For those who want smartwatch functionality without the bulk, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 offers a compelling solution. This sleek fitness band packs nearly all the essential health-tracking features of a full-fledged smartwatch into a slim, lightweight design—making it ideal for users who prioritize comfort and simplicity.
Key Features and Performance
The Smart Band 9 boasts a 1.62-inch AMOLED display, delivering vibrant visuals in a compact form. Despite its small size, it covers the basics well, including heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, stress analysis, and sleep tracking. With over 150 sports modes, it caters to a wide range of physical activities.
One standout feature is its impressive battery life. Xiaomi claims up to 21 days on a single charge, though real-world usage—especially with continuous monitoring—reduces this to about a week. Still, it outperforms many competitors in endurance.
Where It Falls Short
Unlike premium smartwatches, the Smart Band 9 lacks GPS, a microphone, and a speaker. It also requires manual activation for many tracking features, which higher-end devices often handle automatically. Additionally, its small screen can be challenging to navigate during intense workouts.
Fit can be another issue. Due to its lightweight design, the band sometimes shifts on the wrist, losing skin contact—particularly for users with smaller wrists. Tightening the strap helps, but may not be comfortable for everyone.
Sleep Tracking and Additional Accessories
Sleep tracking is solid but not as detailed as specialized devices like the Oura Ring. It provides basic sleep stage analysis, heart rate, and blood oxygen data—useful for general insights but lacking deeper analytics.
For runners, Xiaomi offers an optional $12 Running Clip that attaches to shoes, enhancing tracking accuracy with metrics like stride length and cadence.
Final Verdict
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is an excellent entry-level fitness tracker, ideal for beginners, teens, or those who prefer a minimalist design. While it doesn’t replace high-end smartwatches, its affordability, long battery life, and core tracking features make it a strong contender in the wearable market.
For users seeking a slightly larger display without sacrificing value, the Amazfit Bip 5—currently priced at $60—is a worthy alternative.
