What smart watch will fit the Xiaomi phone: a full review of compatible models

Choosing a smartwatch for a Xiaomi smartphone is a more difficult task than it seems at first glance. Even if you own a flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra or a budget Redmi Note 12, not all smartwatches will work with your device without complaint. Problems can arise with synchronization of notifications, stability of connection over Bluetooth 5.2, or even with the basic function of displaying incoming calls. In this article, we will analyze not only official solutions from Xiaomi, but also alternative options from other brands that are guaranteed to be compatible with the MIUI ecosystem.

Two key aspects are the software integration (how deeply the watch is built into the phone’s firmware) and hardware compatibility (which Bluetooth protocols and Android versions are supported). For example, a Wear OS watch will theoretically fit any smartphone, but in practice Xiaomi owners face problems due to the customized MIUI shell. We tested 12 models and selected those that work without “crutches” and third-party applications.

You’ll also learn which features are really important for everyday use (and which are just marketing moves), how to check compatibility before buying, and why sometimes cheap Mi Bands do better than expensive smartwatches. At the end of the article, a comparison table with key parameters and answers to frequent questions about connectivity.

Xiaomi’s official smart watches: pros and cons

To start with, Xiaomi’s own smartwatches are designed specifically for the brand’s phones, which means they use the brand’s Mi Fitness app (or Zepp Life for new models), which is optimized for MIUI and doesn’t conflict with system services.

The main advantage of official models is full synchronization with the Xiaomi ecosystem, including the smart home, voice assistant XiaoAI and automatic switching between devices. For example, if you have a Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro and a Xiaomi 13T smartphone, you can unlock the phone with a watch, receive low battery notifications on both devices and even control the Xiaomi Robot Vacuum right from the wrist. But there is a downside: some features (such as NFC for contactless payments) work only in China.

• ✅ Pros: stable connection, deep integration with MIUI, regular firmware updates.
• ❌ Cons: limited functionality outside of China, weak support for third-party applications (for example, Spotify or Strava).
• 🔄 Feature: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi Watch) S3) Requires a link to a Chinese account to unlock all features.

If you choose between the Mi Band and Xiaomi’s full-fledged smartwatch, pay attention to screen size and autonomy.Fitness bracelets (Mi Band 8) hold a charge for up to 16 days but have a minimalist display, whereas the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro offers a low-end display. AMOLED-screen and up to 7 days of work, but weighs 2 times more.

The best Xiaomi smart watches for different tasks

Not all Xiaomi models are equally good. We selected the top 4 options for different use cases, from fitness to business tasks. The selection criteria: stability with MIUI, relevance of firmware (support for updates in 2026) and price/feature ratio.

Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is the best choice for those who want a full-fledged smart watch with Wear OS, but are not willing to pay for the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch. The main plus: support for applications from Google Play (for example, Google Maps or Telegram).

The Mi Band 8 Pro is the gold standard for fitness. Despite its compact size, it has built-in GPS (~95% accuracy compared to Garmin), heart rate monitoring with arrhythmia warnings, and even support for swimming modes.

💡

If you buy the Xiaomi Watch S3 in Russia, check the firmware region in the settings (Settings → About Phone → Region).The Chinese version can block some features (such as NFC) without being tied to a local account.

Compatibility of smart watches of other brands with Xiaomi

Many users mistakenly believe that smartwatches from Samsung, Apple or Huawei will not work with Xiaomi.In fact, most modern devices support universal Bluetooth 5.0+ protocols and can sync with MIUI through standard applications (Google Fit, Huawei Health or Galaxy Wearable).

• 📱 Apple Watch: Connect to Xiaomi for basic features only (time, steps) Notifications, calls and fitness tracking won't work due to Apple's closed ecosystem.
• 🤖 Samsung Galaxy Watch: Full compatibility, but Galaxy Wearable and Samsung Health are required.Some features (such as Samsung Pay) may not work.
• 🌍 Huawei Watch GT: The best option among "foreign" watches. Huawei Health app is stable on the Internet. MIUI, Notifications, sleep monitoring and even payments via Huawei Pay are supported (in supported regions).
• ⚠️ Amazfit (Zepp): Although the brand is owned by Xiaomi, some models (e.g. Amazfit) GTR (4) may conflict with MIUI because of duplicate services.

The most reliable way to check compatibility is to see if the watchmaker supports Android 10+ and Bluetooth 5.0. For example, the Huawei Watch 4 Pro was officially tested with the Xiaomi 12 Pro and showed stable performance for 30 days without reconnecting, while the Apple Watch Series 8 on the same phone lost communication every 2-3 hours.

⚠️ Warning: If you connect a Samsung or Huawei watch to Xiaomi, turn off Bluetooth Automatic Optimization in the settings MIUI (Settings → Battery and productivity → Optimize Bluetooth! otherwise, the connection will break when the screen is locked.

How to Check Compatibility Before Buying

To avoid problems after purchase, follow 3 steps:

Make sure the watch supports Bluetooth 5.0 or newer

Check the official Android app on Google Play

Learn the reviews of Xiaomi owners with your phone model

Check if you need a Chinese account for your watch (relevant for Xiaomi Watch) S3)-->

The first thing to look at is the Bluetooth version. For example, if your Xiaomi only supports Bluetooth 4.2 (relevant to older models like Redmi 5), then a modern Bluetooth 5.2 watch may not work correctly: there will be lags when synchronizing data or frequent communication interruptions. You can check the Bluetooth version on your phone in the Settings menu → About the phone → Full specification.

The second is a companion app. Even if the watch is physically connected to the phone, without the proprietary software you can’t set up notifications or fitness trackers. For example, for the Amazfit GTS 4 you need the Zepp app, and for the Huawei Watch GT 3 you need Huawei Health. Make sure these apps are available in your region and not blocked (for example, Mi Fitness may not work in some countries due to sanctions).

Third, regional constraints. Some functions (NFC, Voice assistant, mobile payments can be blocked for Russian users. S3 XiaoAI only works with Chinese SIM-To avoid disappointment, look for references to your region in reviews.

Top.-5 Alternative smartwatches for Xiaomi (not Xiaomi)

If you don’t like the limitations of Xiaomi’s official watches, consider these 5 models from other brands, all tested with MIUI phones and showed stable performance.

• 🥇 Huawei Watch GT 4: Best autonomy (up to 14 days), accurate sleep monitoring, support for Huawei Pay: ~20 000 ₽.
• 🏃 Amazfit GTR 4: 150+ sports modes, built-in GPS, Always-On screen. Price: ~15 000 ₽.
• 📱 Samsung Galaxy Watch 6: Full support for Wear OS, But you need to install 3 apps (Galaxy Wearable, Samsung Health, Google Play Services: ~25 000 ₽.
• 💰 Realme Watch 3: budgetary alternative (<6 000 ₽) s 100+ dials and monitoring SpO₂.
• 🍎 Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen: Suitable only for basic activity tracking.Price: ~22 000 ₽ (b).

The Huawei Watch GT 4 is our favorite among the alternatives. Not only does it sync perfectly with Xiaomi (including WhatsApp and Viber notifications), it also offers unique features like blood pressure measurement (so far only in China) and AI training plans.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 is the best choice for those who want Wear OS with full support for Google Play. However, MIUI can cause delays when syncing notifications (solved by restarting Bluetooth).

⚠️ Warning: When connecting Samsung Galaxy Watch to Xiaomi, turn off the “Automatic switching of Bluetooth devices” function in the settings MIUI (Settings → Connected devices → Bluetooth → Otherwise, the watch may spontaneously turn off when the headphones are connected.

Mi Band vs Smart Watch: What to Choose for Xiaomi

Many Xiaomi users are faced with a dilemma: buy an inexpensive fitness bracelet (Mi Band) or a full-fledged smart watch.

Choose the Mi Band if:

• You need maximum autonomy (you can not charge for a week).
• You run/bicycle and need accurate GPS (in the Mi Band 8 Pro).
• Budget capped at 7,000 ₽.

Choose a smart watch if:

• It is important to control music, respond to messages or call right from the clock.
• Extended health functions (ECG, pressure measurement) are needed.
• You are ready to charge the device every 3-5 days.

The Mi Band 8 Pro is the only fitness bracelet in Xiaomi’s lineup that supports independent GPS (without being tethered to a phone), which is critical for runners and cyclists, as it saves smartphone power.

💡

If your main priority is fitness and autonomy, the Mi Band 8 Pro will give 90% of the smartwatch features for a third of the price. Full-fledged watches (Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro or Huawei GT 4) are only justified if you need calls, apps or premium design.

Frequent Problems and How to Solve Them

Even with the official Xiaomi watch, users are experiencing bugs, and here are the most common problems and ways to solve them:

• 🔄 Watches are not synced: reinstall the Mi Fitness app, clear the cache (Settings) → Annexes → Mi Fitness → Warehouse → Clear the cache, restart the phone and watch.
• 📵 Connection is constantly broken: turn off power saving mode for Bluetooth in the MIUI (Settings → Battery → Optimizing the battery → Bluetooth).
• ⚠️ No notifications: Check the permissions for Mi Fitness (Settings) → Annexes → Permits → Notifications) and enable auto-start.
• 🔋 Battery goes down quickly: Turn off background heart rate monitoring (clock settings) → Heart monitoring → Mode: Manual).

If the Xiaomi Watch S3 or Watch 2 Pro isn’t defined by the phone at all, try:

1. Reset the clock to factory settings (Settings → System → Reset).
2. Remove all associated devices in the Bluetooth settings of the phone.
3. Install an alternative app, Notify & Fitness for Mi Band (available on Google Play).

Huawei or Samsung watches may need to disable MIUI Optimization for their companion apps via Settings → Apps → [App Name] → Battery → No restrictions.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions