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Head-to-head · Best Smartwatches

Apple Watch Series 11 vs Xiaomi Watch 5

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Apple Watch Series 11 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.3 vs 4.1). The gap is mostly about Users wanting reliable connectivity and battery life — read the strengths below before deciding.

Apple Watch Series 11
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Smartwatches
Apple Watch Series 11
7 sources1 derived$359.97as of Aug 22

The Apple Watch Series 11 offers subtle but meaningful upgrades over its predecessor, including a notable battery life improvement, 5G support, and the addition of FDA-cleared hypertension alerts. While it maintains the familiar design and retains the same S10 chip, it introduces more reliable connectivity and enhanced durability features. The watch remains a well-rounded option, though its advantages are increasingly shared with competitors and older models.

Strengths
  • — FDA-cleared hypertension notification feature
  • — 24+ hour battery life with fast charging
  • — 5G and more reliable cellular connectivity
Watch-outs
  • — Same S10 chip as previous model
  • — No dual-band GPS support
$359.97 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Xiaomi Watch 5
Ranked #8 in Best Smartwatches
Xiaomi Watch 5
8 sources2 derived

The Xiaomi Watch 5 stands out as one of the best Wear OS smartwatches available, thanks to its integration of Wear OS 6 and a significant battery upgrade with silicon-carbon technology that delivers up to four days of usage. Reviewers praised its 1.54-inch AMOLED display and smart features like YouTube Music and remote camera control. However, some noted the lack of wireless charging and that the build quality, while solid, doesn't quite match premium offerings. This makes it ideal for users seeking long battery life and Android smartwatch functionality, though those prioritizing premium feel may want to consider alternatives.

Strengths
  • — Features Wear OS 6 integration which improves software experience
  • — Includes silicon-carbon battery technology delivering up to 4 days of battery life
  • — Has a 1.54-inch AMOLED display with 2.6 mm thickness
Watch-outs
  • — Charger is not wireless and uses a proprietary two-pin charging port
  • — The design is somewhat plain and lacks standout style.
Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Apple Watch Series 11

The Apple Watch Series 11 improves battery life and adds 5G connectivity, but it's held back by the unchanged S10 chip, unlike the OnePlus Watch 3 which uses a dual-chipset system for optimized power consumption. Compared to the Garmin Venu 4, it lacks advanced recovery metrics like Body Battery, and while it offers better software updates than the Apple Watch SE 3, it doesn't match the SE 3's affordability. The Pixel Watch 4 also offers more battery life but without the ecosystem integration that the Series 11 provides.

Xiaomi Watch 5

The Xiaomi Watch 5 offers four days of battery life and Wear OS 6 integration, which is more than the OnePlus Watch 3 and Apple Watch Series 11, but it lacks the advanced health tracking features of the Garmin Venu 4 and Apple Watch Ultra 3. While it provides smart features like YouTube Music and Spotify, it doesn't match the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2's durability or the Apple Watch SE 3's speaker capabilities. The Google Pixel Watch 4 offers more battery life but lacks the Android smartwatch functionality.

Specs side-by-side

SpecApple Watch Series 11Xiaomi Watch 5
Display Typewide-angle OLED LTPO technologyAMOLED touchscreen
Connectivity5G, cellularBluetooth 5.4, Wi-Fi 2.4GHz, NFC, dual-band L1+L5 GNSS
Water Resistance50m5ATM rating (50m depth)
OSwatchOS 26Wear OS 6
CompatibilityiOSAndroid 6.0+
MaterialSteel or titaniumSapphire crystal glass, stainless steel frame (316L)
BatteryBuilt-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery930 mAh
Dimensions46mm x 39mm x 9.7mm47 x 47 x 12.3 mm
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