It's undeniable that digital technology has come a long way in the last couple of decades. Instead of simple mobile devices and “antediluvian” computers with their bulky dimensions, we got a number of devices that tend to constantly decrease in size, but increase in terms of functionality. And such gadgets, entering our everyday life, make it more diverse and exciting.
Moreover, what is most remarkable is the variety of those devices that are presented around us. With them, you can not only have fun playing various simulators and arcades, but also monitor your he alth, strengthen it, play sports more efficiently, and more.
In this article we will just talk about such a device. Meet: we are talking about the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet - a device that allows you not only to monitor the state of your body, but can become a real personal assistant. More details - further in the review.
Overall concept
Let's start with the presentation of the gadget as a whole. Before us is the so-called fitness bracelet, which has now become very popular among the young and active population. Already from the name itself, we can conclude that the device is intended for physical exercises, sports,tracking your activity. We will describe this in more detail in the section where the functionality of the device will be listed - so you will understand what exactly this device can do.
In the meantime, we note that the manufacturer of the bracelet is Xiaomi (an active technological giant, which has won the sympathy of millions of users in a short time on the market). This means that the product is designed in the spirit of this company: it is inexpensive, but it has an attractive design, a simple interface and a lot of useful functionality.
And in general, this brand has become quite popular lately. Smartphones produced by him, as well as various accessories for them and other electronics, are sold in millions of copies. Therefore, it is not surprising that the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet caused such a stir in the market of electronic wearable devices.
Package
If you have never used such a gadget, for sure, the first thing you want to ask is how such a bracelet is sold: what it is offered with, what package it has. Therefore, we will start from this point to describe the gadget in more detail.
So, it is offered in the company's traditional packaging made of plain cardboard with a logo printed on top. Having opened it, we find parts that are too tiny, for which it does not immediately become clear what's what. But in fact, we have the following components: a USB cord (for charging and connecting the gadget to a PC), the bracelet itself (enclosed in a metalshell), strap for it (made of rubber) and instructions for use.
In fact, the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet is offered in a fairly simple package, although it also contains everything you need.
Design and device
When the sales of the device began, the developers promised a whole line of straps for the bracelet, which can be matched to any suit, regardless of where the owner of the gadget is going to go. But now, for some reason, only rubber models of different colors are available for sale from the official manufacturer. That is, for now, the choice can be made between color schemes, but nothing more.
The material from which the strap holding the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet (the 2nd generation of the device has not yet seen the world) is made is made of some special material with high strength. At the same time, it is quite pleasant to the touch, although outwardly it looks like a simple elastic band.
The fastening of the bracelet is very simple: at the end of one part of the strap there is a loop through which the other part is threaded. In addition, the latter is also fixed in one of the holes (according to the clock principle). Thus, a double bracelet retention system is involved: the ring is made to secure against the possible opening of the mechanism during wearing. And it turns out that the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet will not fall off your hand under any circumstances.
The second element that the gadget consists of is the core. In fact, we are talking about the “brain” of the bracelet - the part in which the entireelectronics. Outwardly, it looks like a small metal plate that simply fits into the strap.
Program component
In the mentioned “brain”, on the basis of which the Xiaomi Mi Band sports bracelet works, equipment is installed that uses software. In fact, we are talking about a miniature computer with great functionality.
An important condition for full-fledged work is that the bracelet must be connected to a smartphone. As you understand, this can only be done using Bluetooth. In addition, there are restrictions on the version of the operating system on the phone: the Xiaomi Mi Band 1S bracelet can only be paired with Android 4.3 (and older) or iOS 5.0 (and older).
In order to work with all the functions declared in the technical specifications, you must have a pre-installed application on your phone. You can get it on Google Play and in the AppStore - it's called that (after the name of the bracelet).
Gadget functions
Finally, we got to the description of what our device can do. First, this is a great fitness tracker. Using built-in sensors and focusing on your hand movements, the device is able to calculate the number of steps you have taken per day. This is the main feature that captivates many active lifestyle enthusiasts and makes them buy the device.
Secondly, the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet (the instruction to which is attached) can become a “smart” alarm clock and, thus, will help youwake up when needed. By reading your movements during sleep, the gadget can roughly calculate the time when you will be in one phase or another. Settings (performed, of course, on a smartphone or tablet) will help you set the wake-up mode you need. When the time is right, the bracelet will vibrate and thus wake you up. The beauty is that it won't inconvenience your loved ones who sleep next to you - they won't hear anything.
Third, the device can become a personal assistant thanks to the notification function. Fitness bracelet Xiaomi Mi Band, as already mentioned, is synchronized with a mobile phone. Using the software for this gadget, you can configure the receipt of alerts from a particular application. For example, it can also be SMS, incoming VK, calls and much more. The user is also given the opportunity to select the color that the bracelet will flash if necessary. In addition, it can be just a vibration that will not let you miss an important call if you do not hear your smartphone.
Cost
The device really has a lot of functions, but other bracelets from the same category have approximately the same characteristics. True, their cost often exceeds $ 100. Xiaomi, on the other hand, went the other way, providing the opportunity to buy such an accessory for only $20. Indeed, it is very cheap (after all, such a cost makes the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet (the review of each client confirms this) not only an excellent assistant, but also a very affordable device formass buyers.
Yes, and there are no problems with ordering - you can buy a device in large online stores and online auctions. The price, of course, is more favorable in the second case, but the quality and service are clearly in the first.
Battery
The buyer may also have a quite reasonable question regarding the batteries installed in the device. Indeed, the dimensions of the core that is inserted into the Xiaomi Mi Band (strap) cannot be called large enough to place a serious battery there. Obviously, the gadget runs on some kind of miniature batteries, the charge consumption of which, most likely, is optimized to the maximum.
According to the recommendations of customers, the charge will last for 1.5-2 months of operation of the device, while the procedure for replenishing the battery will take about 2 hours. Recharging via USB cable.
Reviews
What can be the characteristics of buyers if the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet (the review clearly demonstrated this) is really such a simple, functional and at the same time inexpensive device? Of course, from the reviews, we managed to find mostly only good ones.
Benefits
To the “advantages” of the model, the above qualities are attributed, adding also the ergonomics of the device, comfort in working with it, and reliability. Users note that it fully justified its cost and, in addition, raised the reputation of the manufacturing company.
Even if you neverworked with such devices before, the kit comes with a brochure that fully describes what the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet can do. This instruction is extremely simple, thanks to it you will be able to monitor your he alth immediately after purchase.
Also, the indisputable advantages include motivating and stimulating a person to move. So, in the reviews, many buyers note that they really began to walk more, hoping that they would be able to “beat” their previous records. And of course, the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet will help them with this.
Reviews also contain reproaches regarding some of the "defects" of the manufacturer, which I would also like to mention in the article.
Flaws
First of all, they include the lack of translation into an understandable language. Many reviews complain about this, although in fact the problem has already been fixed - applications for a bracelet written in Russian have appeared on the Internet. Earlier, immediately after the start of sales, the gadget was indeed offered exclusively with a Chinese interface. It is easy to guess that because of this, the user experienced a lot of inconvenience. Problem solved now.
There are still some minor drawbacks like a quiet speaker for an alarm clock, an uncomfortable (for someone) strap or lack of support for working with Bluetooth 3.0. Describing the gadget, many reviews also mention other points, but, in our opinion, they are not so important to mention if we characterize the Xiaomi Mi Band bracelet. These reviews, by the way, are not so numerous.
Conclusions
What can be said aboutdescribed bracelet as a result? If we look at the competing models, the difference in cost will be really striking: the price is what the developers have relied on in the first place. In some way, Xiaomi managed to reduce the cost of the gadget, due to which the device became available to a much wider range of customers. Thanks to this, the Xiaomi Mi Band fitness bracelet is sold in such large volumes.
The second point is the quality. In contrast to the standard tactic of Chinese manufacturers to reduce the cost due to the terrible quality of the product, Xiaomi approached the issue of developing its bracelet, apparently, from the other side. The company made it possible to use a really high-quality device that not only meets, but exceeds all the expectations of the buyer. And this means that the person who purchased such a device is really satisfied with his purchase. This means that he will advise his acquaintances, colleagues and friends to take the same thing - and such tactics, in the end, will work better than any advertisement. Perhaps this is what the bet was made on.
And now the company continues to develop a new generation of fitness tracker. If at the time of this writing only two modifications of the Mi Band were available, then let's hope that in 2016 Xiaomi will delight the entire technological world with new products.
