The Redmi Watch: A Budget-Friendly Fitness Tracker From Xiaomi?
Xiaomi has established itself as a leader in the Indian wearables market with its wildly popular Mi Bands. Now, they’ve expanded their offerings with the Redmi Watch, aiming to capture a wider audience seeking a balance between affordability and features. This smart watch, the first under the Redmi brand, promises to track fitness information with the same accuracy as its Mi Band counterparts while offering extra features. But does the Redmi Watch deliver on its promises? We take a look at its key features, design, and functionality in this first impressions review.
Redmi Watch Price in India and Design
The Redmi Watch is competitively priced at Rs. 3,999 in India, making it a compelling choice for budget-conscious buyers. Available in three case colors (Black, Blue, Ivory) and four strap options (Black, Blue, Ivory, Olive), there’s likely a combination that suits your style.
Xiaomi opted for a square dial for the Redmi Watch, a common design choice in this price range. The body is made from plastic and is 5ATM water-resistant, ensuring you can wear it while swimming or exercising in the rain. The 1.4-inch LCD screen boasts 2.5D curved glass for a sleek, modern look. The watch has a flat design with a single multi-function button on the right side.
The underside of the watch houses the heart rate sensor and charging pins. It comes with a TPU strap featuring an oval buckle and a pre-curved design for comfortable wear. However, the proprietary connector design limits the strap options to those specifically made for the Redmi Watch.
Key Features and Performance: A Balancing Act
The Redmi Watch comes equipped with a 230mAh battery that Xiaomi claims can last for 10 days on a single charge. While preliminary tests suggest this is attainable, a thorough review will confirm its true battery life. Charging is done via a cradle with pins that connect to the bottom of the watch and a USB Type-A cable.
In terms of software, the Redmi Watch runs RTOS and can be paired with both Android and iOS smartphones. You’ll need the Xiaomi Wear or Xiaomi Wear Lite app respectively for pairing. The watch allows you to track steps, sleep, heart rate, and eleven types of workouts. Notably, the Redmi Watch lacks an SpO2 sensor found on its competitor, the Amazfit Bip U, making it a potential drawback for users interested in blood oxygen monitoring.
For those into tracking outdoor workouts, the Redmi Watch offers inbuilt GPS and GLONASS support, eliminating the need for a smartphone to pinpoint location. Other sensors included are a compass and barometer, adding further functionality to the device.
A Glimpse into the Redmi Watch’s Potential
An interesting addition to the Redmi Watch is guided meditation, offering breathing exercises to help manage stress. The UI is user-friendly, and all features can be accessed by pressing the multi-function button while on the home screen. The watch also notifies you of incoming calls or messages on your paired phone, but how effective this functionality is remains to be seen in the full review.
Overall, the Redmi Watch seems to cover the basics for fitness tracking. While the absence of an SpO2 sensor may be a deal-breaker for some, it offers a competitive price point, a decent range of features, and a sleek design. Our full review will delve deeper into its accuracy, ease of use, battery life, and overall performance, so stay tuned for a more comprehensive analysis coming soon.
