This new Wear OS smartwatch brings gesture controls to your wrist and lasts for days

Source: Android Authority

TL;DR

• The Xiaomi Watch 5 launches globally at MWC 2026 with gesture controls and a large battery.
• The 930 mAh silicon‑carbon battery nearly doubles capacity over the previous model.
• EMG, PPG, and IMU sensors let you “pinch twice” to hang up calls or “rub twice” to dismiss alarms.

Gesture‑Based Controls

At the MWC 2026 kickoff event, Xiaomi unveiled the global version of the Xiaomi Watch 5, emphasizing hands‑free interaction. The watch integrates:

• Electromyography (EMG) – reads electrical signals from your muscles for low‑latency gestures.
• Photoplethysmography (PPG) – monitors blood flow and assists in motion detection.
• Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) – tracks orientation and movement.

Common gestures include:

• Pinch Twice – hangs up an incoming call.
• Rub Twice – dismisses an alarm.
• Snap Fingers / Shake Wrist / Rotate Wrist – can be customized to launch Google Gemini, open the camera, or start YouTube Music.

Battery and Performance

• Processor: Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 paired with a BES2800 low‑power co‑processor.
• Battery: 930 mAh “Xiaomi Surge Battery” with 10 % silicon‑carbon content, almost double the capacity of the previous model.
• Battery Life: Up to 6 days in smart mode, up to 18 days in power‑saver mode (real‑world results vary with usage).

Design and Display

• Materials: Stainless‑steel frame, double‑sided sapphire glass (Mohs hardness 9).
• Screen: 1.54‑inch AMOLED, 2.6 mm thin bezels, LIPO display technology, 1500 nits peak brightness, 480 × 480 resolution.
• Dimensions & Weight: 47 mm × 47 mm × 12.3 mm, 56 g (without the fluororubber strap).
• Water Resistance: Up to 5 ATM.

Software and Connectivity

• OS: Wear OS 6 (first Xiaomi smartwatch with Gemini pre‑installed).
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, 2.4 GHz Wi‑Fi.
• Google Gemini: Voice‑activated assistant for tasks, weather, navigation, etc.
• Ecosystem Integration: Works with Xiaomi HyperConnect, allowing control of the Xiaomi Smart Hub and remote camera operation from the wrist.

Health Tracking

• Quick Check: One‑tap health snapshot (heart rate, blood‑oxygen, stress, sleep) in 60 seconds.
• Outdoor Running: Dual‑band 5 GNSS system, offline mapping, VO₂ max, weekly training load.
• Data Sync: Health data syncs to Health Connect via the Mi Fitness app.

Pricing

• Starting Price: €300.