TEST OF XIAOMI MI BAND 3: VERY BIG AUTONOMY AND SMALL PRICE

INTRODUCTION

After te release of the Xiaomi Mi Band 3 in Repairtech , we can deliver our verdict on this connected bracelet at a low price.

Xiaomi unveiled this year the Mi Band 3, the latest addition to this popular line of connected wristbands (or fitness trackers) at a low price. The Mi Band 3 incorporates a larger and higher-definition OLED screen than the previous model, the Mi Band 2.

Xiaomi also said that it was also more comfortable on the wrist, that the range was 20 days, and that the water resistance was increased to 50 meters. It can be found at twenty euros on the web, and meanwhile Xiaomi has announced its availability in France. It's time to check what is worth this bracelet connected to everyday life.

ERGONOMICS AND COMFORT OF USE

From a material point of view, the Mi Band 3 takes the format of the previous models: it is a module, the tracker where is all the electronic elements, very small that fits into a bracelet designed for this purpose.

Let's start with the bracelet: it is relatively comfortable, a flexible silicone strap able to adapt to all types of wrists with 12 holes. It is a hypoallergenic bracelet, and I can confirm that I have not encountered any allergy problem on the 21 days of testing from Redmi service center in Rajaji nagar.

It is possible to buy replacement wristbands, which are available in black, orange or blue. Nevertheless, the catalog of unofficial bracelets is impressive on Indian trading platforms. On Aliexpress (look for "  Mi Band 3 Strap  ") for example, you can find leather and metal bracelets, but also more original bracelets. From 1 to 10 euros, the financial risk is not huge, however I have doubts about the hypoallergenic treatment and their durability.

Although the tracker is perfectly adjusted when new, over time we expected it to deteriorate in the same way as its predecessors. Especially since I never remove it, I also wear it in the shower and of course during my workouts. It's really a solid product, only the screen was marked by a strong blow against a door.

The tracker itself is bigger than the Mi Band 2, so you'll notice if the bracelet falls (it happened to me twice), but it is also larger on the wrist. No worries, it's still a much thinner and lighter alternative to a connected watch, and it still weighs only 20 grams (9 grams for the tracker).

The OLED screen:

The OLED screen is not only bigger but also brighter, but it lacks a bit of readability in full sun. It also hangs lint and dust. Even if it displays the essential elements, one also notices the limits of the screen for the longer messages or the display of the emojis (with ??? everywhere). We have not yet mentioned the use of bracelet, but one of the most interesting uses is the ability to display notifications, to read directly without having to take his smartphone out of his pocket.these are very small displas and will not be availed in all the Redmi service center in Aecs layout

Avalible in multiple colors :

The screen itself is black and white, with a slightly blue hue, you will not get a vibrant reading of your stats, but the definition is good at 128 x 80 pixels. If you want a more comfortable device and able to provide all your statistics on a big screen, you will have to look at the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro or a connected watch.

The screen is tactile but only 3 actions are available. The touch button located under the screen allows to wake up the device or validate actions (long press to stop an incoming call or stop the alarm clock). You can then move up and down the screen to unlock and navigate the menu (activities, heart rate, notifications and various functions). Finally, the gestures from left to right and from right to left on the screen allow to display all the options and details of each menu. Ergonomics accessible but naturally limited by the size of the screen.

Mi Band 3 bought in China or France works perfectly on Android smartphones and iPhone, in French and without compatibility problem. If you bought the Mi Band 3 in Chinese version, an update allows you to switch to French language from the first start. The entire connection with the smartphone works with the Mi Fit app, available on Android and iOS (Bluetooth 4.2 and higher).

Note : The service will be available for all the bands in spite of the place where it has ben brought in Redmi service center in  doddanakundi

Mi Band 3 bought in China or France works perfectly on Android smartphones and iPhone, in French and without compatibility problem. If you bought the Mi Band 3 in Chinese version, an update allows you to switch to French language from the first start. The entire connection with the smartphone works with the Mi Fit app, available on Android and iOS (Bluetooth 4.2 and higher). Xiaomi is renowned for its high-end smartphones at a bargain price, but among the most popular products of the Chinese firm

 

3 reasons to download this application

Synchronize your bracelet and Xiaomi scale to your smartphone

Follow your steps and all your sports activities

Evaluate the quality of your sleep

Synchronize your bracelet and Xiaomi scale to your smartphone:

This application is simple to use and correctly translated into French, you access your data (which are synchronized with Apple Health and Google Fit) and you configure the bracelet very easily. Personally, I chose to only receive incoming calls, and notifications Messenger, WhatsApp, Slack and SMS. As we mentioned above, images and emoji’s do not display - but long messages are readable. This allows you to quickly check the sender of the message and avoid taking your smartphone out of your pocket. One of the other advantages that suggested from Redmi service center in basava nagar is that I finally completely turned off the ringing of my smartphone and the sound of the alarm clock. The simple vibration of the bracelet makes it possible to be alerted of a call or an important notification, or to be woken up (very gently) in the morning.

Follow your steps and all your sports activities:

Regarding the so-called "activity" part, the bracelet is complete and the data collected are consistent: number of steps, distance traveled, calories burned ... and even the heart rate. We found that the heart rate tracker generally worked well when we sat without moving, but we had strangely variable results when we were moving. Like other heartbeat bracelets, you must stay still to get an accurate reading of the tracker.

You will find that the activity tracker records your distance when you run too, but do not expect it to be extremely accurate because there is no GPS on this device. For casual runners, you can get accurate results with your phone's GPS, but if you want something a little more pointed, you'll have to opt for a specialized wristband. I was surprised at the results regarding sleep monitoring: accurate and accompanied by tips and some statistics.

Evaluate the quality of your sleep :

Finally, let's talk about autonomy. The first full charge held for 17 days until the device was shut down. It is an impressive autonomy knowing that the main options were always activated (important notifications and incoming calls). I use the heart rate sensor at every workout every other day or so.

One of the regrets with the Mi Band 3 is that you can not start tracking the activities from the tracker. You must start an activity session (running, cycling, swimming, etc.) from the app. It's annoying, but we do it with the tracking software we are having at Redmi service center in Hoyasala nagar on the other hand, the monitoring of these activities is rather complete and very complementary to the data collected continuously.