After unveiling the new Xiaomi 17T and 17T Pro smartphones, the Chinese company has expanded its wearable lineup: Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm is launching on the global market. The smartwatch runs on the proprietary HyperOS 3 shell and focuses on a bright display, long battery life, and an expanded set of sports features. Below, we break down what this means in practice, who should consider them, and how much it all costs.
The new watch is already available for sale
What’s New in Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm
These are classic round watches with a stainless steel case. Watch S5 weighs 46 grams and is 10.99 mm thick — for steel watches, these are perfectly normal numbers, neither heavy nor bulky. The main visual change concerns the display.
The 1.48-inch display uses AMOLED technology with a resolution of 480 by 480 pixels and peak brightness of up to 2500 nits. In practice, high brightness matters in summer and outdoors: the display remains readable under direct sunlight. Bezels have been reduced to 2.6 mm, and Xiaomi claims a 40% reduction compared to the previous model. Water drop false touch protection has also been added — the screen doesn’t register splashes as touches.
How Long Does Xiaomi Watch S5 Last on a Single Charge
Inside, there’s an 815 mAh battery. Up to 21 days of battery life is what Xiaomi promises in a light usage scenario. In standard mode, the estimate is more modest, and reality is usually closer to that figure.
A large battery is hidden inside the watch. Image: Xiaomi
The manufacturer provides three figures:
- up to 21 days — with light usage
- up to 14 days — with normal usage
- up to 9 days — with always-on display mode enabled
It’s worth taking a sober look at the marketing here: the 21-day figure refers to minimal load, while a constantly-on watch face cuts battery life by more than half. But even 9–14 days is noticeably more than most Wear OS watches, which need charging every day or two.
Xiaomi Smartwatch Features
For workouts, Xiaomi Watch S5 supports over 150 sports modes and uses an updated dual-band navigation module with support for five satellite systems. This is needed for more accurate route tracking outdoors. There are offline maps and a backtrack function — useful for those who run or hike in unfamiliar places.
A cycling mode has been added: the watch transmits data to a smartphone and works as a bike computer, and also connects to third-party power meters via Bluetooth. This is aimed at those who train consciously rather than just counting steps.
Over 150 workout modes are available. Image: Xiaomi
Among the more specific features — a ski mode with fall detection that calls emergency services if the person doesn’t respond within 60 seconds. There’s also a Passion mode: it tracks applause and arm waves at sporting events to calculate calories burned on fan emotions. More of a nice touch than a reason to buy.
Health monitoring is handled by a new sensor with four LEDs for measuring heart rate and blood oxygen levels. Xiaomi claims 98.4% heart rate tracking accuracy — such figures from manufacturers should always be taken with a grain of salt. The company updated its sleep algorithms in collaboration with international sleep research organizations.
The watch features an updated sensor system. Image: Xiaomi
Running on HyperOS 3, the watch connects to Xiaomi’s smart home ecosystem, can remotely control the smartphone camera, and supports contactless payment via Mastercard and Visa. An important note for Russian users: NFC payment functionality depends on payment system card support, which is currently limited in Russia. This feature shouldn’t be counted on when purchasing.
Price and Versions of Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm
The watch is already available on the global market. Black and silver versions cost €179.99 — roughly from 20,000 ₽ in Russia. The Jungle Green and Ceramic Blue colorways with different strap materials and bezel finishes are priced at €199.99, or about 22,000 ₽ in Russia.
The difference between versions is only in strap materials and case design — the internals are identical. If functionality matters more to you than visual accents, there’s no point in paying extra for the pricier colorways.
Who Should Get Xiaomi Watch S5, and Who Shouldn’t
Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm is a sensible choice for those who want a bright display and long battery life without being tied to daily charging, plus a serious set of training features at a reasonable price. The cycling mode, navigation with offline maps, and ski mode with fall detection make the watch appealing for active users.
It’s worth being realistic about the marketing figures: 21 days of battery life and 98.4% heart rate accuracy are lab scenarios, not guarantees. Russian buyers should consider beforehand which contactless payment and service features will actually work in local conditions.
