HONOR Watch X5 Play Arrives in Nepal: A New Budget Smartwatch

HONOR has launched the Watch X5 Play in Nepal, just a few months after introducing the Watch X5i. Both watches sit at the entry-level end of HONOR’s smartwatch lineup, so the new arrival is joining a space the brand has only recently stepped into.

We found the Watch X5i decent enough for an entry-level smartwatch, although its durability left us wanting more. The addition of the Watch X5 Play gives buyers more options, which is always a good thing.

But it also raises a fair question: does HONOR have something better to offer, or is it simply expanding its lineup? Let’s take a closer look.

In comparison to HONOR’s X-series smartphones, which have built a good reputation for durability and battery endurance, that lacking on Watch X5i was visible.

Now, the Watch X5 Play comes at an even lower price, so I’m keeping expectations in check. Still, a lower price doesn’t automatically mean a worse product. Therefore, let’s see its specs and features before deciding whether HONOR has made the right compromises.

Honor Watch X5 Play Overview

The HONOR Watch X5 Play keeps the design simple with a rectangular body, a metal-textured frame, and a slim, lightweight design.

At 10.5mm thick and 26 grams without the strap which are pretty good numbers and give a very comfortable feel for everyday wear. The strap uses a standard pin-and-hole mechanism, which is familiar but not the most convenient option for everyone.

One notable change is the missing rotating crown, which the Watch X5i has. Without a physical control, navigating the touchscreen could get tricky with sweaty or wet fingers, especially during workouts. HONOR does emphasize the Watch X5 Play’s IP68 dust and water resistance, which means it will be fine. It comes in two color variants: Black and Silver.

At 2.01 inches, the HONOR Watch X5 Play gives you plenty of screen space for a budget smartwatch. However, it uses a TFT LCD panel with a 320 × 385 pixels resolution.

The bezels are just 2.01mm and brightness peaks at 550 nits. HONOR also claims a 60Hz refresh rate, but in my experience, scrolling didn’t feel particularly fluid.

And the competition makes that harder to overlook. The cheaper Ultima Watch Navigator has a smaller 1.43-inch AMOLED panel with a 466 × 466 pixels resolution and up to 1,000 nits of peak brightness.

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The HONOR Watch X5 Play keeps its sensor setup pretty simple, with an accelerometer and an optical heart rate sensor. These support its usual budget smartwatch health features, including 24-hour heart rate monitoring, SpO₂ tracking, stress monitoring, and sleep tracking. It covers the basics and works pretty well.

One feature that gives the HONOR Watch X5 Play a little more substance is Bluetooth calling. You can make and answer calls straight from your wrist, which is genuinely handy when your phone is tucked away, or your hands are occupied.

It also supports Bluetooth 6.0 and works with Android 9.0 or later and iOS 15.1 or later.

Battery life, however, is where HONOR’s promises and my experience didn’t quite meet. The 450mAh battery is advertised to last up to 18 days on a single charge, which sounds lovely until you remember that real-world use rarely follows a lab’s perfectly behaved routine.

In my use, the battery drained noticeably faster than I expected. Your mileage may vary depending on how you use the watch. I’d take that 18-day figure as a best-case promise rather than something to plan your charging routine around.

On the fitness side, HONOR has packed in 109 sports modes, along with custom goals for workout duration, distance, and calories burned. That’s a lengthy list for an entry-level watch, although a big number doesn’t necessarily mean better fitness tracking.

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Overall, the HONOR Watch X5 Play is a fairly well-rounded budget smartwatch. Its lightweight design makes it comfortable for everyday use, while the IP68 rating and Bluetooth calling are useful additions.

More importantly, the interface felt reasonably smooth, and switching between features was a pleasant experience. It doesn’t feel like a bargain-bin smartwatch, which is a good start.

However, the X5 Play doesn’t particularly stand out, either. It offers a familiar set of features that you’d find on other smartwatches in this price range, and the competition like Redmi Watch 6 Active is already doing a very good job.

Battery life is the most underwhelming part, which we felt in the Watch X5i as well. In my experience, the 450mAh battery lasts a couple of days, but HONOR’s claim of up to 18 days feels optimistic.

So, while the Watch X5 Play gets plenty of the basics right, it doesn’t quite give buyers a strong reason to choose it over its rivals. HONOR has made a decent entry-level smartwatch, but it still has some catching up to do in a competitive market.

What are your thoughts on the Honor Watch X5 Play? Let us know in the comments below!