Xiaomi Watch 5: A Comprehensive Week-Long WearOS Review

Introduction

The Xiaomi Watch 5 is a flagship smartwatch from Xiaomi that runs on Google’s Wear OS, offering a more affordable alternative to other popular smartwatches in the market. In this review, we dive deep into the design, features, battery life, and more to help you decide if it’s worth your investment.

Design & Build

The Xiaomi Watch 5 comes in a single 47mm case size with two color options – Juniper Green and Black. The stainless steel casing and fluororubber strap give it a uniform and well-made look. The watch features two physical buttons for navigation and shortcuts, along with an optical sensor array at the back for heart rate monitoring. It’s also water-resistant up to 50 meters, making it suitable for showering and swimming.

Screen & Audio

The watch sports a 1.54-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 x 480. The screen quality is good, with vibrant colors and good responsiveness to touch. Xiaomi has used sapphire glass on both the front and back of the case for scratch resistance. The built-in microphone and speaker allow for features like Bluetooth calls and voice recordings.

Software & Features

The Xiaomi Watch 5 runs on Google’s Wear OS 6.0, offering access to the latest updates and features. While Xiaomi’s UI is prevalent in certain areas, Google’s apps like Calendar, Maps, and the Play Store are also integrated. The watch features Xiaomi’s Gemini AI assistant, offering a more useful experience than Google Assistant. Gesture controls and Xiaomi-centric features enhance the overall user experience.

Fitness & Tracking

The watch comes equipped with continuous heart rate and SpO2 tracking, 150 sports tracking modes, and dual-frequency GPS for accurate outdoor tracking. Sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and offline maps add to the fitness capabilities of the watch. The data accuracy and presentation are commendable, making it a reliable fitness companion.

Battery Life & Charging

With a 930mAh battery, the Xiaomi Watch 5 offers up to 6 days of battery life in smart mode and up to 4 days with the display always on. A power-saving mode extends the battery life up to 18 days by disabling certain features. Charging is done via a proprietary cradle, with a full charge taking just over an hour.

Price & Availability

Priced at £269.99, the Xiaomi Watch 5 offers a more affordable option compared to other smartwatches in its category. It can be purchased from the official Xiaomi store and other retailers like Amazon. The competitive pricing makes it an attractive choice for those looking for a feature-packed smartwatch without breaking the bank.

Verdict

The Xiaomi Watch 5 presents a compelling option for users seeking a budget-friendly yet feature-rich smartwatch. With solid hardware, extensive fitness tracking capabilities, and impressive battery life, it stands out in the crowded smartwatch market. While it may lack in design aesthetics and user-friendly software, the overall value it offers makes it a worthy contender in its price range.