After all the rumors and whatnot, we finally have the new Mi Band 5. This one offers major changes over its predecessor while being priced similarly at $26 for the non-NFC variant and $30 for the NFC.
The major upgrade we have is the AMOLED display, stretching from the 0.95-inch to 1.1-inch with plethoras of official and third-party watch faces. You can also use animated watch faces on the go.
The sensor remains the same, including accelerometer, heart rate monitor, barometer, and gyroscope, which puts rumors of SpO2 tracking to an end. The software, though, has been tweaked with 11 “professional modes” as Xiaomi calls. These modes will provide insight and precise tracking. For instance, the Mi Band 5 can now identify five swimming styles automatically. Meanwhile, it comes with water-resistant for up to 50 meters.
Similarly, the PAI score, or Personal Activity Intelligence score, is there to offer insight on how effective was your workout as well as your overall fitness.
And then there’s the heart monitoring, which has been improved to detect abnormalities and notify you immediately, as seen on the Apple Watch. Furthermore, the PPG sensor is now 50% more accurate over its predecessor.
The sleep tracking here is intact, but now it can provide you data about your REM sleep.
We have an NFC version as well which can be used for payments, on the other hand, a dedicated voice assistant is present too, but we are yet to know if it will work outside China.
Xiaomi says the Mi Band 5 has 14 days of battery life. If not, you can always hook up the magnetic charger on the back of the band — this solves the cumbersome of having to detach the band for charging on prior generation.
The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 will go on sale starting June 18 in China for a price tag of CNY 189 for the base variant, and CNY 229 for the NFC version.
As for Nepal, the Mi Band 5 could be priced anywhere between Rs. 4000-5,000.
