It’s been eleven years since Xiaomi launched its authentic Mi Band and the sequence has now entered its tenth era. The Mi Band was the catalyst to Xiaomi’s rise within the wearables market, managing to take care of its place as the most effective bang in your buck gadgets on the market.
With the Sensible Band 10 now official, Xiaomi tried to refine its best-selling wearable with a number of {hardware} upgrades and an ever-so-slightly larger beginning worth.
Xiaomi Sensible Band 10 specs
- Show: 1.72” AMOLED touchscreen, 212 x 520 px decision, 60Hz refresh price, 1,500 nits HBM brightness
- Straps: Removable proprietary straps, 135-210mm adjustable size
- Options: 5ATM score, Actual-time coronary heart price monitor, 24/7 Blood Oxygen stage monitor, Sleep monitoring, Stress monitoring, Sports activities monitoring, Step Counter, Meditation, Notifications, Idle Alert, Cellphone Finder, Climate Forecast, Music and Digital camera Management, Alarm, Stopwatch, linear Vibration Motor, Flashlight.
- Sports activities Modes: Out of doors Run, Indoor Run, Out of doors Stroll, Biking, Mountain climbing, Pool Swimming, Soar rope, Freestyle (150+ extra in Mi Health app)
- Sensors: PPG optical coronary heart price sensor, SpO2 sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, barometer, gyroscope, digital compass
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.4, Appropriate with Android 8.0 and iOS 12+
- Battery: 233mAh
- Colours: Black, Silver, Rose, White
- Dimensions:46.57 × 22.54 × 10.95mm (Steel), 47.74 × 23.94 × 10.95mm (Ceramic)
- Weight (with out strap): 16g (Aluminium), 26g (Ceramic Version)
The primary additions to this yr’s Band 10 are the marginally bigger and brighter display alongside claims of extra correct well being and exercise monitoring. You’re additionally getting an up to date vibration motor in the identical primary design that’s virtually unchanged for the reason that Band 7 days. So, are the brand new additions well worth the larger asking worth?
Design
Xiaomi didn’t change a lot with the Sensible Band 10’s design. It’s nonetheless the identical pebble-shaped puck with its lengthy and slim AMOLED show. The brand new mannequin incorporates a bigger display diagonal, measuring 1.72 inches, in comparison with 1.62 inches on its predecessor.
The bezels are slimmer this time round at 2mm on all sides and they’re completely symmetrical.
The opposite huge addition is the up to date max brightness. Band 10 now cranks out 1,500 nits HBM brightness, which tops the 1,200 nits on its predecessor. That’s a pleasant improve that helps when utilizing the Band 10 outside in these sunny summer season days. You continue to get auto brightness, which is what we used throughout our evaluate course of, and All the time-on show (AOD) while you simply need to look over on the time.
Our evaluate unit is the Ceramic Version. This isn’t the primary ceramic Xiaomi Sensible Band, however it’s the first one making its strategy to world markets. The aspect body is constructed from ceramic, whereas the underside, the place we have now the sensors, continues to be constructed from plastic.
Xiaomi Sensible Band 10 Ceramic Version
The Ceramic Version Band 10 sports activities a smooth white coloration that provides off Stormtrooper armor vibes. The opposite instantly noticeable truth is how a lot heavier it feels in comparison with previous Sensible Bands. Our evaluate unit weighs 26 grams by itself and 44 grams with its fluororubber strap.
For context, the common model of the Band 10, which incorporates a metallic shell, ought to weigh in at round 16 grams sans its strap. Regardless of the added heft, Band 10 feels that bit extra premium in its ceramic end.
We’d prefer to go off on a tangent right here as the shortage of bodily buttons on the final 4 generations of Xiaomi Sensible Bands has been a recurring annoyance for this reviewer specifically.
We’ve stated it earlier than, and we’ll say it once more: carry again the bodily buttons! Or not less than a capacitive again button? There’s no strategy to flip the band on aside from attaching it to the magnetic charger. If it is advisable restart the band and also you don’t have the charger with you, you’re out of luck.
We’re nonetheless not satisfied that the all-swipe gesture navigation mannequin is one of the best ways to go on a wearable, particularly when your arms are moist, so we’d urge Xiaomi to not less than take into account bringing again buttons for the Sensible Band 11.
The field contents are the same old Xiaomi Sensible Band affair – a proprietary two-pin magnetic charging cable, a fast begin information and a guaranty leaflet.
Xiaomi Sensible Band 10 pearl-chain pendant
Xiaomi additionally despatched out its new pearl-chain pendant, which transforms the Band 10 right into a vogue accent if you happen to’re into that.
Options
Sensible bands made their mark as cheap exercise trackers, and lately, they’ve been getting nearer in characteristic parity to smartwatches. However a band at all times comes with its limitations when in comparison with fully-fledged smartwatches, and the Sensible Band 10 isn’t any exception.
For one, it doesn’t characteristic a speaker, so you may solely obtain notifications for incoming calls with out the power to reply them. For apparent (measurement) causes, there’s no on-screen keyboard, so you may’t reply to incoming messages. Our world model doesn’t characteristic NFC connectivity and Xiaomi has but once more omitted a GPS receiver so it is advisable carry your cellphone if you wish to observe runs and different cardio workouts.
Band 10 pairs over Bluetooth 5.4 and incorporates a multitude of sensors. These embody an accelerometer, gyroscope, optical coronary heart price sensor, pulse oximeter and ambient gentle sensor. The brand new addition this yr is the digital compass, which is a pleasant characteristic to have, however in our opinion, a devoted GPS receiver would have been a extra helpful addition.
One other new addition is the power to broadcast coronary heart price knowledge throughout exercises to third-party gadgets like a cycle speedometer. Band 10 additionally will get guided operating programs and deeper integration with Xiaomi’s AIoT machine ecosystem, permitting you to regulate appropriate Xiaomi gadgets and sensible home equipment.
Sensible Band 10 comes with a brand new linear motor with an upgraded algorithm and customized vibrations. You possibly can assign totally different vibration patterns for incoming notifications, calls, and alarms. Xiaomi additionally added an choice to buzz your wrist while you swipe to return within the menus, which is a pleasant addition, however as we stated beforehand, a bodily or perhaps a capacitive again button would have been a greater possibility.
Band 10 will get an upgraded vibration motor
Band 10 is 5ATM waterproof, which helps you to take it to the pool and it might probably survive dives in recent water as much as 50 meters. Xiaomi can also be promoting an upgraded exercise monitoring sensor with an enhanced sports activities monitoring algorithm. For extra particulars, check with the well being and exercise monitoring part.
Software program and efficiency
Band 10 boots Xiaomi HyperOS 2.0, which seems to be and feels similar to earlier generations of Xiaomi Sensible Bands. It’s a real-time working system (RTOS) operated by way of swipes with a handful of first-party apps and card-based widgets. We’d once more like to emphasise the shortage of bodily buttons right here, which makes navigating the UI on this small and slim display difficult in additional methods than one.
The 60Hz display leaves little to be desired when it comes to smoothness, the whole lot works as you’d anticipate with none delays or hiccups. Band 10 now affords a complete of 26 pre-installed apps, together with the brand new operating course app, a compass app, duties and focus mode.
One notable addition on the Band 10 is the power so as to add widgets immediately from the Band itself with out going into the Mi Health app. One other optimistic is that Xiaomi made textual content on the Band 10’s show barely bigger in comparison with the Band 9 which makes it simpler to learn incoming messages and system UI components.
As with every Xiaomi wearable, you’ll want to put in the Mi Health app in your cellphone to get began. That is your one-stop store for accessing your well being and exercise knowledge in addition to tweaking, managing watch faces, and putting in updates.
Mi Health app on iOS
The Mi Health companion app shops a month’s value of health-tracking and in addition brings entry to a seemingly countless checklist of watch faces. There are quite a few choices which might be sure to fit your type. From classical analog to minimalist digital modes and even animated variations with animals and easy video games, Band 10 brings arguably one of the best collection of watch faces up to now.
A couple of of the watch faces obtainable contained in the Mi Health app
Almost all watch faces carry an AOD possibility with various levels of extra info displayed always. Some AOD choices additionally add glanceable particulars like battery standing, climate data, and steps counter.
Xiaomi means that you can retailer as much as a month’s value of well being and exercise knowledge, and you may sync it to Apple Well being, Google Match in addition to Strava and Suunto.
Some irks we had with the software program embody the shortage of emoji help and the shortcoming to make use of the band for anything after you begin a timer. For some odd cause Xiaomi continues to be utilizing the US date format (mm/dd) which isn’t notably helpful for customers in different areas.
Connectivity was nice throughout our evaluate interval with the Band 10 paired to an iPhone 15 Professional. We didn’t expertise missed notifications or connection interruptions.
Well being and exercise monitoring
With the Band 10, Xiaomi can also be providing its most modern optical coronary heart price sensor alongside blood oxygen saturation, sleep, stress metrics.
In our testing, we discovered coronary heart price readings from the Band 10 to be rather more correct than earlier Sensible Band fashions in each resting mode and through exercises. We in contrast outcomes with a Huawei Watch Match 3, and each gadgets confirmed related values.
Earlier Xiaomi Sensible Bands had a bent to overreport coronary heart price knowledge, particularly early on in exercises however that appears to be fastened with the Band 10.
SpO2 readings had been typically correct with a minor deviation from what we measured with a devoted pulse oximeter.
Sleep monitoring continues to be not as correct as choices from different manufacturers. Band 10 persistently reported inaccurate sleep occasions, randomized speedy eye motion (REM) sleep readings and deep sleep readings which weren’t true.
Sleep monitoring: Xiaomi Band 10 (left) vs Huawei Watch Match 3 (proper)
On the exercise monitoring aspect, Band 10 carried out simply in addition to our reference Huawei Watch Match 3. The 2 confirmed almost an identical coronary heart price readings throughout our pattern exercises, which included a mix of treadmill operating and weightlifting. It is a nice enchancment over previous Xiaomi Sensible Bands, which had a bent to overreport coronary heart price knowledge.
Health monitoring: Xiaomi Band 10 (left) vs Huawei Watch Match 3 (proper)
Band 10 additionally will get on-device guided operating programs with primary and superior choices with interval breakdowns. These are additionally tailored for strolling, jogging and dash operating with newbie and superior choices. These coaching periods will help you attain particular objectives like enhancing operating endurance, dash occasions and lung capability.
Battery Life
Band 10 incorporates a 233mAh battery – similar to the Band 9 and Xiaomi claims can ship as much as 21 days in typical utilization, or 9 days with AOD.
In our testing, we discovered the Band 10 to final for 10 days on a single cost with all the well being monitoring options turned on alongside AOD mode and notifications. Actually spectacular endurance from such a small exercise tracker.
Once you do have to recharge, it takes round 50 minutes to get again to 100%.
Verdict
Sensible Band 10 is Xiaomi’s greatest entry within the sequence. The up to date AMOLED touchscreen will get noticeably brighter than its predecessors, and textual content is less complicated on the eyes due to its bigger show diagonal. The improved vibration motor is one other good addition, and we’re lastly seeing correct coronary heart price readings, which deserves reward.
The construct high quality is top-notch, and the brand new Ceramic Version is totally gorgeous. Battery life comfortably lasts for over per week and the countless choices of watch faces coupled with the massive pool of health monitoring choices must be sufficient for many customers.
Sleep monitoring accuracy leaves rather a lot to be desired and we’d prefer to see higher administration of notifications with the power to answer to incoming messages.
There are a number of nice smartband options from Huawei and Honor that provide almost an identical specs and the power to take requires across the identical worth because the Band 10. However if you happen to’re searching for a extra compact machine that provides you correct coronary heart price readings, a brilliant AMOLED show and per week’s plus battery life, then the Band 10 must be in your shortlist.
Execs
- Vibrant AMOLED show with wonderful outside legibility
- Nice construct, particularly on the Ceramic Version
- Improved coronary heart price accuracy
- Stellar battery life
Cons
- Lacks GPS receiver
- Inaccurate REM and deep sleep readings
- Doesn’t do voice calls
- No bodily buttons
We might get a fee from qualifying gross sales.
