Xiaomi has quietly launched a compact version of its flagship watch on the global market, with no separate presentation. The Xiaomi Watch S5 41mm appeared on the company’s global site on 10 November, with an AMOLED screen up to 3000 nits bright, NFC for payments, five satellite systems and up to 14 days of battery life. Xiaomi has not announced a price or a sales date yet, but some answers may come as early as 17 November in Paris.
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What we know about the Xiaomi Watch S5 41mm
Notebookcheck and the5krunner reported the watch’s appearance on mi.com/global on 10 November, and Android Headlines confirmed the news on 11 November. It is a smaller version of the Watch S5, which until now came only in a 46mm case. The new model is aimed at people who find big watches awkward on a slim wrist or who don’t want one on their arm in bed.
Display and case
The watch has a round 1.32-inch AMOLED display with a 466 by 466 resolution and a density of 352 pixels per inch. Peak brightness is rated at 3000 nits, so the watch face should stay readable even in winter sun and on snow. According to the5krunner, the stainless steel case is 41.4mm across and 9.9mm thick, and weighs 36g without the strap.
The upper right button works as a rotating crown for scrolling through menus, and the lower one can be assigned to an action of your choice. Outside China the watch will come in three colours: black, ceramic white and light blue. The black and blue versions have a fluoroelastomer strap, while the white one gets a ceramic bezel and a leather strap.
Battery
The battery is 590 mAh. Xiaomi promises up to 14 days in power-saving mode, 8 days with typical use and 5 days with the always-on display. Notebookcheck notes that this is about a week less than the 46mm version. For a compact watch with a screen like this it is still a good result, as many smartwatches of a similar size need charging every day or two.
Sport and navigation
The watch runs HyperOS 4, supports more than 150 sport modes and has 5 ATM water resistance, so you can swim with it. Satellite navigation uses GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, BeiDou and QZSS. There are offline maps that you download through the Mi Fitness app, route navigation, a return-along-your-track function and an off-route warning.
Cyclists and runners will find Bluetooth heart rate broadcasting useful: the watch can send data to a bike computer or third-party apps. Heart rate is measured underwater while swimming, and during sleep the watch tracks heart rate variability.
NFC and payments
The model has NFC with Google Pay and Xiaomi Pay support. As the5krunner points out, payment availability depends on your region and bank, so check before buying that Google Pay works on the watch with your card.
Price and release date
There is no official price. According to leaks cited by Notebookcheck and Android Headlines, the watch could cost around 240 euros in Europe. That figure is unconfirmed, and the final price may differ.
The nearest occasion for an announcement is 17 November, when Xiaomi holds a launch event in Paris for the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max smartphones. It starts at 13:00 UTC, which is 13:00 in the UK. The company has not confirmed whether the Watch S5 41mm will be shown there. For comparison, the Xiaomi Smart Band 11 is already on sale in Europe through Xiaomi’s Spanish store, including an NFC version. According to Xiaomi, it lasts up to 10 days in normal mode and up to 21 days in light mode, but it has no built-in GPS.
What this means for buyers
If you have been waiting for a compact Xiaomi watch with GPS and contactless payments, the newcomer looks interesting: a bright screen, a steel case, offline maps and a week of battery life with normal use. But there is no need to rush while there is no official price or sales date. If the final price lands near the leak, the watch will cost noticeably more than fitness bands and budget Redmi models.
The right choice depends on what you need. For notifications, steps, sleep and heart rate, a fitness band is enough. For a big screen and calls from your wrist without overspending, an inexpensive Redmi Watch will do. For GPS on runs and hikes, there are budget models with built-in navigation. Below are three popular alternatives you can order right now.
What to buy while the Watch S5 41mm is not on sale
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro
This is the closest option in spirit from Xiaomi itself, but in band format. It has a 1.74-inch screen, blood oxygen measurement and sport modes. The seller lists the global version, which matters for menu language support and for working with Mi Fitness. It suits anyone who wants a light everyday tracker with phone notifications and does not need GPS on the wrist. It costs £70.46 at the moment.
Price on 12 November: £70.46
Sold: 805+ pcs, positive reviews: 98.2%
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Xiaomi Redmi Watch 6 Lite
If you want a big square screen and calls straight from the watch, take a look at the Redmi Watch 6 Lite. It has a 1.96-inch display, Bluetooth calls, sport modes and health monitoring, and a 470 mAh battery. At £54.50 it is much cheaper than the expected price of the Watch S5 41mm, and it is also the global version.
Price on 12 November: £54.50
Sold: 417+ pcs, positive reviews: 99.1%
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HAYLOU Solar Ultra
This is the best seller of the three, with more than 2000 orders on AliExpress. Its main advantage over the bands is built-in GPS, so a run or walk is recorded without your phone. It has a 1.6-inch AMOLED screen, 5ATM protection and Bluetooth calls. At £60.59 it is an affordable way to get a watch with navigation while Xiaomi keeps its new model’s price under wraps.
Price on 12 November: £60.59
Sold: 2031+ pcs, positive reviews: 95.6%
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In short
- The Xiaomi Watch S5 41mm appeared on Xiaomi’s global site on 10 November: 1.32-inch AMOLED up to 3000 nits, a 41.4mm steel case, 36g without the strap.
- Battery life is up to 14 days in power-saving mode, 8 days in normal use and 5 days with the always-on display.
- It has NFC with Google Pay and Xiaomi Pay, five satellite systems and offline maps.
- There is no official price, and leaks suggest around 240 euros. Xiaomi’s next event takes place on 17 November in Paris.
- While you wait, you can pick up the Smart Band 10 Pro, the Redmi Watch 6 Lite or the HAYLOU Solar Ultra with GPS.
Sources: Notebookcheck, the5krunner, Android Headlines, Xiaomi’s global site.
