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While Realme is less known for its smartwatches compared to Xiaomi or Huawei, the Chinese brand has been developing smartwatches for some time. Following its initial model launched in 2020, Realme has introduced several budget-friendly smartwatches.
The latest model, the Realme Watch 5, features a familiar design, closely resembling the Apple Watch Ultra 3, but at a much more attractive price of 66 euros. Here’s the complete review.
Realme Watch 5Technical Specifications
| Model | Realme Watch 5 |
|---|---|
| Screen Size | 1.97 inches |
| Screen Resolution | 390 x 450 pixels |
| Panel | AMOLED |
| Heart Rate Sensor | Yes |
| Sleep Analysis | Yes |
| Accelerometer | Yes |
| Ambient Light Sensor | Yes |
| Protection Rating | IP68 |
| Product Sheet |
The watch for this review was provided by the manufacturer.
Realme Watch 5An “Ultra” Watch Look
Since the release of the first Apple Watch Ultra, several brands have (politely speaking) drawn inspiration from the look of Apple’s high-end model. This was already the case with the Huawei Watch Fit 4 Pro, and even more so with the new Realme Watch 5.
Without exhaustively listing the similarities, we note a common color called “titanium” by both Apple and Realme—even though the case is plastic—a crown surrounded by orange, a square screen with rounded corners, a slight elevation of the edges to protect the panel, and a small protrusion at the crown.
Among the differences, besides the materials used, the Realme Watch 5 stands out from Apple’s high-end “Ultra” model by lacking other buttons besides the rotating crown and featuring actual lugs to attach a standard 22 mm wide band.
Regarding the band itself, the Realme Watch 5 comes with a rippled silicone strap. In theory, this should better secure it on the wrist, similar to Apple’s “Ocean” bands. In practice, however, this strap is somewhat cumbersome and difficult to tuck under the buckle. It does the job, but you’ll soon want to replace it with a softer, less abrasive, or more stylish band.
It’s worth noting that the Realme Watch 5 is made of plastic—gray or black—with a classic glass over the screen. This allows the manufacturer to offer an accessible model for under 70 euros. It’s a logical move and hard to fault.
The watch is also IP68 certified for water resistance and can thus withstand light submersions or a shower. However, in the absence of a 5 ATM rating, it’s hard to recommend for prolonged immersion, such as swimming in a pool, even at the surface.
Realme Watch 5A Basic, but Sufficient Screen
For its watch screen, Realme has incorporated a 1.97-inch diagonal AMOLED panel with a resolution of 390 x 450 pixels. This results in a pixel density of 302 pixels per inch.
In practical terms, this density allows for comfortable reading of the information displayed on the screen… as long as you don’t get too close. Indeed, at 302 pixels per inch, you can easily discern individual pixels if you get very close to the panel.
By comparison, Apple Watches feature a so-called “Retina” display with 326 pixels per inch. This isn’t a problem in everyday use, but it further emphasizes the entry-level positioning of the watch.
As for screen brightness, the Realme Watch 5 is limited to a peak brightness of 600 cd/m². This is sufficient for winter use, when you go running in the evening and the sun isn’t too bright. However, this peak might reach its limits in summer, with very bright skies and the sun at its zenith. In such cases, the screen brightness might not be enough to counteract the reflections on the watch.
However, the Realme Watch 5 does include an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust the screen lighting to the surrounding brightness.
The watch also benefits from an always-on display mode to keep certain data—such as the time or heart rate—permanently visible. A convenient way to quickly check the time without having to noticeably lift your wrist.
Additionally, this always-on display can be set to activate only during certain hours—for example, from 9 AM to 11 PM—just like the “lift to wake” mode. You can thus deactivate these functions at night to sleep peacefully without being awakened by the screen with every arm movement.
Regarding watch faces, the Realme Watch 5 comes with nine models, some of which are customizable in terms of complications. However, you can download many more, with over 300 virtual dials available for download on the Realme Link app.
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Realme Watch 5A Watch with Minimalist Features
To connect the Realme Watch 5 to your smartphone, you simply need to use the Realme Link app, available for both Android smartphones and iPhones.
realme Link
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Navigating through the menus and different screens of the Realme Watch 5 is effortless. It’s no surprise given the watch’s rather simple controls with just one button, which also serves as a rotating crown, and the touchscreen.
Specifically, here are the different controls offered:
- swipe down: quick settings
- swipe up: notifications
- swipe left: widget tiles
- swipe right: access to shortcuts (weather, music, agenda, etc.)
- single press on the crown: list of applications / return to the dial
- double press on the crown: opening of the exercise app
- long press on the crown: power off menu.
It’s worth noting that a double press on the button can be configured to launch another shortcut function, whether it’s music, alarm, or timer. However, you can only access a predefined list of functions and not all applications or even the flashlight mode.
The Realme Watch 5 does not allow the installation of third-party applications, so you must stick to the pre-installed apps on the watch. Thus, you won’t find the vast catalog available on Wear OS watches or Apple Watches.
However, you can still receive notifications and answer phone calls. On Android, it is also possible to reply to messages received via SMS or messaging apps using programmed messages.
Finally, the watch allows you to control the music played on the phone, but it does not support storing songs directly on the watch.
In summary, this is a rather basic watch in terms of features, primarily focused on health and activity tracking.
Realme Watch 5An Effective GPS, but Inaccurate Heart Rate Tracking
In terms of health measurements and sports tracking, the Realme Watch 5 includes an optical heart rate sensor, a compass, motion sensors, and GPS tracking.
The Accuracy of the GPS on the Realme Watch 5
The Realme watch features location tracking compatible with five GNSS constellations, including GPS. However, the watch is not compatible with multiband GPS, so you will have to make do with only the L1 frequency band.
In practical terms, this means that the watch will struggle to provide accurate tracking in dense environments, especially in cities.
To assess the reliability of the GPS tracking of the Realme Watch 5, I wore it during several running sessions both in the city and in a park. I then compared the distances obtained and the routes with those of a high-end sports watch, the Garmin Fenix 8, which is compatible with dual-frequency GPS.
| Runs | Garmin Fenix 8 | Realme Watch 5 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Run 1 (city) | 4.918 km | 4.740 km | -3.62 % |
| Run 2 (park) | 14.193 km | 14.150 km | -0.30 % |
| Run 3 (city) | 10.031 km | 10.000 km | -0.31 % |
Run 4
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 Maya Singh is a senior editor covering tablets and hybrid devices. Her work explores how these tools reshape digital productivity and learning. She also contributes to feature editorials on emerging tech.
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