Full specifications, features and battery life for the REDMI Watch 5 Lite, Xiaomi’s low-cost GPS smartwatch with a 1.96in AMOLED screen, now succeeded by REDMI Watch 6 Lite.
| Manufacturer | Xiaomi |
| Type | GPS smartwatch |
| Series | REDMI Watch |
| Predecessor | None specific. Sits below REDMI Watch 5 in Xiaomi’s range. |
| Successor | REDMI Watch 6 Lite |
| Dimensions | 48.1 x 39.2 x 10.6mm |
| Weight | 29.2g, excluding strap |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Expert opinion | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Further reading
Expert opinion
REDMI Watch 5 Lite is one of the cheapest ways to put built-in GPS and an AMOLED screen on your wrist. A parkrunner or casual runner can leave the phone at home and still record pace and distance, follow the built-in running courses and get warm-up guidance in selected sports among more than 150 modes. A 5 ATM rating covers pool swimming, and Bluetooth calls with dual-mic noise reduction work from the wrist. The sensor list is short: there is no ambient light sensor, no compass, no barometer and no ANT+ or external sensor support, which rules out power meters and chest straps. Training analysis stays in Mi Fitness, which offers far less guidance than a Garmin Forerunner 165. REDMI Watch 6 Lite has replaced it with proper swim tracking, a slimmer body and automatic brightness. Battery is a claimed 18 days in typical use and 7 days with the always-on display. Where it is still sold at a discount, it suits beginners, walkers and gym members who want GPS and long battery life for very little money.
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Type | AMOLED, always-on display option |
| Size | 1.96in, square |
| Resolution | 410 x 502px, 332 PPI |
| Screen-to-body ratio | 75.8% |
| Physical | |
| Dimensions | 48.1 x 39.2 x 10.6mm |
| Weight | 29.2g, excluding strap |
| Case material | Plastic frame with high-gloss NCVM finish |
| Strap | TPU, fits 135 to 205mm wrists |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM (ISO 22810:2010) |
| Colours | Black, Light Gold |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GNSS | Single-frequency, multi-constellation (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS) |
| Optical heart rate | Heart rate sensor with blood oxygen sensor |
| Other sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Connectivity and battery | |
| Wireless | Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Calls | Bluetooth calls via built-in speaker and two microphones with noise reduction, phone must be connected |
| Operating system | Xiaomi HyperOS |
| Battery | 470mAh |
| Battery, typical use | Up to 18 days claimed |
| Battery, heavy use | Up to 12 days claimed |
| Battery, always-on display | Up to 7 days claimed |
| Charging | Magnetic charging cable |
| Compatibility | Android 8.0 and above, iOS 12.0 and above |
Battery life
Xiaomi claims up to 18 days in typical use, 12 days in heavy use and 7 days with the always-on display switched on. The typical figure assumes advanced sleep, stress and blood oxygen monitoring are off and only 90 minutes of recorded exercise a week, while the heavy figure assumes 150 minutes. Xiaomi does not publish a continuous GNSS figure. Someone running three or four times a week with GNSS should still manage well over a week between charges, but turning on the always-on display cuts that substantially.
Features
Full feature detail is covered on the Xiaomi specifications index.
Sport and training
- A built-in five-system GNSS chip tracks outdoor workouts without your phone.
- More than 150 workout modes include running, walking and cycling.
- Warm-up guidance on selected workout modes helps you reach your training zone sooner.
- Pro running courses give beginners structured sessions to follow.
- 5 ATM water resistance makes the watch suitable for pool swimming.
Health and recovery
- Heart rate monitoring runs throughout the day, with sleep, stress and blood oxygen monitoring available when switched on.
- Watch faces can display health metrics so you can check them at a glance.
Smart features
- Bluetooth calling with dual-mic noise reduction lets you take calls from the wrist while the phone is connected.
- Widgets include a voice assistant, calendar and tasks.
- The always-on display shows the time without raising your wrist.
- More than 200 watch faces are available through Mi Fitness.
Compatibility
- The watch pairs through the Mi Fitness app with Android 8.0 and above or iOS 12.0 and above.
Further reading
- Xiaomi specifications index
- REDMI Watch 6 Lite specifications
- REDMI Watch 5 specifications
- Sports watch specifications
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love, which is this site, and I appreciate everyone who supports it.
Support the site: Follow (free, fewer ads) · Subscribe (paid, ad-free) · Buy Me A Coffee
Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
