Xiaomi Smart MI Band 8

Xiaomi Smart MI Band 8.

Product Details

Unboxing

Compared with its predecessor, the packaging of the Xiaomi Smart Mi Band 8 is almost unchanged except for some patterns and texture, and the accessories inside the package are almost the same, we have the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 body, a manual, a strap and a magnetic charging cable.

The cable is almost identical to the charging cable of the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro series, because this time the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 has a similar strap connection structure and charging port as the 7 Pro, but after I verified that they don’t exactly share the same cable, it doesn’t offer a solid connection with the band 7 Pro.

Design

This is the new Xiaomi Smart Band 8. Although its size is very close to its predecessor, but if we look closer we will find many differences. The first and most important thing is that the Band is no longer completely wrapped around the strap. It now has a new structure that supports quick removal. Like a traditional watch, you can remove one side of the strap from the Band by pressing the snap and pulling it outwards.

This is a really practical change that brings a variety of looks to go with the Xiaomi Smart Band 8. Xiaomi has officially launched three straps in different materials for the Band, all of them are very beautiful and have a very affordable price, and I believe we will see more straps with different styles from third-party manufacturers soon.

In terms of body material, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 finally has a metal frame, and like the Smart Band 7 Pro, the frame is dyed through an electroplating process, which makes it look very refined and more durable compared to the previous plastic frame. Compared to the band 7, the new Band is half a millimeter thinner and the sensor area at the bottom is not as prominent so you can get a more comfortable wearing experience.

Screen & Display

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 has the same 1.62-inch AMOLED display as its predecessor and the bezel doesn’t get narrower, but thanks to the new powerful processor, it can now drive the screen to a refresh rate of 60 Hz.So you know that even the band 7 Pro only has a refresh rate of 30 Hz. And actually thanks to its friendly pricing, we didn’t really complain much about the series’ refresh rate for years. Of course, the 60 Hz refresh rate will bring a big boost to daily use, and all your operations become very smooth.

Features

In terms of UI and features, Xiaomi Smart Band 8 now supports up to more than 150 sports modes, the most interesting one being aerobic boxing. Thanks to the built-in acceleration sensor, we now have what is probably the world’s lightest sensory gaming device. Put on your Xiaomi Smart Band 8, follow the lessons in Mi fitness APP and you can swing your fists and burn your calories anywhere, anytime.

Xiaomi Smart Band 8 also has another useful proprietary accessory called the bean pod. It allows you to attach your Mi band to your laces to better track your stride frequency, stride length, and even the impact of your foot on the ground while running. If you are a runner and want to further improve your performance, you should really try following the professional data provided by this personal coach.

Egg Dials

In addition to bringing more sports mode support, Xiaomi also brings us an egg, you can find four mini-game dials in the dial store. If you are a Mi band 5 or band 6 user, you may feel familiar with it. Yes, some third-party community enthusiasts have developed similar mini-games and even utilities for the previous Mi band, such as calculators.

I’m very happy to see that Xiaomi is not cracking down on these behaviors but bringing these interesting ideas to their latest products. Although we keep complaining, fortunately, Xiaomi is still listening to their users.

Battery Life

In terms of battery life, Xiaomi claims that the lighter Xiaomi Smart Band 8 can last up to 16 days in typical use, and with the AOD function on, it can still last for about six days. As a long-time Mi band user, I’m not worried about its battery life because Xiaomi has been quite honest about its official figures here.

Specifications

Display

• 1.62-inch AMOLED
• 192 x 490 resolution
• Up to 600 nit
• 60Hz refresh rate

Sensors

• PPG heart rate sensor
• 6-axis motion
• SpO2 sensor
• Connected GPS

Battery

• 190mAh
• 16-day typical battery life
• 6 days with AOD

Connectivity : Bluetooth 5.1 LE

Water resistance : 5ATM

Charging method : Magnetic charging

Supported devices

• Android 6.0 or later
• iOS 12.0 or later

Dimensions : 48 x 22.5 x 10.99mm