After a very successful Smart Band 8 released last fall, Xiaomi is moving upmarket with the Smart Band 8 Pro. A wide-screen connected bracelet that further blurs the line between watch and bracelet.
Alongside the presentation of its new Xiaomi 14 and 14 Ultra smartphones during the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Xiaomi also unveiled its new Smart Band 8 Pro connected bracelet. A model equipped with a large Amoled screen. So much so that it becomes difficult to identify, at first glance, the difference with a connected watch, a market in which the Chinese also remains very active, particularly with its new Watch 2. Significantly wider than the Smart Band 8 that we tested last November, the 8 Pro model therefore offers very appreciable reading comfort for all daily activities, whether sporting or not. It’s simple, its screen is almost as large (within 0.4 inches) as that of an Apple Watch SE. Can we still talk about a connected bracelet with such a size? Yes, because it is its functions and its mode of operation that distinguish it from this other category. We were able to test the Smart Band 8 Pro for a few weeks. Here is our verdict.
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Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro: an imposing size
What is immediately surprising about the Smart Band 8 Pro is inevitably its size. See instead since it still measures 46 mm high and 33.35 mm wide for a thickness of 9.99 mm without taking into account the heart rate monitor at its base. This is a lot for a device supposed to belong to the category of connected bracelets. Already its elder, the Smart Band 7 Pro released last year, did not go unnoticed with its 1.64 inch screen, Xiaomi has decided to push the envelope further with this new model equipped with a 1.64 inch screen. 1.74 inches. If it’s not the diagonal of the screen that stands out the most, it’s inevitably its width that makes the difference compared to the competition. It immediately catches the eye when you place the Smart Band 8 Pro next to the Smart Band 8 (in short).
The Smart Band 8 Pro is also very comfortable to wear. The case weighs only 22.5 g and is quickly forgotten. In its standard version, the device comes with a soft and pleasant TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) strap. It has a proprietary clip fastening system that is easy to insert and remove. But it also prevents the use of a standard bracelet.
Xiaomi offers other types of bracelets (leather, metal, fabric) but its French online store does not yet list them at the moment. For example, we note an undisguised attraction to luxury style with the leather model which gives the bracelet the appearance of an Hermès watch.
The Smart Band 8 Pro has very good finishes. However, like its predecessor, we note the absence of any physical button. All operations must be carried out from the touch screen, which is not always very practical, especially when your hands are wet. Furthermore, to turn it on when it is off, there is no other solution than to connect it to its magnetic charger. A lightweight, magnetic, two-pin system that firmly grips the case.
Finally, the Smart Band 8 Pro benefits from 5 ATM waterproofing and can therefore be used for surface swimming sessions.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro: a large screen that delights the retina
Beyond the surprise of its size which will delight those with generous wrists, less women and men with thinner wrists, we must recognize that this screen size of 1.74 inches is a real pleasure on a daily basis. No need to squint to read the data displayed or the notifications that pop up. Real comfort that you get used to very quickly. Xiaomi has opted for an Amoled panel with a definition of 336 x 480 pixels for a resolution of 336 ppi. The details are therefore particularly fine and pleasing to the eye. The brand provides, through the Mi Fitness companion application on smartphone, a large quantity of dials of all kinds, analog or digital, to pay homage to it.
This panel is also very bright. Xiaomi announces a maximum of 600 nits which seems to us to correspond to reality. We never had any difficulty reading what was displayed on the screen even in bright sunlight. What we deplore, however, is the lack of responsiveness of the ambient light sensor which manages the display. On several occasions, we happened to raise our sleeve hiding the bracelet and notice that the screen did not reactivate. Even with an exercise in progress. Repeated tapping on the screen had no effect. The panel remained lit but very dark. We had to wait a good fifteen seconds to return to normal display. Not very practical for tracking training data in real time. And this is also where we regret the absence of a physical button capable of bringing the screen out of its torpor.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro: an activity bracelet more than a watch
The Smart Band 8 Pro is therefore, above all, an activity bracelet. It therefore strives to follow you during your various training sessions with fairly good precision. It has more than 150 sport modes to support you in almost all disciplines. Under the hood, its GPS module is also very effective. During our test, we were able to compare the results against an Apple Watch Ultra. The precision is there as is the distance covered. We only noted a gap of 12 meters (over a distance of more than 4 km) between the Smart Band 8 Pro and Apple’s high-end watch. A good point. As for heart rate, we noted a deviation of 5 BPM from the average. This is important enough to be noticed, especially if the objective of using this bracelet is for sports performance. Finally, we appreciate the presence of the virtual coach for the warm-up. All you have to do is follow the instructions on the screen before getting started. It’s well thought out and practical.
We asked ourselves the question in the introduction: what can separate this connected bracelet from a connected watch given its imposing size. The answer lies in the functions offered. In addition to sports tracking tools, a connected watch is designed as an extension of the smartphone to accompany you throughout the day. It allows you to receive notifications, interact with the mobile and sometimes even receive and make phone calls. This is not the case with the Smart Band 8 Pro. If it receives notifications from SMS or other messaging services like WhatsApp, it only allows you to view them. You will not be able to reply to a message, even with a predefined text or an emoticon. You will have to take the smartphone out of your pocket to continue the conversation. It is also not possible to take a call. Finally, Xiaomi’s bracelet does not accept new applications either. You will have to settle for what the manufacturer offers. This is the difference with connected watches such as the Apple Watch or models powered by WearOS which have online app stores to make them even more versatile.
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro: comfortable autonomy
The Chinese brand announces 14 days of use in standard mode and 6 days with Always On Display mode active. The announced figures barely deviate from reality. With daily wear while carrying out an activity using GPS (for one hour per day), the bracelet actually lasted five days with Always On Display mode. However, we noticed that the GPS was eating away at the battery. The autonomy still remains very appreciable.
As for recharging, 1 hour 10 minutes allows the battery to reach 100% (no charger is provided in the box).
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro: should you go for Xiaomi’s large, affordable bracelet?
With the Smart Band 8 Pro, Xiaomi is further blurring the aesthetic boundary that separates connected watches from activity bracelets. The large and wide screen of this bracelet has no equivalent. And that’s what makes all the difference. A very comfortable display that immediately appeals and allows you to read everything that appears on the screen without the slightest difficulty. But this strength is perhaps also the greatest weakness of this bracelet which is getting closer and closer to the watch without saying it and without offering the same services. It will therefore not be suitable for everyone. This physical feature aside, we have few complaints against the Smart Band 8 Pro. We simply regret the lack of responsiveness of the screen brightness and some small hiccups in heart rate monitoring. Otherwise, it ticks all the boxes for effectively tracking sports activities. Finally, one of its greatest strengths also lies in its price. At 80 euros at the official price (we can already find it cheaper elsewhere), it’s difficult to find an equivalent as complete and durable.