Design and workmanship
Like its predecessors, the Smart Band 10 Pro features a wider, almost square case, making it look more like a compact smartwatch on the wrist. There is no fundamental change in design.
New, however, is the Ceramic Edition in Pearl White, while the regular versions use an aluminum frame in black, silver, or pink. The white ceramic case is smooth, slightly glossy, and feels significantly more premium than what you typically wear on your wrist in this price range. Whether you like the all-white, and therefore very striking, look is a matter of personal taste.
At 43,96 × 33,36 × 9,7 millimeters, the Ceramic Edition is slightly larger than the standard model, which measures 42,83 × 32,16 × 9,7 millimeters. There's also a difference in weight: the ceramic case weighs 28,7 grams without the strap, while the aluminum version is lighter at 21,6 grams. However, this difference is hardly noticeable on the wrist. The strap sits comfortably flat and is neither bothersome under tight clothing nor while sleeping.
The fluoroelastomer strap also contributes to the comfortable fit. The material feels soft and flexible and is secured with a classic pin buckle. The straps can be removed and replaced without tools using a release mechanism on the underside. However, Xiaomi continues to use a proprietary connector, meaning that standard watch straps won't fit without modification.
Also carried over from its predecessor is the complete absence of physical controls. There are neither buttons nor a crown; all input is via the touchscreen. While this results in smooth case sides, it isn't the most practical solution in every situation. Gesture control worked flawlessly in our tests, but a physical button would be quicker to use during exercise or with wet fingers.
After four weeks of almost continuous wear, the Smart Band 10 Pro proved surprisingly easy to care for. The ceramic casing remained free of visible scratches, and the white fluoroelastomer strap also stayed pleasingly clean. Only on the underside, around the sensor, did some dirt accumulate over time due to sweat. However, this can be easily rinsed off under running water.
The Smart Band 10 Pro is water-resistant to 5 ATM. Showering or swimming in a pool is no problem, but the band is not designed for diving, saunas, or water sports with high water pressure.
Display
Xiaomi has once again installed a 1,74-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 × 336 pixels and a refresh rate of up to 60 Hz. The most significant new feature is the increased brightness, which reaches up to 2.000 nits at peak and up to 1.500 nits in high-brightness mode.
Content remains easily readable even in direct sunlight, without having to turn your wrist into the shade. In testing, the automatic brightness control reliably adapted to changing light conditions, dimming the display sufficiently in the evening to avoid an uncomfortably bright appearance.
There's little to criticize in terms of sharpness and display. Text, symbols, and training data are clearly legible, colors appear vibrant, and the interface responds quickly to input. The slightly curved 2.5D glass at the edges also allows for smooth swipe gestures and integrates seamlessly into the casing.
As with its predecessor, an always-on display is available. This shows a simplified version of the selected watch face continuously. However, the convenience of not having to constantly raise your wrist noticeably reduces battery life, which is why I usually preferred activating it with a wrist movement.
Xiaomi once again offers a wide selection of watch faces. More than 200 watch faces can be installed via the Mi Fitness app, ranging from very minimalist displays to versions with numerous fitness and health metrics. Depending on the watch face, users can also integrate their own photos.
Operation and software
The Smart Band 10 Pro runs HyperOS and connects to your smartphone via the aforementioned Mi Fitness app. Both Android and iOS are supported. Xiaomi has made few changes to the basic user interface. A swipe from the bottom opens the app overview, while notifications appear from the top. Quick access is available from the left, and freely configurable widgets for information such as weather, heart rate, or activity data are located on the right.
The interface is clean and uncluttered, and ran smoothly without any noticeable lag throughout the test period. Thanks to the 60Hz display, even animations look pleasantly fluid. The most important functions are accessible with just a few gestures, and the widget arrangement can be customized to suit individual preferences.
Xiaomi's continued decision to forgo a physical button is noticeable in the navigation. Users navigating several menu levels deep have to repeatedly swipe back to their previous positions. There's no quick way to return to the watch face or view a list of recently used apps. While this isn't a major issue after some adjustment, an additional button would certainly be more convenient.
The vibration motor also made a good impression. Notifications, alarms, and alerts during a workout are clearly noticeable without the vibration feeling unnecessarily harsh.
The Smart Band 10 Pro covers the usual basics in terms of smart features. Notifications from your smartphone are displayed reliably, including messages from messengers like WhatsApp. However, you can't reply to them directly.
Incoming calls also appear on the display, but can only be rejected or muted. The reason for this is simple: the Smart Band 10 Pro still lacks a microphone and speaker. Therefore, making phone calls directly from the wrist is not possible, nor is using a voice assistant.
In addition, features such as weather, calendar, music control, smartphone finder, timer, stopwatch, alarm clock, and camera remote shutter are available. The flashlight function simply uses the display at maximum brightness, but proves quite practical at night.
The Mi Fitness app leaves a somewhat mixed impression. It bundles settings, watch faces, and fitness, sleep, and health data in one place and offers all the essential functions. However, the interface isn't always as clean and uncluttered as the one directly on the band itself. Xiaomi could definitely improve the structure, especially when dealing with more extensive health and training data.
The Ceramic Edition also features NFC for Xiaomi Pay. This allows the band to be used for contactless payments, provided your bank or payment provider supports it. However, the selection is significantly smaller than with Google Wallet or Apple Pay. In Germany, Advanzia, Curve, and Payoneer are among the supported providers.
Health and sleep tracking
For health tracking, Xiaomi relies on a redesigned PPG sensor that measures heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. This is complemented by functions for stress, HRV, respiratory rate, and sleep analysis. Many of these features are already familiar from the predecessor, but new sensors and adapted algorithms are intended to make the measurements more accurate.
Heart rate can be recorded either intelligently or continuously. In my test, I used the more frequent measurement setting to obtain the most complete daily profile possible. The values seemed plausible over the course of the month, and there were no major outliers. Additionally, warnings for unusually high or low heart rates can be activated, although Xiaomi only offers predefined thresholds to choose from.
The same applies to SpO₂ measurement. Throughout the day, the values remained within a plausible range. Occasionally, especially at night, inaccurate readings can occur if the band is not properly aligned with the skin or if the user is lying in an awkward position. As with all wearables of this type, the values are intended primarily for observing trends and do not replace a medical examination.
In addition, there's a stress measurement feature that categorizes the day's activities into different stress levels. This can give a rough idea of when the body was under greater strain, but shouldn't be overinterpreted. If needed, the band also offers guided breathing exercises that use visual cues and vibration to guide you through each breathing phase.
Another key metric is the vitality score. Points are accumulated through training and generally active periods in daily life. This is reminiscent of similar activity systems from other manufacturers and is primarily intended to motivate regular exercise. However, as a concrete indicator of one's fitness level, this score is of limited use.
The sleep tracking is more interesting, especially since the Smart Band 10 Pro can easily be worn overnight due to its light weight. Sleep onset times were reliably detected in the test. While the band was occasionally a few minutes off when waking up in the morning, overall the recorded sleep duration corresponded well with the actual time spent asleep.
In addition to sleep duration, Xiaomi divides the night into light, deep, and REM sleep and uses this data to calculate, among other things, a sleep score and sleep efficiency. The average heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and respiratory rate are also recorded throughout the night.
Heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep has become a new focus, or rather, has moved more into the spotlight. Individual values are not very meaningful, but changes over several weeks can indicate how stress, recovery, or sleep quality are developing.
Sports tracking and GPS
Xiaomi claims more than 150 sports modes, although this high number needs some perspective. Some training types differ only slightly from one another or could easily be combined. However, the important disciplines such as running, cycling, walking, swimming, and strength training are available and can be started directly from the wrist.
Especially when running, the band offers more than just recording time, distance, and heart rate. Workouts can be controlled by time, distance, or calories, and interval training is also available. The AI pacer allows you to set a target pace, and during the run, it displays whether you are running ahead of or behind the target pace.
In addition, there are simple training programs for different performance levels. While these don't replace an individually tailored training plan, they can provide beginners with some structure. After the workout, the band displays information such as training load, recovery time, and VO₂max. Runners also receive predictions for various distances. These values should be considered more of a guideline, as the estimates can be quite optimistic, especially without a long training history.
For outdoor activities, the Smart Band 10 Pro has its own GNSS module, so the smartphone and band don't need to be constantly connected while running or cycling. This is also one of its key advantages over simpler fitness trackers. However, Xiaomi doesn't offer a modern dual-band GNSS system like those now found in some more expensive sports watches.
In open areas, the route recording functioned largely reliably during testing. Distance and trajectory were comprehensible and sufficiently accurate for normal training laps. It becomes more difficult where satellite reception is limited. Between tall buildings, under dense tree cover, or on narrow paths, the recorded route can be erratic and sometimes deviate from the actual route.
For recreational runners and occasional bike rides, the accuracy is sufficient in my experience. However, those who train specifically by pace or rely on the most precise distance measurements will find a specialized sports watch to be a more reliable solution.
Heart rate measurement during training reveals a similar picture. Under steady exertion, the band plausibly tracked changes in pulse and delivered generally stable readings. However, the optical sensor can struggle with rapid changes in exertion or strong wrist movements. Short-term deviations are possible, especially during weight training or on uneven surfaces while cycling. It's unfortunate that an external chest strap cannot be paired with the Smart Band 10 Pro.
Battery life and charging
Like its predecessor, the Smart Band 10 Pro features a 350 mAh battery. Xiaomi claims a battery life of up to 21 days, but only under relatively frugal conditions. Users who regularly utilize features like continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO₂ tracking, notifications, and sleep analysis will need to recharge sooner.
The biggest impact is the always-on display. With the display permanently active, battery life shrinks significantly, typically dropping to around a week. Those who opt for wrist-activated activation can extend battery life considerably. Because the display responds reliably when lifted, this proved to be the more practical compromise for me in everyday use.
GPS workouts also impact battery life. Those who regularly record longer runs or bike rides will need to recharge more frequently. Nevertheless, battery life remains a clear strength of the Smart Band 10 Pro. Compared to many full-fledged smartwatches that need recharging after just a few days, the band's simpler design clearly benefits it.
Charging is still done via a magnetic two-pin connector on the back. The cable attaches securely to the device, but it's proprietary and best not to forget it when traveling. It's also less than modern that Xiaomi continues to use USB-A instead of USB-C at the other end.
A full charge should take approximately 90 minutes. While it doesn't offer a particularly fast charging function, this is less of an issue in everyday use given the long battery life.
