Redmi Watch 5 Review: Basic Doesn’t Always Mean Bad

As far as affordable smart wearables go, Chinese tech giant Xiaomi offers users a ton of options with a wide range of different models – this includes Wear OS smartwatches, fitness brands, and a variety of other devices under its Redmi brand. Speaking of the latter, the Redmi Watch 5 is the latest from Xiaomi’s highly-popular sub-brand, boasting a wallet-friendly price and some neat specs.

With that in mind however, is the low price worth it, or should you steer clear of the Redmi Watch 5? Let’s take a look.

Design and Display

If you compare the Redmi Watch 5 side-by-side with last year’s Watch 4, you’d be hard-pressed to notice any significant changes in design. The Redmi Watch 5 still features the same rounded-square look seen on its predecessor, with an aluminum frame and plastic rear panel. The strap mechanism is still the same as well, unlike on more “standard” watch designs; this whole ensemble also features 5ATM water resistance, with a single rotating crown that also doubles as an action button.

READ: Redmi Note 14 Pro Review: Almost Pro?

The Watch 5’s best feature is its display – it features a large screen at 2 inches, covered by a layer of 2.5D glass with slightly-curved edges, unlike the fully-flat display on its predecessor. It’s an AMOLED panel with a 432 × 514 pixel resolution, and gets really bright at 1,500 nits, brighter than some budget smartphones on the market right now. Overall it’s a lightweight device despite the somewhat large size, and doesn’t really put a strain on my wrist even with overnight usage.

Software and Usage

As for software, you won’t find Wear OS on the Redmi Watch 5. Instead, Xiaomi has fitted the Watch 5 with its own custom HyperOS platform, which comes with its own apps and software services. While the Redmi Watch 5 operates the same way as other wearable platforms via touch inputs, there are some differences –  swiping downward will show your notifications, swiping upwards brings up your stats, while swiping from the left shows your quick settings panel. The action button/crown also gives you access to your apps list when pressed, and doubles as a power button when long-pressed.

Navigating through the UI is generally smooth, even when compared to other wearables such as ones from Fitbit for example. The large and bright display also makes it easier to see time, stats, and notifications even under direct sunlight. There are some shortcomings however, such as the inability to type replies to messages, which by comparison is one of the more useful core features of Wear OS and WatchOS. It does support Bluetooth phone calls and notification mirroring though, which is nice.

The Redmi Watch 5 also comes with a plethora of different sports modes for different activities, in addition to sleep tracking, heart rate and SPO2 monitoring, stress monitoring, and stats such as calories burned and steps walked, to name a couple. Xiaomi says that it also supports up to 200 different watch faces, which does add a nice bit of variety as far as customizability goes.

Battery and Other Details

Another standout feature of the watch is its battery life. There’s a 550 mAh battery inside that Xiaomi claims can last for up to 24 days, which isn’t too far-fetched given how lightweight the operating system is, unlike Wear OS devices which can last for barely a week at most. Of course, this will depend on how frequently you use the watch’s different features, whether or not you use it to sleep, and so on. I wasn’t able to make it last for up to three weeks, having to charge it after two and a half.

It should also be noted that the Redmi Watch 5 also supports GNSS for better positioning and tracking when you’re out and about on your runs. The device also packs built-in mics and a loudspeaker, and works with both Android and iOS devices via the Mi Health app.

READ: TicWatch Atlas Review: Ruggedly Smart

Final Thoughts

The Redmi Watch 5 is a device that’s obviously not meant for folks after a high-end smartwatch experience, but rather buyers looking for a wearable that’s capable of covering the basics, and does them well. The Watch 5’s terrific battery life, large display, and lightweight design all make for an impressive budget wearable, and the relatively-affordable price tag certainly acts as icing on top of the cake.

On the other hand though, it should be noted that HyperOS might not be the most intuitive platform especially for users who are looking for a smartwatch that can easily meld in with their device ecosystem. Again though we go back to the essentials, and for a price that undercuts a lot of the competition, the Redmi Watch 5 certainly manages to stand out.

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