Xiaomi Mi Band 4 vs Mi Band 5: 12 Key Differences That Will Influence Your Choice

The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 and Mi Band 5 fitness bracelets remain among the most popular smart accessories even years after their release. At first glance, they seem almost identical: the same compact body, removable module, AMOLED-The screen and basic feature set for tracking activity, but when you look at it in detail, it's clear that the fifth generation has seen some significant improvements that make it a more modern and convenient device.

If you are faced with a choice between these two models in 2026 It is important to remember that the Mi Band 5 Not just a little better, he says. 30% A larger screen, a built-in magnetic charger, improved heart rate sensors, and new training regimes that the predecessor does not have, and the price difference in the secondary market is often just a small fraction of the cost. 500-1000 In this comparison, we will analyze all the technical and practical nuances that will help determine the purchase.

1. Design and Ergonomics: What has changed on the outside?

At first glance, the Mi Band 4 and Mi Band 5 are almost indistinguishable — both have an elongated oval body with a touch screen and a removable silicone strap.

• 📏 Screen size: 0.95′′ for Mi Band 4 vs 1.1′′ for Mi Band 5 (display area increased by 20%).
• 🔄 The shape of the case: the fifth generation has rounded corners, which makes it visually more modern.
• 🧲 Charging: the main joint of the fourth version - a charging cable falling from the socket - eliminated in the Mi Band 5 thanks to a magnetic connector.
• 🎨 Strap colors: The palette has expanded from 6 to 10 official shades (including limited editions).

Important point: despite the increased screen, the dimensions of the body of the Mi Band 5 They were almost identical (47.2×18.5×12.4 mm 46.9×17.9×12.5 mm, Mi Band. 4). That means that the old straps are fully compatible with the new one, so you can save on accessories: 22.1 d the foursome and 22.9 d at five.

⚠️ Attention: Magnetic charger Mi Band 5 It is not compatible with Mi Band. 4 — If you have an old cable, it's not going to be suitable for the new model, and the charging docks from the Mi Band. 6/7 They also don’t fit in the top five because of the altered connector.

2. Screen: Why does 0.15 inches matter?

On paper, the difference in screen size between 0.95" and 1.1" seems insignificant, but in practice, the larger display of the Mi Band 5 has several important advantages:

The main improvement is the increased display area, and the Mi Band 5 now fits:

• 📊 Full-fledged pulse and activity charts (on the Mi Band 4 they are cut down).
• 📝 Longer notifications (up to 100 characters vs. 60 characters for the predecessor).
• 🎵 The name of the track and the performer in the player (the four only have the name).
• 🏃‍♂️ Additional metrics during exercise (such as pace and step length).

Another key innovation is dynamic dials: Mi Band 5 has animated themes that respond to gestures or show weather, for example, a cloud dial can change animations depending on the forecast, and for Mi Band 4, these features are not available even after a firmware update.

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To increase the battery life of the Mi Band 5, turn off the animated dials in the Mi Fit app settings.Static themes save up to 15% charge per week.

Sensors and measurement accuracy: who is more accurate?

Both bracelets are equipped with an optical heart rate sensor, an accelerometer and a gyroscope, but the Mi Band 5 has updated sensors with improved algorithms.

1. Heart rate sensor (PPG):

• 🩺 Mi Band 4: sensor PPG-HR01 s 6 The accuracy of measurements decreases under intense loads (accuracy to the level of the light). 10-15 strike/min).
• 🩺 Mi Band 5: sensor PPG-HR02 s 8 LEDs (including infrared ones) and an improved noise filtering algorithm have reduced the error to 5-7 slamming/mining even while running.

Accelerometer and gyroscope:

• 🏃‍♂️ The Mi Band 5 has an acceleration sensor with an increased polling frequency (50 Hz vs. 25 Hz for the four), which improves the accuracy of step counting and activity recognition.
• 🚶‍♂️ The new bracelet better distinguishes walking from running and records short intervals of activity (for example, climbing stairs).

Sleep monitoring:

Both models track sleep phases (deep, light, REM), But the Mi Band 5 did add:

• 😴 Daytime sleep analysis (if you take a nap during the day, the bracelet will take this into account in statistics).
• 📉 Assessing sleep quality on a 100-point scale with recommendations for improvement.
• 🔊 Snoring tracking (requires a smartphone connection to record sound).

⚠️ Attention: For accurate tracking SpO₂ (In Mi Band 5, you need to update the firmware to 1.0.3.54 or later.

4 Functionality: What does a five do that a four don't?

The main features (stepmeter, pulsemeter, notifications) are present in both models, but the Mi Band 5 received several exclusive features:

One of the most useful innovations was the index. PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence is an algorithm that analyzes your weekly activity and gives you a personalized health score of 0 to 100, such as if you don't move much, but sometimes exercise, PAI It'll show you how to balance the load. Mi Band 4 doesn't have that feature.

Another convenient addition is music control. On the Mi Band 5, you can:

• 🎵 Switch tracks swipe across the screen.
• 🔊 Adjust the volume (on some firmware).
• ⏸ Pause the double tap playback.

For women, it will be an important advantage to track their menstrual cycles directly on the wristband, which allows you to enter data on symptoms (pain, mood) and make predictions based on history. In Mi Band 4, you need to use a separate application to do this.

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If it matters SpO₂, Women's calendar or music management - choose Mi Band 5. These features are not available on Mi Band 4 and will not be added in future updates.

5. Autonomy: Who holds the charge longer?

Official data from Xiaomi states that both bracelets last up to 14 days on a single charge, but in practice, the difference is noticeable:

• 🔋 Mi Band 4: 10-12 days with active use (notifications, pulse each) 10 mines, night monitoring).
• 🔋 Mi Band 5: 8-10 The difference is due to the more energy-intensive screen and the additional sensors.

Important nuances:

• ⚡ The Mi Band 5 has added a power saving mode that turns off the color screen and leaves only the basic functions (time, steps) in this mode, the bracelet will last up to 20 days.
• ⏱ Charging time reduced from 2 hours (Mi Band 4) to 1.5 hours (Mi Band 5) thanks to the magnetic connector.
• 🔄 The batteries in both models are non-removable. 2-3 In the years of operation, the capacity falls on 20-30%, And the bracelet requires charging every time. 5-7 days.

⚠️ Please note: if your Mi Band is yours 5 discharged 2-3 Check the synchronization settings in Mi Fit. Frequent data transfer over Bluetooth (for example, every time you use it). 5 may reduce the autonomy of the 2 once.

Turn off constant pulse monitoring (only leave "on demand")|Reduce the brightness of the screen to 3-4 division|Disable notifications from unnecessary applications|Use static dials instead of animated ones|Turn on energy saving mode overnight-->

Compatibility and firmware: what is important to know?

Both models work with the Mi Fit app (Android/iOS), But there are important differences in support:

Minimum requirements:

• 📱 Mi Band 4: Android 4.4+ or iOS 9.0+.
• 📱 Mi Band 5: Android 5.0+ or iOS 10.0+.

Firmware updates:

• 🔄 Mi Band 4 no longer gets new features – the last major update came in 2020.
• 🔄 Mi Band 5 is still supported by Xiaomi (last updated June 2023 with bug fixes) SpO₂).

Alternative firmware:

For both models, there are custom firmware (for example, Amazfit Mod), which add:

• 🎨 More dials (including third-party dials).
• 📊 Advanced screen settings (including always-on display for Mi Band 5).
• 🔧 Ability to turn off unnecessary functions (such as menstruation notifications).

However, installing custom software deprives of warranty and can lead to unstable operation of sensors. 4PDA (Section Xiaomi Mi Band").

7.Price and relevance in 2026

At the time of writing (2026), the prices for bracelets look like this:

• 💰 Mi Band 4 (new): 1,500–2,000 ₽ (It is more commonly found on sale as "residues").
• 💰 Mi Band 4 (b/u): 800–1,200 ₽.
• 💰 Mi Band 5 (new): 2,000–2,500 ₽ (Official Xiaomi stores).
• 💰 Mi Band 5 (b/o) 1,200–1,800 ₽.

Should you pay more for the Mi Band 5? The answer depends on your needs.

Choose Mi Band 4 if:

• 💵 Budget limited to 1,500 ₽.
• 🏃‍♂️ You only need basic functions (steps, pulse, notifications).
• 🔄 You don’t plan to use the bracelet for longer. 1-2 years.

Choose Mi Band 5 if:

• 🩺 Important. SpO₂, PAI ornamental.
• 📱 You need to manage music and advanced notifications.
• 🔋 Ready to Sacrifice 2 Days of Autonomy for a Bigger Screen.
• 🛡 Want a bracelet with current firmware and support for updates.

Important: Mi Band 5 counterfeits are common in the secondary market (especially in Chinese stores).

• 📦 The presence of a hologram on a box.
• 🔍 Serial number (checked through Mi Fit).
• 🔋 Magnetic charging cable (for fakes, the usual connector is often).

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In 2026, the Mi Band 5 remains a better buy than the Mi Band 4, despite the price difference, with improved sensors, a larger screen and up-to-date firmware justifying a 500-1000 overpayment. ₽.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Mi Band 4 and 5