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Xiaomi Mi Band 2

- SEAN DIMMOCK sean.dimmock@heraldandt­imes.co.uk Twitter: @seandimmoc­k

What is it?

A budget fitness tracker. Xiaomi developed the Mi Band 2 as an alternativ­e to the more expensive wearable offerings and it stands up pretty well.

Good points?

The Mi Band 2 may be basic but it manages to pack in lots of features. This will make it more likely to be used in the long term as opposed to the more expensive bands which get discarded after a few weeks of false readings.

The design is sleek and comfortabl­e to wear with an impressive organic lightemitt­ing diode (OLED) display which will shows time, step count and heart rate.

The built-in motion sensor will instantly start all exercise monitors so you don't lose any statistics and give more accurate readings.

The Mi Band 2 will give you gentle buzzing reminders to move when you have been idle for too long to help keep you on track to achieve personal goals.

Bad points?

The tracking capabiliti­es are limited to step count and sleep pattern as the heart rate numbers can only be seen live on the display at that moment. This is not ideal for those genuinely interested in seeing their fitness trend.

Although the pedometer works very well it lacks a barometer to track how many stairs you have climbed.

Best for …

Those seeking a general life tracker rather than a comprehens­ive fitness monitor. Dedicated sport devices are still the best way to see your progressio­n.

Avoid if …

You desire in-depth analysis.

Score

7/10. Xiaomi Mi Band 2, £29 (mi.com)

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