A smartwatch with 98.4% heart rate accuracy and a fitness band that lasts 21 days on a single charge. That’s the pitch Xiaomi is making with its two newest wearables, and honestly, it’s hard not to pay attention. Xiaomi has launched the Smart Band 11 and Watch S5 41mm in China, and both devices are pushing hard on health features, display quality, and battery life at prices that most Western brands would blush at.
Start with the Smart Band 11. It’s got a 1.72-inch AMOLED display hitting 2,000 nits peak brightness, which is genuinely impressive for a band in this class. The bezels are only 2mm wide, so you’re getting a lot of screen for a very slim package. The whole thing is thinner and lighter than its predecessor, with an aluminum alloy frame and a quick-release strap. For health tracking, Xiaomi fitted it with a dual-lamp, dual-PD heart rate sensor running its own in-house algorithm for all-day monitoring, including alerts when your heart rate goes abnormal. You also get blood oxygen tracking, stress monitoring, sleep HRV, and sleep trend reports. And with 150+ workout modes including swimming with AI stroke recognition and 9-axis posture detection, this isn’t just a step counter with a nice screen.
The Smart Band 11 also has 5 ATM water resistance, works with Android and iOS, and can control Mi Home smart devices and even compatible car functions. The 233mAh battery takes 90 minutes to fully charge and Xiaomi claims up to 21 days of life in ultra-long mode, 12 days in regular use, and 7 days with always-on display enabled. Those numbers are ambitious, but even if real-world use knocks them back by 30%, you’re still looking at a band that won’t constantly beg you for a charger.
The Watch S5 41mm is the more premium option, and it looks the part. At 36 grams and 9.9mm thick, it has a ceramic bezel, stainless steel body, a 24-facet diamond-cut crown, and floating lugs. There’s also a Transparent Edition with a 47mm octagonal case made from Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0, which went through over 260 manufacturing processes including 240 minutes of CNC carving and 800 minutes of polishing. That level of detail for a watch under $400 is notable.
On the health side, the Watch S5 uses a four-light, four-PD heart sensor with Xiaomi’s heart rate algorithm 2.0, rated at 98.4% accuracy. It tracks sleep, stress, breathing, wrist temperature, and cycle-based workout guidance. There’s AI sleep analysis, UVA/UVB monitoring, calorie tracking, and for cyclists specifically, it syncs with phone data, generates cycling reports, and supports third-party Bluetooth power meters. Safety features include a high-frequency whistle and real-time location sharing with emergency contacts. The watch also has dual-mode Bluetooth 5.4, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, GPS, a microphone, and a speaker. The 590mAh battery is rated for up to 14 days in maximum use mode, 8 days with routine monitoring, and 5 days with AOD on.
- Smart Band 11 Standard Edition: CNY 299 (around $45)
- Smart Band 11 NFC Edition: CNY 349 (around $52)
- Watch S5 41mm: starting at CNY 1,299 (around $194)
- Watch S5 Transparent Edition: CNY 2,499 (around $375)
Both are available now in China. No word yet on a global release, but Xiaomi has been expanding its wearables internationally, so a wider launch is likely. The pricing is where Xiaomi really stakes its claim. A fitness band for $45 with a bright AMOLED screen and 21-day battery, or a smartwatch for under $200 with GPS, Wi-Fi, a speaker, and health features that rival devices costing twice as much? That’s real pressure on brands like Fitbit, Garmin’s entry-level lineup, and Samsung’s Galaxy Fit range. These aren’t flagship killers in the traditional sense, but they’re exactly the kind of value plays that make budget-conscious shoppers stop and reconsider their options. Xiaomi is clearly not slowing down.