The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro has garnered significant attention in the fitness tracker market, promising a blend of advanced features and affordability. With its attractive design, robust build quality, bright display, versatile software, and comprehensive fitness tracking capabilities, it aims to stand out among budget-friendly offerings. This extensive review delves into various aspects of the device, including its design, build quality, display, software features, fitness tracking capabilities, battery life, and pricing, to determine whether the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro stands out as the best budget fitness tracker available.
Design & Build Quality
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro boasts an attractive and stylish design, featuring a 43mm button-less aluminum alloy case. Available in three colors—obsidian black, rose gold, and midnight silver—the device pairs with a TPU strap that uses a pin clasp mechanism. This clasp, while generally secure for daily wear, has a tendency to loosen during swimming, which necessitates some caution for users who take it into the pool. Customization is a key feature, with optional leather and magnetic straps available for purchase. These upgrades enhance its appeal for budget-conscious customers seeking a personalized style without breaking the bank.
Water resistance is another plus, as the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro includes a 5 ATM rating, ensuring water resistance up to 50 meters, making it suitable for swimming. The rear houses the optical sensor array and magnetic pins for the proprietary charging cable, though the charging connection can feel insecure at times. The device’s overall build quality feels premium, contradicting its budget-friendly price tag. The materials used feel durable, and the attention to detail in design makes it a comfortable wearable for extended use.
Display & Audio
A significant upgrade from its predecessor, the Band 9 Pro features a 1.74-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 336 x 480. The display brightness has increased substantially from 600 nits to a maximum of 1,200 nits, ensuring visibility even in direct sunlight. This makes it a practical companion for outdoor activities, as the screen remains clear and readable under varying lighting conditions. The automatic brightness adjustment feature further enhances user experience by adapting to surrounding light levels.
The AMOLED panel exhibits vibrant colors that are slightly oversaturated at higher brightness levels, which some users might find appealing for its vividness. It supports an always-on display mode, adding to its convenience, although this does impact battery life. Unlike many advanced smartwatches, the Band 9 Pro lacks a built-in microphone or speaker. This omission limits it to more basic functionalities and precludes the ability to handle calls or play music externally, focusing its utility more on fitness tracking and notification management.
Software & Features
Operating on Xiaomi’s HyperOS, the Band 9 Pro offers a consistent user experience across both Android and iOS platforms. The Mi Fitness app is essential for setting up and managing the device, providing a centralized dashboard for health stats, workout history, training insights, and accessory management. While the app offers substantial functionality, it does exhibit some clunky interface aspects that could benefit from refinement. Nonetheless, it remains a vital tool for getting the most out of the Band 9 Pro.
The Band 9 Pro’s software is streamlined and optimized for the AMOLED display, making navigation intuitive through gesture-based controls. Core smartwatch features including notifications, music playback control, and setting timers are executed effectively, ensuring a smooth user experience. There are provisions to sync data with third-party apps like Strava, Suunto, and health apps from Google and Apple, enhancing its integration within broader health ecosystems. This cross-compatibility makes it a versatile option for users already invested in different fitness platforms.
Fitness Tracking Capabilities
One of the standout features of the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro is its built-in GPS, which promises improved performance and is claimed to be more accurate by 33% compared to its predecessor, the Band 8 Pro. The device supports multiple satellite systems for precise location tracking, which is crucial for activities like running, cycling, and hiking. In real-world usage, GPS signal acquisition is swift, but the device occasionally under-reports distance and associated metrics like pace when compared to dedicated sports watches.
Heart rate tracking is another critical feature of the Band 9 Pro, and it shows average reliability. While resting and nightly heart rate monitoring are consistent and provide useful insights, the accuracy fluctuates during active workouts, often reporting higher than actual readings. Despite utilizing a new chip promising a 15% improvement in accuracy over the Band 8 Pro, occasional discrepancies raise questions about the device’s data-based insights. Additionally, the Band 9 Pro includes blood oxygen and stress monitoring, though continuous usage of these features can impact battery efficiency. For sleep tracking, it captures phases including deep sleep and REM with acceptable accuracy, providing descriptive but somewhat basic insights.
Battery Life & Charging
Battery performance is one of the Band 9 Pro’s most impressive features. The device houses a 350mAh battery, offering up to 21 days under typical use, 8 days under heavy use, and 10 days with the screen set to always-on. Actual battery life depends on factors including the extent of GPS use and all-day tracking features. Heavy usage can cause a notable drop in battery percentage, but under lighter use, the drop remains under 5%, allowing users to comfortably use the tracker for a full week without recharging. When the device does need recharging, it takes slightly over an hour to achieve full capacity, minimizing downtime and ensuring the Band 9 Pro is ready for use with minimal interruption.
Price & Availability
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro has made a notable impact in the fitness tracker market, combining advanced features with an attractive price point. This device promises a mix of modern design, sturdy construction, and a bright display that catches the eye. It also offers versatile software and comprehensive fitness tracking capabilities, making it a competitive choice among affordable fitness trackers.
In this detailed review, we will explore various aspects of the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro. We’ll examine its design for its aesthetic appeal and practicality, its build quality to see how well it stands up to daily wear and tear, and its display to evaluate visibility and user experience. Beyond these physical characteristics, the review will delve into its software features, assessing both ease of use and functionality. Fitness tracking capabilities are a major focus, as they determine the device’s effectiveness in monitoring health and exercise. Additionally, we’ll consider the band’s battery life, providing insights into how long it lasts between charges. Lastly, we’ll look at its pricing to determine if it truly offers value for money.
By the end of this review, we aim to conclude whether the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro is the best option for those seeking a budget-friendly fitness tracker that doesn’t compromise on quality and features.