Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 8 vs 7: should you upgrade?

If you’re a fan of Xiaomi’s Mi Band series, you’ll be delighted to know that the latest version, the Xiaomi Mi Band 8, has just been released. Like the previous models, the Mi Band 8 is designed to help you track your fitness goals and keep track of your daily activities .

Basic reading: The best fitness trackers and health gadgets

In this article, we will compare the new Mi Band 8 with its predecessor, the Mi Band 7, which was released last year. The Mi Band 7 was a huge success and remains one of the best-selling budget fitness bands in the world.

The Xiaomi crowd will be happy to know that the Mi Band 8 comes with some major upgrades and improvements over its predecessor. We’ll dive into the details of these upgrades and compare the two devices to help you decide which one is right for you.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 8 vs 7: General and hardware

Design

In terms of design, the Xiaomi Mi Band 8 looks very similar to the Mi Band 7. Both fitness bands have a rubberized practical look that is unmistakably focused on fitness tracking.

The Mi Band 7 features a 1.62-inch display with a resolution of 192 x 490 pixels, 326 ppi and a maximum brightness of up to 450 nits. The display is covered with tempered glass, which gives it an elegant and impressive appearance. The display’s edge-to-edge design means there’s no room for a physical button, so users have to rely on the touchscreen and gestures to navigate menus.

Xiaomi decided to keep the same display size for the Mi Band 8. No change and you still have the always on option for some watch faces. It would be pointless to increase the screen size as it is very large. However, the aspect that has improved is the maximum brightness that the bracelet can achieve, which for the first time exceeds the brightness of 600 nits to approach the level of a smartwatch. The refresh rate has also been improved to 60 Hz.

A notable change is that the Xiaomi Mi Band 8 offers a two-piece detachable band and a new band connection. Its predecessor has a one-piece strap that allows users to pull the main unit out of the strap. This new design feature allows for more versatile and handy strap combinations. Users can even wear the band as a necklace or tied to their shoes.

Xiaomi has developed an easily removable strap mechanism that allows you to change the straps every day according to your mood or occasion. The diverse selection of straps available includes gin leather, woven straps, double leather and hollow bracelets. A pendant style option is also available.

Check out the image gallery below (click on any image to enlarge).

Along with different straps, there are hundreds of watch face designs available, including some inspired by gaming. Sudoku, 2048, math games, puzzles are available and you can actually play them on your device!

Overall, while the design changes in the Mi Band 8 may seem minimal, the two-piece detachable band is a notable improvement. The design remains functional and affordable, while the new strap mechanism allows for greater customization and wearability.

Under the hood

The excellent 5 ATM rating and swim-proof design remain the same. As well as sensors.

The Mi Band 8 and 7 share a 6-axis sensor (a 3-axis low-power accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope) and a PPG heart rate sensor. Also on board is an all-day SpO2 sensor that was introduced last year. The company hasn’t mentioned any improvements to the underlying technology, but it’s quite possible that there have been slight improvements.

Battery life

Next up is very important battery life. This has always been an important selling point of Mi Bands.

We are happy to report that the 8th iteration does not disappoint in this regard. The predecessor works for 15 days on a single charge thanks to a 125 mAh lithium-ion battery. This has now increased by a day. Thanks to the always-on display, the Mi Band 8 can last for 6 days. An hour is enough to recharge from zero to full. This is also an improvement.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 8 vs 7: Technical Specifications

Here is a table illustrating all the design and hardware differences between the last three generations of the Mi Smart Band.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 8 vs 7: Functionality

The Mi Band has been a popular wearable for quite some time now. Its affordability makes it accessible to anyone who wants to track their health and fitness.

In terms of tracking, the device covers the basics pretty well. It can continuously track your activity and sleep, providing information on your steps, distance traveled, active minutes, calories burned, sleep, stress level and inactivity reminders. Xiaomi has mastered this aspect of wearability.

What’s new?

Unfortunately, the Mi Band 8 still lacks an altimeter to count floors climbed. Here’s hoping the feature finally arrives in 2024.

However, Xiaomi continues to improve the accuracy of its statistics every year, especially with heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking. Last year, sleep breathing quality was added via a blood oxygen sensor that has the potential to detect sleep apnea. The band also tracks irregular and sporadic sleep patterns, as well as REM sleep, using heart rate variability.

Not much new this year, but the number of sports modes has increased by 30, bringing the total to 150. These include popular modes such as indoor fitness, indoor skating, HIIT, core training, stretching, stepper, gymnastics, pilates, street dance, dance, zumba, cricket, bowling, basketball, volleyball, table tennis and more.

Xiaomi continues to improve its running performance metrics. Last year they introduced VO2 Max, ATPPC, Aerobic and Recovery Time to great acclaim. When the Mi Band 8 is attached to the shoe with a special clip, it can monitor parameters such as stride length and impact force during races.

Unfortunately, the built-in GPS is still missing. As with previous models, users must rely on their smartphone’s satellite signal for detailed outdoor exercise tracking. This decision is likely to help reduce costs. The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro offers built-in GPS, but there was no mention of the Mi Band 8 Pro at today’s event. Perhaps more information will be available later in the year.

A new mode has been added for monitoring boxing training, which uses the integrated sensors of the smart bracelet. This feature allows for an interactive boxing experience. By connecting the smart bracelet to a tablet or phone, users can perform boxing moves, with their actions mirrored in real time by the character on the screen.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 8 vs 7: Verdict

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 and Mi Band 7 offer an impressive feature set for budget fitness trackers. While the innovations in the Mi Band 8 may not be groundbreaking, they do provide some improvements over its predecessor.

The most notable change is the introduction of a two-piece detachable strap that allows for greater customization and wearability. The Mi Band 8 also boasts an increased maximum screen brightness and refresh rate along with an extra day of battery life.

In terms of functionality, the Mi Band 8 now supports 150 sports modes, 30 more than the Mi Band 7. Xiaomi has also added a new boxing training mode and additional running statistics. Despite these improvements, the lack of built-in GPS and altimeter may be disappointing for some users.

Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Gadgets and wearables can earn a commission

All in all, if you already own a Mi Band 7, the changes in the Mi Band 8 may not be significant enough to warrant an upgrade. However, if you’re new to the Xiaomi Mi Band range or using an older model, the Mi Band 8 offers a solid range of features for a budget fitness tracker, making it an excellent choice for those looking to track their health and fitness. goals.

The Mi Band 8 is currently only available in China. The regular variant retails for 239 yuan (roughly US$35), while the NFC version can be had for 279 yuan (around US$40). International availability will follow in the coming months. The Mi Band 7 has been available for a while now (check the price on Amazon).

Do you like this article? Sign up for our monthly newsletter and never miss a thing!