Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro: Honest Thoughts After a Week
Have you ever felt stuck between wanting a full-fledged smartwatch or a simple fitness tracker? I thought so too, and that’s why I’ve been wearing the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro on my wrist for a week now. This in-between device promises a lot, and I was interested to see if it could deliver on that.
First Impressions: Smart and Surprisingly Durable
My first impression of the Smart Band 8 Pro was “wow, it’s bigger than I thought it would be”. It’s not as tiny as some fitness trackers I’ve used, but it’s surprisingly thin and lightweight. It doesn’t feel like a brick on my wrist, which is a big plus. The metal frame feels premium and the Victus glass on the display feels solid. I chose the classic black color, but I like that there are two color options - black and light gray. The interchangeable straps are a neat touch that allows you to personalize the device a bit. The push-button release mechanism is convenient, but can be a bit awkward for people like me who are not fingernail-savvy. The included rubber-like strap is handy for practicing, but it was a little difficult to put on at first. Maybe it’s just me, but sometimes I felt like I needed a third hand.
Let’s Dive into the Specs
Let’s talk about the 1.74-inch AMOLED display. Gorgeous. The screen is crisp, colors are vibrant. Small text is easy to read, blacks are deep, and the 60Hz refresh rate makes the UI pretty smooth, although there are times when it does slow down a bit. The Mi Fitness app is easy to customize and use. You can set up notifications, customize widgets, and change watch faces. The user interface is simple, with a wide variety of watch faces, but we were a little disappointed with some of the few customization options. Swipe down shows notifications, swipe up shows apps, and swipe left or right shows widgets. It’s a continuous loop, which is very convenient. The set of apps is limited, but covers the essentials. There’s fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, breathing tools, media management and remote shutter. No voice assistant is available.
Practical Use
After using the Smart Band 8 Pro for a week, I found it useful for daily tracking. The step counting seemed accurate, but the heart rate monitor was a bit disappointing. It wasn’t as stable as I had hoped. Sometimes my heart rate was high and sometimes it was low, and this inconsistency showed up in the workout data. During boxing sessions, the heart rate readings varied widely. In addition, the watch counted all my punches as steps, which skewed the data. The built-in GPS is a nice addition, but don’t expect precise accuracy. The route I tracked went through buildings and walls. It’s good for approximating distance, but not for accurate tracking. On the other hand, the battery life is quite decent. With the display on all the time and most of the health features on, I got about five or six days of use out of it. There’s also a battery saver mode, but in this case the Smart Band turns into just a watch and step counter.
Smart Band 8 Pro is Not Perfect
Inconsistencies in heart rate tracking are a real problem. We tried tightening and loosening the wrist strap, but there was no fix. The lack of physical buttons takes some getting used to, and I’m still reaching for buttons that aren’t there. The notification system is very simple. You can’t reply to messages or delete emails from the watch. It feels like they are read-only. The limited customization of the watch faces is also disappointing. Some dials have few options, which feels like a missed opportunity. GPS is just fine. It gives a general idea of location, but is not accurate enough for serious athletes and data collection enthusiasts.
Compared to Other Fitness Trackers
Compared to other fitness trackers (like Samsung and Fitbit), the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro is not inferior in many areas, especially considering its price. Its display is bigger and better than many competitors in this price range, and the built-in GPS is a plus. Where it lags behind is in the accuracy of its heart rate tracking. In this area, more expensive brands do a better job. Someone might want the ability to make phone calls from the tracker, but it’s not available on this device; the Mi Fitness app is simpler than other brands’ feature-rich apps, which is an advantage for some but a limitation for others. It depends on what you value most in a tracker.
Final Verdict: Who It’s For
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro is a solid fitness tracker that has a lot to offer for its price. With a great display and good battery life, it’s worth looking at if you’re looking for a stylish and budget-friendly device. It’s perfect for casual fitness enthusiasts who need a tracker to track their daily activity and workouts. However, serious athletes who need ultra-precise heart rate data and accurate GPS tracking would be better off spending their money on a higher-end device. The Smart Band 8 Pro is a good option for those looking for a balance between features and cost, but it’s not without its drawbacks.
