Nepal's budget smartwatch market under Rs. 10,000 has become highly competitive, with popular choices like the Realme Watch 5, Watch 6 Active, and models from brands such as Zeblaze, MWC, Ultima, and Amazfit. Honor's contender in this segment is the Honor Watch X5i, priced at NPR 8,999. After two weeks of daily testing across health tracking, display quality, and general performance, here is our full review.
Design and Build
Design-wise, the Honor Watch X5i takes clear inspiration from the Apple Watch with its square chassis, functional crown, and side button. Built with a polymer frame, it manages to avoid feeling cheap while remaining extremely lightweight at just 28.1 grams. It is comfortable for all-day wear and sleep tracking without causing skin irritation. It also carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, making it safe against rain and splashes. The main design drawback is the strap locking mechanism, which can be tricky to secure with wet or sweaty hands.
Display and UI
The standout feature is the large 1.97-inch flat AMOLED screen. It offers thin, symmetrical bezels, solid viewing angles, and plenty of watch faces accessible via the Honor Health app. However, screen performance has some quirks. Although advertised with a 60Hz refresh rate, menu navigation feels jittery and sluggish, closer to a 30Hz panel. There is also no auto-brightness sensor for direct sunlight, and enabling Always-On Display inexplicably disables the raise-to-wake feature.
Fitness and Daily Features
For health and fitness enthusiasts, the X5i includes tracking for heart rate, SpO₂, and sleep, alongside 109 sports modes and automatic walk/run detection. However, power users should note the absence of built-in GPS and quick reply options for incoming notifications.
Final Verdict
At NPR 8,999, the Honor Watch X5i delivers a strong primary display, lightweight comfort, and basic health tracking. While it is a solid option for casual everyday use, users seeking integrated GPS or smoother software performance may prefer spending a bit more on higher-spec alternatives.
