Rating 3.5/5The Realme Watch S5 arrives as the brand’s latest attempt to balance affordability with premium smartwatch features, targeting users who want style, fitness tracking, and long battery life without breaking the bank. Positioned under Rs 8,000, it aims to compete with rivals like Amazfit and Redmi by offering a sleek circular design, AMOLED display, Bluetooth calling, built‑in GPS, and over 110 sports modes. We used the Realme Watch S5 for sometime and here’s our complete review of the same.DesignThe Realme Watch S5 is not trying to be a subtle smartwatch. Three physical buttons on the side, a rotating crown, a metal frame, and a ceramic-texture back — it shows up on the wrist and means business. The circular form factor immediately sets it apart from the sea of rectangular budget smartwatches, giving it a more traditional watch-like appeal. The device features an aluminum-alloy frame that makes a bold statement on the wrist, along with physical navigation buttons that add to a premium, purposeful feel. At 11.8 mm thick and weighing just 32 grams (without the strap), the watch is surprisingly lightweight for its build. Including the strap, it weighs around 49 grams and sits on the wrist almost without announcing itself. The three physical side buttons make navigation easier and add to the overall experience, since you no longer need to juggle through apps to open certain things. They are particularly useful during workouts or when your hands are wet. However, the included silicone strap is a point of contention — it can trap sweat during extended wear, which may be uncomfortable in India's humid climate. The watch is waterproof to 5 ATM, meaning it can be worn while swimming. Overall, for the price, the build quality punches well above its segment.DisplayRealme Watch S5 stands out with its 1.43-inch AMOLED display which comes with 466×466 resolution and offers up to 1000 nits peak brightness levels. The display is protected with a layer of Panda Glass. The smartwatch offers 79% screen-to-body ratio and it comes with a noticeable black inner bezel and a thin gray plastic ring which sits between the screen glass and the aluminium casing. Thanks to the high brightness levels, you can comfortably read notifications, messages and more under direct sunlight. In real-world testing, everything from watch faces to notifications appears crisp. The colours feel punchy without looking unnatural, and the overall viewing experience feels premium for a smartwatch in this price segment. AMOLED's inherent advantage of true blacks and high contrast makes the display pop in all lighting conditions, whether in a dimly lit room or under the afternoon sun. The screen on the Realme Watch S5 runs at 60Hz refresh rate which makes sure that navigating through menus and checking notifications remain smooth. The Realme smartwatch also comes with a dedicated night vision mode that switches the display to red tones for low-light viewing. The display is protected using Panda Glass, the same protective layer commonly seen on smartphones in this segment.PerformanceRealme Watch S5 packs hosts of features which makes it more than just a fitness tracker. The smartwatch supports Bluetooth calling allowing the users to make and receive calls directly from the wearable. Along with this, the smartwatch also includes built-in GPS which makes sure outdoor activity tracking without needing to carry a smartphone. With support for over 110 sports modes, it caters to everything from running and cycling to niche workouts like yoga or rowing. Realme Watch S5 also includes heart-rate sensor, SpO2 monitor, sleep analysis, VO2 Max, and women’s health tracking. The wearable can also monitor stress levels and guide breathing exercises. Getting started with the Realme Watch S5 is quite easy. You can install the Realme Link app available on both Android and iOS operating systems. The app functions as the central hub for syncing the fitness data, customising watch faces and also helps in managing notifications. The app also offers a dashboard for health metrics such as heart rate trends, sleep analysis and more. You can also set reminders and goals directly with the app. That said, the app experience remains basic and somewhat inconsistent. Notifications can be viewed on the watch but lack actionable replies, limiting productivity. Syncing can occasionally lag, and customization options for widgets and layouts are minimal.Coming to the performance, the Realme Watch S5 manages to offer a smooth user experience. Navigating through the menu is fluid and the touchscreen also responds well in time to taps and swipes. The three physical buttons present on the smartwatch add a layer of convenience and enables you to quickly access your workouts, homescreen and more. The smartwatch also performs consistently when it comes to health tracking. GPS lock times are reasonable, and route tracking during outdoor runs is accurate enough for casual and semi-serious fitness users. But accurate fitness tracking remains a concern as the heart rate readings fluctuate a lot during intense workout sessions and the step counting also has room for improvement. For workouts, the smartwatch offers more than 110+ sports modes and the wearable can easily adapt to different activities. The real-time metrics displayed on the AMOLED screen and post‑workout summaries give users a good overview of performance. Sleep tracking is functional, breaking down light, deep, and REM cycles, though accuracy can vary depending on wear consistency. Overall, the Realme Watch S5’s performance is smooth, dependable, and well‑roundBatteryBattery life is one of the Realme Watch S5's strongest selling points. The smartwatch packs a 460mAh battery and offers a battery life of up to 16 days under typical usage, though enabling the always-on display cuts this down to just 5 days. Battery life is class-leading for this price segment. With GPS and Bluetooth calling both active, real-world endurance will naturally be lower, but most users should comfortably get 7–10 days between charges depending on usage patterns. This is a massive advantage over competitors that barely last 3–5 days. Charging is done via a magnetic cradle, which is straightforward and secure. The charging speed is reasonable, getting the watch from near-zero to full in under two hours.VerdictPriced at Rs 7,999, Realme Watch S5 is worth it if you want a feature-rich smartwatch. The AMOLED display is among the best at this price, battery life is class-leading, and having both built-in GPS and Bluetooth calling together at this price point is rare.For casual users, fitness enthusiasts on a budget, and first-time smartwatch buyers in India, the Realme Watch S5 is a compelling package.