ICYMI: The Xiaomi Watch 5 Can Read Your Muscles (Yes, Really)
If you have ever wanted to feel like a Jedi while checking your notifications, Xiaomi might have just made that happen. In a week that saw the launch of the new Xiaomi 17 Ultra, the new Xiaomi Watch 5 slipped onto the scene with a feature that sounds like pure sci-fi: an ECG sensor that reads hand muscle signals to control the watch. That means you can answer calls or snap photos just by clenching your fist or moving your fingers, no touching required.
Here is the rundown of what else you missed with Xiaomi’s latest wearable debut.
The Screen and Build
The Xiaomi Watch 5 is not subtle. It sports a large 1.54-inch circular AMOLED display that hits a very bright 1,500 nits, making it readable even in direct sunlight. It is housed in a stainless steel case with a synthetic sapphire crystal glass protecting both the front display and the back sensors. Despite the rugged materials and 5ATM water resistance, it keeps a relatively slim profile at 12.3mm.
Battery Beast
Smartwatches often struggle to last a day, but Xiaomi is claiming the Xiaomi Watch 5 acts differently. Thanks to a dual-chip architecture (pairing a Snapdragon W5 with a low-power Hengxuan 2800 chip), it manages a massive 930mAh battery.
- Normal usage: Up to 6 days
- Power-saving mode: Up to 18 days
Under the Hood
Running on Xiaomi HyperOS 3, the watch is packed with health tech. Beyond the standard heart rate and sleep tracking, you get ECG, SpO2 monitoring, stress tracking, and offline full-colour maps for runners. Connectivity is also future-proofed with Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, GPS, and eSIM support for taking calls without your phone.
Pricing and Style
Xiaomi is offering the watch in silver or black, with strap options ranging from standard rubber to a fancy 3D-printed titanium alloy.
- Standard (Rubber Strap): CNY1,999 (~RM1,155)
- eSIM Variant (Leather Strap): CNY2,299 (~RM1,328)
While it launched in China alongside the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, global availability details are likely to follow soon.
