The emergence of the second generation of fitness trackers from the Chinese technology giant was a real revolution in the industry of wearable electronics of the budget segment. OLED-It was a display that changed the user experience dramatically from the first screenless model, and now the owner could see the time, the number of steps and the battery power without reaching the smartphone.
Many people still wonder if this gadget is relevant today and what tasks it can perform in everyday life. Despite the release of newer versions, the functionality of this model remains surprisingly rich for its price. In this article, we will discuss in detail what a bracelet can do, how to properly adjust its basic functions and what hidden features are available to the user.
It is important to understand that the full operation of the device is impossible without pairing with a smartphone through a special application. It is the Mi Fit software (now renamed Zepp Life) that unlocks the full potential of the tracker, turning it from a simple step counter into a smart assistant.
Display and control interface
The main innovation was the monochrome OLED-It's a 128-by-32-pixel screen that delivers great readability even in bright sunlight, which was rare for budget devices of the time. Control is carried out through a single touch button panel located under the screen, which responds to touches and long presses.
The menu interface is simple and logical: swipes up and down allow you to switch between widgets. The standard set of screens includes displaying the time, current date, number of steps taken, pulse and battery level, and the data displayed is customized exclusively through the mobile application.
⚠️ Note: The screen does not support constant display of time (Always On Display) to save energy. To activate the backlight, you need to press the touch button or rotate the wrist if the corresponding function is enabled in the application.
The brightness of the display is adjusted automatically or manually through the settings in the Profile → Mi Band 2 → screen settings. This allows you to adapt the device to different light conditions, although in complete darkness, the minimum brightness may seem to someone high.
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To extend the battery life, set the screen timeout to a minimum of 5 seconds and turn off the wrist lift to activate the screen at night.
Monitoring of physical activity and sports
The tracker’s main function is to count steps, distances and calories burned. Unlike smartphones, Xiaomi’s algorithms take into account the specifics of hand movement, which minimizes false positives when working at a computer or driving a car.
For active lifestyle enthusiasts, a workout mode is available. When you start a workout in the application, the bracelet begins to track the pulse at an increased frequency and records the route through the application. GPS It is worth noting, however, that the built-in GPS-There is no module in the device itself.
- 🏃♂️ Automatically detecting the start of walking or running with a notification on the screen.
- 📊 Build activity schedules for the day, week, month and year in the application.
- 🏆 Achievements and medals for overcoming day goals by steps.
- 🛌 Separate mode "Training", which records the intensity of the load.
The accuracy of the pulse measurement depends on the density of the sensor to the skin. To obtain reliable data during training, it is recommended to tighten the strap slightly higher than with a normal wear, which will ensure stable contact of the optical sensor with the wrist.
Sleep quality analysis and alarm clock
One of the strengths of the second generation is the improved sleep analysis algorithm, which automatically detects the phases of falling asleep and waking up, dividing the night's rest into deep and light sleep, and visualizes the data in the app, allowing you to track the dynamics of recovery.
The built-in vibrator is used not only for notifications, but also as a quiet alarm clock, which is especially useful in situations where you need to wake yourself up without disturbing people sleeping nearby, the vibration is powerful enough to wake up, but does not cause discomfort.
| Parameter | Description | precision |
|---|---|---|
| Sleep duration | Time from falling asleep to waking up | Tall. |
| Deep sleep. | Slow-wave sleep | Medium |
| Light sleep. | The surface rest phase | Medium |
| Time to fall asleep | The moment of transition to rest | Tall. |
For the correct operation of the function of the "smart alarm clock" it is necessary that the bracelet was put on the hand and paired with the phone at least once a day to synchronize the time. Adjust the wake-up time is made in the Profile → Mi Band 2 → Alarm clock.
⚠️ Attention: If you sleep during the day, the tracker may not recognize this as a full sleep if the rest is less than 3 hours.
Notifications and interaction with the smartphone
The bracelet acts as an external display for your smartphone, broadcasting important notifications. You can see incoming calls, SMS and messages from popular messengers such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and others.
Phone Search allows you to find a lost smartphone that emits a loud beep. The reverse function, Unlock Phone, works on Android devices, allowing you to remove the lock without entering a password while the tracker is nearby.
Limitations of iOS Notifications
Setting up notification filters is a critical step, and you can choose which apps you want to receive alerts from, and too many notifications can significantly reduce battery life.
- 📞 Displaying the name or number of the caller.
- 💬 Preview of the text of the message (only for Android).
- 🔕 Ability to quickly turn off vibration on the bracelet.
- 🔋 Indication of the battery discharge of the smartphone on the monitor screen.
Hidden features and firmware capabilities
Few people know, but the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is not limited to official functionality, enthusiasts have created many third-party applications for modifying the firmware, adding new dials, stopwatches and even the ability to display the weather directly on the screen.
One useful hidden feature is the ability to reset step statistics without completely flashing them by simply doing certain actions on the menu, and there is also a mode that allows you to use the bracelet as a remote control for controlling the camera of a smartphone (timer or button shooting).
A unique feature is the ability to install third-party dials with a second hand, which is not officially supported by the manufacturer, but is implemented through patches, which turns a utilitarian gadget into a more classic watch.
☑️ Check before modification
Using modified software always carries risks. Incorrectly installing the dial can cause the device to freeze, requiring connection to the charger for reset.
Autonomy and technical specifications
The heart of the device is a 70mAh battery. In moderate use, when notifications are rarely received and the pulse is measured several times a day, the tracker is able to work for up to 20 days. Active use of GPS (via the phone) and constant notifications reduce this period to 10-12 days.
Charging is carried out through a special cable-dock, which comes with the help of the bracelet. Contacts on the bracelet are protected from moisture, but after charging in wet conditions (for example, after showering), it is recommended to wipe them with a dry cloth to avoid oxidation.
The device is IP67 protected, which means protection from dust and short-term immersion in water to a depth of 1 meter.Swimming in the pool in it is possible, but diving or taking a hot shower is not recommended due to the effect of steam on leakage.
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The actual battery life in 90% of cases depends on the frequency of pulse measurements and the number of incoming notifications, not on the age of the device itself.
If the bracelet stopped holding the charge and discharged in 1-2 days, most likely, the life of the lithium-polymer battery is exhausted, and its replacement is required, which in this model is quite difficult due to the monolithic design of the capsule.