Redmi Watch 4 Review

The Redmi Watch 4 bridges the gap between budget fitness trackers and premium smartwatches with its striking AMOLED display and robust aluminium build. Even in 2026, it remains a compelling choice for health enthusiasts seeking maximum battery life without breaking the bank. Discover if this feature-packed wearable is the right fit for your wrist.

Key Specifications

Design & Build Quality

Xiaomi has significantly elevated its design language with the Redmi Watch 4, moving away from the purely plastic aesthetics of its predecessors. The introduction of an aerospace-grade aluminium alloy frame immediately gives the wearable a premium, substantial feel on the wrist without adding unnecessary bulk. Complementing this metal chassis is a highly tactile stainless steel rotating crown, which provides satisfying haptic feedback when scrolling through menus. It is a design maturity that makes the watch look far more expensive than its price tag suggests.

The centerpiece of the design is undoubtedly the massive 1.97-inch LTPS AMOLED display. With remarkably slim bezels, a crisp 60Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of 600 nits, the screen is highly legible even under harsh midday sunlight. The larger screen real estate makes reading notifications and checking complex workout metrics at a glance effortless. Xiaomi has also implemented an ambient light sensor, ensuring the display adapts flawlessly to your surrounding environment.

Ergonomically, the watch is a triumph. Despite its large footprint, it weighs a mere 31.5 grams (without the strap), making it comfortable enough to wear 24/7, including during sleep tracking. The new quick-release strap mechanism is incredibly secure and easy to use, allowing you to swap out bands in seconds. Coupled with a 5ATM water resistance rating, the robust build ensures the Redmi Watch 4 can easily survive pool sessions, intense sweaty workouts, and daily wear and tear.

Performance

When it comes to real-world performance, the Redmi Watch 4 is buttery smooth, largely thanks to the 60Hz refresh rate and the lightweight nature of Xiaomi’s HyperOS. Navigating through widgets, swiping to view notifications, and launching workout modes happen instantaneously. Unlike many budget smartwatches that suffer from UI stuttering or input lag, this device offers a responsive, flagship-level scrolling experience that keeps up with demanding, tech-savvy users.

Fitness and health tracking performance is equally commendable. The upgraded 4-channel PPG sensor delivers highly consistent heart rate and continuous SpO2 readings, matching up closely with dedicated chest straps during steady-state cardio. While it can occasionally lag by a few seconds during rapid high-intensity interval training (HIIT) spikes, it remains highly reliable for the average fitness enthusiast. The built-in multi-system GNSS chip locks onto GPS signals within 15 to 20 seconds, accurately plotting urban running routes without needing to piggyback off your smartphone’s location services.

Battery life is where the Redmi Watch 4 absolutely annihilates its premium competition. The 470 mAh cell easily achieves Xiaomi’s claim of up to 20 days on a single charge under typical usage conditions. Even power users who enable the Always-On Display (AOD), continuous blood oxygen monitoring, and log daily GPS-tracked runs will comfortably squeeze out 8 to 10 days before reaching for the proprietary magnetic charging puck. In 2026’s wearable landscape, this level of endurance is a massive quality-of-life upgrade.

Features & Software

The Redmi Watch 4 runs on Xiaomi’s HyperOS, which offers a clean, intuitive, and highly customizable user interface. The companion Mi Fitness app is comprehensive, providing detailed, easy-to-read graphs for over 150 supported sports modes, sleep stages, and daily activity rings. A standout feature is the inclusion of a built-in microphone and speaker, enabling clear Bluetooth calling directly from your wrist.

While it excels in first-party integrations, the software experience is decidedly that of a “fitness tracker in a smartwatch body.” You get robust health tools, vital smartphone notifications, music playback control, and useful widgets, but you do not get a dedicated app store. Furthermore, while Android users can utilize pre-set quick replies for incoming messages, iOS users are limited to simply viewing their notifications.

Value Proposition

The wearable market in 2026 is fiercely competitive, yet the Redmi Watch 4 manages to carve out a dominant position by punching well above its weight class. By offering premium hardware features—like an expansive AMOLED display, aluminium chassis, and independent GPS—at a fraction of the cost of an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch, it redefines what consumers should expect from budget-friendly tech.

While power users might lament the lack of a true third-party app ecosystem or full NFC payment support in global markets, the trade-off is well worth it. You are essentially sacrificing niche smartwatch apps for unparalleled battery life and a focused, reliable fitness experience, resulting in one of the most compelling bang-for-your-buck propositions available today.

How It Compares

When pitted against the Amazfit Active, the Redmi Watch 4 feels slightly more premium thanks to its metal frame and stainless steel crown, though Amazfit still holds a slight edge in deep sleep analytics and recovery metrics. Compared to the Huawei Watch Fit 3, the Redmi Watch offers superior battery life and a slightly larger, more immersive screen, whereas Huawei provides slightly more refined health algorithms and a rectangular form factor. Ultimately, the Redmi Watch 4 wins on sheer hardware value and build materials.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The massive 1.97-inch AMOLED display is incredibly bright, vibrant, and smooth at 60Hz.
• It boasts an exceptional battery life that comfortably lasts over two weeks on a single charge.
• The inclusion of an aluminium frame and stainless steel crown gives it a premium look and feel.
• Built-in multi-system GPS provides highly accurate, phone-free route tracking for outdoor activities.

Cons

• The proprietary operating system completely lacks support for third-party downloadable applications.
• Actionable notifications and quick text replies are noticeably absent for iOS users.
• The proprietary quick-release strap mechanism prevents you from using standard, universal watch bands.
• Global versions generally lack NFC support for contactless wrist payments.

FAQ

Q: Can I make and receive phone calls on the Redmi Watch 4?
A: Yes, it features a built-in microphone and speaker, allowing you to answer Bluetooth calls directly from your wrist as long as it is connected to your smartphone.

Q: Does the Redmi Watch 4 support NFC for contactless payments?
A: Global variants of the Redmi Watch 4 generally do not support NFC payments, though this feature is available in specific regional and domestic models.

Q: Is it safe to swim with this smartwatch?
A: Absolutely, the device comes with a 5ATM water resistance rating, making it perfectly safe for shallow-water swimming, sweating, and showering.

Q: Can I reply to text messages from the watch?
A: Android users can utilize customizable, pre-set quick replies for incoming messages, but full keyboard typing and iOS reply support are not available.

Verdict

The Redmi Watch 4 is an outstanding choice for budget-conscious consumers who want a large, premium-looking smartwatch with exceptional battery life and solid fitness tracking capabilities. While power users might miss a dedicated app store or advanced smart features, its sleek aluminium design and vivid AMOLED screen make it one of the best value-for-money wearables in 2026.

Where to Buy

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