It has been about 2 years since I got the Redmi Watch 2 Lite and in this period, this watch has become my daily driver for a bit. While I have since switched to newer, better watches to don my wrists, every so often I go back to this watch and just marvel at how simple and functional it is.
In this post, I revisit this old favorite and explore if there is still a place for it in 2023. share my experience with the Redmi Watch 2 Lite, its pros and cons, and whether it is still worth buying in 2023.
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Design and Durability
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite has a simple and elegant design. It has a square-shaped 1.55-inch LCD display with a resolution of 320 x 320 pixels. The display is bright and colorful, but it is not an OLED or AMOLED panel, which means it does not have an always-on display (AOD) feature. This is one of the drawbacks of the watch, as I would have liked to see the time and notifications without waking up the screen.
The watch has a single button on the right side, which can be used to access the menu, go back, or access the power menu with a long press. Sadly, no voice controls on this watch. The button is responsive and easy to press.
The watch also supports touch gestures, such as swiping and tapping, to navigate the interface and these are pretty intuitive and simple to use.
Durability
The watch is made of plastic, but it feels sturdy and durable. It has a matte finish on the sides that does not attract fingerprints or scratches though it might gloss up after months of use. The watch is also water-resistant up to 5 ATM, which means it can withstand splashes, rain, and swimming, and oh have I taken advantage of this security.
One of the unfortunate incidents that happened to me was cracking the screen of the watch. I dropped it on a hard surface and the glass shattered. Watch screens aren’t easily replaced so I have to live with this gush.
Luckily, this gush doesn’t hamper my usage aside from being an eyesore. It also doesn’t seem to affect water resistance so I guess I got away with this battle scar.
The watch comes with a silicone strap that is comfortable and breathable. The strap is removable and can be replaced with other compatible straps.
I have had to change my strap several times over the years, as the original one gave out several months into usage. You can get more straps for this band, and match it with my outfits or mood.
The strap replacement process is easy and quick, as the watch has a proprietary button mechanism that allows you to detach and attach the straps without any tools.
Performance and Battery Life
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite runs on a custom operating system from Xiaomi. The OS is lightweight and smooth, and I have not experienced any lag or stuttering on the watch.
The watch has a range of sensors, such as an accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, barometer, compass, and GPS. The GPS is one of the features that I like about the watch, as it can track my location independently without relying on my phone’s GPS.
The GPS lock is fast and accurate, and it works well with the Mi Fitness app but it can also lock independently of my phone.
The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 2 Lite has Bluetooth 5.0 (Bluetooth Low Energy) which allows you to pair it with your phone. The watch can receive notifications from your phone, such as calls, messages, emails, social media updates, etc.
You can only reply to some notifications using preset replies but for the most part, it only relays these notifications with little in the form of interaction avenues.
Battery Life
The battery life of the Redmi Watch 2 Lite is impressive. It has a 262 mAh battery that can last up to 10 days on a single charge with normal usage. However, after two years of use, I have noticed some degradation in the battery capacity. I now get around 5 days of battery life with all notifications enabled and moderate use of GPS and other features.
The charging process is fast and convenient. The watch comes with a magnetic charger that snaps onto the back of the watch. It takes about an hour to charge the watch from zero to 100% fully.
Fitness and Health Tracking
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite is a great device for fitness and health enthusiasts. It can track various activities and workouts, such as walking, running, cycling, swimming, hiking, yoga, etc. It can also automatically detect some workouts, such as walking and running, without requiring you to manually start them.
The watch can measure your heart rate continuously throughout the day and night. It can also monitor your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) level on demand or periodically. These metrics are useful for assessing your health status and alerting you of any potential issues.
The watch can also track your sleep quality and duration. It can detect your sleep stages (light, deep, REM) and provide you with a sleep score and insights on how to improve your sleep habits. However, I prefer the way Huawei presents the sleep data on their app than Xiaomi’s Mi Fitness app.
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Mi Fitness App
The Mi Fitness app is the companion app for the Redmi Watch 2 Lite. It is available for both Android and iOS devices, and it syncs your data from the watch to your phone. The app is user-friendly and comprehensive, and it allows you to customize your watch settings, such as watch faces, notifications, alarms, etc. The app also has a large library of watch faces that you can download and apply to your watch.
The app also shows you your fitness and health data in graphs and charts, such as steps, calories, distance, heart rate, SpO2, sleep, etc. You can also view your workout history and details, such as route, pace, speed, elevation, etc. The app also has some social features, such as challenges, leaderboards, and badges, that can motivate you to stay active and compete with your friends.
Verdict
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite is a budget-friendly smartwatch that offers a lot of features and functionality. It has a decent design and display, good performance and battery life, and excellent fitness and health tracking capabilities. It also has good accessory support and availability.
The watch is not perfect, though. It lacks an OLED or AMOLED display with AOD feature, which would have made it more attractive and convenient. It also has some battery degradation over time, which is expected for any device with a rechargeable battery.
However, these are minor issues that do not overshadow the overall value of the watch. The watch is still worth buying in 2023, especially for the price. The watch can be bought for around KES 6500, NGN 23,900, or UGX 212,000, USD 42. This is a very competitive price range that rivals other fitness trackers like the Huawei Band 8 or the Xiaomi Smart Band 8. However, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite offers more features and functionality than these devices.
If you are looking for a smartwatch that can do more than just count your steps and show you notifications, then the Redmi Watch 2 Lite is a great option to consider. It is a reliable and versatile device that can serve you well for years to come.
