Xiaomi started selling Xiaomi Mi Band 2 fitness tracker with an OLED display last week in China for 149 CNY (~$23), but it can also be purchased overseas with the many online resellers, and one of them, GearBest sent me a sample for review, and sells it for $33.91 with coupon GBMI2 once oversea shipping, currency conversion, and possibly some margins are included. Today, I’ll start by taking some pictures of the devices and its accessories, before writing a review in a couple of weeks after testing the device features and battery life.
I received the device in a typical Mi package, and GearBest also included a User service card to encourage people leaving feedback, and helping with returns and issues. That’s the first time I receive this card, so maybe GearBest is trying to improve their customer service.
The product is definitely geared towards the Chinese market, as the specifications are shown in Chinese on the back of the package. The SKU is MGW4022CN, which could be useful to differentiate between China mainland, and international (if any) versions in the future.
The tracker ships with a rubber wristband, a USB charging cable with 2 pogo pins, and a user’s manual in Chinese only.
The QR code points to Mi Fit app in Google Play, the same app as for the previous Mi Band, and matching the language of your phone, at least English, as on my Android phone.
The OLED display is clear enough in the shadow, but as expected it can be hard to read in broad light. The button is not an actual physical button, but a capacitive touch area, so for example if you were standard gloves in winter it won’t work.
There’s an optical sensor and two green LEDs for the heart rate monitor on the back of the tracker.
The wristband itself feels quite strong, and should last a while. In the unlikely case you break it, a replacement sells for $5, and the charging cable is also available for $1.5. It’s always a plus when it’s possible to purchase accessories separately, especially at those low prices. Mi Band 2 tracker is very easy to fit into the band, and stays firmly in place.
I’m currently testing Energympro EP-SH09 fitness tracker, which provides decent heart rate measurement, so I’ll probably use it as a reference against Xiaomi Mi Band 2. I find the latter to look a bit better, and the wristnand to be of better quality.
I also prefer the slightly wider band, which length should be long enough, except for people with fairly large wrists.
While the fitness tracker was already partially charged, I’m now fully charging the wearable device to find out how much truth there’s to the 20-day battery life claim.
I’d like to thank GearBest for sending the sample, and if you are interested, you can pick up one for $33.91 on their website using GBMI2 coupon. Other sellers include GeekBuying ($39.99), Fasttech ($38.99), Amazon US, and others.
Jean-Luc started CNX Software in 2010 as a part-time endeavor, before quitting his job as a software engineering manager, and starting to write daily news, and reviews full time later in 2011.
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I’ve ordered one too… Basically a digital watch with a few clever addons.. hopefully the battery lasts a reliable 2 weeks… that would be enough for me
I’m about to order on. Does this model offer continuous heart rate monitoring? I have the previous model and the fact that you have to tell it when you measure the heartrate made the heart rate function useless for a fitness tracker.
@kyriakos
I’ve played quickly with it this afternoon, and I could not find any way to run the HRM continuously. You can only take one measurement, and they ask you not to move when you do it from the app…
@cnxsoft
thanks. that sounds exactly like the older version then. in a fitness tracker you need to be able to record heart-rate over a period of time.
This is an activity tracker, NOT a fitness tracker. What you are expecting is para medical tracker with a cardio belt, cost 100 times more and have a battery life up to 6 hours.
@kyriakos @Singman
Then our bracelet does it (activity tracking) as it offer continuous HEART RATE monitoring:
http://www.cnx-software.com/2016/06/06/energympro-ep-sh-09-bluetooth-le-fitness-tracker-features-ams-as7000-biosensor/
I just received it today and just tried it and am totally impressed by the precision and the reliability of its measurements.
@cnxsoft
I bought this app for Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=cz.zdenekhorak.mibandtools&hl=en_GB ..that enables continuous HR monitoring on the older Mi Band and also incorporates a better algorithm for measurements, it links in with Google Fit and has a keen and helpful developer. If he incorporates the Mi Band 2 into this app I would highly recommend it.
Energympro will announce the optional longer strap soon, the design looks good.
After 7 days the battery was down to 70%, so battery life appears to be on track. I had only enabled notifications for phone calls. I’ve enabled SMS and apps notification for the second week.
Activity tracking (step count) is working OK, but the HRM is completely useless. Beside the lack of continuous tracking, you can’t move when you use it. If I walk or run it won’t get a value.