Xiaomi is one of the leaders in the
wearable industry and it built that reputation on capable but affordable
gadgets like the Mi Bands and Bluetooth headsets. Today, the company announced
the global launch of the latest products in both categories.
Xiaomi added “smart” to the name of the
band, but it still did not add NFC to the global version. That remains
exclusive to China (though there is a Mi Band 4 NFC for Europe). The new model
boasts two major changes, starting with the larger display – 1.1”, up from
0.95”. The new version supports widgets, allowing you to customize the
indicators on the home screen Speaking of indicators, the heart rate monitor is
50% more accurate than on the previous version (but it lacks an SpO2 sensor).
The other big upgrade is that the charging
cable can be attached without removing the gadget from its wrist bands. This is
great for everyone who likes to use metal bands (which usually require screws).
The band will launch with 6 official silicone wrist bands and will be
pre-loaded with 65 themes for the home screen. Some of them feature animated
characters if a static display seems too boring.
As before, battery life is rated at 14
days. The band is water resistant to ATM5, so you can take it for a swim in the
pool (there are a total of 11 exercise modes, including jump rope and yoga).
When you're done, you can use the band's camera remote shutter key feature to
snap a selfie from a distance.
The sleep tracking has been upgraded to
detect REM sleep and can track your naps too. Additionally, it can detect your
stress levels and guide you through a breathing exercise. Female health
tracking is a major new feature too. The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5 starts at € 40,
but the first buyers will pay the early bird price instead - € 35.
The Mi TWS Earphones Basic feature 14.2 mm
dynamic diaphragms and support the AAC audio codec for high-quality wireless
audio. They also feature noise cancellation for calls using an extra pair of
mics. The buds feature touch controls, that is pretty standard. Smart ear
detection is definitely a perk, though, especially if you were expecting
“basic” features. This automatically pauses your music player when you take one
of the buds out and resumes when you put it back in. Also, if you have a Xiaomi
phone, pairing it the buds is as simple as opening their box.
The battery life on the buds is 5 hours on
a charge, then you can pop them into their carrying case to top them up.
Combined, the total battery life is up to 20 h. The case is charged over USB-C,
so you can use your phone’s charger.
The MI TWS Earphone will cost € 40
normally, but the first buyers are getting a special price – just € 30.
