Xiaomi Mi Watch test: the best cheap connected watch?

We were able to test the new connected fitness watch, Xiaomi Mi Watch, which will be released on March 9, 2021 in France. Our impressions of this interesting watch that stands out for its low price.

The Chinese brand Xiaomi is best known for its smartphones and smart TVs. The Beijing-based company had already released a few models of connected watches, but their launches had been limited to China or certain countries in Asia. This time the Middle Kingdom firm is launching a connected fitness watch internationally at a very competitive price. What is this model really worth? Here is our full Xiaomi Mi Watch test that we conducted for a few days. Our conclusions will allow you to know if this product is made for your expectations and your needs.

Quick overview of the Xiaomi Mi Watch

This is the watch that Xiaomi lovers wasted no time before buying. If the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite already had its audience, the high-end and sporty version pushes performance a little further in all areas. 1.3-inch Amoled screen, integrated GPS, waterproof up to 50 meters, this is a model that is more designed for a demanding audience. However, it is still an affordable model, since it only takes 150 euros. On paper, it is therefore a great potential gift or even an ideal model for someone who wants to get started by acquiring their first connected watch.

Design of the Xiaomi Mi Watch sports watch: simple and discreet

Connoisseurs of the Chinese brand will no doubt have recognized the Xiaomi Mi Watch Color Sports Edition. It is indeed under this name that the connected watch was launched exclusively in China. For the international, it has simply been renamed Xiaomi Mi Watch. As soon as you open the box, the watch appears, laid flat. A simple, understated, no-frills design.

Its round dial accommodates a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen. The glass lid is curved and gently tapers towards the edges. Contact is pleasant. Two buttons on the side complete the display and allow navigation. The strap of the Xiaomi Mi Watch, on the other hand, is made of a very flexible synthetic material. It has a grooved pattern that is more elegant than a simple flat bracelet. This bracelet can be exchanged. Three colors are available, navy blue, beige and black. We tested the black watch.

Comfort of the fitness smartwatch: a good surprise

At first glance, the Xiaomi Mi Watch seems bulky and heavy. However, once placed on the wrist it is the surprise. The watch is very light. It actually weighs, according to the manufacturer, only 32 grams without the bracelet. Another good surprise, the bottom of the watch is slightly curved. Despite its bulky appearance, it does not dig into the wrist or stick to the skin when wet.

A noticeable difference with smartwatches that use a flat bottom that is less comfortable to wear. A comfortable watch to wear even after several hours of activity. Note, however, that people with small wrists might find the watch bulky or awkward.

The AMOLED display: a sharp and bright screen

The screen of a connected watch is very important in addition to the functions that the tocante can offer. The Xiaomi Mi Watch uses a very decent 1.39-inch AMOLED screen. The advertised resolution is 454 x 454 pixels. The display is crisp and bright. It is no problem even when looking outside in direct sunlight. Note that a function allows the automatic adjustment of the brightness according to the ambient lighting conditions.

Characteristics of the Xiaomi Mi Watch

The Xiaomi Mi Watch embeds various sensors such as: PPG sensors of the cardiotachometer type, accelerometer, gyroscope, a geomagnetic sensor (compass), a barometer and a light sensor ambient. Note that Xiaomi announces a water resistance of 5ATM which means that you can swim without problem with it, be in the rain and not fear sweat. These different sensors offer many functions to the smartwatch.

Xiaomi Mi Watch review: the best watch

So it can monitor heart rate 24/7. A step counter function is available as well as sleep monitoring, SpO2 monitoring, stress monitoring, sending notifications, weather display, music control, GPS route tracking and finally music control. The Chinese watch also allows you to choose between 117 fitness modes.

Features: test of the functions of the Xiaomi Mi Watch

We were able to test the Xiaomi Mi Watch with several activities, walking, jogging, fitness at home, but also in everyday life outside of activities physical especially for the part followed by health.

A decent GPS, but not perfect

I tested the GPS for route tracking while jogging. Overall the GPS tracking of the Xiaomi Mi Watch during the outdoor session was very correct. However, I noted some occasional deviations, especially in wooded areas. A very correct follow-up therefore of the training route decided while remaining vigilant in the wooded areas.

Step tracking and calculation of calories burned at the height

To test these two functions, I obviously wore the Xiaomi Mi Watch on my wrist during the jogging outing as well as a Fitbit Charge 4 and a Garmin Fenix 6 Pro. Good news, the result was consistent with that given by the other two devices. So no worries with counting steps and calculating calories burned during exercise.

A surprising mobile application

This is the real surprise of the head of Xiaomi with this model as well as that of the Xiami Mi Watch Lite. While the Chinese company could have contented itself with giving its Mi Fit application a makeover, it chose to launch a second one, called Xiaomi Wear Lite. Available unsurprisingly on iOS and Android, this dedicated application focuses above all on simplicity and the possibility of getting started quickly.

While some competing models sometimes reveal unpleasant surprises, here we have the possibility of making a quick connection between the watch and the smartphone. A test that turns out to be successful every time.

From a handling point of view, the application is more basic than the previous one, but also easier to learn. On the program: a Profile page, a Training page and a Status page where you will find the history of all activities. If necessary, it is possible to add other tabs or to manage notifications. Fans of customization will not hesitate to enrich their connected watch with new dials that can be found on the Internet.

Be careful though, don't get too carried away, this application does not really compare with what Xiaomi's main competitors, namely Samsung, Fitbit or Withings, are doing. But once again, we are on a very different price range.

A good post-workout analysis by Xiaomi Mi Watch

Xiaomi's Wear app provides post-workout analysis. This shows you total activity time, your total calorie consumption, steps taken, average cadence, pace, speed, heart rate, heart rate zones, training effect, VO2 max, recovery time and energy consumption, as well as pace, heart rate and cadence graphs. A complete and clear analysis of the session carried out.

Sleep monitoring: a big highlight of the Xiaomi Mi Watch

The Xiaomi Mi Watch allows you to assess your sleep. The Wear app shows you, with good accuracy, your cycles of light, deep sleep and REM sleep (period when you dream and which is characterized by intense brain activity). The information is given in the form of a graph which is very easy to read. Note that the application assigns, each night, a score from 0 to 100 of the quality of your sleep. By comparing the analysis made simultaneously with the Fitbit Charge 4, we obtain a perfect match. Sleep monitoring is therefore very precise for a watch at this price.

A measurement of the SPO2 of the Xiaomi Mi Watch is too light

The Xiaomi Mi Watch allows you to measure your SPO2 (percentage of oxygen in the blood) combined with the calculation of your heart rate. Even if the measurement is quite simple to perform, it is the interpretation of the results that leaves something to be desired. The Chinese manufacturer does not give any indication on the interpretation of the results given or when these are outside the normal range.

Unconvincing heart rate monitoring

First of all, when it comes to heart rate monitoring, the app associated with the watch is not really user-friendly. You have to dig to find the information. When analyzing the data, I noticed that certain periods were missed, especially intense, but short sprints. The comparison with the Garmin Fenix 6 shows, this time, a lack of precision of around 10 beats per minute, which is significant.

Other functions of the Xiaomi Mi Watch

At this price, as you would expect, the number of functions offered by the Xiaomi Mi Watch is quite limited compared to high-end and average connected watches of range. A hundred wallpapers are available, but none are customizable. Notifications from the smartphone are limited and leave a bit to be desired. The weather and “find my phone” apps are pretty decent though. There is no voice assistant, but the Chinese manufacturer has indicated that it will appear at the end of the month through an update.

A basic application that deserves improvements

The Xiaomi Wear application has apparently not been a priority for the Chinese manufacturer. This one is simple and no frills. It is sometimes difficult to find the information you want. However, the application is quite good in certain areas such as sleep analysis or training analysis. Future updates should however improve the latter.

Battery and charging: spectacular autonomy

The announced autonomy of the battery is 16 days in normal use and 22 days in battery saving mode, which means only two charges per month. A really significant autonomy when compared with other models of connected fitness watches. It was not possible for us to verify the autonomy because our test only lasted 7 days, but it seems that we are quite close to what is announced by Xiaomi. The battery is 420 mAh and charges via a magnetic holder.

The other very good surprise of this watch from the point of view of autonomy is of course the speed of recharging. The system offered by the Chinese company thus takes a little less than two hours to return to 100% battery. Suffice to say, battery life issues shouldn't really exist for owners of a Xiaomi Mi Watch.

Xiaomi Mi Watch (February 2021) versus Xiaomi Mi Watch Light (January 2021): what are the differences?

Released at the beginning of the year, the Xiaomi Mi Watch Light is the little sister of this version . Sold less expensive, the Light version however offers fewer possibilities and has a different design. Here are the main differences between the two models.

In terms of design, the Light version is square and has only one button. Its screen offers a lower resolution. It is less comfortable than its big sister, especially in terms of the bracelet.
The battery is also much less efficient, as it needs to be recharged every 9 days.
The Xiaomi Mi Watch Light offers fewer features. The Light version only offers 11 training modes. It also does not offer a measurement of the amount of oxygen in the blood (SPO2). Even if it also offers sleep quality monitoring, it remains less precise than on the new watch. Otherwise, we generally find the same options.
The Light version, available for just under 60 euros, remains a very good solution for those who want to start with a connected fitness watch without breaking the bank.

Price and release date of the sports and fitness connected watch

The watch will be available and sold from March 9 (and not February 23 as previously announced by Xiaomi) at a price of 149.99 euros. Note that if you buy the fitness connected watch on March 9 or 10 at Orange, SFR, Fnac, Darty, Boulanger, Cdiscount, LDLC, Rue du Commerce, Mi.com or Mi Stores, you can take advantage of a discount of 50 euros dropping the price to 99.99 euros during these two launch days.

Conclusion of the Xiaomi Mi Watch test: should you buy it?

At this price level, you will have a hard time finding a more comfortable watch to wear than the Xiaomi Mi Watch. Don't expect the most polished and feature-rich experience, though. Few models of fitness connected watches are available for less than 100 euros. The Xiaomi Mi Watch, however, is the best in this price range. Some features work great, others leave something to be desired. If you want better tracking then it would be good to take a look at the Fitbit Charge 4. If your budget is limited then this watch is probably what you need.