Full specifications, features and battery life for the Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm, the brand’s stainless steel GPS smartwatch with dual-frequency (L1 + L5) positioning, offline maps and Bluetooth power meter support.
| Manufacturer | Xiaomi |
| Type | GPS sports and lifestyle smartwatch |
| Series | Xiaomi Watch S |
| Predecessor | Xiaomi Watch S4 |
| Successor | None yet |
| Dimensions | 46 x 46 x 10.99mm |
| Weight | Approximately 46g, excluding strap |
Specifications and features as at launch.
Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm
Dual-frequency GPS and offline maps for runs and rides, with up to three weeks between charges.
RRP £179.99 £149.99
€153.00
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Get it nowOrder now – Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm Also sold direct byExpert opinion | Specifications | Battery life | Features | Further reading
Expert opinion
Xiaomi Watch S5 is the more sport-focused of Xiaomi’s two premium watches, and it works with iPhone as well as Android. Runners get running form feedback, on-wrist running courses and a training load view. Cyclists can pair a Bluetooth power meter, broadcast heart rate to a bike computer and get a post-ride report. Offline maps guide you along a route and back to the start, and dual-frequency GPS keeps your tracks accurate in cities and under trees. Sleep, stress, blood oxygen and menstrual tracking cover the health side, and NFC pays for the coffee afterwards. The limits are no ANT+, nothing swim-specific beyond a 5 ATM rating, and training analysis that is simpler than an entry Garmin such as the Forerunner 165. Your data can leave through Health Connect and Suunto. Battery is a claimed 14 days in normal use, with no figure for continuous GPS. It suits a recreational runner or cyclist who wants a steel watch with real sport features at a mid-range price.
Specifications
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Type | AMOLED, with wet-touch protection |
| Size | 1.48in |
| Resolution | 480 x 480px, 323 PPI |
| Brightness | 1,500 nits HBM (full screen), 2,500 nits peak |
| Bezel | 2.6mm |
| Physical | |
| Size | 46mm |
| Dimensions | 46 x 46 x 10.99mm, excluding strap and protrusions |
| Weight | Approximately 46g, excluding strap |
| Case material | 316L stainless steel body; bezel in stainless steel, ceramic or forged carbon depending on version; glass cover |
| Straps | Black and Silver: fluororubber, 140 to 210mm. Ceramic Blue: genuine leather, 135 to 205mm. Jungle Green: fluororubber plus nylon braided, 135 to 205mm. |
| Colours | Black, Silver, Ceramic Blue, Jungle Green |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM / 50m. Pool and near-shore swimming; not for hot showers, saunas or diving. |
| Sensors and positioning | |
| GNSS | Dual-frequency (L1 + L5), multi-constellation: GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS |
| Optical heart rate | Heart rate and blood oxygen sensor, 4 LEDs and 4 photodiodes |
| Other sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light, electronic compass, barometer |
| © the5krunner. Link required. | |
| Connectivity and battery | |
| Operating system | Xiaomi HyperOS 3 |
| Phone compatibility | Android 8.0 and above, iOS 14.0 and above |
| Wireless | Dual-mode Bluetooth BLE/BT 5.4, NFC (Mastercard and Visa; availability varies by region). No ANT+ listed. |
| External sensors | Bluetooth power meters (standard Bluetooth protocol) |
| Audio | Built-in speaker and microphone |
| Battery | 815mAh lithium-ion polymer |
| Battery, light use | Up to 21 days claimed (power-saving mode) |
| Battery, normal use | Up to 14 days claimed |
| Battery, always-on display | Up to 9 days claimed |
| Charging | 2-pin magnetic charging dock |
Battery life
Xiaomi claims up to 14 days in normal use, 9 days with the always-on display, and 21 days in its light-use scenario, which runs in power-saving mode. The 14-day figure assumes three hours of GPS-recorded exercise a week with all-day stress and blood oxygen tracking switched on, so an athlete who records more GPS training than that should expect fewer days between charges. Xiaomi does not publish a continuous GPS figure, so marathon and long-ride endurance is not confirmed. Battery capacity is 815mAh.
Features
Full feature detail is covered on the Xiaomi specifications index.
Sport and training
- More than 150 sport modes, with data pages you can add, remove and rearrange.
- Running form recognition reports vertical ratio, vertical oscillation and ground contact time, with tips to improve.
- On-wrist running courses range from beginner and fat-loss plans to cardio fitness and endurance sessions.
- A fitness and training load screen shows how hard you have been training and how your fitness is balanced.
- Outdoor cycling mode pairs with a Bluetooth power meter and can mirror live ride data on your phone, which then works as a bike computer.
- Bluetooth heart rate broadcast sends your heart rate to a bike computer, including Garmin Edge 540 and 840, Bryton and Magene units.
- A post-ride report gives performance analysis and personalised recommendations.
- Ski mode records each run, and fall detection can call an emergency contact if you do not respond within 60 seconds.
Navigation
- Dual-frequency L1 + L5 positioning across five satellite systems, which Xiaomi says is 33% more accurate and 30% faster to fix than Watch S4.
- Full-colour offline maps, downloaded through the Mi Fitness app, support route navigation to a destination.
- One-tap backtracking leads you back to your start point, and vibration alerts warn when you stray off route.
- Wi-Fi fast transfer speeds up loading maps and music.
Health and recovery
- Xiaomi’s upgraded heart rate algorithm claims 98.4% heart rate accuracy in its own lab testing.
- All-day blood oxygen tracking warns when levels are low, and all-day stress tracking prompts you to relax.
- Sleep tracking includes sleep stages and REM, trend reports, and a sleep improvement plan developed with the World Sleep Society.
- A one-tap Checkup app gives a quick read of heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep and stress.
- Menstrual cycle tracking and prediction, plus guided breathing exercises such as box breathing.
Smart features
- NFC contactless payments work at Mastercard and Visa terminals, where your bank supports it.
- Xiaomi Smart Hub handles remote photo capture, find my phone and earphone settings, and controls Xiaomi Home devices with a Xiaomi phone or tablet.
- Sports vlog starts video recording on a Xiaomi, REDMI or POCO phone during exercise, with heart rate and calories overlaid.
- Wrist mode lets you wear the watch on either wrist with the crown on either side.
Compatibility
- Works with Android 8.0 and above and with iPhone on iOS 14.0 and above.
- Workout and health data syncs to Health Connect and to the Suunto app.
Further reading
- Xiaomi specifications index
- Xiaomi Watch S4 specifications
- Xiaomi 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.
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