As much as these fitness bands are similar in design aspects, there are lot to explore what lies in the bands themselves.
One thing to note is that both the fitness bands are made by the same company. Huami, the owner of Amazfit has a partnership with Xiaomi so you can expect similarities in both the fitness trackers.
Let’s get deeper to find the similarities and the differences that both the fitness bands hold.
Comparison chart
| Mi band 5 | Amazfit band 5 | |
| Screen size | 1.1 Inch | 1.1 Inch |
| Resolution | 126 x 294 | 126 x 294 |
| Display type | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Battery life | 14 days | 15 days |
| Battery size | 125 mAh | 125 mAh |
| Battery type | Lithium-Ion (L-ion) | Lithium Polymer (Li-poly) |
| GPS | – | – |
| Sports mode | 11 | 11 |
| Water Resistance | 50 meters | 50 meters |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, heartrate, gyro sensor | Accelerometer, heartrate, gyro sensor |
| Charging time | Around 2 hours | Around 2 hours |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.0 |
Displays
The latest fitness tracker from Xiaomi, the Mi band 5 brings a new 1.1 inch AMOLED display and the same goes for the Amazfit band 5 which are beautiful to look at, unlike other trackers that come with a TFT screen. Also, the resolutions on both the trackers are the same, that is 126×294. Both the displays are bright and can be easily visible in direct sunlight.
Size
| Mi band 5 | Amzafit band 5 | |
| Length (mm) | 46.95 | 47.2 |
| Width (mm) | 18.15 | 18.5 |
| Height (mm) | 12.45 | 12.4 |
| Weight (g) | 11.9 | 12 |
As far as the designs and the looks go, there is a very subtle difference in size and the dimension of the two fitness trackers.
Battery life
Both the Mi band 5 and the Amazfit band 5 are excellent in terms of battery life of 125mAh claiming 14 and 15 days of battery backup respectively on a single charge. When the continuous heart rate monitoring feature and SpO2 feature is disabled both the bands are expected to last around 20 to 25 days. For a single charge, it’s not bad unlike most of the smartwatches these days which need to be charged every day or two.
The charging time however in both the fitness trackers is around 2 hours with the proprietary charger and features magnetic charging styles where you don’t have to take out the band every time from the strap to charge it and is easy and convenient.
Connectivity and app
Both the bands have Bluetooth version 5.0 which means connectivity is no issue, it is both compatible with Android as well as iOS so whichever the operating system both the trackers can run on both the platform. Pairing is done through the Mi fit app in Mi band 5 and the Zepp app for Amazfit band 5.
Both apps are easy to use, straightforward, and have a clean UI which makes it a lot more professional and organized.
Workout modes
As fitness bands, you’d want varieties of fitness tracking activities that would help you in improving your fitness goals. Both the bands have 11 sports mode to track your activity including:
- Treadmill
- Outdoor running
- Cycling
- Walking
- Swimming
- Freestyle
- Indoor running
- Yoga
- Rope Skipping
- Elliptical machine
- Rowing
Specifications
Both the devices can also track your sleep, heart rate, blood oxygen level, steps, distance traveled, and send you push notifications through your phone via Bluetooth. But Amazfit band 5 offers you a more accurate and advanced heart rate monitor as it has a slightly better sensor compared to the Mi Band 5.
Performance on both the fitness bands is almost similar as both the bands are launched just a month or two apart. Performance is not an issue in both the trackers and is capable of providing excellent performance with a clean and smooth UI.
They are also equipped with a 5 ATM waterproof rating which can resist water up to 50m which means there is no problem even if you take it for a swim.
In terms of the sensors, they both include the 6 axis motion sensors for accurate tracking and measurement of activities and also sleep tracking. An accelerometer, for measuring the motion or the vibration of the structure is used to give an accurate measure of the activities performed.
It does not stop here, both compatible apps that run these fitness bands can let you view your notifications, call and SMS alert, app notification, alarms, music control, see the weather forecasts, and find phone features.
Additional features
You can even choose varieties of watch faces that match your style on certain occasions in both the bands and even make a customizable one where you can upload your own pictures from the gallery and give a custom look to the watch.
Moreover, the fitness bands have a remote camera feature that lets you use your bands as a remote shutter button to click pictures steadily while you’re away from your phone or when it’s fitted in a tripod. It’s such a useful feature which the previous iteration of the Mi band lacked and has made its way in the Mi band 5 to compete with the competitors.
The PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence) is a feature that helps you measure the impact of physical activity on the heart that you’re performing. It shows your personalized score based on your activities and guides you through your activity.
The one thing that sticks out in favor of the Amazfit band 5 is the built-in Alexa which lets you set your alarm, ask questions, set timers, and also control smart home devices which is a huge deal-breaker for some of the users. However, there isn’t a speaker built-in so, its use is limited.
Pricing
Considering the price of these two fitness bands the Mi band 5 comes at around $41.99 and the Amazfit band 5 costs $49.99. At a greater price, you’re getting a built-in Alexa that makes it easy for accessing the band and easing the home environment, and slightly better battery life.
Xiaomi Mi band 5 specification table
| Display | 1.1-inch AMOLED color touchscreen Display resolution: 126*29 Display color depth: 16 bit |
| Material Used | Thermoplastic Polyurethane(TPU) strap Polycarbonate plastic case with aluminium band buckle |
| Dimensions | Body dimensions: 46.95 × 18.15 × 12.45 mm Body net weight: 11.9 g Adjustable length: 155219 mm |
| Water resistance | Yes. 5ATM |
| Memory | 512KB of RAM 16MB of flash memory |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes |
| SpO2 Sensor | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
| Sleep Tracker | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes |
| Battery | 125mAh [Lithium-ion polymer] 14-day battery life |
| Connectivity | No Wifi Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Supported Systems | Android 5.0 or iOS 10.0 and above |
| In the box | Band body x1 Band strap ×1 Dedicated charging cable x1 User manual x1 |
| Other Features | Gyroscope Barometer Proximity sensor Digital MEMS microphone |
Amazfit Band 5 specification table
| Name | Amazfit Band 5 |
| Display | 1.1-inch AMOLED color touchscreen Display resolution: 126*294 Display color depth: 16 bit |
| Material Used | Thermoplastic Polyurethane(TPU) strap |
| Dimensions | Body dimensions: 47.2 × 18.5 × 12.4 mm Body net weight: 12 g Adjustable length: 155–219 mm |
| Water resistance | Yes. 5ATM |
| Memory | 512KB of RAM 16MB of flash memory |
| Heart Rate Monitor | Yes |
| SpO2 Sensor | Yes |
| NFC | Yes |
| GPS | Yes |
| Sleep Tracker | Yes |
| Microphone | Yes |
| Battery | 125mAh [Lithium-ion polymer] 15-days battery life |
| Connectivity | No Wifi Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Supported Systems | Android 5.0 or iOS 10.0 and above |
| In the box | Band body x1 Band strap ×1 Dedicated charging cable x1 User manual x1 |
| Other Features | Gyroscope Barometer Proximity sensor Digital MEMS microphone |
Verdict
Both of the fitness trackers offer great value for money. From a design perspective, they’re pretty much the same. If it’s for the straps that go with the band, there are different varieties of aftermarket straps for the Mi band 5 whereas there are only limited color options such as black, green, and orange for the Amazfit band 5.
Amazfit band 5 also ensures a day more battery life than the Mi band 5 but it all depends on how the user uses it because a different person has different preferences and may not choose to use every feature of the tracker which eventually leads to more battery life.
If you’re looking for a fitness band that offers 11 sports modes to track the fitness data and does all the basics that a fitness band does, the Mi band 5 is undoubtedly the best you can find in the market for its price. But, if you want all those features and also with some extra ones like a built-in Alexa, a small incremental battery, you’ll have to pay slightly more for the Amazfit band 5.
FAQ’s
Does the Mi band 5 include a mic?
No, it doesn’t include a mic.
Does Mi band 5 and Amazfit band 5 have built-in GPS?
No, both Mi band 5 and the Amazfit band 5 don’t have a built-in GPS.
Can Mi band 5 Amazfit band 5 answer calls?
No, both of them cannot answer calls but Amazfit band 5 has an input mic for operating the built-in Alexa whereas Mi band 5 doesn’t.
