REVIEW: Xiaomi Mi Band 1S - update of the most popular fitness tracker

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The latest version of the world's most popular wearable device Xiaomi Mi Band has got a heart rate monitor, has become stronger and more expensive. Today we are talking about the advantages and disadvantages of Xiaomi Mi Band 1S, as well as whether it is worth overpaying for them.

The first version of the Mi Band turned out to be extremely successful, and therefore extremely popular. How else? There is simply no analogue on the market that has such a set of functions, build quality and cost. During the New Year's sales, the gadget could be purchased for $ 12, and in some cases for $ 8 - an extremely low price for a fitness tracker. Today we take a look at the updated Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse, which claims to be the new king of wearable electronics.

Equipment

Xiaomi is famous for its minimalism. This applies to both gadgets and their packaging. In the case of everything the same: nothing superfluous, neither outside nor inside. The device comes in a small recycled cardboard box. Inside there is only the tracker itself, a bracelet, a charger and an instruction.

Appearance

The main part of the bracelet is a polycarbonate capsule, closed on top by a magnesium alloy panel with polished edges and three windows for LEDs. Unlike the first version of Mi Band with tricolor diodes, the novelty is equipped with white diodes (just like the second version of the device).

There are other differences as well. The body has become a little larger on the bottom side: there is a slight thickening and a transparent window. Behind it is a heart rate sensor, which, after connecting with a smartphone, flashes green. Externally, the bracelet remained unchanged, the traditional fastening has been preserved: first, the strap is threaded through the loop, then it is fixed on the clasp.

However, now the bracelet is made of a tougher material, which is designed to provide better safety: many users of previous models complained about the quick failure of the bracelet, stretching and breaking.

The bracelet is still not felt on the hand, does not slip or cling to clothing.

The hole into which the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S capsule is inserted has also not changed only externally. It still allows you to install the gadget in any way, but has increased dimensions for the "eye" of the heart rate monitor. Because of this, the bracelets are backwards incompatible. The new Mi Band 1S can be inserted into an old bracelet, but on the contrary, it will not work: the capsule will fall out. The length of the strap remains the same and is adjustable within the range of 157–205 mm.

Specifications

• Capsule materials: magnesium alloy, polycarbonate.
• Bracelet materials: thermoplastic silicone vulcanizate.
• Enclosure protection class: IP67.
• Functions: heart rate measurement, pedometer, distance and calories burned, sleep monitoring, smart alarm, call notifications, tablet / smartphone unlocking (only for MIUI v6 OS).
• Sensors: 3-axis accelerometer, optical heart rate monitor.
• Indication: 3 white LEDs, vibration motor.
• Battery: Built-in 45mAh lithium polymer.
• Autonomous work: officially - up to 30 days, in fact - 10-15 days.
• Wireless connection: Bluetooth 4.0 / 4.1 LE.
• Working temperature: from –20 to +70 ° C.
• Dimensions (edit): 37 x 13.6 x 9.9 mm.
• The weight: 5, 5 g.
• Compatibility: iOS 7 / Android 4.3 / BlackBerry OS 10 / Windows Phone 8.1 or later.

Functionality

To use the tracker, you need to download the official Mi Fit app and create a Xiaomi account, which will store the settings and collected data.

To use unofficial programs, which in some cases may be better, you must have a registered account. Like the earlier version, the updated fitness tracker counts the distance traveled, sleep time in fast and slow phases, and can wake up in REM sleep (smart alarm). The data is first saved in the tracker itself, then transferred to the smartphone.

The sleep mode seems to have been improved. The tracker still wakes up spontaneously, according to users, in the range of up to 30 minutes from the specified time. A person in a fast sleep phase wakes up from a threefold vibration. But if there were enough complaints about the work of Mi Band (version with tricolor diodes) and Mi Band 2 (version with white LEDs), now there are practically none. As before, only three alarms can be set.

The pedometer in the new Mi Band 1S works much more correctly. It is enough to set your data in the settings - height and weight, and you can hit the road. At the same time, independent calculations differ from the tracker data by 3-4%, not more. Steps are counted and converted into meters when walking, climbing stairs. However, in some cases - due to excessive sensitivity - the bracelet may consider other actions as steps, up to washing dishes. Interestingly, the distance traveled remains virtually unchanged. Apparently, this was done on purpose.

In addition, it was noticed that the bracelet can lie a little about running: Mi Fit perceives a brisk walk as running.

The main thing in the new version of Mi Band is the heart rate monitor. Pulse measurements are carried out using the photoplethysmogram method: the data is collected using a light source, the role of which in this case is played by a green LED.

Measurements are carried out in three modes. The main one is manual, activated through the application in the Heart Rate item. The smartphone will ask you to raise your wrist to chest level, after which you will need to press the measurement button: the timer will count down 5 seconds, calculate and save it in history.

In fact, it is not necessary to raise your hand: the pulse is measured quite correctly in any free position of the hand, only the tight fit of the pulse sensor is important (you can press it with your free hand or just with your finger). In the case of a free landing, the measurement error sharply increases. But if everything is done correctly, it will be no more than 2–5 beats per minute (the data was verified using an independent measurement and a tonometer on the same hand).

The second way to use the heart rate monitor is running mode. In it, the device measures the heart rate automatically every 30 seconds, and at the end gives an average value. In addition, the function of running with weights is available, but you should not chase after it, since the algorithm has not yet been debugged and this mode does not really work.

There is an additional automatic mode for measuring the heart rate during sleep. Enabling it improves the quality of the alarm clock and complements the statistical information about sleep: in addition to the duration of the REM and slow sleep phases, the application displays the average number of heart beats per minute. Unfortunately, the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S, despite the ability to synchronize with third-party services, cannot work as a separate heart rate monitor. At least for now.

Applications

The functionality of the gadget depends on the application used. Although it works with both iOS and Android, the full capabilities of the device are revealed in the Google operating system. But there are also several nuances here.

At the moment, the official version on Google Play () is able to measure the heart rate in sleep and in manual mode, allows you to fully use the standard Mi Band functionality and synchronize data with the MyFitnessPal and Google Fit applications. Unlike the official Chinese version, you cannot link the bracelet with Xiaomi Mi Smart Scale and Xiaomi sneakers. Also, the running function is not available, which is separately launched through the application.

There is, distributed through the company store. When using a Xiaomi smartphone or any other smartphone with MIUI 6 firmware, the bracelet allows you to unlock the screen of your smartphone or tablet. True, in this Mi Fit, synchronization with MyFitnessPal and Google Fit is not available, but there are other, no less interesting functions. As already mentioned, you can set up synchronization of the device with sneakers or smart scales from Xiaomi. In addition, there is a voice assistant for the running mode (and there is a Russian translation for it, however, in). And, according to some reports, it is possible to build a walking or jogging track (this point has not been verified).

App for iOS, apparently, is not a priority for Xiaomi. Its functionality is the same as that of the Android version. But the application is displayed correctly only on the iPhone 5: it is not adapted for the screens of the iPhone 4 and iPhone 6. At the same time, there is support for HealthKit and synchronization with Mi Scale.

There is no official Windows Phone app at all. Amateur version only.

All official applications allow you to set up notifications (for Android 4.4 and higher and iOS) about incoming calls and from three applications to choose from. When a call is made, the device vibrates twice, pauses and continues the cycle while the call is in progress (by the way, you can adjust the delay from the start of the call so as not to experience unnecessary discomfort).

Unofficial assemblies on w3bsit3-dns.com allow you to choose a larger number of applications from which notifications will come (currently being tested, update - later). To enable notifications, you must enable them in the system settings. Android 4.4: "Settings" → "Security" → "Access to notifications"; Android 5.0: Settings → Sounds & Notifications → Access Notifications.

Battery life

The capacity of the built-in battery has not decreased compared to the previous version and is the same 45 mAh. Full charge time - up to two hours. The operating time of new items with a heart rate monitor is much lower than the usual Mi Band: according to reviews available on the Web, the gadget can exist autonomously for about 10-15 days. Depending on the intensity of use, of course.

With a couple of forced heart rate measurements, the bracelet consumes about 4% of the charge per day. If you have an hourly training, another 5% is added to this figure. When used at work, where I manage to run about 30-40 kilometers a day (no, not a courier - an engineer) and constantly receive notifications, the device works for about 8-10 days from a full charge. But! Then the bracelet turns off the heart rate measurement and the pedometer and works only as an alarm clock and alert signal for about 5-8 days.

Usability and conclusions

The gadget turned out to be balanced and very convenient, and with a current cost of up to $ 27, it has practically no alternative. The bracelet does not interfere at all and is almost invisible when worn: you can really sleep with it, go to the shower, and not just run. The modes available in the official app are pretty much everything you need from a fitness tracker. They will allow you to effectively jog and monitor physical activity in the absence of global health problems. The heart rate monitor is a great addition to your usual functions. It will help not only in fitness classes, but also for the early prevention of heart disease.

Unlike the early version, the body of the new Xiaomi Mi Band 1S does not leak (during testing, the device was not removed either in the shower or in the bath), it works adequately at a temperature of about -17 degrees Celsius (it did not fall below) and shows very good results in sleep monitoring mode.

Apparently, the alarm clock works correctly due to the additional information collected by the heart rate monitor. Mi Band really wakes up in a phase of REM sleep, making it much easier to wake up - get up and go. The feeling of not getting enough sleep completely disappears. During testing, I felt it on my own skin. I am a night owl, and getting up every day at 5 am is a real torment for me. It was. Before using Xiaomi Mi Band.

Thus, thanks to the cost, already close to the cost of the first generation Xiaomi fitness tracker, Mi Band 1S not only continued, but also surpassed the success of the Mi Band. Now the gadget can be purchased (with coupon GBMI1S).