Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Review

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is the latest iteration of the company’s popular fitness tracker series.

Xiaomi has been a dominant force in the budget fitness tracker market for years, and the Smart Band 9 aims to continue this trend. Priced at £35, it’s more affordable than the previous generation, bucking the trend of increasing prices we’ve seen from many tech companies recently. While this smart band does have some upgrades from previous generations, the main benefit for buyers is this new price point.

The Smart Band 9 maintains the familiar pill-shaped design of its predecessors while introducing some notable improvements. These include a brighter display, more accurate heart rate monitoring, and a larger battery. But how do these upgrades translate to real-world use, and does the Smart Band 9 offer good value for money? Let’s find out.

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Midnight Black	No ratings yet	£44.79	Buy on Amazon

Features

The Smart Band 9 comes packed with a range of features that cater to both fitness enthusiasts and those simply looking to keep an eye on their general health:

Health Monitoring:

• Heart rate tracking (with claimed 16% improved accuracy)
• Blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring
• Stress level monitoring
• Sleep tracking with detailed analysis
• Women’s health management

Fitness Tracking:

• Over 150 sports modes
• 10 on-wrist running courses
• VO2 max and recovery time tracking
• Running form analysis (requires optional running clip)
• Cycling features in Pebble mode

Smart Features:

• Improved haptic feedback via Linear Resonant Actuator (LRA)
• 20 unique vibration options
• Wet finger touch control
• Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity
• Compatibility with Android 8.0+ and iOS 12.0+
• Mi Fitness app integration

Additional Features:

• Alarms
• Weather updates
• Focus mode
• To-do list
• Music control (on some models)
• Camera control (on some models)
• Find phone function

This extensive feature set is impressive for a device at this price point, offering a good balance of health, fitness, and smart capabilities.

Design and Display

The Smart Band 9 retains the sleek, minimalist design that has become synonymous with Xiaomi’s fitness trackers. The main unit measures 46.5 x 21.6 x 10.95 mm and weighs just 15.8g without the strap, making it comfortable for all-day wear.

The band’s frame is now made from aluminium alloy and is available in five colours: Midnight Black, Glacier Silver, Mystic Rose, Arctic Blue, and Olive Green. This upgrade from plastic gives the device a more premium feel and improved durability.

Xiaomi has maintained the 5 ATM water resistance rating, allowing users to wear the band while swimming or showering without worry. The strap attachment mechanism remains unchanged, which is good news for those upgrading from previous models as it ensures compatibility with existing straps.

As you can see from my photos, the display material is plastic and prone to scratching.

Xiaomi also sent me a Cuban chain for this smart band. While I can appreciate the desire to make health trackers more fashionable, I find the metal chain and plastic-looking smart band quite contrasting.

Display

One of the standout improvements in the Smart Band 9 is its display. While it retains the same 1.62-inch AMOLED panel and 192 x 490 pixel resolution as its predecessor, the maximum brightness has been significantly increased from 600 nits to 1200 nits. This boost in brightness makes the screen much easier to read in bright outdoor conditions, addressing a common complaint with previous models.

The display maintains its 60 Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth animations and responsive touch controls. The automatic brightness adjustment works well, adapting to different lighting conditions to maintain readability while conserving battery life.

Customisation options have been expanded, with over 200 band faces and dynamic faces available. This variety allows users to personalise their device to suit their style or mood. The band also comes with nine different out-of-the-box accessory options, including various strap materials such as TPU, leather, and metal.

Battery and Performance

Xiaomi has equipped the Smart Band 9 with a larger 233 mAh battery, up from the 180 mAh in the Smart Band 8. This increase in capacity, combined with power efficiency improvements, allows the device to last up to 21 days on a single charge under typical use.

However, it’s worth noting that this 21-day figure is based on conservative usage. With features like the always-on display (AOD) and continuous heart rate monitoring enabled, users can expect around 9 days of battery life. While this is a significant reduction from the maximum, it’s still impressive for a device with these capabilities.

Charging is done via a magnetic charger, which attaches easily to the back of the device. A full charge takes approximately 60 minutes, which is reasonably quick for a device in this category.

In terms of performance, the Smart Band 9 feels snappy and responsive. The interface is smooth, and there’s minimal lag when navigating through menus or switching between functions. This improved performance is likely due to upgrades in the internal hardware, although Xiaomi hasn’t provided specific details about the processor or RAM.

Health and Fitness Features

Health Monitoring

The Smart Band 9 builds upon the health monitoring capabilities of its predecessors with some notable improvements:

• Heart Rate Monitoring: Xiaomi claims a 16% improvement in heart rate accuracy. In practice, the readings seem to be more consistent and in line with more expensive devices, especially during high-intensity activities.
• Blood Oxygen (SpO2) Monitoring: This feature works well for spot checks, but continuous monitoring can impact battery life significantly.
• Sleep Tracking: The sleep analysis provided is detailed, breaking down sleep stages into light, deep, and REM cycles. The accuracy seems to have improved over previous models, with wake times and overall sleep duration matching up well with subjective experience.
• Stress Monitoring: While this feature can be useful for identifying patterns, it’s important to remember that it’s based on heart rate variability and should not be considered a medical diagnosis.
• Women’s Health Management: This feature allows users to track menstrual cycles and provides predictions and reminders.

It is the health monitoring feature that this Xiaomi Smart Band excels at. You get all the useful features that more expensive devices like the Fenix 8, or the more expensive Xiaomi watches offer for a fraction of the price.

Fitness Tracking

Unfortunately, I was injured while reviewing the Smart Band 9 and was unable to run as I needed to rest my leg before the Cardiff half marathon. I have, therefore, been restricted to the cross trainer and walking.

With over 150 sports modes, the Smart Band 9 caters to a wide range of activities. Some key fitness features include:

• Running Courses: The 10 on-wrist running courses are a nice addition for beginners or those looking to add structure to their training.
• VO2 Max and Recovery Time: These metrics provide useful insights for more serious athletes, helping to guide training intensity and frequency.
• Running Form Analysis: This feature requires an optional running clip and can provide valuable feedback on running technique.
• Cycling Features: The Pebble mode allows the band to be attached to a bike for easier viewing of stats during rides.

The lack of built-in GPS remains a limitation for outdoor activities like running and cycling. Users will need to bring their phones along to track routes and get accurate distance measurements. The problem with assisted GPS is that it does not always reliably connect to your phone so it can make fitness tracking inaccurate.

One notable feature Xiaomi has implemented for a while now is the ability to connect with Strava. Even this cheap £35 smart band can sync activities with Strava, so it makes a brilliant entry option for anyone who is just getting into running or other outdoor fitness.

For someone who is a keen runner, cyclist or walker, I’d personally recommend spending the extra money on a watch with GPS. The Xiaomi Watch 2, which runs WearOS, is £150, and the Xiaomi Watch S3 is £110.

Smart Features

While primarily a fitness tracker, the Smart Band 9 includes several smart features that enhance its everyday usability:

• Notifications: The band can display notifications from your smartphone, including calls, texts, and app alerts. However, interaction with these notifications is limited – you can view them but not respond directly from the band.
• Music and Camera Control: On compatible models, you can control music playback and use the band as a remote shutter for your phone’s camera.
• Weather Updates: The band can display current weather conditions and forecasts, which is handy for planning outdoor activities.
• Find Phone Function: This feature helps you locate your misplaced phone by making it ring, even if it’s on silent mode.

These smart features, while not as comprehensive as those found on full-fledged smartwatches, add value to the overall package and enhance the band’s utility beyond fitness tracking. I personally only use things like notifications and don’t use smart watches to reply to things, so I get the same functionality with this as I do with my £800 Garmin Fenix 8.

Xiaomi Mi Fitness App

The Mi Fitness app serves as the control centre for the Smart Band 9, allowing users to sync data, customise settings, and analyse their health and fitness metrics in greater detail.

The app’s interface is clean and intuitive, making it easy to navigate through different sections. Data synchronisation between the band and the app is generally quick and reliable, though occasional connectivity issues have been reported by some users.

One of the app’s strengths is its comprehensive data presentation. Users can view detailed breakdowns of their activity, sleep, and heart rate data over various time periods. The app also provides insights and recommendations based on this data, which can be helpful for those looking to improve their health and fitness.

The app allows for extensive customisation of the band’s settings, including which notifications are displayed, alarm settings, and which health metrics are tracked. Users can also browse and download new watch faces directly through the app.

While the Mi Fitness app is generally well-designed and functional, it lacks some of the more advanced features and integrations found in apps from competitors like Fitbit or Garmin. However, for most users, it provides more than enough functionality to make the most of the Smart Band 9’s capabilities.

Price and Alternative Options

Preview	Product	Rating	Price
	Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Midnight Black	No ratings yet	£44.79	Buy on Amazon

At £35, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 offers excellent value for money. It’s priced lower than its predecessor at launch, which is refreshing in today’s market where prices tend to increase with each new generation.

Here’s how it compares to some alternatives:

• Huawei Band 9: Priced at £49, it offers similar features but with a slightly different design aesthetic.
• Honor Smart Band 9: Available for £40, it’s a close competitor in terms of price and features.
• Fitbit Inspire 3: Priced higher at around £80, it offers a more established ecosystem and better third-party integrations but fewer features.

For those considering an upgrade from previous Xiaomi models, the improved display brightness, better heart rate accuracy, and enhanced battery life make the Smart Band 9 a worthwhile consideration, especially given its competitive pricing.

Verdict

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 doesn’t bring much new to the table compared to the previous generations. The brighter display, improved heart rate monitoring, and enhanced battery life are welcome improvements, but they probably won’t make that much real-life difference.

The main benefit is the new lower price point. At £35, there is very little that competes with the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 when you look at options from other reputable brands.

For users seeking a capable fitness tracker without breaking the bank, the Smart Band 9 is an excellent choice. It offers most of the features you’d expect from more expensive devices at a fraction of the cost.

However, serious athletes or those deeply invested in specific fitness ecosystems might find the lack of built-in GPS. For these users, it might be worth considering more advanced (and expensive) options.

Overall, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 continues the company’s tradition of offering great value in the budget fitness tracker market. It strikes a good balance between features, performance, and price, making it a solid choice for most users looking to track their health and fitness.

James Smythe( Editor-in-chief )

I am James, a UK-based tech enthusiast and the Editor and Owner of Mighty Gadget, which I’ve proudly run since 2007. Passionate about all things technology, my expertise spans from computers and networking to mobile, wearables, and smart home devices.

As a fitness fanatic who loves running and cycling, I also have a keen interest in fitness-related technology, and I take every opportunity to cover this niche on my blog. My diverse interests allow me to bring a unique perspective to tech blogging, merging lifestyle, fitness, and the latest tech trends.

In my academic pursuits, I earned a BSc in Information Systems Design from UCLAN, before advancing my learning with a Master’s Degree in Computing. This advanced study also included Cisco CCNA accreditation, further demonstrating my commitment to understanding and staying ahead of the technology curve.

I’m proud to share that Vuelio has consistently ranked Mighty Gadget as one of the top technology blogs in the UK. With my dedication to technology and drive to share my insights, I aim to continue providing my readers with engaging and informative content.

Last update on 2024-10-13 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API