Xiaomi or Huawei smartwatches: which one is better to choose in 2026?

Why Choosing Xiaomi and Huawei Is a Dilemma for 80% of Customers

Buying a smartwatch today is like choosing between Android and iOS 10 years ago: both are good but suitable for different tasks. Xiaomi and Huawei share the lion’s share of the wearables market in Russia and the CIS, offering devices from budget to premium. According to Counterpoint Research in 2023, these two brands account for 63% of smartwatch sales in the segment up to 20,000 rubles – and this is excluding fitness bracelets!

But here's the paradox: the wider the range, the more difficult the choice. Some users praise the Mi Band for autonomy, others can not imagine life without the Huawei Watch. GT precise GPS. Someone is willing to pay for the screen. AMOLED Always-On, and some people care about iPhone compatibility, and in this article, we'll look at 12 key criteria -- from time to ecosystem -- to help you decide which smartwatches are right for you!

1. Autonomy: Who holds the charge longer?

If you forget to charge your gadgets, this section is for you. Huawei's smartwatch has traditionally led the way in terms of time, and in 2026, nothing has changed. GT 4 on one charge will live up to 14 days in standard mode (with notifications, pedometer, but without constant connection to the device). GPS). But the flagship Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro in the same conditions will discharge in 5-7 days.

But there are nuances:

• 🔋 Huawei saves energy with proprietary Kirin chip A1 (In new models, and aggressive software optimization, for example, in the Watch. GT 3 Pro GPS It only starts at the beginning of the training, and does not work in the background.
• ⚡ Xiaomi compensates for less autonomy with fast charging: Watch S3 100% recovery in 1 hour 20 minutes (vs. 2)+ Huawei).
• 📉 In the “ultra-economy” mode (time only) + Huawei Band 8 will last up to 21 days and Mi Band 8 – a maximum of 16 days.

⚠️ WARNING: If you run marathons or do trailrunners, consider that the Huawei Watch is a snag. GT 4 in continuous mode GPS-Tracking is discharged in 20-24 hours, and Xiaomi Watch S3 — For ultramarathon athletes, it is better to consider a specialized watch such as the Garmin Fenix.

2. Design and Materials: Plastic vs Premium

Huawei is betting on premium, and Xiaomi is betting on functionality at an affordable price, which is noticeable even in budget models: the Huawei Band 8 has a metal body and glass. 2.5D, The Mi Band 8 is completely plastic (albeit with an improved build compared to the Mi Band 7).

In the smartwatch segment, the difference is even more obvious:

• 💎 Huawei Watch GT 4 and Watch Ultimate offer ceramic enclosures, sapphire glass and fluoro rubber straps (does not fade, does not crack).
• 🖥️ Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro and Watch S3 use aluminum shells with coating PVD (protection against scratches, but the screen is protected by ordinary tempered glass.
• 🎨 Huawei has more options for design: for example, the Watch GT 3 Pro is available in a version with leather strap and gold case.

Xiaomi has a trump card, however, interchangeable dials: the Mi Fit store has more than 200 (including animated ones), while Huawei Health has about 100, but with better optimization for Always-On Display.

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If you are allergic, pay attention to the straps: the Huawei Watch GT 4 silicone straps are treated with anti-allergenic coating, and Xiaomi only in top models (for example, Watch) S3 Pro).

3. Functionality: What does a watch do besides time?

Here, Xiaomi and Huawei go head to head, but with different accents.

The main difference is the approach to health. Huawei positions its watches as "medical assistants": in Watch GT 4 there is monitoring of the menstrual cycle (with prognosis of ovulation), sleep analysis in 6 phases (including: REM) And even stress assessments based on heart rate variability, which Xiaomi has, but they're less detailed.

Xiaomi is winning in smart home integration: the watch can control Mi Home devices (for example, turn on the robot vacuum cleaner Xiaomi Robot Vacuum voice), while Huawei is limited to its ecosystem Huawei Smart Life.

4. Compatibility with smartphones: Android vs iOS

If you have an iPhone, the choice is significantly narrowed. Huawei watches work with iOS, but with limitations:

• ❌ No notifications from third-party apps (only calls and calls) SMS).
• ❌ You can't respond to messages by voice.
• ❌ Synchronize workouts only through Apple Health (without detail).

Xiaomi is better off: the Mi Fitness app (formerly Mi Fit) for iOS supports:

• ✅ Notifications from WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber.
• ✅ Quick answers (template messages).
• ✅ Exporting data to Apple Health and Google Fit.

For Android owners, there's almost no difference, both brands offer full synchronization, but there's a nuance with firmware:

• 🤖 Huawei Watches are being updated through Huawei Health, but after 2019 sanctions, some features (like Celia voice assistant) may not be available in Russia.
• 🤖 Xiaomi uses Mi Fitness, which works stably, but updates are released less often (once every 2-3 months against monthly Huawei).

⚠️ Note: If you have a Huawei smartphone (e.g. Mate) 60 Pro, then the watches of the same brand will sync faster and support additional features (for example, unlocking the phone in the vicinity of the watch). + Xiaomi/Redmi smartphone.

5. Screen and control: what is more convenient in everyday operation?

Huawei has traditionally used screens. AMOLED high resolution, while Xiaomi in budget models LCD. For example:

• 📺 Huawei Watch GT 4: 1.43", 466×466 px, AMOLED, Support for Always-On.
• 📺 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: 1.43", 466×466 px, AMOLED (But without Always-On in the basic firmware).
• 📱 Xiaomi Mi Band 8: 1.62", 192×490 px, AMOLED (but with a conspicuous frame).

Huawei offers a more intuitive interface:

• 🎯 Colesico Digital Crown (in Watch) GT 3/4) To scroll through the menu – like in the Apple Watch.
• 👆 Gestures: For example, shake your hand to turn on the backlight (works even with the screen off).
• 🗣️ Celia voice assistant (in Chinese firmware) for music and navigation control.

Xiaomi has a simpler, but less flexible management system:

• 🔄 Swipes up/down for menu, left/right for widgets.
• 🎵 Watch 2 Pro has support for offline music (you can download up to 500 songs).
• ❌ No voice control (except basic commands such as "turn on training").

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If you want to read in the sun, choose the Huawei Watch. GT 4 – its screen has a brightness of up to 1000 nits (vs 600 nits in Xiaomi Watch) S3).

Price and price-quality ratio

Budget segment (up to 10 000) ₽):

• 💰 Xiaomi Mi Band 8 (~3 500 ₽) vs Huawei Band 8 (~4 500 ₽).
• 📌 For the same amount of money, Xiaomi offers AMOLED-screen and more dials, but Huawei wins in sensor accuracy and design.

Mid-size segment (10,000–20,000) ₽):

• 💰 Xiaomi Watch S3 (~12 000 ₽) vs Huawei Watch GT 4 (~18 000 ₽).
• 📌 Huawei is 50% more expensive, but offers a ceramic case, accurate GPS Xiaomi is cheaper, but with a plastic body and less accurate pulse measurements.

Premium segment (20000)+ ₽):

• 💰 Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro (~22 000 ₽) vs Huawei Watch Ultimate (~45 000 ₽).
• 📌 Here Huawei breaks ahead in all parameters: sapphire glass, fingerprint sensor (unlocking the phone), underwater mode up to 100 m Xiaomi loses even in autonomy (3-4 days vs. 7-10 at Huawei).

Determine the budget (up to 10k / 10-20k / 20k)+)

Check compatibility with your smartphone (iOS/Android)

Decide if you need it. NFC and pay-off

Appreciate the importance of design (plastic vs metal/ceramics)

Find out what health functions are critical to you (ECG, blood pressure, SpO₂)

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7.What hours to choose in 2026: final recommendations

We have collected 5 typical scenarios and suitable models:

If you are in doubt between the two models, ask yourself 3 questions:

1. Do I need accurate pulsometry and pressure? → If yes, take Huawei.
2. Is design and premium materials important? → Huawei is ahead of us again.
3. Do I want to save money without losing my basic functions? → Then Xiaomi.

⚠️ Note: If you buy a watch to monitor heart disease (arrhythmia, tachycardia), remember: neither Xiaomi nor Huawei are certified as medical devices in Russia.

FAQ: Frequent questions about Xiaomi and Huawei smartwatches