Redmi Watch 5 Active packs a 2-inch display & Alexa
Redmi Watch 5 Active has launched in India yesterday. While it doesn’t push the boundaries of what smartwatches can do, it does deliver a nice array of features for a budget-friendly smartwatch. The device’s predecessors have been made available internationally so it is likely this device will soon be available in markets such as Europe.
A massive 2 inch display
To remind, the Redmi Watch 4 debuted in China towards the end of 2023, But a month later it was made available for purchase in Europe. That device offers a huge 1.97-inch AMOLED display, with a resolution of 450 x 390 pixels.
This gets a further boost to 2 inches on the Redmi Watch 5 Active. But the new addition has an LCD screen with a resolution of 320 x 385 pixels – so is not as high-res as its predecessor. The screen brightness can reach up to 500 nits, which is pretty decent.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
The rectangular device has a size of 49.1mm in height, 40.4mm in width, and a thickness of 11.4mm, and weighs 42.2 grams. This makes it fairly light on the wrist and comfortable for all-day wear. However, the sizeable dimensions means its probably not really a great fit for those with small wrists.
The timepiece is powered by HyperOS, and offers a choice of over 200 cloud-based watch faces, including 50+ customizable options. So lots there to customise your device with. With its IPX8 rating and metallic build, the watch is water-resistant, making it safe to wear in the rain or during intense workout sessions.
Covers fitness tracking basics
As its name implies, this is something for those into fitness. Watch 5 Active comes packing over 140 sports modes, some of these with auto-recognition. There is an array of health sensors on-board, including a heart rate sensor, SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen monitoring, and an accelerometer. So all the usual suspects are there. No built-in GPS so you’ll need to rely on Connected GPS for that sort of thing.
Something that you won’t find in many budget smartwatches is integration with Alexa. Redmi Watch 5 Active has this, allowing for voice commands. The device supports Bluetooth 5.3, enabling Bluetooth calling with a 3-mic ENC setup. Which means you can receive, answer, and reject calls directly from your wrist when connected to a smartphone. Additionally, the watch offers emergency SOS call support.
As far as battery life, this is where the Redmi Watch 5 Active truly shines. It offers up to 18 days between charges under typical usage conditions, which drops to about 12 days with heavy usage. The excellent battery life is largely a result of the lightweight Xiaomi HyperOS it runs on.
Price, availability
As mentioned, Watch 5 Active was just released in India. In that country, it comes with a promotional price tag of ₹2,799 (33 US dollars), down on the ₹4,999 (60 US dollars) it will eventually sell for. You can pick the watch up in a choice between Matte Silver and Midnight Black. We’ll keep an eye out on international availability and report back when there is news on this front.
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