Best Xiaomi Smart Watches / Fitness Trackers

Great budget fitness band – I've been a fan of the Mi Band since buying the Band 5 many years ago. The latest Band 9 is, in many ways, an improvement on previous models. The… Read more

screen is a good size, it's bright enough to read in bright sunlight, and there is a fantastic range of watch faces available. The accuracy of steps & distance is good - within close range of the GPS app I also use. Heart rate correlates well with other measuring devices. The range of activities it can track is excellent, as is the range of built-in apps. Battery life is brilliant, even with all day tracking of various metrics turned on. My only complaint with this model is the accuracy of sleep tracking: despite the improvements to this model, I think sleep tracking is not as good as the Band 7. It consistently records me as sleeping, when I'm awake during the night. However, I have a low heart rate, so perhaps this is a factor.

Overall, if you are after a sports band that offers good tracking at a budget price, I highly recommend this band. I also recommend pairing it with the Notify app, rather than the Mi Fit app - much better display of your data.

My 12-year-old daughter was so excited when she got this watch — she loved it and all her friends thought it was really cool. Unfortunately, the… Read more

plastic strap latch failed within 24 hours of normal use, and the watch fell and smashed the screen. I contacted Xiaomi immediately, hoping for a quick replacement or repair, but their reply was a cold, scripted email about needing an “authorized service center” inspection and that it “may not be covered under warranty.” The watch was returned unrepaired, despite the clear issue being a defective strap.

It’s incredibly disappointing that a product aimed at kids cannot survive gentle, everyday wear, and that the company shows so little empathy or responsibility when it fails. I acted quickly to resolve this, yet Xiaomi’s approach has been frustrating and unhelpful. Be aware — the watch looks great, but the durability and customer service are shockingly poor.