Is Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 the Best Budget Smartwatch of 2025? Review
Discover if Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 is the best budget smartwatch of 2025! Full review on design, display, battery & features.
Xiaomi introduced Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 in November 2024, but at first, it was only sold in China. In January 2025, the smartwatch finally launched globally, giving more users a chance to experience its features. Now that we’ve got our hands on it, we took a closer look to see how it performs. Here’s everything you need to know about the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5, from its design and display to battery life and fitness tracking.
Table of Contents
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Specifications
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| 📅 Release Date | Announced: November 27, 2024 • Released: January 15, 2025 |
| 📏 Dimensions | 47.5 x 41.1 x 11.3 mm (1.87 x 1.62 x 0.44 in) |
| ⚖️ Weight | 33.5g (1.20 oz) |
| 🏗️ Build | Plastic back, aluminum frame |
| 💦 Water Resistance | 5ATM (50m water-resistant) |
| 📶 Network | No cellular connectivity |
| 📲 SIM | eSIM (China only) |
| 🔆 Display | 2.1″ AMOLED, 1500 nits (peak) |
| 📏 Resolution | 432 x 514 pixels (~324 ppi) |
| ⌚ Always-On Display | Yes |
| 🛠️ Operating System | HyperOS |
| 💾 Storage | 164MB (No card slot) |
| 📸 Camera | No |
| 🔊 Loudspeaker | Yes |
| 🎧 3.5mm Jack | No |
| 📡 Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| 🌍 Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS |
| 💳 NFC | Yes (China only) |
| 📻 Radio | No |
| 🔌 USB | No |
| 🔋 Battery | 550mAh |
| 🎨 Colors | Black, Silver, Beige |
| 🏷️ Models | M2427W1, M2428W1 |
| 💰 Price | $84.50 / €109.00 |
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Design: A Premium Look at an Affordable Price
The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 makes a strong first impression with its sleek aluminum alloy body, giving it a premium feel despite its budget-friendly €110 price tag. The model we tested came with a Lavender Purple TPU strap which felt soft, lightweight and comfortable for all-day wear.
Xiaomi also included two additional Quick Release straps which are compatible with other devices in the same ecosystem. One was a Cream White cowhide leather strap, adding a touch of elegance, while the other was a Rose Purple velcro textile strap, designed for a sportier look. While both options were stylish, we found Purple TPU strap to be the most versatile and durable for daily use.
In terms of design Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 closely resembles Apple Watch. While this similarity gives it a high-end appearance, it does lack originality. Some might appreciate the familiar design, while others may find it less exciting. Regardless, for its price, Redmi Watch 5 delivers a refined look that feels more expensive than it actually is.
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Bright and Vivid Display
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 comes with a 2.07-inch AMOLED display, the largest ever in a Xiaomi smartwatch. With thin 2mm bezels and an 82% screen-to-body ratio, display feels more immersive while keeping the watch compact and easy to wear.
2.5D curved glass adds to the smooth and premium feel making touch interactions more comfortable. 1,500-nit peak brightness ensures excellent visibility even in direct sunlight and 60Hz refresh rate delivers a smooth experience, similar to high-end smartphones.
For better power efficiency, LTPS panel allows certain watch faces to lower the refresh rate to 5Hz, helping to extend battery life. Colors are vibrant, and what you see in the Mi Fitness app looks just as stunning on the watch itself.
The Always-On Display (AOD) comes with two modes:
- Always-On Display – Brightens up when you raise your wrist.
- Main Display – Takes you directly to the main screen with additional details.
The Raise to Wake gesture is highly responsive, accurately detecting wrist movements to turn the screen on or off as needed.
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Simple and Smart Software
The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 connects to the Mi Fitness app, available on all major app stores. This app is the hub for managing notifications, calls, fitness tracking, and alarms for Xiaomi’s health devices.
The watch’s interface is clean and easy to use. Each app has its own icon, which might seem cluttered at first, but navigating is simple. Pressing the rotating crown button opens the app grid, which can be customized with or without app names or switched to a list view. The default grid layout works best for quick access.
Instant notifications appear on the watch, but emoji support is limited, meaning some symbols won’t display properly if used in messages.
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Improved Sensors, But Sleep Tracking Needs Work
Xiaomi introduced a new AFE chip in Redmi Watch 5, improving heart rate accuracy by 5.2% and sleep tracking by 10%. However, sleep tracking remains inconsistent since watch responds to even small movements, sometimes leading to inaccurate results. Unlike Huawei smartwatches which track heart rate continuously during sleep, Redmi Watch 5 may not be as reliable if you move a lot at night.
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Activity & Health Tracking
The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 includes blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring and stress tracking, but these readings are not medical-grade. With over 150 sports modes, Xiaomi promotes it as a great choice for outdoor activities, thanks to built-in GNSS support.
However, Xiaomi hasn’t specified which satellite system it uses. The Redmi Watch 5 has minor inaccuracies in GPS tracking during runs, suggesting it may rely on China’s Beidou rather than the American GPS or European Galileo systems.
For fitness enthusiasts, the watch offers running courses tailored for casual runners and breathing exercises to aid relaxation. The Mi Fitness app organizes all tracking data—heart rate, sleep patterns, and more—in an easy-to-read format.
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Long-Lasting Battery, But Outdated Charging
Despite the growing use of USB-C, Xiaomi still uses a proprietary pogo pin charger for the Redmi Watch 5. This means if the charger is lost or damaged, finding a replacement could be tricky.
Fortunately, charging isn’t needed often. Xiaomi claims the watch lasts 24 days, but that’s with most tracking features turned off. With regular use—heart rate monitoring, notifications, workouts, and calls—the battery lasted around 15 days, which is still impressive.
The 550mAh battery charges fully in just 60 minutes. Even with Always-On Display (AOD) enabled, the watch still managed 9 days of battery life, which is better than most competitors. However, since the raise-to-wake feature works perfectly, AOD isn’t really necessary, allowing users to extend battery life even further.
- Fitbit Versa 3 Review: Versatile Fitness Tracker
- Honor Watch 5 Review: Budget-Friendly Smartwatch with Premium Features
- Huawei Watch GT 5 Review: A Flagship Smartwatch
Pros and Cons of Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5
| ✅ Pros | ❌ Cons |
|---|---|
| ✨ Premium look and feel for the price | 📡 GNSS tracking is unreliable |
| 🌟 Bright, sharp, and easy-to-use display | 😴 Sleep and health tracking need improvement |
| 🔋 Excellent battery life | 🎛️ “HyperOS 2” is basic and lacks advanced features |
| 💰 Affordable price | ❌ |
Conclusion
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 is priced at €110 in some European markets making it an affordable and long-lasting smartwatch. While it lacks a full OS and advanced apps, it covers essential smartwatch features effectively.
It’s quite similar to the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro, especially since they share interchangeable straps. However, having more design options is always a plus.
Redmi Watch 5 is great for notifications and basic health tracking, with exceptional battery life. It may not be the best for fitness and sleep tracking, but at this price, it’s still a solid choice.
