Realme Watch 5 officially lands with Apple Ultra vibes and budget price
Realme has officially pulled the wraps off the Watch 5. After a full year without a new smartwatch, the company is back with a device that brings improvements across the board. What’s drawing attention is how closely the device mimics the Apple Watch Ultra, but at a price that barely hits 70 euro.
As expected, the company has skipped version 4. Which means, we are going from Gen 3 straight to Gen 5. Realme hasn’t explained the reasoning, but the naming jump matches the leap in hardware and features.
Both the Watch 3 and Watch 3 Pro launched back in 2022. The Watch 3 brought a larger display than its predecessor, but stuck with LCD tech and left out GPS. The Pro model improved things with an AMOLED screen and built-in location tracking, but still felt like a modest step forward.
The Watch 5 goes further. You get a larger AMOLED display, improved battery life, GNSS support, NFC payments, and more advanced communication features like Bluetooth intercom. There’s also an increase in sports modes and lifestyle features, including a simplified game mode UI.
Display and design take a leap forward
There’s no avoiding the comparison. The Realme Watch 5 leans heavily into the Apple Watch Ultra aesthetic. The case shape, the rugged crown, the orange accents, even the layout of the buttons all feel lifted straight from Cupertino. For anyone glancing at your wrist, it could easily pass for something much more expensive. That seems to be the goal.
The device now features a 1.97-inch AMOLED screen with 390 by 450 pixel resolution. That’s a noticeable step up from the 1.8-inch TFT LCD display found on the 2022 Watch 3. The Watch 3 Pro had AMOLED, but at a smaller 1.78 inches. This time, the screen is not only bigger, but also smoother and brighter, with a 60Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 600 nits for better outdoor visibility.
Users can personalise the device with more than 300 watch face themes, including animated options. Two colour variants are shown in the renders: black with a black strap, and silver with a silver strap.
Battery life and durability also improve
Under the hood, things are basic. You get 8 megabytes of RAM, 4 gigabytes of internal storage, along with a processor from Chinese chipmaker Actions. It’s their ATS3085S, a Bluetooth chip with minimal processing overhead. The watch runs Realme’s own operating system rather than anything like Wear OS, which means app support is limited but performance should be stable.
That choice also explains the battery life. A 460mAh battery powers the Watch 5, up from the 340mAh cell in the Watch 3 and 345mAh in the Watch 3 Pro. Realme claims 14 days of typical usage, or up to 20 days in Light Smart Mode. That puts it ahead of many budget rivals, and they’re also promising a 5-year battery lifespan.
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The watch carries an IP68 rating, just like the previous generation. That ensures resistance against dust and splashes, but it’s not proper waterproofing for swimming.
Built-in GPS and Bluetooth calling return
One of the key upgrades in the Watch 3 Pro was the addition of built-in GPS. That feature is returning in the Watch 5, with support for five GNSS systems. The basic Watch 3 relied on a connected phone for location tracking, so this again sets the Watch 5 apart from entry-level models.
There’s tracking for sleep, stress, heart rate, along with general physical activity. Blood oxygen (SpO2) tracking is now part of the package too. ECG is still missing, but that’s expected at this price point.
Sports tracking expands. The Watch 5 supports 108 workout modes. That puts it more in line with what we’re seeing from competitors at the same price point.
Connectivity includes Bluetooth 5.3 and Wi-Fi, along with NFC support for contactless payments. Bluetooth calling is included again.
Who this is for
The Realme Watch 5 is not for people chasing features or fitness depth. It’s for anyone who wants the Apple Watch Ultra look without the price tag. The materials might not match Apple’s, but the silhouette is convincing.
At 50 grams, it won’t weigh you down. And if all you need is something that looks good, tells the time and gives you some light health tracking, this could be a solid pickup. Just don’t expect premium performance from hardware that is very clearly built to a budget.
Availability is now official, with the watch already listed at 69.99 euro in some European markets. It’s not trying to compete on performance. It’s offering the style, not the substance. But even so, there are some nice touches. The AMOLED screen is a generous 1.97 inches with a resolution of 450 by 390 pixels, which puts it ahead of many entry-level watches in terms of visual quality.
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