Review of the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 fitness bracelet: a bright update

 

There is no need to talk at length about the popularity of fitness trackers from Xiaomi. This is a well-known fact, and in each new generation the manufacturer adds pleasant innovations that make the bracelets better. Today we have reached the sixth generation and will tell you whether it is worth changing your old tracker to the new Mi Band 6.

 

Appearance and ergonomics

 

 

The design, the sixth version of the Xiaomi fitness tracker, has not undergone fundamental changes in comparison with the fourth generation. The device looks laconic on the hand. The only noticeable thing is the glossy surface of the front part protruding beyond the strap and the relatively large display that fits almost over its entire area.

 

 

You can distinguish Mi Band 6 from its predecessor only when the display is turned on: it has become larger, brighter and has narrower frames. It still uses a matrix made using AMOLED technology. Now its resolution is 152 x 486 versus 126 x 294 for the fifth Mi Band.

 

 

It uses the same silicone strap, which is similar in parameters to the fourth and fifth generations. So if you still have accessories from these generations, you can use them.

 

 

On the back side with sensors, there are the most visual changes, because Mi Band 6 also acquired an SpO² sensor, which measures the level of oxygen saturation in the blood. This is not just an upgrade, but truly the trend of the year. We can only wish that the pulse oximeter would not be useful, in a good way. During operation, the sensors glow in different shades. The optical one, which measures heart rate, glows green. Blood saturation sensor – red.

 

 

The bracelet’s capsule body is not afraid of water and you can swim with it at a depth of up to one and a half meters. However, the manufacturer advises using it only in fresh water. From my experience, when swimming with waterproof digital devices in salt water and pools, it is really worth rinsing them with fresh water to remove salt and chlorine after swimming.

 

 

The bracelet is charged using magnetic charging. It is quite firmly attracted to two contacts on the back of the case.

 

Display

 

 

The screen is really bright and has an oleophobic coating. It does not go blind in the sun, and has five levels of brightness adjustment. Values range from barely visible to very bright (450 nits). This allows you to adapt it to any lighting conditions.

 

To customize the dial, you can choose from a large selection of pictures, customize the layout of elements, font colors, and much more. There are both purely functional options and artistic ones using photographs of nature, cartoons, landscapes, anime and film characters. In general, everything is the same as for a smartphone. Well, this is where the coolness of the display is fully revealed. The animations of the characters amusingly dilute the laconicism of the black design.

 

 

Although a narrow vertical screen is not the most convenient solution for reading text, the developers tried to make the menu as convenient as possible. The font itself, indents, line spacing – make readability good. An incident can occur during a short interval of turning off the display. You may simply not have time to read the name of the scrolling menu item to the end. Let us remind you that the interface was initially optimized for Chinese characters, and not for the Cyrillic and Latin alphabet where the words are longer. With monochrome models, where there was little content, this was not so noticeable.

 

About sports and sleep

 

 

The Mi Band 6 bracelet supports 20 types of workouts. Including running, cycling, rowing, yoga, jump rope, Pilates, dancing, boxing, stretching, HIIT, bowling, etc. It’s convenient that you can create a set from a list of current workouts and not search for them every time in a long menu. The main menu also has a separate section for breathing exercises. We suspect that it was also added in light of recent pandemic events.

 

It is worth talking about the accuracy of measurements to the same extent as always for this class of devices. Compared to specialized sensors, the data will not be as accurate. On the other hand, the total time, pace and order of steps, calories, kilometers, watts achieved will be visualized.

 

A separate section of the PAI is the physical condition index. A kind of summary of various parameters based on measurements by sensors of the user’s state and activity. Research is cited that suggests the PAI should be maintained above 100 through exercise and activity in general. For both PAI and the pedometer, there is a history of the achieved indicators over the last 7 days so that you can monitor the dynamics.

 

 

More detailed sleep analytics and recommendations for improving it have been implemented. In addition to sleep phases, sleep breathing indicators are also taken into account. This function must be included in the menu separately. There is also a built-in alarm clock, which, however, does not vibrate too actively and may not be able to wake you up right away.

 

About health

 

 

Mi Band 6 in this generation can not only measure heart rate using an optical sensor, but also blood oxygen saturation.

 

The SpO² measurement function has become especially relevant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Of course, this fitness tracker is not a medical device, like other consumer devices. You should not completely rely on his testimony and make a diagnosis.

 

 

Doctors will also not accept his data as diagnostic. However, if the trend of changes in indicators makes you worry, there is a reason to consult a doctor. There is no automatic SpO² test, so it must be run manually. It takes 1 minute to measure.

 

But regularly and independently, the bracelet can start measuring heart rate and do this even every 5 minutes if it is determined that a state of stress has been reached.

 

Functionality

 

 

In general, the navigation logic has been changed in the software interface. Previously, returning directly to the main screen was implemented through a button or a specific point under the screen. In the current generation, you have to swipe back to the left.

 

The icons in the menu are large and easy to access and scroll through. But the internal lists of settings, for example, are much richer and at first, while you get used to the controls, there may be false positives. Not often, but a couple of times we noticed the shell slowing down.

 

Despite the fact that we have listed many features of the Mi Band 6, there remains an unpleasant feature associated solely with the company’s policy. In Ukraine, Xiaomi fitness bracelets with NFC support are not supported. Therefore, you won’t be able to use Google or Apple Pay. This could be critical for fans of the brand’s eco-system who would like to receive contactless payment on a wearable device.

 

 

The tracker can act as a remote control for controlling a music player on a smartphone; you can read SMS messages and instant messengers from it. The recent update will allow you to take with calls him and sends messages. It seriously competes in the smartwatch segment in terms of the number of functions.

 

Mi Band 6 has the same battery capacity as the previous generation – 125 mAh. The manufacturer claims two weeks of battery life, but it is obvious that this is only realistic for the narrowest set of active functions and measurements. If you enable all the functions of a fitness tracker and regular condition tracking, the autonomy will approach 5-6 days. The battery drains by about 18-20% every day, according to the Mi Fit app. It takes approximately 2 hours to fully charge.

 

To pair Mi Band 6 with a smartphone and configure it, a proprietary Mi Fit application is provided for devices on Android and iOS. Activity statistics, health indicators, statistics for past days, and notification settings are still available in it.

 

 

Impressions

 

The Xiaomi Mi Band 6 has a cool display and since it is the only noticeable visual element of the device, it has greatly raised the bar for perception and user experience. There are some nuances with control and localization, but they are almost invisible

 

The fitness bracelet offers a huge number of functions for managing your main mobile device, tracking your condition and recording sports performance. Honestly, it seems that the device can do too much for its class, especially if you remember that there is a version with NFC, which, someday, will appear with us.

 

Adding a sensor for measuring oxygen levels in the blood is by no means an entertainment to boast about who has more functions. For an approximate understanding of your condition, its accuracy is quite enough.

 

Considering that the cost of the new version has not become more expensive and maintains the level of affordability, Mi Band 6 can still compete for the title of the most popular fitness bracelet. If you liked the large display, the variety of sports modes and the integration of a new sensor, it makes sense to consider an upgrade.

 

Characteristics of Mi Band 6 (XMSH16HM)
Display:	1.56”, AMOLED, 152 x 486, 326ppi
RAM+ROM:	2 + 32 MB
Sensors:	biosensor PPG, SpO²
Connection:	Bluetooth 5.0
Compatibility:	Android 5.0 or iOS 10.0 and higher
Protection:	5 ATM
Battery capacity:	125 mAh
Strap length:	155-219 mm
Dimensions:	47.4 x 18.6 x 12.7 mm
Weight:	13 g
Supplier:	iLounge
Price:	$50

Rating:

+ display

+ SpO2 sensor

+ new sports modes

+ customizable watch faces

-lack of NFC support

-autonomy