The Screen: Garmin Crushes

The Redmi has a black and white LCD screen. It's basic. It's like looking at a watch from the 2000s.

The Garmin has a color AMOLED screen. It's 2025. The colors explode. Black is really black. It's beautiful.

Yes, the Redmi has a larger screen (2.0" vs 1.3"). But a big LCD screen is still an LCD screen. It's not pretty. It's not readable in the sun.

Verdict: Garmin crushes. No debate.

Battery: Redmi Wins, But It's Not Enough

Redmi: 18 days in watch mode, 8 days with GPS.

Garmin: 11 days in watch mode, 6 days with GPS.

The Redmi lasts longer. It's true. But why? Because it has an LCD screen which consumes less. This is not a technological victory, it is just a consequence of choosing a basic screen. Discover our full review of Redmi Watch 5 Active

If you charge your watch once a week, that's OK. The Garmin also lasts a week.

Verdict: Redmi wins on battery. But it's not a game-changer.

Sports Tracking: Garmin Wins on Quality

The Redmi has 140+ sport modes vs 100+ for the Garmin. On paper, it's better. In reality, it's a bluff.

• Garmin has multi-constellation GPS. The Redmi has simple GPS. Garmin tracks more accurately.
• Garmin has advanced swimming tracking. The Redmi just counts the lengths.
• The Redmi's 140 modes are just variations of the same basic tracking. It's marketing.

Verdict: Garmin wins. The tracking quality is better, even if the number of modes is lower. You can here, see our update on the Gamin Venu 2S review

Design: Garmin Wins

The Garmin looks like a real watch. You can wear it to the office, to the restaurant, everywhere.

The Redmi looks like a cheap sports watch. Huge screen, basic design. It's not elegant.

Verdict: Garmin wins. It's a matter of taste, but the Garmin looks better.

Health Monitoring: Same

Both watches do basic health monitoring. Heart rate, sleep, stress. Nothing special.

Verdict: Tie.

The Price: Redmi Costs Much Less

Garmin: €399. Redmi: €249. Difference: €150.

That's a big difference. For €150 less, you have a watch that works. It's not pretty, it doesn't have a good screen, but it works.

If you are on a very tight budget, the Redmi is acceptable. If you have a little more money, the Garmin is worth it.

Verdict: Depends on your budget.

The Final Verdict: Who to Choose?

Choose the Garmin Venu 2S if:

• You want a nice watch with a nice screen
• You do sports seriously (running, cycling, swimming)
• You have €400 to spend
• You want a watch you can wear everywhere

Choose the Redmi Watch 5 Active if:

• You have a very tight budget (less than €250)
• You do occasional sport
• You don't care about the screen
• You want a watch that lasts a long time without charging

Our clear opinion: The Garmin Venu 2S is better. It has a better screen, better sports tracking, better design. The Redmi Watch 5 Active is an inexpensive watch. That's all. If you can afford it, get the Garmin. If you are very tight on budget, the Redmi is acceptable, but you will miss the screen.

Garmin score: 4.2/5

Redmi score: 3.2/5

Where to Buy

Garmin Venu 2S on Amazon

Redmi Watch 5 Active on Amazon