Xiaomi Mi Band 6 vs Mi Band 5

Key Differences Between the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 and Mi Band 5

• The Mi Band 6 includes a route tracker, while the Mi Band 5 does not.
• The Mi Band 5 lacks blood oxygen (SpO2) measurement in the UK, but the Mi Band 6 supports it.
• The Mi Band 6 has a larger 1.56" screen compared to the Mi Band 5’s 1.1" display.
• The Mi Band 6 offers 326 pixels per inch, while the Mi Band 5 has 290 pixels per inch, resulting in a 12% higher pixel density.
• The Mi Band 6 is only slightly more expensive than the Mi Band 5, making it a logical choice.
• The Mi Band 6 can measure altitude (using your smartphone’s GPS), a feature absent in the Mi Band 5.
• Fast integration with social networks is available only on the Mi Band 6, not the Mi Band 5.

Size, Weight, and Feel

Left: Xiaomi Mi Band 6; Right: Xiaomi Mi Band 5.

Visually, the Mi Band 5 and Mi Band 6 are very similar, making them hard to distinguish at a glance.

The Mi Band 5 measures 46.95mm long, 18.15mm wide, 12.45mm thick, and weighs 12.1g. The Mi Band 6 is 47.4mm long, 18.6mm wide, 12.7mm thick, and weighs 12.8g.

Both are made from the same materials with similar silicone straps. Upgrading from the 5 to the 6, you’ll barely notice a difference in size or weight.

Display Quality and Resolution: Mi Band 6 vs Mi Band 5

Both the Mi Band 6 and Mi Band 5 feature an AMOLED display, delivering vibrant, high-quality colours.

The Mi Band 6’s screen is 0.46 inches (1.17cm diagonally) larger than the Mi Band 5’s, at 1.56" compared to 1.1".

With a 326 PPI score, the Mi Band 6 is sharper than the Mi Band 5’s 290 PPI.

Watch Faces

Both the Mi Band 5 and Mi Band 6 offer over 60 watch faces, selectable directly on the device without additional downloads. The watch face options are identical for both models. The image above shows six examples of watch faces available for the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 and 6.

Battery Life and Charging

With normal use, the Mi Band 5 lasts up to 14 days. The Mi Band 6 inherits the same 14-day battery life with a 125mAh capacity. The Mi Band 6 consumes slightly more power due to its higher pixel density, but this is offset by battery-saving features.

Charging the Xiaomi Mi Band takes 39 minutes to reach 50% and 102 minutes to fully charge, using a compatible charger.

Blood Oxygen Measurement

The Mi Band 5 has an SpO2 sensor, but it’s disabled in UK models, so it cannot measure blood oxygen levels. The Mi Band 6’s SpO2 sensor is active, allowing blood oxygen measurements.

By combining breath rate and heart rate data, the Mi Band 6 provides a reliable estimate of blood oxygen levels. SpO2 measurements must be manually initiated on the Mi Band 6, as continuous monitoring drains the battery and lacks sufficient accuracy. Overnight, irregular measurements occur during sleep. A single measurement takes seconds, displaying heart rate and SpO2 results.

Setting Up with the Mi Fit App

Both Xiaomi Mi Bands are configured using the Mi Fit app, available for Android and iOS. For optimal tracking, select the appropriate activity before starting.

The app tracks heart rate, distance (where applicable), and sleep patterns.

Are the Mi Bands Waterproof?

Both the Mi Band 5 and Mi Band 6 are waterproof with an ATM5 rating, suitable for depths up to 50 metres. They can be used in showers, swimming pools, and the sea.

However, smartwatches and activity trackers are sensitive to soap and shampoo, which can damage their silicone and plastic materials.

Mi Band 5 vs Mi Band 6: Activity Tracking

The Mi Band 5 supports 11 dedicated activities.

The Mi Band 6 supports 30 dedicated activities, including outdoor running, indoor running, walking, cycling, indoor cycling, swimming, exercise, elliptical, jump rope, yoga, rowing, indoor fitness, indoor skating, HIIT, core training, stretching, stepper, gymnastics, pilates, street dance, dance, Zumba, cricket, bowling, basketball, volleyball, table tennis, badminton, boxing, and kickboxing.

Swapping Mi Band 5 and Mi Band 6 Straps

Straps for the Xiaomi Mi Band 5 and Mi Band 6 are interchangeable, so you can reuse existing straps when upgrading. Explore a wide range of silicone, leather, steel, nylon, and Milanese straps for Xiaomi activity trackers at Smartwatch-straps.co.uk.

Make your Mi Band 5 or 6 look stylish:

Similarities Between the Mi Band 5 and Mi Band 6

Alongside differences, the Mi Bands share several features worth noting:

• View notifications
• Control music (play, pause, next, previous)
• Set alarms and reminders
• Identical watch face options
• No NFC support in the UK
• Weather updates

Mi Band 5 vs Mi Band 6: Price

The price difference between the Mi Band 5 and Mi Band 6 is minimal, making the Mi Band 6 the better choice for its additional features.

Conclusion

The Xiaomi Mi Band 6 offers a larger, sharper display than the Mi Band 5, along with features like SpO2 measurement, route tracking, and more activity modes. Given the small price difference, the Mi Band 6 is the superior activity tracker.

	Mi Band 6	Mi Band 5
Supported Activities	30	11
Screen Size	1.56"	1.1"
SpO2 Measurement	Yes	No
Waterproof	Yes, ATM5	Yes, ATM5
Max. Battery Life	Up to 14 days	Up to 14 days
Route Tracker	Yes	No