Xiaomi Watch S5 Review: A Stylish Upgrade with Solid Battery Life

When Xiaomi rolled out the original Watch S series, everyone whispered about the unbeatable price‑to‑feature ratio. The newest S5 keeps that reputation alive, but adds a splash of polish that makes it feel more premium than its €150‑price tag suggests.

Unboxing the 46 mm model feels like opening a small gift. Inside the sleek box you’ll find the watch, a 2‑pin magnetic charger that still plugs into a USB‑A (a tiny annoyance) and a simple rubber‑nylon strap. The charger isn’t universal, so you might need a few tries to get it seated right, but the long‑lasting battery means you won’t be doing that very often.

Design and display

The case is forged from 316L stainless steel across the board, while the bezel varies by colour: classic stainless for Black and Silver, ceramic for the deep‑blue version, and forged carbon for Jungle Green. It’s a subtle but noticeable upgrade – the bezel is slimmer by about 40 %, letting the 1.48‑inch AMOLED screen stretch to 480×480 px (323 ppi). Even in midday sunlight the 2 500‑nit peak brightness keeps the interface legible without squinting.

The watch keeps the traditional lugs that accept standard 22 mm straps, so swapping bands is painless. The crown is pushable and matches the strap colour, adding a nice visual cue. Below the crown sits a speaker grille, and on the opposite side a tiny microphone hole – all tucked neatly into the polished frame.

We tested the Jungle Green version, which pairs a matte bezel with a fluororubber‑and‑nylon strap. It feels comfortable on a medium‑sized wrist and looks intentional, not like a rushed design.

Interface and software

Running on Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3, the Watch S5 offers the basics you’d expect – notification mirroring, music control, a remote shutter for your phone’s camera, and NFC payments (Visa and Mastercard supported). Navigation is mostly swipe‑based: pull down from the top for notifications, swipe up for widgets, and a right‑edge swipe reveals the watch‑face picker.

There are a few quirks. The snap‑gesture (you literally snap your fingers) is touted as a shortcut, but it barely registers unless you snap really hard. The two side buttons are fixed in function – you can rearrange quick‑toggle tiles, but you can’t reassign the buttons themselves, which feels a bit restrictive.

Watch faces are plentiful in the Mi Fitness app, both online and offline, and they’re free. The default face is clean, showing time, date, battery level and a single customizable slot – enough for most users, yet you can dive into hundreds of alternatives if you’re into personalisation.

Health and fitness tracking

Standard fare is covered: 24‑hour heart‑rate monitoring, SpO₂, sleep analysis and built‑in GPS for outdoor runs. The sensors are decent; they won’t beat a dedicated fitness band, but they provide a reliable daily overview. The companion app visualises the data nicely, and you can set goals directly from the watch.

Battery life and charging

Here’s where the S5 really shines. With typical mixed usage – a few notifications, some music control, occasional GPS – the battery comfortably lasts close to a full week. A quick 2‑hour charge with the magnetic puck tops it back up to 100 %. The non‑universal charger is the only gripe, but the infrequent charging schedule almost makes it irrelevant.

Verdict

All things considered, the Xiaomi Watch S5 feels like a small step forward that matters. It refines the look, bumps the screen size, and keeps the price well under €200 for most colourways. If you’re after a watch that looks good on the wrist, offers solid everyday health tracking, and can sit on a charger once a week, the S5 is a compelling choice.