Xiaomi Smart Band 7 and Smart Band 7 Pro review: with and without habit

12.10.22

Xiaomi presented a new generation of its “popular” fitness tracker in May of this year. In July, its improved version – Band 7 Pro – was released. Their international versions were also not released immediately. Xiaomi Smart Band 7 released in Europe in June, and Band 7 Pro only in the fall, while we were preparing this review – in October. Let’s talk about their differences and each one separately, try to understand whether they are worth paying attention to and how fast the order is you-know-where.

Band 7 and Band 7 Pro comparison

If Band 7 remained a typical fitness tracker with a compact capsule in a strap, the Pro version is more like a watch. It has a larger display, removable strap halves and a classic watch clasp.

The sizes of the displays are radically different, but we have the same density of pixels per inch. Xiaomi Band 7 Pro received a satellite navigation module and this is an important step in the convenience of training without being tied to a smartphone.

The Band 7 Pro has a larger body, more components and a larger battery. Added a light sensor. The Pro version has automatic display brightness adjustment and a microphone for a voice assistant.

The Band 7 Pro battery has a capacity of 235 mAh, not 180 as in the Mi Band 7. But it rather compensated for the enlarged display and GPS operation, because they have comparable battery life. Most likely, the very fact of the appearance of Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro is a forced step due to competition with such gadgets from Huawei. Well, an attempt to give users the GPS module they have been asking for for so long.

About Xiaomi Smart Band 7

The appearance of the new Xiaomi Smart Band 7 is not much different from the Smart Band 6. It is still the same oval case made of plastic with 5 ATM water resistance (can be submerged under water up to 50 meters). The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 is larger than the Band 6, but this is only visible in the numbers and when the devices are next to each other.

The display of the new generation has a resolution of 192×490, and the previous one has a resolution of 126×294. The diagonal of the display has become 1.62 inches, instead of 1.56. If you put them next to each other, then yes, it is visible without the caliper rods. Reading messages received from a smartphone has become a little more convenient.

Peak brightness has also increased slightly: 500 nits instead of 450 nits. Although the numbers are not large, compared to the Band 7 Pro, the display of the Smart Band 7 is clearly brighter. There, the maximum brightness is lower for some reason.

Another important innovation is support for the Always-On-Display function, which was not available in previous generations. Some dials have been adapted specifically for AOD mode. New icons appeared in the interface, and the dials, of which there are a good hundred, are more informative.

Straps for the new version are made of thermoplastic polyurethane with an antibacterial effect. In addition to the six basic colors, special versions are available: two camouflage and two fluorescent. Of course, AliExpress is already full of custom versions for the new model.

The back part of the bracelet has not changed either. Only instead of “Mi” there is now the inscription Xiaomi after the company conducted small rebranding.

The new version supports 120 sports modes. For comparison, Smart Band 6 at the start was able to track only 30 types of activities. Band 7 sports modes include running, walking, pilates, swimming, cycling, skateboarding, weight training, and more.

A new feature is the ability to monitor VO2 max (cardio endurance). VO2 max reflects the maximum amount of oxygen that the human body is able to consume and process during physical exertion. The higher the indicator, the more durable the athlete. In this way, the Band 7 is able to analyze the training by the level of oxygen consumption to provide data on the required load in the exercises. But here it is important to understand that fitness trackers give only an approximate estimate of the value of VO2 max, as well as blood oxygen saturation, and sometimes steps.

By the way, now the bracelet can continuously monitor the SpO2 level throughout the day, and if the oxygen level drops below 90%, the device will alert the user about it with vibration.

In addition, the new bracelet is able to prevent excessive physical exertion. Based on the EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption) value calculated from data from the last 7 days, the device makes recommendations for exercise intensity.

There’s also sleep monitoring, stress assessment, menstrual cycle tracking, notification output, and smartphone music and camera control, as well as breathing training, Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) physical activity analysis, and even support for voice assistants in the NFC version.

Xiaomi promises up to 15 days of work on a single charge with normal use and up to 9 days with intensive use. The bracelet works quietly without recharging for two weeks, with measurements of physical activity once every couple of days. A particularly noticeable difference in autonomy with the previous version was not noticed.

The kit traditionally comes with only one strap, as well as a magnetic charger (no power supply) and a user manual. The new bracelet is compatible with charging from the Band 6, but not from the Band 7 Pro.

About Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro

It’s essentially a smartwatch, at least on the surface. The body is made of plastic, along the edge of the screen there is a metal edging. The device looks great for its money. The thickness of the case is 11 mm. The display is slightly curved (2.5D) and has an oleophobic coating. On the back there are three windows of optical sensors and contacts for charging. There is a microphone hole on the side of the case.

There is no physical button, but I would like, instead, the inscription “Xiaomi” appears twice – on the case and on the clasp. Clasp – classic, made of plastic. The halves of the belt are disconnected by pressing the button. There are alternatives from the Chinese market for every taste. If desired, it will be possible to combine halves of different colors, for example. Water protection of the case of a similar level – 5 ATM.

By the way, the Band 7 Pro is not produced by Huami, which is engaged in the production of Smart Bands from the first to the seventh generation, but by Nanchang Qinsheng Electronic technology. Couldn’t find anything interesting about her in the search.

The optical pulse sensor in the Pro version is also able to monitor blood oxygen levels around the clock and track VO2 max for strength training.

The standard “skin” of the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro screen is an arrow clock with a separate seconds dial. By default, there are five screens in the bracelet itself, and a couple dozen more in the application. There is also an Always-On Display mode that displays a pair of arrows and the charge percentage.

The display shows not one column with icons, but two at once. But if desired, in the settings, you can make the display of icons a regular list. The message on the enlarged display is more informative due to the increase in the width of the screen and the absence of the need to wait for a line of text to run.

There is a light sensor that automatically adjusts the brightness of the screen depending on the situation. But it works quite “intermittently” when the ambient light changes and sometimes gets too dark. Therefore, setting three quarters of the maximum brightness level of the backlight is enough for comfortable use.

There are a lot of training options (117), there is automatic recognition of the fourteen most popular types. Heart rate zones are recognized, traditionally it is worth considering that the accuracy of heart rate measurement on such devices is far from even specialized sports trackers. GPS works fine for this class of device, it consumed about 25% for two hours of cycling. Therefore, only without it and regular automatic measurements, Smart Band 7 Pro will be able to work for 12 declared days. The average time of autonomous operation is 5-7 days – it all depends on which functions will be activated.

The problem with the interface of both fitness trackers is that there is no cyclic scrolling. For example, if you need to go to the first screen, and you are on the fifth, please swipe back five times. But in the regular Mi Band, you can at least tap from the bottom of the screen to immediately return to the dial. In Pro, there is no such button-zone – all because of finger movements.

All in all, functionally and in terms of equipment, the Smart Band 7 Pro makes sense for those who found the Smart Band 7’s small display too small and needed GPS to record training routes.

Connections and interface languages

We talked about the device, but what about the connection? These are not yet international versions of the devices, so how do they work? Regarding Smart Band 7 – everything is without problems. You entered Zepp Life, scanned the QR code, synchronized data, received the latest updates, and are using it.

Інтерфейс програми Zepp Life для Smart Band 7

With the Band 7 Pro, everything is not so simple. First, Zepp Life doesn’t know about it yet, so you need the Mi Fitness app. Secondly, although it will pull up your data according to the Mi profile, you will most likely have to change the language of the smartphone interface to English instead of Ukrainian, and choose the region not Ukraine, but China.

Although Smart Band 7 does not have Ukrainian as a device language, the menu in this case will be displayed at least in English. At the same time, Ukrainian is normally displayed in notifications and message texts.

Mi Fintess application interface for Smart Band 7 Pro

In the version of Band 7 Pro for the Chinese market, this is worse and until the smartphone is transferred to the English interface, all the texts on the bracelet will be in Chinese. We encountered similar dances with tambourines in the review of the home ecosystem sensors and alarms of Xiaomi Mi Home.

Optionally, the Band 7 Pro may be unable to recognize the QR code upon first connection, and it will have to be synchronized by turning on GPS on the smartphone and selecting the appropriate function in the application.

About prices

The average price of Xiaomi Smart Band 7 in Ukraine is approximately UAH 1,850. The price of Smart Band 6 is UAH 1,400, and Smart Band 6 with NFC is UAH 1,650.

At the same time, the average price of Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro in stores is UAH 2,800. It is not too expensive, but it still seems too much considering the nuances of setting up and working with a seemingly more advanced device.

Impressions from Xiaomi Smart Band 7

Has Xiaomi Smart Band 7 become a revolution? No, he didn’t. Is it better than the Mi Band 6? So. Xiaomi uses its usual formula: take what already works so well, improve it a little here and there and add something new, while keeping the price almost at the level of the previous generation. In our opinion, there are no changes in the speed of work. The new bracelet works in the same way as the previous version. That is, not super fast, moderately smooth transitions between sections and lines of items.

In the Xiaomi Smart Band 7, we got an enlarged screen, thanks to which it became a little more convenient to use the bracelet. From the cardinal – 120 sports modes, round-the-clock SpO2 monitoring, physical load tracking, as well as the Always-On-Display function. If everything cardinal is absolutely necessary for you, it is worth updating. Fractions of inches in the screen increase is not a reason to switch from the sixth to the seventh generation, but it is a sufficient reason to do it if you have older models.

Impressions from Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro

Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro is not so unambiguous. The need for GPS for tracking and an enlarged display make this novelty a “must have”.

But the almost similar battery life is disappointing, because it seems possible to give up a couple of millimeters of the thickness of the case for the sake of additional days of work.

In addition, after the announcement of the global version of Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro, it turned out that it was reduced in functionality. While the Xiaomi Band 7 Pro is sold in China with NFC, the global version of the fitness tracker will not have NFC.

That is, it has no noticeable advantages over the Smart Band 7 bracelet, except for navigation and a slightly larger amount of displayed information on the screen.

If, after all, you like the watch-like Smart Band 7 – check when buying that it is an international version that will not require excessive manipulation of localization settings.

Thus, the Smart Band 7 is still a popular device with increasing functionality and features that become more interesting every year, and the Smart Band 7 Pro is a strange attempt to make a hybrid of a smart bracelet and a watch.

Features of Xiaomi Mi Band 7 and Band 7 Pro

	Xiaomi Mi Band 7	Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro
Display:	1.62”, AMOLED, 192×490, 326 PPI	1.64″ AMOLED, 280×456, 326 PPI
Memory, RAM+SSD:	8 + 128 MB	n.d.
Sensors:	biosensor PPG, SpO²
Connection:	Bluetooth 5.2
Navigation:	no	GPS, Galileo and QZSS
NFC:	no	yes
Compatibility:	Android 6.0 or iOS 10.0 and later
Screen saver:	Corning Gorilla Glass 3
Hull protection:	5 ATM
Accumulator:	180 mAh	235 mAh
Dimensions:	46.5×20.7×12.25mm	44.7×28.8×11 mm
Mass:	13.5 g	20.5 g
Provider:	Mi Band 7 on iLounge	Mi Band 7 Pro at iLounge
Price:	$53	$62