While connected watches are multiplying like hot cakes at the end of the year, Xiaomi presents the Watch 2 Pro, its first model working with WearOS in a strong sportswear spirit.
It’s done. With this Watch 2 Pro, Xiaomi joins the small family of connected watches powered by Google’s mobile OS, WearOS, alongside the Pixel Watch obviously but also the Galaxy Watches from Samsung or even the flashy tocantes from Fossil. The result is a more open, more fluid system that can be enriched with numerous third-party applications… but also more energy-intensive.
And for this redesign, Xiaomi is relying on classic. Its Watch 2 Pro does not disrupt any aesthetic or technical codes. The Chinese delivers a copy that blends in but above all scores points on the receipt. Priced at less than 270 euros, the Watch 2 Pro puts a small slap in the face of the Galaxy Watch6 (from 299 euros) or the Pixel Watch 2 (349 euros). An argument that could lean in its favor to attract those who wish to equip themselves with a connected watch with a sportswear look without spending a fortune. It remains to be seen whether this Watch Pro 2 can be as effective and, above all, if it holds up better than its competitors. We were able to test the Xiaomi Watch 2 for several days. Here is our verdict.
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Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: a massive design for big wrists
Let’s not beat around the bush: the Watch 2 Pro is not suitable for thin and delicate wrists. Here we are dealing with an imposing watch both in size and weight. The size thus turns out to be very generous with the diameter of 47.6 x 45.9 mm and especially the thickness of 11.8 mm. Suffice to say that on a narrow wrist, it looks more like a clock than a watch. And the weight is to match with 54 g all the same (without bracelet). It’s a shame that Xiaomi hasn’t released its model in a less bulky version. Fortunately, however, the firm has not given in to the sirens of bling-bling. The version tested here is dressed all in black combined with a fluorinated rubber strap, less flashy than the other model in stainless steel and leather strap, more formal but more showy. The whole remains sober in a pure sportswear spirit.
The edge of the watch houses a rotating crown allowing you to navigate the interface as well as two buttons. The dial is surrounded by a bezel, non-rotating like on the Galaxy Watch6 Classic, and without the slightest screen printing either.
The Watch 2 Pro therefore does not revolutionize the genre and focuses on a very classic design inspired by horological watches. It benefits from 5ATM water resistance and can therefore accompany you for your swimming sessions but you will have to avoid water sports.
Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: a large and very readable Oled screen
Obviously, with such a generous size, we benefit from a large screen. Xiaomi has here opted for a 1.43-inch Amoled panel offering a definition of 466 x 466 pixels for a resolution of 326 ppi. A panel precise enough not to present any burrs in the display of texts for example. In terms of brightness, Xiaomi announces a peak at 600 nits. It’s not bad but quite far from the 2000 nits offered on the Galaxy Watch6. A bit of additional light would therefore not have been amiss to maintain perfect readability in direct sunlight, especially during an outdoor sports session.
Like its competitors, the Watch Pro 2 has an Always on Display mode to keep the time display active even in standby. A basic function for a watch but which tends to eat up a few percent of battery during the day. Note that, strangely, the option to wake the watch when you raise your wrist is not activated by default. It will therefore be necessary to correct this small problem in the display settings directly on the watch. In return, it is possible to define a time slot during which this function remains active. Practical to prevent the watch from lighting up during the night with a simple movement of the arm.
Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: a well-designed companion app
To manage the watch and retrieve the data it collects, Xiaomi provides the Mi Fitness app. Although it’s on the Apple App Store, it won’t be of any use to you with the Watch 2 Pro. Indeed, the tocante is now powered by WearOS (in its version 3.5) from Google. In fact, compatibility with iPhones is not required. Damage.
The app thus collects the data collected by the watch in a fairly readable and well-ordered manner. There is a health check-up which summarizes the number of steps taken, distance covered, exercises carried out, heart rate, SpO2, sleep monitoring, etc. as well as a body temperature reading. In fact, the Xiaomi Watch has a temperature sensor that can be activated on demand. It is also rather precise.
The Device tab is a bit misleading. You might think that it allows you to manage the watch’s settings, thus avoiding wandering through the system’s multiple menus on its small screen, but this is not the case. It allows you to choose a new dial from around thirty offered by default (others, free or paid, can also be downloaded through the PlayStore), to add apps, and to refine a few settings, but that’s all.
Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: precise measurements
Equipped with a whole arsenal of sensors, the Watch 2 Pro can of course follow you during all your sports sessions. And we were not disappointed by the measures proposed. Compared to an Apple Watch Ultra in this exercise, Xiaomi’s watch proved to be rather precise. GPS tracking is good although it can sometimes take a while to acquire the signal. For example, we had to wait 45 seconds outside in the cold to recover the signal before setting off. Furthermore, the watch does not automatically detect traditional exercises (walking, running, etc.). You will therefore have to launch them manually.
The heart rate measurements also appear to be quite consistent with those recorded by the Apple Watch and that is quite a good point. In all this range of measurements, the only thing missing is the electrocardiogram present today in many connected watches. However, the Watch 2 Pro offers reliable and precise measurements, which is not the case for everyone.
Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: autonomy a bit better than the competition
Armed with a large screen and powered by WearOS, we feared the worst regarding the autonomy of this Watch 2 Pro. But in the end it was less disappointing than expected. With its 495 mAh battery, the watch was able to last a little over a day and a half (or around thirty hours) without using the recharge box. Usage during this period was quite moderate with Always on Display mode active, heart rate measurements, a one-hour hike with GPS and a night’s sleep. We must believe that its Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 processor engraved in 4 nanometers and signed by Qualcomm is rather well optimized. Obviously, we are far from the several days of autonomy offered by the brand’s bracelets which promises for this Watch 2 Pro up to 65 hours of autonomy with the Bluetooth model (55 hours with the LTE models). To achieve this, we see only one solution. Be satisfied with the time and deprive yourself of the display and all possible measurements.
For charging, Xiaomi provides a magnetic dock (USB-A). The tocante refuels rather quickly. Allow 55 minutes to get the battery back to 100%.
Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: should you go for Xiaomi’s first WearOS watch?
Successful shift to WearOS for this new Xiaomi watch. The move to Google’s mobile OS brings more functions and offers the user more freedom to personalize it and add the applications of their choice. We also appreciated the reliability of the measurements recorded throughout the day and during exercises. Xiaomi still needs to work on its design to make its tocante less massive and above all offer a version with a less generous and less heavy size capable of adapting to narrower wrists. As for autonomy, if it does not break records, it remains correct for this large model. To see if the watch will manage to keep up this pace when switching to WearOS 4.0. This Watch 2 Pro ultimately presents a fairly complete and satisfactory picture and which, above all, is not weighed down by a prohibitive price. A very good quality/price ratio which allows you to forgive its few small faults.