Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Andi Review


xiaomi miband 2 review

After becoming quite a bit larger than I once was, I’ve invested in the Mi Band 2. Here’s what I think of this little wearable.

Xiaomi weren’t the firs to launch a fitness tracker but they’ve been the ones to really make this simple wearable tech accessible and easy to use.

While the high streets might be full of Fitbits, it’s us in the know who have been lured over to the Xiaomi Mi Band, and it’s now quite a commons device to see whether you walk around Beijing, London or Madrid!

xiaomi miband 2 review
Xiaomi Mi Band 2 strap

I reviewed, and loved, the original Xiaomi Mi Band, I wasn’t quite taken with the Mi Band 1S, but this new Mi Band 2 is incredible.

Xiaomi Mi Band 2 Review

For the Mi Band 2, Xiaomi have kept the design of the wearable nice and simple, only adding features that are really useful and would make the wearable even more user friendly.

xiaomi miband 2 review

The original Mi Band had a very simple metal face with 3 LED lights that flashed to tell you of a notification or when you reached a certain ‘goal’. If you wanted more accurate information you would need to log in to the Mi Fitness app on your phone.

xiaomi miband 2 review

For the Mi Band 2, Xiaomi have given the device it’s own OLED display which tells you much of the information you want to see while on the go.

The display tells you the number of steps you have taken so far, will work out the calories burnt and distance traveled too.

xiaomi mi band 2

A glass face takes up the front of the new Xiaomi Mi Band, which a simple touch sensitive button to flick through the different menus.

xiaomi miband 2 review
Mi Band 2 Heart Monitor

Like the Mi Band 1S the Mi Band 2 has a heart monitor on the rear and your pulse can be taken by simply tapping to the heart icon and waiting a few seconds. I can also happily report that I haven’t had any odd burns or marks which some wearers reported on the Mi Band 1S.

xiaomi miband 2 review

One feature the original Mi Bands didn’t have, and one that many of us really wanted, was the ability to tell the time. With that OLED display the Mi Band 2 now has the time instantly making this a much more useable device than ever before.

xiaomi mi band 2

Bluetooth is still present so all your data is sync’d across to your phone, and if you wear the Mi Band 2 when you sleep the wearable will keep a record of how long you have slept and how much “deep sleep” you managed.

xiaomi mi band 2

The Mi Fitness App also syncs with Xiaomi’s smart scales and together you can create a very accurate exercise regime to keep in shape.

Battery life on the Mi Band 2 isn’t quite up to the battery life on the original Mi Band, but I’ve been getting through 3 weeks of daily use on a single charge, and charging the built in batter to full takes hardly any time at all. The battery life and speed of charge has meant that the Mi Band 2 has replaced my Asus Android Wear watch as my daily wearable.

xiaomi miband 2 review
The main ‘brain’ is removable from the strap

All in all there is nothing that I would change on the Mi Band 2. The wearable has great features, the battery life is incredible, the device comfy to wear and best of all I can now use it as a watch!

The Mi Band 2 is available through various online stores, but keep an eye on shipping prices to get the best deal.

Buy the Mi Band 2 on Amazon Buy the Mi Band 2 from Shop.GizChina.Com Buy the Mi Band 2 from GearBest
Disclaimer: We may be compensated by some of the companies whose products we talk about, but our articles and reviews are always our honest opinions. For more details, you can check out our editorial guidelines and learn about how we use affiliate links.

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32 Comments

  1. Spookyleaf
    December 10, 2016

    Nice one Andy. I miss your regular input on this site.

  2. Ibrahim
    December 10, 2016

    ah damn 10/10… I tried Mi Band the first one and 1S, but never got my hands on Mi Band 2.. I should try it XD

    Good review Andi. 🙂

    • Airyl
      December 10, 2016

      Maybe I need a Mi Band 2.

    • goodwill
      December 11, 2016

      It’s better cause it tells the time now. The old one doesn’t so you have to wear a watch alongside the band. Band 2 I need to wear a watch

      • Ibrahim
        December 11, 2016

        But but… I already ordered… The only different is the little screen to see the time? lol
        tbh I only use Mi Band or any band just to counts my steps, sleep and vibrates with phone calls..
        I was hoping that this one will be better at those, because sometimes my Mi Band does not count my sleeping for a whole night or count my random hand movements as steps or not vibrate with phone calls.. 🙁
        bah money well wasted >.<'

        • goodwill
          December 12, 2016

          It tells you which apps you’re getting notification too. I don’t have any complains with it so far tho, I mean, it’s so cheap. You can’t expect alot from it tho

          • Ibrahim
            December 12, 2016

            I am not expecting anything except three things
            -vibrate for calls
            -count steps
            -measure sleep
            But I want it to be done well.. All the fitness bands I owned don’t count my sleep very well or does not always vibrate for calls etc…

            Anyway yes you are right at about 30 USD I think I won’t mind it haha

        • vijay sud
          December 14, 2016

          Believe me, having used both Mi Band and Band 2 , i can confirm, Band 2 is better in all aspects, n more accurate.

          • Ibrahim
            December 15, 2016

            Great :3

  3. vijay sud
    December 10, 2016

    Band 2 is all that and in addition simple n elegant enough to have become my only fitness cum time teller.great job by Xiaomi.

  4. Spookyleaf
    December 10, 2016

    Nice one Andy. I miss your regular input on this site.

  5. Ibrahim
    December 10, 2016

    ah damn 10/10… I tried Mi Band the first one and 1S, but never got my hands on Mi Band 2.. I should try it XD

    Good review Andi. 🙂

    • Airyl
      December 10, 2016

      Maybe I need a Mi Band 2.

    • goodwill
      December 11, 2016

      It’s better cause it tells the time now. The old one doesn’t so you have to wear a watch alongside the band. Band 2 you don’t need to

    • Ibrahim
      December 11, 2016

      But but… I already ordered… The only different is the little screen to see the time? lol
      tbh I only use Mi Band or any band just to counts my steps, sleep and vibrates with phone calls..
      I was hoping that this one will be better at those, because sometimes my Mi Band does not count my sleeping for a whole night or count my random hand movements as steps or not vibrate with phone calls.. 🙁
      bah money well wasted >.<'

    • goodwill
      December 12, 2016

      It tells you which apps you’re getting notification too. I don’t have any complains with it so far tho, I mean, it’s so cheap. You can’t expect alot from it tho

    • Ibrahim
      December 12, 2016

      I am not expecting anything except three things
      -vibrate for calls
      -count steps
      -measure sleep
      But I want it to be done well.. All the fitness bands I owned don’t count my sleep very well or does not always vibrate for calls etc…

      Anyway yes you are right at about 30 USD I think I won’t mind it haha

    • vijay sud
      December 15, 2016

      Believe me, having used both Mi Band and Band 2 , i can confirm, Band 2 is better in all aspects, n more accurate.

    • Ibrahim
      December 15, 2016

      Great :3

  6. vijay sud
    December 10, 2016

    Band 2 is all that and in addition simple n elegant enough to have become my only fitness cum time teller.great job by Xiaomi.

  7. jimberkas
    December 10, 2016

    great. i bought one for my young daughter for xmas. she asked for a fitbit, so hopefully she won’t be disappointed!

    • goodwill
      December 11, 2016

      I have it as well. A pretty good fitness watch. You should get some color band options too since it’s for your daughter. Merry xmas

      • jimberkas
        December 11, 2016

        i do have four color bands wrapped up under the tree. very excited for her to open this gift.

  8. jimberkas
    December 11, 2016

    great. i bought one for my young daughter for xmas. she asked for a fitbit, so hopefully she won’t be disappointed!

    • goodwill
      December 11, 2016

      I have it as well. A pretty good fitness watch. You should get some color band options too since it’s for your daughter. Merry xmas

    • jimberkas
      December 11, 2016

      i do have four color bands wrapped up under the tree. very excited for her to open this gift.

  9. Adam Irvine
    December 11, 2016

    Don’t forget, in one of their most recent updates they added the ability for it to tell you the current date as well as the time…

    That was a welcome addition from me!

  10. Dinky Toy
    December 11, 2016

    little bit limited review Andi, i guess u have not had it for too long and g
    have not checked the webs about any complaints… this is more a very limited positive user report slash advertorial.

    coming from an original fitbit i find quite a few issues which Xiaomi cant be bothered to fix it seems.

    the app for the phone is very limited and has a terrible layout.
    there is no option to calibrate the stepcounter, mine is off by -25%.
    no option to input stride distance.
    the app or the band loses data regularely!!!!!
    no option for cool things like camera button.

    and then the kicker… the infamous “band is paired to another device….” for which there is still no fix and which forces you to use 3rd party apps who do seem to be able to pair so why Xiaomi can not…????????

    i had an original redmi note 1 and due to available space issues for apps (for a year now… did the miui 8 update take more space??) i have just switched to a redmi note 4 which is a fine device so far but if Xiaomi software support does not improve then my next products will not be from Xiaomi.

  11. Adam Irvine
    December 11, 2016

    Don’t forget, in one of their most recent updates they added the ability for it to tell you the current date as well as the time…

    That was a welcome addition from me!

  12. Dinky Toy
    December 11, 2016

    little bit limited review Andi, i guess u have not had it for too long and g
    have not checked the webs about any complaints… this is more a very limited positive user report slash advertorial.

    coming from an original fitbit i find quite a few issues which Xiaomi cant be bothered to fix it seems.

    the app for the phone is very limited and has a terrible layout.
    there is no option to calibrate the stepcounter, mine is off by -25%.
    no option to input stride distance.
    the app or the band loses data regularely!!!!!
    no option for cool things like camera button.

    and then the kicker… the infamous “band is paired to another device….” for which there is still no fix and which forces you to use 3rd party apps who do seem to be able to pair so why Xiaomi can not…????????

    i had an original redmi note 1 and due to available space issues for apps (for a year now… did the miui 8 update take more space??) i have just switched to a redmi note 4 which is a fine device so far but if Xiaomi software support does not improve then my next products will not be from Xiaomi.

  13. December 12, 2016

    Just got 2 mi band 2, 2 Xiaomi Bluetooth earphone for $46 USD, I spent $10 USD to bought 2 mijobs leather wristband too :3 Really love them =))

  14. gіаиg
    December 12, 2016

    Just got 2 mi band 2, 2 Xiaomi Bluetooth earphone for $46 USD, I spent $10 USD to bought 2 mijobs leather wristband too :3 Really love them =))