What are the best Xiaomi smartwatch models today?

We’re not telling you anything new when we say that smartwatches are a great invention. They don’t only tell you what time it is, they also help you record your physical activity, see notifications from your smartphone, manage alarms, and measure your health parameters… All this information is on your wrist. They have become the allies of those who want to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

If you don't have one yet, it's certainly not because of their price. Xiaomi offers cheap and practical smartwatches. You can find from activity bracelets to smartwatches with more functionalities, so we’re going to explain which are the best models of this brand. It’s the best alternative to other popular brands like Fitbit or Apple.

In our article about the best smartwatches we also told you about other very interesting brands such as Amazfit, Realme, Lemfo… Nonetheless, in this article, we’re going to focus on Xiaomi’s smartwatch catalog.

Why choose Xiaomi?

When it comes to electronics products, Xiaomi is a good choice. This brand has been manufacturing and selling products all over the world for more than 10 years. It started to become popular because of its low prices and is now known worldwide for its reliability.

So if you buy a Xiaomi product, you know that you’ll have a product that works, with software that will not let you down. It’s not something we’re saying to get you to buy something from Xiaomi, you can check the user reviews: their price is according to the quality they offer, and they rarely have issues.

When it comes to choosing a smartwatch, this brand is also a great option. They have good sensors, their connectivity is reliable, their design is elegant, and the best part is that their price is one of the best on the market. We’re going to explain what you need to consider before buying one of these smartwatches.

Does Amazfit belong to Xiaomi?

Another particularity of Xiaomi is that it has some partner brands that offer the same products. Some of them become so popular that it creates a big confusion: you can find Amazfit, Xiaomi, or Haylou smartwatches… So what is the relationship between these brands?

The key to understanding this whole affair is going back to the brand Zepp (formerly called Huami). This Chinese company founded in 2013 specialized in manufacturing wearable devices and its purpose was to connect health with technology. Its smartwatches were launched under its Amazfit name.

Xiaomi was a major shareholder, with 45% of shares, so Huami is one of the preferred manufacturers of the famous Chinese company (although not the only one). The famous Xiaomi Mi Band is their major creation, but they have also developed other products such as the Mi Watch products.

Below, we’ll talk about the Xiaomi smartwatch, and we won’t refer to Amazfit because even though both companies collaborate, they’re not the same. But since the manufacturer is the same, the quality of the two brands is guaranteed.

How to choose your smartwatch

When buying this type of wearable device, there are several factors you should consider. Almost all smartwatches can perform the most basic functions: receiving notifications, recording activity, viewing the time…

There are differences between models and brands that you have to look out for, such as the finishes of the watch, the available sensors, the autonomy, the size of the screen…

Activity tracker or smartwatch

Before we start this segment, it’s important to note that Xiaomi has both types of devices. In this article, we’re going to focus on smartwatches, and they shouldn’t be confused with smartbands (activity bracelets).

The Xiaomi Mi Band activity wristband is one of their best-selling products. It’s very light, you will hardly notice you are wearing it on your wrist, and you can record your physical activity, receive notifications, or even see the weather.

However, smartwatches are more similar to conventional watches: their screen is larger. This affects the autonomy, which is usually reduced, but on the other hand, they can offer more advantages such as better finishes, more health sensors, and GPS to track training, amongst other features.

Compatible with Android or iOS

Alternatively, when choosing a smartwatch, it’s important to take into account the compatibility with your smartphone. In the case of Xiaomi, its devices work with both Android and iOS, without losing functionality.

The watch’s application, where you can configure the watch and view the measurements, is available for download from both Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store.

Features of Xiaomi smartwatches

If you want to choose a smartwatch, these are the features you should look out for before buying one, whether it's from Xiaomi or another manufacturer.

Display quality

The display allows you to visualize all your phone data. It’s important that it has a certain quality and sufficient brightness to view the data outdoors in sunny weather.

Some watches have AMOLED quality screens that allow you to view graphics with total clarity. It’s worth checking the screen resolution (expressed in dpi or pixels per inch) and the refresh rate (which will inform you of the fluidity when switching from one function to another).

It’s also important to check the finish of the screen and see if it has a protective coating such as Gorilla Corning Glass or Sapphire Glass. If not, you’ll have to install a screen protector to prevent it from scratching quickly.

Sports mode

Smartwatches allow you to record your physical activity, such as steps taken, kilometers, and time spent on your feet. Now, sports modes allow you to record specific physical activity, such as running on a treadmill, cycling, or weight training.

For the watch to give you reliable data on calories burned and heart rate, it’s important that it has quality sensors and, depending on the type of sport, that the watch’s autonomy is sufficient to complete your training.

GPS

Although not a must-have feature, if you do outdoor training such as running, trail running, or hiking, the GPS can record the route taken and calculate the data more accurately.

Some phones include dual-band multi-system GPS, which means that it’s compatible with more satellite positioning systems, for more accurate and faster location.

Sensors

Smartwatches have sensors that show your physical activity or monitor your sleep. The best ones have extra and newer sensors that give you more information. For example, some watches can measure blood oxygen to see our fitness.

Another important feature is the algorithms and hardware that smartwatches use since they influence the accuracy of the data. Thanks to these sensors, the watch can issue high heart rate alerts, detect stress levels, and even analyze your sleep phases.

Water resistance

Almost all smartwatches are water-resistant, or at least resistant to splashes. But if you practice water sports, it’s important to look at the kind of water resistance the watch you’re interested in has.

The best Xiaomi models are resistant up to 50 meters, so you can use it while swimming in open water or in the pool.

Autonomy

A major flaw of some smartwatches is that their battery is so limited that they must be charged every day. So if you charge it at night, which is the most practical scenario, you won't be able to monitor your sleep.

This is also important if your smartwatch has GPS. When activating the GPS, it reduces the autonomy significantly, and it’s possible that during long runs or exercise periods, you will run out of battery.

In general, Xiaomi watches have a good autonomy of up to 20 days. But this depends on the model and the use you make of your smartwatch.

Mobile application

It's no use having a good smartwatch if the mobile app fails or doesn't analyze all the interesting data. It’s also important that the app is available on your phone. Most of them work on Android, but some brands may not have an app for iOS.

Fortunately, Xiaomi is compatible with both systems and its app shows you all the important data: your physical activity, the last workouts, your sleep monitoring, heart rate…

Where to buy your Xiaomi smartwatch

AliExpress

Undoubtedly, Xiaomi became famous through platforms such as AliExpress, where thousands of sellers offer their original products. Thanks to the variety of sellers, there are very good prices.

Not only that, but AliExpress also has an official Xiaomi store, which you can access through this link.

Amazon

This is a referential marketplace for many buyers. Buying on Amazon is very easy, as you can receive your product in just 1 day if you have a Prime subscription. Their customer service is very efficient and you can find good deals.

If you don't have their subscription, sometimes you have to pay for shipping, and you can't take advantage of the offers. Still, it's worth taking a look and comparing prices between the two platforms.

Our opinion

Xiaomi's smartwatches are a great option if you’re thinking of buying one of these devices. They are one of the best-selling watches on the market for a reason: because their value for money is excellent.

Within its brand, you can find watches for all budgets. From the most basic models at a reasonable price to high-end watches with high-quality finishes such as crystal, sapphire, and leather bracelets…

The best thing about this brand is that their devices work very well. They record your physical activity, they can monitor your sleep, and they have several sports modes… In short, if you choose a Xiaomi smartwatch, you won’t be disappointed