Xiaomi announced the global version of Mi Band 5 on Wednesday (15) with some important absences. Contrary to what was expected, the fifth generation of fitness wristband does not come with an oxygen saturation meter or NFC connectivity. The successor to Mi Band 4 also doesn’t come with voice assistant compatibility. The three functions, therefore, will be exclusive to the Chinese version released in June.
The international model labeled Mi Smart Band 5 arrives today at the European market for the price of 39 euros, equivalent to $45 in the current price. The device comes with the same new magnetic charger and brings six color options for the bracelets, two less than the accessory sold in China: black, yellow, blue, orange, blue-green, and mint green.
The lack of NFC mainly implies the impossibility to use the bracelet to make payments. In the Chinese market, users can approach the wrist of devices to make purchases, as long as the cell phone has a compatible application, like WeChat.
The Chinese version also has the voice assistant XiaoAI, which is not available in the West. However, it was expected that the global version of the wristband would bring compatibility with Amazon’s Alexa, which did not happen.
The oxygen monitor is perhaps the main change from Mi Band 4. The feature, which should be present in an upcoming Apple Watch version, is seen as an ally in the detection of symptoms of Covid-19 patients. However, there are still doubts about the effectiveness of the function in a bracelet with simpler components such as the E-band.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 Datasheet
| Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 | |
|---|---|
| Screen | 1.1-inch color OLED, 126 * 294 pixels |
| Dimensions and Weight | 46.95 x 18.15 x 12.45 mm 11.9 grams |
| Sensors | Heart rate |
| Memory | 512 KB RAM 16 MB |
| Waterproof | 50 m depth |
| Autonomy | 100 mAh battery |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth, NFC (optional) |
| Compatibility | iOS and Android |
| Price | $45 |
What changes in Mi Band 5
The other specifications of the global version of Mi Band 5 coincide with the model announced in China. The bracelet features a 1.1-inch color OLED screen with 126 x 294-pixel resolution, in addition to 5 ATM water resistance and monitoring of 11 types of physical activities and menstrual cycle.
One of the main new features of this generation is the new charger, which no longer requires the wristband to be highlighted whenever the battery needs to be recharged. On the other hand, the component capacity has been reduced from 125 mAh to 100 mAh in the generation transition, reducing the autonomy from 20 days to up to 14 days of use.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.