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Xiaomi MGW4024GL Mi Band 2 Miband with OLED Display Wristband Bracelet Smart Heart Rate Fitness Activity Tracker 20 Days Standby Time, Black
With its Mi Band 2, Xiaomi, which is one of the
market-leading Chinese companies in the smartphone sector, presents the
second generation of its fitness tracker lineup. The Mi Band 2 monitors
sleep, movements and heart rate. In contrast to the first generation,
analysis about sleep and activity behavior can now be directly displayed
on an OLED panel alongside other system notifications from Android or
iOS. Beyond that, other data can be viewed and evaluated via a
corresponding app.
At a converted price of 20 Euros (~$22, 149 Yuan),
Xiaomi's Mi Band 2 is available in black, blue, green, and orange on the
Chinese market. Online retailers presently sell the fitness tracker for
roughly 35 to 40 Euros (~$38 to ~$44). Thus, the second generation of
the fitness tracker costs roughly three times as much as the Mi Band 1 - that is available for about 12 Euros (~$13) in Germany.
Xiaomi Mi Band 2
Display : 0.46 inch , x pixel, OLED, glossy: yes
Connections : Sensors: ADI accelerometer, heart-rate sensor
Networking : Bluetooth 4.0
Size : height x width x depth (in mm): 10.5 x 40.3 x 15.7 ( = 0.41 x 1.59 x 0.62 in)
Battery : 70 mAh Lithium-Ion, Battery runtime (according to manufacturer): 480 h
Additional features : wristband, Mi-Core, fanless, ruggedized
Weight : 18 g ( = 0.63 oz / 0.04 pounds), Power Supply: 7 g ( = 0.25 oz / 0.02 pounds)
Note:
The manufacturer may use components from different suppliers including
display panels, drives or memory sticks with similar specifications.
Case
Xiaomi's
Mi Band 2 is made of two parts: A navigation capsule called Mi-Core and
a hypo-allergenic silicon wristband (thermoplastic elastomers). The
latter is well-manufactured and is pleasant to wear on the skin.
Depending on the needs and the user, the silicon wristband can be
adjusted from 155 to 210 millimeters and fixed with a lock ring.
The Mi-Core capsule including the fitness wristband
has a weight of approximately 18 grams, and it has dimensions of 15.7 x
40.3 x 10.5 millimeters. An OLED panel with a screen diagonal of a good
one centimeter fills a large part of the glass front. The manufacturer
does not give any detailed information about the glass surface, but
Xiaomi states that it is scratch-resistant and has a UV finish. A
circular, aluminum control is situated below the OLED panel - a
0.05-millimeter pressure-sensitive button with an anti-oxidizing coat.
The heart-rate monitor is situated on the underside of the Mi-Core
capsule.
The casing of the Mi Band 2 is water and
dust-protected in IP67 standard. Thus, the fitness tracker can be worn
in the shower or in the swimming pool without hesitation. It should also
withstand drops from a height of 1.2 meters without serious damage.
Connectivity
The
connectivity of the Mi Band 2 is very straightforward. In addition to
an ADI accelerometer, the Mi Band 2 has a photoelectric heart-rate
sensor. The fitness wristband also features a vibration unit for tactile
information and an OLED panel for visual display of smartphone
notifications. Calls, WhatsApp, short-messages, and app notifications
are differentiated. Which application is displayed as an "app" icon can
be configured freely.
Besides tracking fitness data, the Mi Band 2 can
also be used as an identity device in conjunction with an Android
device. The smartphone can be unlocked automatically via Bluetooth as
soon as the fitness wristband is identified.
The Mi Band 2 is recharged via the included USB cable. The Mi-Core capsule has to be taken out of the wristband for recharging.
Communication
The
Mi Band 2 connects to a smartphone via Bluetooth version 4.0 (2nd
generation). Other interfaces are not incorporated. We cannot say
anything negative about the connection stability during the test period.
Accessories & Warranty
In
addition to the fitness tracker itself, Xiaomi's Mi Band 2 is shipped
with the navigation capsule and wristband, a quick-start guide in
Chinese and a USB charger.
A 12-month warranty period is included.
Handling & Functions
The
fitness wristband is controlled via the button below the screen. The
panel in the Mi Band 2 displays time after a short tap on the
touch-sensitive button. More user data, e.g. pace count, pulse or
battery capacity, can be read when tapped again. It is also possible to
display the time by lifting an arm. The user can configure what data is
to be displayed in the Mi Fit app. The application can be downloaded
from the Play Store
(from Android version 4.4) and from the App Store (from iOS version 7)
for free - support for Windows Mobile OS is not available.
The Mi Fit app is clearly arranged - other languages
can be selected as system language. A total of 3 main pages can be
selected for making setting and for viewing user data.
Fitness and sleep data are accumulated via the
integrated ADI accelerometer. According to the manufacturer, it is based
on a modern pedometer algorithm. We compared the logged steps with the
pedometer integrated in Samsung's Galaxy S7 Edge and its corresponding S-Health app. The Mi Band always displayed more steps, but both devices only deviated by 2 - 3%.
In contrast to the logged steps, the heart-rate
measurement via the photoelectric heart-rate sensor on the underside of
the Mi-Core capsule did not convince us. Firstly, measurements were
often inaccurate, and the pulse was not even measured. Secondly, the Mi
Band 2 displayed very high, unrealistic heart-rate frequencies (resting
heart rate >120 bpm) after erroneous measurements. The logged rates
were first on a level with the heart-rate measurements of Samsung's
Galaxy S7 Edge after repeating it two or three times.
Display
The
OLED panel in Xiaomi's Mi Band 2 has a screen diagonal of a good one
centimeter (0.42 inches). Single pixels are visible when looking closer,
but that does not interfere with using the monochrome display. We could
not find out the exact pixel count per inch (PPI) at the time of this
report.
The brightness of the organic screen is mostly
sufficient. However, reflections on the glossy surface are distracting
in outdoor use as it affects screen legibility. The fitness wristband
sometimes has to be covered with a hand to recognize something in direct
sunlight.
The panel of the Mi Band 2 exhibited PWM flickering
(see screenshot) in the test. The screen's illumination is turned on and
off intermittently to control the screen's brightness. We did not find
it annoying in everyday use, though.
Battery Life
The
lithium-polymer battery in Xiaomi's Mi Band 2 has a nominal output of
70 mAh according to the product description. It is specified at 65 mAh
on the device's box. According to the manufacturer, the battery should
have a standby time of up to 20 days. The battery state display of our
review sample decreased by approximately 3% per day when permanently
connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth. Sleep monitoring was also
enabled, which reduces the runtime according to Xiaomi. We recorded a
rest battery capacity of 83% after a 7-day test period (100% at test
start).
Verdict
Xiaomi's second
generation of the Mi Band lineup convinced in our test with its strong
price-performance package and comfort in wear. Compared with fitness
wristbands from other manufacturers, the Mi Band 2's purchase price is
low, and it even offers very long battery runtimes. However, there is
need for improvement in terms of heart-rate monitoring via the
photoelectric heart-rate sensor.
The
Mi Band 2 is definitely a good alternative for anyone who has been
deterred by the too high prices for fitness trackers, although its
availability is limited in Germany.
Unfortunately,
the required Mi Fit app is not available for devices based on Windows
Phone OS - a cross-platform support would have been appreciated.
In review: Xiaomi Mi Band 2. Courtesy of Trading Shenzhen.
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