The BlitzWolf BW-HL5 smart watch is a good example that in 2024 we no longer need to spend a monthly salary to wear a modern smart watch with many functions on our wrist. But what can a smart watch worth around HUF 10.000 actually do?
BlitzWolf BW-HL5 - What is this article about?
The smart watch market has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. While previously almost exclusively premium category manufacturers offered feature-rich models, many affordable alternatives have now appeared. Hong Kong-based BlitzWolf is particularly active in this area – their philosophy is to offer value-for-money products through careful development and avoiding waste.
The company's latest model, the BlitzWolf BW-HL5, has set itself particularly ambitious goals: according to the manufacturer, in addition to basic fitness functions, it can also measure health parameters such as blood pressure, blood sugar level, body temperature or blood oxygen level. Until now, these functions have typically only been seen in significantly more expensive devices, or not even there.
The apparent contradiction between low price and rich functionality rightly raises questions about the accuracy of the measurements. The manufacturer himself emphasizes that the device is not considered a medical instrument, the measured values are only informative.
The BlitzWolf BW-HL5 was released in January 2024 and quickly attracted the interest of the industry. Several specialist portals were skeptical about the functions promised by the device, especially regarding the measurement of blood sugar and blood pressure. The watch has been available on both the European and American markets since February.
The device clearly follows the "smartwatch for everyone" concept - it targets users who want to gain insight into their health and track their daily activity, but do not want to spend a significant amount of money for this purpose. The real question is how useful these features are in practice given the low price.
BlitzWolf BW-HL5 - Appearance and handling
At first glance, the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 follows the design of more modern smartwatches. The central element of the device is a large 2,1-inch IPS display with a resolution of 320 x 386 pixels. The special feature of the display is that it has a 3D curved surface, which gives the watch an elegant appearance and provides a pleasant feeling during use.
The case of the watch is made of plastic, and the central frame has a painted coating. In terms of dimensions, it cannot be called compact: the dial measures 54,85 x 42,32 millimeters and is 13,1 millimeters thick. The strap is 22 millimeters wide and 269 millimeters long, so it can be adjusted to fit most wrist sizes. The material of the strap is silicone, which ensures comfortable wear and does not pull the skin.
Control is primarily via the touchscreen, but there is also a physical button on the right side of the watch that has a crown functionality similar to the Apple Watch. This helps with menu scrolling and navigation. The screen can also be divided into a quick menu bar, which makes it easier to access frequently used functions.
On the back of the watch we find the magnetic charging port and the optical sensors used to measure various health parameters. Charging is done with the supplied magnetic cable, which has a two-pin design. According to the manufacturer, full charging takes 3-4 hours.
The device is IP67 certified for dust and water resistance, which means it can withstand dust and short-term immersion in water. However, the manufacturer does not recommend using the watch for swimming, as it is not specifically designed for swimming.
The packaging can be described as minimalist: apart from the watch, it only contains a charging cable and a user manual. The design of the box is simple, but according to feedback, it provides adequate protection during transport. The watch usually arrives to customers fully charged.
The device also has a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing you to handle Bluetooth phone calls directly from the watch. This feature works within Bluetooth range and users say it's a handy addition to everyday use.
BlitzWolf BW-HL5 - Technical features and capabilities
The heart of the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 is the JL7013A processor, which is accompanied by 128MB of flash memory. The device supports the Bluetooth 5.3 standard and is compatible with Android 4.0 (or later) and iOS 9.0 (or later) operating systems. For pairing and data management, the H Band application must be installed, which is available in more than 150 languages, including Hungarian.
The watch's battery has a capacity of 300 mAh, which, according to the manufacturer, provides 4-7 days of operating time with intensive use. In standby mode, this can increase to 12-20 days. Charging time is about 3-4 hours. User feedback generally confirms these durations, although frequent use of the Bluetooth calling function can significantly reduce the operating time.
The device has an impressive list of health functions: it includes a heart rate monitor, blood pressure monitor, blood oxygen level meter (SpO2), blood sugar level meter and body temperature meter. The device can perform sleep monitoring and is also suitable for tracking the menstrual cycle for female users. It is important to note that the manufacturer emphasizes that these measurements are not medically accurate, they are only informative.
In terms of fitness functions, the watch can track more than 100 different sports activities. It measures the number of steps taken, calories burned and distance traveled. The system records pulse and blood pressure in 10-minute intervals, blood oxygen level every 30 minutes, and body temperature and blood sugar every 10 minutes.
Smart functions include notification display, music playback control, camera remote control, alarm clock, stopwatch and weather forecast. The watch can also help you find your phone and has a "do not disturb" mode. The watch face is customizable and there are several pre-installed versions to choose from.
The user interface of the watch is multilingual, you can choose from the following languages: Chinese, English, Japanese, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Polish, Traditional Chinese, Korean, Dutch, Portuguese, Thai and Arabic. The matching application supports even more languages, although the Hungarian translation may be inaccurate in some places.
The device's sensors include the G-sensor (accelerometer) and the heart rate sensor. These provide the basis for various measurement and tracking functions. However, it is important to note that there is no built-in GPS in the watch, so distance measurement and route tracking rely on the phone's GPS.
BlitzWolf BW-HL5 - The software and application
To operate the BlitzWolf BW-HL5, you need to install the app called H Band, which is of course available for free on both Android and iOS platforms. The application can be installed by scanning the QR code in the box or by searching for the term “H Band” in the store search engine. According to user feedback, installing the app and pairing it with the watch usually goes smoothly.
The interface of the application is transparent, although the Hungarian translation is sometimes difficult to interpret, so to speak, it requires some creative thinking from the user. The dashboard on the home screen displays all important health data and activity statistics. The data can be viewed in daily, weekly and monthly breakdowns, which helps to follow longer-term trends.
In the AH Band application, it is also possible to calibrate the measurements. In principle, the accuracy of blood pressure and blood sugar level measurements can be improved if they are adjusted to values measured with an authentic medical device. The application can automatically synchronize the time and date with the watch when it is connected to the phone.
Customizing the watch face is also done through the app. The various dials are available under "Call control" in the "Additional settings" menu. However, according to user feedback, the selection of watch faces is limited and they have not found a way to upload their own custom watch faces, despite this feature being mentioned in the product description.
The app also manages notifications – you can set which app notifications are displayed on the watch. A maximum of a dozen contacts from the phone book can be synchronized to the watch for quick calls. The application also allows you to set "do not disturb" periods and customize the frequency of automatic health measurements.
Logging of health data is automatic: pulse and blood pressure are recorded every 10 minutes, blood oxygen level every 30 minutes, body temperature and blood sugar level are also recorded every 10 minutes. These data can also be displayed graphically in the application, although several users have indicated that blood sugar measurements show suspiciously the same curves day after day, regardless of meals.
The application can be used without registration, although according to some users, registration can be problematic. The application does not require a continuous Internet connection to function, but Internet access is required for synchronization and weather forecast updates.
BlitzWolf BW-HL5 - Hands-on experience
The first thing that stood out when using the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 was that, although the box is simple, the watch arrived intact and fully charged. The silicone strap is pleasant to the touch and really doesn't pull on the skin or my hair, which is a fairly common problem with cheaper watches.
The 2,1-inch display is of surprisingly good quality in this price category, although we are obviously talking about IPS and not AMOLED. The 3D curved surface gives the watch a very elegant look, although the plastic housing makes it clear that it is not a premium device. Not at all. The brightness of the screen is adequate, even in sunlight, although I emphasize again that we are talking about IPS, with all its limitations.
Installing the AH Band app and pairing the watch went smoothly. The Hungarian language interface sometimes contains funny translations, but with a little creativity you can infer the meaning of the menu items. The user interface of the application is logically structured and easy to navigate. There are, of course, minor problems, but they are not glaring in this price category. Let's face it, for barely 7000 forints, it's a miracle that we can buy a smartwatch at all, not one like this.
I've had mixed experiences testing the health features. The heart rate measurement seemed relatively consistent, but the reliability of the blood pressure and especially the blood sugar measurements is highly questionable. What I have found, as other users have reported, is that the blood sugar graph shows a suspiciously similar pattern day after day, regardless of meals.
Based on the tip found online, I tried to see what happens if I set the clock 12 hours ahead. Well, according to other people's experience, what happens is that the measured values also shift. The problem is that I have also experienced this, so I dare to declare with a calm heart that these are pre-programmed values, that is, the whole thing is a big lie.
Sleep tracking works, but it's not always accurate when you fall asleep. The reason for this may be that the detection of the beginning of sleep is connected to the detection of movement, so if you lie still for a long time, the watch will assume that you have fallen asleep. The sports tracking functions work at a basic level, although distance measurement may be inaccurate in the absence of GPS. The pedometer, on the other hand, seems reliable, even though I'm sure it also tracks arm movement.
However, the Bluetooth calling function was a pleasant surprise. Of course, the quality of the built-in microphone and speaker cannot compete with that of a dedicated headset, but it is perfectly suitable for short conversations. The range is the usual Bluetooth limit, roughly 10 meters.
The battery really lasts 4-7 days on a single charge, as the manufacturer promises, but this largely depends on the intensity of use. Bluetooth calls and continuous health measurements significantly reduce operating time. Charging with the magnetic cable is convenient, although positioning the connector takes some practice.
In practice, the IP67 protection means that hand washing or rainy weather will not cause problems, but as the manufacturer recommends, swimming or sitting in a bathtub with your hands under water is not worth it, to put it mildly. I didn't even dare to try what happens during prolonged immersion in water. The combination of the physical button and the touchscreen works quite well, the menu system is logically structured and easy to learn.
Overall, during daily use, I found that the basic functions of a smart watch (notifications, time measurement, activity tracking) are performed quite reliably by the device. Of the health measurements, however, I consider only the heart rate measurement and partly the blood oxygen level measurement to be usable, the rest seem more like marketing ploys. This is not surprising in this price range, but it is important for potential buyers to be aware of this.
BlitzWolf BW-HL5 - Conclusion
The BlitzWolf BW-HL5 is a typical example of when a manufacturer promises perhaps too much for the price of the product. The device adequately fulfills the basic functions of a smart watch – handling notifications, activity tracking, heart rate measurement – and represents completely acceptable quality in this price category. A large, easy-to-read display, decent battery life, and reliable Bluetooth call functionality all speak for the watch.
At the same time, some of the health functions emphasized in marketing materials - especially the measurement of blood sugar and blood pressure - cannot be used reliably in practice, to put it mildly. This is not surprising for a device costing around HUF 10.000, since even premium smartwatches available at multiple prices cannot accurately measure all the mentioned parameters.
I just don't understand why these things have to be lied about in a watch that, on the one hand, a sensible person can't even believe that it can do such a thing for so much money, on the other hand, it would basically be a good watch even without these functions.
AH Band application, although not perfect, is basically easy to use, and the Hungarian language interface can be a big advantage for many. The physical construction of the watch is adequate, and the IP67 protection is sufficient for everyday use, although it is not recommended for swimming.
All in all, the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 can be a good choice for those looking for their first smartwatch, or those who want a device that performs basic functions reliably and is not bothered by compromises. However, the health functions should be treated with reservations, and the device should not be viewed as a medical device under any circumstances. If someone were to buy a smartwatch specifically for the health functions, it might be worth looking at a higher category.
You can buy the watch at the Banggood store, it is delivered from a Chinese warehouse, and the price is only HUF 5 with the coupon code BGHL1BWN7146 by clicking on the link below:
BlitzWolf BW-HL5 smart watch
FAQ about BlitzWolf BW-HL5 Smartwatch
Q: How accurate is the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 blood glucose measurement?
A: Based on the tests, blood sugar measurement is not reliable. The watch shows pre-programmed curves that do not depend on actual values or meals.
Q: Can I swim with the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 watch?
A: Although the watch is IP67 protected, the manufacturer does not recommend it for swimming. Hand washing or rainy weather does not cause problems, but it is not suitable for swimming.
Q: What languages does the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 use?
A: Both the watch and the H Band app support more than 150 languages, including Hungarian. The Hungarian translation may be inaccurate in some places.
Q: How long does the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 battery last?
A: 4-7 days with intensive use, 12-20 days in standby mode. Frequent use of Bluetooth calls can significantly reduce this time.
Q: Can I make phone calls with the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 watch?
A: Yes, the built-in microphone and speaker can be used to make phone calls when the watch is connected to the phone via Bluetooth.
Q: What phones is the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 compatible with?
A: Works with devices running Android 4.0 or later or iOS 9.0 or later.
Q: Can I upload my own watch face to the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 watch?
A: Although the product description mentions this option, in practice users have not found a way to upload custom dials.
Q: Is registration required to use BlitzWolf BW-HL5?
A: No, the H Band app can be used without registration, although some features may be limited.
Q: How often does the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 take measurements?
A: It automatically measures pulse and blood pressure every 10 minutes, blood oxygen level every 30 minutes, body temperature and blood sugar every 10 minutes.
Q: Does the BlitzWolf BW-HL5 watch have GPS?
A: No, the watch does not have built-in GPS. Distance measurement and route tracking use the phone's GPS if a connection is available.
