It’s that time again! The Xiaomi fans among you have certainly been looking forward to the middle of the year. Just in time for midsummer, Xiaomi is also coming onto the market this year with a new version of the globally popular Mi Band. The new Xiaomi Mi Band 5 for you and tell you whether the current version of the bestseller can continue the successful Mi Band series.
Most users are familiar with Oppo from the smartphone sector and have been impressing them with good products for a long time. The company has now launched its first wearable on the European market with the Oppo Watch and is starting directly with a Wear OS watch! In this comparison, you can find out whether the Oppo Watch is the longed-for savior.
Here we are going to compare the two different wearables Xiaomi Mi Band 5 bracelet vs OPPO Smart Watch. Check out and get inspired.
Pros and Cons
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| Xiaomi Mi Band 5 | OPPO Watch |
| Larger 1.01 inches display | Premium and durable build |
| Comfortable to wear | Big, beautiful display |
| Customizable watch faces | Vibrant AMOLED screen |
| Proprietary charger | Average battery life |
| Inaccurate sleep tracking | Limited global availability |
General
| Xiaomi Mi Band 5 | OPPO Watch | |
| $ | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
| Brand | Xiaomi | OPPO |
| Model | Mi Band 5 | Watch (46mm) |
| Release date | June 11, 2020 | Mar 06, 2020 |
| Compatibility | Android + iOS | Android + iOS |
| OS | Proprietary OS | Proprietary OS |
| Colors | Black, Navy Blue, Teal, Purple, Orange | Black, Glossy Gold, Pink Gold, Silver Mist |
Xiaomi Mi Band 5
The display of the Mi Band 5 has definitely changed compared to its predecessor. The AMOLED display is now 1.1 inches and has a resolution of 126 x 294 pixels. While the size has increased, the color depth has been reduced to just 16 bits. In return, however, the maximum brightness increases to 450 nits. The display is protected with a hardened 2.5 D glass and turned out to be absolutely scratch-resistant, at least during my test. The sensor button is attached to the lower edge of the display, which is shown with a circle symbol, similar to the Mi Band 4.
As with the predecessor, the representations on the Mi Band 5 are really great. The colors can convince me even with low brightness, and you won’t find a pixel salad or the like in vain. The brightness can again be controlled manually in 5 levels – unfortunately, there is no auto mode for the brightness. The brightness is even sufficient at level 5 to read the display even in direct sunlight. The digitizer also does its job reliably, as usual. All entries are carried out correctly without delay.
Overall, the display of the Mi Band is and remains a real eye-catcher in the fifth version. In particular, the maximum brightness has improved again and lets the tape literally shine, especially in summer when there is a lot of sunshine.
OPPO Watch
A 1.6-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 320 x 360 pixels is installed here. The color rendering is powerful, and the brightness can also convince me. It can be regulated in 5 levels, and an auto mode is also available, which is controlled via the ambient light sensor. Friends of the always-on display will be disappointed because the Oppo Watch, unfortunately, does not function.
What is also a bit annoying is that you can not set the duration of the display activity. This is around 5 seconds, and for some applications, it would be quite helpful if you could adjust the duration of the screen. The digitizer, on the other hand, does its job really very reliably. My entries could always be implemented smoothly and correctly.
The display of the Oppo Watch is quite bright and can convince with a great color rendering. However, the lack of AOD and the lack of adjustability of the display activity result in deductions in the B grade.
Technical Specifications
| Xiaomi Mi Band 5 | OPPO Watch | |
| Screen Size | 1.1 Inch | 1.1 Inch |
| Display | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Touch Screen | Yes | Yes |
| Screen Resolution | 294 x 126 pixels | 402 x 476 pixels |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | Bluetooth |
| Sensors | – Accelerometer – Gyro – Low Power Consumption – Heart rate – MEMS microphone | – Accelerometer – Gyro – Heart rate – Barometer |
| Battery | 14 days | 12 days |
| Battery Capacity | 125 mAh | 430 mAh |
| Wireless Charging | Magnetic Connector | Magnetic Connector |
| Water-Resistant | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Dimensions | 46.95×18.15×12.45mm | 46 x 39 x 11.4 mm |
| Weight | 11.9 grams | 40 g |
Xiaomi Mi Band 5
The first important news about the new Mi Band 5 is that the basic shape with the rounded ends and sides has not really changed. The small additional edge on the outside of the display was also held onto. In terms of size, the Mi Band has only changed minimally. The dimensions of the tracker are now 47.2 mm in length x 18.5 mm in width x 12.4 mm in height. With a weight of 24 grams, the Band 5 weighs a little more than its predecessor.
The TPU bracelet has an adjustable length of 155 – 219 mm and is officially available in eight different colors. Certainly, many bracelets will be available as accessories from major China dealers such as AliExpress soon. The tracker of the Mi Band 5 basically fits into the wristbands of the Mi Band 4, but there is a visible overlap of the wristband at the top and bottom of the tracker – so it doesn’t fit perfectly.
While the size of the tracker has changed only minimally, the AMOLED display has now “grown” to a size of 1.1 inches. The display is covered by a 2.5 D hardened glass, which also has an anti-fog coating. The resolution is now 126 x 294 pixels.
As usual, the optical pulse sensor is located on the back of the tracker. The obligatory charging pins can also be found there. When it comes to charging the band, the Mi Band 5 also has a long-awaited innovation to offer: the tracker no longer needs to be removed from the wristband for charging. As with most other wearables, there is now a magnetic charging cable attached directly to the back of the tracker.
At 125 mAh, the battery is a bit smaller compared to the Mi Band 4. However, it should still be able to provide runtimes of 14-20 days. In addition, the Mi Band 5 is also waterproof up to 5 ATM and can therefore be worn both when showering and when swimming.
OPPO Watch
The use of Wear OS as the operating system requires the use of a corresponding processor. Thus, the Oppo Watch is powered by the Qualcomm® Snapdragon Wear ™ 3100 processor, which an Ambiq Micro Apollo3 Wireless SoC also accompanies. With this combination, Oppo would like to address the already known problems of the battery life of such smartwatches, but more on that later.
In addition to the two processors, 1 GB RAM and 8 GB ROM are available. The connection standards are Bluetooth 4.2, NFC, and WLAN (2.4G)on board. However, it is impossible to use LTE reception when on the move because features such as an eSIM are not available in the version tested. In addition to GPS & GLONASS for position determination and the optical pulse sensor already mentioned, all other necessary sensors are, of course, built into the Oppo Watch:
- 3-axis acceleration sensor
- Gyroscope
- Geomagnetic sensor
- Barometer
- Capacitive sensor
- Ambient light sensor
This means that the watch is adequately equipped for everyday use as well as for sporting use. The water resistance is, unfortunately, only 3 ATM and therefore not at the highest level. The watch itself also offers “swimming” as a trackable sport, but it should be avoided if you want to have permanent fun with the device. Here, at most, there is reliable protection against splash water.
Basically, the strengths of the Oppo Watch lie in the networking with the smartphone through the use of Wear OS. The Google Assistant can also be used on the watch, and apps such as the Playstore or Google Pay are already available. By installing additional apps via the integrated Playstore, the (software-based) functionalities of the watch can, of course, be expanded significantly. However, the Oppo Watch does not offer SpO2 measurement or stress recording, as we know them from Amazfit and Huawei.
Oppo has launched its own VOOC Charging system when it comes to charging technology, which is developed in 2014. With this standard, the manufacturer promises short charging times for the 300 mAh battery.
Activity Monitoring
| Xiaomi Mi Band 5 | OPPO Watch | |
| Step counter | Yes | Yes |
| Calories burned | Yes | Yes |
| Distance travelled | Yes | Yes |
| Raised floors | No | No |
| Sleep monitoring | Yes | Yes |
| Measuring stress levels | Yes | No |
| Date & Time Display | Yes | Yes |
| Alarm Clock | Yes | Yes |
| Heart rate measurement | Yes | Yes |
| Calorie intake | No | Yes |
| Hydration levels | No | No |
| Other Watch Functions | – Make call – Remote Photo taking – Accept and Rejecting Calls – Event Reminder – Activity Reminder – Instagram, Whatsapp Notification | – Message Notifications – Accept and Rejecting Calls – Timer/Stopwatch – Camera control – Find my phone |
Xiaomi Mi Band 5
The built-in sensors also include a 3-axis acceleration sensor, a 3-axis gyroscope, and the optical pulse sensor already mentioned. However, the mode of operation of the individual sensors has been revised, and now, even more, precise data recording is promised. Due to similar sensor equipment compared to the Mi Band 4, the range of functions has not really changed. The Mi Band 5 also offers 24h pulse measurement, step counter, sleep tracking, sports tracking, app, call and SMS notifications, alarm clock, weather, timer, stopwatch, night mode, DnD mode, music control, and interchangeable watch faces.
Both watch faces can now even be configured individually via the Mi Fit app or directly on the band – more on that later. The connection with the smartphone is also established with the Mi Band 5 via Bluetooth 5.0 BLE.
OPPO Watch
Overall, the range of functions of the Oppo Watch is quite extensive, and, of course, the use of Wear OS stands out here, with which mobile payment (in connection with NFC) and the use of various other Google services are also possible in the end. On the other hand, the Oppo Watch lacks functions such as SpO2 measurement or stress recording, which many users are already used to from Amazfit and Huawei wearables.
In addition to the watch and bracelet, the scope of delivery of the Oppo Watch also includes the VOOC USB charging cable, an additional wrist strap, and a multilingual user manual.
Smart Features
| Xiaomi Mi Band 5 | OPPO Watch | |
| Smartphone notifications | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless payments | No | No |
| Music storage and playback | Yes | Yes |
| Streaming services | No | No |
| Virtual Assistant | No | No |
| Meteorology | Weather forecast | Weather forecast |
Conclusion!
Xiaomi Mi Band 5
Xiaomi Mi Band – The Saga Continues! Yes, the Mi Band 5 can also build on the successes of its predecessors and even goes one better with a few subtle innovations. The Mi Band’s design, processing quality, sensor equipment, and range of functions have been top-notch for years – and this is also the case with the current model. The new magnetic charging cable, the customizable watch faces, and the perfect battery life make the Mi Band 5 a must-have for all Mi Band fans. In my opinion, it is even worth switching from the Mi Band 4 because experience has shown that the price of the fifth edition will also develop quite quickly below 35 USD.
All in all, once again, an obvious purchase recommendation for the Xiaomi Mi Band 5! There is actually no real, serious competition in this class, mainly due to the price.
OPPO Watch
The Oppo Watch is a Wear OS Smartwatch with all known strengths and weaknesses. The design looks familiar and is quite unspectacular. But the watch sits comfortably compact on the wrist. The setup is straightforward, not least thanks to Wear OS, notifications, etc., working perfectly straight away. You can also reply to messages and calls directly on the watch.
In addition, the software-based functionality of the Oppo Watch can be expanded as required by installing new apps from the Playstore. The big drawback is and remains the battery life. More than a day is not possible with the normal use of the Oppo Watch. The energy-saving mode with an additional processor is well thought out but probably useless for most users.
Anyone who likes the Apple Watch design and can accept the limited battery life will definitely enjoy the Oppo Watch. An interesting alternative in the Wear OS cosmos is definitely the TicWatch Pro. A real battery-saving measure has been taken with a second display, which leads to slightly better runtimes.
