At first glance, the Xiaomi Watch S5 doesn't look like a typical sports watch. The 316L stainless steel case feels premium, but it's surprisingly light. In numbers: it weighs 46 grams (without strap) and is a good 10 millimeters thick. More important than the numbers, though, is that I wore it all day and even while sleeping, and I never thought about putting it down. The Xiaomi Watch S5 is a comfortable smartwatch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the beginning I wrote that there is almost no difference with the previous generation, the Xiaomi Watch S4, but still there is one. The most obvious is that Xiaomi has reduced the bezel around the screen, making the look more modern and elegant. The minute markers on the bezel (I admit that I didn't notice them in the first few hours of use) add a touch of classic watch, and the different strap materials and colors allow the user to choose a version that suits their style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The button or crown is smoother than the S4 and has a concentric circular pattern. You can also "scroll" through the menus by touch, but I like the crown control, and the haptic vibrations also work precisely and pleasantly, as they did in the previous generation. It also has a bottom button for accessing the quick menu and system settings (long press). If you press it three times briefly, you call an SOS emergency contact (or "Help in distress" contact, as it says in the menu), which you set in the application. You can add up to three SOS phone numbers. The watch can also call if a person suddenly falls, and also send a text message with the location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As is typical with smartwatches, you can also customize it with the many watch faces available. From those that look like an analog clock, to numerous digital ones and those that display a bunch of other data (steps, calories, blood oxygen level, heart rate, weather, sleep, altitude, wind direction, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n The watch effortlessly looks sporty enough for running or cycling, yet elegant enough for a business meeting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the biggest advantages of the watch is the 1.48-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 \u00d7 480 pixels. The image is very sharp, the colors are vivid, and the animations are smooth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The brightness reaches up to 2500 nits. I measured my sports activity most often on nature hikes and while running. The screen performed excellently when running, but it is true that my running routine is more inclined towards the evening hours and this did not come out the best. In a larger test, the screen was in the midday "mountain" sun, but reading the numbers from the screen was never a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An additional plus of the screen is protection against accidental touches due to water droplets, so using it during rain or after intense exercise is not a problem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But where does the Xiaomi Watch S5 really stand out? In terms of battery life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The built-in battery has a capacity of 815 mAh and allows for up to 21 days of operation with \u201clight\u201d use, or about two weeks with normal daily use. Even with all the sensors turned on and in my case, activity measurements about every other day (they lasted from 1.5 hours to 4.5 hours), the watch lasted me about nine days, which is more than excellent. So even after several hours of activity and \u201call the live\u201d measurements, I didn\u2019t have to frantically look for a socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of charging the battery \u2013 Xiaomi insists on a magnet that attaches to the watch, but it must be oriented correctly for proper contact. I would like a more universal solution here that would allow me to charge it even if I went on a trip and forgot the dedicated charger at home. I charged it when the battery level dropped to 10 %, and it charged to 100 % in an hour.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Watch S5 supports more than 150 sports modes, so it covers virtually all common (and less common) activities - from walking, running and fitness to hiking, swimming and skiing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I use it most often for hiking, running, and the occasional bike ride. And Xiaomi has taken special care of runners. The watch tracks more advanced running metrics like ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and vertical ratio, while also offering guided running programs for different goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Cyclists will love the ability to connect to a Bluetooth power meter and transmit heart rate data to a compatible cycling computer. I didn't have a chance to test this, though. After finishing a bike ride, the watch provides a detailed training analysis, which is useful for both recreational and more advanced riders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I usually listen to music through my headphones while running. So far, I've always had my phone with me, but I was able to download it to the Watch S5. Which is great and not so great. Let me explain: Being able to have music on the watch is really great. But 2 GB of space (or the limit of 60 songs) is really small. That's like five albums. If you listen to them regularly, you'll get tired of them sooner or later. Of course, you can change the list of songs in the app over time, but that's not very convenient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Even two decades ago, this would have seemed "crazy", but today the standards of devices and our habits are completely different, and yes, we expect to be able to choose from a larger variety of songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Otherwise, I uploaded mp3 files and everything worked as expected. However, I had some FLAC files on my phone \u2013 the app doesn't recognize them and you can't upload them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For outdoor activities, dual-frequency GNSS with support for five satellite systems is provided, which means faster position acquisition and more accurate route recording. The signal was only lost when I found myself surrounded by hills and there were several dozen-meter walls around me, the sky was open above, and on one side I was looking at the valley. There were obviously too many obstacles and the line on the map "ran away". Otherwise, the route line is really accurate and reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The offline color maps are also a welcome addition. You can download maps and planned routes before you go, and during your activity the watch will warn you if you deviate from the planned route or guide you back to your starting point. This is a feature usually found on much more expensive sports watches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But here's the problem. I put a lot of effort into downloading offline maps, but they're apparently not available in Slovenia. Maybe we can expect them in one of the upcoming software updates, but for now, there are no offline maps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The most I could do was upload a .gpx file of the route I was following to my watch. The watch warned me if I strayed from the marked route, but all I could see on the screen was a sign of my position on the route (and direction) and a line of the route. There was no base or map. Better than nothing, but far from an ideal experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Xiaomi has also upgraded the health monitoring sensors. The new optical sensor allows for continuous advanced monitoring of heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, stress, and sleep quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special attention is paid to sleep analysis, as an improved algorithm more accurately detects individual phases and provides recommendations for better sleeping habits. There are also breathing exercises and a quick overview of key health data with one touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As always, it is worth emphasizing that these are wellness features and not medical measurements, but they are very useful for monitoring general well-being and lifestyle habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Xiaomi-Watch-S5-21-scaled.jpg\")
<\/a><\/a>Dials for business, sports and leisure<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
AMOLED display is great even in sunlight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nThe battery is one of the biggest advantages<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ready for almost any sport<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/figure>\nIt allows you to download music, but...<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\nOutdoor navigation is great, as long as you're not in a "hole"<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<\/a><\/figure>\nKeep your health under control, but the clock is not a doctor<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n