Detailed review of Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse (1S). Review of Mi Band Pulse (1S) and comparison with the original Mi Band Xiaomi mi band 1

It turned out to be extremely successful, and therefore extremely popular. How else? There is simply no analogue on the market that has a similar combination of functions, build quality and cost. During New Year's sales, the gadget could be purchased for 12, and in some cases even for 8 dollars - an extremely low price for a fitness tracker. Today we will look at the updated Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse, which claims to be the new king of wearable electronics.

Xiaomi is famous for its minimalism. This applies to both gadgets and their packaging. In the case of Mi Band 1S, everything is the same: nothing superfluous either outside or inside. The device comes in a small box made from recycled cardboard. Inside there is only the tracker itself, a bracelet, a charger and instructions.

Appearance

The main part of the bracelet is a polycarbonate capsule, closed on top by a magnesium alloy panel with polished edges and three windows for LEDs. Unlike the first version of the Mi Band with three-color diodes, the new product is equipped with white diodes (the same as the second version of the Mi Band 2 device).

There are other differences too. The case has become a little larger on the bottom side: a slight thickening and a transparent window have appeared there. Behind it is a heart rate sensor, which flashes green after connecting to the smartphone. The bracelet has remained unchanged in appearance; the traditional fastening has been preserved: first the strap is threaded through the loop, then it is secured with a clasp.

However, now the bracelet is made of a more rigid material, which is designed to ensure better safety: many users of previous models complained about the quick failure of the bracelet, stretching and breaks.

The bracelet is still not felt on the hand, does not slip and does not cling to clothes.

The hole into which the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S capsule is inserted has also not changed, only in appearance. It still allows you to install the gadget in any way, but has increased dimensions for the “eye” of the heart rate monitor. Because of this, the bracelets are not backwards compatible. The new Mi Band 1S can be inserted into an old bracelet, but the opposite will not work: the capsule will fall out. The length of the strap remains the same and is adjustable between 157–205 mm.

Characteristics

• Capsule materials: magnesium alloy, polycarbonate.
• Bracelet materials: thermoplastic silicone vulcanizate.
• Housing protection class: IP67.
• Functions: heart rate measurement, pedometer, distance and calories burned calculation, sleep monitoring, smart alarm clock, call notifications, tablet/smartphone unlocking (only for MIUI v6 OS).
• Sensors: three-axis accelerometer, optical heart rate monitor.
• Indication: 3 white LEDs, vibration motor.
• Battery: Built-in lithium polymer with a capacity of 45 mAh.
• Autonomous operation: officially - up to 30 days, in fact - 10–15 days.
• Wireless communication: Bluetooth 4.0/4.1 LE.
• Operating temperature: –20 to +70 °C.
• Dimensions: 37 × 13.6 × 9.9 mm.
• Weight: 5.5 g.
• Compatibility: iOS 7/Android 4.3/BlackBerry OS 10/Windows Phone 8.1 and older.

Functionality

To use the tracker, you need to download the official Mi Fit application and create a Xiaomi account in which the settings and collected data will be stored.

To use unofficial programs, which in some cases may be better, you must have a registered account. Like the earlier version, the updated fitness tracker calculates the distance traveled, sleep time in the fast and slow phases, and can wake you up in the REM phase (smart alarm clock). The data is first saved in the tracker itself, then transferred to the smartphone.

The sleep mode appears to have been improved. The tracker still wakes up spontaneously, according to users, in the range of up to 30 minutes from the set time. A person in REM sleep is awakened by three vibrations. But if there were enough complaints about the work of the Mi Band (version with three-color LEDs) and Mi Band 2 (version with white LEDs), now there are practically none. As before, you can only set three alarms.

The pedometer in the new Mi Band 1S works much more correctly. It is enough to set your data in the settings - height and weight, and you can hit the road. At the same time, independent calculations differ from the tracker data by 3–4%, no more. Steps are counted and converted into meters when walking or climbing stairs. However, in some cases - due to excessive sensitivity - the bracelet can count other actions as steps, including washing dishes. Interestingly, the distance traveled remains virtually unchanged. Apparently, this was done on purpose.

In addition, it was noticed that the bracelet can lie a little about running: the Mi Fit user perceives fast walking as running.

The main thing in the new version of Mi Band is the heart rate monitor. Pulse measurements are carried out using the photoplethysmogram method: data is collected using a light source, the role of which in this case is played by a green LED.

Measurements are carried out in three modes. The main one is manual, activated through the application in the Heart Rate item. The smartphone will ask you to raise your wrist to chest level, after which you will need to press the measurement button: the timer will count down 5 seconds, carry out the calculation and save it to history.

In fact, it is not necessary to raise your hand: the pulse is measured quite correctly in any free position of the hand, the only important thing is that the pulse sensor fits tightly (you can press it with your free hand or just your finger). In the case of a loose fit, the measurement error increases sharply. But if everything is done correctly, it will be no more than 2–5 beats per minute (data verified using self-measurement and a tonometer on the same arm).

The second way to use the heart rate monitor is in running mode. In it, the device measures your pulse automatically every 30 seconds, and at the end gives an average value. In addition, the function of running with weights is available, but it’s not worth chasing after it, since the algorithm has not yet been debugged and this mode does not really work.

There is an additional automatic mode for measuring heart rate during sleep. Enabling it improves the quality of the alarm clock and complements statistical information about sleep: in addition to the duration of the REM and NREM sleep phases, the application displays the average number of heart beats per minute. Unfortunately, Xiaomi Mi Band 1S, despite the ability to synchronize with third-party services, cannot work as a separate heart rate monitor. At least for now.

Applications

The functionality of the gadget greatly depends on the application used. Although it works with both iOS and Android, the full capabilities of the device are revealed in Google's operating system. But there are several nuances here too.

At the moment, the official version on Google Play (Mi Fit 441) can measure heart rate during sleep and in manual mode, allows you to fully use the standard Mi Band functionality and synchronize data with the MyFitnessPal and Google Fit applications. Unlike the official Chinese version, it is not possible to link the bracelet with the Xiaomi Mi Smart Scale and Xiaomi sneakers. The running function, which can be launched separately through the application, is also not available.

There is an official Chinese version of the application, distributed through the company store. When using a Xiaomi smartphone or any other with MIUI 6 firmware, the bracelet allows you to unlock the screen of your smartphone or tablet. True, this Mi Fit does not have synchronization with MyFitnessPal and Google Fit, but there are other, no less interesting functions. As already mentioned, you can set up synchronization of the device with sneakers or smart scales from Xiaomi. In addition, there is a voice assistant for the running mode (and there is a Russian translation for it, although in an amateur assembly). And, according to some reports, it is possible to build a track for a walk or jog (this point has not been verified).

The iOS app does not seem to be a priority for Xiaomi. Its functionality is the same as the Android version. But the application is displayed correctly only on iPhone 5: it is not adapted for the screens of iPhone 4 and iPhone 6. At the same time, there is support for HealthKit and synchronization with Mi Scale.

There is no official application for Windows Phone at all. Amateur version only.

All official applications allow you to set up notifications (for Android 4.4 and higher and iOS) about incoming calls and from three applications to choose from. When there is a call, the device vibrates twice, pauses and continues the cycle while the call is in progress (by the way, you can set a delay from the start of the call so as not to experience unnecessary discomfort).

Unofficial builds on w3bsit3-dns.com allow you to select a larger number of applications from which notifications will come (currently being tested, updates will come later). To enable notifications, you must enable them in the system settings. Android 4.4: “Settings” → “Security” → “Access to notifications”; Android 5.0: “Settings” → “Sounds and notifications” → “Access notifications”.

Battery life

The capacity of the built-in battery has not decreased compared to the previous version and is the same 45 mAh. Full charge time is up to two hours. The operating time of the new product with a heart rate monitor is significantly lower than the usual Mi Band: according to reviews available on the Internet, the gadget can exist autonomously for about 10–15 days. Depending on the intensity of use, of course.

With a couple of forced heart rate measurements, the bracelet consumes about 4% of the charge per day. If you have an hour-long workout, another 5% is added to this figure. When used at work, where I manage to run about 30–40 kilometers per day (no, not a courier engineer) and constantly receive alerts, the device lasts about 8–10 days from a full charge. But! Then the bracelet turns off the heart rate measurement and pedometer and works only as an alarm clock and notification signal for about 5-8 days.

Ease of use and conclusions

The gadget turned out to be balanced and very convenient, and at the current cost of up to 27 dollars, it has practically no alternative. The bracelet does not interfere at all and is almost invisible when worn: you can really sleep with it, go to the shower, and not just run. The modes available in the official application are almost everything you need from a fitness tracker. They will allow you to run effectively and control physical activity in the absence of global health problems. The heart rate monitor is an excellent addition to the usual functions. It will help not only in fitness, but also for early warning of heart disease.

Unlike the earlier version, the case of the new Xiaomi Mi Band 1S does not leak (during testing the device was not removed in the shower or in the bath), it works adequately at a temperature of about -17 degrees Celsius (it did not drop below) and shows very good results in sleep monitoring mode.

Apparently, the alarm clock works correctly due to the additional information collected by the heart rate monitor. Mi Band really wakes you up in the REM sleep phase, making it much easier to wake up - get up and go. The feeling of not getting enough sleep completely disappears. During testing, I experienced this first hand. I'm a night owl, and getting up every day at 5 am is a real pain for me. Was. Before you start using Xiaomi Mi Band.

Thus, thanks to a price already approaching the cost of the first generation Xiaomi fitness tracker, Mi Band 1S not only continued, but also surpassed the success of the Mi Band. Now the gadget can be purchased for $19.89 (with coupon GBMI1S).

We can no longer imagine life without gadgets. But this does not mean that we have everything. For example, the super cool Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse bracelets have recently gone on sale. They became a more modern and updated version of themselves. Xiaomi, as always, managed to surprise the whole world with its wrist gadgets, which, according to some statistics, have become the most wearable in the world. And Mi Band 1S Pulse is practically a challenge to ourselves, because the manufacturer’s goal was to make the same inexpensive gadget as the previous model, but add additional functionality to it.

For example, now the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse, which we will review now, has a heart rate monitor. In principle, this is indicated in the very name of the device. So if you have been looking for a budget but high-quality bracelet for a long time, then the Xiaomi company has made your dream come true by making not only an affordable, but also an incredibly high-quality gadget. And judging by the reviews, buyers enthusiastically accepted the new product, confirming that high quality and low price can coexist in one device. So stop overpaying for fitness trackers. After all, this bracelet costs less than ten dollars, which is simply a ridiculous price for such a device.

Equipment and appearance of Mi Band 1S Pulse

Anyone who has come across products from Xiaomi knows that they are of excellent quality at an extremely low price at which this quality can be achieved. It is not surprising that the newly launched fitness tracker has the same characteristics as any device from the company in question.

There is not a single extra element that would only add cost but not bring any benefit. Everything is simple, but at the same time most effective. Even the packaging is as compact as possible, and is made solely to protect the bracelet during transportation until it falls into the hands of its new owner.

The Mi Band Pulse package includes the following items:

• It comes in a small cardboard box;
• The box contains the tracker itself;
• There is also a silicone bracelet;
• To recharge the tracker, a charger is included in the kit;
• And, of course, the operating instructions for Mi Band Pulse.

As was said, there is nothing superfluous in the package, which has reduced the price of the gadget in question to an acceptable minimum. And now we need to consider the design features, because the manufacturers decided to surprise their customers with something.

In fact, the design has been retained from the previous model. But there is simply nothing to change here, because the components are minimal, and with one capsule and a plastic bracelet you won’t go far. But there are still some design features, which are as follows:

• The main tracker, or simply the capsule, is made of plastic.
• The front panel is magnesium;
• The panel has three LEDs, the backlight of which is white;
• A heart rate monitor is built into the back of the capsule. It is hidden under a transparent window;
• When a smartphone is connected, the sensors on the device light up green;
• The appearance of the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S Pulse Black bracelet is still the same, but the material has changed. Thermoplastic silicone vulcanizate is now used. The silicone has become a little harder, so even with active use it should not crack, as was the case in the previous version.

The tracker capsule is inserted into a specially prepared connector and secured with a strap. The result is a convenient accessory that is pleasant to wear on your hand, as it does not cling to clothes and does not slip. In general, this is one of the first budget gadgets whose reliability you can rely on.

Characteristics of Mi Band 1S Pulse

The gadget in question has a list of good characteristics for the price at which it is sold. Let's take a closer look at them to clarify what exactly to expect from the Xiaomi Mi Fit 1S:

• Let's start with the protection class of the case. In this case it is IP67;
• The functional potential of this device is also very good. It performs the following tasks: measures heart rate, is equipped with a pedometer, can calculate the distance and calories you burned to complete this distance, monitors your sleep, and will wake you up when you need it, as it is equipped with a smart alarm clock. In addition, it may receive notifications about calls made to your phone, etc.;
• The Band bracelet is equipped with sensors of a three-axis accelerometer and an optical heart rate monitor;
• Has a vibration motor and three white LEDs;
• There is a built-in lithium-polymer battery with a capacity of 45 mAh. Which allows it to work autonomously for about two weeks;
• A review of the Xiaomi Mi bracelet shows that contact with the gadget occurs via Bluetooth 4.0/4.1 LE;
• The temperature at which the Mi Band operates is from –20 to +70 °C;
• The gadget is compatible with iOS 7, Android 4.3, BlackBerry OS 10, Windows Phone 8.1, etc.

At the same time, the gadget weighs only 5.5 g, looks stylish on your hand and really helps, just use the charging function in time.

How the original Xiaomi Mi Band 1S with heart rate monitor works. Functional Features

When buying a bracelet, you need to find out how it works, what functional features it has and other nuances that affect the performance of the device, and whether it is convenient to use.

First of all, in order to use the device in question, you need to download a special program. It's called the official Mi Fit app. After it is downloaded, you need to create a special account on Xiaomi. The settings and other collected data about the state of the body will be saved in the account.

Although, if necessary, as the Mi Band review shows, you can install unofficial programs. But in this case you will have to be more careful, because not all programs have performed well in operation. But if we look at the situation from the other side, some of the pirated applications are quite good, even better than the original ones.

Let's look at some functional features for the Xiaomi Mi Band:

• Calculates the distance traveled;
• Counts sleep time spent in the fast and slow phase;
• With appropriate settings, it can wake you up during REM sleep, thanks to which the owner of such a bracelet will feel great all day long;
• Heart rate monitor.

Tracker improvements

We have already said more than once that this bracelet has many features, modified details, etc. But at the same time, it is a continuation of the first device. Improved and more advanced. Let's try to consider what improvements the system has in this small accessory.

1. Features of sleep mode on Mi Band 1S Pulse. Having looked at all the functionality of Bend, we can say that this part has definitely been improved. The bracelet wakes up its owner within 30 minutes of the programmed time. Only this time there are no complaints about accuracy. It's easy to wake up because the alarm clock vibrates three times. In addition, there are three types of alarm clocks.
2. Activity mode on the bracelet. In this case, we mean a pedometer, which works more correctly in Mi Band Pulse. To set it up, you need to enter your weight and height. Of course, there is a slight deviation in the calculations, but it is no more than 3-4% of the data that a person will receive if he begins to count his activity on his own. Although there are some disadvantages, in particular, the device is too sensitive. In this regard, even simple manipulations like washing dishes can be counted as steps, which confuses the settings. As for running, the calculations generally go wrong here, since the device can count walking as running.
3. Heart rate monitor. This group of devices is in demand because of the heart rate monitor, and the Mi Band package received it. The tracker is charged, installed in a black bracelet, after which it can take heart rate measurements using the photoplethysmogram method.

In general, the bracelet is worth its money, and even more. Of course, there are small shortcomings, but knowing them, you can adjust the nuances of working with it.

The first Xiaomi Mi Band was a huge success on the market due to its low price ($13 on sales) and huge functionality: a well-programmed interface, a month's battery life, a pedometer, a calorie counter and LED backlight, which made the bracelet a convenient device for reminders and notifications. Last November, Xiaomi released a new modification of the fitness bracelet - Xiaomi Mi Band 1S. Its starting price was $16, and of the announced innovations, the heart rate monitor function especially stood out. Let's try to analyze in detail all the functions of the new bracelet, and also whether it is worth paying a few extra dollars for them compared to the previous model.

Unboxing Xiaomi Mi Band 1S

Appearance of Xiaomi Mi Band 1S

The difference from the previous model becomes noticeable if you turn the capsule over. Its lower part has become a little thicker, and a transparent window has appeared in it, behind which there is a flashing pulse sensor. When connected to a smartphone, it lights up green.

The fastening remains the same: the strap must be threaded through the loop and then secured with a clasp. Due to the tiny weight and surface texture, the bracelet is not felt on the hand as before, does not slip and does not collect dust.

Characteristics of Xiaomi Mi Band 1S

Functionality of Xiaomi Mi Band 1S

The basic set of functions of the new fitness tracker has not changed. As before, the bracelet counts the number of steps, distance traveled, and sleep time divided into phases. It also reports notifications, has a smart alarm function, and now also measures your heart rate. All received data is first saved in the capsule tracker and then transferred to your smartphone. Let's take a closer look at these bracelet functions.

1. Notifications.

Using three LED indicators and vibration, the bracelet silently notifies you of new calls, messages or other events. Like the second modification of the first generation Xiaomi Mi Band, the panel of the new bracelet is equipped with the same white sensors, which somewhat limits the variety of reproduced signals. My Fit includes support for displaying notifications from three applications; for more advanced functionality, you should turn to unofficial programs. The vibrator also works strongly and silently, without attracting outside attention, but immediately felt on the wrist.

2. Pedometer.

The step counting function in the first bracelet caused many complaints about incorrect operation. The device counted the steps themselves correctly, but added extraneous movements to them, such as flapping your hands when brushing your teeth or washing dishes.

The pedometer in the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S works more correctly - but you need to set your height and weight in the settings. Deviations in tracker data and self-counting of steps are within 5-10%. However, the excessive sensitivity of the sensors remains - the bracelet still counts third-party movements as steps. However, the distance traveled does not increase. When you walk quickly, the bracelet actually considers the movement to be running, but it calculates the number of steps and distance with the accuracy of GPS trackers.

3. Heart rate monitor.

Unlike devices equipped with an optical heart rate monitor, which incorrectly calculate your heart rate (especially during training), the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S is a pleasant surprise.

There are several modes of operation of the heart rate monitor.
The first is an instant heart rate measurement (in 5 seconds), for this, in the corresponding section of My Fit, select the Heart Rate item. In this case, the capsule should fit snugly to your wrist, but you should not overtighten the strap - just press the bracelet against your skin with your finger. The measured heartbeat reading will be displayed on the smartphone screen.

The second mode is associated with running. With it, an optical sensor measures your pulse every 30 seconds and then displays the average value on the smartphone screen. We tested the operation of the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S heart rate monitor using the Polar WearLink Nike+ sports heart rate monitor and were pleasantly surprised. In the My Fit settings there is a running mode with weights, but it is not yet configured correctly and produces results with a large error.

The third heart rate monitor mode automatically calculates your heart rate during sleep. In addition to data on phases and duration, heart rate data during different periods of sleep is displayed on the smartphone screen.

4. Sleep tracking.

The bracelet stores and analyzes data on different phases and duration of sleep. The smart alarm function has also been retained. It tracks the stages of sleep you are in and, using vibration, wakes you up as close to the set time as possible in the lightest phase. In practice, this amounts to an interval of up to 30 minutes, i.e. If you are already in a state of awakening, and there are still 15 minutes before you have to get up, the alarm will go off. On the other hand, you can set your own settings in the control.

Battery life without recharging.

Compared to the previous model, the battery capacity has not decreased - it is the same 45 mAh. Fully charging the bracelet takes about two hours. With the heart rate monitor turned on, the bracelet works much less than with it turned off (and, accordingly, than the first model, which does not have it). The manufacturer stated that the heart rate monitor will work for 20 days, but for us it works for 15-20 days, depending on the frequency of use of the sensor.
For two heart rate measurements, the bracelet loses 4% of its charge, and for 1 hour of active training – 5%. When the device loses main battery power, it automatically turns off the heart rate monitor and pedometer. After this, until charging, the bracelet only works as an alarm clock and notifier.

This bracelet can be purchased from a trusted seller on the Aliexpress website - via this link.

The release of the first Mi Band brought the unthinkable to Xiaomi success. No one had ever produced such a cheap and qualitative fitness bracelet. For affordable money you received a high-quality bracelet that is not afraid of water. But this was not enough and the Chinese company decided to amaze everyone with an impressive autonomy. Few gadgets today can boast of this. For example, my Mi Band lasted a month before its first recharge, despite the fact that I almost never turn off Bluetooth, since I actively use the notification function (more on that later), and some copies held a charge up to 90 days! Amazing, isn't it?

Actually, in approximately 22 dollars you received a device that:

• Lightweight (claimed weight of the capsule is 5 g, and the strap is 8 g)
• Not afraid of water (IP67 waterproof)
• You can leave it on for weeks (the strap is made of hypoallergenic materials, and there could be no complaints about autonomy)

In addition, it is worth noting that accuracy was also great. The bracelet perfectly determined what you were doing and perfectly separated running from walking.

There were two generations first Xiaomi Band models: Xiaomi Mi Band 1 and Mi Band 2. There are absolutely no visual differences. The only difference is that Xiaomi Band 2 has a battery 45 mAh, while the first one has 41 .

That's how it was before 2016, when the Chinese company updated its popular fitness tracker. And it is sold as Xiaomi Mi Band 2 (2016).

What if there is more? Mi Fit or setting up Xiaomi Mi Band

It's no secret that Xiaomi Band fitness bracelets have the first generation no screen. “How do they work then?” you ask, and it will be a great question.

It's all in the application Mi Fit. This app makes Mi Band what it is. It stores all the data about your activity and sleep in the cloud, so if you lose your bracelet or phone, you can easily restore all this data by simply logging into your Xiaomi account. Connect your phone Just:

• Download the Mi Fit app
• Open it (we do everything that the application asks of us)
• If the application itself did not send you, then go to the settings and select “Connect device” there
• We bring the bracelet close to the phone and wait for it to be detected
• Next, enter all your data and photos into your profile (optional)
• Congratulations, you have just set up your xiaomi mi band fitness tracker!

The application has made friends with Xiaomi Mi Band and iPhone, and of course it works on Android. Therefore, if you have an iPhone no older than 4s, Android no lower than 4.3 and Bluetooth 4.1 LE, then you have every right to use the following advantages of the Xiaomi Mi Band fitness tracker:

• Accurate sleep phase tracking
• You can receive notifications directly to your bracelet
• Charts of your activity and sleep that are not lost
• Just an excellent smart alarm clock that will wake you up exactly at the phase of sleep that will be most favorable for you

In addition, there are “more advanced”, custom versions of this application. You can download them either on the website w3bsit3-dns.com, or in Play Market. They have a number of interesting advantages, so if you want more from your smart bracelet, then this will be a good solution.

Xiaomi Mi Band 1S: revolution or restyle?

In 2015, the Chinese company released an updated model of the revolutionary bracelet: Xiaomi Mi Band 1S. The excitement around this model is so great that in the first 12 minutes sales were sold 1 million copies. The statistics are impressive, but are expectations for this product too high?

The only cardinal difference between the new Xiaomi Mi Band 1S is the laser scanner to read your heartbeat, which, according to the developers, does not have to fit tightly to your hand (which is already interesting). All other changes simply follow from this innovation, namely:

• Modified charging (charging became shorter in the capsule area to make room for the laser)
• It got a little bigger and a little heavier
• Colored LEDs were changed to white (apparently to reduce the cost)
• The autonomy has officially decreased (since the battery was left unchanged - 45 mAh)

To be fair, it is worth saying that the new Xiaomi Mi Band 1S has a stronger vibration motor, which is undoubtedly good, because now it will be easier to find (via the “Find bracelet” function) and it will definitely wake you up in the morning.

But that's all. There are no more innovations, not counting the Mi Fit update and new firmware for the device. For (official) 99 yuan, and this is approximately 15 dollars, you get the same product. He's still the same:

• Well put together
• Not afraid of water and dust
• Tracks your sleep stages
• Counts your steps and running perfectly

However, there is also cons:

• The new Xiaomi Mi Band 1S lasts less (at least officially)
• Useless with custom versions of Mi Fit (as many of them are based on colored notifications from applications)

Xiaomi has seriously taken control of users' health. The company's product range includes smart scales that measure and save data on users' weight and body mass index, the Mi Band fitness bracelet, which has become the most affordable wearable accessory for sports, and now the second generation of the Mi Band Pulse bracelet, which is designed to measure your pulse .

Video review of Mi Band Pulse

Let's move on to watch a short unboxing video of the Mi Band Pulse and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel.

What kind of bracelet is this?

The official name of the tracker is Mi Band Pulse, not Mi Band 2 and not Mi Band 1S, but Pulse. The naming immediately reveals to us the main purpose of the new Mi Band - with its help, users will be able to measure their heart rate during training.

The first Mi Band was an excellent accessory rather than a fitness companion. Mi Band 2 is designed to be a more professional tracker.

Technical specifications and what Mi Band Pulse is capable of

• materials: aluminum alloy and polycarbonate
• supports Android 4.4+ or iOS 7.0+
• moisture protection according to IP67 standard
• optical heart rate sensor
• sleep tracker
• pedometer
• notifications about missed calls and application notifications
• smart alarm clock
• unlocked Xiaomi or other smartphones running Android 5.0 and higher
• Li-Pol battery 45 mAh
• dimensions 37×13.6×9.9 mm
• weight 5.5 grams tracker + 9 grams bracelet

Scope of delivery

Mi Band Pulse comes in a classic light brown recycled cardboard box. It is rigid and at the same time compact and light.

Inside there is the Mi Band itself, a charger, instructions and a complete strap in basic black color.

Design

The new Mi Band Pulse has almost the same design as the original Mi Band. The main part of the tracker is made in the form of a capsule, it contains all the electronics sewn into plastic, which is protected according to the IP67 standard. On the top edge there is metal plastic through which three holes for LED indicators are barely visible.

On the side of the capsule there are two contacts for charging Mi Band Pulse. And on the bottom edge there is a window for an optical heart rate sensor and the Mi brand logo to the left of it.

The strap, as in the previous generation of Mi Band, is silicone; on its inside there is the inscription Designed By Xiaomi, which confirms its authenticity and originality. The design of the strap remains unchanged, and according to personal impressions, it is the same as that of the Mi Band. The length of the straps is the same.

Are Mi Band accessories compatible with Mi Band Pulse?

The straps fit exactly! But about the charger - not a fact. The thing is that I lost the charger from my old Mi Band, so it’s impossible to find out for sure.

Straps fit, charging is difficult

Xiaomi itself says that the accessories are not suitable for the first generation and are not suitable for the second. In practice, the Mi Band is charged using the Mi Band Pulse charger, but if the original Mi Band fits freely into the connector, the second generation of bracelets does this very tightly. I suspect that charging the first generation of the bracelet really won’t work with the Mi Band Pulse. But straps - please!

Sync Mi Band Pulse with Mi Fit app

To connect the new Mi Band Pulse to Mi Fit, you need to have a Mi account, and if you already have an old bracelet attached, as in my case, unplug it and synchronize it with the new one.

The synchronization process is simple; after connecting, the Mi Band Pulse bracelet will immediately begin updating its firmware and Heart Rate function. After the updates, the fitness tracker is ready for use. You can choose which hand (left/right) or neck you will wear the bracelet on and get to work.

What the new Mi Band can do:

• measure steps
• measure pulse
• act as a smart alarm clock
• notify about incoming notifications
• unlock a Xiaomi smartphone or a smartphone running Android 5 and higher

Measuring heart rate using Mi Band Pulse

The Mi Band does not measure the pulse constantly (like steps), but at the user’s request. To find out your pulse, you need to go to Mi Fit, then to “Settings” -> “Pulse” and press the start button: the application will immediately turn on the optical sensor and start counting from 5 to 0. During these 5 seconds, the bracelet will measure and display the current status of the pulse , and will also indicate whether such a value is normal or not.

This way, your heart rate is measured only once, and not throughout the entire workout. Whether this is good or bad is up to you to judge. On the one hand, it’s bad, because you constantly need to go into the settings (there is no real time tracking), on the other hand, it’s good, because this is a very energy-consuming task and if tracking was always on, the bracelet would sit down very quickly.

The bracelet can also measure your pulse during sleep; the application selects intervals when the heart rate sensor turns on and records the values. Based on this data, a smart alarm clock is triggered. According to its algorithms, it selects the best time to wake up within an interval of 30 minutes.

Autonomy

Xiaomi promises autonomy with an average use of the Heart Rate function of 20 days. This is 10 days less than the declared autonomy of the first generation Mi Band. In practice, the original Mi Band held a battery charge for 40 and even 45 days, but time will tell whether this will be the case with the Mi Band Pulse.

Feelings after a year with the original Mi Band

Personally, I did not experience any discomfort or any joy from switching from Mi Band to Mi Band Pulse. They are almost identical in appearance and the replacement is completely invisible on the hand.

If external changes are unnoticeable, then the ability to measure pulse was very pleasing and fully justified the transition to the second generation of the bracelet. Mi Band Pulse, of course, cannot replace professional heart rate monitors for running, but it can reliably show your heart rate in the gym or while running. The measurement error in Mi Band Pulse is minimal, it shows the same values ​​as a heart rate monitor with a chest strap Sigma PC 15.11, which already says a lot.

Conclusions

Mi Band Pulse is a qualitatively updated Mi Band, which has received the function of measuring heart rate, while the bracelet still has a low price and is significantly ahead in terms of availability of other trackers from well-known brands.

Mi Band Pulse does not have a function for continuous measurement of heart rate in real time; this is a controversial point that carries both positive and negative sides for autonomy. If you don’t yet have a Mi Band, but want to buy it, or you have it but want to upgrade, you can safely buy the Mi Band Pulse, it is not fundamentally different from the first generation, but it has additional functions.