Xiaomi first released watch s5 in China in March, but the company launched it internationally this week, with global availability starting in late May and early June, depending on the region. Although the Watch S5 hasn’t been announced for the US, the European price (€179.99 or €199.99 depending on color and strap style) gives us an idea of what to expect if you want to import it. You are looking at around $210 to $233.
How exactly does Xiaomi’s Watch S5 get up to 21 hours of battery life while competitors like the Apple Watch Series 11 ($400) and Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 8 ($350) can only muster a day of battery life? There’s always a big asterisk next to battery life, but in this case, it seems pretty reasonable.
Light use of the Watch S5 allows the 815mAh battery to last up to 21 days. Xiaomi defines light usage as receiving 100 messages per day with six daily incoming call alerts, three alarms per day, 30 minutes of Bluetooth calls per week, 30 minutes of music playback per week and 90 minutes of exercise recording. Battery life will drop to about 14 days with normal use and using the always-on display will drop it to about 9 days.
Other Smartwatches That Offer Day It appears that the battery life is not even close to that of the Watch S5. The OnePlus Watch 3 ($350) and Amazfit Active 3 Premium ($170) offer about 3 days and up to 12 days, respectively. If you want truly “unlimited” battery life, you’ll need to consider a solar-powered watch like the Garmin Instinct series (starting at $300).
Apart from its long battery life, the rest of the Watch S5 looks solid. Highlights include 5-system dual-band GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), over 150 sport modes, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and an advanced cycling mode that turns your phone into a bike computer.
Of course, there are some features that the Xiaomi Watch S5 lacks compared to its major competitors, like the EKG sensor and depth gauge functionality. However, the Watch S5 includes professional skiing and cycling modes among its more than 150 sports.
The Watch S5 works best with Xiaomi phones for shared ecosystem quality-of-life features, but it can connect to any smartphone via the Mi Fitness app for intensive sports mode tracking and health data storage.
As with all Xiaomi product launches, the main downside is that the company is not officially selling the Watch S5 in the US, third-party sellers may stock it, but you may have to pay more than the international MSRP.
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