Honor Watch GS 5 adds heart risk alerts and longer battery life
A new Honor smartwatch is around the corner. The Watch GS 5 is going official in China with heart-focused health features and a slimmer, lighter build than before.
Honor leans into heart health tracking
The GS 4 came out in March 2024, and this new version looks like a continuation rather than a major departure. The core shape remains a circular dial, now packed into a thinner 9.9mm case and dropping to just 26 grams in weight. That’s nearly 20 grams lighter than its predecessor, making it one of the lightest watches on the market.
Honor says the device will last up to 23 days in Bluetooth mode. That easily beats the 14-day estimate on the GS 4 and should give it an edge for those who hate frequent charging. GPS runtime hasn’t been disclosed yet, but the upgrade in standby time hints at better battery efficiency under the hood.
The headline additions this year focus on cardiovascular monitoring. First is what Honor calls a sudden cardiac arrest screening feature. The tool appears to work by analysing irregularities in heart rhythm and other physiological signals. Honor claims it’s an industry-first.
Alongside this, there’s a broader cardiovascular risk assessment function designed to track longer-term trends and flag signs of potential concern. These are not medical-grade tools, but they follow a growing trend of wearables trying to catch early signs before users feel symptoms.
Beyond that, the GS 5 keeps the usual mix of health tracking staples, including heart rate, SpO2, stress, along with sleep. It’s likely this mirrors multi-channel setup found in the GS 4. That watch included a full suite of sensors, including accelerometer, barometer, geomagnetic and capacitive components.
Daily tools get a few small additions
The GS 5 also includes a batch of smart features. These include reminders for upcoming flights, high-speed train departures, and taxi bookings. It’s the kind of detail that’s aimed more at Honor’s domestic market, but could prove handy if expanded globally.
The display specs haven’t been officially confirmed, though the watch appears to have stuck with the 1.43-inch AMOLED panel from earlier models. That screen had a 466×466 resolution and high pixel density, so there’s little need for change.
There’s no word yet on NFC or storage capacity, both of which were present on the GS 4. Bluetooth calling and dual-frequency GNSS are also expected, but unconfirmed. Pricing is still under wraps. For reference, the GS 4 started at 949 yuan, with a gold-plated variant going for 1,199 yuan. The GS 5 should fall in that range when pre-orders open in China on January 19. No word yet on international availability.
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