The Redmi Watch 5 is a good everyday smartwatch when discounted, but a mediocre serious fitness watch. Its large AMOLED display, attractive design, built-in GPS and genuinely long battery life make it practical for notifications, walking, casual workouts, swimming and basic wellness tracking. However, independent testing found inconsistent exercise heart-rate readings, GPS distance over-reporting and occasional signal dropouts. Buy it for convenience and endurance—ideally below roughly $50 equivalent—not for dependable training data or a full smartwatch app ecosystem.
This review covers the standard Redmi Watch 5, not the Redmi Watch 5 Lite, Redmi Watch 5 Active or Xiaomi Watch 5. Availability and prices vary by country; the strongest launch and review evidence concerns the UK and European markets, while US availability can be less straightforward.
Redmi Watch 5 specifications at a glance
| Feature | Redmi Watch 5 |
|---|---|
| Display | 2.07-inch square AMOLED, 432 × 514, 324ppi |
| Brightness | Up to 1,500 nits in high-brightness mode |
| Battery | 550mAh; Xiaomi claims up to 24 days in typical use |
| GPS | Built-in GNSS: GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou and QZSS |
| Water resistance | 5ATM |
| Calls | Bluetooth calling through the connected phone |
| Compatibility | Android 8.0 or later and iOS 12 or later; Mi Fitness app required |
| Weight | Approximately 33.5g without the strap |
| Dimensions | 47.5 × 41.1 × 11.3mm, excluding strap and protrusions |
| Sports modes | More than 150, according to Xiaomi |
These are manufacturer specifications from Xiaomi’s global product page and its UK specification sheet. A high number of sports modes does not mean every mode provides equally reliable measurements.
Design: attractive, but physically large
The Watch 5 looks more expensive than many budget watches. It combines an aluminium-alloy middle frame, stainless-steel rotating crown, 2.5D glass and a clean square case. At about 33.5g without its strap, it is not heavy, but its 47.5mm width makes it a broad watch. Smaller-wristed users should pay attention to the dimensions rather than judging comfort from product photographs.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →#1 Best Overall
- 📞 【Bluetooth 5.3 Calls & Smart Notifications】 Make and answer calls directly from your smartwatch with stable Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. Receive vibration alerts for calls and messages from Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and more.
- ⌚ 【1.96 HD Touch Screen & 200+ Watch Faces】 Enjoy a large 1.96 HD full-touch display with smooth operation and clear visuals. Choose from 200+ watch faces in the GloryFit app or customize the screen with your favorite photo.
- 💖 【24/7 Health Monitoring】 Track heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, sleep and daily activity with built-in sensors. View your health and activity data in the GloryFit app to better understand your daily wellness.
- 🏊 【110+ Sports Modes & IP68 Waterproof】 Supports 110+ sports modes including running, walking, hiking, cycling, basketball and fitness. Tracks steps, calories, distance and heart rate during workouts. IP68 waterproof for daily exercise, sweat and hand washing.
- 🚀 【7-Day Battery & Multiple Smart Features】 Enjoy up to 7 days of use and about 30 days of standby after a 2-hour charge. Includes alarm, timer, stopwatch, music control, weather, camera control, calculator, sedentary reminder and more. Compatible with Android and iPhone.
The included TPU strap comes in black, silver-gray or lavender-purple versions and uses a quick-release system. The tucked-in rubber strap keeps the silhouette tidy, although one independent review found that it could pinch the skin for some wearers. Replacement straps are available, but there is no need to buy one unless the supplied fit bothers you.
The rotating crown is a useful detail at this price. It makes scrolling and navigating easier than relying entirely on the touchscreen, particularly during workouts. The watch feels like a well-finished budget device rather than a cheap tracker, although “premium” should not be read as meaning that the entire case is made from stainless steel.
The display is the Watch 5’s clearest strength
The 2.07-inch AMOLED screen is larger and more polished than the display on the Watch 4. Its 432 × 514 resolution, 324ppi pixel density, thin approximately 2mm bezel and high-brightness mode give notifications, workout figures and watch faces plenty of room. Xiaomi rates it at up to 1,500 nits, and independent coverage found it sharp and readable outdoors.
Xiaomi also advertises a 60Hz refresh rate, although its product information qualifies that claim by noting that refresh behaviour can depend on the interface. Do not assume every screen or animation is always running at 60Hz.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchPC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11The large format is excellent for reading messages and workout data, but it is not ideal for everyone. If you prefer compact watches, the Watch 5 can feel broad even though its weight is modest. The touchscreen is also less responsive when wet, according to Live Science’s review. The crown helps, but some functions still require touch input.
Battery life: genuinely excellent, with an important qualification
Xiaomi rates the 550mAh battery for up to 24 days of typical use. That figure comes from Xiaomi’s defined test conditions, which limit demanding activities such as GPS use, calls and exercise and disable or reduce some health-monitoring functions. It is therefore a manufacturer claim, not a promise that every owner will see 24 days.
Several weeks of use is a realistic expectation for light-to-moderate use, and battery endurance remains one of the Watch 5’s strongest advantages. Frequent GPS workouts, Bluetooth calls, continuous health monitoring, many notifications and an always-on display will reduce it substantially. Wareable reported improved always-on-display endurance over the Watch 4, but its evidence does not establish that 24 days is achievable with always-on display enabled.
Live Science needed to charge its review sample twice during testing while still describing the battery life as excellent. That is a useful way to interpret the headline: the Watch 5 has genuinely long endurance, but “up to 24 days” is a best-case test result rather than a universal ownership figure.
Fitness and health tracking
The Watch 5 is suitable for general activity tracking, but its sensor performance is the main reason not to buy it as a serious sports watch.
Rank #2
- No APP & Phone Required Fitness Tracker Watch: This Fitness Tracker watch doesn't require any App or smartphone connections! It's as simple to use as a regular watch but smarter. Perfect for anyone looking for an easy fitness tracker without the hassle of smartphone setups.
- Heart Rate and Sleep Monitoring: The Fitness Tracker monitors your heart rate automatically all day, and you can select manual mode through the App. The fitness Watch also monitors your sleep at night, providing a detailed analysis of your sleep quality (deep sleep, light sleep, awake time). It is a health advisor for women men in daily life.
- Multi Sport Modes with Activity Tracking: The fitness tracker features 9 sport modes like running, walking and more. Additionally, the activity tracker records daily steps, calories burned, walking distance and active time throughout the day. You can also set a daily steps goals through the App to track your progress.
- Smart Notification Reminder: You can get SMS messages, and SNS notifications directly on your wrist including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail ect. You won't miss any important calls and message and stay updated. Please note: the smart watch can not make calls or text.
- Long Battery Life and IP68 Waterproof: This smart watch only requires 2 hours of charging and can be used for 5-7 days continuously, IP68 waterproof rating can withstand daily sweat, washing hands and rainy day, allowing you to fully enjoy your workouts.
Heart-rate tracking is not dependable enough for serious training
Xiaomi says heart-rate accuracy improves by 5.2% over the Watch 4. That is an internal comparison, not an independent accuracy score against a chest strap or medical reference.
Wareable’s independent testing was considerably less reassuring. During exercise, the Watch 5 produced inconsistent readings and recorded maximum heart rates substantially higher than the reference monitor. The conclusion was not that heart-rate tracking is useless, but that it should not be trusted for precise zones, interval training or race preparation.
For resting trends, general activity and broad wellness information, the results may be useful. For decisions that depend on accurate exertion data, use a dedicated sports watch or chest strap instead.
Recommended Free Tools
GPS is useful for routes, weak for precision
The built-in GNSS supports GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou and QZSS, so the watch does not need to borrow location data from a phone for outdoor workouts. That is a significant advantage over cheaper trackers.
However, Wareable found that recorded distances were frequently over-reported and that the GPS signal sometimes appeared to drop out. That makes the Watch 5 acceptable for approximate walking or casual running routes, but a poor choice when pace, distance and route consistency matter.
Sleep, blood oxygen and stress
Xiaomi claims a 10% improvement in sleep-recognition accuracy over the Watch 4. Like the heart-rate figure, this is based on Xiaomi’s internal testing and should not be treated as independent validation. The sleep presentation is polished, and Live Science reported broadly similar sleep-duration and cycle readings to a secondary app, but that does not make the watch a clinical sleep instrument.
The Watch 5 also offers all-day blood-oxygen and stress monitoring. These are wellness features that can help identify personal trends; they are not diagnoses. Stress scores are best understood as algorithmic indicators influenced by physiological signals, not objective measurements of your psychological state. Xiaomi explicitly says the watch is not designed to diagnose, prevent or cure disease.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Swimming and everyday workouts
With more than 150 sports modes and 5ATM water resistance, the Watch 5 covers walking, gym sessions, casual running, swimming and many common activities. Live Science found swimming lengths and stroke style appeared accurate, while Wareable also regarded swimming data more favourably than the watch’s GPS and exercise heart-rate results.
5ATM is appropriate for ordinary water exposure and swimming under suitable conditions. It should not be interpreted as permission for diving, high-pressure water activities or every form of water sport. Follow Xiaomi’s current care guidance for the specific exclusions.
Rank #3
- 【Crystal-Clear Communication】AEAC smartwatch delivers clear call quality with high-definition speakers and microphones. Built with an AI assistant, it enables smooth voice commands and hands-free calls.
- 【Comprehensive Health Monitoring】The AEAC smartwatch tracks vital health metrics—blood oxygen, heart rate, stress, and sleep analysis—providing you with valuable insights for enhanced well-being.
- 【Long-Lasting Battery】Enjoy up to 10 days of use on a quick 2-hour charge. Will monitor your heart rate, steps, activity routes, and calorie burn around the clock, offering a complete view of your health and fitness.
- 【110+ Sports Modes & Waterproof】With 110+ sports modes, this fitness watch supports a wide range of activities, from yoga to swimming. Its 3ATM water-resistant design ensures reliable performance in wet conditions.
- 【1.32" AMOLED Touchscreen】 Features a 1.32-inch AMOLED display for sharp visuals and smooth responsiveness. The watch face measures 43 mm, offering a clear and comfortable viewing area. Choose from 200+ watch faces or personalize with your own photos, making the watch uniquely yours
The workout controls are practical: sessions can be paused or stopped from the touchscreen or with the crown. That is helpful when your hands are damp, although the wet-screen limitation remains.
Smart features: a capable phone companion, not a full smartwatch
The Watch 5 runs Xiaomi HyperOS and is best described as a feature-rich fitness watch with basic smartwatch functions. It can show notifications, control music, display weather, set alarms, timers and stopwatches, show world clocks, use a compass, find your phone, control a phone camera and record voice notes. It also supports watch faces and some local music functions.
Bluetooth calling works through the connected smartphone using the watch’s microphones and speaker. It is convenient for short calls, but it is not a phone replacement. Wareable found call quality only average, and Xiaomi states that calls from third-party apps are not currently supported.
There is no broad third-party app ecosystem comparable with Wear OS or watchOS. The Watch 5 also does not become an LTE watch simply because it can make calls: the phone must remain connected for the calling feature to work.
Android and iPhone compatibility
Official compatibility covers Android 8.0 or later and iOS 12 or later, with the Mi Fitness app handling setup, syncing and much of the watch experience. Android is the better match if you want the widest feature set.
- Android: supports music transfer to the watch and generally provides more freedom for notifications and phone integration.
- iPhone: the core watch and health functions may work, but feature parity should not be assumed. App permissions and menus can change with later Mi Fitness updates.
- Xiaomi phones: Xiaomi says portrait watch faces require Xiaomi phones running HyperOS.
If you use an iPhone and want the most seamless smartwatch integration, an Apple Watch remains a more natural choice, although it costs more and has much shorter battery life. The Watch 5 makes more sense when long endurance and basic functions matter more than ecosystem integration.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Price: when is the Redmi Watch 5 worth buying?
The “pricey” criticism depends entirely on the transaction price. Wareable reported an approximately $89/£89 recommended price in its review, while launch coverage put the global price around £90/$110 depending on market. A 2026 budget-watch roundup displayed a $43.99 shopping snapshot, but that should be treated as a time- and retailer-sensitive sale price, not a universal official price.
| Approximate price position | Verdict |
|---|---|
| About $40–$50 equivalent | Strong value for the large display, GPS and long battery life |
| About $80–$90 | Reasonable, but fitness-tracking limitations matter more |
| About $100–$110 | Difficult to recommend unless the design and battery life are your priorities |
| Above $110 | Compare carefully with newer Amazfit, Huawei, Honor and Xiaomi models |
Check the price in your own country, including delivery, taxes, warranty and whether the listing is an import. Dollar figures from international reviews are not a reliable statement of current US pricing, and official US availability may be inconsistent.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Redmi Watch 5 versus the alternatives
Amazfit Active 2
The Amazfit Active 2 is the more sports-oriented alternative. It was announced around $99 for the standard model and offers a stainless-steel body, AMOLED display, 160 sports modes and offline maps, with approximately 10 days of claimed battery life. A higher-priced version adds features such as NFC and sapphire glass in Europe.
Rank #4
- 【Superb Visual Experience & Effortless Operation】Diving into the latest 1.58'' ultra high resolution display technology, every interaction on the fitness watch is a visual delight with vibrant colors and crisp clarity. Its always on display clock makes the time conveniently visible. Experience convenience like never before with the intuitive full touch controls and the side button, switch between apps, and customize settings with seamless precision.
- 【Comprehensive 24/7 Health Monitoring】The fitness watches for women and men packs 24/7 heart rate, 24/7 blood pressure and blood oxygen monitors. You could check those real-time health metrics anytime, anywhere on your wrist and view the data record in the App. The heart rate monitor watch also tracks different sleep stages for light and deep sleep,and the time when you wake up, helps you to get a better understanding of your sleep quality.
- 【120+ exercise modes & All-Day Activity Tracking】There are more than 120 exercise modes available in the activity trackers and smartwatches, covering almost all daily sports activities you can imagine, gives you new ways to train and advanced metrics for more information about your workout performance. The all-day activity tracking feature monitors your steps, distance, and calories burned all the day, so you can see how much progress you've made towards your fitness goals.
- 【Messages & Incoming Calls Notification】With this smart watch fitness trackers for iPhone and android phones, you can receive notifications for incoming calls and read messages directly from your wrist without taking out your phone. Never miss a beat, stay in touch with loved ones, and stay informed of important updates wherever you are.
- 【Essential Assistant for Daily Life】The fitness watches for women and men provide you with more features including drinking water and sedentary reminder, women's menstrual period reminder, breath training, real-time weather display, remote camera shooting, music control,timer, stopwatch, finding phone, alarm clock, making it a considerate life assistant. With the GPS connectivity, you could get a map of your workout route in the app for outdoor activity by connecting to your phone GPS.
Choose it if navigation and training features matter more than multi-week endurance. Choose the Redmi instead if you want the largest screen and substantially longer battery life at a discount.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesHuawei Watch Fit 3
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 was reported at £139 and offers built-in GPS, a slimmer design and a more developed workout experience. Independent coverage found stronger workout and heart-rate performance, although heavy-use battery life was roughly seven days and Huawei’s app ecosystem is more limited than Apple’s or Wear OS’s.
It is the better direction for a fitness-focused buyer who can spend more. The Redmi is the better bargain only when its price is substantially lower.
Honor Watch 5
The Honor Watch 5 has a smaller 1.85-inch AMOLED display, a claimed 15-day battery life, heart-rate and SpO2 tracking, and a positioning system marketed as improving GPS accuracy. Pricing was not established in the available comparison evidence, so it should not be presented as a guaranteed value winner. It may suit someone who wants a smaller case, but the Redmi has the larger screen and stronger long-battery proposition.
Redmi Watch 5 Lite and Active
The Lite and Active models are cheaper options within the same naming family, but they are not equivalent replacements. The standard Watch 5’s AMOLED screen, larger display, 550mAh battery and five-system GNSS are key reasons it costs more. Compare the exact model number and specifications before buying a retailer listing.
Wear OS and Apple Watch alternatives
If you want downloadable apps, contactless payments, richer replies, a voice assistant, LTE or phone-free communications, move up to a Wear OS watch, Apple Watch or Xiaomi’s more conventional Wear OS models. You will generally pay more and charge more often, but the smartwatch experience is far richer.
Who should buy the Redmi Watch 5?
- You want multi-week battery life rather than daily charging.
- A large, bright screen is more important than a compact case.
- You need built-in GPS for occasional walks and casual workouts.
- Your main needs are notifications, activity tracking, alarms, music controls and occasional Bluetooth calls.
- You prefer simple software over a large app ecosystem.
- You can buy it at a substantial discount, ideally around $40–$50 equivalent.
Who should skip it?
- You need dependable heart-rate, pace or distance data for serious training.
- You are preparing for races or rely on accurate heart-rate zones.
- You want third-party apps, contactless payments, LTE or a full voice assistant.
- You need medical monitoring; the Watch 5 is not a medical device.
- You prefer a smaller or lighter watch.
- The asking price is close to $100 or higher and newer alternatives offer stronger fitness tracking.
Verdict
The Redmi Watch 5 is a practical, attractive budget watch with an unusually good screen and battery life. Its notifications, everyday tracking, swimming support and basic connected features are useful, and the built-in GPS is a meaningful advantage over simpler fitness bands.
But its exercise heart-rate and GPS performance are not consistent enough for serious athletes, while its software cannot compete with Wear OS or watchOS. At roughly $40–$50 equivalent, it is easy to recommend as a long-lasting everyday watch. Around its $80–$90 reference price it becomes a more conditional purchase, and above $100 it is usually better to compare newer, more fitness-focused alternatives.
Final verdict: buy the Redmi Watch 5 at a good discount for its screen and battery; do not buy it as a dependable training instrument or full smartwatch.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
