Xiaomi Mi Band 5 rumored to gain SpO2 sensor, Smart version will support Amazon Alexa
The upcoming Xiaomi Mi Band 5 will enhance the heart rate tracker with SpO2 measurement (blood-oxygen saturation). Additional health features will include menstrual cycle tracking.
The international version was said to gain NFC support, previously exclusive to China. However, some new info casts doubt on global NFC support, but mentions a new Mi Smart Band 5 version with a model number XMSH11HM (the regular Band 5 will be XMSH10HM).
The Smart Band will have AI assistant support, specifically Amazons Alexa. On previous generations, models sold in China had NFC on board and a mic for a digital assistant, but that only worked with the Chinese-speaking Xiao AI.
Alexa is a much better pick for a global release as it already understands eight languages (covering the Americas, Japan, much of Europe and India). Note that as the band lacks a speaker, Alexas replies will be text only.
Good thing then that the screen will grow to 1.2 while bezels will shrink (the fourth gen screen is 0.95). The band will likely be unveiled in China first, some time in June with a global version to follow a couple of months later.