What smart watches are suitable for Xiaomi smartphones: official and third-party models

Choosing a smartwatch for a Xiaomi smartphone is a challenge that requires a lot of nuances. Not all devices integrate equally well with the MIUI ecosystem, and some features may not work properly or at all. In this article, we will discuss which models are guaranteed to be compatible with Xiaomi phones, what to look for when buying a third-party watch, and how to avoid typical connection problems.

The manufacturer offers its own line of smartwatches — Mi Watch, Redmi Watch and Xiaomi Watch S — which are optimized to work with MIUI. However, many users prefer devices from other brands: Amazfit, Huawei, Samsung or even Apple Watch. But here the questions arise: will the notifications be displayed? will the watches Xiaomi branded chips, for example, Mi Band Unlock or Xiaomi Wear?

Xiaomi Smart Watch: Full Compatibility and Functions

If you want maximum integration with the Xiaomi ecosystem, the best choice is the official models. They support all branded features, including unlocking the phone, syncing data with Mi Fitness/Zepp Life, and updating through the standard Xiaomi Wear app.

Among the current models of 2023-2026 are:

• 📱 Xiaomi Watch S3 — flagship AMOLED-Display, eSIM support and 150+ Ideal for athletes.
• 💰 Redmi Watch 4 - budget version with basic functions (stepmer, pulsemeter) and 10-day autonomy.
• ⚡ Mi Watch Lite 2 - Lightweight watch with GPS 100+ The dials are compatible with older versions. MIUI.

All of these models connect to the phone via Bluetooth 5.2 and support fast synchronization with Xiaomi Home and Mi Fitness applications, the main advantage is stable operation without “crutches” like third-party applications.

Compatibility of third-party smartwatches with Xiaomi: what works and what does not

Many users choose other brands’ watches because of design, functionality or price, but not all devices work equally well with Xiaomi.

• 🚫 Notifications: on some watches (for example, Samsung Galaxy Watch) not all notifications from messengers come.
• 🔒 Unlocking phone: Mi Band Unlock only works with official Xiaomi devices.
• 📊 Data synchronization: A third-party watch may not transmit sleep or workout data to Mi Fitness.

However, some brands have adapted their devices to work with MIUI. For example, Amazfit watches (particularly the Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4) perfectly synced through the Zepp Life app, which is available in Google Play and App Gallery. But with the Huawei Watch GT 4 can be difficult – to fully work will require the installation of Huawei Mobile Services, which is not always possible on Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: When buying a Samsung or Huawei watch, check if the model supports Google Wear OS Xiaomi with these OSes may have problems with synchronization.

How to connect a smart watch to Xiaomi: step-by-step instructions

The connection process depends on the model of the watch, but the general scheme looks like this:

1. Install a branded watch app (e.g. Xiaomi Wear, Zepp Life or Wear OS).
2. Turn on Bluetooth on your phone and put the watch in pairing mode (usually by pressing the button for 5-10 seconds).
3. In the app, select "Add device" and follow the instructions on the screen.
4. Allow all necessary permissions (access to notifications, location, contacts).

For official Xiaomi watches, you may additionally need:

• 🔄 Update the firmware of the clock through Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.
• 📱 Connecting a Mi Account to Synchronize Data.

⚠️ Warning: If the watch doesn't connect, try resetting it to factory settings via Settings → System system → On some Amazfit models, you need to press the button 15 times in a row.

Comparison of popular models: what to choose in 2026

To make the choice easier, we have compiled a table with the key characteristics of popular smartwatches compatible with Xiaomi:

Important: The Amazfit GTR 4 and GTS 4 watches support displaying notifications from WhatsApp and Telegram on Xiaomi, but you need to manually enable notification access in Android settings.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even with official watches, users are faced with bugs.

• 📵 Watch not connected: check if Bluetooth is on and if the connection is blocked by power saving mode (Settings) → Battery → Energy saving regime).
• ⏳ Long sync: Reboot your phone and watch, then update the Xiaomi Wear app.
• 🔋 Fast battery discharge: turn off the permanent pulsemeter in the clock settings (Settings) → Heart monitoring → Off.).

If you have a Samsung or Huawei watch and it doesn’t show notifications, try:

1. Install the Notify for Wear OS app (for Wear OS watches).
2. In Android settings, give the watch app access to AutoRun and Work in the background.

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If Xiaomi watches aren’t updated, check to see if the firewall (like NetGuard) is blocking access to Xiaomi servers.

How to check the compatibility of your watch with your Xiaomi model

Before buying, make sure that the watch you select is supported by your smartphone.

1. Check the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone. A new watch (like the Watch S3) requires a MIUI 14+.
2. Check the official website of the watch manufacturer in the section "Compatible devices".
3. Read reviews on 4PDA or Mi Community, where specific bugs are often discussed.

For example, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is not supported on smartphones with MIUI 12 and below due to outdated Bluetooth protocol. and the Redmi Watch 3 may not display Cyrillic in the notifications on older versions of the firmware.

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Watches on Wear OS (like Fossil Gen 6) are technically compatible with Xiaomi, but to work properly you will need to install Google Play Services and disable battery optimization for the watch app.

FAQ: Frequent questions about smart watches for Xiaomi