Mi Band 3: Xiaomi’s next wearable is a big upgrade
After a wait of two years, Xiaomi’s popular Mi Band 2 has finally got a successor. Christened as Mi Band 3, the new model brings a lot of new features and yet asks the same amount of money that its predecessor demanded — just ` 1,999.
The tracker is a drastic upgrade from the older model. Instead of a flat display, the Mi Band 3 tracker gets a curved full touchscreen display, which makes it easier to swipe on the screen. There’s a recessed button that is used to confirm activities or go back to the previous screen. The new silicone strap is now softer than before and feels friendlier to the skin. Xiaomi has gone in for a new strap design ( the holder slot) that makes it almost impossible to pop the band out, even when you need to charge it via the Mi Band dongle.
The 0.78- inch monochromatic OLED display now shows more information than its predecessor. You can view weather forecasts up to three days in advance and read your content from WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook notifications. This is a highly useful addition especially for commuters when one needs to have a quick glance at the notification without taking out the phone. Users can also choose from three watch faces, showing various kinds of information in unique styles. You can also locate your phone, if connected via Bluetooth, using the ‘ Find My Device’ feature.
The Band 3 can track the number of steps, calories burnt since the start of the day and the total distance covered. The step tracking is noticeably improved from the predecessor and fitness freaks can surely rely on it. Sadly, Xiaomi still hasn’t gone for live continuous heart rate tracking, but you can set it take readings at frequent intervals. A new exercise mode starts recording various parameters of the body using all the onboard sensors to let you know your gains in the form of calories burnt and your heart rate. The Mi Fit app is still instrumental in setting up the tracker, delivering firmware updates and compiling health statistics such as sleep data, burnt calories, weight monitoring and heart rate variation.
With the continuous heart rate tracking and all smartphone notifications enabled, the Mi Band 3 lasted us for around 11- 12 days — thanks to the bigger 110mAh battery.
To wrap it up, if you are looking for an efficient fitness tracker or a watered- down smartwatchlike band without losing cash like sweat, the Mi Band 3 is our top pick for this year’s best budget fitness tracker.