Xiaomi Mi Band 7 review

Xiaomi has made a reputation for itself with its ultra-affordable, feature-packed Mi Band sequence, and the newest Xiaomi Mi Band 7 appears to proceed that pattern with a much bigger show, improved all-day monitoring capabilities and new train measurement metrics, all in a barely dearer bundle.

However, regardless of the slight value hike, the Mi Band 7 remains to be an impressively succesful health tracker preferrred for those who wish to get extra perception into their well being, sleep and health – simply don’t count on smartwatch-level smarts.

Design & construct

• Massive 1.62in always-on show is a bonus
• Improved charger design
• Compact, modern design that doesn’t draw consideration

At a look, you won’t see a lot of a distinction between the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 and its predecessor, the Xiaomi Mi Band 6, however there’s one essential distinction: the scale of the show.

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Whereas final yr’s health tracker measured in at 1.56in, the Mi Band 7 sports activities a bigger 1.62in AMOLED show that Xiaomi claims will increase the viewing space by 25%. It’s additionally brighter this time round at 500nits, and the rise makes it a lot simpler to make use of outside in shiny daylight.

One thrilling new addition is the introduction of always-on show tech. Because the identify suggests, the show can keep on at low brightness to supply fixed entry to the time, health monitoring bars and another widgets you’ve got in your chosen watchface – although at an enormous value to battery, however extra on that in a bit.

Flip the health tracker over and also you’ll discover the standard suite of sensors and Xiaomi’s proprietary charging connection factors. The excellent news is that, in contrast to earlier generations, the tweaked charger design means you not have to take away the tracker from the strap to prime it up.

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All that apart, it’s very a lot enterprise as standard with the Mi Band 7, sporting the identical pill-shape tracker design we’ve come to know and love through the years. It’s pretty compact on the wrist, with a reasonably flush construct serving to you overlook that it’s even there.

As with earlier generations, there’s a wide range of versatile silicone straps out there to assist inject a little bit of color into proceedings, however general, it’s an understated health tracker that doesn’t draw an excessive amount of consideration to itself – except you go for a daring, shiny watch face that’s!

Software program & options

• No third-party apps, funds or good assistant assist
• Fundamental capabilities like climate, calendar and music management work high-quality
• Loads of watchfaces to select from

The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 is a health tracker at the start, and which means it’s not fairly as good or succesful as devoted smartwatches in the marketplace.

The Mi Band 7 lacks key smarts together with the flexibility to utilise the built-in NFC for funds (exterior of China, anyway!), voice assistant assist and third-party apps. Nevertheless, for those who need extra of a smartphone ‘companion’ than a full-blown smartphone on the wrist, the cheap wearable ticks a number of packing containers.

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That comes within the type of notification mirroring, out there on each iOS and Android, together with the flexibility to carry out fundamental duties like checking the climate, reviewing upcoming calendar occasions and even controlling music playback out of your smartphone – a very useful function, although actually not unique to Xiaomi’s wearable.

The gesture-based UI is usually straightforward to know, intently mirroring the essential capabilities of Put on OS smartwatches with customisable quick-access tiles to the left and proper of the watchface, although with a swipe down for notifications and a swipe up for entry to apps.

There are a handful of vibrant watch faces that assist showcase that enormous shiny AMOLED show with extra out there to obtain through the companion app, however there isn’t a lot in the way in which of customisation and, with out third-party apps, there aren’t many helpful problems so as to add both.

However whereas the smarts are comparatively fundamental, the Mi Band 7 actually makes up for it within the health monitoring division. 

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Well being & health monitoring

• Spectacular well being and health monitoring for such an affordable wearable
• New steady blood oxygen monitoring and SpO2 alerts
• Sleep monitoring will be hit-and-miss

Whereas it’s enterprise as standard in most departments, the Mi Band 7 additional bolsters its budget-focused health monitoring capabilities.

One space of focus is the SpO2 monitor, which is now able to steady blood oxygen monitoring and low SpO2 alerts. The latter could possibly be useful for alerting customers to potential sleep apnoea at evening, however as with most consumer-level wearables, it shouldn’t be relied on as a medical system.

Nonetheless, it’s useful to get a heads-up on doubtlessly low blood oxygen ranges, particularly from such an inexpensive health tracker.

Blood oxygen monitoring apart, the Mi Band 7 boasts the identical all-day coronary heart charge and stress monitoring, sleep monitoring and normal health monitoring capabilities as its predecessor. The latter is displayed in distinctly Apple Watch-like vogue, monitoring steps, lively hours and energy burnt, although the trademark rings have been changed by a rainbow in Xiaomi’s wearable.

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Sleep monitoring isn’t fairly as dependable as different health trackers although. Whereas it’ll present all the usual metrics – time awake, REM, mild and deep sleep, complete time in mattress and time asleep – I’ve discovered that it’s not fairly as good on the subject of routinely ending the sleep monitoring.

On a couple of event in testing, a fast journey to the john in the course of the evening has prematurely ended that evening’s sleep monitoring, and that meant dropping out on a number of hours’ price of knowledge. It’s not the be-all-and-end-all, however for those who prefer to dive into sleep metrics as I do, it may be relatively irritating.

In terms of devoted train monitoring, the Mi Band 7 presents assist for a whopping 120 sports activities – up 30 in comparison with its predecessor – and it covers hottest types of train together with strolling, operating, biking, mountaineering and swimming, together with extra area of interest choices like chess. I can’t think about chess burns many energy, however hey, what do I do know…

In terms of conventional train, like operating and biking, Xiaomi has added new coaching metrics within the type of coaching load, coaching impact, restoration time, and (relatively impressively) VO2 Max monitoring, all viewable through the companion app post-workout.

The info providing nonetheless isn’t fairly as in-depth as high-end wearables from the likes of Garmin, however hey, Xiaomi’s possibility prices a fraction of the $449/£399 Garmin Venu 2 Plus and it covers most key areas. For operating, that features lap breakdowns, common tempo, cadence and coronary heart charge alongside the aforementioned new metrics.

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The one actual draw back to train monitoring on the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 is the shortage of built-in GPS, which means you’ll have to lug your telephone round everytime you’re exercising. It’s widespread alongside budget-focused trackers, but it surely’s irritating nonetheless – particularly should you’ve used a wearable with built-in GPS prior to now.  

For those who do most of your train outside and like the concept of leaving your telephone at house, you would possibly desire the $119.95/£129.99 Fitbit Cost 5 with built-in GPS.

Battery life

• 14-day battery life claims aren’t correct
• Huge sacrifice to knowledge assortment to enhance battery
• At all times-on show shortens battery life by greater than 50%

The Xiaomi Mi Band 7’s battery is bigger than its predecessor at 180mAh in comparison with 125mAh, however with the addition of a bigger show, there isn’t a lot distinction in general battery life.

The corporate claims that it could possibly last as long as 14 days with mild use and 9 days with heavy utilization, however I’ve not fairly discovered that to be the case in testing. With superior monitoring – Sp02 monitoring, fixed coronary heart charge monitoring and extra – enabled, I discovered the Mi Band 7 would final nearer to 7 days earlier than it’d want a top-up.

That solely will get worse should you allow the always-on show, a reality the smartphone alerts you to once you activate it. In reality, it says that it’ll reduce general battery life by over 50 %, and with that and superior monitoring enabled, I ran out of battery inside simply 3 days.  

It’s additionally price noting that, as with most wearables, devoted exercise monitoring may even shorten general battery life.

So, whereas there may be actually potential for lengthy battery life, you’ll should make some huge compromises to take action.

The excellent news is that charging through the contact charger doesn’t take too lengthy, with a full cost in round an hour.

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Value

Xiaomi’s Mi Band assortment has all the time been praised for its inexpensive nature, however that value has slowly crept up through the years, with one other notable bounce this yr.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 will set you again £54.99/€59.99 (round $65), £15/€15 greater than its £40/€45 predecessor. There’s a bigger show and improved monitoring on supply to justify that value hike, and it’s nonetheless one of many least expensive and most succesful round, it’s simply not as low cost because it as soon as was.

For those who’re tempted by Xiaomi’s budget-focused health tracker, you should buy the Mi Band 7 instantly from Xiaomi alongside retailers like Amazon within the UK.

As with most different Xiaomi tech, the Band 7 isn’t out there within the US, however loads of the trackers in our greatest health tracker chart are. We’ve additionally obtained a number of the perfect smartwatches for these looking out for one thing slightly smarter.  

Verdict

The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 stays top-of-the-line budget-level trackers round, with a tempting price ticket and a formidable array of sensors to trace your well being, health and devoted exercises.

The bigger always-on show is a very good addition, serving to showcase the vivid watchfaces on supply whereas making it simpler to learn textual content at a look, although the always-on tech comes at a heavy value to general battery life.

Missing any new good options, the true enhancements are within the health monitoring division with all-day SpO2 monitoring, new exercise metrics (together with VO2 Max) and the flexibility to trace extra exercises than ever earlier than.

It’s slightly pricier than its predecessor, and the shortage of built-in GPS might irk health fanatics, but it surely’s nonetheless an incredible little cheap tracker for maintaining a tally of your normal well being and health.  

Specs

• 1.62in 490×192 AMOLED show
  • 326ppi
  • At all times-on assist
  • As much as 500nits brightness
  • 2.5D tempered glass
• Polycarbonate physique
• 160mm to 224mm interchangeable antibacterial TPU straps
• Aluminium alloy buckle
• Vibration motor
• Optical coronary heart charge sensor
• Blood oxygen saturation monitoring
• Six-axis movement sensor
• 5ATM water resistance
• 100+ watch faces
• 120 sport modes
• Bluetooth 5.2 LE
• 180mAh battery
• 14-day battery life
• 2 POGO pin magnetic charging
• 46.5mm x 20.7mm x 12.25mm
• Customary band colors: White, black, mild blue, cream, darkish inexperienced, orange
• Particular band colors: Camouflage blue, camouflage inexperienced, fluorescent yellow, fluorescent orange
• 13.5 grams
• Helps Android 6.0/iOS 10 and up