This new smartwatch lets you control calls with muscle gestures

By Paulo Vargas Published December 30, 2025

Xiaomi is pushing a new idea for smartwatch input with the Xiaomi Watch 5, and it’s not another screen shortcut. The Xiaomi Watch 5’s gesture control system uses an EMG sensor to read electrical impulses in your wrist muscles and turn them into commands.

Xiaomi says this is more accurate than motion based gestures that rely on accelerometers, because it can register subtle muscle movement even when your arm is mostly still. The watch is on sale in China now, and Xiaomi expects a global debut at MWC 2026 in Barcelona.

Xiaomi says you can clench your fist to answer a call, or rub your fingers to control music playback. The promise is quick control when your other hand is busy, without exaggerated arm motion and without touching the display.

However, gesture features often get flaky when the watch shifts on your wrist, or when you are walking, running, or lifting. EMG could help, but it will need solid tuning across different fits and wrist sizes to be effective. The Apple Watch has the Double Tap, but only that.

The Watch 5 is a larger wearable with a 47mm case and a circular 1.54 inch AMOLED display rated up to 1500 nits. Xiaomi uses a stainless steel frame and sapphire glass on both the front and back, plus 5 ATM water resistance.

Despite the larger 930 mAh battery, Xiaomi lists the weight at 56 grams. It also keeps traditional controls with a digital crown and a secondary action button, so you can still navigate the usual way if you do not want gestures.

On health, Xiaomi pairs EMG with ECG for on demand heart rhythm analysis and Afib detection, alongside heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep tracking. There’s no body temperature sensor, but fitness features include over 150 workout modes, 3D animated gym guidance, and full color offline maps. Xiaomi rates battery life at 6 days in normal use, or up to 18 days in power saver.

In China, pricing starts at CNY 1999, roughly $285. If Xiaomi keeps global pricing close, early reviews will come down to one thing, whether EMG control stays reliable in real world motion.