The Xiaomi Smart Band line of products has been a fan favorite for people looking for a simple, stylish, unassuming fitness tracker. Over the years, the recipe and form factor have largely remained unchanged and that is the allure of this line of devices, slow iterative enhancement.
But last year, Xiaomi in an unprecedented move released a Pro version of the Smart Band 7, the Smart Band 7 Pro. This version featured a larger display, a different form factor, and an overall departure from what we’ve come to know about the Mi Bands.
Related:
- Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro: Here’s What is new
- The difference between Xiaomi Mi Band 7 and Mi Band 7 Pro
- Xiaomi Band 8 vs Xiaomi Band 7: What are the Differences and Improvements?
When the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 was unveiled, many believed that the Band 7 Pro from last year was a one-off but a few months later, we have a glimpse of the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro! So clearly, this is now a thing: Xiaomi now has two products in the Smart Band line of devices, the base model and the Pro version.
What’s new with the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro?
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro is a fitness tracker that blurs the line between a tracker and a watch. The new wearable comes with a larger 1.74-inch OLED screen with a resolution of 336 PPI and a refresh rate of 60Hz, something new in the segment altogether.
The device has a metal-coated frame, 5ATM rating, and quick-release straps that can be replaced with normal, standard-size watch straps.
The Smart Band 8 Pro has several new features to make use of the larger display, such as a variety of widgets (e.g. tracking, payments, media playback), an improved UI, and new watch faces and wallpapers.
Xiaomi has also brought some new health and fitness features to the table, such as integrated GPS, something we only ever see on smartwatches, over 150 sports modes, the ability to view a replay of your activity overlaid onto a map (e.g. a run), warmup and stretching guidance, heart rate tracking, SpO2 monitoring, sleep/stress tracking, NFC, and smartphone integration.
Battery
The Mi Band series of products routinely get over 7 days of battery life and the Band 8 Pro seeks to maintain that battery endurance, regardless of the large display.
The Smart Band 8 Pro brings a larger battery (289mAh versus 235mAh from the previous generation) that can last up to two weeks or six days with the always-on display enabled.
Pricing and Availability
The device is available in China for 399 yuan (~$55) for the standard model and 449 yuan (~$62) for the model with a leather strap. However, Xiaomi has not yet mentioned global availability for the Smart Band 8 Pro. Still, if the previous model is anything to go by, we shall be seeing these pop up through third-party sellers.
The wearable scene has no shortage of options. There is something for everyone, regardless of what you’re looking for, and with this Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, the company is going after users who felt a little constricted by the original Mi Band recipe and form factor.
