The third generation of Xiaomi’s popular tracker has become a real event in the world of wearable electronics, a device that has moved from being a mere pedometer to becoming a full-fledged health-control assistant, and many users still choose this model because of its autonomy and affordable price.
In this article, we'll take a look at the functionality of the gadget, you'll learn about the hidden settings, the features of working with notifications and the accuracy of sensors, and understanding all the nuances will allow you to get the most out of your device.
The developers have introduced a number of new technologies that were previously only available in more expensive models, the Amoleda display has become brighter and more contrasting, and the time from one charge has increased to record rates, now wearing a tracker has become even more comfortable and useful.
Design and design features
The look of the device has undergone significant changes from its predecessors, and engineers have abandoned the metal edging around the tracker, making the case completely plastic, which allowed to reduce weight and improve ergonomics when wearing.
The main novelty was a 0.78-inch OLED-It covers almost the entire face of the module, and the color reproduction is deep, and the black is really black, which saves energy, and the readability of the information in bright sunlight has remained high.
The touch button below the display has become more responsive. You don't have to hold your finger on the screen for long. You can even use gloves to control the touch, but you need direct contact of skin or thin tissue. You can use a strap made of hypoallergenic material that feels good to the touch.
⚠️ Warning: The removable module (tracker) has no protection against water entering the charging connectors. Before connecting to the cable, make sure that the contacts are completely dry.
The strap attachment has also changed, and the tracker is now more secure, but it's a little harder to remove it to replace it with a colored one, but the wide range of accessories on the market makes up for this small nuance.
Monitoring of physical activity
The main function of any fitness tracker is to count steps. In Mi Band 3, algorithms have been refined to minimize false positives. The device now better ignores hand movements when walking or working at a computer.
There are several modes of exercise for sports enthusiasts: you can choose to run, cycle or walk, and during activity, the current pace, distance traveled and calories expended are displayed on the screen.
- 🏃♂️ Automatic determination of the start of training when exceeding the activity threshold.
- 💧 Reminder to warm up after an hour of sitting.
- 📊 Synchronizing data with popular graphing applications.
And you can see how you've achieved your daily goal, and when you've reached your target, the device vibrates, encouraging you to stay on track.
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For more accurate steps count, wear a bracelet 10-15 cm above your wrist, especially when running.
It's important to note that the accelerometer works, and it's the one that fixes the movements, it's the one that calibrates automatically in the background, and the user doesn't have to do complicated things to adjust.
Sleep analysis and pulsemeter
Rest control is one of the strengths of this gadget, and it analyzes the sleep phases, the deep, the light, the wake periods, and then it generates a report that helps you adjust your sleep patterns.
The optical pulse sensor is automatic, you can adjust the frequency of the measurements through the app, and frequent measurements increase battery consumption, but give a more detailed picture.
| Parameter | Description | precision |
|---|---|---|
| Pulse at rest. | Measured automatically | Tall. |
| Sleep phases | Deep, light, REM | Medium |
| Getting up from bed | Fixing the time of awakening | Tall. |
| Pulse rate | Intervals 10-60 min | Depends on the setting. |
Heart rate data isn't just useful for athletes, it helps you notice abnormalities in your body, and when you have a sharp increase in your resting heart rate, you should pay attention to your well-being.
Why does the bracelet wake up with a vibration?
Notifications and communication with the smartphone
The third Mi Band has learned to display text and app names, so it eliminates the need to constantly pull your phone out of your pocket, and it supports calls, SMS and notifications from messengers.
The notification filters are set up in the MI Fit app, so you can choose which apps will wake your wrist and which ones you will ignore, and this helps you avoid noise.
- 📱 Displaying the caller's name and the ability to reject the call.
- 💬 Scrolling through long text messages.
- 🔔 Vibrosignal when you lose communication with your phone.
The language of the message depends on the language packs in the application. Cyrillic is usually not a problem, the fonts are displayed correctly, but the emoji in the messages are not supported, instead they will be squares.
⚠️ Note: To display notifications from WhatsApp or Telegram, you must give permission to access notifications in the Bluetooth settings of the smartphone.
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The Do Not Disturb feature on the bracelet syncs with the phone’s silent mode if this option is activated in the app.
Autonomy and charging
The 110 mAh battery provides up to 20 days of normal operation, one of the best in the class, and even with active screen use and constant notifications, the charge is kept steady.
Charging is done through a special cable that comes with the connection, and the contacts are located on the inside of the tracker, and it takes about 2 hours until the capacity is fully restored.
Energy savings are achieved through screen technology and software optimization. If you turn off the wrist lift to turn on the screen and reduce the frequency of pulse measurements, autonomy will increase even more.
☑️ Checking battery status
The charge indicator is displayed as a percentage in the app, and on the bracelet itself you can see only the battery icon, and the critical charge level is accompanied by a warning vibration.
Setup and management through the application
To work properly, you need to install the MI Fit (or Zepp Life) application, which is where you set up all the settings, and the interface is intuitive and Russi-fictional.
You can change the time format, measurement units and targets from the device profile menu, and dials are available here, and you can expand the standard set by downloading additional themes.
The path to setting the time:
Profile → Mi Band 3 → Bracelet settings → Time formatThe firmware update is done via Bluetooth, and it's important to keep the phone close by, and new versions of the software often contain bug fixes and new features.