Which fitness tracker should you buy?

The Xiaomi Mi Band series has long set the standard for cheap fitness trackers. The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 was introduced last year to replace the Mi Band 4. Now the recently launched Mi Band 6 offers consumers even more.

While you’d expect the latest edition to be the clear winner, it’s not that simple. This article will walk you through the key differences and similarities between the Mi Band 5 and the Mi Band 6.

Our judgments: Xiaomi Mi Band 5 review | Xiaomi Mi Band 6 review

Xiaomi Mi Band 6 versus Mi Band 5

This information

The functions

Xiaomi rarely changes its Mi-Band formula and it’s a strategy that has worked well so far. However, Xiaomi has not shied away from making important changes to the Mi Band 6 in order to keep up with its competitors.

Let’s start with the ad. The Mi Band 5 has a larger 1.1-inch screen compared to the Mi Band 4. The Mi Band 6 continues this trend and grows even bigger to 1.56 inches. Remarkably, this increase is not associated with the punishment of a larger body. The Mi Band 6 is only slightly larger than its predecessor and can also happily live with Mi Band 5 carriers.

If outdoor visibility is a key factor for you, then both fitness trackers perform similarly. The maximum brightness for both screens is 450 nits – bright enough for reliable outdoor peeking. The Mi Band 6 is still missing an ambient light sensor, so you have to manually dim the tracker’s display in darker areas. Even so, the Mi Band 6’s larger display should mean it’s easier to spy on statistics on the go.

Connected: The best fitness trackers from Fitbit, Garmin, Xiaomi and others

The differences between the Mi Band 5 and the Mi Band 6 also extend to the sensors. While only the Chinese Mi Band 5 variant contains an SpO2 sensor, it is standard on all Mi Band 6 models. While it is a standout feature because of its quick readings and reliability, it is not designed for continuous tracking. Those who may have sleep apnea should look elsewhere. However, if checking your blood oxygen levels is an important metric for you, the Mi Band 6 is a better option than the Mi Band 5.

Activity tracking also gets some additional points for the Mi Band 6. While its predecessor only tracked 11 sport modes, the Mi Band 6 increases this to 30. Six of these are also automatically recognized by the Mi Band 6. If you are into multisport compatibility, the Mi Band 6 is the ticket.

But is it always the better option?

Despite its improvements, the Mi Band 6 has some drawbacks. Those additional sensors and features – including breath monitoring, all-day stress tracking, and frequent resting heart rate measurements – affect the Mi Band 6’s battery life. While it takes two weeks of life, you probably only get a week with all of these settings enabled. The Mi Band 5 will easily go two weeks without a charger, a bonus for street fighters looking for a basic health monitoring companion.

See also: The best fitness apps for Android

Heart rate measurement is also one of the weaknesses of the Mi Band 6. While it’s fine for lower intensity workouts and daily monitoring, we have problems with accuracy when the heart rate intensity increases. This probably won’t be a huge disadvantage for many users, but it’s worth a mention if you’re planning on serious cardio workouts. We didn’t see any issues with the Mi Band 5’s heart rate monitor as we approached 150 bpm, and it largely mirrored the results of more expensive devices from Garmin and Wahoo.

The Mi Band 6’s sleep tracking accuracy could use some work as well. The results are inconsistent when compared to those of the Fitbit Sense. Although the scythe is a few dollars more expensive, we’d expect the Mi Band 6 to recognize it, at least when you’re awake. The sleep rating system is also confusing and often produced conflicting results in our review. We would avoid the Mi Band 6 from improving your sleep health. This is a key factor for you.

The price

The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 has been available in the US and through other retailers in Europe for quite some time. As mentioned earlier, the Chinese version has NFC and SpO2 support. The global variant is more common, but you can buy the Chinese variant in select stores. Even without its SpO2 smarts, the Mi Band 5 is a dirt cheap and all-round solid fitness tracker at its current price of ~ $ 30.

The Mi Band 6, on the other hand, costs around $ 55. While it’s almost twice as expensive as the Mi Band 5, adding a larger display, more sport modes, and an SpO2 sensor to all models is an attractive proposition. All of these are also useful additions and polish the flaws in the armor of the Mi Band 5. The Chinese version of the Mi Band 6 is also available with integrated NFC and Xiaomi’s Xiao AI voice assistant.

However, both Xiaomi products are competitively priced, especially when compared to the alternative fitness trackers available.

Xiaomi Mi Band 6 vs Mi Band 5: what should you buy?

So who wins between Mi Band 6 and Mi Band 5? Choosing an overall winner between these two Xiaomi trackers is a difficult task.

The Mi Band 6 doesn’t just win because it’s newer and offers more, and the Mi Band 5 remains a valid option based on price alone, even if it doesn’t offer any features. The Mi Band 5 offers solid fitness tracking, a reliable heart rate sensor and great battery life. It is the preferred companion for those starting their fitness journey or needing advanced features.

The Mi Band 6 is an obvious vertical move for those who want a little more data from their tracker when they’re looking for more. The addition of the SpO2 sensor brings it in line with more premium competitors. The ~ 20 added sports tracking modes expand their usefulness for those who don’t just want to bike, jog, or swim. Users are struggling with shorter battery life, but a week is nothing to smell of. In addition, Xiaomi has made some efforts to improve the reliability of sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring on the Mi Band 6.

Overall, both trackers are great value for money at their respective prices, but we really think the Mi Band 6 is a better buy – despite its few downsides.

Poll is loading

A few years ago we might have declared both Xiaomi Mi Bands the winners of the cheap fitness tracker fight, but that is no longer a given. Xiaomi has a lot of competition from the likes of Amazfit and Huawei in the ~ $ 50 fitness tracker war.

Which Xiaomi Mi Band will win this duel?