The Honor Watch X5 is Honor’s latest affordable smartwatch, launched in China alongside the Honor 500 series, and it aims to squeeze as many “big watch” features as possible into a surprisingly light and compact body. 
With a large 1.97-inch AMOLED screen, built-in GPS, Bluetooth calling, and a long quoted battery life, it is clearly designed to sit at the sweet spot between fitness tracker and full smart companion on your wrist.
The headline feature is the display. Honor uses a 1.97-inch AMOLED panel with a 390 x 450 pixel resolution and a smooth 60 Hz refresh rate, so swiping through menus and watch faces should feel fluid rather than jerky. The 2.5D curved glass slightly blends into the frame, giving the watch a more premium, rounded look than the typical flat budget wearable, while still keeping the weight down to just 29 g without the strap.
The case is made from aluminium alloy, giving the Watch X5 a sturdier, more refined feel than basic plastic watches, while the back is made from plastic to keep it light and comfortable during workouts or sleep. There is a single physical button with a rotating crown that you use to scroll through lists, zoom into details, or quickly jump into apps and workout modes, making everyday navigation more intuitive than relying on touch alone.
Durability is another focus. The Honor Watch X5 carries both IP68 and 5 ATM ratings, meaning it is dust-resistant and can handle swimming or being worn in the rain without worry. That makes it a candidate not only for the gym, but also for outdoor runs, pool sessions, or simply living on your wrist all day and night.
On the health and fitness side, the watch relies on a PPG heart-rate sensor for continuous activity tracking and workout analysis. Honor supports more than 120 sports modes, covering everything from basic walking, running, and cycling to more niche activities, so most users will find an appropriate profile. There is also sleep tracking to help you understand how long and how well you rest, plus women’s health tracking features for monitoring cycles and related metrics. Built-in GPS means you can track distance and routes for outdoor activities without always needing to carry your phone.
Smart features are surprisingly comprehensive for the price point. Connectivity is handled by Bluetooth 5.3 for linking to your phone and NFC for compatible services. The watch supports an always-on display mode, Bluetooth calling thanks to its built-in microphone and speaker, and a remote camera shutter function that lets you trigger photos from your wrist. A Do Not Disturb mode helps silence alerts when you need to focus or sleep, while still logging your data in the background.
The battery story will be important for many buyers, and Honor’s claims are ambitious. Under what the company calls “typical” usage, the Watch X5 is rated for up to 14 days on a single charge. Even with the always-on display enabled, Honor still quotes up to 5 days of use, which means you can head into a long weekend or short trip without constantly hunting for a charger. When it is time to top up, the watch uses a magnetic charging port that snaps into place on the back for straightforward charging.
In terms of compatibility, the Honor Watch X5 works with both Android phones (Android 9.0 or newer) and iPhones (iOS 13 or later), so it is not locked into one ecosystem. It ships with soft silicone straps in Black or White, giving you neutral options that fit most outfits and situations, from workouts to the office.
Finally, there is the price. In China, the Honor Watch X5 is listed at CNY 499, which works out to roughly 70 US dollars at current exchange rates. That positions it firmly in the budget smartwatch category, yet on paper it still offers a large AMOLED display, serious water and dust protection, built-in GPS, a wide selection of sports modes, and long battery life. For anyone who wants an inexpensive entry point into the smartwatch world without sacrificing core fitness and smart features, the Honor Watch X5 looks like one of the more compelling options in its price bracket.