Review: Redmi Watch 5 Active

With health and fitness being at the forefront, the demand for affordable wearables that help us track our overall health increases as well. Our busy schedules will no longer be an excuse, thanks to the constant reminders right on your wrist. Looking to kickstart your fitness journey? Find out whether the Redmi Watch 5 Active is a worthy companion to add to your routine. 

Design and build

What truly draws me to Xiaomi is its approach to design. It prioritizes minimalism and functionality over flair, especially when it comes to its wearables. The Redmi Watch 5 Active is no exception. 

You can choose from Midnight Black and Matte Silver color options, which cater to a variety of tastes. If you want to play around with different straps, the quick release body structure will come in handy.

In terms of build, the Redmi Watch 5 Active is on the bulkier side, weighing 30.6g (without the strap) and measuring 11.4mm in thickness. While it may not feel too intrusive during sports or workouts, comfort levels drop when it’s time to catch some Z’s.

Its durable construction is a redeeming factor; it appears capable of withstanding daily wear and tear while easily adapting to an active, sporty lifestyle, thanks to its 5ATM water resistance. That said, make no mistake: the metallic-like frame is made of plastic

Display

The Redmi Watch 5 Active boasts a large 2-inch LCD display. Personally, it feels a bit too big on my wrist, so it didn’t quite win me over—especially with sizable bezels surrounding the screen. It also lacked punch and vibrancy, but still offered adequate sharpness and clarity.

On the bright side, the display makes it easy to view all your stats and notifications at a glance. Plus, outdoor visibility is also excellent, thanks to its 1200 nits peak brightness. 

To match different personalities, users can play around with 200+ watch faces.

Smart features

For added convenience, the smartwatch also supports Bluetooth calling. If you’re always on the go or your smartphone is out of reach, this feature adds extra value to the Redmi Watch 5 Active.

Health and fitness features

Personally, I’m more inclined towards sports and health, so what really caught my attention were the 140+ sports modes and numerous health metrics. And if you’re a multi-sport enthusiast like me, you’ll find even more reasons to love this wearable.

One thing we often overlook is quality sleep. But with sleep metrics on your wrist, you won’t have any excuse to neglect this important aspect of your health anymore. Aside from this, you can also measure your heart rate, Sp02, vitality score, among others. 

Compatibility

To easily view your health metrics and maximize your smartwatch, download the Mi Fitness app. The Redmi Watch 5 Active is compatible with Android 8.0 and above and iOS 12.0 and above. 

Battery

One of the standout features of the Redmi Watch 5 Active is its battery life. With regular use, it can last up to 18 days, and up to 12 days with heavy use. Considering the budget-friendly price tag of this wearable, the impressive longevity adds to its appeal. This means you can fully utilize your watch during workouts and still receive notifications while you’re out and about.

When it comes to charging, you’ll forget how long it takes to power up with the magnetic charging cable—because the battery life more than makes up for any waiting time.

Verdict

All things considered, the Redmi Watch Active 5 is a solid budget-friendly smartwatch that offers the versatility most users want—stylish design, long battery life, and useful health monitoring features. It gets the job done and then some, without burning a hole in your pocket. The icing on the cake is its incredibly affordable price of PHP1,899.