Priced at €299, the new smartwath fills a much-needed value gap in the Android ecosystem
Xiaomi has officially returned to the Wear OS stage with the launch of the Xiaomi Watch 5 at MWC 2026 in Barcelona.
It marks a significant move for the brand, which hasn’t released an Android smartwatch since the Xiaomi Watch 2 and Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro in 2023.
While the older model received an out-of-the-blue update to Wear OS 5 last summer, the new Watch 5 skips ahead to Wear OS 6. It will feature built-in Google Gemini support and a hardware suite that undercuts the pricing of flagship rivals from Google and Samsung.
Next-level battery life
Frustratingly, Xiaomi didn’t actually have its latest smartwatch on the stand at MWC for us to get some hands-on time with—all that space, seemingly, was taken up by its Vision GT concept car.
However, we do know that the Watch 5 is built around a 1.54-inch display protected by sapphire glass and a stainless steel frame, and that the real innovation is in the battery department.
(Credit: Xiaomi)
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Xiaomi says it’s using a 930mAh silicon-carbon cell, a higher-density technology that allows for a larger capacity without increasing the watch’s bulk.
When paired with the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 (notably, not the just-announced Snapdragon Wear Elite) and a BES2800 low-power co-processor, the watch is slated to last up to six days in full smart mode (or 18 days in power-saver mode).
If it all checks out in testing, this could solve one of the biggest remaining pain points for Wear OS users: the battery anxiety common in the Pixel and Galaxy lines (particularly in smaller case sizes).
Innovative gesture controls
Interaction is also getting a noticeable upgrade through EMG-powered gesture controls.
By using sensors to detect the electrical signals in your wrist and forearm, the Watch 5 can recognize gestures like snapping your fingers or rubbing your wrist together. These hands-free actions can be mapped to dismiss calls, silence alarms, or trigger the built-in Gemini AI.
At €299.99, the Xiaomi Watch 5 is positioned as a premium, high-performance wearable for Android users without the €400+ price tag of a Galaxy Watch 8 or OnePlus Watch 3.
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As you would expect, it includes the full suite of Google services, from Wallet to Maps, and adds Xiaomi’s own HyperConnect features for remote camera control and smart home management.
Global shipping is expected to begin following MWC, and we’ll have our full review landing over the coming weeks. Stay tuned for that.
