Xiaomi Watch S5 46mm - Bezel Trimmed by 40%, Battery Life Untouched
These days, how a smartwatch feels seems to come down less to its spec sheet and more to how thick and clunky it looks on your wrist. The Watch S5 caught my attention with claims of a bezel trimmed 40% thinner than the previous generation, and a 21-day battery life that also made me take notice from a real-world usability angle.
📊 Quick Info
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Xiaomi |
| Price | £149.99 |
| Materials/Specs | 1.48" AMOLED (480x480), forged stainless steel case, 22mm quick-release strap |
| Key Features | Up to 21-day battery life, 5ATM water resistance, L1+L5 GNSS, 150+ sports modes |
| One-line verdict | ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ I didn't realize a thinner bezel could change the whole impression this much |
✨ 3-Line Summary
- 👍 Best feature: A bezel trimmed down to 2.6mm plus a forged stainless steel build gives it a premium presence on the wrist for the price
- 👎 Downside: The app ecosystem is limited compared to Wear OS, and some tracking accuracy (like nap detection) leaves something to be desired
- 🎯 Best for: Anyone who prioritizes design, battery life, and basic health tracking over a broad app ecosystem
📸 Product Gallery
The Green model worn on the wrist, showing the compass watch face
Close-up of the case and bezel
Strap and buckle detail
Watch face layout
🔍 Why I'm Interested
The impression a 40% slimmer bezel makes
On paper it's just "40% smaller," but on the wrist it reportedly makes the screen look noticeably bigger and removes that boxed-in feeling. It's a reminder of just how much the bezel can shape a smartwatch's overall impression.
The material feel of the forged stainless steel case
Unlike cheaper smartwatches that feel plasticky, this one uses a forged stainless steel frame that clearly gives it a different presence on the wrist. The colored models even offer zirconia ceramic and forged carbon bezels, which stands out for the material variety.
21-day battery life solves smartwatches' core pain point
The number one reason people avoid smartwatches is daily charging, and 21 days under light use should cut that stress dramatically. Even with Always On Display enabled it reportedly lasts around 6 days, which sounds like a reasonable real-world balance.
Solid daily-tracking hardware
L1+L5 dual GNSS, a 4LED+4PD heart rate sensor, and 5ATM water resistance are all pretty robust fundamentals for this price range. With 150+ sports modes, it looks more than capable for everyday workout logging.
🤔 What Gives Me Pause
A narrower app ecosystem than Wear OS
Third-party app support is more limited than the Wear OS lineup, which could be a letdown for anyone who wants to run a wide variety of apps directly on the watch.
Some tracking accuracy issues, like nap detection
Official reviews have mentioned that nap detection can sometimes be missed, so anyone who values sleep tracking should keep that in mind.
Local availability and pricing need to be confirmed
Pricing is only listed in GBP so far, so official availability and Korean-won pricing still need to be confirmed separately.
📋 Product Features (Subjective Rating)
- Design: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- Portability: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Practicality: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
- Value for money: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆
🛒 Before You Buy
✅ Recommended for
- Anyone who's always been bothered by chunky smartwatch bezels
- Anyone who's avoided smartwatches because daily charging is a hassle
- Anyone for whom basic health/fitness tracking is enough, with the app ecosystem as a lower priority
❌ Not recommended for
- Anyone who needs the Wear OS app ecosystem or Google service integration
- Anyone whose top priority is precise sleep-stage analysis
🎯 Final Verdict
With smartwatches, the presence you feel on your wrist often matters more than the spec sheet, and the Watch S5 seems to have genuinely shifted that impression just by slimming the bezel and switching to a forged stainless steel build. The 21-day battery figure also feels like a direct answer to the long-standing complaint that smartwatches are inconvenient because they need daily charging.
If the app ecosystem or precise sleep analysis aren't your top priorities, and you'd rather have a balance of good design, long battery life, and solid basic health tracking, this is a genuinely appealing option. Once local availability and the exact KRW pricing are confirmed, it's well worth putting on the shortlist.
Source: Original Yanko Design article
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