Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is one of the best-selling fitness bracelets. It has established itself as a smart alarm clock, heart rate monitor, calorie burn counter, pedometer, and many other functions. Let's take a closer look at how it works and what other capabilities the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 watch has. Let's begin the review.
Specifications
- Display: OLED, 0.42 inches;
- Battery: capacity 70mAh;
- IP67 protection;
- Communication: Bluetooth 4.0;
- Synchronization with phones: Android3, iOS 7;
- Sensors: heart rate monitor, 3-axis accelerometer;
- Dimensions: 40.2×7×10.5 mm;
- Weight: 7g;
- Price: 1700—2500 rub...
What is in the box?
The package is standard, the package contains the watch module itself, a silicone bracelet, a USB charging cable and the necessary documentation.
The tracker is inserted into the strap from the inside, after which it is fixed into the “frame” and securely fixed.
Two versions of the watch
There are 2 versions of the Xiaomi Mi Band smart bracelet - Chinese and international. The review showed that their differences are insignificant, but they still exist. In the first version, the Bluetooth version is 4.0 LE, and in the second - 4.2 LE. The abbreviation LE stands for Low Energy, that is, minimal energy consumption. The color of the screen is also different: in the Chinese version the shade is warmer, and in the international version it is cooler. Also in the first version there are no inscriptions on the back of the module.
The cost of the devices varies, however, users claim that the Chinese version of Mi Band 2 is cheaper and no worse than the international one.
What is the bracelet for?
Let's continue the review of the device, now let's talk about the functions of the smart bracelet - Xiaomi Mi Band 2.
- The built-in heart rate monitor measures your heart rate.
- Counting the number of steps taken. The function works great, the measurement error is small, and does not respond to normal hand waves.
- Calculation of the number of calories burned and the distance traveled. Moreover, not only the number of steps taken is taken into account, as in most fitness bracelets, but also speed.
- Monitoring sleep duration and quality.
- Smart alarm clock.
- Unlocking your phone.
- Notifications about SMS and calls.
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Review of the GSMIN WR12 fitness bracelet
Now let's take a closer look at each of the functions.
Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is designed for people for whom it is important to monitor their performance during training. A heart rate monitor is simply a necessary thing in the gym when an athlete knows at what pace he needs to run a distance and, as a result, measures his heart rate. The result is displayed within 10 seconds.
Smart watches are also equipped with a pedometer, which is useful for absolutely everyone. In order to keep your body in good shape, you should take about 10,000 steps every day, and the tracker will just count their number. Plus, Mi Band signals the owner when he has been sitting too long and tells him that it is time to warm up. Xiaomi Mi Band 2 displays the mileage of the distance covered, this is a useful feature when running a marathon.
The mi band 2 smart watch allows you to select a training mode, there are several: jumping, easy running, walking, etc... This function is useful because it allows the device to determine what load is on the body at the moment, after which it calculates how many calories it is lost. The result is objective.
A smart alarm clock and sleep monitoring track the duration of rest and determine which phase a person is in. If you do not set a specific time, the tracker will wake you up at the moment when the body has restored its strength. A smart alarm clock in the morning can show the quality of your sleep.
If a user connects a smart bracelet - xiaomi mi to a phone via Bluetooth, it will display on the screen all the information received on the smartphone. It is better to disable this feature at night.
Read also:
Functions of fitness bracelets
What about harsh conditions?
The manufacturer claims that you can use it for hours in the temperature range from -20 to +70 degrees. Review and testing have shown that this is indeed the case. Xiaomi Mi Band 2 in the freezer and after being removed from there reacted to touch, and there was a reaction to cold and wet fingers. So sports bracelets are designed to function in cold weather.
Next, Mi Band 2 was tested under hot running water for an hour, the result was also pleasing. When turned on, the touch button worked 1 time, and then did not respond. After testing the smart tracker from Xiaomi, all functions work fully.
Autonomous operation
The documentation indicates a battery life of 29 days. The information is true if you practically don’t use the smart watch as a fitness bracelet, that is, just periodically check the time. During active training, the battery charge will last for 12-15 days. This is provided that the Xiaomi Mi Band will work during sleep and monitor it.
Synchronization with phones and work with applications
Let's see how to turn on and configure the fitness bracelet. There is only one touch button on the case, with which the device’s screen turns on and off. We synchronize the watch with the smartphone, and then configure the necessary parameters in the application.
To do this, download the Mi Fit application. We launch, accept the terms of the user agreement. Let's create an account; to do this you will need to enter your email and follow further instructions. Next, the included mi fit program asks you to enter personal data: weight, height, date of birth, gender - this is necessary to calculate calories burned.
Almost two years after the announcement of the 2nd generation Mi Band, the long-awaited update to the most popular smart bracelet will finally be released. This information was confirmed by Xiaomi CEO Lei Yong during the Lantern Festival in China. Rumors about the imminent release of Xiaomi Mi Band 3 began back in February. Then the device was certified in the Bluetooth consortium database.
Preliminary characteristics of Mi Band 3
Well-known insider Roland Quandt said that most likely, Mi Band 3 will receive a 1.5-inch organic OLED screen (the same one installed in the Samsung Gear Fit S2 Pro). The body of the fitness tracker will be protected from moisture and dust according to the IP68 standard. It is planned to update the sensor for tracking physical activity, and a more accurate and advanced heart rate scanner will be installed.
Price
The head of Xiaomi, during his recent speech, reassured Mi Band fans by saying that the updated device will cost at the level of the 2nd version of the bracelet. According to preliminary data, at the start of sales, Xiaomi Mi Band 3 will cost about $30. The official presentation of the new product will take place on March 27.
Mi Band 3 was created to evaluate its capabilities and compare it with other similar devices. The release date in Russia is unknown, but the presentation took place on May 31, 2018.
The first generation, which appeared on the market in 2014, was distinguished by its simplicity and limited functionality. Due to the lack of a screen, the gadget could not even show the time. The second generation of the model, released in 2016, received a display.
Design and appearance
The body of Xiaomi Band 3 is similar in shape to the previous model, but the design has received significant changes. There are 3 strap color options available:
- black;
- red;
- blue.
The front panel is completely covered with protective glass, rounded at the edges. If you turn off the display on a black bracelet, it merges with the strap.
The monochrome screen is made in accordance with OLED technology. Its diagonal is 0.78”, resolution is 128×80, pixel density is 194 PPI. You can see the pixels with the naked eye, but the display copes with its purpose - it shows all the necessary information.
Despite the fact that the gadget contains a touch screen, the manufacturer has added an additional key. It is hidden under a glass panel - it looks like a small recess under the display.
The reverse side is covered with matte plastic. There are no sharp corners or edges on the body. The sensor protrudes slightly above the surface.
The case is securely fixed in the bracelet, which is supplied in the kit. The first generation was distinguished by the fact that the case was poorly fixed, which is why it could fall out and get lost.
Mi Band 2 was removed inside, which helped to avoid accidental falling out. In this case, the body was fixed due to a glued-in rigid frame.
The third generation device has a special recess that securely fixes the strap, making the design look like it is not dismountable. The tension is adjusted in the same way as on the previous version.
The design of the third generation looks like a global comprehensive development of the previous model. The screen has increased in size and can now be controlled using gestures. The device is protected from water and dust according to the IP-68 standard. The gadget can withstand immersion to a depth of no more than 1 m and can remain in water for up to 30 minutes.
Useful features
The functionality of the new product has expanded compared to Mi Band 2. The third generation is superior in its capabilities to other fitness gadgets thanks to the touch screen, but is inferior in many respects to smartwatches. Now all functions are collected in a small menu, and switching between them occurs through vertical and horizontal swipes. The display can be locked so that it does not turn on due to accidental touch. To unlock, use an upward swipe.
To open the main menu, you can also swipe up. After this, the items can be switched horizontally or vertically. The inconvenience is that to move down and up you have to return to the first section.
To activate any function, you need to hold your finger on the key below the display. The first line contains data on the number of steps taken, distance and calories burned. Information about the battery charge level is provided nearby.
The second item is the menu for measuring heart rate. Further, if the user scrolls horizontally, he will see a forecast for 3 days, including today.
The next line is for displaying notifications. The number of items here is not limited, it depends on the number of messages received. In addition to the notification text, information about the application to which it relates is displayed.
Support for the Russian language is not implemented well enough, which makes it difficult to familiarize yourself with the information. After deleting a text message on your phone, it still remains on the bracelet. On this device you have to delete them separately. In this case, you can select 1 notification or all at once.
The last item is a stopwatch, phone search, choice of desktop design and software version information.
The bracelet synchronizes with the phone thanks to the Mi Fit application, which was used for previous generations. The interface is simple and does not require much time to master. In the settings, you can select the locality to which the weather forecast will be focused. An alternative option is automatic location detection.
The smartphone search function is activated on the gadget and 1 of 2 ringtone options is selected. This can be a stand-alone ringtone or a standard incoming call melody.
The app offers a quick guide to help you quickly become familiar with the device's features. In this case, text messages are accompanied by animated images. In the settings you can determine the location of sections on the display and hide unnecessary items. The bracelet can not only display data, but also perform some actions separately from the smartphone.
NFC
The NFC module is a near-field communication technology developed by Nokia, Sony, and Philips. It allows mobile devices to interact with each other with just one touch. The most important differences from Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are lower energy consumption, maximum information transfer speed and protection of personal data. Sensors and NFC open up the following possibilities for the user:
- allow you to instantly exchange digital data;
- the gadget can be used as a pass to the workplace or public transport;
- a smartphone or bracelet replaces a payment card;
- The device can download and save files with a special extension.
The Bluetooth protocol does not support most of the above features. For example, it is not safe to use this module to make payments due to the wider range of the signal. In addition, the transmission speed of information via the Bluetooth protocol is much lower.
Characteristics
The technical specifications are as follows:
- display with a diagonal of 0.78”, a resolution of 128×80 and a pixel density of 194 PPI;
- The volume of the lithium-ion polymer battery is 110 mAh;
- battery life cannot exceed 20 days;
- input voltage during charging is 5 V;
- maximum for input current - 250 mAh;
- the body is made of plastic;
- water protection according to the 5ATM/IP68 standard is provided, so the user can swim with Xiaomi on his hand;
- installed gyroscope, accelerometer;
- sensor for not installed;
- a Bluetooth 4.2 BLE wireless module is provided, NFC technology is supported;
- GPS navigation module is missing;
- the bracelet is compatible with Android 4.4, iOS 9.0 and newer operating systems;
- Thermoplastic elastene is used as the material for the strap;
- case dimensions are 17.9 × 46.9 × 12 mm;
- strap length - 247 mm, adjustable from 155 to 216 mm;
- the device weighs 20 g;
- operating temperature range is -10…+50°C.
According to some rumors, the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 fitness bracelet should be released in 2017, however, its presentation has not yet taken place.
As you know, the company released Mi Band 2 two years after the first generation model. The first version was released on July 22, 2014, and the second in 2016, on June 2. And this gives rise to the assumption that the Chinese manufacturer is taking more time to create an improved device with more functions. It is logical to say that the release date of Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is May 31, 2018.
The new model is expected to come with NFC. Thanks to this technology, you can make payments using a smart bracelet through payment systems such as Xiaomi Mi Pay. Obviously, the smart bracelet must be connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth to transfer money through the official application. Another module expected in the new fitness tracker from the Chinese giant is GPS, which will allow you to track the route during your activities in order to better monitor your physical activity everywhere.
Perhaps the new third generation fitness watch will be equipped with a larger screen. It is not yet known whether it will be a color screen, but rumors suggest that the company will offer an OLED display like the Mi 2, only full touch and larger. By the way, this factor can affect the battery life.
In addition, you can expect more functions related to breathing and blood pressure monitoring (blood pressure monitor) in the new bracelet.
The price of the device should also please budget-conscious fitness enthusiasts. The cost should remain the same as for previous models. And if so, then this sports tracker will turn out to be one of the most sought-after smart bracelets on the market.
Amazfit Health Band considered Mi Band 3
News has appeared on the Internet that the third generation Mi smart bracelet has already been announced. In fact, the company's partner, Huami, has unveiled its own sports tracker under the Amazfit brand, which is called the Health Band.
Since Huami, in collaboration with Xiaomi, produces all Mi bracelets, this misled users who confused the Amazfit tracker with the upcoming new Mi 3. Moreover, in appearance these gadgets are very similar, although there is a big difference in price. You can buy a new Amazfit device for $100, which is at least three times more expensive.
Video review of Amazfit functions:
Feature Comparison Chart
We won't rush things and wait for the company's official announcement about the release date of its third Mi fitness tracker. Follow our news and wait for a review of the new Xiaomi device on our website.
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 (Xiaomi Mi Band 3) recently received Bluetooth certification. The device has the index XMSH05HM, supports Bluetooth 4.2 LE (Low Energy) and will be produced by Anhui Huami Information Technology Co.Ltd (Huami).
You shouldn't expect any superpowers from the Mi Band 3. Of course, there will be a basic set of necessary tools, such as a pedometer, heart rate sensor and calorie counter.
What is known for sure is that the device will receive an OLED display, which will be increased in size. In other words, it will be a tracker with a completely new design. In addition, it is expected that the display is touch-sensitive, unlike the Mi Band 2, in which only a small button located under the display was touch-sensitive.
It is possible that the device’s screen will be in color, which is of course a plus. It is also likely that the new case will be made of stainless steel, which will provide some advantages to the wearer of the bracelet. Mi Band 3 can also get NFC. In general, this will be a fairly technologically advanced device. The presence of a touchscreen and also a large display will make it possible to use the bracelet conveniently.
As for the cost of the new product, it can be around $23. Of course, this may not be the limit at all, since the device will receive all the innovations that were not present in previous models, but we can say with confidence that the price will not exceed $30. Of course, if everything is as the rumors say, then this will be a completely new fitness bracelet that will have a stylish appearance and advantages in terms of characteristics.