Smart watch mi. Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Bip is the best smartwatch without any but and if. Characteristics and main feature

Amazfit Bip is the best smartwatch for daily use and sports, outperforming even more expensive models in a number of ways. They have been on sale for a very long time, to be precise - about half a year, but at the same time, unlike sports bracelets, Mi Band is undeservedly deprived of attention. And in vain. After all, in fact, they combine the functionality of the sports bracelet Mi Band 2 and the legendary, but already outdated smart watch Pebble 2. At the same time, there are unique properties that distinguish the model from the few competitors.

To better understand what the Amazfit Bip is good for, I will list the most interesting features of the device:

A transflective color display that works like e-ink during the day, reflecting daylight, and at night or in low light conditions, transmits light from the built-in backlight.
Amazing autonomy. From one charge, the watch can work up to 45 days of use.
Built-in GPS module that allows you to use the watch as a tracker without using a smartphone. Record your tracks on the watch, and at home by synchronizing with the Mi Fit application, see everything in detail and with complete statistics.
IP68 protection: swim in the pool, use in the rain - it's safe for the watch
Lots of sports functions: pedometer, heart rate tracking (also online when training)
Monitor the quality of sleep, can be used as an alarm clock
Receive information about incoming calls directly to the watch screen, some actions can be done without taking out your smartphone (switch to silent mode, hang up). In addition to this notification from any application, SMS messages - everything will be displayed on the screen, they support the Cyrillic alphabet.
Wide customization options, hundreds of Russified dials that can be installed for free through the application.
Nice appearance and high-quality materials, small thickness, replaceable straps

And these are just the main features. For details, welcome to my review. And to begin with, we will traditionally get acquainted with the technical characteristics:

The watch is delivered in a miniature box on which you can see only the Amazfit logo. In some stores, the watch can be seen as Huami Amazfit, in some Xiaomi Amazfit. So who is the manufacturer really? The manufacturer is Huami, but they are closely cooperating with Xiaomi, it is believed that they even own part of the assets. Xiaomi, in turn, helps with product promotion, development, software integration, etc. Therefore, a more correct option would sound like Xiaomi Huami Amazfit. Did you know, for example, that Mi Band bracelets were also developed by Huami? I don't think so :) In any case, this is just marketing, because Xiaomi is known all over the world and it is much easier to promote products under this brand.

On the reverse side you can see the main characteristics of the watch and information about the manufacturer.

I chose the classic color Onyx Black, you can also find colors on sale: orange, gray and army green. If over time you want to change the look of the watch, you can purchase a bumper - a cover plate of a different color.

In the kit you can find a charger - docking station powered by usb. The watch is installed in the dock quite rigidly, with little effort. I would like a simpler implementation of charging, for example, with a magnetic pad, but given that the watch will have to be charged no more than once every few weeks, this is not a big problem.

There is also an instruction in English, where, among other things, there is a qr code leading to the official Mi Fit application. But I would recommend installing a third-party Mi Fit client, for example from miui.su, then when you receive a call you can set it to display the name in Russian. In the standard version, the “incoming call” inscription will simply be displayed from the market, this is due to localization, because the clock supports the Cyrillic alphabet.

The watch itself looks pretty attractive. The rectangular case made of polycarbonate is quite durable - I am not a neat user and often the watch falls under the distribution, meeting with door frames or furniture, the case endures all these everyday life. As well as the glass itself, on which I did not glue any films. The manufacturer claims the third generation Corning Gorilla Glass and apparently this is so, although in the beach season you need to be careful, because the sand can scratch it elementarily (on the Mohs scale, it has a higher hardness). Another positive point is the high-quality oleophobic coating - the finger glides perfectly on the glass without leaving grease. And even if streaks appear on the screen, then just brush the surface on the T-shirt once and the glass is crystal clear again.

The only physical button is located on the right side, it is needed to unlock the watch or force the backlight to turn on. The backlight can also be activated with a gesture, as if you were looking at a regular watch, this is important in the dark when the ambient light is not enough to view the contents of the screen.

The screen itself is perfectly readable without backlighting during daylight hours. In fact, the brighter the ambient light, the brighter the screen appears. For example, a photo of a watch in direct sunlight:

The strap is made of silicone, it is very soft and flexible - the watch is not felt at all on the hand. Together with the low weight and thickness of the watch, this makes it virtually invisible in everyday wear. I'm not used to sleeping in a watch, but with Amazefit Bip everything has changed - I'm interested in keeping track of the phases and duration of sleep, I started using the alarm clock and they absolutely do not interfere with my sleep! The range of sizes is wide, with my thin hand I fasten the strap in 4 divisions and there is a lot to roam both in the smaller and larger sides.

Those who have been wearing watches for several months already note that the soft touch coating on the strap begins to wear off over time, but this is not scary, because you can replace it with another one - the fasteners are quite standard (20 mm), and you can find a huge amount on sale straps of different colors from different materials (rubber, leather, metal). For variety, prices start at $ 3.

The next photo clearly shows the strap attachment. You can replace it yourself, without going to the workshop. Also on the reverse side you can see the heart rate sensor, it is optical here.

The heart monitor works in this way - there are LEDs emitting green light at the top and bottom. And between them, in the center, there is a photosensor that detects changes in the flow of light, which changes depending on the expansion or narrowing of blood vessels, and, accordingly, the density of the blood flow. This method is called optical plethysmography and gives fairly accurate readings if all the conditions for correct measurement are met, namely, the skin should not be wet. I compared the accuracy with the Omron tonometer, which also knows how to count the pulse. At rest, the result is almost always the same. But if you run out of sweat during training and your hands are literally flooded with it, the error can be much higher. In any case, the plethysmography method is less accurate than electrocardiography (used in chest heart rate monitors), but since I am far from a professional athlete, an error of 2 - 3 beats, well, even 5, does not bother me. It's more for dynamics, let's say I was interested in tracking how quickly the heart rate returns to normal after a short run of 1 km. The results upset me. During the winter period of time, when I did not lift anything heavier than a mouse or a sandwich, and movement was limited mainly by the room and the car, I lost my shape a lot: (It's time to start running in the morning ...

A couple more pictures on the hand, so that you can evaluate the "fit".

Perhaps looking at my photos someone got the impression that the screen is black and white, like in e-ink e-books. This is not entirely true, the screen is very similar to the one used in readers, but it is more perfect. And at the same time colored. I just chose such a dial, because it seemed to me the most informative, and the black and white tones made it as contrasting and readable as possible. You can, of course, put something bright and colorful, but somehow I played enough with the dials and I want the most simple minimalism. For those who have a different opinion, the watch has about a dozen pre-installed dials.

But mostly the dials there are complete nonsense. If you want a truly cool and informative watch face, then you need to install the Amazfit Bip Watchfaces app from the market. All watch faces here are free, and there are really a lot of them. If not thousands, then hundreds for sure. There is a separate section with Russified dials, the collection is constantly replenished.

Well, for example - several larger dials. There is plenty to choose from :)

Now let's go through the capabilities of the watch, first I want to explain the difference between the Chinese and international versions. The only difference is in the language - in Chinese you will find hieroglyphs and the need to flash (there are instructions on w3bsit3-dns.com, nothing complicated). International version - in English. Is it possible to make a complete Russification? No. It is possible to partially Russify (only the names of the sections), but I do not see any point in this, because all the same, all menu items and settings remain in English. All messages, notifications, the main screen (dial) and the Mi Fit app are already in Russian.

Let's look at all the possibilities from the watch, the first item is activity, here you can see how many steps you have walked since the beginning of the day, distance in kilometers, the number of calories burned, the last readings of the heart rate monitor, and also how many times you were "kicked" by the clock for inactivity. This function is activated in the settings via a smartphone. The watch will notify you if you have not shown any noticeable activity for an hour.

The next point most interesting for athletes and people leading a healthy lifestyle is activity. There are 4 programs here: running on the street, cycling, treadmill, walking. Depending on the program, different functions are activated and different information is collected. For example, when walking, GPS is activated and the watch records the track, notifying you with vibration about each kilometer traveled. When cycling, besides the track, the speed is also recorded. But we don't need GPS on the treadmill :) Information is collected for hours autonomously, without the participation of a smartphone. That is, when leaving for a morning run, you don't even need to take your smartphone, all data will be collected for hours, and the next time you sync with the Mi Fit app, it will be available on your smartphone.

Of course, information about activity can be viewed directly on the watch screen, depending on the program, various information will be available. You will be shown your track (of course, without overlaying the map), and will be given statistical information: activity time, distance, heart rate, number of calories burned, speed, etc.

But compared to the information you can get at home, this is pampering. In the Mi Fit application, you can view your track on a map from Google, as well as get all the information in a more detailed form, including the heart rate, which is automatically tracked in real time during activity.

But back to the clock. The next item is the weather, its watch is pulled from the smartphone when synchronized. You can see both the current weather and a few days ahead. But it is more useful that weather information can be used in watch faces, that is, in fact, you will always see the current temperature outside, even without removing the lock from the screen. This is natural, provided that your watch and smartphone are constantly connected via bluetooth.

Alarm. More precisely, several alarms. You can add and change the time only from the application, from the clock itself, you can only activate and deactivate the desired alarm. There is also a stopwatch and a countdown timer.

The next tab is the compass. Here you can see the coordinates of the location (GPS is turned on), altitude and atmospheric pressure.

The last tab is dedicated to settings. In the settings, you can change the dial, but only from the pre-installed ones - to install more dials, you need to install “Amazfit Bip Watchfaces” on your smartphone from the market. You can also assign an action to a long press of the lock button, for example, so that when pressed, the running program will automatically start. The brightness of the backlight is also adjusted here, which by default stands at 3 out of five divisions. In fact, one division is sufficient for normal use. In addition, there is a search function for a smartphone, you can view information about the firmware, reset to factory settings and turn off the clock.

If you swipe up from the main screen (dial), then we get to the screen where the "do not disturb" mode is turned on / off, in this mode you will not be notified of missed events.

If you swipe down from the home screen, then you can view the notifications that you received on the watch (from applications, messages, etc.). The Russian language is displayed correctly, but if the message contains emoticons or the Ukrainian letter i, then question marks will be displayed instead. The length is limited to two screens on the watch and if the message is longer, it will be truncated.

When there is an incoming call, the name of the caller is displayed, just like in the phone book. You can press "ignore" and the smartphone will go into silent mode, and the watch will stop vibrating. Or press the end call and drop the call. For a conversation, of course, you need to use a smartphone.

Well, I'll show you how the screen looks in complete darkness with the backlight on.

Now I'll tell you a little about the possibilities in a smartphone. Those who have used Mi Band bracelets are well acquainted with the Mi Fit application, for the rest it will probably be interesting to look at the main points.

On the main screen, you can see the current progress of your activity - how many steps you walked, how much distance. Moreover, it is possible to consider everything in detail, minute by minute - how much was walking, how much fast walking, running or insignificant activity (with small movements around the room). If you sleep in hours, then you can evaluate the quality of sleep - slow sleep, REM sleep, and the number of awakenings. The program will also give an assessment of the overall quality of sleep and recommendations. Further, if you go in for sports and use activity programs, you can go to see a detailed training report, I have already shown this. The next section is weight, here is only what you specified in the settings. But if you have smart scales from xiaomi, then the weight is also synchronized with the application and you can watch it change in dynamics. The final section is your achievements, here you can see how many days you covered the set value of steps (the value can be changed in the settings).

Of particular interest to me is the statistics on the pulse. In the settings, you can select continuous heart rate tracking at intervals of 1 minute, 10 minutes or 30 minutes. 10 and 30 minutes are not particularly useful, but every minute measurement gives an idea of your physical shape. Then you can analyze the information by comparing what you were doing and the pulse at that time. By the way, the battery discharges quite moderately, even with a minute-by-minute measurement. You can also set the pulse to be measured only at night, during sleep. This has a beneficial effect on the accuracy of determining the phases of sleep. During any workout (activating activity mode), the heart rate monitor always turns on automatically, even if it is disabled in the settings.

A bit of customization options: you can choose applications from which notifications will come, absolutely any. I added Viber on the first day and turned it off by the evening, because I was tired of constant vibrations)) It turned out that I don't want to know so often what they write to me there)) You can receive messages, notification of the completion of the goal by the steps taken, a message disconnect, low activity notification, etc. There are many settings and they are quite flexible, you can adjust everything "for yourself".

Now for autonomy. We are promised up to 45 days of work from a single charge, but in fact, this maximum can be obtained only if you use the watch very sparingly. In real conditions, with active use, this time will be less. A small example. The first 3 days I used the watch to the maximum - notifications from all applications, constant settings, watch face updates and automatic heart rate measurement every minute. In this mode, after 3 days I had 86% of the charge left, that is, I ate 14% of the battery. In this mode, the clock would have worked for 21 days. Then I turned off the daily heart rate measurement, switched it to "night mode", when the clock measures bullets only at night. In 4 days, the battery lost 11%. That is, in this mode, the clock will live 36 days. After that, I completely turned off the heart rate measurement, but at the same time I began to use the training mode every day when GPS is activated (about 1 hour a day). In this mode, the battery has lost another 19%, that is, a full charge will last only 10.5 days. This is due to the high battery consumption with active GPS, according to my calculations, for an hour of operation of the navigator, it consumes 5% of the charge. But this is a very good result, that is, in fact, the watch can work autonomously as a tracker for 20 hours in a row. After analyzing all the data, in my activity mode (with little training, a lot of notification, maximum backlight brightness and constant sync via bluetooth), the watch can work from 2 to 3 weeks. And this is a very good result. If you do not use sports functions (GPS, heart rate sensor), but use the watch only for notifications, then they can easily live on one charge for a month or more, which can be confirmed by other owners.

Summing up, I can state the fact that this is the best watch for practical people that can be purchased at the moment. In my opinion, they are completely devoid of critical flaws and are ideal for both athletes (or people who take care of their health) and ordinary users who use the watch as an assistant for their smartphone. Yes, you can choose a more attractive (but also more expensive) watch with a beautiful OLED screen, but then you can immediately forget about the amazing autonomy. Good OLED watches live no more than 5 days under active load, and Chinese noname 1 - 2 days, which no longer goes into any gate. There are minor flaws here, for example, the lack of full Russification in the settings of the clock itself (as for me, this is generally a trifle) and some wishes for improving the software (for example, I would like to be able to add new alarms not from the application, but directly from the clock). But in general, these are all nitpicks, because the advantages simply force you to close your eyes: a nice design, an excellent screen that does not require backlighting in the daytime, amazing autonomy, built-in GPS and protection according to the IP68 standard.

Smart watches Xiaomi, will be an ideal purchase for people involved in sports and simply taking great care of their health. They will become a great accessory, complementing absolutely any image, whether it is completely sporty or casual style. The wide functionality of the watch allows you to track heart rate, the number of steps or kilometers traveled during a walk, calories burned. Also, the device is synchronized with your smartphone and duplicates all incoming calls and messages. Therefore, being in a place where there are a lot of people and noisy, you will definitely not miss important information. During sleep, the watch tracks its quality, carrying out full monitoring.

The line of models of Xiaomi watches is so large that it is not difficult to choose a device for every taste and color. Our catalog contains gadgets with round and square dials, with straps made of genuine leather, rubber or silicone, models made of plastic and metal .. Delivery is carried out in Moscow and other cities.

Sports smartwatches are a bit of a special genre. They have many advantages, but there are also disadvantages common to all smartwatches. Let's take a look at how this device was implemented by Huami, commissioned by Xiaomi. I have a Chinese version of the device in my hands, at the end of the post I will also tell you how to "anglify" it - to overcome most of the hieroglyphs. The cost of the watch can be found at this link (just in case, this is for the nervous, who do not like to read about expensive accessories).

First, let's take a look at how the watch looks on the wrist. After all, this smartphone can be constantly carried in your pocket, and a watch is such an accessory that is always in sight.

When you have such a watch on your wrist, it is immediately clear that you are a kind of athlete-runner. The design is not strict, but sporty, at the same time, I would not call it frivolous. But you shouldn't wear such a watch with a jacket, they won't understand, sir. Watching the video. It turned out to be a marriage in the image - the clock is dark, I made the camera darker, but it somehow failed: (Sorry.

However, if you replace the standard complete straps with metal ones, it will be much more impressive. Fortunately, the watch mounts are the most standard, at 22 mm.

In the photo above, you can also see the heart rate sensor working on "light". The accuracy of this technology is not high, ± 10%, however, for non-professional athletes this is enough; it makes no sense to mess with bulky chest straps if you run several kilometers in the evenings.

The watch has a small round display made using OLED technology. Below is a small dark area where nothing is displayed. Many smartwatches have such a site.

Despite the fact that the additional illumination of the watch very dim(due to this, it looks disgusting on the camera), OLED technology allows you to make a very contrasting image, and readability in the sun or in bright light is simply amazing. The only thing is that in difficult conditions the screen may glare slightly, then it is better to turn it perpendicularly towards you. Let's watch the video - it just shows that part of it was filmed in bright light, part - in the dark, and the readability on the clock is almost the same (in the dark it is a little better, but due to the fact that the camera does not cope - it seems which is worse).

Also look at the photo of the watch next to the SD card (otherwise you don't know what size my hands are).

Let's move on to exploring the possibilities. Since the watch is sports, a lot of attention was paid to measuring the heart rate, as well as working with running, cycling, and so on. By the way, pay attention to the fact that even on a slightly patted screen, everything is visible well, attention is not emphasized on fingerprints.

In addition to running and walking outdoors, it is also possible to measure running on a simulator, cycling, and riding on a simulator. By the way, the watch supports a cadence sensor for cyclists, unfortunately, I did not have such a sensor, so I could not check its operation.

In addition, there is a "treadmill" mode - it differs in that the counting of calories and the distance traveled depends on the differences in altitude. On the same screen, as you can see, there is “activity” and settings.

Everything is clear in the settings and there are all the necessary things for non-professional training. For example, the watch can warn you with vibration if your heart rate is above the recommended zone, as well as adjust it if you run too slowly.

You can also set the time after which there will be a warning, or the distance. In the Chinese version, all warnings are pronounced in Chinese.

The watch also has a kind of "reward system" - after meeting certain standards, you are given a variety of badges. Please note that the English translation in this version is incorrect - although the watch says I have run five miles, it is actually kilometers. In the Chinese version of the interface, the distance, by the way, is calculated in Li (half a kilometer), and the weight is set in Jin (half a kilometer).

Statistics are very convenient. You can see how much you ran in total, you can go to each workout and check it out. Even a small track is shown, however, without a map. You can see what the heart rate sensor was intending.

The sensor, by the way, works constantly, and not only during training. You can analyze your activity throughout the day, see how it was last day, on average for a week.

Of course, the watch can also be used as a standalone music player. You can upload music to the watch yourself (if you connect them - they are added like a regular Android smartphone in store mode, just throw it into the Music folder), and you can also use Watercress FM - a service that gives you 30 interesting high-energy tracks for each workout. Russian letters in track names are displayed correctly, no problems arise with this.

Weather widget - takes information from a smartphone or via Wi-Fi. There is also a compass in case you get lost in the woods. As you can see, in my half English version, these components are still in Chinese. As I understand it, the English version of the watch should be out just now.

Navigation through the device is done with swipes. I told you about the main menu (default applications) that switch with a horizontal swipe. The last of them is the number of steps in the "large" version, as well as a stopwatch.

The settings are also located here. For example, you can connect Bluetooth headphones, "find" the linked phone.

In general, in my opinion, the functionality of the watch is interesting. An insignificant number of hieroglyphs does not interfere - in principle, everything is obvious.

Scope of delivery and packaging

The watch arrived in such a beautiful box. It is immediately evident that the manufacturer is associated with Xiaomi.

Another photo of the watch without taking it out of the box, but with the film removed.

The package is "necessary and sufficient" - a clock, a microUSB cord, a cradle for charging and synchronization. Since the watch is waterproof, the manufacturer did not punch holes in the case, and he did the right thing. But, alas, without the cradle, you cannot charge or fill the music.

Software

Perhaps this is the weakest side of the Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Watch at the moment. To work with the watch, a separate Amazfit Watch application is used, and not the traditional Mi Fit or Huami Amazfit. The functionality of the application is weak, in fact, it serves only for synchronization and installation of watchfaces.

There are many watchfaces, they are beautiful. I think they will do even more. You can also see the status of the watch, how much memory is in it, etc.

Apps can be turned on or off. At the end of the review, I will tell you how to install additional. And now, perhaps, the most unpleasant thing. You can view sleep and workout data only in the Mi Fit and Mi Dong apps. I didn't start Mi Fit (due to the fact that I have a Mi Band - the data just merged from it, there was no migration assistant). And in Mi Dong there is data on training, but not on sleep.

In my opinion, this is an obvious hack, you can't do that. Hours are already a month, and so far the situation has not changed. However, Xiaomi's apps have never been particularly sharp. Often everything had to be completed by enthusiasts. There is only hope that the watch is entering the American market, and there such shoals are not forgiven. At least on the page of the American version of the watch, the upcoming support for Strava (for training results) is announced. Where to look at sleep statistics is still unclear.

Translation of the Chinese version

Initially, the watch came with the Chinese language of the app and the watch itself. Subsequently, the application was translated into English. The same thing happened with the clock - only the users are not shown this interface yet. starting with firmware version 1.2, you can translate the interface in the watch. There are flaws in the translation (you could see them on the screens), and not all applications have been translated yet. However, this is better than nothing.

The "Anglicification" of the watch is performed using a debugging utility for Android, ADB. It can be downloaded together with the Android development software, or merged separately using this link. After installation, we launch the terminal, connect the clock with a wire to the computer, and write the commands in the terminal line by line, after each pressing Enter.

You enter all commands at your own peril and risk, we do not give any guarantees, your watch may deteriorate, and even explode, scattering everything around.

So, let's begin.

Adb kill-server adb start-server adb shell

this is how you enter the clock, a prompt will appear in the terminal [email protected]: /. Continue typing commands.

Setprop persist.sys.language en adb reboot

After that, your watch will restart

By the way, regarding the Chinese version of Amazfit, the technical support directly stated that "there will be no English in Chinese watches until the end of the year." I suspect this limitation is artificial. But be prepared for the fact that in the near future the method of translating Chinese clocks into English may stop working.

Battery life

The clock works for 2-3 days if you run in the evenings, 3-4 days if you do not run, but only receive notifications, more than 5 days if you use them mainly as a pedometer and, in fact, a watch. The autonomy is not bad, the main thing is that they do not need to be charged constantly.

Most of the energy is consumed by running with the GPS turned on, as well as listening to music.

A full charge with the bundled cord and from Tronsmart charging took me about 50 minutes. The watch consumed a maximum current of 0.5A at 5V.

Damage resistant and waterproof

During testing, I repeatedly touched door frames and metal surfaces in the subway for hours. Absolutely no damage happened. Just fine.

Also, one time I forgot to take off my watch while taking a shower. Also no consequences.

Total

Xiaomi is positioning itself in China as the new Apple. Some even believe it. But this is not the case. Even Apple's controversial smartwatch, released when the apple was no longer the same, looks more balanced and less glitchy.

I like the Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Watch because it looks impressive and also works for a long time. They constantly measure their pulse, regularly send notifications. But all this concerns precisely the "hour" part. It is worth going to the telephone - and some kind of fierce trash begins. If you need a watch in order to use it only as a tracker / player / notifier / GPS, then the device is excellent. They are not suitable for in-depth analysis of sports achievements.

But, in general, in all honesty, how often do you look at this analysis?

The watch was provided for testing by Gearbest. Therefore, here

Smart watches appeared more than 10 years ago. Now they differ in design and feature set. But, unfortunately, they are still overpriced. Xiaomi compares favorably against this background.

Features of the selected models

This Chinese company started out with mobile phones, tablets and TVs. Xiaomi quickly takes a leading position in the market, but continues to develop software that is focused on the layman and is able to quickly solve emerging problems.

The main distinguishing feature of this brand's smartwatches is its affordable price. However, in addition to this, users highlight the following characteristics:

Large display.
High resolution screen, which will make the image clear.
The capacious battery can hold a charge up to 5 days.
Recharging lasts no more than one hour.
A special operating system has been developed to manage the watch.
High protection class enclosure.
The presence of a variety of functionality.
Opportunity to replace the strap.

And also Xiaomi smartwatches have their own silicone strap, which has anti-fogging protection.

Advantages and disadvantages

Xiaomi devices have the following advantages:

The heart rate sensor will be useful for those who lead a healthy lifestyle.
GPS will show not only the location, but also the speed of movement. This will make it possible to adjust your training program.
Even in bad weather, the image will be clear, the screen will not lose its brightness.
The watch's memory holds up to 500 tracks, which allows you to listen to music via Bluetooth.
You can receive notifications about messages from social networks, SMS, calls.
Will organically look on a female or male hand.

But, there are also disadvantages of smartwatches:

You cannot install your own applications - the software will not allow this.
The heart rate sensor is set to a specific algorithm, so the readings may vary.
They do not stand out for their original design.

But all the "disadvantages" of this device pale in comparison with its affordable cost.

What to look for when choosing

In order not to be disappointed in this device, during its purchase it is worth listening to the following tips:

What are the features of the watch. All such devices have several levels: basic, intermediate and advanced, which differ in their potential.
Which control method: touch or push-button.
The material from which the watch case is made.
Display type: monochrome or color.
How long does the charge last, power supply method.
What functionality does it have.
The detachable strap will allow you to change the image.
The larger the diagonal of the watch, the easier it is to operate.

It's good if the device is protected from dust and moisture.

Xiaomi Mi Band

"Xiaomi Mi Band" consists of an oval shape, the module of which has a matte chrome finish, and the neat beveled corners have a black or any other rubber band. That's all - no uncomfortable fasteners, straps, just a convenient, beautiful and cheap fitness bracelet that everyone can wear. In wearing, you can choose the left or right hand, as well as the neck.

Mi Band has a very compact product, the bracelet looks stylish and neat on the hand, in size does not exceed a small wristwatch.

"Xiaomi Mi Band" is also waterproof- and some very expensive devices may not cope with such a mission. It's also a ridiculously lightweight fitness bracelet that doesn't restrict wrist movement like many other bracelets do.

There is no display on the bracelet, but there are three LEDs - the colors can be adjusted in the app associated with the “Xiaomi Mi Band”, which will show your progress. For example, the bottom LED will flash if you have covered less than 30% of your path.

Sleep control - y "Xiaomi Mi Band" takes about half an hour to figure out. He himself monitors the phases of sleep.

It can work through bluetooth, of course, if you do not need it all day or you are not confused by the notifications on the phone. It is fully compatible with IPhone and Android and also works with Google.

ANDhave a couple of distinctive fitness features: alarm, vibration when someone calls you.

There are three LED indicators on the front of the device, they will notify the owner that the device is fully charged and ready for use. These indicators can light up in different colors.

If you downloaded the app "Xiaomi Mi Band" on your phone - you can also set your fitness bracelet as a secure device with its smart lock feature. Therefore, when the bracelet is nearby, your phone will unlock automatically.

The bracelet can help you count your exercise. The app itself determines what kind of physical activity you are doing. One of the functions that the application has is to determine your movements, where the load is directed. This will allow this type of activity to be counted in physical activity.

If you have forgotten where you left the fitness bracelet in the apartment, then the application itself will be able to find it. But for this you need to keep the apartment as quiet as possible, after which you should select the function you need to search in the settings. Then the device will emit vibration.

Pros:

Protection against water and dust: according to the IP67 standard.
Strap: Detachable, several colors and types available to choose from.
Connection: Bluetooth 4.0 LE.
Sensors: accelerometer, pedometer.
Indication: 3 one-color LED indicators, vibration signal.

Minuses:

There is no microphone.
No speaker.
No GPS.
No heart rate monitor.
Waves of hands are counted as steps.
During training on the ellipse trainer, Mi band does not count steps.
The original software lacks a lot of necessary and useful things, and the alternative software practically does not support bracelets, due to the closed API.

We bring to your attention a review from an expert:

Xiaomi Amazfit

Xiaomi Amazfit- this is a premium and elegant accessory that can do everything you need and does not get lost on your hand because of its nondescriptness, but, on the contrary, attracts the eye with its unusual and expensive appearance.

Unlike other fitness bracelets, Amazfit looks like a piece of jewelry, and its sporting capabilities are relegated to the background.

The fact that this is not a simple tracker in front of you, but an expensive accessory, you guess without opening the box. In a neat, expensively made oblong box, the main structural element is hidden - a round / donut / donut. But not from the ubiquitous plastic, but zirconium oxide. So before us is fashionable jewelry. You can insert it into a hand bracelet or chain to wear as a pendant.

Amazfit is a fashionable accessory, therefore there is a choice of large collection of bracelets for combinations with any outfit.

Activity and sleep statistics are displayed in the branded application. Data can be synced with Apple Health.

The main screen displays your daily achievements and activity feed.

For training, there is a running mode with drawing up the route traveled, calculating the travel time and distance.

The settings show how many days in a row you reach your goal (by steps or calories), as well as the average rate of steps taken and time in a dream.

The built-in battery with a capacity of 15 mAh provides the gadget with up to 10 days of work, then you need to put the round to charge. You need to throw Amazfit on wireless charging with a beautiful cloth braided wire.

Amazfit - an extraordinary representative of the fitness bracelets market. Not at all for the geeks hiding it under a gray sweatshirt. Under jackets, shirts, dresses and pretty clothes it is definitely worth choosing it. It will complement your image because the appearance in this case outweighs the sports capabilities.

Pros:

Fitness bracelet without a screen.
Waterproof.
Compatible with Android, iOS.
Can be worn around the neck as a harness.

Minuses:

There are no different sizes of the fixed strap.
The strap cannot be changed.
There is no microphone.
No speaker.
No GPS.

More details in the video with the experts:

Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse

Fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse represents the second generation of the popular budget activity tracker Xiaomi Mi Band... The main difference between this model and the previous generation is the presence built-in optical heart rate monitor which allows you to track your heart rate during your daily activities and runs.

Daily update of data. With this bracelet, you have the opportunity to measure the distance traveled every day, control the number of calories burned during sports, as well as set the frequency of your sleep phases and set alarms on the bracelet.

It will provide complete information about the distance that you have covered, as well as calculate the number of steps taken and calories burned.

To feel refreshed and energized, you just need to get enough sleep. And in order to ensure healthy sleep and an easy morning rise, you will come to the rescue Mi Band able to control the phases of your sleep and wake you up at the time you set. With the onset of the morning, the bracelet gives you an impulse that will make you wake up.

Bluetooth real-time connection. Having connected to a smartphone via Bluetooth once, the bracelet remains in touch around the clock. Due to its low power consumption, the bracelet can function without recharging for 30 days. When you open a special application, basic information is displayed on the smartphone screen. Moreover, after one year of using the bracelet, the data collected by it is analyzed, on the basis of which you have the opportunity to receive medical recommendations for a healthy lifestyle.

Easy screen unlocking. Now, in order to unlock the screen of your smartphone, you do not need to memorize complex combinations. It is enough just to raise up the hand on which the bracelet is worn Mi Band... Thus, you significantly increase the level of security in terms of access to your smartphone by unauthorized persons.

Control of incoming calls and messages. The bracelet is equipped with the function of duplicating notifications of incoming calls and SMS messages that arrive on the smartphone. This feature helps you not to miss a call in noisy places or when your phone is muted.

The components that make up the bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band are a motion sensor and a Bluetooth 4.0 chip. The bracelet is powered by a 41 mAh battery, which ensures stable operation of the device for more than four years. And ultra-low power consumption ensures uninterrupted operation Mi Band for 30 days.

Bracelet search function. Among other things, it is equipped with a search function. To perform a search, simply click on the “Find Mi Band” button from your smartphone, and the bracelet will vibrate and flash, provided that it is in the range of the Bluetooth signal.

Pros:

Waterproof.
Incoming call notification.
Compatible with Android, iOS, Windows Phone.
Sleep, calorie, physical activity monitoring.
Battery capacity 41 mAh.

Minuses:

There are no different sizes of the fixed strap.
There is no microphone.
No speaker.
No GPS.
The screen unlock function only works on Xiaomi devices.
Low accuracy in measuring steps, heart rate.
The vibration is the same for all notifications and it turns out that you just need to look at the phone.

A detailed review of this device in a video from experts:

Xiaomi Mi Band 2

Of course, the novelty is distinguished by the same simplicity of design and functionality, but ordinary users rarely need advanced features. In addition, among competitors Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Pulse no one is able to offer today even a similar ratio of quality to cost.

Made of polycarbonate / plastic (capsule), thermoplastic silicone (strap). The main change, compared to the previous version, affected the capsule itself. There are not three LEDs here, as before, but a small OLED display and a touch button for controlling the gadget. Due to their addition, the battery has become more capacious, the dimensions of the module have increased, so not all children will be comfortable with such dimensions. The weight is also a little more, but it is not felt at all.

The strap of the novelty is of higher quality, more reliable. If earlier the capsule was placed in it from either side, then Band 2 allows you to insert it only from the inside, reducing the risk of losing the module to zero. And the capsule itself is stronger. It can withstand a drop from a height of 1.2 meters without any damage. Stores now offer different colors of straps from third-party manufacturers, but the standard version is black.

The gadget can measure the heart rate, the number of steps taken and the distance covered, the number of calories burned, the phase of the quality of sleep. Also, the user can set up a smart alarm clock, notifications about incoming messages / calls. Another innovation that will delight fans of wearable gadgets from Xiaomi is the ability to work both through the application and offline. The ability to unlock a smartphone or tablet via Bluetooth within a range (no more than 5 meters).

Of course, the branded application largely affects the capabilities of the gadget. Of course, the My Fit program (available for iOS and Android starting from version 4.4 and higher) can be called quite convenient. There is the ability to sync with Google Fit and similar applications.

The program shows the duration of sleep / slow phase, the user's weight, information about the last heart rate measurements, as well as the progress bar by day.

The tracker can work for a long time without a smartphone, but it is better to synchronize once every 2-4 days, because the device's memory is limited, and therefore data may be gradually lost.

With incoming SMS or calls, the bracelet vibrates, for notifications from other applications, double vibration is provided with the display of the program icon on the tracker screen. The user is allowed to set the vibration method. The bracelet can display the time - it is necessary to make a gesture characteristic of an ordinary watch. It is very convenient that this works even when you are just typing on the keyboard, because you don't need to take your hand off the table.

In addition to the capsule, the strap has also changed slightly. The adjustment range has changed (from 15.5 to 21 centimeters), which makes it comfortable to wear the gadget on women's and men's wrists. The total length of the strap is 23.5 centimeters. The capsule is placed in it, as mentioned above, from the side of the hand, and the sides of the strap protrude slightly above the "core", protecting the screen from scratches.

The button also slightly changed the capabilities and operation of the gadget. Pressing it once turns on the clock (analogous to gesture movement), and double pressing it displays the number of steps taken. Triple press shows the heart and starts the heart rate measurement or displays the data if they were measured within the last minute. In models 1 and 1s, protection according to the IP67 standard was also declared.

Charging the new Xiaomi bracelet has become much more convenient. The progress is shown directly on the display. After charging is complete, a notification will be sent to the smartphone. From a standard USB port of a laptop, the gadget is fully charged in about an hour and a half.

The gadget can operate at temperatures from 20 degrees below zero to 70 degrees above, but severe hypothermia will reduce the battery life to 5 days.

Pros:

Calculation of burned calories, number of steps, distance traveled.
Sleep monitoring and smart vibration alarm make waking up even easier.
OLED screen displaying important information such as time or calories burned.
Heart rate sensor.
The ability to use the device to unlock a smartphone without entering a password.
Inactivity notifications. If you sit too long, the bracelet will remind you of the need to move.
Vibration alerts for incoming calls and notifications.
Up to 20 days of battery life.
Protection against moisture and dust according to IP67 standard.
Reminders that the user has been sitting for too long.

Minuses:

There are no different sizes of the fixed strap.
There is no microphone.
No speaker.
Can't play audio.
No GPS.
Weak application.
Does not count short daytime dreams.
Bad alarm clock.

A short video review of the presented device in the video from the user:

conclusions

Among all Xiaomi models, users distinguish the following devices:

If needed waterproof watch then it is worth choosing Xiaomi Mi Band... Among other things, it is a very light device.
Stylish fitness bracelet - Xiaomi Amazfit, compatible with Android, iOS. The device can be worn around the neck as a harness.
Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse features daily data updates. The watch has a search function.
Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Pulse has up to 20 days of battery life.

Watches of this brand are distinguished by their multifunctionality, service support and speed of action.

Huami, the partner of the Xiaomi ecosystem responsible for the Mi Band fitness bracelets, launched the Amazfit Pace sports smartwatch in China on August 30.

We bring to your attention a review of Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Sports Watch Pace, their characteristics, description of functionality, interface, software.

According to the manufacturer, the smartwatch uses the GPS + GLONASS positioning system and houses the world's first 28nm GPS module. It provides accurate real-time tracking as well as step count, height, cadence and other important sports data.

The watch comes in a white box, which includes a charger: USB cable and charging dock, as well as a user manual.

Design

Amazfit has a traditional smartwatch look: nothing superfluous and heaping. The case diameter is only 4.5 cm, which means this watch will fit both womens and mens wrists.

The ceramic bezel gives the device a premium look, changing the hue from dark wood to silver depending on the ambient light. The back panel is made of plastic.

Display

Xiaomi Watch uses a round screen with a 1.34-inch transflective color LCD display with a resolution of 320x300 pixels, which is covered with shock and scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. The bottom 20 pixels contain the environmental sensor, which has brought the display to a "flat tire" view.

In direct sunlight, the screen looks bright and clear. Indoors, most of the transflective effect is lost, but the display remains readable enough. There is a built-in backlight that is activated by double-tapping the screen or lifting your wrist up. If these methods are disabled, the backlight is turned on by the power button located on the plastic case at the top right. In addition to the backlight, it also serves as a return to the main screen.

Some users prefer to use only physical buttons in a sports watch, as is done in and, because Sweat on your fingers during exercise can make it difficult to use the touchscreen display. By the way, the button in the Pace is not in the most accessible place to feel, and its small size can cause some inconvenience for users with large fingers. But this is our subjective opinion.

Xiaomi Amazfit Smart Watch comes in two colors: orange with black finish (red) and black with orange finish (black).

Red (red)

Black (black)

The strap sits very comfortably on your wrist, allowing the heart rate monitor built into the watch case to fit snugly without squeezing the wrist. The length of the strap fits almost any wrist size with 15 adjustment holes.

The strap can be changed to any other 22 mm, as the mount on the watch has a standard design.

The buckle of the bracelet is made of the same ceramic as the bezel of the dial, and the strap retainer bears the logo of the Huami brand - Amazfit. All these small details give the accessory a corporate identity.

Degree of protection

The watch is protected from moisture and dust and is worn. The device's water resistance is such that you can leave it on in the shower, but it is not recommended to swim in the pool with it. Dust, sweat, splashing water or raindrops are what a gadget with this indicator can tolerate.

Features and functions

The Amazfit Pace is a GPS-enabled smartwatch with a 5-day battery life, aimed primarily at sports. The smartwatch keeps track of essential metrics like pace, cadence, distance, time, heart rate, and more. In addition to tracking your running and cycling, you can keep track of sports such as mountain climbing, indoor running, stationary cycling, and elliptical training.

Built-in music storage allows the athlete to free themselves from the phone and player during training. And also use widgets offering weather information, compass, alarm clock, timer and stopwatch.

You can also receive notifications for incoming calls, messages, emails and other applications using the always on display indicator.

Interface

It should be borne in mind that the interface on the smartwatch is in English or Chinese, depending on which model you purchase. The way to use the Russian language in them is firmware.

The Xiaomi Amazfit Sports smartwatch has several user interfaces, between which you can navigate by swiping left / right:

basic
exercises
heart rate
Ali Quick Pay (China only)
today's training
weather
compass
alarm
stopwatch
timer
music
training center

Let's consider some of the points in more detail.

Main interface

When you turn on the watch, the main screen is displayed with information about the date and time, day of the week, distance covered, and number of steps taken and goals.

Navigation through the information pages is carried out by swiping to the right or left (continuous sliding of your finger across the display).

Slide home screen down to navigate settings and widgets menus, such as:

weather
time and distance traveled distance
do not disturb mode
settings

Settings

General. In this section, you can navigate through the items with a vertical swipe, scrolling down the ribbon.

hour format
silent mode
flight mode
vibration settings
double-tap
Bluetooth connection
screen brightness (3 backlight levels: main, automatic, bright)
type of socks (right or left hand)

Connection. Here it is possible to connect the watch via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

Get updates. Update the watch firmware to the latest version.

Dials. Change your display design with this feature.

Device. Performing actions with the clock:

factory reset
turn off the device

Find a phone. By clicking on this item, Pace commands your linked phone to emit a beep so that you can find it.

About the device. Watch information: memory, processor, firmware, etc.

Huami Lab. PPG (Photoplethysmographic Sensor) Pulse Reading Activation 24/7

Submit a bug report. Scan the device for errors.

Notifications

With a swipe from the bottom up, you can go to the notifications that the watch provides to the user from any application. This is configured by the Amazfit app installed on the smartphone.

When you receive a message from social networks (Instagram, Telegram, Twitter, WhatsApp, Facebook, etc.), the watch vibrates, and a notification appears on its screen, which can be rejected. There is no way to reply to it when, for example, a messenger or e-mail provides several controls: reply, delete, etc.

In addition to vibration, the notification of an incoming call is accompanied by the display of the caller's name.

You can also view information about the battery charge status and see the upcoming weather. However, if you have changed the city, you need to log into the Amazfit app and manually update your location.

Sports Mode (Exercise)

The Xiaomi Amazfit Pace GPS Running Watch tracks almost any kind of activity, just like a full-fledged sports tracker. The number of daily steps taken, distance, calories burned and sleep is automatically read.

If you move the main screen with a swipe to the right, you will find yourself in the "Sports" menu, where sports modes are provided that you can launch manually:

walking
outdoor walk
indoor jogging
bike
exercise bike
hiking in the mountains
elliptical trainer
settings

In the sport mode settings, it is possible to change the units of measurement: kilometers or miles. In addition, there is a sound alert setting for the completion of a workout cycle, a warning about an elevated heart rate, auto pause while running, heart rate zone, target time and distance, and other settings.

After each workout, summary statistics are shown on the display, which means that the device can be used without resorting to a smartphone. And if the watch is in the range of a paired phone, the data can sync with the Mi Fit software as well as the Amazfit app, which we'll talk about later.

You can also adjust the number of data fields from 4 to 6 in the sport mode settings.

As soon as any of the sports modes are launched, the tracker will automatically detect the GPS signal. This takes about 30-45 seconds. The location accuracy, according to user reviews, is almost perfect.

To analyze and improve your athletic performance, the watch tracks and records important information such as steps, distance, pace, altitude and more using GPS and GLONASS technology. Scrolling to the right / left of the pages of the running mode, in addition to this data, GPS navigation is provided, as well as starting music and the ability to stop and summarize the workout.

Activity today

By swiping the main screen to the left, we find ourselves on the "Today's review" page, which displays the number of steps taken per day, statistics for the week, as well as calories burned.

Of course, it would be much more convenient to see all this information on the home screen, since each time you have to unlock the display, then slide your finger to reach the desired data screen.

Heart rate measurement and sleep tracking

You can check your heart rate either manually or by enabling continuous reading. But you should keep in mind that constant monitoring of heart rate affects the battery life of the device.

The heart rate sensor in the watch is considered one of the most accurate based on tests conducted by users based on comparisons with professional heart rate sensors.

The heart rate monitor screen provides a graph of your heart rate throughout the day. By clicking on the display, we get to a page with more detailed statistics that can be scrolled down:

average heart rate
maximum heart rate
minimum heart rate
heart rate zone
average heart rate graph

Heart rate tracking during sleep is automatic. There is no in-depth information on sleep cycles, only the time of falling asleep and waking up, the time of all sleep, the total time of deep and light sleep, and the time of waking.

Ali Quick Pay

AliPay payment system, which is supported by Xiaomi Huami Amazfit Watch, is not available in our country. It is used in China. Customers use it to make purchases in stores, supermarkets, fast food restaurants, etc. A simple scanning process allows you to pay for purchased items directly from your watch.

Music

Amazfit Pace has 4 GB of internal memory, 2 GB of which is used by the system. For music storage, you get just over 2GB. The device's music player is a minimalist player with basic controls. It is possible to connect to Bluetooth headphones so that the wires and phone do not interfere with you during your workouts.

Adding music to the Pace requires a computer connection using the supplied USB charging cable. Like Mac owners, you'll also need to install the free Android File Transfer app on your computer.

The only problem for music lovers will be the inability to control the music playback on the smartphone from the watch.

Software

The companion Amazfit Watch app is used to sync data from the watch, customize watch faces, control notifications, as well as customize the user's fitness profile. It can be downloaded for free for both Android and iOS from the app store.