For counting daily steps and basic fitness, the Mi Band is still a reliable option. Some substantial changes have been made to the Mi Band 6 with the release of version 6. At Rs 3,499, it’s more expensive than the Mi Band 5, which costs Rs 2,499 in India. Second, the new band sports a larger 1.56-inch display than the old one’s 1.1-inch display. As a last feature, it adds blood oxygen monitoring support, which has long been a wishlist item for the Covid-19 era.
Do the alterations, on the other hand, make the additional money worthwhile? What distinguishes the Mi Band 6 from the rest of the fitness tracker and watch competition? Check out our Xiaomi Mi Band 6 review to learn more.
When I initially saw the Mi Band 6, I couldn’t help but notice the larger screen. You can read the AMOLED display even in strong sunlight thanks to its 326 pixels per inch PPI and a maximum brightness of 450 nanometers (nits). In fact, I believe the screen is too bright to be useful for tracking sleep.
A WhatsApp message appears on the Mi Band 6. To be fair, with a bigger screen comes improved notification visibility from messaging apps like WhatsApp. The results aren’t perfect, and the text is still small, but they do boost the device’s usefulness substantially. The Mi Band 6 is now compatible with Xiaomi’s Wear software, which formerly powered the company’s fitness watches.
For alerts to appear on the device, users can enable them in the Xiaomi Wear app by going to the Notifications tab. The Mi Band 6 works with both the Mi Fit and Strava apps, of course. Aside from walking and running, it can also identify six different types of exercise activities such as cycling, indoor rowing, and using an elliptical machine. The Mi Band 6 displays data from a session of indoor cycling. The band’s equipment now includes a SPO2 sensor for monitoring blood oxygen levels. Make sure you’re wearing the band tightly and remaining steady when taking these measurements. The two or three times I used this tool, my blood oxygen levels were usually 98 to 99 percent, so I assume it works properly.
In terms of steps, the Mi Band 6 is precise, but also skimpy — if that’s a word. I didn’t notice an increase in steps when driving. Even on days when I knew I hadn’t been active, the step counter on the band accurately tracked my daily steps and distances. The band even recognised when I started walking owing to the auto-detect feature. I started walking after around 5 minutes, according to the app. The Mi Band shows the path taken during a walk as well as other data. You can choose to ignore the band and turn off auto-detect for an hour or so if the auto-detect comes on while your not working out, say because you just went grocery shopping. The Mi Band 6 connects to your phone’s GPS system while you’re walking or running and can detect directions. Bring your phone along with you anyway. If you don’t have your phone with you, the GPS directions will be lost. During the two-to-three walks I took, the Mi Band 6 was fairly accurate. Taking a break while exercising or walking was no problem because the band automatically paused. The precision of this fitness tracker is astounding, especially for the price.
I also cycled outside with the Mi Band 6, and that’s when things started to go wrong. On the other hand, the band nailed the distance and elevation gain on the bike trip. My indoor cycling sessions were also tracked with the band, and while it does not show distance travelled, the number of calories burned was in line with what my cycle showed. The step counter on the Mi Band 6 is as precise as it’s ever been. The fitness band has a water resistance rating of IP67, making it suitable for swimming. Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to use it while swimming, but I have bathed with it numerous times, and it remains flawless. Even after all these years, the band’s sleep monitor is still the most accurate on the market.
The fitness bracelet can also keep tabs on a woman’s menstrual cycle. Put in the dates of your last period and the average cycle length on the Xiaomi Wear app to see the prognosis There are also indicators on the band to let you know whether and when your period is due. Stress monitoring and breathing exercises are also included for those who desire to use them. This is a screenshot of the walking session taken from the Xiaomi Wear app, which provides more details. Xiaomi promises a 14-day battery life, but if you use your phone a lot, leave the brightness on high, and have continuous heart-rate tracking set on, you may find that your battery drains faster than that estimate. Over a week was no problem for me. I’d keep the fitness band charger on your phone if you can help it. Aside from a few minor flaws, the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 is fantastic.
One huge concern came to me while riding my bike outside with the Mi Band. In the first place, it kept asking for a GPS signal, and I figured there was no way to start the ride until I had one. Because I didn’t have my phone, I decided to just ride without filming. The problem persisted even after the phone recognised GPS for the second time. The ride was able to get underway thanks to my efforts. However, it was frustrating that the band failed to capture any distance.
The cycling session was recorded with a Mi Band 6. My rides’ distance was finally recorded after the third and fourth attempts when it was able to establish a connection with GPS. The ride wouldn’t start without a GPS signal, and I couldn’t find a method to make sure of that. As with walks and runs, I’m baffled as to why the band doesn’t begin logging bike rides without utilising the phone’s GPS. Even if you didn’t have your phone with you, the Go/Start option would still be available. That being the case, bring your phone along if you plan on using this while cycling. I noticed very serious scuffs on the display in the short time I had the band on. I’d exercise caution if you plan on using this. Last but not least, it’s a little looser due to the wider screen. If you’re looking to make an upgrade but your wrists are getting smaller, keep that in mind. It’s understandable given Xiaomi’s increased screen size. I had to wear it really tightly at times in order to get a better fit. My wrist was marked by the plastic bands, which is always a negative sign.
The Xiaomi Mi Band 6 gets a final verdict
For basic fitness tracking, the Mi Band 6 is unquestionably reliable, even when I experienced problems with it while cycling. If you like to walk or run and don’t want to spend too much money on a tracker, this is the one for you. The band’s size should be suitable for most people’s wrists, and the vibrant display is a real eye-catcher. Xiaomi has increased the pricing of the Mi A2 to account for the new Blood Oxygen Monitoring feature and the larger display. If your Mi Band 3 or 4 is more than two years old, it’s time to consider an upgrade.