Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm Review

Xiaomi Watch S5 is worth the money

The Xiaomi Watch S5 is finally here, and it offers a solid mix of style and performance. Finding a smartwatch that handles tough outdoor workouts and still looks good at the office can be tricky. This new device manages to balance both. It is positioned as a premium wearable for active users who want reliable health tracking without sacrificing design. I spent time looking into its features and specs. Here is my review of how it performs and whether it is worth your money.

Design and Durability

Xiaomi clearly built this device for long term use. It features a sturdy 316L stainless steel frame that feels premium and resists daily wear and tear. The watch body has a 46mm width, but it remains relatively slim at 10.99mm thick. It weighs just around 46 grams without the strap, making it very comfortable to wear all day.

When it comes to styling, the standard black color looks bland, to be honest. If you want more swag, you should definitely get the deep blue colorway. It gives the watch a much better personality and stands out nicely. You also get a solid 5ATM water resistance rating. This IP rating is perfect especially now that people are so into swimming because of the heat. You can confidently take it for a dip in the pool without worrying about water damage.

Related: Xiaomi Watch S4 Review

Display Quality

The screen is easily one of the best parts of this smartwatch. You get a large 1.48-inch AMOLED display that is incredibly vibrant. Xiaomi increased the screen area and reduced the bezels, giving the interface a spacious and modern look.

Visibility is never an issue with this device. The display hits a peak brightness of 2500 nits. You can easily read your messages or check your workout stats even under direct sunlight. It also includes wet-touch protection. This helpful feature prevents accidental screen taps when you have sweaty fingers or water droplets on the glass.

Health and Fitness Tracking

Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the impressive line-up of available tracking features. The watch covers over 150 sports modes, ensuring almost every activity is logged. It features a new 4-LED sensor module that provides highly accurate heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring. The sleep tracking algorithm is also upgraded. It is now much better at recognizing exactly when you fall asleep and wake up, providing detailed reports to improve your rest.

For outdoor lovers, the watch includes a dual-frequency GNSS chip for faster and more precise location tracking. You can download full-color offline maps via high-speed Wi-Fi. This means you can navigate trails or explore unfamiliar areas without carrying your phone. Cyclists get a nice bonus too. The watch connects to third-party cycling power meters and syncs data directly to your phone to act as a bike computer. It also features a professional skiing mode with fall detection for extra safety.

Software Experience

The Watch S5 runs on Xiaomi HyperOS, which focuses on seamless interconnectivity. The interface is clean and snappy. It supports cool gesture controls like snapping your fingers to reject calls or taking remote photos with your phone. You can also use it to control compatible smart home devices directly from your wrist.

However, there is a clear downside to this operating system. The device is not using Wear OS. Therefore, you have limited use of Google third party apps that are normally applicable for Wear OS watches. You will not be downloading external apps directly from a Play Store here. You are mostly restricted to Xiaomi native apps and basic notification mirroring from your phone. If you rely heavily on a wide app ecosystem, this might be an issue. But for most users, the built-in tools cover all the basics perfectly.

Battery Life

Battery anxiety is practically non-existent with this watch. It packs a massive 815mAh battery. You get insane battery life that can last up to 21 days on light usage. Even with regular daily use and consistent health tracking, it easily survives up to 14 days. If you keep the always-on display active, you still get around 9 days of power. It is also quick to top up. You spend less time tethered to a wall charger and more time actually wearing the device.

Pricing and Verdict

Value for money is a major selling point here. The Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm retails for PHP 10,999, with an early-bird price of PHP 10,229 and a free strap; the Special Edition retails for PHP 11,999, with an early-bird price of PHP 11,159 and a free strap. You receive a luxury steel build, highly accurate sports tracking, and a battery that lasts for weeks.

While the lack of third-party apps is a small compromise, the hardware alone justifies the cost. It is a highly capable smartwatch for active users looking for a reliable daily driver.