‘Mi Watch’, an Affordable All-Rounder Focused on ‘Exercise’

Tried Xiaomi's Smartwatch 'Mi Watch'

Xiaomi Smartwatch 'Mi Watch' / Photo by Eunmo Gu

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunmo Koo] Xiaomi's smartwatch 'Mi Watch' is a 'healthcare' product that focuses all its functions on smooth 'exercise' support to help achieve the goal of 'health.'

The Mi Watch seemed genuinely dedicated to exercise support, to the extent that one of its two buttons is entirely devoted to exercise functions. Pressing the dedicated 'Sports' button on the right side provides 117 exercise modes, including running, hiking, swimming, cycling, and high-intensity interval training (HIIT).

Each exercise mode allows users to check basic information such as exercise time, heart rate, and calories burned, as well as exercise-specific goals and progress, displayed appropriately for each type of workout and recognized through vibrations. For the most common activity, running, it tracks current pace, average pace, stride length, and step count, continuously providing short-term results like recent 1km pace to enhance exercise effectiveness. It was also convenient that exercise progress and result data could be easily checked not only on the watch but also through the 'Xiaomi Wear' application.

Additionally, the lightweight design at just 32g and the 5ATM waterproof feature, which allows use during swimming or showering, support smooth exercise and health management. Other useful health management auxiliary functions, though not extraordinary, such as blood oxygen saturation index, stress index, and sleep data, were also included in various forms.

Xiaomi Smartwatch 'Mi Watch' / Photo by Eunmo Gu

Another advantage is the long battery life. While typical smartwatches require charging every 2-3 days, which can be inconvenient, the Mi Watch can be used for up to 16 days with just a 2-hour charge. Even after using various functions extensively for a week, the battery was only about half depleted. The 'Always On Display (AOD)' mode, which keeps the time displayed even when not in use, was also an attractive feature.

Above all, the price set at 139,800 KRW cannot be overlooked. Quality evaluation of mass-produced products, not prototypes, cannot be separated from price. As a Xiaomi product, nicknamed the 'Mistake of the Continent,' the Mi Watch stands out for its cost-effectiveness (performance relative to price).

Although it may be difficult to consider direct competitors, given that the 'Galaxy Watch 3' sells in the 400,000 KRW range and the 'Apple Watch 6' can exceed 1,000,000 KRW depending on the model, the Mi Watch, which includes most of the essential functions a smartwatch should have, can be an attractive option even if there are some minor shortcomings.

Xiaomi Smartwatch 'Mi Watch' / Photo by Eunmo Gu

However, despite the overall modest appearance, the 'Mistake of the Continent' nickname seems to extend beyond price to design, leaving some disappointment. On the right side of the watch, to the left of the two crowns, the words 'Home' and 'Sports,' which should be in the manual, are engraved on the bezel. This small but critical flaw instantly undermines the design goal of simplicity that seemed achievable.

The watch strap also appeared somewhat distant from luxury. The strap made of TPU, a rubber-elastic plastic material, feels weightless due to its material properties and gives a monotonous and plain impression. Of course, the wearing comfort itself is not sticky even when sweating and is pleasant, fitting well with the Mi Watch's exercise-focused concept, so it might not be considered a flaw. Especially considering the price, this is even more understandable.

Xiaomi Smartwatch 'Mi Watch' / Photo by Eunmo Gu

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.