It’s wild how two smartwatches can promise similar things—notifications, fitness tracking, decent battery—and yet feel like they belong to different worlds. You look at the Amazfit Active 2 and the Redmi Watch 5, and you’d think they were just two shapes of the same idea. But wear them, live with them, mess around with the features for a few days, and the differences start slapping you in the face.
One feels like a well-balanced assistant that just happens to be round and discreet. The other throws a massive screen on your wrist and dares you to ignore it. They’re both impressive, but not at all interchangeable.
So here’s what you really need to know if you’re torn between these two.
Design and materials: subtle polish or bold presence?
There’s no pretending here—they look and feel like two different species.
The Amazfit Active 2 keeps things classic with its round 44 mm stainless steel case, giving it that “I could wear this to a wedding” vibe. It feels balanced: not too sporty, not too dressy, and never bulky. It sits comfortably on the wrist, with just enough visual weight to look intentional without shouting.
Then there’s the Redmi Watch 5, and subtlety is not its thing. Its square shape and 2.07-inch screen basically say, “Look at me.” And yeah, it works. The aluminum body keeps it light, but that rotating crown? That’s the game-changer. We found ourselves using it more than expected—it’s just faster and more satisfying than swiping your way through endless menus.
Strap-wise, they’re both friendly: standard pin-based bands mean you can dress them up or down. But if you have smaller wrists, the Redmi Watch 5 may feel a bit much. It takes up serious wrist real estate, and it doesn’t apologize for it.
Display quality: size versus sharpness
Here’s where things get juicy. The Amazfit Active 2 brings a 1.32-inch AMOLED screen with 466×466 resolution and an eye-searing 2,000 nits of peak brightness. And no, we’re not exaggerating—this thing is bright. Outdoors, indoors, anywhere—it looks great. The circular layout is crisp, with gorgeous contrast.
But… the Redmi Watch 5 is a visual beast. With a 2.07-inch AMOLED panel and 60 Hz refresh rate, the experience feels almost cinematic. It’s immersive, fluid, and surprisingly elegant in how it displays widgets and notifications. It maxes out at 1,500 nits, so it’s not quite as readable in harsh sunlight, but unless you’re standing on a beach at noon, you’re good.
So, it comes down to this: do you want a sharper, smaller, perfectly readable circle? Or a giant, touch-friendly rectangle that feels like wearing a tiny billboard?
Health tracking: both strong, but only one climbs higher
Both watches check off the basics, and then some. Heart rate, SpO₂, sleep monitoring, stress tracking—they’re all here, and they all work.
But the Amazfit Active 2 is working with its BioTracker PPG 6.0, which might sound like marketing noise, but in practice, it delivers better accuracy during workouts, faster updates, and more stable readings. Sleep analysis is detailed, and recovery suggestions feel thoughtful rather than generic.
Redmi’s Watch 5 uses an AF chip to enhance real-time data, and for the most part, it’s solid. Heart rate and SpO₂ results match well with other devices, and stress levels seem realistic. But it misses one big trick: no altimeter.
The Amazfit includes a barometric altimeter for elevation tracking, and if you hike, bike uphill, or even live in a city with a lot of stairs, that’s a huge bonus. The Redmi? Flatline. No vertical tracking. And that limits its appeal for more outdoorsy types.
GPS performance: good enough, not groundbreaking
Let’s be honest—neither of these is breaking ground in the GPS department. Dual-band GPS? Nope. But they get the job done.
The Amazfit Active 2 hooks into five satellite systems, and in open areas, it locks on fast and stays stable. It’s not elite-runner-grade accuracy, but for tracking casual routes, it’s just fine.
The Redmi Watch 5 holds its own with GNSS support, covering the usual constellations. Performance was eerily similar—open roads, no problem. Dense city streets? Some drifting. Heavy trees? You’ll lose a bit of precision.
So if your idea of exercise includes parks, sidewalks, or normal neighborhoods, either one will do. But don’t expect military-grade GPS tightness from either.
Smart features: voice, calls, and a surprising twist
Here’s where things stop being equal. The Amazfit Active 2 includes a microphone and speaker, and it’s not just there for show. You can take calls from your wrist, which is already a win—but then they added Zepp Flow AI, a voice assistant that actually works decently.
Ask it for the weather, set a timer, start a workout—it’s surprisingly smooth. Oh, and one detail we didn’t know we needed until we had it: voice memos. Yes, you can record quick audio notes. On a watch. And yeah, it’s brilliant.
The Redmi Watch 5 skips the assistant but nails Bluetooth calling. It’s got dual mics with noise reduction, and voices come through loud and clear. We even tested it on a breezy balcony—it held up fine. But that’s where it stops: no voice assistant, no voice recording, just calls.
So, if voice features are important to you—the Amazfit clearly wins this round.
Payments: a gap you can’t ignore
Quick test—can your watch buy a coffee?
With the Amazfit Active 2, yes… but it depends on where you live. It supports NFC payments via Zepp Pay, but like most region-locked features, it’s hit or miss depending on your bank and country.
The Redmi Watch 5? Zero NFC. No payments. Full stop. If you’re looking for wrist-based transactions, this could be a dealbreaker.
Battery life: both long-lasting, but one goes marathon mode
Battery life matters. And here? It’s a win-win—with one slight edge.
The Amazfit Active 2 gives you about 10 days of regular use, and if you switch to battery saver mode, you’re looking at up to 19 days. With full-on GPS tracking, you get around 21 hours—enough for a full day out.
But the Redmi Watch 5 is a battery beast. With up to 24 days on moderate use, it just keeps going. You can leave the charger in a drawer and basically forget it exists. The only catch? If you opt for the eSIM model, expect that number to drop sharply. Cellular eats battery like candy.
Still, for endurance alone, Redmi takes the crown.
Software and integration: simple, fast, and enough for most
Both watches run on proprietary systems, and honestly? They’re better than expected. Simple, snappy, and free of bloat.
You can customize widgets, watch faces, notification preferences—it’s all very “plug and play.” And syncing with health apps like Zepp, Mi Fitness, or even Strava? Smooth sailing.
What you won’t get is an app store. No third-party apps, no Spotify, no Gmail. If you need deep app integration, these aren’t for you. But if you’re cool with the basics, they’ll do just fine.
Notifications and media: who’s got the edge?
Notifications land well on both. Text messages, app alerts, call popups—they show up clearly and consistently. The bigger screen on the Redmi makes them easier to read at a glance, but the Amazfit isn’t far behind.
The difference comes with audio. The Amazfit can talk back—voice assistant, voice memos, phone calls. But if you want music on the watch, that’s where the Redmi takes the lead.
The Redmi Watch 5 supports offline music storage, so you can pop in some tracks and hit the gym phone-free. The Amazfit doesn’t store music locally, which is a bit of a letdown.
So yeah—if music is part of your workout ritual, the Redmi might be a better fit.
So which one actually makes more sense?
Alright, let’s cut through the noise.
The Redmi Watch 5 is a stunner. The display is huge, clean, and responsive. Battery life is borderline legendary, and Bluetooth calls sound great. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a visually dominant smartwatch that nails the essentials. But it skips voice features, payments, and vertical tracking. That matters.
The Amazfit Active 2, though? It just feels more grown-up. The round design is timeless, the voice tools are legitimately useful, and the addition of an altimeter, voice memos, and NFC gives it real-world depth. It’s the kind of watch that doesn’t scream for attention—but quietly earns its keep every day.
If we had to pick one to wear every day, for everything from workouts to errands to meetings? We’re going with the Amazfit Active 2. It may not be as flashy, but it’s got brains, balance, and a surprising amount of personality under the hood.
But hey—if all you want is a gorgeous screen and battery life for days? The Redmi Watch 5 is no slouch. Just know what you’re trading off.