Using a smartwatch can motivate you towards an active lifestyle. In case you don’t want to splurge on smartwatches there are plenty of options in the budget-friendly category. Of course, that makes things complicated for a new entrant — Redmi Watch 5 Active, which is perfect for users who don’t care for high-end features available with a Samsung or Apple smartwatch. There is Xiaomi HyperOS, 60Hz refresh rate and comes with the raise-to-wake feature, which is responsive. Let’s dive in.
Almost perfect
Redmi Watch 5 Active is the successor of Watch 3 Active in India. The new watch offers a big leap — a larger display, longer battery life, built-in Alexa support and more sports modes.
The first thing to catch the eye is the flat display, which makes the device look bigger. The frame is made of metal and comes with a grey finish. There is a single button on the right side of the frame. It’s a clean design that comes with a comfortable strap.
To pair the watch, download the Mi Fitness app and then follow the pairing process on the screen. The watch comes with IPX8 rating, meaning there is no dust resistance but ‘8’ stands for a good level of water resistance. You can wear it to the gym and, of course, in the rain or even in the pool. But the watch doesn’t have a dedicated swim mode.
What you get is a two-inch LCD display with a resolution of 320x385 pixels. Colour reproduction is acceptable as far as LCD displays go. The bezels are slightly noticeable but they are on the slimmer side. Redmi claims 500nits of peak brightness and even under bright sunshine, the display is clearly visible.
There are plenty of watch faces to choose from in the companion app
Since there is HyperOS, you get a smooth experience on the interface front. All the usual options you find on a smartwatch is there, including Bluetooth calling. Auto-detect workout feature is also available but it will drain the battery.
The menu is in grid style but you can change it to “list” style, which is easier to read, especially when it comes to features like SpO2 and vitality score. And there’s Alexa. You can control smart home devices from the watch.
Though you can make phone calls from the watch, I am uncomfortable with people listening in on my conversations, especially when the speaker is loud and clear. The speaker is unbelievably clear for a smartwatch.
In the health tracking department, the readings are reliable but use them for your reference. If you are feeling unwell, visit the doctor and not Google.
Should you buy it?
The watch has many workout modes and is IPX8 rated but does not have a dedicated swimming mode
The watch comes with a 470mAh battery, which should last a week (maybe more) without having to charge. The app is simple but offers a good overview of where your fitness level stands. Plus, access a good deal of smart faces from the app. Redmi Watch 5 Active is a good budget deal that doesn’t make users sacrifice quality or functionality.
At a glance
Device: Redmi Watch
5 Active
Price: Rs 2,799
High notes
Smooth user interface
Built-in Alexa support
Excellent battery life
Comfortable to wear
Muffled notes
No swimming mode despite the watch having IPX8 ingress
No AMOLED display
