The original Mi Band from Xiaomi was quite a success story, selling around 10 million units in 2015. Surpassing the likes of Samsung Gear, Fitbit, and Apple Watch. Following the release of the original Mi Band, the company launched its successor – the Mi Band 1S. The biggest change was the inclusion of the heart rate sensor that allows continuous heart-rate tracking but was still not an immensely significant upgrade.
Now that the company has launched the latest Mi Band 2, which gets a bunch of upgrades over its predecessor – the Mi Band 1S. We make a quick a comparison between the two to see what has changed? And should you be getting the latest Mi Band 2?
Build and Design:
There is a drastic difference between the duo when it comes to outer demeanor. While the Mi Band 1S looks very similar to the original Mi Band, the latest Mi Band 2 breaks the norm with sweeping design changes.
There is a substantial difference between the two, thanks to the introduction of the new 0.42-inch OLED screen and a circular capacitive button that allows you to cycle between the display. Another change with the new Mi Band 2 is the locking mechanism, which feels more secure around the wrist.
In terms of dimensions, the Mi Band 2 is slightly larger and heavier than the Mi Band 1S because of the display module. Though looks way more premium with the use of silicon and shiny plastic as opposed to the matte finish of its predecessor.
Performance and Features:
As already mentioned, the most welcoming change with the Mi Band 2 is the new OLED display. It allows you to monitor your daily fitness regime without the need for a smartphone. You have all the important data right at your fingertips such as heart rate, steps count, time and date on the OLED screen, as opposed to the Mi Band 1S, which has tri-coloured notification LEDs. So you’re very dependent on a smartphone when using the Mi Band 1S to track your progress, which is not the case with the new Mi Band 2.
Both wearables get similar functionality when it comes to features. You get the usual heart rate tracking, steps count and calories burned and smartphone notifications, though the addition of the new OLED display on Mi Band 2 means you have all the data at the snap of a finger. You can use it as a standalone device unlike the Mi Band 1S, which requires a smartphone.
Besides, the Mi Band 2 is more consistent with improved accuracy over its predecessor. The Mi Band 1S has a tendency to exaggerate results. I did notice that the data in the Mi Fit App had me covering almost 50 percent more distance than what I had actually covered, which wasn’t the case with the new Mi Band 2. For everyday usage, it offers results with much-improved accuracy and seems more reliable than the Mi Band 1S.
Battery life is another area where the Mi Band 2 has a significant edge over the Mi Band 1S. I got about two weeks of battery with 40 percent battery remaining, quite impressive for a device that comes with a display. While the Mi Band 1S gets you about 10-14 days of battery life, which is about less than half the battery life of the Mi Band 2.
Price and Availability:
Readers interested in buying these products, the Mi Band 2 is available for around Rs. 3,400 while the Mi Band 1S is available for Rs. 1,600 via online retailers in India.
Wrap Up:
Both wearables are value-packed devices equipped with all the tools you get in a premium tracker. However, the Mi Band 2 is a more consistent performer across the board with its upgraded algorithms. It also gets an OLED display which certainly comes in handy, looks much better and comes with a battery that refuses to die.
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