Choosing between Xiaomi and Honor fitness bracelets is not an easy task, especially if you don’t follow the latest in smart electronics. Both brands offer devices with similar characteristics: heart rate monitoring, pedometer, smartphone notifications and water resistance. But the devil lies in the details — the difference may be in the accuracy of the sensors, battery life or even the convenience of mounting the strap.
In 2026, the range of models has expanded: Xiaomi Mi Band 8 competes with Honor Band 6 and the new Honor Band 9. At the same time, the prices for devices vary from 2 to 6 thousand rubles, which makes the choice even more responsible. This article will help you figure out which bracelet is right for you – for fitness, sleep, working with notifications or just as a stylish accessory.
1. Design and Ergonomics: Which is more comfortable to wear?
The first thing to look at when buying is the look. Xiaomi Mi Band 8 has retained the classic capsule shape with a touch screen, but has become thinner and lighter than its predecessor. The body is made of plastic with a metal insert, and the strap is now removable (standard 22 mm), which allows you to replace it with any compatible.
The Honor Band 6 and Honor Band 9, by contrast, are more like miniature smartwatches: a rectangular screen with rounded corners and a metal body. The Honor Band 6 has a screen size of 1.47, which is almost twice as large as the Mi Band 8 (1.62" in the new version), which makes it easier to read notifications, but also increases the weight of the device to 18 g versus 14 g for Xiaomi.
- 📏 Xiaomi Mi Band 8: compact, weighing 14 g, removable strap 22 mm
- 🖥️ Honor Band 6/9: screen (1.47"-1.64"), weight 18-22 d, metal case
- 🎨 Color options: Xiaomi offers up to 6 Flower Colors in the Package, Honor — 3-4, but with a premium finish
If you want minimalism and lightness, go for Xiaomi. For those who prefer the big-screen, hour-long style, Honor. Note that the Honor Band 9 has a feature called always-on display, which Xiaomi doesn't.
Screen and Control: How easy is it to interact?
The screen is a key element on which usability depends. - Xiaomi Mi Band 8 fitted AMOLED-resolution-screen 192×490 pixel-brightness 600 Touch control is responsive, but because of its small size (1.62") Messaging or interacting with menus is not always convenient.
Honor Band 6 band 9 They are winning on this parameter: AMOLED-bigger screens (1.47" and 1.64" respectively) with authorization 194×368 and 194×436. Brightness reaches 1000 strand 9, And it makes the image sharper even in the sun, and it also offers more animations and removable dials. 100 counter-option 50 Xiaomi).
| Parameter | Xiaomi Mi Band 8 | Honor Band 6 | Honor Band 9 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen type | AMOLED | AMOLED | AMOLED |
| Screen size | 1.62" | 1.47" | 1.64" |
| Permission | 192×490 | 194×368 | 194×436 |
| Brightness (max.) | 600 nits | 450 nits | 1,000 nits |
| Always-on display | No. | No. | Yes. |
Both bracelets are controlled via a touch screen and button (the physical one for the Honor Band 6, the touch one for the others), but Honor has the advantage of supporting gestures (e.g. raising your hand to activate the screen is more stable).
⚠️ Warning: If you plan to use a swim bracelet, note that the Xiaomi Mi Band 8 touchscreen can be triggered by water droplets. The Honor Band 9 has solved this problem with improved coverage.
3. Functionality: What do bracelets do?
Both brands offer a standard set of features for fitness bracelets: pedometer, heart rate monitoring (PPG-sensor), measuring the level of oxygen in the blood (SpO₂), It's a little bit of a sleep tracker and a smartphone alert:
- 🏃 Sports modes: Xiaomi Mi Band 8 supports up to 150+ The Honor Band 9 offers 96 modes, but with automatic recognition of 6 activities (walking, running, cycling, etc.).
- 💤 Sleep Tracking: Honor has a more detailed analysis (deep/light sleep, REM-While Xiaomi gives general recommendations, both bracelets record daytime naps.
- 📱 Notifications: Honor allows you to respond to messages with template phrases (via the app), Xiaomi – only view.
- 🩺 Health: Both can measure stress and energy levels, but Honor Band 9 has added a menstrual monitoring feature with ovulation prognosis.
Honor Band 9 is certified for medical use in some countries (e.g. for measurement) SpO₂), Xiaomi Mi Band 8 is marketed as a fitness gadget, not a medical device.
For athletes, it is important: Xiaomi more accurately tracks the pulse during intensive training (according to DC Rainmaker tests), and Honor is better at analyzing recovery after exertion.
💡
If you want to know the accuracy of your heart rate, check the density of the wrist bracelet before you buy, and even a small gap can distort the readings by 10-15%.
4. Autonomy: Who works longer without recharging?
Battery life is one of the key parameters, and manufacturers say the following:
- ⚡ Xiaomi Mi Band 8: Up to 16 days in standard mode, 6 days in active use (with always on screen).
- ⚡ Honor Band 6: before 14 days, but in practice — 7-10 days because of the big screen.
- ⚡ Honor Band 9: before 14 With the always-on display function, the time is reduced to 5-7 days.
Real-world tests show that Xiaomi is winning in autonomy thanks to optimized software and a smaller screen, for example, with daily training for 1 hour, notifications and sleep monitoring, the Mi Band 8 lasts 10-12 days, while the Honor Band 9 does not last more than 5-6 days.
Charging is magnetic for both bracelets, but Honor has the advantage of taking 1 hour to fully charge, compared to 1.5-2 hours for Xiaomi.However, the cable for Honor is proprietary (not universal USB-C), which can cause inconvenience on trips.
⚠️ Note: If you use a swimming bracelet, note that after freshwater pools, the charging contacts of the Xiaomi Mi Band 8 may oxidize!
Turn off the always-on display (if you have one).
Reduce the brightness of the screen to 50-70%
Disable notifications from unnecessary applications
Update the firmware (manufacturers optimize power consumption)
Remove the bracelet while you sleep (unless monitoring is required)-->
5. Compatibility and ecosystem: what smartphones do they work with?
Both bracelets officially support Android 6.0+ and iOS 10.0+, but there are nuances:
- 📱 Xiaomi Mi Band 8 works through the Mi Fitness app (formerly Zepp Life). on iPhone, some features are limited (for example, there is no quick response to messages).
- 📱 Honor Band 6/9 Huawei Health (although the brands are split, the software remains common) has all the features available on the iPhone, except for Huawei Pay.
The Honor Band 9 supports contactless payment via Huawei Pay (it does not work in Russia), while Xiaomi Mi Band 8 in some regions allows you to link the card via Mi Pay (also limited).
If you have a Xiaomi, Redmi or POCO smartphone, the bracelet from the same brand will be integrated deeper: for example, you can unlock your phone through a bracelet or quickly start the camera. For owners of Huawei or Honor, it is more logical to choose the Honor Band - it syncs with the native application without unnecessary settings.
What features are lost on the iPhone?
Price and availability: which is more profitable?
The cost of bracelets varies depending on the model and region. Current prices for 2026:
| Model | Average price (RF), ₽ | Where can I buy it cheaper? | Best offer. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Mi Band 8 (standard) | 2 990 — 3 490 | Official website, Wildberries, SberMegaMarket | Set with additional strap |
| Xiaomi Mi Band 8 Pro | 4 490 — 4 990 | AliExpress (with delivery from Russia) | GPS-module |
| Honor Band 6 | 3 990 — 4 500 | Ozon, M. Video | Black is often cheaper |
| Honor Band 9 | 4 990 — 5 490 | Official Honor Store, Yandex Market | Discounts for trade-in old bracelet |
In terms of price / function leader - Xiaomi Mi Band 8. It's cheaper on him. 1 000-1 500 ₽, proposes 90% The power of the flagship. - Honor Band 9 Expensive if you need a large screen, always-on display or medical certification of sensors.
It’s worth paying attention to the promotions: often before the release of a new model (for example, Mi Band 9), old versions are sold at a discount of up to 30%. It is also profitable to buy complete with wireless headphones – many stores offer bonus discounts.
💡
If you have a budget, choose Xiaomi Mi Band 8, which covers 90% of the average user’s needs for the lowest price. SpO₂) It is worth paying for the Honor Band 9.
Pros and cons: summary table
| Criteria | Xiaomi Mi Band 8 | Honor Band 6/9 |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Price. | ✅ Cheaper on 20-30% | ❌ Expensive but justified for premium versions |
| 📱 Screen. | ❌ Small (1.62) inconvenient for notifications | ✅ Big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big (1.47"-1.64"), always-on at the band. 9 |
| 🏃 Functions for sport | ✅ 150+ modes, accurate pulse meter | ✅ 96 modes, autodetection of activity |
| ⚡ Battery | ✅ Do 16 days (realistically) 10-12) | ❌ 5-7 days with always-on display |
| 🩺 Health | ❌ No medical certification | ✅ Certified for SpO₂ (in some countries) |
| 📲 Compatibility | ✅ It works better with Xiaomi/Redmi | ✅ It works better with Huawei/Honor |
The choice depends on your priorities:
- 🏆 For budget and autonomy → Xiaomi Mi Band 8
- 🏆 For large screen and premium features → Honor Band 9
- 🏆 To accurately track your health → Honor Band 9 (certification)
- 🏆 For athletes → Xiaomi Mi Band 8 Pro (there is) GPS)