Xiaomi Smart Watches: Full Review of Features and Practical Applications

Xiaomi’s smartwatch is no longer just a time-display accessory. Today, it’s a full-fledged assistant in everyday life that can replace some of the functions of a smartphone, monitor health with medical accuracy and even manage a smart home. But how not to get lost in the variety of models — from the budget Mi Band to the flagship Watch 2 Pro? And most importantly: what features will really come in handy and what should not be overpaid?

In this article, we’ll take a look at the full range of Xiaomi smartwatches, from basic (stepmer, notifications) to advanced (ECG, voice assistant), how devices integrate with the Mi Home ecosystem, which models support eSIM, and why even cheap fitness bracelets can compete with the 30,000 ₽ watch, and at the end, a checklist to choose the perfect model for your tasks.

1. The main functions of Xiaomi smart watches: what all models can do

Regardless of price, even the simplest Xiaomi devices come with a set of basic features that make them more useful than a classic watch.

• ⏱️ Display time with a selection of dials (from 50+ options in budget models to 200+ in premium ones).
• 📱 Notifications about calls, SMS and messages from messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber).
• 👟 Stepmer and calories with automatic activity recognition (walking, running, cycling).
• 💤 Sleep monitoring with phase analysis (deep, superficial, REM) and recommendations for improvement.
• 🔋 Battery control (on average 7–14 days of battery life for fitness bracelets and 2–5 days for full-fledged watches).

It’s important to understand that basic features work offline – they don’t require a permanent connection to your smartphone, but synchronizing data (such as sleep history or steps) will require the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) or Zepp Life (for the Amazfit models that Xiaomi also makes).

There are general limitations, such as the lack of support for iOS in full: iPhone owners can only access basic functions (time, steps, notifications), while Android is open to full functionality, including answering calls and installing apps.

2. Advanced features: what distinguishes watches from fitness bracelets

If fitness bands (Mi Band 7/8) are sport- and health-oriented, the full-fledged smartwatch (Xiaomi Watch S3, Watch 2 Pro) offer advanced features close to the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch.

The key difference between premium models is smartphone autonomy. For example, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro can work with eSIM, which allows you to call and use the Internet without a phone, and the built-in GPS allows you to track the routes of running or cycling without being tied to a gadget.

Another feature is the voice assistant, with Google Assistant available on Wear OS (e.g. Xiaomi Watch S3) and XiaoAI (only in Chinese) on MIUI Watch, though voice commands are often slowed down in Russia by blocking.

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If you need a swim watch, look for models certified 5ATM (withstanding diving to 50 meters). For example, Xiaomi Watch S1 Active or Amazfit GTR 4.

3. Health monitoring: what really works and what marketing

Manufacturers like to brag about “medical” features, but not all of them are equally useful, let’s see which sensors in Xiaomi smart watches give accurate data, and which only approximate:

• ❤️ Pulsemeter: It operates on a PPG- sensor, accuracy of ~95% compared to medical devices, but can fail when driving (e.g., while running).
• 🩺 Measurement SpO₂ (oxygen saturation): useful for controlling sleep breathing or exercise, error up to ±2%.
• 📉 Blood pressure: The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro has a feature, but it's not certified as a medical device. The data is indicative.
• 🩻 ECG: Available only in the Xiaomi Watch Color 2 (Chinese version) and Watch 2 Pro. Certification is required for work, not officially supported in Russia.
• 🧘 Stress and energy: Calculations based on heart rate and activity, useful for introspection, but not a substitute for a doctor's consultation.

The most useful health feature is tracking arrhythmia. The watch can alert you to heart rhythm failures, but only if you wear it all the time. For example, the Mi Band 7 Pro can record episodes of tachycardia or bradycardia and send notifications.

⚠️ Warning: Smartwatch data cannot be used to diagnose diseases! For example, if the watch shows high blood pressure, it's an excuse to see a doctor rather than taking medication yourself.

4.Sports and fitness: what workouts are tracking Xiaomi watches

All Xiaomi smartwatches support automatic activity recognition, but the number of modes available varies by model, for example, the Mi Band 8 offers 30+ sports, and the Watch 2 Pro offers more than 150, including yoga, boxing and rowing.

Here’s what a watch can do in sports mode:

• 🏃 Tracking (only in models with GPS) After training, you can export the track to Strava or Google Fit.
• 🔥 Load analysis: Calculation of VO₂ max (oxygen volume), recovery time, calories.
• 🏊 Swimming modes: stroke count, style determination (brass, crawl), waterproofness 5ATM.
• 🚴 Bicycle computer: speed, distance, ups and downs (when external sensors are connected).

For runners, the virtual trainer feature is useful – the watch can make a workout plan based on your goals (for example, preparing for a marathon). And the Xiaomi Watch S3 even has an analysis of running techniques with recommendations for correcting errors.

One of the key benefits is synchronization with popular fitness apps:

• 📊 Google Fit (for Wear OS watches)
• 📈 Strava (export tracks)
• 🏋️ Apple Health (Read Data Only)

⚠️ Warning: When exercising indoors (e.g., on a treadmill), turn off GPS to save battery power. The watch will automatically switch to data from the accelerometer.

5.Smart Home and Integration with Xiaomi Ecosystem

Xiaomi smart watches can become a remote control for smart home devices.

1. Connect watches and gadgets (lamps, sockets, robot vacuum cleaner) to one Mi Home account.
2. Install the Mi Home app (available for models on Wear OS)
3. Configure quick commands through Voice Assistant or widgets.

Here’s what you can control right from the wrist:

• 💡 Turn on/off Yeelight or Mi LED lamps.
• 🧹 Start cleaning the Mi Robot Vacuum robot vacuum cleaner.
• 🔌 Control the Mi Smart Plug sockets (e.g., remotely switch on the kettle).
• 🚪 View video from the Mi Home Security Camera (on a watch with a screen from 1.5).

For owners of Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, the Quick Scenarios feature is available, for example, you can set up a Good Morning command that will simultaneously turn on the lights, start the coffee maker and read the weather forecast.

Sync your watch and gadgets in one Mi Home account

Install the Mi Home app on your watch (if supported)

Add quick access widgets to the main screen

Set up voice commands for frequently used devices

Check the stability of the connection with Bluetooth/Wi-Fi-->

6.Autonomy and charging: how to extend the life of the battery

The lifetime of a single charge is one of the main pain points of a smart watch: If a fitness bracelet (Mi Band) lasts up to 14 days, a full-fledged watch (Watch S3) rarely lasts more than 5 days when used actively.

To extend autonomy:

• 🔋 Turn off Always-On Display (in screen settings).
• ❤️ Set the pulse interval every 10 to 30 minutes (instead of constant monitoring).
• 📵 Turn on Do Not Disturb at night if you don't need sleep analysis.
• 🔄 Use fast charging (in the Watch 2 Pro 10 minutes = 1 day of operation).

Average charging time:

• Mi Band 8: 1 hour (magnetic cable)
• Xiaomi Watch S3: 1.5 hours (wireless charging)
• Watch 2 Pro: 2 hours (magnetic dock)

⚠️ Warning: Do not use non-original chargers - this can cause the battery to bloat. Official cables have overheating protection.

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Optimal balance between functionality and autonomy: Turn off unnecessary sensors (e.g. SpO₂ if not in use) and reduce your phone sync rate to 1x per hour.

7. Which model to choose: comparison by task

The choice of smartwatches depends on your goals. Here is a quick guide:

• 💰 Budget up to 5,000 ₽: Mi Band 8 or Redmi Watch 3 Active - pedometer, notifications, basic sleep monitoring.
• 🏃 For sports: Xiaomi Watch S1 Active (GPS, 100+ training modes, water resistance).
• 📞 Autonomous calls: Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro (eSIM, microphone, speaker).
• 🏡 For smart home: Xiaomi Watch S3 (Wear OS, full integration with Mi Home).
• 🩺 Medical Control: Xiaomi Watch Color 2 (EKG, but requires root and Chinese firmware).

If you want an iPhone watch, look for the Amazfit GTR 4, which is better synced with Apple Health than standard Xiaomi models.

For children or the elderly, Xiaomi Mi Bunny Watch is suitable - a simplified interface, SOS button and geolocation.

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Don’t chase flagships unless you’re using them, for example, the eSIM in the Watch 2 Pro is useless if your carrier doesn’t support the technology.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi smart watches