Xiaomi Mi Band 2 review - fitness bracelet

First impression of the Xiaomi Mi Band 2

Workmanship and design

Xiaomi is the "Apple" of China. In terms of workmanship and design, Xiaomi products will usually not be disappointed. The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 also impresses with its clean workmanship and a simple, but still very appealing design. The silicone bracelet is closed with a push button and comes in matt black. The removable tracker unit has a high-gloss finish and impresses with its simple design. The display cannot be seen when it is switched off. There is a capacitive button below the display, which is used to operate the fitness bracelet.

The wristband of the Mi Band 2 is easy to change, as the tracker unit is simply pushed in. This can be easily removed for charging. There is also a heart rate monitor on the underside of the 4.03 x 1.57 x 1.05 cm capsule.

What's in the box

The scope of delivery for Xiaomi products is always low. The Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is also delivered in a compact cardboard box, which, in addition to the capsule-shaped tracking unit and the silicone bracelet, also contains a 2-pin charging adapter and a Chinese-language operating manual. Xiaomi mainly sells its products in the Chinese market, which is why operating instructions and other product information are not translated. Only the "International" versions contain an English translation. Such a version is not yet available for the Mi Band 2.

Display and operation

For the first time, the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 has an OLED display with a diagonal of 0.42 inches. The fitness tracker does not have a touchscreen, which is why it cannot be controlled by swiping. Instead, it is operated using a capacitive button located below the display. Individual entries were clearly recognized in the course of the practical test. The display impresses with its rich black level and easy-to-read presentation, both day and night.

In addition, the display can also be activated by lifting the wrist towards the head. This simple gesture control can be activated within the Mi Fit app.

Startup and Mi Fit App

To be able to use the Xiaomi fitness bracelet you need a smartphone with Android 4.4 or higher or an Apple iPhone with at least iOS 7. The transmission standard of the bracelet is Bluetooth 4.0. The "Mi Fit" app required for pairing is available in the Google PlayStore as well as in the Apple App Store.

The app does the first pairing almost fully automatically. All you have to do is create a “Mi” account and activate the smartphone's bluetooth. Once the app has established a connection with the Mi Band 2, existing data is automatically synchronized. Firmware updates are also transferred directly to the bracelet via the app. An individual profile can be created within the app, the steps taken, the distance run and the calories burned can be displayed, and there is also a detailed sleep overview. A transfer of the data to Google Fit is also possible, and there are additional functions such as a call and app notification, an alarm clock or an inactivity warning.

As an alternative to the Mi Fit app, there are also other compatible apps within the Google Play Store that have an extended range of functions. If you want to use the Mi Band 2 for notifications as well, you should install the “Mi Band Notify & Fitness” app, which is available free of charge in the PlayStore. Within this app, notifications can be controlled individually, as well as different vobration patterns can be set or you can choose an individual icon for each app notification.

Practical test of the Xiaomi Mi Band 2

For three weeks I tested the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 extensively in everyday life. During this time, the bracelet only left my arm while I was showering, although it is also protected against temporary submersion in accordance with protection class IP67. Nevertheless, I recommend taking the bracelet off before taking a shower or swimming.

Pedometer

In addition to the steps taken, the pedometer also measures the distance covered and the calories burned. On the one hand, the daily number of steps can be output via the display, but in the settings of the Mi Fit app, the distance covered and the calories burned can also be added to the display. Conversely, these display outputs can also be deactivated.

In a direct comparison with its predecessor “Mi Band 1 or 1S”, the pedometer works almost synchronously. At the end of the day I could only notice a slight deviation of a few steps. Higher accuracy speaks for the Mi Band 2. A daily goal can also be set within the app. Once you have achieved this, you will be notified via the bracelet. In the app overview, the stored data for individual days, weeks and months can be accessed in statistics.

sleep monitor

In addition to the time to fall asleep and wake up, the sleep monitor also measures the total sleep time, deep sleep, light sleep and waking time. Fall asleep and wake up times are detected fairly accurately. The waking time also seems plausible to me and was able to be checked by me.

The smart alarm function of the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is interesting. If you set the alarm clock via the Mi Fit app, the Mi Band 2 recognizes the perfect time to get up. Usually the bracelet begins to vibrate gently a quarter or even half an hour before you actually get up. If you ignore this wake-up call, you will of course also be woken up at the preset time. The vibration is enough to get late risers out of their feathers. The collected data can also be viewed in statistics on the sleep rhythm.

Heart Rate Monitor

With the heart rate monitor of the Mi Band 2, I was at war with during the test. To activate the heart rate monitor, click your way through the one-button operation to the heart rate measurement. The measurement starts as soon as the menu item has been selected via the bracelet. The sensor below the small Mi capsule activates and lights up green.

The measured value should be output after 5 to 7 seconds. If the measurement is incorrect, a small "X" appears. In order to get a measurement result at all, the wrist must be held still. With every slightest movement, I immediately received an incorrect measurement. The measurement result is comparable to that of other fitness bracelets. Heart rate measurement data is also synchronized with the app and can be accessed via it.

Smart Lock

From Android 5.0 there is the so-called “Smart Lock” function, which can be used to unlock the smartphone in different ways. The Mi Band 2 can be set as a trustworthy device, which means that the smartphone can be unlocked without entering a pin or pattern, as long as the Mi Band is near the smartphone. In the test, this function worked first-class and was consistently convincing.

Notifications

Notifications can be received via the Xiaomi Mi Band 2. The bracelet vibrates and a notification symbol appears on the display. However, if you want to use the notification function, you should download an alternative to the Mi Fit app. Most of these third-party apps offer an extended range of functions, which means that individual notifications can be customized even better.

Personally, I liked the individually configurable notification LED of its predecessor better. Thanks to the different colors, notifications could be better distinguished.

Battery

The Mi capsule is charged using a 2-pin charging cable. This has a USB plug and can be connected to the PC or any conventional smartphone charger. According to the manufacturer, the battery has a capacity of 70 mAh. The fitness bracelet is charged with 0.4A. The charging time is just under 2 hours 

With everyday use, including the Smart Lock and notification function, the bracelet loses around 15-20% of the battery per day. With the notification function deactivated, consumption was around 10%. Quite a good result when you consider that this fitness bracelet can also be used as a watch replacement!