Redmi Watch 6: Thinner, brighter, and longer-lasting?

Xiaomi has officially unveiled the Redmi Watch 6 in China. The new model offers several improvements over the Redmi Watch 5: a significantly brighter AMOLED display, a slimmer design, and up to 24 days of battery life. Could this be the best budget smartwatch?

Still angular, but now thinner

Visually, the Redmi Watch 6 remains true to its predecessor – a square casing, a large display, and a sporty look. However, Xiaomi has refined the design: the Watch 6 is thinner than the Watch 5, making it appear more elegant on the wrist and improving wearing comfort.

Instead of 11.3 mm, we now get 9.94 mm. The weight also drops slightly from 33 g to 31.5 g. The frame is still made of an aluminum alloy, and the water resistance remains at 5 ATM.

There are also updates regarding the display: it can now be brighter. Instead of 1500 nits, Xiaomi has now installed 2000 nits in the 2.07-inch display. This puts it on par with much more expensive models, such as the current Apple Watch. An always-on display is also integrated again.

Up to 24 days of battery life and 150 sports modes

The Redmi Watch 6's battery capacity remains the same as its predecessor at 550 mAh. So there's no significant improvement in battery life. Xiaomi claims a maximum runtime of 24 days, but that's only with very moderate use. More typical usage is 7-12 days, especially if you use the always-on display and regularly track workouts.

Speaking of sports: 150 different sports modes are included again, along with a GPS module to record your workouts. Of course, you also get the necessary sensors to track your heart rate and blood oxygen levels.

You can also track your sleep and menstrual cycle. The Redmi Watch 6 will again ship with HyperOS, which is designed to work seamlessly with other Xiaomi devices. The watch is also compatible with other Android devices.

Cheap and good?

The Redmi Watch 6 will first be released in China for around €72. A launch in Germany is also very likely. For a low price, you get a lot of features. This year, however, Xiaomi is mainly focusing on product refinement and tweaking the dimensions. The watch will be slightly thinner and lighter, making it even less noticeable on the wrist.

Increasing the brightness to 2000 nits is also a smart move: nothing is more annoying than not being able to read a display in strong sunlight.

Anyone who misses premium features like ECG or blood pressure measurement is definitely looking in the wrong price range. The Redmi Watch 6 will once again be an affordable option for people who don't want to spend hundreds of euros on a smartwatch but still want a few more features than a typical fitness tracker offers. What's most important to you in a smartwatch?

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