Xiaomi Mi Band 3 bracelet - advantages and disadvantages

In the world of "smart" watches and fitness accessories, the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 bracelets have firmly taken their positions. Synchronization with the phone application allows you to see the dynamics of your readings, and without support in the phone it is used as a watch, heart rate monitor and pedometer. To know how to choose smart watch, you need to understand what characteristics you should pay attention to.

The Chinese brand Xiaomi has recently gained popularity alongside the best electronics manufacturers such as Samsung or Apple. And he does not intend to give up positions. Success lies in excellent quality at a price not exceeding 2300 rubles per bracelet. The set of functions of a miniature tracker in a silicone case is impressive, despite the fact that the average price of popular models of such trackers starts at 4,500 rubles.

Review of the bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 3

Xiaomi bracelets are regularly ranked among the most popular products. In 2019, the predecessor Xiaomi Mi Band 3 entered two categories at once - as the most budgetary fitness bracelet and as a tracker with the most optimal set of functions.

The modified version of Xiaomi Mi Band 3 has an updated design and added useful functions. The bracelet benefits from automatic monitoring of daily activity, improved heart rate assessment and message transmission to the phone. You no longer need to be afraid to take the phone out of your pocket in bad weather, the bracelet takes over this function. A set of bright bracelets (the color range has 15 options) will allow you to choose your own for different looks.

The new model Xiaomi Mi Band 3 quickly gained popularity due to its waterproofness and the possibility of use in wet environments. In principle, Xiaomi Mi Band 2 coped with this task, but only the third model received technical confirmation. There is an important note - the bracelet will withstand immersion up to 1 m thanks to the IP67 shell, but constant being in the water (swimming, diving) does not apply to this. For serious work, there is GARMIN. The bracelet's functions are easier - to follow the pulse and time the time. The disadvantages of the new model Xiaomi Mi Band 3 include the lack of English firmware - Chinese characters will still come across the bracelet menu, but in general, the interface is intuitive.

A bracelet

The silicone material of the strap is soft, pleasant to the touch, with the same buckle as in the previous model. Does not slip or chafe the skin. The clasp gives the impression of being durable and does not open when worn. The silicone of the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 strap is of good quality, it does not emit a smell, there is no allergic reaction to sweat either. You can sleep well with the bracelet to track your sleep phases.

The multi-touch screen with OLED display has changed slightly, acquired more streamlined shapes and increased in size to 0.78 inches. The parameters are displayed by scrolling: time, heart rate, steps, etc. the resolution of 128 * 80 is clearer, which brings the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 closer to the parameters of a "smart" watch. It already shows app notifications, but how convenient it is for viewing on a small screen is a question for consumers. But there is a convenient bracelet search function, if you do not remember where you left it, or vice versa - use the bracelet to find your smartphone. In addition, the screen also shows incoming calls and weather.

In terms of functionality, this is a good set, but there are questions about quality - there are still glare in the sun, which interferes with the readability of the screen.

Charging the device

The performance of the fitness tracker is still great. This is due to the powerful battery. After a long first connection of the charger, it will take about 2-3 hours to charge. The next charge for daily round-the-clock use will be required in a week.

If the fitness bracelet is used mainly as a watch and sometimes you can look at the data in the application, then the charge will last for 3 weeks. The battery holds a charge for a long time thanks to the increase in capacity up to 110 mAh. The device is charged only from a phone or from a computer via 2.0 USB. Using other chargers may result in burnout. When the device is being charged, it cannot be manipulated.

Heart rate and sleep tracking

An important parameter such as sleep tracking has been carried over from previous models. This is an indicator for your health. If a person does not get enough sleep, health can be forgotten. The application data will help determine at what point the sleep was disturbed. To do this, you will need to sleep with the bracelet. According to the change in heart rate during the night, the phases of slow and REM sleep will be shown and from them it will be possible to draw conclusions and correct the situation.

The heart rate monitor tracks the heart rate in real time, the sensor has been strengthened and now the readings are more accurate. What pleases the updated Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is the speed. The heart rate detection icon appears after a second, and after 2-3 the current value is displayed. For sports, this is convenient and for monitoring the pulse in everyday life too. It should be borne in mind that such measurements are suitable for healthy people and will not replace a planned ECG. For professional athletes, the heart rate monitor data will not give the desired readings, since the sensor is located on the wrist. More accurate heart rate readings are taken from chest straps such as POLAR, SUUNTO, GARMIN. But for physical education, to keep fit, Xiaomi Mi Band 3 will be more than enough. Especially as additional motivation.

The device reminds with a light vibration of the inactivity for a long time To maintain a healthy lifestyle, it is important to get up and move around. This is convenient, especially when there is no way to get into the application. The bracelet shows the number of steps taken. A small number is the best incentive to be active.

New in the modification of the bracelet

Contactless payment features are available for use in China. This addition differs the bracelet from previous models. Not available in other countries yet. For the development it is worth to thank the engineers, because it is worth seeing the screen dimensions of the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 and it is hard to imagine how so many functions fit there at once. Moreover, the bracelet does not require daily recharging, like a smart watch.

Also, the package still lacks a height sensor, as in the trackers of the same GARMIN company, for example.

Tracking the main functions of the tracker is carried out by sensors, GPS navigation is carried out via satellites. In real time in the application, you can track both the speed and distance while moving, and show the trajectory. This is achieved with the settings. The number of calories burned is better viewed in the application, graphs of their consumption are also shown there.

MiFit app

For Xiaomi Mi Band 3, the free MyFit application is still relevant. For Android It should be taken into account when installing the application, the Android version must be 4.0 and higher (for iPhone, the iOS version is 7.0 and higher). For Android it is available in PlayMarket, has English, so there will be no problems with settings, for iPhone in the AppStore.

Its installation is necessary to synchronize the bracelet, to enter information about the current time, weight, height and field of the owner in the "profile" tab. Before setting up, the application will ask you to create an account. You can use what is on the phone, or create a separate one on the Xiaomi website. As the settings are completed, you need to synchronize the bracelet with the phone. The process is displayed on the phone screen as a percentage.

The bracelet is synchronized via Bluetooth. Therefore, the bracelet must not be carried far from the phone.

Sleep schedules and daily activities are available in MyFit. The internal rating of the application will assess your activity throughout the day and assign a place. Also, in the application, you can set the maximum value of the heart rate (heart rate) and the bracelet will vibrate and beep to report the excess. This is true for running and exercise. The settings are not difficult to perform, the application interface is simple and intuitive.

BMI (overweight) indicators are available in the application with a color scale that determines the weight category.

A nice bonus for your work will be the "achievement strip". The application tracks activities and records, which is reported by notifications and a picture with a cup.
The app can be used while running. To do this, you need to turn on the GPS and wait until the device finds satellites and you can start training. The app will display basic information.

Notifications that can be configured on the bracelet:

• Calls;
• Alarm clock - works even if the phone is dead;
• Incoming message;
• Applications;
• Separate wristband alarm;
• Unlock by screen;

Through the application, you can share your achievements through WeChat, QQ, Weibo services. Similar to the Strava app, for an extra workout boost.

The progress towards the goal on the bracelet is displayed in the form of 3 dots.

The new bracelet finder feature lets you find it if you've forgotten where you put it. To do this, you need to select "Mi Band search" in the application and it will emit a vibration signal.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Affordable price;
• Laconic design;
• Intuitive interface;
• Fast synchronization with the application;
• Possibility to choose the color of the bracelet;
• Large battery capacity;
• Waterproof;
• A wide range of functions.

• Inaccurate heart rate values;
• Inability to record multiple workouts;
• Small screen for tracking several parameters at once;
• Use in the pool is undesirable.

Xiaomi engineers have done a great job by releasing an updated version of the Mi Band to the market, which has improved design and basic functions. This is a great incentive for those looking to start taking care of their health, running in the morning and keeping themselves in good shape. For serious workouts, special devices are needed, which are much more expensive and not everyone can afford. And Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is an affordable excellent alternative for this.