What smart watches Xiaomi Mi Band 5: a full guide to functions and hidden features

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 is one of the most popular fitness bracelets on the market, released in 2020 as the successor to the Mi Band 4. Despite its compact size and budget price, the device has a lot of useful features that are usually found in more expensive gadgets. From accurate heart rate monitoring to controlling the camera of a smartphone – this bracelet is capable of more than it seems at first glance.

In this article, we'll take a look at all the features of the Mi Band 5, including hidden features that the manufacturer doesn't always advertise, how the bracelet helps in sports, monitors health, interacts with the smartphone and even saves battery life, and compare it to the Mi Band 4 and later models to help you see if it's worth upgrading.

1. Design and screens: what has changed compared to the Mi Band 4

Externally, the Mi Band 5 is almost no different from its predecessor, but there are a few key improvements: the body has become slightly thinner (12.1 mm vs. 12.5 mm), and the weight has decreased to 11.9 g (without strap — TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane, which does not cause allergies and is resistant to sweat.

The main innovation is the display. Now it's AMOLED-diagonal 1,1 inch (against) 0,95 Mi Band 4). Permission has risen to 126×294 pixels, and the brightness reaches 450 And the nit means that the screen is visible even in direct sunlight, and new dials have been added. 100 options, including animated.

• 🔹 5 brightness levels (adjusted in settings)
• 🔹 Automatic lighting when lifting your hand
• 🔹 Protecting Gorilla Glass 3 from scratches
• 🔹 Touch control (swipe up/down for scrolling menus)

Another important improvement is magnetic charging, so you don't have to take the capsule out of the strap, you just have to put the bracelet on the charger, which is convenient, but it requires care, and if the contacts get dirty, the charging can be interrupted.

⚠️ Warning: Do not use alcohol or abrasive materials to clean contacts, this may damage the coating.

2. Health monitoring: pulse, saturation and stress

Mi Band 5 has advanced health tracking features that were previously only available in premium devices (SpO₂). This function helps to assess blood oxygen saturation, which is especially important for athletes or people with breathing problems.

How it works:

1. Start the measurement in the bracelet menu (Status) → SpO₂).
2. Wait 15 to 30 seconds (don’t move your hand!)
3. Get the result in percentages (normal: 95-100%).

Important:

The bracelet also continuously monitors:

• 🫀 Heart rate (with a warning of tachycardia/bradycardia)
• 😴 Quality of sleep (deep, light, REM-phase)
• 🧘 Stress level (based on heart rate variability)
• 🩺 Menstrual cycle (for women, with a prognosis of ovulation)

To accurately monitor sleep, the bracelet should be worn on an unworking hand (usually the left hand for right-handers) and tightened so that the sensor is snugly attached to the skin, otherwise the data may be distorted.

3.Sports features: 11 training regimes and PAI

The Mi Band 5 supports 11 sports modes, including running, cycling, swimming, yoga and even jumping rope.

• ⏱️ Duration of training
• 🏃 Distance travelled (based on steps)
• 🔥 Calories burned
• 🫀 Average and maximum pulse

The model's feature is that it supports the PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence) index, which is a metric that measures your weekly activity and makes recommendations for better health. The higher your PAI (maximum 100), the better your fitness, and to score you need to exercise at a heart rate above 50% of your maximum.

For swimmers, the important thing is that the Mi Band 5 has 5 ATM protection, which means it can withstand immersion up to 50 meters. However, you can't operate the bracelet underwater, the screen does not respond to touch. Swimming data (stroke count, pace) is synchronized automatically after you get out of the water.

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To save charge, turn off automatic training recognition in the Mi Fit app settings. Turn on manual mode only when you are actually exercising.

4.Smart features: music management, alarm clocks and notifications

Despite its compact size, the Mi Band 5 is surprisingly flexible, and here are some of the key smart features:

• 🎵 Music management: pause/play, track switching (works with Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music, etc.).
• 🔔 Notifications: Shows incoming calls, SMS and messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
• ⏰ Smart alarm clocks: you can adjust the vibration at a certain time or by the phases of sleep.
• 📸 Camera Control: Remote shutter descent (useful for selfies or group photos).

To set up notifications:

1. Open the Mi Fit app.
2. Go to Profile. → Mi Band 5 → Notifications.
3. Select the applications you want to see on the bracelet.

Limitation:

iPhone

Android

And the interesting thing is, "Phone search." If you lose your smartphone at home, you can start the signal from the bracelet. → Find the phone. The phone will start ringing at maximum volume, even if it was silent.

Enable Bluetooth on your phone |Install the Mi Fit|Allow notifications in iOS/Android |Select the desired applications in Mi Fit| Check data synchronization-->

5. Autonomy and battery: how long the charge is held

Xiaomi officially claims 14 days of battery life, but in practice, this figure varies from 7 to 20 days depending on use.

• 🔋 Continuous pulse monitoring (reduces autonomy by 30-40%)
• 📶 Frequent notifications (each alert will wake up the screen)
• 🌙 Brightness of the display (maximum brightness discharges faster)
• 🏃 Active training (especially with the GPS phone)

To extend the work without recharging:

1. Turn off automatic pulse measurement (leave only manual mode).
2. Reduce the screen lighting time to 5 seconds.
3. Disable notifications from unnecessary applications.
4. Use dark dials (AMOLED-The screen spends less energy on black).

It takes about 1.5-2 hours to charge, and it's important that if the bracelet is not in use for more than a month, it needs to be charged up to 50% and stored in a dry place, which will prolong the battery life.

⚠️ If the bracelet is discharged "to zero" and does not turn on after charging, hold it on charging for 10-15 minutes - sometimes it takes time to "wake up" the power controller.

6. Hidden features and life hacks for Mi Band 5

Many users don't know that the Mi Band 5 is more than the instructions say.

• 🔒 Screen lock: you can turn on PIN-code so that no one can use the bracelet (Settings) → Screen locking).
• 🌡️ Weather on the dial: synchronizes with the phone and shows temperature, humidity, pressure.
• 🚶 Reminder of inactivity: if you sit for more than an hour, the bracelet vibrates and suggests stretching.
• 💡 Night mode: turns off the screen light at a given time (useful for sleep).

Another life hack is a change of strap, and the standard Mi Band 5 strap is compatible with the Mi Band 4 straps, as well as the 18mm wide universal straps, and you can choose a leather, silicone or even metal bracelet for a stylish look.

For advanced users, there’s a way to set custom dials through apps like Notify & Fitness or Amazfit, which lets you go beyond standard themes from Xiaomi and even add your photos to the screen.

7.Comparison with Mi Band 4 and newer models

If you’re thinking about buying a Mi Band 5 or upgrading with Mi Band 4, here are the key differences:

Should you buy the Mi Band 5 in 2026?

• ❌ Not if you're interested in the built-in GPS Or voice assistant (this is available in Mi Band 7 and newer).

Compared to the Mi Band 6, the fifth version loses in screen size and sensor accuracy, but wins in price. If the budget is limited, the Mi Band 5 remains a great choice.

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The Mi Band 5 is the best option for those who want a basic fitness tracker without overpaying for unnecessary features. For athletes or people with serious health requirements, consider the Mi Band 7 or Amazfit GTS 4.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)