Design
The box opening revealed a watch that features an attractive aluminum alloy case and a lavender purple TPU strap. The product appears to be expensive despite its low cost because of its design.
Xiaomi also provided us with two Quick Release straps that work with other devices in the same ecosystem: a Cream White leather strap and a Rose Purple braided fabric strap. The Watch 5 receives a beautiful enhancement from both straps, but we found the Purple version to be more adaptable and stronger than the other option.
Xiaomi has captured the similarities with the Apple Watch. The Redmi Watch line creates confusion between its products and their expensive counterpart because it lacks distinct features which customers can recognize.
The device closely resembles the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro. The two devices show strong similarities because they both use interchangeable straps.
Display
The Redmi Watch 5 features a 2.07-inch AMOLED display, the largest ever on a Xiaomi wearable. The watch has a slim bezel of just 2mm, resulting in an 82% screen-to-body ratio, enhancing overall aesthetics. The 2.5D curved screen increases usability and provides a comfortable and easy-to-touch experience.
The display reaches a maximum brightness level of 1500 nits while operating at a refresh rate of 60 hertz. The display quality matches the standards of premium smartphones which enables the Redmi Watch 5 to outperform its main market rivals.
The display uses an LTPS panel which enables certain watch faces to achieve a 5Hz refresh rate that extends battery life.
Colors appear highly saturated while the watch faces shown in the Mi Fitness application on your phone display beautiful results when viewed on the watch. The device includes an Always-On Display function that operates in two different modes which are Always-On Display and Main Display.
The devices behave differently when users perform wrist movements. The Always-On Display option only lights up the screen to show the always-on display (AOD), while the Main Display option takes you directly to the main screen with additional images.
The Raise to Wake gesture works quite perfectly; it detects movement, understands when the wrist is lowered, and turns the screen on and off accordingly.
XIAOMI Redmi Watch 5 Active Midnight Black:
XIAOMI Redmi Watch 5 Active Smartwatch, 2.0″ LCD Display, 18 Days of Battery Life, 140+ Sports Modes, 5ATM Waterproof, Bluetooth Calling, Fitness-Tracker- Matte Silver:
XIAOMI Redmi Watch 5 Lite Global 1.96″ Amoled Up to 18 Days Battery GNSS Dual Mic 150+ Workout Modes 5ATM Water Resistance Heart Rate Sensor (Black):
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Lite Smart Watch, Step Counter Watch for Women Men with 2″ LCD Large Display, 140 Sports Modes, 5ATM Waterproof (Lite-Light Gold):
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Active Smart Watch, Step Counter Watch for Women Men with 2″ LCD Large Display, 140 Sports Modes, 5ATM Waterproof (Active-Midnight Black):
Xiaomi Redmi 5 Lite Smart Watch, Step Counter Watch for Women Men with 2″ LCD Large Display, 140 Sports Modes, 5ATM Waterproof (Lite-Light Gold):
Software and Hardware
The Mi Fitness application functions as the primary health application for Xiaomi devices which users can download from both Android and iOS app stores. This application serves as the basic health application for Xiaomi devices which provides users with essential functions to manage notifications and phone calls while tracking their health and fitness activities along with setting alarms.
The watch provides a very basic and easy-to-use interface which we find suitable. The application icons use different designs that create visual confusion at first yet users can easily find their desired applications. The app grid becomes accessible through the rotating crown, which shows all apps either with their names or in list format. However, we found the default settings more effective.
The watch displays notifications immediately; however, only a small number of emojis function properly, which prevents watch users from seeing icons that require non-text communication.
Xiaomi has developed a new AFE chip, which enables heart rate measurements to become 5.2% more precise while sleep tracking results improve by 10%. The Redmi Watch 5 fails to deliver consistent sleep tracking results because it detects even minor movements. The Redmi Watch 5 provides incorrect results for users who tend to move throughout the night.
The watch provides users with two health monitoring functions by showing their blood oxygen levels and stress measurement results. The watch supports over 150 sports modes because Xiaomi claims it excels at outdoor tracking through its built-in GNSS Global Positioning System capability.
The company doesn’t disclose which specific satellite pairs with the watch. It’s likely not the US GPS or the European Galileo, as the Watch 5 shows a small deviation while running. This means it might be using the Beidou system, primarily used for communication in China rather than other territories.
Regarding additional features, there are numerous running courses specifically designed for amateur runners, as well as breathing exercises designed for the average person. These features are well-designed and beneficial for both training and recovery.
The Mi Fitness app allows for easy assessment of all data, including heart rate and sleep tracking, presented in an intuitive, engaging, and easy-to-understand way.
Battery Life and Charging
We live in a world increasingly flooded with devices with USB-C ports, but Xiaomi opted for its rather outdated proprietary pogo charging solution. Fortunately, the Redmi Watch 5 rarely needs charging because it boasts exceptionally impressive battery life and only needs recharging every two to three weeks.
The device testing process involved our team testing device functions by running while we tracked our heartbeats and stress levels and received phone alerts and performed telephone calls. The standard usage pattern demonstrated an exceptional25-day battery performance. The 550 mAh battery reached full charge in about 60 minutes. The system achieved its first record of continuous operation after one hour of inactivity during two weeks of testing. The Watch 5 AOD testing showed that battery life decreased to 9 days which represents the longest duration among all smartwatches.
AOD function proves unnecessary because the lift-to-wake feature provides effective access to extra information which displays on the watch face.
Tech Reviewer & Product Analyst
Định Bia has spent over 10 years testing consumer electronics with a focus on smart technology. He work as a product advisor at Biareview where he helped customers find the right devices for their needs. He personally tests every product featured on this site using a consistent evaluation framework covering quality, durability, and value. All reviews are based on experience, not influenced by the manufacturer.
