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Xiaomi unveiled the Watch 5 alongside the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, packing a dual-chip architecture, medical-grade sensors and eSIM connectivity into a 47mm stainless-steel body. The standard model starts at 1,999 yuan (~$284), while the eSIM variant is 2,299 yuan (~$327).
Performance and battery built for real life
The Watch 5 sports a 1.54-inch AMOLED with a razor-thin 2.6mm bezel and up to 1,500 nits of brightness, all protected by synthetic sapphire over both the display and the heart-rate sensor window. Under the hood is a split personality: a 4nm Snapdragon W5 handles performance and visuals, while a BES2800 low-power chip manages background tasks and health tracking. That dual-chip, dual-system approach aims to balance snappy UI with long battery life—Xiaomi says up to six days in performance mode and around 18 days in power-saving mode.
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Standalone connectivity, apps and navigation
On select models the Watch 5 supports eSIM, which means it can join 4G networks without a phone. Make calls, send messages, use WeChat, complete Alipay payments and stream music directly from the watch. Xiaomi also includes a built-in app store and offers turn-by-turn navigation via Baidu Maps, with offline maps and track-back routing for hikers and trail runners.
Health and control features get notable upgrades. The Watch 5 delivers 30-second ECG rhythm readings with detailed reports and introduces an EMG muscle signal sensor — a first for Xiaomi watches. EMG picks up subtle electrical signals from muscles, letting you control calls, media playback, alarms and connected devices with finger movements. Continuous heart-rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, sleep analysis, stress detection and one-tap health scans round out the suite.
Fitness features are extensive too: more than 150 sports modes, indoor gym guidance with 3D animations, automatic rep counting and in-depth performance evaluations. Outdoor modes include offline route navigation, deviation alerts and track-back for safer backtracking on trails.
Build and extras: the 47mm stainless-steel case ships with several strap options—black and khaki fluoroelastomer bands, leather straps and a premium 3D-printed titanium band. It charges via a contact-based solution, runs Xiaomi’s HyperOS, and includes the Super XiaoAi voice assistant with on-device processing for faster, privacy-friendly responses. Curious about EMG gestures in daily use? Expect subtle but practical controls once you get used to them.
Source: gizmochina
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