Compare Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 vs Garmin Approach S50

Auto-detection is present and useful for walking-style activity prompts, but the evidence also notes limited customization around how it detects workouts.

Auto-detection evidence is strongest around golf-shot detection, score prompts, and Move IQ-style automatic activity interpretation.

The app ecosystem is limited: reviewers describe basic smarts, some data sharing, but no broad third-party app store or richer platform-level features.

The Garmin ecosystem is a strength, especially app syncing, accessory support, Garmin Golf membership upgrades, club sensors, and cross-device benefits.

Band feedback is mostly positive for comfort, quick-release swapping, and optional straps, though one reviewer found the stock strap unremarkable and another disliked the proprietary system.

Band quality is polarizing: several reviewers liked the lightweight nylon ComfortFit band, while others found it fiddly, sweaty, or less premium.

Battery life is one of the strongest themes, with reviewers repeatedly reporting multi-day to multi-week endurance, although heavy tracking and always-on use shorten it significantly.

Battery life is strong overall, with multi-day to near-week-long use reported, but it remains below the S70's rated endurance.

Blood oxygen tracking is widely present, including continuous or overnight options in several reviews, but it is treated as a wellness metric rather than medical-grade data.

Blood oxygen tracking is present through Pulse Ox, with reviewers noting both the sensor and sleep/on-demand measurement behavior.

Bluetooth connectivity supports calls, phone-linked GPS assistance, notifications, and music-related functions, but one reviewer notes the watch cannot connect extra Bluetooth peripherals.

Bluetooth connectivity is useful for accessories, especially rangefinder yardages and connected golf hardware.

Brightness is a clear strength, with many reviewers highlighting the 1,500-nit AMOLED screen and strong automatic brightness behavior.

Brightness is generally praised, but one Florida-sun review found smaller text could be hard to read in direct sunlight.

Build quality is generally praised for feeling better than a cheap smartwatch, with aluminum construction mentioned often, though some plastic elements remain.

Build quality is generally positive for slimness and lightness, but one reviewer felt the S50 was somewhat plasticky versus pricier models.

The rotating crown is generally useful, tactile, and easy for navigation, but reviewers note the lack of extra buttons or more advanced shortcut controls.

Button controls are functional with two side buttons, but several reviewers preferred the extra physical controls on higher-end Garmin watches.

Call handling is consistently usable over Bluetooth, with several reviewers praising clear enough microphones and speakers while a few describe limited loudness or clarity.

Call handling is basic: reviewers found phone-call notifications and answer/reject controls, but no full calling experience from the watch.

Calorie tracking appears as part of the broader activity and rings system, useful for basic motivation rather than advanced nutrition or training analysis.

Calorie tracking is available as part of the daily health metrics, but reviewers mostly mentioned it as a tracked stat rather than deeply evaluating its usefulness.

Charging convenience is mixed: the magnetic/pogo-pin charger attaches securely and can be shared with some Xiaomi devices, but reviewers dislike the proprietary cable and slow Bluetooth file-transfer context.

Charging convenience is mixed: the cable is familiar for Garmin users, but proprietary charging was criticized as inconvenient for trips.

Charging speed ranges from good to merely reasonable, with reports of around 60 to 80 minutes in some reviews and roughly two hours in another.

Charging speed has limited evidence, but one reviewer said the initial charge only took a few hours.

Coaching features are better than expected for a budget watch, including running courses, AI pacer-style workout tools, breathing guidance, and some sleep suggestions, but not personalized advanced coaching.

Coaching features include Garmin coaching, meditation or breathing prompts, sleep coach, and training-program support, though they are secondary to the golf feature set.

Comfort is a major positive because the watch is light, wearable overnight, and easy to forget on the wrist despite the large display.

Comfort is one of the S50's standout strengths thanks to its lightweight, low-profile design, though the nylon strap can feel less comfortable when sweaty.

The Mi Fitness companion app is generally clean, visual, and easy to use, but some reviewers call it basic and not as advanced as higher-end ecosystems.

The companion app experience is positive, with reviewers citing Garmin Golf setup, connectivity, and flawless syncing after pairing.

Contactless payment support is absent in the global model according to multiple reviews, making this a clear limitation.

Contactless payments are supported through Garmin Pay/NFC, but reviewer evidence points to limited bank compatibility in the UK.

Cross-platform compatibility is strong for basic use, with reviewers confirming Android and iOS support, though some features vary by phone platform.

Cross-platform compatibility is mixed: the S50 works with iPhone and Apple users, but reviewers found Garmin's iPhone experience less flexible than Apple Watch integration.

Customization is good for budget use, especially watch faces, widgets, launcher layout, and some personal photos, but deeper watch-face customization is limited.

Customization is strong for golf settings, data screens, flag position, watch upgrades, and optional feature toggles.

Display quality is one of the watch's strongest attributes, with reviewers praising the large AMOLED panel, sharpness, color, responsiveness, and premium feel for the price.

Display quality is a major strength, with repeated praise for the AMOLED/OLED screen, crispness, color, and modern look.

Durability looks decent for the price, with reviewers citing scratch-free use and rugged-enough construction, though dust protection and premium glass are not emphasized.

Durability evidence is limited but positive, centered on the Corning Gorilla Glass 3 lens.

ECG functionality is not available, with reviewers explicitly saying there is no ECG option.

Fit is mixed: the watch is light and straps cover a broad wrist range, but the single large size can feel overwhelming on smaller wrists.

Fit is strong for many wrists due to the low profile and adjustable fabric strap, though some reviewers questioned larger-wrist suitability.

Fitness tracking accuracy is mixed: some reviewers found it effective or strong for casual tracking, while others called it less precise than dedicated sports watches.

Fitness tracking accuracy is more mixed: reviewers liked the broad activity tracking and stats, but one noted the S50 cannot track elevation as accurately as the S70.

GPS accuracy is split across reviews, ranging from accurate and reliable for casual runs to overreported distances and slight running inaccuracies.

GPS accuracy was one of the strongest points, with reviewers reporting quick satellite lock, reliable course selection, and yardages within a few yards of a laser rangefinder.

Health tracking accuracy is adequate for basic wellness but not advanced or medical-grade, with reviewers noting decent data alongside sensor limitations.

Reviewers treated the S50 as a credible health tracker, especially through body battery, HRV, blood oxygen, sleep, and daily activity insights, though the evidence is stronger on feature coverage than lab-level validation.

Heart rate accuracy is inconsistent: some tests found close results against chest straps, while others saw high readings, lag, or occasional anomalies.

Heart-rate tracking was repeatedly cited as the key hardware difference that unlocks the S50's health and fitness value, with one reviewer noting it uses Garmin's older Gen 4 sensor.

LTE connectivity is absent on the global model, with several reviewers specifically noting no LTE or eSIM support.

Mapping and navigation are core strengths for yardages, hazards, green views, PinPointer, and course data, but fuller maps and green contours often require Garmin's paid membership.

Materials quality is better than many budget watches thanks to aluminum alloy, but reviewers still mention plastic or plasticky elements.

Materials are mixed-to-good, with Gorilla Glass and aluminum noted positively while the lightweight body drew a plasticky caveat.

Menu navigation is easy overall, helped by the rotating crown, app grid/list options, and stacked widget layout.

Menu navigation is mostly straightforward once learned, though one reviewer found the golf features a bit complicated at first.

Music controls are useful for controlling phone playback, and several reviews note accessible media controls from the watch.

Music controls are present and useful, including phone music control and a music-controller feature in the watch interface.

Onboard music storage exists and is useful for phone-free workouts on supported setups, but storage and transfer behavior are limited.

Onboard music storage is available, but storage is modest compared with the S70 and one review specifically called out the 4 GB limit.

The operating system experience is lightweight and mostly pleasant, but reviewers repeatedly cite proprietary HyperOS limitations versus Wear OS or watchOS.

The operating-system experience is familiar and Garmin-consistent, but reviewers still saw some iPhone-related limitations.

Outdoor visibility is excellent across reviews thanks to the bright AMOLED display and readable screen in direct sunlight.

Outdoor visibility is mostly strong thanks to the bright AMOLED screen and big-number options, but direct sun can make fine details harder to see.

Pairing reliability is strong where discussed, with reviewers reporting no pairing or syncing issues and quick satellite/connection readiness.

Pairing reliability is a strength, with reviewers describing Garmin Golf app pairing as simple, seamless, and reliable after setup.

Recovery insights are present through training status, recovery time, breathing, and workout-load style metrics, though they remain basic.

Recovery insights were supported by body battery, sleep-recovery feedback, and post-exercise recovery guidance, making this one of the stronger wellness features.

Reliability is generally good in day-to-day use where cited, with raise-to-wake, smoothness, and connection stability praised.

Reliability is strong, with reviewers saying Garmin golf watches simply work, though one review mentioned a reduced GPS-signal course issue.

Safety features are limited but include an SOS option that can call an emergency contact through the connected phone.

Safety features are present through LiveTrack and fall/emergency-contact settings, but they were covered mainly in a feature walkthrough.

Size options are weak because the watch comes in one large size, which one reviewer said will not suit every wrist.

Size options are limited compared with the S70, and reviewers repeatedly flagged that the S50 may feel small for larger wrists.

Sleep tracking accuracy is mixed: some reviewers found duration and broad stages close, while others saw inconsistent results or deep-sleep overestimation.

Sleep tracking drew strong praise across reviews, with reviewers highlighting detailed scoring, sleep coach features, and comfort for overnight wear.

Smartphone notifications are one of the clearest compromises: mirroring works, but replies, emojis, pictures, and actionable notifications are limited or missing.

Smartphone notifications are useful for triage and can be muted in golf mode, but reviewers noted limited iPhone notification controls and limited actionability from the watch.

Smartwatch features cover the basics well, including notifications, calls, alarms, timers, and basic apps, but remain limited versus premium smartwatches.

Smartwatch features are solid for a golf-focused device, adding alarms, timers, health metrics, notifications, weather, calendar, and broader daily-use tools.

Software smoothness is mostly good, with some reviews calling it smooth and others noticing stutters, touch lag, or less-than-60Hz-feeling animations.

Software smoothness scored well based on seamless Garmin app pairing and the reviewer's statement that it works flawlessly after initial setup.

Step counting accuracy has limited direct evidence, but the detailed review found exercise-mode step counting nearly dead-on and daily counts generally close.

Stress tracking is widely included, but reviews treat it as a basic wellness feature and one reviewer found it slow and sensitive to movement.

Stress tracking appeared consistently as part of the S50's wellness package, often tied to body battery, sleep, and heart-rate-based insights.

Style and design are broadly attractive and modern, but several reviewers point out obvious Apple Watch influence or lack of originality.

Style and design are widely praised, with reviewers calling the S50 sleek, lightweight, understated, and better looking than bulkier alternatives.

Third-party app support is poor, with no native Spotify or YouTube Music support, few extra apps, and one reviewer saying no third-party apps are available.

Third-party app support is limited and mixed, with restrictions around iPhone app notifications but some music-provider support.

Touchscreen responsiveness is mostly good, including wet-use and swipe/tap responsiveness, though one reviewer found touch lag in parts of the software.

Touchscreen responsiveness is a repeated strength, with reviewers calling the screen responsive, intuitive, and central to navigation.

The user interface is generally approachable, smooth, and pleasant, with reviewer praise for simplicity and navigation despite some platform limitations.

The interface is generally intuitive, with reviewers praising the touchscreen, simple golf start flow, and easy feature-to-feature movement.

Value for money is strongly positive overall because reviewers praise the display, battery, and basic features for the price, though one reviewer considered it overpriced against cheaper alternatives.

Value depends on buyer priorities: reviewers liked the golf-plus-health package, but subscription-locked maps and the cheaper S44 created meaningful tradeoffs.

Voice assistant quality scores poorly because reviewers state that Alexa or other voice assistant support is absent.

Voice assistant support is weak, with the reviewer specifically noting that Siri-style talking from the watch is not available.

Watch face quality is a strength, with many free, attractive, and varied faces, although customization depth differs by face.

Watch-face quality is decent with many selectable faces, though the S70 was described as having better customization options.

Water resistance is consistently supported, with 5ATM ratings and swimming or shower use reported, though hot-water and diving caveats remain.

Water-related evidence is indirect: reviewers discussed swimming and shower use, but mainly as a nylon-band drying consideration.

Wellness insights include sleep suggestions, Vitality Score, and basic health summaries, but reviewers note limited personalization or AI-style guidance.

Wellness insights are a major strength, especially body battery, sleep, stress, respiration, recovery, and health snapshots that make the watch useful off the course.

Wi-Fi connectivity is absent, specifically called out as a limitation for faster file transfers or standalone connectivity.

Wi-Fi support is present for updates, though reviewer evidence is limited to feature walkthrough coverage.

Workout variety is excellent for the category, with reviewers repeatedly citing more than 150 sports modes and broad activity coverage.

Workout variety is broad for a golf watch, with support called out for runs, rides, swims, gym sessions, and other sports, though reviewers still framed it below higher-end Garmin fitness watches.