Since the first rumors, we’ve been learning about what would be the heir to the Xiaomi Mi Band 4, such as the magnetic charge or a larger OLED screen. And we finally see all that and more officially today with the release of the new Xiaomi Mi Band 5.
Xiaomi’s quantifier wristbands are quite popular for their value for money, so it may be one of their most anticipated renewals for those users looking for an affordable wearable without giving up aspects such as an OLED screen or sleep monitoring among other features. The screen increases, reaching 1.1 inches, although one of the new features that have stood out the most is the arrival of the magnetic charge.
Xiaomi Mi Band 5 Datasheet
| Xiaomi Mi Band 5 | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 1.1-inch color OLED, 126 * 294 pixels |
| Dimensions and Weight | 47.2 x 18.5 x 12.4 mm 11.9 grams (without NFC), 12.1 grams (NFC) |
| Sensors | Heart rate |
| Memory | 512 KB RAM 16 MB |
| Waterproof | 50 m depth |
| Autonomy | 125 mAh battery Up to 14 days |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, NFC (optional) |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android |
| Others | Magnetic charging Microphone and speaker Female health mode Remote control for taking photos |
| Price | Non-NFC version: 189 yuan NFC version: 229 yuan |
A well-known design with 20% more content
The elongated design of the bracelet core is maintained, with that new 1.1-inch AMOLED panel that displays 20% more content than the previous one and fits into the interchangeable strap that now comes in new and bright colors. It’s one of the seven major changes we expected to see in the version of this Xiaomi wearable.
Its design and construction allow it to be a submersible device up to 50 meters deep, and another expected improvement that has something to do with the design (and especially with the use) is the magnetic charge. With the Mi Band 5, unlike the previous ones, users do not have to remove the device from the strap to charge it, as they simply connect a magnetic charging pin on the back of the device, next to the heart rate sensor, to start the charging process.
And speaking of charging, the promised autonomy of the new Mi Band 5 is up to 14 days and can reach 20 days in the case of the model without NFC. We’ll have to see if this is the case by testing it and seeing how the different sleep metrics and monitoring affect it.
New features: more activity and menstrual cycle monitoring
As for the software, the new 11 professional sports modes (elliptical machine, yoga, rowing machine, bike exercise, camber, treadmill, running, cycling, swimming, walking, and free training) are confirmed, as well as the new health mode for women, aimed at being useful for the control of the menstrual cycle. It also features Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI), a metric that converts heart rate data into a unique and personal score to evaluate daily activity.
The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 can be paired via Bluetooth with iOS and Android phones and there is a model with NFC, although it remains to be seen whether the international model has this component that allows you to pay with your wristband. What they have added in both versions is the remote control function to take pictures, as a remote shutter release.
Price and availability of the Xiaomi Mi Band 5
For now, it is a launch for the local Chinese market and they have made known the prices for it:
- NFC-free version: 189 yuan (about $26.73 at the exchange rate)
- NFC version: 229 yuan (about $32.38 at the exchange rate)
For precedent we hope that there will be a global version and that it will reach other markets, so we will keep an eye on it to update the information.
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