A few days ago, I spotted the Redmi Watch 6 Active alongside a Watch 6 Lite variant listed in Singapore’s IMDA certification database. Today, Xiaomi made it official in China, confirming that the budget smartwatch is hitting the market with a few notable hardware updates over last year’s Watch 5 Active.
The biggest upgrade comes directly to the display. While the predecessor featured a larger 2.0-inch LCD screen capping out at 500 nits, the Redmi Watch 6 Active steps up to a 1.85-inch AMOLED panel. The move to AMOLED boosts local peak brightness up to 1,200 nits, making outdoor visibility significantly better under direct sunlight. Crucially, the new display setup also supports Always-on Display (AOD).
Key Specs & Features
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Display: 1.85-inch AMOLED (450 x 390 px), 1,200 nits peak brightness, Always-on Display support
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Build & Weight: 9.9 mm thin, 26g (without strap)
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Water & Dust Protection: IP68 rating
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Battery: 470 mAh
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Up to 6 days with Always-on Display enabled
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Up to 12 days typical usage
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Up to 18 days in basic battery saver mode
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Connectivity & Calls: Bluetooth calling with built-in microphone and speaker
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Health & Fitness: 140+ sports modes, heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, sleep analysis, and stress level tracking
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Colorways: Gunmetal, Orange, Silver
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 6 Active VS Watch 5 Active
| Feature | Redmi Watch 6 Active | Redmi Watch 5 Active (Predecessor) |
| Display Type | 1.85-inch AMOLED | 2.0-inch LCD |
| Peak Brightness | 1,200 nits | 500 nits |
| Always-On Display (AOD) | Supported | Not supported |
| Dimensions & Weight | 9.9 mm thin / 26g | 11.4 mm thin / 42.2g |
| Water Resistance | IP68 rating | IPX8 rating |
| Battery Life | 12 days typical / 6 days with AOD / 18 days saver | 12 days typical / 18 days saver |
| Connectivity & Calls | Bluetooth 5.3 + Mic & Speaker | Bluetooth 5.3 + Mic & Speaker |
| Sports & Health Tracking | 140+ modes, Heart Rate, SpO2, Sleep, Stress | 140+ modes, Heart Rate, SpO2, Sleep, Stress |
| Operating System | Xiaomi HyperOS | Xiaomi HyperOS |
| Launch Price | CNY 349 (~$51 USD) | ~$43 USD |
What Has Changed?
Beyond the display quality upgrade, Xiaomi tweaked the physical footprint. The Watch 6 Active is noticeably slimmer at 9.9 mm and weighs just 26 grams without the strap.
On the battery front, capacity stays the same at 470 mAh. Xiaomi claims battery longevity matches the prior generation, delivering up to 12 days of typical use and stretching to 18 days in power-saving mode. Turning on the new Always-on Display feature reduces battery life to around 6 days.
Water resistance carries an IP68 rating, providing basic protection against water splashes and light water exposure. Other typical feature additions include quick payments, Apple Health syncing capability, remote camera trigger controls, and full integration with the Xiaomi Health companion app.
Price and Availability
The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 6 Active is currently priced at CNY 349 (roughly $51 USD) in China. Following its initial Chinese market release and recent regulatory filings spotted in Singapore, a wider global launch is likely to follow soon.
