Xiaomi has launched the Watch 5 at MWC 2026 in Barcelona. This launch marks the brand’s return to the Wear OS platform after its last Android smartwatch, the Watch 2 and Watch 2 Pro, in 2023. Priced at €299, the Watch 5 runs Wear OS 6 with built-in Google Gemini support and comes in below the pricing of flagship rivals from Google and Samsung. The launch skips Wear OS 5 entirely, despite the older Watch 2 receiving an update to that version in 2025, and introduces EMG gesture controls as part of its hardware offering. Here’s what we know about the newly announced Xiaomi Watch 5.
Xiaomi Watch 5 announced at MWC: What we know so far
According to a report by Wareable, Xiaomi did not have the Watch 5 on the stand at MWC for hands-on time, with much of the space taken up by its Vision GT concept car.
However, the report noted that the Watch 5 is built around a 1.54-inch display protected by sapphire glass and a stainless steel frame. The more notable development is in the battery.
Xiaomi says it is using a 930mAh silicon-carbon cell, a higher-density technology that allows for a larger capacity without adding to the watch’s bulk. Paired with the Snapdragon W5 Gen 1 and a BES2800 low-power co-processor, the watch is expected to last up to six days in full smart mode and up to 18 days in power-saver mode.
If that holds up in testing, it could address a recurring concern for Wear OS users around battery life, particularly on smaller devices in the Pixel and Galaxy lines.
On the interaction side, the Watch 5 introduces EMG-powered gesture controls. Sensors detect electrical signals from the wrist and forearm, allowing the watch to recognise gestures such as snapping your fingers or rubbing your wrist. These can be mapped to actions like dismissing calls, silencing alarms, or activating the built-in Gemini AI.
Priced at €299.99, the Watch 5 sits below the €400 range of devices like the Galaxy Watch 8 and OnePlus Watch 3. It includes Google services such as Wallet and Maps, as well as Xiaomi’s HyperConnect features for remote camera control and smart home management. Global shipping is expected to begin following MWC.
