Fifty-two dollars for an AMOLED smartwatch with 18-day battery life. That’s not a typo. Xiaomi just launched the Redmi Watch 6 Active in China at 349 yuan, and for that price, the spec sheet is genuinely hard to argue with.
The watch has a 1.85-inch square AMOLED display running at 390 x 450 resolution, with a local peak brightness of 1,200 nits. That’s enough to stay readable in direct sunlight, which is something a lot of pricier watches still struggle with. There’s also a color always-on display mode, so you can check the time or glance at notifications without waving your wrist around like you’re hailing a cab.
Design-wise, it’s clean and minimal. The watch weighs just 26 grams and sits 9.9mm thick on your wrist, which is on the slimmer side for this price bracket. A flat-edged frame, a single side button, and 2.5D curved glass on top round out the look. It comes in three colors at launch: silver, pink-orange, and a darker black or gray. The straps use a quick-release mechanism, which is a small detail but one that matters if you ever want to swap bands without needing a tiny screwdriver and a YouTube tutorial.
Battery life is where Xiaomi is really leaning in. The 470mAh cell is rated for up to 18 days in battery-saver mode, around 12 days with normal daily use, and about six days if you keep the always-on display and health tracking running continuously. Six days with AOD and full tracking on is still solid. Most people won’t need 18 days, but knowing the ceiling is that high means you’re not going to be hunting for a charger every other night.
For health tracking, the watch covers the expected bases well. It monitors heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep, and stress, and can send alerts when something looks off, like abnormal heart rate or low SpO2 readings. It also tracks over 140 exercise types, with automatic detection for common workouts. That automatic detection feature tends to be hit or miss on budget wearables, so it’s worth keeping expectations measured until real-world reviews come in.
There are a few extras worth calling out. The built-in microphone lets you take Bluetooth calls directly from the watch. Quick text replies mean you can respond to messages without digging out your phone. And for iPhone users specifically, the watch syncs with Apple Health and can trigger the iPhone camera remotely, which is a nice touch that most Android-focused budget wearables skip entirely.
One feature that’s not ready yet: QR-code payments for WeChat Pay and Alipay. Xiaomi says that’s coming in a September software update. It’s a bit annoying to launch without it, but at least it’s on the roadmap rather than just vaporware.
Pricing and availability are already in motion beyond China. The watch is listed at PHP 2,599 in the Philippines and is available in the US through Amazon. Budget smartwatches at this level have been slowly chipping away at the argument for spending three or four times more, and the Redmi Watch 6 Active is a strong example of why that conversation is getting harder to dismiss.
- 1.85-inch AMOLED display, 390 x 450 resolution, 1,200 nits peak brightness
- Color always-on display (AOD) support
- 470mAh battery, up to 18 days in saver mode, 12 days typical use
- 140+ exercise modes with automatic workout detection
- Heart rate, SpO2, sleep, and stress monitoring with alert notifications
- Built-in microphone for Bluetooth calls and quick text replies
- Apple Health sync and iPhone remote camera shutter
- QR-code payment support (WeChat Pay, Alipay) coming in September update
- Weighs 26 grams, 9.9mm thin, quick-release straps
- Priced at 349 yuan (~$52) in China, PHP 2,599 in the Philippines
So is this the budget smartwatch to beat right now? At $52 with an AMOLED screen and legitimate health features, it’s hard to pick a serious fight with it. The payment feature delay is mildly frustrating, and the automatic workout detection needs independent testing before anyone declares it accurate. But as an entry point into smartwatches, or a solid backup device, the Redmi Watch 6 Active is making a compelling case for itself.