The wearable electronics market is developing rapidly, and each new gadget from Xiaomi is of great interest to fans of the brand. When the popular “four” came to replace the “five”, many users faced a difficult question about the feasibility of upgrading. Fitness trackers of these series seem similar, but inside hide important technological changes that directly affect the usability.
You need to be clear about which features are critical to your use case, and one user only cares about step counting, another about measuring your heart rate accurately during intense exercise, and another about being able to respond to messages without taking out your smartphone, and in this article, we'll take a closer look at the design and software differences so you can make an informed decision.
Comparing the two generations of devices helps not only to choose a gadget, but also to understand the direction of development of the entire line of Mi Smart Band. Engineers have made a number of significant changes that turned a simple calorie counter into a full-fledged health assistant. Let's look at what exactly has changed in design, functionality and autonomy.
Design and Construction: The Evolution of Fixing
The first thing that catches your eye when you look at the visual comparison is the change in the capsule's mounting system. The Mi Band 4 used a classic mechanism that required a lot of effort to remove the tracker from the strap. It was robust, but it wasn't always comfortable with frequent accessory changes or charging.
In the fifth version, engineers switched to magnetic charging and changed the shape of the strap cutout, and now the capsule is simply removed with your finger, which makes it much easier to care for the device, especially for those who wear the bracelet 24 hours a day and have to wipe the strap often from sweat.
⚠️ Attention: despite the convenience of the new mount, when removing the capsule from the Mi Band 5, it is still recommended to hold the strap itself to avoid its accidental stretching or breaking the jumpers over time.
Also worth noting is the change in the dimensions of the display, the screen has become larger and has rounded edges, which made the device more ergonomic. Frameless design (as much as possible in this class) allowed to increase the usable area without significantly increasing the size of the case.
Display and interface: size matters
One of the main arguments in favor of the newer model is the increased AMOLED-If the Mi Band 4 was 0.95 inches, the fifth version grew to 1.1 inches. It would seem like a two-tenths of an inch difference is insignificant, but in practice it gives an increase in the displayed information by about 20%.
With the increased area, more text from the notifications is placed on the screen, so you don't have to scrolle through a long message letter by letter, as was often the case with the previous model, and the resolution is high, providing a clear picture and rich colors even in bright sunlight.
The interface is more responsive and smooth, the animations of the transitions between the menus look more modern, and the navigation by the items has become more intuitive, the brightness of the screen has also been revised, allowing you to comfortably use the bracelet in complete darkness without burning your eyes.
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For maximum battery savings in the display settings, it is better to turn off the “Wrist Raising” function and activate the screen only by touch or when notified.
Fitness tracking and sports: new modes and metrics
Sports is the heart of any fitness tracker. In Mi Band 5, the number of professional modes supported has grown from 6 to 11. In addition to standard running, walking and swimming, specialized profiles have appeared for yoga, elliptical trainer, rowing, rope and exercise bike.
The device learned to analyze complex movements and measure exercise performance, which was previously unavailable in the budget segment, and algorithms became smarter to track activity and rest phases, providing more accurate statistics.
- 🏃♂️ Running: Improved pace and distance tracking using the new generation accelerometer.
- 🚴♀️ Cycling: a separate mode for exercise bikes is added, taking into account resistance.
- 🧘♂️ Yoga: analysis of postures and evaluation of muscle stretching in real time.
- 🏊♂️ Swimming: water resistance 5 ATM and stroke count.
And then there's PAI, which is a unique scoring system that turns complex biometrics into a prime number, and you don't have to understand your heart rate, you just have to keep your PAI above 100 units per week to keep your heart healthy.
☑️ Checking before buying for sports
Health and Monitoring: The Women’s Cycle and Stress
The health monitoring in the Mi Band 5 has taken it to a new level, and in addition to measuring your heart rate every 30 minutes, stress tracking has been added, and the device analyzes heart rate variability and offers breathing exercises to relax if you have high stress levels.
One of the key innovations was the introduction of women's health tracking, which now allows you to conduct your menstrual cycle directly in the Mi Fit app, receiving reminders of the upcoming critical days and fertile windows, making the bracelet a universal device for the whole family.
Sleep is tracked in more detail: now analyze not only the phases of deep and REM sleep, but also the quality of naps during the day. REM-The phase is displayed more accurately in the graphs, which helps to better understand the causes of fatigue or lack of sleep.
⚠️ Attention: health data are informative and not a medical diagnosis. If there are serious deviations in the indications of pulse or blood pressure, be sure to consult a doctor2.
Autonomy and charging: magnet against contact
The issue of autonomy is always a hot topic. Despite the larger screen, the Mi Band 5 has maintained impressive battery life, with a battery capacity of 125 mAh versus 135 mAh from its predecessor, but the optimization of the processor has kept the balance.
The most important change was the charging process, and the fifth model's magnetic connector made it easier to break the capsule out of the strap, so you just put the cable on the contacts on the back, and the device starts charging, and that reduces the wear and tear on the plastic ears of the mount.
The full charge time is about 2 hours. In active use mode with constant pulse monitoring and notifications, the bracelet lives 10-12 days. If you turn off continuous monitoring and leave only notifications, the life can be up to 20 days.
| Characteristics | Xiaomi Mi Band 4 | Xiaomi Mi Band 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Screen diagonal | 0.95 inches | 1.1 inches |
| Battery capacity | 135mAh | 125 mAh |
| Type of charging | Contact (to be taken out) | Magnetic (no need to be taken out) |
| Waterproofness | 5 ATM (50 metres) | 5 ATM (50 metres) |
| Sporting regimes | 6 regimes | 11 regimes |
Why is the battery in the Mi Band 5 smaller?
Software and ecosystem
Both devices work in conjunction with the Mi Fit app (now Zepp Life), but the fifth version is more fully disclosed. The dials have become more diverse: support for dynamic dials and the ability to set your images from the smartphone gallery.
The software has improved data synchronization. Bluetooth 5.0 provides more stable connection and less power consumption when transmitting data. Notifications come almost instantly, without the delays typical of older versions of the protocol.
Also worth noting is the introduction of Find the Phone and music control with a more user-friendly interface, which allows you to switch tracks, pause or change the volume right from your wrist, which is convenient when you run.
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The switch to magnetic charging and screen augmentation are the main arguments in favor of buying the fifth version, even if the price is higher.
Comparison: Is it worth paying too much?
To sum up, the Mi Band 5 is an evolutionary evolution of the successful four-piece formula, and the difference between the models is not revolutionary change, but the quality of the experience. The larger screen, magnetic charging and enhanced health features make the novelty more attractive.
If you already have the Mi Band 4 and it works well, there is no urgent need to replace it, you are critically lacking in new sports modes or the women's calendar. However, if you choose your first tracker or your current one is worn out, the choice is definitely worth making in favor of the fifth model.
The price difference between the models is minimal at the moment, making the upgrade almost an alternative for new buyers.