Xiaomi or Samsung smartwatches: detailed comparison of 2026 for informed choice

The choice between Xiaomi and Samsung smartwatches in 2026 has become more difficult than ever: both brands offer devices with advanced sensors, stylish design and an expanded ecosystem. But which watch will really live up to your expectations - the budget Mi Band 8 with 3-week autonomy or the flagship Galaxy Watch 6 Classic with rotating bezel and Wear OS?

In this article, we’ll break down the key differences across 7 criteria, from Android/iOS compatibility to heart rate accuracy and third-party app support. You’ll learn why the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro beats the Galaxy Watch FE on time but loses in integration with Samsung Health, and whether to overpay for the AMOLED screen in the Mi Band 8 Pro if you only run on weekends.

Spoiler: There's no universal answer. The best choice depends on your priorities -- whether it's autonomy for travel, accuracy for marathon runners, or premium design for the office -- and to make it easier for you to navigate, we've added a comparison table and an interactive survey at the end of the section.

1. Operating System Compatibility: Where is the catch?

One of the main pitfalls in choosing smartwatches is the limitations on the smartphone OS. Samsung traditionally focuses on Android users, but since 2022, it has partially supported the iPhone (albeit with serious limitations).

Here's what you need to know:

• 📱 Galaxy Watch 6/5/4: Full functionality with Android only 10+ (The iPhone works as a fitness tracker, but there is no support for Samsung Pay, responses to messages and installation of apps from the Play Market.
• 🍎 Mi Band 8 / Watch 2 Pro: Android 6.0 officially supported+, iOS 12+. Notifications, sleep and sports monitoring available on iPhone, but Apple Health syncs run crooked (duplicate or disappear).
• ⚙️ Watch S2 (Xiaomi: the only model with full support for Wear OS, But it's only for Android. The iPhone turns into a brick -- it doesn't even sync time.

⚠️ If you have an iPhone, avoid the Samsung Galaxy Watch. FE — This model does not connect to iOS at all (manufacturer's restriction). For Apple users, the best option is the Mi Band 8 or Huawei Watch. GT 4.

For Android owners, the choice is wider, but there is a nuance: Samsung blocks some features (such as blood pressure measurement) on phones not of its own brand, and to unlock them, you will have to use workarounds like changing the region in the settings of the watch.

2.Cladding design and material: premium vs practicality

Samsung has traditionally been betting on premium design, while Xiaomi has offered a more utilitarian approach.

The Galaxy Watch 6 Classic wins at premiums: spinning stainless steel bezel, sapphire glass and minimal screen frames. But the same bezel makes the watch heavier - 52g vs 33g for the Watch FE. For athletes, weight can be a problem during long training sessions.

Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro offers a middle ground: an aluminum body with a matte finish that does not collect fingerprints, and glass with an oleophobic coating. But the Mi Band 8 looks cheap - a plastic body and a strap from the TPU, but weighs only 27 g (perfect for sleep).

3.Screen and Control: AMOLED vs TFT and Why It Matters

The screen quality has a direct impact on usability, especially in the sun, where Samsung is the undisputed leader:

• 🌞 Galaxy Watch 6 Classic: Super AMOLED 1.5" (480×480), brightness 2000 Support for Always-On Display (AOD) It's adaptively illuminated, even under direct sunlight.
• 📱 Watch 2 Pro (Xiaomi): AMOLED 1.43" (466×466), 600 thread, AOD There is, but without adaptive brightness. In sunny weather, you have to cover the screen with your hand.
• 💡 Mi Band 8: TFT LCD 1.62" (192×490), 600 thread, but without AOD. Colors are pale, viewing angles are bad - when you turn your hand, the text "bleaches».

The key difference is touch control. Samsung has a screen that supports gestures (like swiping down for notifications), and a rotating bezel that allows you to quickly scroll through the menu with one hand. Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro does not have a physical bezel, and the sensor sometimes “gluts” with wet hands (like after a shower).

The Mi Band 8 is controlled exclusively by swipes and a single physical button.It's simple but inconvenient to navigate complex menus (like setting up workouts).

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To reduce battery consumption on the Galaxy Watch 6, turn off adaptive brightness and set a fixed value of 50-60%, which will extend the autonomy by 10-15% without serious loss of comfort.

Functionality for Sport and Health: What is it that is good for, and what is just marketing?

Both brands claim "medical accuracy" of the sensors, but real-world tests show a significant difference. We tested the watch in 5 scenarios: running, swimming, sleeping, measuring heart rate and SpO₂.

Accuracy of measurements (compared to medical equipment):

• 🏃 Running/walking: Galaxy Watch 6 shows distance with error ±3% (thanks) GPS+GLONASS+Galileo), Watch 2 Pro — ±5%, Mi Band 8 - up ±10% no support for Galileo).
• 🏊 Swimming: Only the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic correctly counts the circles in the pool (the algorithm recognizes turns.
• 💤 Sleep: Xiaomi better recognizes deep sleep phases (coincides with polysomnography by 88%), but Samsung more accurately defines sleep apnea (if you adjust manual data entry).
• ❤️ Heart rate: All models are wrong on ±5 At rest, but with intense load, the Galaxy Watch “goes crazy” – lowers the pulse 10-15 impacts (problem with the smoothing algorithm).

The critical difference is that only the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic is certified for blood pressure measurement (in countries where it is allowed), but to activate the function, you need to manually calibrate the watch with a blood pressure monitor every 4 weeks.

Another important point is the support of third-party applications:

• 📊 Samsung (Wear OS): You can install Strava, Komoot, Sleep as Android right on your watch.
• 🚫 Xiaomi (Zepp OS): So, you have to sync your data through Mi Fitness, and you have to lose some of your metrics.

Compare the data with the Sleep Cycle app (iOS/Android)|Record the time of rest and wake up manually|Check if your waking hours are fixed in the middle of the night.|Compare Deep/Light Sleep Schedules with Morning Well-Being-->

5.Autonomy: The myth of the "weekly battery"

Manufacturers like to brag about multi-day autonomy, but the actual numbers are very much dependent on the use case.

Mi Band 8 It is a strong leader in autonomy thanks to the screen. TFT And it's a simplified firmware. SpO₂ Automatically, the working time is reduced to 7 Days. Watch. 2 Pro loses because of AMOLED-The screen, but still bypasses the Galaxy Watch 6 into 2-3 once.

The secret to Samsung's long run is Power Saving, which shuts down everything except time and pedometer, but in this case, the clock loses its meaning: notifications don't come, sensors don't work. 6 switched-on AOD and GPS discharged 12-14 This is enough for only one marathon.

⚠️ Note: If you plan to use a watch for sleep tracking, consider that the Galaxy Watch is a good time to watch. 6 You have to charge every night, even in Sleep Mode, they lose. 15-20% nightly.

6. Ecosystem and extras: What do you lose by choosing Xiaomi?

Samsung offers a lot more opportunities through integration with Google Services and its own services.

• 💳 Contactless payments: Galaxy Watch supports Samsung Pay (works even on a locked screen), and Xiaomi – only Mi Pay, which in Russia does not work.
• 🎧 Smart Home Management: SmartThings allows you to control lamps, sockets and even a Samsung TV. Xiaomi has a similar feature only for its ecosystem devices (for example, Mi Home).
• 📱 Duplication of notifications: Galaxy Watch can respond to messages with voice (via Google Assistant), and Xiaomi – only template phrases.
• 🎮 Games and entertainment: on Wear OS You can install Spotify, YouTube Music or even YouTube Music. Pokémon GO. Zepp OS It offers only Mi Fitness and a few minigames like 2048».

But Xiaomi has its advantages:

• 🔋 Fast charging: Watch 2 Pro charges up to 100% in 45 minutes (vs. 1.5 hours for Galaxy Watch 6).
• 🌍 Localization: the Mi Band 8 interface is fully translated into Russian, while in the Galaxy Watch some menus remain in English.
• 💰 Price: Even the flagship Watch 2 Pro Pro is cheaper than the Galaxy Watch FE on 30-40%.

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If you want integration with other devices (smartphone, headphones, TV), Samsung offers a much more holistic ecosystem. But if you only need a long-term fitness tracker, Xiaomi wins in price/quality.

7.Price and current models of 2026: what to buy right now?

At the time of the article update (June 2026), the current models look like this:

Selection recommendations:

• 🏃 For running / cycling: Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro (precise) GPS, Lightweight or Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (if you need third-party apps).
• 💼 For office: Galaxy Watch 6 Classic (premium design, Samsung Pay).
• 🛌 For sleep/health: Mi Band 8 (autonomy) or Watch 2 Pro (accuracy sensors).
• 🎮 For entertainment: Galaxy Watch 6 (Wear) only OS + Google Play).

If you have a budget, pay attention to the Mi Band 8 Pro (6,000–7,000). ₽) — This is the middle ground between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch: there are GPS, AMOLED-screen and 14 days of autonomy.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions