The latest member of the world's most
popular smart band family has arrived - Mi Band 5 is a major upgrade over its
predecessor. And it achieves that while retaining the US$ 26 starting price in
China for the non-NFC version and US$ 30 if you need the NFC.
The first major upgrade would be the
AMOLED display, which has grown to 1.1" from 0.95" and as usual, it
can be customized with the large selection of official and third-party designs.
Animated watch faces are also on the menu.
The sensor set is unchanged -
accelerometer, heart rate monitor, barometer and gyroscope with rumors of SpO2
tracking ending up false. The software has been enhanced however and there are
11 "professional modes" now as Xiaomi calls them. They are fine-tuned
and provide some detailed insight and precise tracking. For example, Mi Band 5
can recognize five of the main swimming styles automatically. The band itself
can be submerged in up to 50 meters of water . A PAI (Personal Activity
Intelligence) score is also now available to give you a bit more insight on how
impactful was your workout on your overall well-being and fitness.
The heart monitoring has been improved a
bunch and it can now detect abnormalities and notify you - just like the Apple
Watch. Moreover, the new PPG sensor is 50% more accurate than its predecessor. When
it comes to sleep tracking, the Mi Band 5 can now extract data related to your
REM sleep. There's also an NFC version that can be used for payments. A voice
assistant is present too, but we are yet to find out how that will work outside
China.
Xiaomi guarantees 14 days of battery life.
The charger has been improved and now hooks up to the back of the Mi Band 5 via
magnets, so you don't need to detach the band for charging. The Xiaomi Mi Band
5 will start selling on June 18 in the country with a CNY 189 price tag for the
regular version and CNY 229 for the NFC-enabled one.
