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.
Full review
Battery life exceeds expectations
The Xiaomi Watch 5 delivers an impressive battery runtime that sets it apart from most Wear OS smartwatches. Reviewers noted that the device achieves up to six days of regular use, with extended performance reaching 18 days in power save mode. This longevity stems from a substantial 930mAh silicon-carbon battery, which provides a significant advantage over previous models. The battery performance was consistent even with features like raise-to-wake, 1-minute heart rate monitoring, advanced sleep tracking, and Bluetooth functionality enabled. The device's ability to maintain 10% battery life after such extended usage indicates that the power management is well-tuned for everyday wear. This extended runtime makes the watch particularly appealing for travelers or users who prefer infrequent charging.
Sapphire glass and premium materials
The Xiaomi Watch 5 features a premium build with a stainless steel case and sapphire crystal glass on both front and back surfaces. Reviewers noted that the sapphire glass contributes to a high-end feel, with the back panel also featuring the same scratch-resistant material. The rotating crown button provides tactile feedback with textured clicks, and the programmable shortcut key below it launches the workout app by default. The caseback design includes a sapphire layer that protects against scratches, though some users expressed concern about the space between lugs being vulnerable to scratches. The watch's design leans into traditional aesthetics with a 1.54-inch AMOLED display that offers sharp viewing angles and vibrant output. The thin bezel of just 2.6mm contributes to a modern look, though it eliminates the possibility for interchangeable bezels compared to previous models like the Watch S4.
Gesture controls via EMG sensor
One of the standout features of the Xiaomi Watch 5 is its integration of an EMG (electromyography) sensor for gesture-based controls. This sensor allows users to perform actions like dismissing notifications, silencing alarms, and taking photos remotely through finger gestures. The implementation of this technology represents a novel approach to interaction within smartwatches, offering an alternative to traditional button presses or touchscreen interactions. Reviewers found that the gesture controls were responsive and intuitive, though some noted that the sensor's accuracy could be improved in certain scenarios. The EMG sensor adds a layer of innovation that differentiates the Xiaomi Watch 5 from other Wear OS devices, providing users with a more hands-free experience. However, the sensor's effectiveness in various lighting conditions and user movements was not consistently verified across all testing environments.
Software integration and performance
This configuration provides zippy overall performance, with the system handling multitasking and app switching smoothly. The watch also features a secondary real-time operating system (RTOS) that complements Google's Wear OS 6, enabling the Power saver mode to shut off Wear OS and third-party apps, leaving only Xiaomi's barebones Vela OS. Switching between Smart mode and Power saver mode requires a reboot, which can cause a few minutes of downtime. The software interface is described as fluid and responsive, with a clean implementation of Wear OS 6's Material 3 Expressive design. However, some users reported glitches in the battery indicator, where the device would show 100% for several days despite active usage. The system also lacks quick response for texts and has inconsistent sleep tracking, with the device responding to even slight movements.
Health and activity tracking capabilities
The Xiaomi Watch 5 includes comprehensive health and activity tracking features, including real-time heart rate monitoring, 24/7 blood oxygen level monitoring, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and sports tracking. It supports over 150 sports modes through the Mi Fitness app, including outdoor running, cycling, hiking, swimming, and more. The device also offers step counting, meditation tracking, and various other wellness metrics. Sleep tracking, however, was noted as inconsistent by some reviewers, with the device responding to minor movements and potentially misinterpreting sleep stages. Heart rate monitoring and blood oxygen tracking were generally reliable, though accuracy during high-intensity workouts was questioned by a few users. The watch also includes a 5ATM water resistance rating, making it suitable for swimming and water-based activities, though some reviewers noted accuracy issues during swimming. The device's ability to track multiple health metrics simultaneously provides a robust foundation for fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious users.
Display and visual experience
The display offers excellent viewing angles and vibrant output, with a maximum brightness of 1,500 nits. The screen is protected by sapphire glass, which enhances durability and scratch resistance. The display-to-body ratio reaches 78%, with only 2.6mm bezels, creating a modern aesthetic that minimizes the appearance of black borders. The watch supports Always-On Display (AOD) functionality, allowing users to view information without raising their wrist. The interface is described as fluid and responsive, with numerous watch face options available, including those with AOD capabilities. The screen's brightness and clarity were praised by reviewers, especially in bright environments. However, some users noted that the screen's performance could be improved in low-light conditions, where visibility becomes challenging.
Connectivity and feature set
It is compatible with Android 6.0+ devices, making it suitable for Android users seeking a Wear OS experience. The watch also includes multi-band GPS reception for accurate location tracking during outdoor activities. Connectivity features are described as reliable, with no major issues reported in standard usage scenarios. The device supports music and camera control, as well as alarm, stopwatch, and weather forecast functions. However, some reviewers noted that the lack of airplane mode was a limitation for users concerned about radiation exposure during sleep. The watch also lacks a calculator app and NFC functionality, which some users considered missing features. Despite these limitations, the overall connectivity performance was deemed satisfactory for most use cases.
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
- +Supports advanced smartwatch functions like YouTube Music, Spotify, and remote camera control
Watch-outs
- −Charger is not wireless and uses a proprietary two-pin charging port
- −The design is somewhat plain and lacks standout style.
How it compares
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.
Rating sources
“Xiaomi Watch 5 offers the longest runtimes of any smartwatch running Android on the wrist.”
“Battery life is king on this device.”
Our 4.1 score is the average of the 4 scored reviews above; 4 more reviewed it without printing a score and are not in the average. Ratings marked * were derived from the reviewer’s written analysis or video transcript — the publisher didn’t print an explicit numeric score, so we inferred one from their own words. Click through to verify. More about methodology.
