Owning an activity tracker from Xiaomi has become the norm for millions of users around the world, but when buying a used device or getting a gadget as a gift, the question often arises: how to determine the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi exactly? Visually, all generations of the Mi Band are very similar - a narrow black screen and a silicone strap, but the technical differences between them are huge.
Understanding the exact model is not only necessary for matching accessories, but also for working correctly with the Mi Fitness or Zepp Life application. An identification error can lead to the inability to update the firmware or configure notifications, since older versions of trackers simply are not supported by new versions of the software.
In this article, we’ll break down all the key differences, from physical sizes to software identifiers, so you can name your device’s model without error. We’ll look at both the visual features and hidden system settings available through the gadget’s menu.
Visual differences between screen and body
The first thing to look at when trying to determine the model is the shape and size of the display. Early versions like the Mi Band 2 and Mi Band 3 had a noticeably smaller screen with pronounced bezels on top and bottom, as well as a physical touch button under the display that felt when pressed.
Since the Mi Band 4, the manufacturer has abandoned the physical button in favor of full-screen touch controls, which immediately distinguishes this model and the newer ones. However, even among the touch versions there is a difference: the Mi Band 4 and Mi Band 5 have a rectangular screen with rounded edges, while the Mi Band 6 received a curved side-by-side "frameless" design known as Full Screen.
An important marker is the presence of a built-in microphone and speaker, which only appeared in the Mi Band 7 Pro version and some special editions, but in the basic models they are not. If you see a speaker hole on the end of the capsule, you are in front of a rare or newer modification, or a fake, since in a regular Mi Band 3-7 they should not be.
- 🔍 Physical button: Only present in Mi Band 1 and Mi Band 2 (in Mi Band) 1s It's gone, but the design looks like it).
- 📐 The shape of the edges: flat faces of the Mi Band 4/5 archy 2.5D glass at the Mi Band 6, 7 and 8.
- 💡 Brightness and PPI: It’s hard to distinguish visually, but the Mi Band 7 and 8 have a much denser matrix and always on display (AOD) unlike its predecessors.
⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to remove the module (capsule) from the strap by force if you have a Mi Band 1 or 2 model. In them, the capsule is often glued or fixed with hidden latches, and if you sloppyly remove it, you can damage the body, which will make it impossible to continue wearing it.
Methods of identification through the program menu
The most reliable way to determine the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi without connecting to the phone is using a built-in interface. Since the Mi Band 4, the device menu has a full-fledged system of settings that allows you to (check) information about the device.
To do this, you need to wake up the screen and flip through the menu to Settings (the gear icon), and inside this section, you need to find the About or Device subsection. This is where the exact model name, hardware version and firmware version are displayed.
If you have an older model, like the Mi Band 3, the menu can be limited, and there will be no explicit model indication, only the firmware version. In this case, you should focus on the combination of buttons: a long press on the touch area in old firmware could show MAC-Address where the device can also be identified.
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Remember. MAC-It is unique to each device and often helps distinguish the original from a cheap Chinese copy, which can clone a name but not a unique Bluetooth identifier.
Global versions of the Mi Band have multilingual menus, while Chinese versions (CN Version) can initially only support Chinese and English, although after pairing with a global application, the language often changes automatically.
Identification via Zepp Life and Mi Fitness
If the visual inspection and the bracelet menu did not give a clear answer, connect the device to the smartphone. Official applications from Xiaomi provide comprehensive information about the connected gadget. For older models (up to the 5th version inclusive), the Zepp Life application (formerly Mi Fit) is used, and for new ones – Mi Fitness.
After successful pairing, go to the device profile. At the top of the screen, the model name is usually written in large print, for example, Mi Smart Band 5. In addition, in the Device Settings section → Device information, you can find full technical data, including model, Bluetooth version and serial number.
It is important to know that the app will not allow you to connect a device if it is completely incompatible. However, there are situations where the bracelet is defined as "Unknown Device" or requires an update that can "brick" the device if the model is not correctly defined programmatically.
☑️ Checking in the annex
- 📱 Zepp Life: Supports Mi Band 1-6 (Partially), displays detailed statistics and history.
- ⌚ Mi Fitness: native app for Mi Band 7, 8 and new watches, has an updated interface.
- 🔄 Data migration: when you switch from Zepp Life to Mi Fitness, the app will tell you whether your model supports the new platform.
⚠️ Warning: If the application requests a firmware update immediately after you connect, be sure to check if the bracelet’s charge percentage is above 50.
Technical specifications and sensors
You can also define the generation of the tracker by the set of available features and sensors. Each new generation of Xiaomi Mi Band received new features, the lack of which immediately refers to the device as earlier models.
For example, having a built-in GPS (or the ability to connect to a GPS phone with a map on the screen) is typical for the Mi Band 7 Pro and more expensive models, while the basic versions (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8) use only Connected GPS, relying on a smartphone. The presence of a blood oxygen sensor (SpO2) appeared massively only in the Mi Band 6 (in the special version) and became standard in the Mi Band 7.
Also worth paying attention to is NFC support: In some regions, NFC versions are sold (for example, for payment via Xiaomi Pay or transport cards), which can externally have the NFC logo on the back of the capsule or on the menu.
| Model | SpO2 sensor | Built-in GPS | Always On Display | Year out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mi Band 4 | No. | No. | No. | 2019 |
| Mi Band 5 | No. | No. | No. | 2020 |
| Mi Band 6 | There is. | No. | No. | 2021 |
| Mi Band 7 | There is. | No. | There is. | 2022 |
| Mi Band 8 | There is. | No. | Aye (60Hz) | 2023 |
Why is SpO2 Sensor Important?
Differences in straps and fastenings
Although the capsule itself is the main element, the way the strap is attached has changed several times, which also helps in identification.The Mi Band 1, 1S and 2 used a unique mounting mechanism where the tracker was inserted into the strap notch and the design itself was quite bulky.
From the Mi Band 3 to the Mi Band 6, the standard mechanism was used: the capsule is removed from the strap, and the compatibility of the straps between these models (3, 4, 5, 6) was often maintained, although the dimensions could walk a little. However, the Mi Band 7 received a modified mounting mechanism, making the straps from previous versions incompatible without adapters.
The Mi Band 8 went even further by introducing an all-new type of Quick Release mount, where the strap is attached to special pins similar to a classic watch, allowing you to wear a tracker in the neck suspension or attach to shoes to track the run.
- 🔗 Type 1: Insert into the groove (Mi Band) 1-2) — strap.
- 🔗 Type 2: Removable capsule (Mi Band) 3-6) — Universal size, but different cutouts.
- 🔗 Type 3: Quick-removal pins (Mi Band 8)+) — complete incompatibility with old straps.
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Strap compatibility is a great proxy for the model, and if your bracelet fits the Mi Band 5 straps, you probably have a Model 3, 4, 5 or 6, but you certainly don't have a Model 7 or 8.
Comparison of firmware versions and regional features
Another way to determine the fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi is to analyze the firmware version. Global versions (Global) and Chinese versions (CN) may have different identifiers in the firmware code, usually seen in the version number format, where the letters indicate the region.
Chinese versions often have earlier release dates as Xiaomi tests home market innovations, but functionality can be cut down for the global market (e.g., the lack of some NFC faces or features in certain regions).
If you see characters on the menu or when you download them, this is the Chinese version, and you can replay it on the global version, but it's a complex process that requires special tools and is risky for beginners, because you can disrupt the Bluetooth module.
⚠️ Warning: Don’t try to re-interchange the Chinese version of the Mi Band to global firmware unnecessarily.This can result in loss of warranty and, in rare cases, locking the device by Xiaomi servers if the hardware IDs don’t match.