Xiaomi Haylou Solar: Not solar-powered, but a smartwatch that costs just ~US$20

Founded in 2015, Haylou remained unknown until the announcement of its first smartwatch, the LS01. Previously, the Xiaomi subdivision mainly dealt with audio equipment like the GT1 Pro earbuds. Now, it has released the Solar (LS5), a smartwatch with a confusing name. 

Priced at CNY 150 (~US$20), the Haylou Solar is not a solar-powered smartwatch. Instead, the device has a 340 mAh battery, which Haylou promises will last up to 30 days between charges. The small battery powers a 1.28-inch circular LCD panel that operates natively at 240 x 240 pixels. According to Gizmochina, the colour display should be bright enough for content to remain visible in direct sunlight.

The 45 mm smartwatch has a metal watch body, 22 mm wide straps and is IP68 rated. The Haylou Solar can also use its heart-rate monitor for twelve physical activities including cycling, running and rowing. While Xiaomi has not included a GPS module, the smartwatch supports Bluetooth 5.0, along with Android 4.4 and iOS 8.0 onwards. The Haylou Solar will start shipping on May 18, but there is no word yet on global availability.