In today's review, we will introduce a new fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 6which is enhanced by a larger AMOLED display, automatic activity monitoring detection or SpO2 oxygen monitoring.
In the editorial office, we decided to test this intelligent fitness bracelet so that we could evaluate for ourselves what equipment it actually offers. This is his just beginning review.
Xiaomi Mi Band 6: Where to buy?
New fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 6 is currently available in the offer of popular international retailers. The Chinese and global versions are on sale, and even a set of replacement interchangeable bracelets (compatible with the Mi Band 5 predecessor).
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When it comes to global availability, you may also come across naming in some local e-shops Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6, but we can assure you that it is the same product, with the same specifications.
Packaging: Standard with magnetic charger
bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band 6 will also come to you in a box of compact dimensions, following the example of previous models. This time it contains the number 6 with a representation of the product and basic technical specifications
After opening it, right in the upper part is the bracelet itself wrapped in a protective foil. The bracelet capsule is already fitted into a typical silicone bracelet, which is black and is also identical and compatible compared to the previous generation of Mi Band 5.
Below you will traditionally find a brief instruction manual as well as a short cable with a special magnetic tip for charging the bracelet. The cable also has a standard USB-A connector for connection to a charger, power bank or computer.
Durable construction modeled on the predecessor
The novelty from Xiaomi's workshop brings dimensions of 47,4 x 18,6 x 12,7 millimeters. The weight is then 12,8 grams. The construction of the bracelet itself is plastic, with a protective glass on the display and a silicone strap, which can be adjusted in the range of 155 - 219 millimeters.
In addition, the construction itself is also water and dust resistant with 5 ATM certification. This certification ensures water resistance up to a depth of 50 meters, which predetermines this model as suitable for swimming monitoring.
The front contains a large, 1,56 ″ AMOLED display, which is covered with unspecified protective glass.
The screen has minimal frames, only the one on the bottom is larger. It is a touch panel that covers most of the front wall, so the equipment no longer includes a touch button as in previous generations.
The side edges are empty due to a kind of recess that is typical for attaching a silicone strap.
This leaves only the back side, which, in addition to mandatory recycling information and the manufacturer's logo, also contains magnetic pins for charging and also a group of sensors. These sensors record, for example, your heart rate or the amount of oxygen in your blood. This sensor is also improved between generations, so you can look forward to more accurate and faster results of individual measurements.
The construction itself is very well made, it is strong and also relatively durable. The manufacturer thus continues in the set standard and does not change something that is practical and works. He deserves praise for our approach.
Enlarged display: 1,56 ″ AMOLED and 326 ppi
The main novelty is the at first glance improved display, which again this time offers AMOLED technology. There is a penetrating black color thanks to the technology used, and in addition, the diagonal and fineness of the display has increased.
In the sixth generation, we are seeing an increase in the display of up to 50% (compared to the fifth generation) and its diagonal has increased to 1,56 ″. The resolution of this panel is 152 x 486 pixels and the resulting fineness has increased up to 326 ppi. A cheaper smartphone or tablet doesn't have to be ashamed of such subtlety.
The viewing angles of this display are very good, both indoors and outdoors. However, we are talking about the maximum brightness of this panel, which has 450 nits. Automatic brightness is missing from the bracelet. There is also no "always-on" mode, despite AMOLED technology.
However, we can praise the touch response to the display, as well as its narrow frames, which are truly incomparable with the previous generation. The display can be woken up by a touch or a gesture of turning the wrist, which according to our testing is better and faster.
Mobile application: Mi Fit
The sixth generation of this fitness bracelet is also compatible with the well-known Mi Fit application (we tested the application in version 5.0.2, for the Android system). It offers a fast connection with the bracelet and even data synchronization via mail or social networks.
The first tab of the application shows your basic statistics from all connected devices. There is no choice of activities, but also the connection of new devices. On the next tab, you can track the shared results of your family and friends.
For us, the most interesting third card offers the connected devices themselves as well as settings, including settings of units or targets (the application offers the Slovak language).
In the menu of the device itself, there is a picture of the watch with the current value of the battery at the top. Below is a shop with the option to change the dial or set an animated or custom dial.
You will be able to customize the order of the individual functions on the bracelet screens, there are also settings for alarms, reminders, editing applications and their notifications, and activating test functions (such as remote camera shutter mode).
Software and control: New touch gestures
A big novelty is also the removal of the capacitive button of the watch or. bracelet. Thanks to this, modified software with new options has been given space, and new touch screen gestures are also available.
However, the removed capacitive button offered space for an enlarged display. This time, the display shows up to two icons (for example, Status and PAI), there is also a display of more data for heart rate, activity and notifications (these already support diacritics and some emoji, ie "smilies").
Pressing the capacitive button in the system this time replaces the left swipe gesture. Also, to achieve any of the icons in the menu in the system, a smaller number of swipes is required, thanks to the placement of two icons on one screen.
Following the example of previous generations, the system offers the possibility of modifying selected dials, which also display more information. The menu then includes the weather, 30 types of sports activities, as well as monitoring of heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, breathing exercises, world clocks, music controls and settings.
It is the settings that reveal other customization options. There is the mentioned manual brightness, as well as settings for display illumination, lock screen or activity recognition. Of course, you can reset the settings or restart. However, the software of the watch itself is in English, so we will have to wait a few more weeks for Czech.
Fitness functions and oxygen monitoring
When it comes to monitoring fitness functions, Xiaomi offers 30 sports activities in the new generation. However, not all of them support automatic detection and some of them are also truly unconventional.
In addition to running, walking, outdoor or indoor cycling and swimming (the bracelet is waterproof with 5 ATM certification), we can also click on the elliptical trainer, dance, yoga or zumba.
The very start of recognizing fitness activities is relatively fast and practically instantaneous. Your results will then be displayed in the Mi Fit application and will complete your daily statistics, including the number of steps taken, calories burned, etc. However, it is necessary to think about the absence of GPS in the bracelet, so the signal must be drawn through the connected smartphone.
The recording of fitness functions is also closely connected with the acquisition of the necessary data via the new generation BioTracker sensor. This includes heart rate monitoring (automatic 24/7), sleep monitoring (automatic 24/7), but also SpO2 heart rate monitoring (manual start).
This function is a novelty and the measurement is compared to last year's bracelet, for example Amazfit Band 5 even faster. However, the watch will prompt you to tighten the strap more closely for more accurate results. However, we did not notice any problems with the measurement itself. The breathing exercise or menstrual cycle recording function is also available in the corresponding function menu.
Automatic recognition of activity monitoring
Automatic activity recognition is a feature that still needs improvement in the case of the Xiaomi fitness bracelet. This feature is turned off at the factory and must be turned on manually in the wristband settings.
So far, 5 sports activities are supported for automatic recognition. Namely, it is walking, running, cycling, elliptical trainer and rowing machine. However, there may be more updates.
Our experience is mixed, the bracelet software either did not recognize the selected activity or recognized it with a delay, e.g. after a few minutes of active exercise on the simulator. The positive message is at least the ability to sync data from Mi Fit to Google Fit.
Receiving calls and listening to music
When it comes to receiving calls, the bracelet does not offer a microphone or speaker for active telephony. You can only choose to accept or cancel the call with the button on the bracelet and the displayed contact name is also missing. the phone number that is currently calling you. We used this function mainly to cancel a call in a situation where it was not appropriate to make a phone call.
The music control function is slightly different. Following the example of the previous generation, this feature also supports Spotify, not just the built-in music player. Placement of this function is possible in one pull on the bracelet, for example to the right.
There is no lack of playing / pausing a song, skipping a song, displaying the song title and also a volume control that is reliable and responds quickly even to speakers connected via Bluetooth to a smartphone.
Connectivity: GPS and NFC missing for China only
In terms of connectivity, the bracelet is equipped with technology Bluetooth 5.0, which is used to secure the connection with the smartphone (the Mi Fit application is available for both Android and iOS). The connection is stable and the bracelet does not disconnect from the application unnecessarily, which is a welcome plus.
On the other hand, in this price category the bracelet does not contain GPS, this technology is the domain of more expensive smart watches. The bracelet draws the GPS signal from the connected smartphone. We will not please you with the NFC function either, it is also not available in our country in Europe and you simply will not pay for the bracelets.
For integrated sensors, a three-axis gyroscope, accelerometer and oximeter are available as part of the updated optical PPG sensor. However, we still have to think about the fact that we are in the segment of affordable fitness bracelets and they do not offer all integrated technologies as standard, following the example of their more expensive siblings.
Battery: We continue the standard for 14 days
The equipment of the bracelet also includes an integrated battery with a total capacity 125 mAh. According to the manufacturer, this battery should provide the same endurance as the previous generation. With standard use, the battery should offer 336 hours, ie 14 days. But what is the battery really like?
We in the editorial office really used the bracelet to the fullest. We had the brightness of the display set to the maximum value, we received all available notifications from the smartphone and we also used activity monitoring, via the Mi Fit application.
In the settings, we set the do not disturb mode between 22:00 and 06:00, and we also activated experimental functions for security and also for remote camera shutter. With this setting, the watch cut us approximately 12% of the battery every day, so the resulting endurance was around 8 days.
However, it is enough to turn off the experimental functions, limit some notifications and lower the display brightness to 40%, and the resulting endurance will be shifted to the manufacturer's 14 days.
It also depends on your use, but whether you charge once a week or once every two weeks, it's really easy, thanks to the magnetic cable. You do not need to remove the capsule from the bracelet, just connect the appropriate magnetic pins.
Charging to the full capacity of this bracelet took us about 90 minutes to charge from the power bank, and the manufacturer has prepared a new charging screen for us, which displays the time and is oriented in width.
Price and availability of a fitness bracelet
A popular fitness bracelet in its sixth generation with a label Xiaomi Mi Band 6 The best way to buy is from the Goboo seller, who sends the bracelet from a Spanish warehouse and arrives expressly within 7 days.
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Final rating: Xiaomi Mi Band 6
Xiaomi Mi Band 6 is again an improved generation of fitness bracelet, which has caused a small revolution in this segment. Its main improvements over the previous generation could be summarized in three categories. It is a larger and especially finer AMOLED panel with minimal frames, a sensor for SpO2 monitoring of sports activities and also up to 30 sports activities, from which selected ones will also offer automatic recognition.
On the other hand, we still haven't seen the GPS sensor that Xiaomi already offers at a similar price (for the Mi Watch Lite watch) and there is also a lack of support for the global use of the NFC chip for mobile payments. You simply can't pay with this bracelet.
Compared to the previous generation, you will mainly get a much larger display, measuring oxygen in the blood, all while maintaining almost the same battery life. If you want to follow modern trends, we definitely recommend switching to Mi Band 6.
