Xiaomi's Watch S5 arrives as a smart sports watch pitched squarely at the mid-range, and Heise's test verdict leans favorable: accurate pulse tracking, precise GPS, and a two-week battery life, all at a price of 150 euros. That combination of specs has long been the territory of established sports-watch makers, and the review frames the device directly against those incumbents.
Beyond raw sensor performance, the Watch S5 also ships with route navigation, a feature more typically associated with higher-end outdoor watches. Paired with the long battery life, the feature set makes the value proposition unusually aggressive for the category.
The open question hanging over the hardware is the one Heise's headline poses itself: whether the Watch S5 is a genuine alternative to Garmin and Polar. On paper, at least, Xiaomi has assembled a package that puts real pressure on the established order of sports wearables.