Huawei TalkBand B5 full review: activity tracker with colour display that doubles as Bluetooth headset for calls
Its look and features are similar to the Fitbit Charge 2, but colour display is a step up. Activity tracking is accurate, but workout monitoring is not automatic. And while it doubles as a Bluetooth headset for calls, who needs that any more?
Huawei's wearable line hasn’t made much of a splash outside China, but the tech giant is hoping it will be third time lucky for its new fitness tracker, the TalkBand B5, which features improved heart rate tracking and a brighter, bigger display. It also doubles as a Bluetooth headset.
Design and hardware
As a fitness band, the TalkBand B5 looks and behaves much like the Fitbit Charge 2, featuring plastic watch straps and a rectangular screen and capable of tracking steps, heart rate, and sleep, among other activities. The B5’s 1.1-inch colour OLED display is significantly more vibrant than the Fitbit Charge 2 ’s monochrome screen.
Press two small buttons near the base of the display slot, and the B5’s “face” pops out to become one of those tiny Bluetooth headsets people wear to make hands-free phone calls.
The fit is comfortable whether as a fitness wristband or in-ear headset. In its full band form, the B5 weighs around 30 grams – lighter than the Fitbit Charge 2 – and the earpiece by itself barely registers on the scale at 10 grams. The B5 is rated IP67 for water resistance. This isn’t as full-on waterproof as the IP68 found in flagship phones, so you can’t take the B5 swimming, but using it in the rain or even under the shower will be of no concern.
