Redmi Watch 5 Active Review: Delivers largely on the promise

Redmi Watch 5 Active Review: There are very few brands that compete across a variety of sections, including smartphones, wearables, laptops, and others. Xiaomi is undoubtedly one such tech giant. Continuing this legacy, the Chinese manufacturer has unveiled its next wearable: the Redmi Watch 5 Active. In this brief review, we shall have a glimpse at the features and analyse the overall value of the device. Priced at Rs 2,799, the device is available in two colour options - Midnight Black and Matte Silver colours. 

Redmi Watch 5 Active Review: Measuring 49.1 x 40.4 x 11.4mm in size and weighing 42.2g (including the straps), the device boasts a simplistic, yet classy design with a rectangular dial. The corners are rounded in a metallic casing, while the back is made up of plastic. With the sensor window located at the bottom, the TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) straps are securely attached. 

The watch features a single button located at the side of the dial, with a metallic build. The button is extremely responsive, enhancing the user experience. Overall, the Redmi Watch 5 Active is lightweight, including the straps, and is a good enough device for regular usage. 

Redmi Watch 5 Active Review: The device sports a 2-inch LCD display with a 320 x 385-pixel resolution, offering a smooth and responsive touch, even when wet. With an IPX8 rating, it can withstand exposure to water for a bit longer than its contemporaries. According to the company, the device can achieve a peak brightness of up to 500 nits, which is a good proportion in this price range. 

Redmi Watch 5 Active Review: The Redmi Watch 5 Active is a feature-rich device, offering functionalities such as calling from the device, thanks to Bluetooth 5.3 support, along with customisability, auto vitals tracking, and more.  The UI feels improved, delivering a smooth user experience. Additionally, it comes equipped with the voice-activated assistant Alexa, which is useful for monitoring health metrics, like blood oxygen and heart rate, among others. 

Redmi Watch 5 Active Review: Running on Xiaomi HyperOS, the device is compatible with any Android 6.0+ or iOS 12+ devices, through the Mi Fitness companion app. The Redmi Watch 5 Active offers more than 200 customizable watch faces and supports approximately 150 sports and workout modes.

Redmi Watch 5 Active Review: The watch packs a 470mAh battery, which the company claims can last up to 18 days under modest usage and up to 12 days under intensive usage scenarios on a single charge. In our testing the device comfortably lasted for 11 to 12 days under typical use, including heart rate monitoring and Bluetooth calls for 10-15 minutes. However, we had to disable the high-precision sleep monitoring. 

Redmi Watch 5 Active Review: For a sub-Rs.3,000 device, the Redmi Watch 5 Active appears to be punching above its weight, delivering considerably good performance and featuring an attractive. If you are looking for a smartwatch that won’t break the bank and includes nearly all the essential features, the watch deserves serious consideration.