Xiaomi fitness bracelet: 15 features you didn’t know about

Xiaomi fitness bracelets have long ceased to be just pedometers. Today they are full-fledged assistants for health, sports and everyday life, which can do much more than just count steps. 20-30% the capabilities of their gadgets, not even knowing about the hidden functions.

In this article, we will analyze in detail all the features of modern Xiaomi fitness bracelets (on the example of Mi Band models). 6/7/8 And the Smart Band Pro, including little-known chips that the manufacturer doesn't always advertise, will show you how the bracelet can help with training, health control, smart home management and even with everyday tasks - from alarm clocks to paying for purchases.

We'll focus on practical scenarios: how to set up the bracelet for maximum efficiency, what data it collects and how to interpret it correctly, and at the end of the article, a comparative table of functions of different models and answers to frequent questions.

1. Health monitoring: what Xiaomi fitness bracelet can do in 2026

The main task of any fitness bracelet is to monitor the condition of the body. Xiaomi equips its devices with sensors that are able to track:

• 🩺 Heart rate (HR) — 24/7 monitoring with alerts for increased or decreased heart rate in new models (Mi Band) 8) support added PPG 4.0 more accurate.
• 🛌 Sleep quality – phase analysis (deep, light, REM), Daytime naps, recommendations for improvement. The bracelet even detects snoring (when synchronized with the Mi Fitness app).
• 💪 Blood oxygen levels (SpO₂) — critical for assessing the general condition, especially during physical exertion or in high altitude conditions.
• 😓 Stress level – based on heart rate variability (HRV). The bracelet will tell you when it’s time to take a break.

Important: Xiaomi Mi Band 8 Pro has a bioimpedance sensor that allows you to measure body composition (muscle mass, fat, water, bone mass) – a feature previously available only in expensive smart watches.

⚠️ Note: Data from a fitness bracelet does not replace medical diagnosis if the bracelet regularly shows heart rate above 100 beats per minute at rest or SpO₂ Below 90%, see a doctor.

How to enable extended health monitoring:

1. Open the Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models).
2. Go to Profile. → The device → Health settings.
3. Activate options Continuous heart rate monitoring and Automatic measurement SpO₂.
4. Set thresholds for notifications (such as heart rate) > 120 or SpO₂ < 92).

2.Sports functions: from running to yoga

Xiaomi fitness bracelets support more than 150 sports modes, from classic running to niche types like Pilates or climbing, while the new models (Mi Band 8) automatically recognize 8 types of activity, including walking, running, cycling and swimming.

What does a bracelet do during training:

• 🏃 Tracking of the route (only in models with the GPS: Mi Band 8 Pro, Smart Band 2 Pro. GPS route is built according to the smartphone.
• 📊 Efficiency analysis: calories, pace, duration, load zones (aerobic/anaerobic).
• 🎯 VO₂ max - estimate of maximum oxygen consumption (endurance indicator).
• 🏊 Water resistance 5 ATM — You can swim in the pool or open water (but not for diving!).

Hidden feature: in the Mi Band 7/8 One-tap sports mode – it is enough to touch the screen twice to quickly start training (configures in Settings) → Gestures).

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To save battery power during long workouts, turn off continuous heart rate monitoring in the sports mode settings. 1-2 minute.

3.Smart Features: Payment, Notifications and Gadget Management

Xiaomi fitness bracelet is not only a sport, but also an assistant in everyday tasks.

• 💳 Contactless payment (NFC) — It works with Mi Pay (in Russia it is supported in limited ways, check compatibility with your bank). NFC Virtual Cards support for transport (for example, Troika in Moscow).
• 📱 Notifications — SMS, Calls, messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram), email. You can set the vibration for different types of notifications.
• 🔊 Music control – track switching, volume control (works with Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music).
• 🏠 Smart home – control of Xiaomi Mi Home devices (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaners). For example, you can turn on the light by twice pressing the bracelet screen.

How to set up NFC-payment:

Add the card to Mi Pay via the app|Activate. NFC bracelet settings|Link the bracelet to your Mi Pay account|Set up. PIN-proof-of-payment-->

Little-known feature: Mi Band 8 has a Do Not Disturb mode with flexible settings, you can set a schedule (for example, from 22:00 to 8:00) or turn it on manually, holding your finger on the screen, in which all notifications are turned off except for the alarm clock and reminders of high pulse.

⚠️ Note: If notifications stop coming after the firmware update, check the permissions for the Mi Fitness app in your smartphone settings. Often, the system resets access to notifications.

4. Battery and autonomy: how to extend the life of the bracelet

Autonomy is one of the key benefits of Xiaomi bracelets, such as the Mi Band 8, which runs up to 16 days in standard mode and up to 26 days in energy saving mode, but the actual duration depends on the settings.

What affects battery consumption:

• 🔋 Continuous monitoring of heart rate - eats up to 30% Turn it off if you don't need it. 24/7 control.
• 📶 Bluetooth connection – if the bracelet often loses touch with the smartphone, it wastes energy on the search.
• 🌡️ Automatic measurement SpO₂ — Turn on only at night or on demand.
• 🔦 Screenlighting – reduce display activity time to 5 seconds.

How to check the status of the battery:

1. Open Mi Fitness. → Profile → The device → Battery status.
2. This shows the percentage of charge and approximate operating time.
3. To reset the autonomy statistics, reset the bracelet (hold the 10 seconds button).

Secret Mode: In the Mi Band 7/8 There's a hidden option called Ultra Battery Saver to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Display.
2. 5 times quickly touch the point of brightness.
3. A menu will appear with additional energy saving settings.

5. Individual settings: dials, gestures and accessibility

Xiaomi bracelets support deep customization, from changing dials to adjusting gestures.

• ⌚ Dials - more than 200 options in Mi Fitness, including animated and user data (weather, steps, heart rate.
• 👆 Gestures: Raising your hand to turn on the screen; Double touch for quick access to the menu; Wrist turning to switch music.
• 🔤 Voice assistant – Mi Band 8 Pro has support for Alice (for Russia) and Google Assistant (for the global version).
• 👁️ Mode for visually impaired - enlarged fonts, high contrast, voice prompts.

How to install a third-party dial:

1. Download the dial file (.bin) from a trusted source (e.g., Amazfit Watch Faces).
2. Put the file in the folder. MiFit/bin phone-on.
3. In the Mi Fitness app, go to Profile → The device → Dials → Local.
4. Select a loaded dial and sync with the bracelet.

⚠️ Attention: Installing third-party dials may cause bracelet malfunctions. Before installing, check for reviews about a particular topic and back up the data through Settings → Backup.

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The most stable dials from official partners Xiaomi (such as Marvel or Disney), avoid those with suspiciously large number of animations, they drain the battery faster.

6. Synchronize with other devices and services

Xiaomi bracelet can be integrated not only with a smartphone, but also with other gadgets and platforms:

• 📱 Smartphones – supported by Android 6.0+ iOS 12.0+. For iPhone, some features are limited (for example, there are no quick responses to notifications).
• 💻 PC/Mac — Data can be exported via Mi Fitness in the format CSV For analysis in Excel or Google Sheets.
• 🏃 Sports services – sync with Strava, Google Fit, Apple Health. for this, go to the Profile in Mi Fitness → Settings → Related accounts.
• 🩺 Medical applications - data on heart rate and SpO₂ You can transfer it to Cardiogram or Health Sync for in-depth analysis.

How to export data to the doctor:

1. In Mi Fitness, choose Health. → Data history.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Data Export.
3. Specify the period (e.g. last week) and format (PDF or CSV).
4. The file can be sent by mail or printed.

Synchronization problem? Check it out.

• Is Bluetooth enabled on your smartphone?
• Has the Mi Fitness app been updated?
• Does the antivirus block access to data (especially relevant for Avast and Kaspersky)?

7. Hidden functions and life hacks

The manufacturer doesn't always talk about all the features of the bracelet. Here are some little-known features:

• 🔍 Phone search – if the smartphone is lost, there is an option on the wristband menu to Find the phone. The bracelet will make the phone make a loud sound, even if it is in silent mode.
• 📸 Camera control – you can take photos remotely (works with the standard camera app on Xiaomi, Samsung, Huawei).
• 🔄 Quick Profile Change – In Mi Band 8, you can create multiple profiles (e.g., Work, Sport, Sleep) with different notification and monitoring settings.
• 🎮 Game mode – turns off all notifications, except the alarm clock, for a specified time (useful for gamers or during important meetings).

Lifehack for swimmers: if you're in a pool, turn on Swimming before you enter the water. The bracelet automatically determines the length of the track (25 or 50 meters) and counts the number of laps. After training, the data is synchronized with the application, where you can see it. SWOLF (swimming-efficiency).

How to turn on the developer mode (for experienced users):

1. In Mi Fitness go to Profile → About the programme.
2. 5 times quickly tap the version of the application.
3. Return to the main menu and the Developer Item will appear.
4. You can enable data logging or Bluetooth debugging (useful for diagnosing problems).

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In developer mode, you can manually calibrate the heart rate sensor if the readings seem inaccurate, and you need to lie still for 5 minutes, and then follow the instructions in the Calibration menu of the sensors.

8 Model comparison: which Xiaomi bracelet to choose in 2026

Xiaomi’s range of fitness bracelets is wide, and each model has its own characteristics. Below is a comparison of the current devices:

Selection recommendations:

• 💰 Budget up to 3,000 ₽ — Mi Band 6 (if not required) NFC) or Mi Band 7 if needed).
• 🏃 For sport with GPS — Mi Band 8 Pro or Smart Band 2 Pro.
• 🩺 For health - Mi Band 8 (best sensors among the-Pro model).
• 💳 For payment, any model with NFC (Check compatibility with your bank).

Tip: If you buy a swimming bracelet, pay attention to chlorinated water protection. In cheap models, sealing gums can wear out faster.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi fitness bracelets