What Xiaomi smart watches can do: a full overview of the functions and hidden features

Xiaomi’s smartwatches are no longer just a time-display accessory, and today they’re full-fledged gadgets that can replace a fitness bracelet, a smart home remote, and even a smartphone in some scenarios, but many users use only 20-30% of their capabilities, without even knowing about hidden features and advanced settings.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the full range of Xiaomi’s smartwatches, from basic health monitoring features to obscure features like controlling your smartphone camera or using your watch as a key fob to find your phone, and compare key models (Mi Watch, Watch S3, Watch 2 Pro) to help you choose your watch.

If you’re just planning to buy or already own a gadget, but want to unleash its potential 100% – this guide is for you. Let’s start with the most important thing: what Xiaomi smartwatches can do in 2026 and how to apply it in practice.

1. Health monitoring: from pulse to stress

The main reason for buying smartwatches for most users is health control. Xiaomi equips its devices with sensors that are not inferior to the flagships from Apple or Samsung, and in some respects even surpass them.

The core set includes:

• 🩺 Pulse measurement (24/7 with a customizable sensor survey frequency)
• 🩸 Blood oxygen levels (SpO₂) – critical for athletes and people with lung disease
• 💤 Sleep analysis (including deep/surface sleep and REM-phase)
• 😓 Stress level (based on heart rate variability)
• 🩺 Blood pressure measurement (available on certified models, such as the Watch S3)

The feature of continuous monitoring of heart rhythm with notification of arrhythmia is especially prominent. Xiaomi watches can warn about potential heart problems even before symptoms appear, this is confirmed by reviews of users who, thanks to the gadget, consulted a doctor in time.

It's important to understand that these measurements don't provide medical accuracy -- they're for general monitoring, not diagnostics. For example, the error in heart rate is ±5 beats per minute, and SpO₂ is up to ±2%. But for household use, that's more than enough.

⚠️ Warning: On Mi Watch Lite models and budget versions, the SpO₂ sensor may be missing or less accurate. Please check the specifications on the official website before purchasing.

Fitness and Sport: 100+ Training Modes

Xiaomi’s smartwatch is a full-fledged fitness tracker with support for more than 100 sports, not just popular ones like running or cycling, but exotic ones, from yoga to rowing equipment.

• 🏃 Automatic activity recognition (the clock itself determines when you started running or cycling)
• 📊 Exercise performance analysis (shows how hard you exercised and how many calories you burned)
• 🗺️ GPS- Tracking (recording the route without being tethered to the phone on models with built-in GPS)
• 🏊 Waterproof 5 ATM (can be swum in pool or open water)
• 💪 VO₂ Max — Assessment of fitness by oxygen intake

Another feature worth mentioning is the "Personal Trainer" feature in the Mi Fitness app, which analyzes your workouts and gives recommendations for improving your performance, for example, if you run, the watch may advise you to increase your pace or add interval loads.

For runners and cyclists, the Paw Timer function is useful - the clock automatically records the time of each lap (for example, in a parker or in a stadium), and after training you can view a route map with notes on pace and pulse in the application.

💡

To save battery power during long workouts, turn off the constant screen lighting in the sports mode settings. It is enough to raise your hand to activate the display.

3.Smart features: from music management to phone search

Beyond fitness features, Xiaomi smartwatches do a lot of things you won’t find in a regular fitness bracelet.

• 🎵 Music control on your smartphone (pause, next track, volume)
• 📸 Remote control of the phone camera (you can take selfies or group photos from a distance)
• 🔍 Phone search – the watch emits a loud signal, even if the phone is silent
• 🔑 Quick access to a smart home (control of lamps, sockets and other Mi Home devices)
• 💳 Contactless payments (on NFC models, such as Watch S3)
• 📱 Notifications from messengers and social networks (with the possibility of quick response templates)

One of the most underrated features is the Phone Chain, which is that if you move away from your smartphone more than 10 meters away, the clock vibrates to warn you of possible loss, which saves you in shops, airports or nature, where it's easy to forget the phone on the table.

For owners of a smart home Xiaomi watch becomes a control panel:

Settings → Smart home → Select a device → Manage

So you can turn on the lights, start a robot vacuum cleaner or change the temperature on the air conditioner without taking out the phone.

4. Autonomy and battery: how to extend the work without recharging

One of the key questions when choosing a smartwatch is how much it holds, which ranges from 5 days on budget models to 15 days on flagships, but the actual time depends on how you use it.

The main factors affecting battery consumption:

• 🔦 Constant screen backlight (can reduce autonomy by 30-40%)
• 📡 Heart rate (recommend setting 10-30 minutes instead of constant monitoring)
• 📱 Number of notifications (each vibrational alert spends a charge)
• 🌍 Use of GPS (e.g., when recording a running route)
• 🔊 Loudness of sound signals (vibration is more economical)

To extend the work hours, use energy saving modes:

Settings → Battery → Energy saving mode

In this mode, background measurements and notifications are turned off, but the basic functions (time, pedometer) remain active.

⚠️ Warning: If the watch starts to run out in 1-2 days, check the background apps. Sometimes sync failures with Mi Fitness or Zepp Life lead to increased battery consumption. Solution: reset the watch and reinstall the app.

5. Design and personalization: how to make watches unique

Xiaomi offers a wide range of options for customizing the look of the watch, and you can change not only the dial, but also the style of displaying information, animations and even fonts.

Where to look for settings:

• 🎨 Dials: More than 200 options in the Mi Fitness app (including animated and custom photos)
• 🔧 Widgets: adjusting the order and content of the information screens (weather, steps, pulse, etc.)
• 🎵 Sounds and vibrations: customized signals for notifications, alarms and reminders
• 🔄 Gestures: for example, raising your hand to turn on the screen or double-pressing to start a workout

For creative people, there's a "Your Dial" feature, so you can upload any photo from the phone gallery and use it as a background. And in models with Always-On Display (like the Watch S3), the dial remains visible even when it's off.

Equally important is the interchangeable strap ecosystem: Xiaomi offers official straps made of silicone, leather, metal and even fabric, and thanks to the 22mm standard, you can use straps from other manufacturers (for example, for the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch).

💡

Animated dials (such as falling snow or moving hands) greatly reduce autonomy. If your model holds a charge for less than 5 days, choose a static dial.

6. Model comparison: Which Xiaomi watch to choose in 2026

Xiaomi’s smartwatch lineup includes models for different budgets and tasks, and here’s a current comparison of flagships for 2026:

Who's gonna do it?

• 🏆 Xiaomi Watch S3 is for those who want the most features: calls, payments, premium design and long-term autonomy.
• 🏃 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is the best choice for athletes (precise GPS, VO₂ Max, lightweight body).
• 💰 Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite is a budget option with basic health and sports features (without NFC and GPS).

If you want a watch that can be called, look for eSIM-enabled models (like the Watch S3) that allow you to call right from the clock, even if your phone is at home.

1. Activate eSIM from your operator.
2. Add it to the clock settings (Settings → SIM- card → Add eSIM).
3. Synchronize contacts.

7. Hidden functions and life hacks

Even experienced users are unaware of some of the features of Xiaomi’s smartwatches. Here are the top -5 of the most useful features:

• 🔇 Scheduled Do Not Disturb Mode: automatically disables notifications at night or during meetings. Configures to Settings → Do Not Disturb.
• 🌙 Night screen mode: makes the colors warm at night for a comfortable sleep. Enables in Settings → Display → Night mode.
• 🔄 Quick change of dial: hold your finger on the home screen and swipe left/right.
• 📱 Presentation management: The watch can be used as a remote for flipping slides in PowerPoint or Google Presentations (you need to install additional software on your PC).
• 🔋 Hidden Super Economy Mode: If the charge is running out, activate it via Settings → Battery → Super Economy – the watch will last another 5-7 days in minimal mode.

Another useful life hack is using the watch as a key fob for the car, so if your car supports Bluetooth keys (such as some Tesla or BYD models), you can tie the watch as an additional key, and it will automatically unlock when you approach the car.

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even reliable devices like Xiaomi watches sometimes fail, and here are the top -5 problems and ways to solve them:

1. Check if your phone is Bluetooth enabled, if your phone is updated with Mi Fitness or Zepp Life, if your phone is not synchronizing, if it doesn't work, reboot both devices and reconnect the clock.
2. The problem may be: The watch's loose attachment to the wrist (should be tight but not pressed); a dirty sensor (wipe it with an alcohol napkin); tattoos or scars on the skin (they interfere with reading).

The battery goes down fast.

See the autonomous section above. If the problem persists, reset the watch to factory settings.

Notifications are not working

In the Mi Fitness app settings, check:

• Notification permissions for the application.
• List of included messengers (Profile → Notifications).
• Notifications are disabled in the Android/iOS settings.
• Update the watch firmware and the app. If the problem is a particular sport, choose it manually before training.

Do not disconnect your watch from your phone and monitor your charge level (at least 50%).