSIM |
| Charging | Magnetic fast charging, Qi wireless charging, Reverse wireless charging |
| Connectivity | eSIM, Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi, GPS (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS), NFC |
| Health Sensors | ECG, Heart Rate Monitor, SpO₂, VO₂ Max, Barometer, Compass, Accelerometer |
| Fitness Tracking | 100+ Sports Modes, Free-diving Mode, Sleep & Stress Tracking, Quick Health Scan |
| Operating System | MagicOS 7.x for Wearables |
| Compatibility | Android and iOS |
| Smart Features | Bluetooth Calling, Notifications, Music Control, Quick Replies |
| Limitations | No Wear OS, No App Store, No Global NFC Payments, No Voice Assistant |
| Variants | Black (Fluoroelastomer Strap), Brown (Leather Strap) |
| Price | €279 (approx. $300) |
| Availability | Europe, Southeast Asia, Latin America (Not yet in the U.S.) |
It’s a direct challenge to established premium smartwatches like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series 9, and the OnePlus Watch 3.
With this launch, Honor is clearly aiming to attract fitness enthusiasts, professionals, and tech-savvy users who demand long-lasting battery, on-wrist call functionality, and comprehensive health monitoring — all without compromising on style or durability.
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra not only strengthens the brand’s wearable ecosystem but also signals Honor’s intent to become a dominant force in the high-end smartwatch market globally
Design & Build Quality
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is built to impress — both visually and structurally. At the heart of its premium design is a distinctive octagonal case made from grade‑5 titanium alloy, a material known for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance.
This choice of metal not only gives the watch a rugged yet refined look but also positions the Honor Watch 5 Ultra among the most durable wearables in its category.
Covering the 1.5-inch AMOLED display is sapphire crystal glass, offering superior scratch resistance and clarity even under harsh lighting. The use of sapphire crystal is typically reserved for ultra-premium timepieces, further enhancing the luxury appeal of the Honor Watch 5 Ultra.
When it comes to durability, this smartwatch is engineered to endure extreme conditions. It is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance, supports 5 ATM pressure, and is certified for free-diving up to 40 meters — making it one of the few smartwatches that can handle underwater sports without compromise.
Aesthetically, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra embraces a bold, angular look that stands out against the smooth curves of competitors like the Apple Watch Series 9 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.
Its combination of titanium chassis, sapphire glass, and fluoroelastomer or leather straps places it in the same design league as the Garmin Epix Pro and Huawei Watch Ultimate, both of which are known for rugged elegance.
In terms of craftsmanship and endurance, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra holds its ground against the best. It’s a smartwatch that looks sharp in a boardroom but is tough enough for a deep-sea dive — truly built for all terrains and all lifestyles.
Display & Controls
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra features a brilliant 1.5-inch LTPO AMOLED display, delivering exceptional visuals with a resolution of 466×466 pixels and a pixel density of 310 ppi. This high-resolution panel ensures crisp text, vibrant colors, and sharp icons, making the smartwatch not just functional but also visually appealing.
The LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) technology allows the display to dynamically adjust its refresh rate from 1 Hz up to 60 Hz, optimizing battery efficiency without compromising fluidity.
What sets the Honor Watch 5 Ultra apart is its always-on display (AOD) mode, offering at-a-glance time and notification visibility while preserving battery life. This feature is especially useful for users who rely on their smartwatch as a primary timepiece and don’t want to raise their wrist every time they check the time.
Enhancing usability is a rotating crown paired with a multi-function button on the side of the case. The rotating crown allows for intuitive scrolling through menus, volume control, and zooming, while the button offers quick access to apps, workouts, or customizable shortcuts. This dual-control system provides a tactile and responsive user experience, which is particularly handy during workouts or in wet conditions.
Protecting the display is a layer of sapphire crystal, known for its superior hardness and clarity. Unlike standard glass, sapphire resists scratches from keys, sand, or metal surfaces, ensuring the Honor Watch 5 Ultra maintains its premium look even with daily wear. The screen remains clearly visible in direct sunlight, thanks to excellent brightness and contrast levels — making it ideal for outdoor activities like hiking, running, or diving.
Compared to other premium wearables like the Apple Watch Ultra and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra offers similar screen quality and interaction sophistication, while arguably leading in scratch resistance and display clarity under varying lighting conditions.
eSIM, Connectivity & Call Features
One of the most powerful upgrades in the Honor Watch 5 Ultra is its support for built-in eSIM connectivity, making it a true standalone smartwatch. With eSIM enabled, users can make and receive calls, send messages, and access data directly from their wrist—without needing their smartphone nearby. Whether you’re at the gym, on a run, or traveling light, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra ensures you’re always connected.
In addition to eSIM support, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra also features Bluetooth calling, allowing users to answer calls through the watch when paired with a smartphone. The built-in microphone and speaker deliver clear audio quality for voice calls, making the device a reliable companion for hands-free communication.
HONOR CHOICE Watch| 1.95″ AMOLED Display | Bluetooth Calling | 120 Workout Modes | 5ATM Swim-Ready | Upto 12 Days Battery Life | Built-in Multi-System GNSS | SpO2, Heart Rate, Sleep Tracking
From a connectivity standpoint, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra is fully loaded. It comes with Bluetooth 5.2, which offers faster pairing, improved signal stability, and reduced power consumption. For location tracking, it supports an advanced dual-band GPS system, integrating GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS.
This wide satellite support ensures accurate real-time tracking, even in dense urban or mountainous areas — making it perfect for runners, cyclists, and outdoor explorers.
Additional connectivity options include Wi-Fi, NFC, and dual-system GPS. The NFC chip, while not yet confirmed to support mobile payments in all regions, enables quick pairing and the potential for transit card support in select countries.
Meanwhile, Wi-Fi connectivity enhances app updates and data syncing when your smartphone isn’t nearby.
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is compatible with both Android and iOS, ensuring broad device support. While some advanced features may be more deeply integrated with Honor and Android phones, key functions such as health tracking, notifications, and calling remain accessible on iPhones via the Honor Health app.
With comprehensive wireless features, strong GPS accuracy, and true standalone capabilities, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra delivers one of the most complete connectivity experiences available in a smartwatch today — giving users the freedom to stay connected on their terms.
Health & Fitness Tracking
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra isn’t just a stylish smartwatch — it’s also a highly capable health and fitness companion, equipped with an impressive array of sensors and wellness tools. Designed to cater to casual users and performance athletes alike, it offers accurate health tracking, guided fitness insights, and advanced physiological monitoring.
At its core, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra features a powerful sensor suite that includes:
- ECG (Electrocardiogram) monitoring for real-time heart rhythm analysis
- Heart rate monitoring with 24/7 tracking and high/low alerts
- SpO₂ (blood oxygen saturation) measurement
- Accelerometer and gyroscope for movement detection
- Barometer for altitude tracking
- Compass for directional navigation
These sensors work together to provide comprehensive health metrics, including heart rate variability (HRV), respiratory health, and blood oxygen levels — helping users make informed decisions about their well-being.
Fire-Boltt Ring X Smartwatch 2.01” Display with Always On Display, Bluetooth Calling, Wireless Charging, AI Voice Assistant, 100+ Sports Modes, Health Suite, 500+ Watchfaces (Green N)
Fitness tracking is another major strength of the Honor Watch 5 Ultra, which offers 100+ sports modes, including running, cycling, hiking, swimming, strength training, and more. For elite users, there’s support for VO₂ max estimation, which measures aerobic endurance and cardiovascular fitness — a key metric for runners and endurance athletes.
One of the standout features is the free-diving mode, made possible by its water resistance up to 40 meters. This allows the watch to track depth, duration, and breathing intervals, which few other consumer-grade wearables can do.
To support daily wellness routines, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra also includes advanced tools like:
- Quick Health Scan – a one-tap function that simultaneously measures ECG, heart rate, SpO₂, stress, and skin temperature
- Healthy Morning Report – a daily summary of sleep, recovery, and readiness that greets users when they wake up
These smart features make the Honor Watch 5 Ultra not just reactive, but proactive — offering timely insights that can encourage healthier habits and early detection of health issues.
With its rich tracking capabilities and athlete-level performance tools, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra firmly establishes itself as one of the most versatile and health-conscious smartwatches in its class.
Battery Life & Charging
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra delivers exceptional endurance thanks to its 480 mAh battery, setting a high standard in the premium smartwatch category.
On a typical usage cycle, users can expect up to 15 days of battery life — significantly longer than most competitors. Even with the always-on display (AOD) enabled, it still lasts around 7 days, while in eSIM mode, the battery sustains up to 3 full days of independent connectivity.
This performance is made possible by the watch’s LTPO AMOLED screen, which dynamically adjusts refresh rates to preserve power, and Honor’s software optimizations built into MagicOS for wearables.
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra supports both magnetic fast charging and Qi wireless charging, offering flexibility that few other smartwatches provide. Charging the device is quick and efficient — reaching 100% in approximately 60–70 minutes.
Fire-Boltt Brillia Pro Smart Watch with 51.3mm (2.02 inch) AMOLED Display, Bluetooth Calling, SpO2, Heart Rate Monitoring, 120+ Sports Modes, IP67 Waterproof, Long Battery Life (Active Black)
A standout feature is reverse wireless charging, allowing users to top up their watch using compatible Honor smartphones — ideal for travelers or those on the move without a charger.
How It Compares:
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 7: Offers ~40–50 hours on standard use with Wear OS; limited to ~1–2 days with AOD
- Apple Watch Series 9: Averages 18 hours of battery life; extends to 36 hours in low power mode
- OnePlus Watch 3: Promises 100 hours in smart mode, but real-world usage under heavy load drops closer to 4–5 days
Compared to these models, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra finds a strong balance between performance, display brightness, and battery longevity, outperforming both Apple and Samsung in overall runtime.
While it may not match OnePlus in raw battery stats, it offers superior build materials, connectivity features like eSIM, and deeper health insights — making it a more well-rounded premium option.
Whether you’re a frequent traveler, fitness enthusiast, or power user, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra ensures you spend more time wearing and less time charging.
Software Experience & App Support
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra runs on MagicOS 7.x for Wearables, a proprietary operating system designed to maximize battery life and provide a smooth, responsive user interface.
Unlike Wear OS or HarmonyOS, MagicOS is a lightweight platform tailored specifically for Honor’s smartwatches, offering deep integration with the Honor Health app for health tracking, workout summaries, and device management.
The software interface on the Honor Watch 5 Ultra is fast and fluid, with a well-organized tile-based layout that makes it easy to access common functions like heart rate monitoring, workouts, music control, and sleep tracking.
Notifications from calls, texts, emails, and apps sync seamlessly with your smartphone, and users can respond to messages via quick replies or voice input (on Android).
Music control is built-in, allowing you to play, pause, and skip tracks from your watch while listening on your phone or wireless earbuds. The call handling experience is intuitive — whether using Bluetooth or eSIM — with the option to accept, reject, or mute incoming calls directly from the wrist.
However, as with many non-Wear OS platforms, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra has some notable limitations:
- It does not support third-party app installations, as there’s no dedicated app store
- Mobile payments are not supported in global markets (NFC is available, but payment support is region-specific and limited)
- There is no built-in voice assistant like Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri
Despite these trade-offs, the software is highly optimized for performance and battery life. The Honor Health app offers a centralized dashboard for viewing health trends, customizing watch settings, and syncing data with platforms like Google Fit or Apple Health.
For users focused more on fitness tracking, long battery life, and core smartwatch features rather than app ecosystems, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra delivers a polished and distraction-free experience that runs reliably and smoothly across both Android and iOS.
Price, Availability & Variants
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra launched at an accessible price of €279 (approximately $300 USD), making it a strong contender in the premium smartwatch segment. It’s initially available in two elegant styles:
- Black with a sporty fluoroelastomer (rubber) strap — ideal for workouts and casual wear
- Brown with a premium leather strap — perfect for office or formal environments
These options cater to different user preferences while maintaining the smartwatch’s rugged, titanium-built identity.
Honor is rolling out the Honor Watch 5 Ultra globally, with confirmed availability across Europe, Southeast Asia, and Latin America. Despite its expanding reach, the device is not yet officially available in the United States, and Honor has not provided a release date for the US market.
Pre-orders in the initial regions often include value-add incentives such as bundle deals, early-bird discounts, or gift packages promoting compatibility with the broader Honor ecosystem—like earbuds or phone accessories.
At its €279 price point, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra delivers high-end materials, robust features like eSIM and ECG, and class-leading battery life—an exceptional value compared to competing smartwatches in the €300–€400 range.
Comparison with Top Competitors
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is stepping directly into a crowded ring of flagship wearables — competing with some of the most advanced smartwatches in the market today, including the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, OnePlus Watch 3, Apple Watch Series 9, and Galaxy Watch Ultra. But how does the Honor Watch 5 Ultra hold up in a real-world comparison?
🆚 Honor Watch 5 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
- Honor Watch 5 Ultra boasts significantly better battery life (up to 15 days vs ~2 days on Galaxy Watch 7)
- Samsung offers Wear OS support, meaning access to third-party apps and Google services, which Honor lacks
- Both support ECG, heart rate, SpO₂, but Honor’s titanium and sapphire build give it a more premium feel
- Samsung has an edge with mobile payments and voice assistants, features not yet available on the Honor Watch 5 Ultra
🆚 Honor Watch 5 Ultra vs OnePlus Watch 3
- Both emphasize long battery life, with OnePlus claiming up to 100 hours, though real-world use often falls short
- Honor Watch 5 Ultra excels in build materials (titanium, sapphire) and includes eSIM — missing on OnePlus
- Honor also offers a more robust sensor suite for health tracking, including ECG and free-diving mode
🆚 Honor Watch 5 Ultra vs Apple Watch Series 9
- Apple Watch leads in app support, smart ecosystem integration, and voice control (Siri)
- However, battery life is a major weak point for Apple — only 18–36 hours, vs 7–15 days on the Honor Watch 5 Ultra
- Apple supports NFC payments, which Honor still lacks in most global regions
- Honor’s cross-platform support (iOS & Android) gives it an edge for non-Apple users
🆚 Honor Watch 5 Ultra vs Galaxy Watch Ultra
- Galaxy Watch Ultra shares similar goals: durability, health tracking, premium design
- Honor Watch 5 Ultra is lighter and more battery-efficient, offering longer life between charges
- Galaxy has an advantage in software ecosystem (Wear OS) and deeper Samsung integration
Strengths of the Honor Watch 5 Ultra
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra brings a well-balanced mix of hardware quality, intelligent features, and real-world usability. These are the key strengths that make it a competitive choice in the premium smartwatch category:
Outstanding battery life
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra delivers up to 15 days of battery life on typical use, 7 days with the always-on display enabled, and around 3 days in eSIM mode. This sets it apart from many rivals, making it ideal for travelers, professionals, and fitness users who do not want to charge their watch every day.
Premium build quality
With a case made from grade 5 titanium alloy and a sapphire crystal display, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra is both stylish and highly durable. It is designed to withstand extreme environments while maintaining a high-end look.
Comprehensive health tracking
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is equipped with ECG functionality, SpO2 monitoring, VO2 max tracking, and a rare free-diving mode that supports water resistance up to 40 meters. It caters equally to health-conscious individuals and performance athletes.
Built-in eSIM for phone-free usage
Thanks to integrated eSIM support, users can make calls, send messages, and access data directly from the Honor Watch 5 Ultra without needing to carry their smartphone, offering true standalone functionality.
Cross-platform support
Unlike some smartwatches locked into specific ecosystems, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra works well with both Android and iOS devices, giving it a broader appeal for users across platforms.
Weaknesses of the Honor Watch 5 Ultra:
- No Wear OS, meaning no third-party app installations
- No mobile payment functionality in global regions (despite having NFC)
- No voice assistant or smart speaker integration
Early Impressions and Expert Reviews
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra has generated a strong wave of interest among tech reviewers and early adopters, with early reviews praising its design, battery life, and display quality. Experts from platforms like Android Central and Tom’s Guide have highlighted the smartwatch as a standout in Honor’s lineup and a worthy competitor in the premium wearable market.
Android Central called the Honor Watch 5 Ultra a “solid flagship smartwatch with premium materials and long battery life,” applauding its titanium and sapphire construction as well as the sharp clarity of its 1.5-inch AMOLED display.
The review emphasized that the Honor Watch 5 Ultra performs impressively in day-to-day use, particularly for health tracking and handling calls via eSIM.
Tom’s Guide similarly commended the watch for its display brightness, rugged construction, and user-friendly controls, noting that the rotating crown and button system offer a tactile and intuitive interface. The publication also pointed out that the battery endurance places it ahead of many high-end smartwatches currently on the market.
However, not all feedback has been entirely positive. Wareable and NotebookCheck offered more measured takes, noting that while the Honor Watch 5 Ultra excels in hardware, its software lacks polish. Some of the key concerns included the absence of app store support, limited smart assistant functionality, and no global NFC payment support.
These limitations were described as minor drawbacks but important for users who expect more from a device with “Ultra” branding.
From a user perspective, sentiment has been largely positive across forums and social media. Early buyers have praised the durability, noting how the titanium and sapphire combination not only looks good but also resists scratches and wear.
Many users describe the Honor Watch 5 Ultra as offering strong value for its price, especially when compared to watches like the Apple Watch Series 9 and Galaxy Watch 7.
Overall, the early response to the Honor Watch 5 Ultra suggests that it has made a strong impression with its premium design and balanced feature set, even if there’s room for improvement in the software department.
Final Verdict
The Honor Watch 5 Ultra is a compelling new entrant in the premium smartwatch space, combining strong hardware, practical features, and exceptional battery performance into a sleek titanium package. For users seeking long-lasting power, accurate health tracking, and rugged durability, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra delivers on all fronts.
This smartwatch is particularly well-suited for fitness enthusiasts, frequent travelers, and users who switch between Android and iOS, thanks to its cross-platform compatibility, advanced sensors, and standalone eSIM connectivity. Those who demand maximum uptime from their wearable without daily charging will also appreciate the 15-day battery life, a feature that clearly sets the Honor Watch 5 Ultra apart from many of its rivals.
The build quality is another strong point. With its grade-5 titanium casing and sapphire glass display, the watch is not only lightweight and premium in appearance, but also highly resistant to physical wear. For users who prioritize durability without compromising on design, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra is an ideal choice.
However, it’s important to acknowledge the trade-offs. The watch does not support Wear OS or offer third-party app installation, and lacks full-featured NFC mobile payments or a voice assistant. These omissions may matter to users who expect full smartwatch functionality in line with Apple or Samsung’s ecosystems.
In summary, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra is a powerful hybrid of style and substance. It may not be the most app-driven smartwatch on the market, but for those who value battery longevity, rugged materials, essential health tracking, and standalone use, it’s one of the best all-around smartwatches currently available in the $300 price range.
If you can look past the limited app ecosystem, the Honor Watch 5 Ultra offers excellent value and delivers exactly what many users truly need in a modern wearable.
