Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Review
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Smart Bracelet is the latest wearable fitness tracker from Chinese hardware giant Xiaomi. It follows the previous Mi 2 Band with an improved design, featuring a low power 0.78-inch OLED Display the first time on the range, as well as improved pedometer tech, and long battery life capable of sustaining the device power up to 20 days of usage with a single charge.
Xiaomi’s Mi 3 smart Bracelet comes in two editions. The Chinese version, without any English support, sold for a retail price of ~ 22-23 USD, and the global international edition, which costs about ~26 USD that supports multiple languages such as English, Spanish, Russian, French and more that are expected to be updated in future firmware updates. Also important to mention that the Chinese edition can also support the English language if you update the device using a modified ‘Mi-Fit’ App that “forces” the installation of the English ROM.
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Smart Bracelet | Black Edition
Mi Band 3 (Global Edition)
Gearbest | Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Promotion Video
Xiaomi MI Band 3 Specs:
- Brand: Xiaomi
- Model: MI Band 3
- Color: Black, Red, Blue
- Compatible OS: Android 4.4 / iOS 9.0 or above
- Screen Size: 0.78 inch
- Screen Type: OLED Touch Display
- Operating Mode: Touch
- Bluetooth: Version V4.0 or above
- Product size (L x W x H): 46.9 x 17.9 x 12 mm
- Size Adjustable length: 155-216 mm
- Weight: 20g
- APP: MI Fit app
Special Features:
- Waterproof 5ATM
- Heart Rate Monitor Support
- Sleep Monitor Support
- Pedometer Support
- Exercise Plan Support
- Caller or Message Show Support
- Calories Counting Support
- Distance Recording Support
- Sedentary reminder Support
Technical Parameters:
- Resolution: 128*80
- Battery Capacity: 110mAh
- Standby Time: About 20 days
- Band Material: Mi-core material: Plastic + Alloy
- Case material: TPEE
- Band material: TPSiV
- Length: Adjustable length: 155-216 mm
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 | Package
Mi Band 3 Package P1
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 | Unboxing
Package Content:
- 1x Fitness tracker
- 1x user manual
- 1x wristband
- 1x Charging Cable
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 | Unboxing
- Mi Band 3 Unboxing P2
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 | Unboxing All Items
- Mi Band 3 Items P1
Appearance & Design
The Xiaomi Mi band 3 incorporates a touch 0.78 inches OLED display screens with a resolution of 72 x 40 pixels. Looking at the appearance, it has curved edges that remind a pill-shaped design. Similar to the Huawei Honor, Mi Band 3 it’s not a multi-color display, but a single one which is enough for displaying text and power efficient.
The watch is composed of two separate parts, the fitness tracker unit which is the watch and the strap. Xiaomi designed a very stylish product that can easily carry in a pocket or a chain around the neck if you are not planning on using it with the strap. Another big advantage of buying this product is that you can buy online a wide selection of accessories such as extra straps in a variety of styles and colors, including screen protectors to protect the display from scratches.
Charger Design
Xiaomi’s charger design is completely different compared to those of the Huawei honor 3 Band. Xiaomi designed a short USB cable integrated with a charger housing unit for the tracker. Again, in comparison to the Huawei honor 3 Band, the main unit in Huawei product is not removable. Huawei designed a special small charger unit that contacts directly to the watch by applying small pressure with a snap-type connection.
Charger Design | Pros & Cons
Some users might not feel comfortable with the fact that each time you will need to charge the fitness track you will need to remove the unit from the strap, but because this Smartband battery can operate between 14 – 20 days of none continuous usage, combined with standby mode to save battery power it’s a small price to pay. The cons of Xiaomi’s design are that you don’t need to carry a separate USB cable along with the charger unit. You have them all in one unit. In the worst-case scenario, if you have technical problems or lost it, you can always buy an extra unit online.
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 | Charging Cable
- Mi Band 3 Charger P0
Ergonomic design
The Mi3 Band fitness tracker unit has a Capsule Design with flat surfaces. Users that tighten the strap might feel incompatible with wearing it. For comparison, Huawei honor 3 band tracker shape with the strap has a curved shape that fits better in the hand when worn.
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 | Fitness Tracker Unit
- Mi Band 3 Fitness Tracker P1
Battery information
In the Honor Band 3, The battery indicator is displayed on the watch main screen, while in the mid3 you can’t see real-time info about battery power consumption during usage. Default Time information in the My Band 3 is displayed in the smaller text compared to those of the honor band 3 Smartband (As shown in the photo below).
Outdoors usage
Similar to many Smartbands sold on the market.
OLED display technology is cost-effective but it’s not an ideal pick for outdoor use. If you are planning on doing sports activities on a very sunny day the information displayed on the OLED display will not be visible. A simple solution to this problem is to view display in a shaded environment where there is less sunlight.
Connectivity
The Mi Band 3 can be used with a mobile phone linked wirelessly through a Bluetooth connection or used independently. When used independently, it will naturally consume less power and will not drain the phone battery.
Battery
The Mi Band 3 uses an identical 110 mAh Li-Ion battery as in the Honor Band 3. When the Smartband is not linked to a mobile phone and not used continuously is used, you can expect approximately ~14 – 20 days of usage with a single charge.
Software
Xiaomi’s strongest point is the ability to design products that can be customized by users and they did it successfully again with the Mi Band 3. In addition to the ‘Mi-Fit’ App, you will also be able to tweak and customize device settings such as notifications, displayed fonts, or selecting different vibration profiles by downloading 3rd party apps created by independent developers that can be downloaded for free from ‘Google Play’.
Huawei’s ‘Health’ vs. Xiaomi ‘Mi-Fit’ App
UI (User Interface)
Although Huawei’s ‘Health’ app is packed with more advanced features, that perhaps more aimed at advanced users, but it’s defiantly less user-friendly compared to Xiaomi’s ‘Mi-Fit’ App that offers a very simple user-friendly UI any user can manage to operate.
Other special functions:
- Weather Information
- Share data with friends
- Behavior tagging
- Wake up notifications
- Activity alerts
- Stopwatch
- Linking to the following platforms: Sina Weibo, Wechat, QQ, Alipay
Displaying Weather Information
A feature that doesn’t exist in the Honor Band 3 and implemented well by Xiaomi allows the user to view weather information. Current day and the next day forecast with temperature directly from the watch.
Dynamic heart rate monitoring
Another nice feature that Xiaomi added to their Mi Band 3 is the ‘Automatic heart rate detection’ function. With it, you can measure heart rate almost in real-time and set interleaves between each measurement from 1 min up to 30 min. It’s a useful option if you want to monitor heart activity and view a detailed graphic report displaying the minimum and maximum heart rate peak values measured during the day.
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 | All Modes
- Mi Band 3 Modes 2
Final Words
The Mi 3 is an excellent product for monitoring sports activities. In my opinion, it definitely belongs to the top companies in this product line next to Huawei. The extra software support also gives it more value and flexibility for users. It’s a must-have product to use and I highly recommend buying it.
