What we know

Starting with design, and the case is 316L stainless steel. This is a step up from the aluminium alloy used on the S4, and the crown gets a concentric circle texture that adds a bit of character. Watch face options include designs inspired by classic mechanical watches, with some using Roman numerals and others featuring a moon phase complication. As can be seen from the images in this article, the watch looks very thin. So that’s another plus.

Xiaomi says the sensors have been fully upgraded across the board, with the claim being improved accuracy in health monitoring. Smart ecosystem features also get a mention, with the S5 able to act as a control hub for compatible smart home devices and connected cars.

As far as battery life, you can expect 21 days on a single charge. Which is excellent and largely a result of the lightweight operating system.

How does it compare to the S4

Having reviewed the Xiaomi Watch S4 about a year ago, there are some clear points of comparison worth drawing out, even with the S5 specs still only partially confirmed.

The S4 scored well for design, with its interchangeable bezel system and rotating crown making it one of the more customisable options in its price range. The S5 appears to move away from that bezel approach in favour of a more conventional look, with the stainless steel case giving it a bit more presence on the wrist. Whether that is a trade-off you would welcome depends on whether you valued the S4’s modularity.

Battery life is where the S5 looks like it takes a clear step forward. The S4 managed around 15 days with typical use, which was already solid. A jump to 21 days, if it holds up in practice, would put the S5 ahead of most of its direct competition.

The S4’s sensor package performed well in testing, with GPS accuracy coming within 10 metres of a Garmin Forerunner 955 on a steady run, and heart rate tracking holding up well at moderate intensity. The S5 claims upgraded sensors, but until those are tested in real conditions it is difficult to know what that improvement actually amounts to.

Pricing looks set to stay in a similar bracket, which is good news. The S4 offered decent value, and if Xiaomi can deliver on the claimed improvements without pushing the price up significantly, the S5 should be a reasonable step forward rather than a bloated upgrade.

Two versions, one with eSIM

Xiaomi is planning two variants. One connects via Bluetooth in the usual way, while the other adds eSIM support, meaning you can make calls and receive notifications without your phone nearby.

Pricing in China is expected to come in around 999 yuan for the Bluetooth model, with the eSIM version at roughly 1,199 yuan. There is no confirmed global launch yet, though international availability seems likely at some point.

Sources: Xiaomi on Weibo (2, 3)

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The hardware itself has not changed since the China release in December. What changes is how the Watch 5 fits into the wider Android smartwatch landscape.

From launch context to global positioning

When the Watch 5 was first introduced, Xiaomi focused on getting the fundamentals right. The watch uses a large 1.54 inch AMOLED display designed for readability and protected by sapphire glass rather than standard mineral crystal.

Battery capacity was another clear priority. At 930 mAh, the Watch 5 carries a much larger battery than most mainstream Wear OS watches. That capacity works alongside Qualcomm’s Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 chipset and a BES2800 co processor, which handles background tasks and sensor workloads to reduce power consumption.

Originally, this hardware ran Xiaomi’s own HyperOS for wearables. That platform covered basic smartwatch functions but sat outside the Google ecosystem, which limited how the watch could be positioned outside Xiaomi’s own software stack.

The global release replaces HyperOS with Wear OS 6. This single change reframes the Watch 5 as a direct alternative to Pixel Watch and Galaxy Watch models rather than a parallel option with a different app story.

Running Wear OS 6 puts the Watch 5 fully inside the standard Android smartwatch environment. Google services, third party apps, and system level integrations now behave in line with other Wear OS devices.

Health snapshot and fitness tracking

The Watch 5 covers the standard health tracking basics. It continuously tracks heart rate and blood oxygen and uses those readings for stress and sleep tracking. Xiaomi also keeps its one tap health check, which pulls heart rate, SpO2, stress, and recent sleep duration into a single 60 second snapshot. It is designed for quick checks rather than detailed analysis.

Movement tracking is handled through the usual motion sensors, which support step tracking, sleep stages, and automatic activity detection. For outdoor workouts, the Watch 5 includes dual band GNSS.

Colours and pricing

Globally, the Watch 5 is available in Juniper Green and Black. Pricing is set at 299 euros.

In some markets, early orders include bundled extras such as earbuds or small home devices. These offers vary by region and timing and act as short term incentives rather than permanent changes to pricing.

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This timing places Xiaomi just a few days behind Samsung’s next Galaxy Unpacked event, making late February unusually busy for major consumer tech announcements. Additionally, February 26 is when Huawei will hold its event – where we are expecting the debut of Watch GT Runner 2 at that one.

Xiaomi typically does not publish a device list before a global launch, but this time we are getting the details ahead of time. The presence of the Watch 5 on the event page confirms its transition from a China-only debut to international availability. To remind, it launched in its domestic market back in December.

The event branding still leans hard into imaging, and the phone lineup makes that obvious. But the product list shows this is not just a smartphone show. In addition to the watch, Xiaomi has also confirmed new earbuds, a power bank, a tracker tag and even an electric scooter.

Why Watch 5 stands out in Xiaomi’s lineup

The Watch 5 is not a minor refresh. It brings features that Xiaomi usually reserves for its domestic audience, including eSIM support, ECG functionality and EMG based gesture control. Of course, there is uncertainty around whether some of these capabilities would survive regulatory hurdles outside China.

Xiaomi Watch 5 represents a step up from the company’s more affordable global wearables. The hardware is built around a dual chip setup, combining a high performance processor with a low power companion chip for background tasks. Battery capacity is unusually large for this category, and the use of sapphire crystal sets it apart from many rivals at similar price points.

A novelty this year is EMG based gesture input. It allows simple hand movements to control calls, alarms, or camera functions without touching the screen. This is still a niche feature, but its inclusion signals that Xiaomi is willing to experiment at the higher end of its wearable range.

Xiaomi has not confirmed international pricing or regional availability yet, but February 28 should answer most of those questions. A Mobile World Congress appearance would also make sense, given the timing and the company’s past habits.

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Mobile World Congress is best known for phones and connectivity, but it has become a stage for broader tech. The event draws in brands building everything from smart rings to fitness trackers, as well as companies behind the chips and software that power them. Big names like Huawei, Honor, Samsung, OnePlus, Garmin and Zepp Health all have presence this year. And several of them have history launching or showcasing wearables at the event.

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is likely

Zepp Health is widely expected to announce the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2. The name was discovered in a recent app code update, and a mystery model (A2550) was spotted in Malaysia’s SIRIM regulatory database a few days ago. Both are strong signs that launch is close, and MWC makes sense for global visibility.

The original T-Rex Ultra packed dual-band GPS, diving features and a tough build, but the sequel looks set to go further. Leaks and early speculation suggest the Ultra 2 might get a brighter 1.5-inch MicroLED screen, sapphire glass, better water resistance and a bigger battery. There’s even talk of satellite messaging and new health sensors.

Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro might appear

There’s also evidence that Xiaomi is preparing a Smart Band 10 Pro. A device labelled M2552B1 recently passed through South Korea’s NRRA certification system, which usually means a launch is on the horizon. The model number aligns with Xiaomi’s smart band line, and the timing places it close enough to MWC to raise expectations.

While Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed anything, it has a track record of debuting wearables around this show. The global version of Watch S4 appeared at MWC last year, so there’s precedent. If the Band 10 Pro does land, it could offer a larger display, better sensors, and a refreshed software interface.

Samsung unlikely to show a second ring

Samsung grabbed headlines in 2024 when it used MWC to preview its first smart ring. Two years later, the Galaxy Ring still hasn’t seen a follow-up. Legal complications are part of the reason. Oura has filed a complaint with the US International Trade Commission accusing Samsung of patent infringement. That case is still active.

Industry coverage suggests a second-generation ring is not on the near-term roadmap. Samsung is still expected to appear at MWC in various forms, including through partners and its software ecosystem, but the odds of a new wearable hardware launch seem low.

Separately, Unpacked is reportedly set for February 25, one week before MWC begins. That further reduces the chance of a surprise wearable reveal at the show itself.

Honor, Huawei and OnePlus all have presence

Honor has already confirmed a March 1 press event in Barcelona. It will focus on the Magic V6 foldable and an experimental “robot phone,” but that doesn’t rule out additional ecosystem news. Honor previously used MWC to discuss AI and cross-device platforms, and wearables often form part of those updates.

Huawei has its own dedicated MWC 2026 page and booth space. It tends to mix enterprise and consumer hardware at events like this, so a new smartwatch isn’t guaranteed, but it’s always on the table.

OnePlus is also expected to be present, though it launched two watches in late 2025, including the Watch 3 and Watch Lite. That makes another watch unlikely. Instead, it might talk software or update plans for its current models, possibly tying into Wear OS developments if Google has platform updates to share.

Oppo looks set to bring the Watch X3 soon, after a new model (OWW261) cleared network certification in China. The filing confirms Android support, along with LTE and eSIM capabilities, pointing to a full-featured smartwatch with standalone connectivity. If it shows up at MWC, it would offer an alternative to Wear OS devices

Oura has a keynote role

Oura may not be showing off a new product, but its CEO is confirmed as a keynote speaker at MWC. This gives the company a high-profile platform to talk about health data, partnerships and future directions. Actually, just a few days ago we spotted a patent the company has filed for smart glasses that work in conjunction with a smart ring. Are they looking to expand beyond the finger?

Even if it doesn’t launch new hardware, Oura’s appearance could influence how wearables are discussed across the event, especially in the context of sleep, recovery and smart rings. The timing also helps reinforce the narrative around why Samsung’s ring follow-up isn’t happening right now.

Other wearables and input devices

MWC often includes smaller exhibitors showing off input gear and new wearable categories. Companies like Wearable Devices Ltd. are back on the show floor with motion-control hardware such as Mudra Link. You’ll also find companies demonstrating wrist sensors and gesture interfaces, often pitched at XR or industrial markets.

Qualcomm is another name to watch. It has announced plans to unveil its full WiFi 8 platform portfolio at MWC. This isn’t strictly a wearable story, but new connectivity standards eventually trickle into devices like smartwatches and earbuds. If Qualcomm announces new wearable chipsets or reference platforms, that will be part of the long-term picture for next-gen watches.

Garmin is also present at the show through its Garmin Health division. The company is showcasing existing devices like the Venu 4, Fenix 8 and Vivoactive 6, mainly in a B2B context. It’s not expected to announce new models, but its presence reinforces how wearables connect into healthcare and enterprise solutions.

Wearables may not be front and centre at MWC 2026, but there’s enough activity across bands, rings, rugged watches, health data and connectivity to make the trip worthwhile for anyone following the space.

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How Apple privacy labels actually work

Every iOS app now includes a section called App Privacy. This lists what types of data the app collects and why. It’s Apple’s attempt to bring structure and transparency to mobile data practices without forcing users to read long policies.

The labels break data into 35 types across 16 categories. Think of things like Name, Email, Health Data, Identifiers, Location, and so on. Each type must be matched with one or more purposes, such as App Functionality, Analytics, Advertising, or Product Personalization.

If a developer declares a type for App Functionality only, Apple assumes the data is used solely to make the app work. If they include anything beyond that, like analytics or marketing, it gets flagged as used beyond core functionality. Apple also has a specific section for tracking. If that appears, it means the app is sharing data across services for advertising or measurement purposes.

To keep things simple, we looked at just three things for each app:

• First, how many data types each app collects in total.
• Second, how many of those are used for more than just app functionality.
• Third, whether Apple shows a tracking section at all.

What we found in the data

All data was gathered manually from the App Privacy sections as of January 13, 2026.

Here’s how it looks:

What stands out is how varied the data use is between apps that might appear similar at first glance. Strava, Nike Training Club, Runna and Peloton all declare tracking under Apple’s rules. That means at least one type of data is used in a way that links it across services or apps for ad-related purposes.

Others like Fitbit and Whoop collect a high number of data types and use most of them beyond pure functionality, but stop short of what Apple defines as tracking. Mi Fitness and Runna sit at the opposite end, with more data locked down for internal use.

Garmin, Samsung and Zepp Health land in the middle. Their apps collect moderate amounts of data, but Apple’s labels suggest they are mostly used within each company’s own ecosystem.

Polar Flow stands out for how little data it collects. It only declares five data types total, and just two are used beyond basic app functionality. That makes it the most restrained app in our whole review. Peloton is also privacy friendly.

What this actually tells us

Of course, Apple’s privacy labels don’t reveal everything. They don’t measure how much data is sent, or how often, or what happens on the server side. But they do make one thing very clear: not all fitness apps treat your data the same way.

Tracking isn’t the same as advertising, and not all data used beyond functionality is bad. But when an app collects 20+ data types and links them to ad purposes or third-party services, that’s useful to know.

This article is based on data compiled by Gadgets & Wearables.

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A few days ago we looked at how these same companies performed in 2025 alone. That gave a useful snapshot of short-term momentum. But the three-year view is the better way to judge who’s actually built long-term strength, and who’s just had a good run.

The five-year timeframe pulls in older trends that no longer reflect current dynamics in this space. A lot has changed since 2022, both in product direction and investor focus.

Three years is the perfect period to capture the shift towards AI integration across wearables. These are still early days and AI will be central to future growth of the category.

From Zepp to Apple, how the major names stack up

The table below shows the stock performance of major players in the wearable space from the end of 2022 through to December 30, 2025. We’ve also included the 2025 one year per cent change, for reference. As mentioned, you can read about that in our separate piece.

As can be seen, the standout once again is Zepp Health. Its stock surged over 370 percent in three years, multiplying an initial $1,000 investment into nearly $4,800. Not bad! The 1-year return in 2025 was even more dramatic, but the broader trajectory confirms that this isn’t just a fluke. That said, Zepp’s 2023 and early 2024 performance was more subdued. The bulk of the spike happened in the past twelve months. Along with some sharp falls.

Alphabet and Xiaomi also saw strong long-term returns. In both cases, wearables are just part of their broader AI strategies. Samsung’s doubling is similarly tied to its platform investments and strong product cadence. Garmin may look flat in 2025, but zooming out shows that it more than doubled over the three year period.

Apple’s numbers also experienced steady growth. But with a three-year gain of 110 percent, it slightly trails companies that have been more aggressive with feature rollouts and AI investments.

Looking ahead

AI-driven health and productivity tools are now shaping the wearable conversation. Companies that build those into their platforms, not just as features but as ecosystems, will likely define the next investor cycle.

Zepp Health has momentum, but the challenge now is sustainability. Alphabet and Samsung are better diversified and may prove more resilient. Garmin needs to show more of its roadmap. Apple, as always, remains hard to bet against.

But in this space, a lot can change in a short time. And with the pace of AI advancement, anything is possible in 2026!

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Xiaomi’s new wearable certified in Korea

The entry is listed under Xiaomi Communications and marked as a low-power wireless transmission device. That’s the same classification used for Xiaomi’s past fitness bands, which typically operate over Bluetooth only. There’s no product name attached, but Xiaomi’s model number history gives us plenty to work with.

The filing doesn’t include photos or a manual, but it confirms that M2552B1 is a new BLE-based device manufactured in China. This alone isn’t unusual. What makes it interesting is where the number lands in the current sequence of Xiaomi smart bands.

Model number history shows where this fits

It took some detective work but we think we may have uncovered what this device actually is. The two primary candidates are Band 10 Pro and Band 11.

Xiaomi’s fitness bands follow a predictable pattern. Base models land earlier in each generation’s block, and Pro variants arrive later with a noticeable jump in numbering. Each generation advances by roughly 100 units.

Here’s how the recent bands are positioned:

This is consistent with how Xiaomi released Band 8 Pro and Band 9 Pro. The Pro model always lands after the base version, with a clean numeric separation of around 70 to 100 positions. M2552B1 fits that structure exactly.

Some might wonder if this is the beginning of the Band 11 cycle. While it is possible, we think it is unlikely. Xiaomi doesn’t jump into a new generation before the Pro model of the current one is released. The Band 10 was identified as M2459B1, and there’s been no sign of a Pro variant until now.

The numbering lines up. The timing fits. The Pro variant is missing, and this device fills the gap.

What the Band 10 Pro is likely to offer

If M2552B1 is indeed the Band 10 Pro, the expected spec sheet is straightforward. The standard Band 10 already includes a large AMOLED screen and electronic compass. The Pro model would likely build on that with built-in GPS, a wider or more squared display format, and possibly a barometric altimeter for better elevation tracking.

Battery life will probably remain in the multi-week range, though with a slightly larger cell to offset the extra power demands. This would follow the same pattern seen in the Band 9 Pro. Most of these changes are incremental, but they would give the Pro version a clear identity over the base model.

Launch timing and regulatory positioning suggest a familiar formula, not a redesign. If Xiaomi sticks to its previous playbook, this will be a fitness-focused wearable with a few practical upgrades rather than a dramatic shift.

This article reflects our opinion based on analysis of Xiaomi’s regulatory filings and model number progression. The conclusion that M2552B1 is unlikely to be the base Smart Band 11 follows from that pattern, though it remains speculative until Xiaomi confirms or releases the device. You may later see this reasoning reported by other media outlets. Know it originated here, grounded in our direct tracking of regulatory data and Xiaomi’s naming history.

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It’s the end of the year, so now’s a good time to take stock – literally. The focus here is smartwatch and fitness band makers. We’re looking at how their publicly traded shares performed across the full 12 months of 2025, comparing opening and closing prices, and highlighting which names delivered the biggest returns for investors.

Table of 2025 stock performance

Here’s a snapshot of how major listed smartwatch and fitness band makers performed from the start to the end of 2025.

A volatile year for the standout winner

Zepp Health delivered the most eye-catching return of 2025. It began the year trading at 2.60 dollars, climbed to a high of over 60, and closed at 27.43. That’s a gain of 955 percent, turning every thousand invested into over ten grand.

But the path there wasn’t smooth. The stock was actually one of the most volatile in the sector, reflecting both speculative interest and uncertainty.

Its steep rise coincided with a broader push into hardware and work on developing its health tracking platform. Investors appeared to respond not just to products like the Balance 2 and Helio series, but to the shift in Zepp Health’s positioning from budget-focused brand to a company that is closing the gap on main players such as Garmin. It is also likely that its stock was undervalued at the beginning of the year.

So if you invested in Zepp Health 12 months ago you’d be much better off today. But if you invested in the middle of the year, you could be sitting on a big loss. Timing is everything.

Comparing general tech giants and wearable-first brands

While Zepp Health is a wearable pure play, many others on the list are not. Apple, Xiaomi, Alphabet and Samsung generate most of their revenue from smartphones, services, cloud infrastructure or chips. That means their stock movements reflect far more than just their wearable product lines.

Apple posted a modest 9.11 percent gain, ending the year at 273.23 dollars. It was a relatively quiet year for Apple Watch, and although new features arrived, investor focus remained on AI, Mac sales, and regulatory news.

Alphabet did much better, climbing 66 percent. The market rewarded its software convergence story as Fitbit and Pixel Watch moved closer together, backed by a cleaner wearables UI and better integration across devices.

Samsung doubled its share price and is closing the year at highs. Though wearable performance contributed, the result also came from strong memory sales, chip growth and AI tools baked into its Android ecosystem.

Xiaomi had a smaller rise, closing the year up just under 16 percent. It was helped by growth across its product categories, not just smart bands.

Citizen’s return of nearly 39 percent is notable given it rarely dominates headlines. The Japanese watchmaker continues to explore hybrid and connected watches in niche segments, and investor confidence seems to have ticked upward despite limited smartwatch exposure compared to others in the list.

Garmin and Mobvoi struggled to excite investors

Garmin’s stock dipped slightly across the year, despite strong product updates in its Fenix, Venu and Forerunner lines. It’s not a failure, but it reflects a flat investor response to premium multi-sport watches that increasingly face pressure from cheaper competitors and alternative form factors like rings and patches. Also, the market reacted negatively in October to lower growth projections.

Mobvoi saw a bigger drop, ending the year down 21.7 percent. Its TicWatch line remains active and competitive in terms of specs, but visibility in Western markets is patchy. The company may also be pulling back from the smartwatch space and focusing on AI devices, instead.

Fossil is publicly traded. But the once smartwatch player, has now stepped back from the space to refocus on traditional watches. Hence, we have not included it in the comparisons.

Key wearable brands missing from public markets

You’ll notice that some of the biggest names in wearables don’t appear in this kind of stock roundup. Huawei remains a private firm, as does Polar. Suunto is now owned by Liesheng and is not listed. BBK Electronics, the parent of OnePlus and Oppo, does not offer a way to invest directly in wearables as a standalone vertical.

Whoop and Withings are also not publicly traded companies. CEO of Whoop Will Ahmed indicated in late 2025 that a public listing is more likely within the next two years, targeting a 2027 window rather than 2026.

This limits investor access to several high-volume or long-standing wearable brands, making the list of trackable public stocks narrower than one might expect given the size of the market.

Our takeaway

2025 was a mixed year for wearable tech stocks. Zepp Health delivered the highest return by far, while Alphabet, Samsung, and Citizen also posted strong gains. At the other end of the table, Garmin and Mobvoi struggled to gain traction, closing the year below or near where they started. The rest fell somewhere in between, with modest positive returns that mostly mirrored broader market trends.

As we head into 2026, this snapshot provides a useful benchmark. Some companies will look to hold their ground, others will try to recover lost value, and a few may aim to sustain the momentum they built over the past twelve months. Share prices will continue to reflect more than just wearable performance, but the sector remains one of the more dynamic corners of consumer tech

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Firmware focuses on swim accuracy and app management

This is one of several software refreshes the device has received in the past few months. What you get, this time around, are optimisations to the pool swimming mode and heart rate overlays during those sessions. Accuracy in tracking laps and effort during water-based workouts should now be a step up.

Another small tweak is the ability to hide apps that don’t get much use. The band’s software has always come with a few pre-installed tools that not everyone needs. With this change, the UI can feel less cluttered, and navigation becomes a bit faster. Lets you get rid of what you don’t use.

Version 3.2.7 also brings an overhaul to Xiaomi’s cadence and pace algorithm, which is now labelled as 2.0. It reportedly considers more motion-related factors during runs. This should translate into more reliable feedback when it comes to training intensity, pacing strategies and stride-related stats. Xiaomi pitches this as a more data-informed approach.

The final line of the changelog mentions the usual bug fixes. These are rarely detailed, but they typically address background stability and responsiveness issues. Overall, a solid firmware release that gives users more control and sharper tracking.

We reviewed Band 10 back in June. The device does enough to stay ahead in the budget fitness tracker space without trying to do too much. Upgrading from Band 9 is hard to justify for most, but for everyone else, it’s a solid choice that gets the job done well.

Still no sign of Band 10 Pro. It looks like Xiaomi might skip that version as in a few months we are entering the window when we might see a Band 11.

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Design

Starting off with design, and you get something with a 47mm stainless steel case. The housing curves gently into a polished 1.54-inch AMOLED display, framed by a narrow 2.6mm bezel. With a resolution of 480 x 480 pixels, visuals should be crisp. Brightness tops out at 1500 nits, and it comes with a 60Hz refresh rate. Along the side of the case is a knurled rotating crown flanked by a flat button.

Protection comes from synthetic sapphire crystal, both over the screen and the heart rate sensor window on the underside. This should offer added scratch resistance compared to Gorilla Glass.

Xiaomi has also paid attention to strap variety. You get a choice between black or green fluoroelastomer bands for a more athletic look, or brown and blue leather for a more traditional style. A standout option is the separate 3D-printed titanium strap, designed to be lightweight but durable.

Dual chip setup splits the workload

Inside, the Watch 5 features a dual-chip architecture. A Snapdragon W5 takes care of high-performance visuals and interactions. Alongside it, a BES2800 low-power chip runs health tracking and background tasks. This setup lets the device hit up to 6 days of battery life in performance mode, or up to 18 days if you scale things back. The battery itself is rated at 930mAh, which explains the strong stamina.

HyperOS is again the platform of choice, but this time with support for an on-device app store and tighter integration with Xiaomi’s ecosystem, including turn-by-turn navigation via Baidu Maps and support for the Super XiaoAi assistant.

EMG gestures bring a new way to interact

New this year is EMG gesture control, enabled by a muscle signal sensor that interprets subtle finger movements. The system can pick up pinching, fist clenching or finger tapping to control alarms, calls or even remote camera triggers. It’s an unusual approach but one that could be useful in certain scenarios. Xiaomi also added ECG support with detailed rhythm reports and 30-second scans.

Other health and fitness tracking features are pretty standard and include continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2, stress levels, sleep tracking and one-tap wellness scans. Workout tracking covers more than 150 sports modes, with indoor gym features that include 3D animation guides and rep counting.

Of course, you get built-in GPS. It supports independent location tracking with offline maps, route navigation, deviation alerts, and track-back assistance. 

eSIM version untethers the watch from your phone

The watch is available in two main variants. The base version starts at 1,999 yuan, around $284. The eSIM model goes for 2,299 yuan or about $327, and lets you send messages, make calls and pay through Alipay and WeChat without your phone. Music playback and streaming are also supported. Cellular connectivity is 4G only for now.

Contact-based charging remains, and water resistance is rated at 5 ATM. Global availability hasn’t been confirmed, but Xiaomi may use the Mobile World Congress in March to launch it outside China.

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