Inside the main unit there’s a vibrating motor which allows it to notify you of events. You can configure what information is shown as you tap through the menu using your finger, and it’s possible to also display calories burned, distance travelled and your last recorded heart rate. Putting this data within instant reach is very much the Mi Band 2’s raison d’etre. Out of the box the first thing shown on the screen, after the time of day, is your total steps taken. The introduction of a screen might lead you to assume that Xiaomi is dipping its toe into smartwatch territory with the Mi Band 2, but the focus here is still very much on fitness. A simple popper mechanism is used to fix the watch around your wrist. Even if it does become damaged over time, you can buy a replacement in black, orange, green and blue. It feels like rubber but is tougher and should hopefully stand up to more punishment. The silicone strap is apparently made from a breathable, anti-sweat material that is more comfortable than the one seen on the original Mi Band.

This is quite a short lead and, if you lose it, you won’t be able to charge the Mi Band 2 – so keep it safe. The bottom edge is home to two charging pins that link to the aforementioned charging cable. On the underside of the unit – the bit that touches your skin – there’s an optical heart-rate sensor. There’s a monochrome 0.42-inch OLED screen which displays data such as the time, total steps, calories burned, distance travelled and remaining battery life. The IP67-certified waterproof unit itself has a scratch-proof face and single capacitive button for interaction. Assembling these two elements is the first thing you’ll have to do when opening the packaging, and you’ll need to repeat the trick every time you want to charge it, as the proprietary USB cable can’t be connected when the main module is fixed to the strap. As with previous Mi Bands, the Mi Band 2 comes in two distinct parts – the module itself and the wrist strap it slots into. Related: Best fitness trackers Xiaomi Mi Band 2 – Design and Setupĭespite its low price point, the Mi Band 2 feels solid enough and looks a lot more impressive than the rather dull earlier models. The Mi Band 2 is powered by a 70mAh cell that offers approximately 20 days of use on a single charge, and can monitor your steps, heart rate and sleep patterns, as well as display rudimentary notifications for calls, text messages and selected applications. It follows the cheap but feature-rich Mi Band and Mi Band 1S and introduces a screen for the first time in the range, as well as improved pedometer tech, which Xiaomi claims is kinder to the battery. The Mi Band 2 is the latest wearable fitness tracker from Chinese hardware giant Xiaomi.

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