Changed Apple Watch Ultra to Xiaomi Mi Band 8. Impressions after a few days

For almost 9 years now I have been wearing a smart watch on my wrist. Starting in 2014, when Apple introduced the Apple Watch, they became a part of my life. Sometimes I took a break from them and switched to regular watches, constantly updated in the new generation, but never used any other smart wearable counterparts.

And in the summer of 2023, I literally burned my bridges: I sold the Apple Watch Ultra, and in return I bought the newest Xiaomi Mi Band 8 bracelet. It was a little scary to give up the usual “apple” watch, but now I don’t regret my choice at all.

To the point: An overview of the Apple Watch Ultra. Titanium and ceramics, which are not suitable for everyone, but who then?

I have been walking with a bracelet from Xiaomi for almost a week, and here are my impressions. Looking ahead, I note that I thought it would be inconvenient, but …

But first things first:

Why the disappearance of the Apple Watch Ultra

Reward great. But still heavy.

When I put a titanium “apple” watch on my hand for the first time, I thought that this is it. The ideal screen size, heavy body, it turns out solid on the hand and closes like a rolex.

It was even comfortable to sleep in them, unlike all other Apple Watch models, such a paradox. I did not take them off at the beach and in the shower, changed the straps regularly and was completely filled.

However, over time, there were moments that annoy me. For example, the Apple Watch Ultra constantly hits railings or walls if you’re walking up stairs, precisely because of its size. Each time, with bated breath, I watched the screen and the case, but the watch steadfastly withstood these “scrapers” and was not covered with scratches.

I have been wearing it for several months, the screen is like new.

However, it was possible to lose the presentation at any moment, this is net lottery.

Over time, they stopped wearing dimensions and weight, but on the contrary, they began to frankly interfere. The constant burden of listening, and during work I generally took them off and put them with my MacBook, so as not to interfere with typing.

In addition, I am not a diver, not an extreme sportsman and I am not going to conquer Everest. Most of the necessary features of the Apple Watch Ultra do not come across to me. Practice has shown that with the help of smart watches I view messages, control the iPhone player, watch the time and use a silent alarm clock.

What other smart wearable devices have the functionality I need? Yes, ALL is possible.

Well, the last straw that overflowed my cup of patience was the offline work time. I went out of town for the weekend and did not take a charger for the watch with me, relying on the battery capacity of the Apple Watch Ultra.

After a day and a half, they were discharged to zero and I looked with envy at a friend with some kind of smart bracelet that works up to 14 days on a single charge. This is the one I need!

They work for several days without recharging. But this is still not enough.

The choice fell on Xiaomi products, because there is an increased sensitivity to light and imperceptible effects on the human body, which at the same time will allow all my daily listening that I mentioned above.

I remembered how in a conversation with someone they praised Mi Band 7, but then a new version of this bracelet came out, and now the courier is already handing me a box with the new Xiaomi Mi Band 8. I paid mere pennies for it, 3512 rubles.

Rather, unpack and strain!

First Impressions

Neat design, beautiful dials.

Xiaomi Mi Band 8 is sold in a simple cardboard box that contains the gadget itself, a charging cable and a slight resistance in Chinese. The cable has a magnetic fastening, so it is not recommended to lose it, this is not USB-C for you, you will not be able to replace it with something else.

The device itself consists of a black silicone strap, which is attached to the device on both sides with latches (just like in the Apple Watch!), and, in fact, a small and light capsule with a formation.

The touch screen is made using AMOLED technology, its size is 1.62 inches, the measurement parameter is 600 nits. The refresh rate of the Mi Band 8 is 60 Hz, which is twice as high as that of the generation. I didn’t encounter anything, so I’ll just say that the interface is smooth, I didn’t notice any slowdowns.

The screen shot is clear and bright, even in the sun.

There is not a single physical device on the case, and for the first use, the bracelet must be connected to the charger. The device immediately offers to download a proprietary application from the App Store for permanent download.

While the application is downloading, I put the bracelet on my hand. How light is he! It weighs about 25 grams and is not felt at all on the hand. That’s exactly what I wanted.

The application has downloaded and then small problems begin, which I will describe below in the category of cons of devices.

Cons of Xiaomi Mi Band 8

There are widgets, they can be pushed through the mobile application.

As of today, there is ONLY the Chinese version of the Mi Band 8. This means that the emissions are for the domestic market and are not intended for sale in other countries. Therefore, in the downloaded Mi Fitness application, you need to select the China region, not Russia. Otherwise, the smartphone will not find your bracelet and will not be able to connect to it.

The second disadvantage, also associated with decision-making, is that the bracelet does not have the support of the Russian language from the word at all. The maximum that the user can count on is English in the menus. But there is a nuance here: if your main language is Russian on your smartphone, then Xiaomi Mi Band 8 will have a Chinese interface.

To get English on the bracelet, you should change the main language on the iPhone to English along the way Settings – General – Language and Region.

It is believed that the Russian language will be delivered immediately after the release of the global version of Xiaomi Mi Band 8 for other countries, as was the case with the generation of bracelets. Tentatively, this sensor is closer to autumn, but then the sensor on the device in our country, respectively, will be slightly higher.

This is where the cons end. The benefits are starting.

Pros of Xiaomi Mi Band 8

The device does not look cheap.

Let me list the challenge first:

● bright screen, readable in the sun
● many watch faces for every taste
● sensitive vibration motor
● up to 16 days on a single charge
● charging from zero to 100% in one hour
● Always on display function

I’m not even talking about such basic functions as viewing messages from instant messengers and mail, controlling the iPhone player, showing the time and a silent alarm clock. All this is observed and works without complaints.

For sports-oriented, there are a lot of other different workouts that I didn’t even get into. departures from cycling, ending with rowing – do it for your health.

Also, the device can measure the pulse, blood saturation, count steps and find sleep. Nice additions that are – and okay, let the statistics be collected.

Most importantly, Xiaomi Mi Band 8 is insanely comfortable for daily wear and you don’t want to take it off at all so that your hand rests. You can take a shower with this bracelet (verified) and swim in the reservoirs (not yet verified), and it’s convenient to sleep in them, because you don’t feel them on your wrist and they don’t beat against the head of the bodies, as happened with my Apple Watch Ultra.

With all the features turned on, like permanent heart and others, the battery is discharged by an average of 3-4 percent in 12 hours. So the claimed battery life of 16 days is very similar to the truth.

What in the end. It was worth abandoning the Apple Watch Ultra

Straps can be changed to your liking. They are much cheaper than for the Apple Watch.

I’m too accustomed to smart devices on an optional wrist to switch to a familiar, production watch. Therefore, Xiaomi Mi Band 8 has become an excellent alternative between the rather bulky Apple Watch Ultra and some Casio.

What I like the most is the fact that I don’t have to worry about possible damage or scratches. The device costs less than four thousand rubles, but it works properly, signals new messages, talks about my steps and, in general, has been added to the Collection.

I also really like the dimensions and shape of the Mi Band 8. Especially now, in the summer, when it’s hot outside and under the Apple Watch case, the hand will certainly sweat, which some may even get a pleasant touch. In the case of Mi Band 8, this is out of the question.

I would pay attention to this bracelet for owners of an old Apple Watch, which already slows down and does not cause concern. Does he think that they spend tens of thousands of rubles on the latest series, or is “ultra” not careful? Take Xiaomi Mi Band 8, which will cover all your basic needs from a wearable device, you will be completely satisfied!

The price, the price is just ridiculous 3512 rubles of some kind. And the device happens unexpectedly in the collection. I thought that in 2023 it was already difficult to surprise with something, but Xiaomi succeeded. Bravo.

Read also: 9 years of the most popular bracelet in the world! How the legendary Xiaomi Mi Band has changed

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