Honor Band 5 or Xiaomi Mi Band 4: Which fitness bracelet is better in 2026?

The choice between Honor Band 5 and Xiaomi Mi Band 4 remains relevant even years after their release – both devices are still sold as new and used, and their functionality covers the basic needs of most users. But which is better: a budget flagship from Xiaomi with an AMOLED screen or a more advanced model from Honor with a pulse oximeter?

In this article, we will examine the key differences between the two bracelets according to 10 criteria: from design and ergonomics to measurement accuracy and compatibility with phones. You will learn which device is best suited for sports, sleep, notifications - and where hidden pitfalls lie (for example, why the Mi Band 4 can discharge 2 times faster when used actively).

Spoiler: If you want a bracelet that is as self-contained as possible and that measures oxygen in your blood, the choice is obvious, but if the priority is price and ecosystem, then Xiaomi offers a better solution.

1. Design and ergonomics: which bracelet is more comfortable to wear?

Both devices are made in a minimalist style with removable straps, but there are nuances:

• 📏 Sizes and weight: Honor Band 5 is thinner (11.5 mm vs 12.5 mm in the Mi Band 4) and lighter (22.7 g vs 22.1 g).The difference is minimal, but with a long wear, Honor rubs less wrist.
• 🎨 Colors and materials: Xiaomi offers more strap options (including metal), and Honor – only silicone, but with a matte coating that is less dirty.
• 🔒 Fastening: The Mi Band 4 has a classic metal buckle clasp, the Honor Band 5 has a plastic clip.

The Honor Band 5 looks more premium due to its glossy body, but the Mi Band 4 is more practical – its screen is less than brands. Both bracelets have a 5ATM degree of protection, that is, they can withstand swimming in the pool, but not diving.

⚠️ Warning: Mi Band 3 straps don't fit Mi Band 4 due to altered mounting! Honor Band 5 also needs original straps - third-party straps may not fit tightly.

2. Screen: AMOLED vs AMOLED - where is the best picture?

Both bracelets are equipped with colored AMOLED-displays, but with different characteristics:

In practice, the difference in resolution is almost invisible — both screens are clear. But the Honor Band 5 has a physical button under the screen that makes navigation easier (for example, returns to the home screen in one click). The Mi Band 4 only controls swipes, which sometimes leads to random taps.

Honor wins in brightness, it reads better in the sun, and it also has automatic backlighting that Xiaomi doesn't have.

3. Functionality: What do bracelets do?

Here's where the fundamental differences begin: Both bracelets track steps, sleep and pulse, but the Honor Band 5 offers enhanced medical features:

• 🩺 Pulse oximeter (SpO₂): Measuring blood oxygen saturation, useful for controlling sleep breathing or exercise. Mi Band 4 doesn't have this function.
• 💤 Sleep monitoring with phases: Honor recognizes 6 Types of sleep (including naps), Xiaomi – only deep/light/REM.
• 🏃 Training modes: Honor has 10 built-in modes (including swimming), Xiaomi has 6.
• 📱 Notifications: Both show incoming calls and messages, but Honor supports quick answers (template phrases) for Android.

The Mi Band 4 has a built-in NFC (version NFC), It's a bracelet that allows you to pay for your purchases (works with Mi Pay in China and some other countries). NFC no.

4. Sensor accuracy: who to trust?

According to the results of tests conducted by independent laboratories (including DC Rainmaker and Wareable):

• 📊 Both bracelets overstate steps by 5-10% when walking, but Honor Band 5 captures running more accurately (fewer false positives).
• ❤️ Pulse: In a static state, both show close to the benchmark. When moving, Xiaomi often “fails” – it can show 120 beats / min instead of the real 90.
• 💤 Dream: Honor is better at recognizing short awakenings (for example, if you wake up for 2-3 minutes), and Xiaomi sometimes misses the phases of light sleep.

The critical difference is evident in the measurement SpO₂: The Honor Band 5 is a little bit of a mistake. ±2%, which is the medical standard for home devices. ±1%.

⚠️ Warning: If you use a sleep apnea bracelet, the Honor Band 5 data will be more reliable, but it's not a substitute for polysomnography for diagnostics!

5. Autonomy: Who lives longer without charging?

Manufacturers state:

• 🔋 Honor Band 5: Up to 14 days standby, 6-7 days with active use.
• 🔋 Xiaomi Mi Band 4: Up to 20 days standby, 5-6 days with active use.

The real tests show a different picture:

• With the continuous monitoring of the pulse turned off, both work for ~10 days.
• With 24/7 monitoring enabled, Honor lives 4-5 days, and Xiaomi lives 3-4 days (due to less optimized software).
• During active training (GPS via phone + notifications), discharge is accelerated by 30-40%.

Charging on both bracelets takes ~2 hours. the connector on Honor magnetic (more convenient), Xiaomi pin (less reliable with frequent connections).

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To extend the life of the battery, turn off automatic pulse measurements in the daytime (night monitoring is enough) and reduce the brightness of the screen to 50%.

Compatibility and Ecosystem: What Phones Do You Work With?

Official support:

• 📱 Honor Band 5: Android 5.0+/iOS 9.0+, Huawei Health appendix.
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi Band 4: Android 4.4+/iOS 9.0+, Mi Fit or Zepp app (for new firmware).

Key differences:

• 🔄 Sync: Mi Band 4 syncs faster with Xiaomi phones (due to optimization) MIUI). Honor is more versatile – it works equally stable with any Android devices.
• 🔗 Integration: Xiaomi interacts better with other devices in the ecosystem (for example, it can unlock the Mi-smartphone.
• 🌍 Localization: Mi Fit has a Russian-language interface, but some features (e.g., some features, PAI) available only in English. Huawei Health fully translated.

⚠️ Note: If you have an iPhone, both will work with limitations: no notifications from third-party messengers (only calls and calls) SMS), Synchronization of data takes longer.

7.Price and Affordability: Which is Better in 2026?

At the time of writing (2026) prices for new devices in Russia:

• 💰 Honor Band 5: ~3 500–4 500 ₽ (color-dependent).
• 💰 Xiaomi Mi Band 4: ~2 500–3 500 ₽ (version NFC cheaper).

In the secondary market, the difference is even more pronounced:

• 🔄 Honor Band 5 b/w: 1,800–2,500 ₽ (state").
• 🔄 Xiaomi Mi Band 4 b/w: 1,200–2,000 ₽.

The bottom line: Xiaomi is 20 to 30 percent cheaper, but Honor offers more modern features for the money. If the budget is tight, it makes sense to consider the Mi Band 5 or Honor Band 6 – they are not much more expensive, but without many of the shortcomings of the fourth and fifth models.

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If you buy a bracelet for basic activity tracking (steps, sleep, pulse), Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is the best choice for price/quality ratio (SpO₂, Apnea is definitely Honor Band 5.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Honor Band 5 Xiaomi Mi Band 4