Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Lite vs Active | Which Budget Smartwatch Is Best?

Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Lite vs Active | Which Budget Smartwatch Is Best?

Reviewing Xiaomi’s Redmi Watch 5 Active and 5 Lite, two of the cheapest budget smartwatches of 2024 – but are they the best value too? I’ve been testing the health tracking, battery life and everyday usability of the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Lite and Active and here’s my comparison and full verdict!

If you’re after a cheap wearable, these certainly tick that price box at under $50/£50. You’ve got longer battery life than most WearOS alternatives, along with smooth enough performance.

The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Active does suffer some downgrades vs the Redmi Watch 5 Lite, however. The Lite model boasts an AMOLED screen, which is clearly better than the LCD of the Active. You also get water sports tracking, plus GPS support and an Always On Display. However, it is also almost double the price of the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Active, so not as budget friendly.

Are you tempted by either of these affordable smartwatches? Let us know your thoughts on the Redmi Watch 5 Lite and Active below, and check out our other wearable reviews for more best options!

Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Lite vs Active Review Chapters:
0:00 – Double watch action
0:38 – Design
2:33 – Displays
4:00 – Mi Fitness & Watch Faces
5:13 – HyperOS
6:11 – Apps & features
7:18 – Alexa
7:41 – Health tracking
9:36 – Sleep tracking
10:04 – Battery life

Readers Comments (50)

  1. @icedbrown5511 June 27, 2025 @ 9:14 pm

    I hate it when someone is showing something with their F*** finger🤮

    Reply
  2. Regarding the GPS, do I need to have my phone on me, or how the watch connects to the server and send the Data without internet?

    Reply
  3. Redmi Watch 5 Lite or Huawei Watch Fit 3, I can get either for the same price, but which one to choose? Huawei is more fancier, but I don’t like unofficial app…

    Reply
  4. @a2rearfact012 June 27, 2025 @ 9:16 pm

    Hi sir I am From India your video so nice ❤ my name is Sandeep singh

    Reply
  5. @viebaluarte7578 June 27, 2025 @ 9:17 pm

    "Just wanna mess around someone with epilepsy" HAHAHAHA OMG 🤣☠

    Reply
  6. Just got the Active 5 from 5.5 Shopee sale and I super love it!!!! 🥰

    Reply
  7. @fernandodavid70 June 27, 2025 @ 9:19 pm

    the Xiaomi redmi watch 5 lite is reliable in measuring heart rate?

    Reply
  8. @francisatta5590 June 27, 2025 @ 9:19 pm

    THE BIG BEZELS killed the vibe, what a shame. How do you make a smart watch in this era like this

    Reply
  9. Can I use it for tacking my child’s location when she goes on a school trip???

    Reply
  10. @charlottecarpio5269 June 27, 2025 @ 9:25 pm

    Make a review of Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

    Reply
  11. @lesliemaebaldoza1011 June 27, 2025 @ 9:25 pm

    Is the lite smaller than the active? I have a small wrist. It’s so hard to choose with this kind of wrist 😅

    Reply
  12. my dad went to Thailand and got the redmi watch 5 and it’s amazing ❤

    Reply
  13. @PhooAung-ft5se June 27, 2025 @ 9:26 pm

    Thank you so much

    Reply
  14. @raselalam2556 June 27, 2025 @ 9:27 pm

    Pathetic exercise lmfao never change

    Reply
  15. Please make video on MI 11 ULTRA

    Reply
  16. why s there a anime girl wearing sport wear framed in the background…

    Reply
  17. @jimturner6400 June 27, 2025 @ 9:28 pm

    You should do get in at the Apollo ! 😂. good review thanks 😊

    Reply
  18. BEWARE for U.S. user’s this watch will not convert into imperial measurements so you will be stuck at KG and KM NOT lbs or Feet/miles. Seem like a easy setting to have added since they have region setting for United States, this will go in my junk drawer as a back up watch now. Wished there was a U.S. reviewer to have pointed this out.

    Reply
  19. @colingoldthorpe5918 June 27, 2025 @ 9:31 pm

    As a Samsung and a Xiaomi user I can say that my iPhone always connects to my Xiaomi app where as my Samsung App barely ever connects to my phone. I constantly have to restore my Samsung watch which is a royal pain. So for the price these cheaper watches are a bargain…

    Reply
  20. Review was quite hilarious 😂

    Reply
  21. I’ve been reading of software problems with the 5 Lite. That it keeps returning to factory reset after customization.

    Reply
  22. @annamarie8872 June 27, 2025 @ 9:35 pm

    Word of the day: SHENANIGAN!🤣🤣🤣

    Reply
  23. @Tactical_Koala June 27, 2025 @ 9:36 pm

    The lite sounds very interesting

    Reply
  24. Good review. 🙂

    Unfortunately, Xiaomi devices are dead to me until they fix the Mi Fitness app. It’s ridiculous that they don’t have an option for imperial units. It’s literally a computer on your wrist. It should be able to convert metric to imperial easily. Why are they trying to make me do it with my pathetic monkey brain?

    Reply
  25. @SeanPaulPhoto June 27, 2025 @ 9:42 pm

    Im sorry but what is with that anime girl you seem to focus most shots in the background? That’s really a strange choice and kinda creepy just saying

    Reply
  26. Great review. I just bought the lite version (and yes…I’m a cheapskate).
    I was in stitches with your joke shenanigans.

    Reply
  27. The lite is only like 5$ more where I buy lol no brainer.

    After the first night, it says I have poor sleep… guess the watch is a bit helpful

    Reply
  28. @ultikillerrrr June 27, 2025 @ 9:45 pm

    Just bought it and I like it.
    Steps are counting a bit too much and it counts the time when im just laying down as sleepinf but its useful.
    I got it for running and the gps is atleast accurate.

    Reply
  29. Will redmi watch 5 lite get hyperos 2 updates?

    Reply
  30. Every single YouTuber who mentions the watch can answer calls, never test it

    Reply
  31. How many nits of display of both??

    Reply
  32. @justadudewithshoes June 27, 2025 @ 9:51 pm

    im absoltely loving my Active

    Reply
  33. @isthatxavier92 June 27, 2025 @ 9:51 pm

    Any chances you are getting the Amazfit Active 2 for review?

    Reply
  34. Did he just say ‘and are they not kak’? Haha

    Reply
  35. Redmi Watch 5 Lite seems to have an issue where it randomly restarts during the day, it also reverts back to the default face, new update made it worse, consider that before buying, hundreds of posts on reddit about it

    Reply
  36. @corsinivideos June 27, 2025 @ 9:52 pm

    Damn the size and curve on those bezels are absolutely hideous. Look genuinely terrible.

    Reply
  37. @StephenComerford-g7o June 27, 2025 @ 9:54 pm

    Thanks for the review…In testing that the Watch they called Lite is much better and covers more "activities" that the watch called Active!!!???😄

    Reply
  38. What a review. 😂

    Reply
  39. @iamjhunelleph215 June 27, 2025 @ 9:55 pm

    Good review! my SM-W5 44mm just got an LCD line. eyeing for a new watch

    Reply
  40. Does this use WearOS?

    Reply
  41. U sak!

    Reply
  42. Ordered the Active from Amazon and regretted not reading properly and getting the AMOLED lite……Amazon then lost the package and refunded and I ordered the lite!

    Reply
  43. Shenanigunzzz

    Reply
  44. You created 11 minute video and didn’t mention that Lite does have GPS built in and Active does not. Waste of 11 minutes

    Reply
  45. Hi. Could I use this watch (Lite) as just a watch? I would rather not keep it connected to my phone via bluetooth all the time. Would I be able to use it to count steps and heart beat?

    Reply
  46. @wisemaninc1233 June 27, 2025 @ 10:06 pm

    Compared to the amazfit bip 5?

    Reply
  47. I have a £20 smart watch. its terrible for accuracy on my steps. but great customisation. do I go for the Redmi watch 5 lite or Smasung Fit3 ? which has always on display? which is more accurate and better customisation for the watch faces?

    Reply
  48. I have a question: Does the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Active have a swimming training program? I didn’t quite understand. It’s supposed to be a sports watch and it’s waterproof, so does it have this training?

    Reply
  49. @muhammadalishams3274 June 27, 2025 @ 10:09 pm

    Redmi watch 5 lite the biggest deal breaker for me is there is no ambient light sensor.

    Reply
  50. @KitsuneCognitionCorner June 27, 2025 @ 10:12 pm

    That anime belly is very distracting omg

    Reply

Leave a Reply to @Tactical_Koala Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.


*