Redmi Watch 5 Active Review

Xiaomi’s recently launched Redmi Watch 5 Active has quickly gained popularity in India. The buzz surrounding it is largely due to the upgrades over its predecessor, the Watch 3 Active. Although the Watch 4 Active never made it to the Indian market, this new model brings exciting features at an affordable price of Rs 2,799.

Some of these include a bigger screen, improved battery life, additional sports modes, Alexa integration, and the brand’s HyperOS system. Having used the Redmi Watch 5 Active for more than a week, we are here to share our insights, so you can decide if it’s worth buying.

Redmi Watch 5 Active – and Display

The watch boasts a sleek and minimalistic design, featuring a durable zinc alloy body. Its metal construction gives it a sturdy feel, with a single button on the side for navigation. On the back, you’ll find the heart rate and SpO2 sensors, a speaker for calls, and charging pins that connect magnetically. The plastic back has a smooth matte finish, giving the watch a premium look despite its budget-friendly price.

Measuring 49.1×40.4×11.4mm and weighing just 42.2 grams, the watch isn’t bulky on the wrist, although its size might feel large for those with smaller wrists. Overall, the comfort level is good, allowing for continuous wear throughout the day, even for sleep tracking. The 20mm straps are easy to replace, and third-party bands can be bought for customization. The watch’s dark grey color gives it a stylish, premium look.

While some smartwatches in this range offer AMOLED displays, the Redmi Watch 5 Active comes with a 2-inch LCD screen. With a resolution of 320 x 385 pixels and a peak brightness of 500 nits, the screen offers good outdoor visibility. Although the bezels, especially the bottom one, are somewhat thick, the display quality is satisfactory. It produces vibrant colors, especially with certain watch faces, even though it lacks the deep blacks of AMOLED panels. Despite daily use, we experienced no scratches or smudges on the screen, showing decent durability.

This watch is IPX8-rated, meaning it’s water-resistant. However, there’s no dust-resistance rating, so it’s best to avoid using it in dusty environments like beaches.

Redmi Watch 5 Active – Features and App

The Redmi Watch 5 Active connects to the Mi Fitness app, which also works with Strava and Apple Health. HyperOS makes navigating the smartwatch simple and intuitive, although it’s not a complete game-changer.

Through the Mi Fitness app, you can manage watch faces, health tracking, and other functions. Continuous heart rate monitoring is available, with options to track it every 30 minutes or in “Smart” mode. Blood oxygen and stress tracking are also offered all day. The app includes advanced sleep tracking, monitoring your REM sleep, heart rate, and breathing patterns at night.

The app also allows you to set reminders, alarms, and rearrange widgets. You can add a password to the watch for extra security if needed.

With over 140 sports modes, this smartwatch covers most activities, although swimming mode is absent. It does, however, include a water-expulsion feature, which is quite effective.

Bluetooth calling is a standout feature, delivering excellent clarity. Calls made via the watch were so clear that the person on the other end couldn’t tell we weren’t using our phone.

Redmi Watch 5 Active – Performance and UI

One of the biggest upgrades in the Redmi Watch 5 Active is HyperOS, which brings fluid animations, Alexa support, and over 200 cloud-based watch faces. It also supports Hindi language and emojis. The step counting was fairly accurate, though we noticed slight inconsistencies. The SpO2 sensor performed well and provided results that closely matched those from medical-grade devices, though these readings should only be used for reference.

For sleep tracking, the watch struggles to detect when you wake up unless you move around quite a bit. Built-in Alexa works well, handling tasks like setting timers and controlling smart home devices with ease. However, Alexa can’t start workouts or play music from the watch.

Redmi Watch 5 Active – Battery Life

With a 470mAh battery, the Redmi Watch 5 Active delivers good battery life. Although Xiaomi claims it can last up to 18 days (or 12 days with heavy usage), we got about 10 days on moderate use. While this is lower than advertised, charging the watch once every 10 days is still very reasonable. Even for longer trips, the battery life should hold up well.

Our Thoughts

Overall, the Redmi Watch 5 Active makes a strong case for being the best smartwatch in its price range. Its long battery life, vibrant display, health tracking features, excellent Bluetooth calling, and sleek design make it a great value for money. While some users might find it a bit bulky, if you’re willing to overlook that, it’s an ideal option for anyone looking to start their fitness journey on a budget.