History and evolution of the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band

Among the accessories that are most present in the technology industry, we come across Xiaomi activity bracelets. The Mi Band have been references and mirrors where the competitors look for years, which leads us to know in depth everything that surrounds the history of this complement.

Xiaomi’s success has in part been thanks to the smart band, since it helped it earn a place in each house. The low prices that define the Chinese firm are not lacking in this product, which has reached Spain but also all corners of the planet earth, exceeding the barrier of 13 million units sold.

History and evolution of the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band

The different generations

To know the evolution of the Mi Band we have to put our sights on what each one of them offered and continues to give us. Some changes in which functions have been added and the design changed to give the best of itself.

Mi Band, the beginning

July 22, 2014 was recorded as a key day in technology and especially for Xiaomi. In a collaboration with the firm Huami, they launched the first Mi Band (without number) , the first activity bracelet that other manufacturers would soon imitate. It might seem like a somewhat unnecessary device, but it was not long before it became popular within China.

mi band 1

In Spain it arrived later for a price of around 18 euros, although many went ahead and got it from external sellers. The strengths of this model were none other than a battery of up to 30 days, pairing with the mobile and the function of measuring sleep and sports activities. A bracelet that now attracts attention for having only three small LED lights that only gave information about the battery.

Mi Band 1s, the expansion

Without changes in the design the Mi Band 1s continued a year later in 2015 what had been a first step in the market. In this case the price increased to 20 euros in Spain now offering a heart rate sensor to control the pulsations.

mi band 1s colores

That feature and better integration with the mobile app allowed more people to want to get hold of it. Its arrival on the market in Spain continued to be mainly through stores that imported it, but its interest had been raised and Amazon or other specialized stores also brought it. Now there were also interchangeable straps with colors that multiplied the appeal.

Mi Band 2, the screen arrives

Again a year later in 2016 Xiaomi presented the Mi Band 2 with a 0.42-inch OLED screen. It also brought a small touch button to navigate without gestures through the menus and to be able to consult data such as the battery percentage, steps, notifications or calories burned.

mi band 2

A bracelet that arrived fully in Spain for a price that was around 20 euros again. It maintained functions such as heart rate and sleep measurement, in addition to IP67 protection to protect it from splashes and the shower, as well as a 30-day battery. However, its great novelty was also its biggest problem, since the screen had a low brightness that did not convince everyone and that also decreased over the months.

My Band 3, even better

The new wearable arrived in 2018, leaving more time in between to work on this new version that I wanted to convince and not disappoint. In this case, the way forward was the same, focusing all the tension on the screen, to now offer a touch button that allowed gestures to choose where to move. Where the screen also grew to reach 0.75 inches.

mi band 3

His focus on sports was also important, since IP68 protection was used to be able to submerge with it in the water without fear. All these changes were accompanied by a notable price increase, with Xiaomi already present in Spain. For 29 euros we can get it and from it read mobile notifications and now enjoy up to 20 days of battery life, slightly less than what it offered before.

But the software also introduced other changes, such as the ability to see the weather in our location thanks to the Bluetooth link with the mobile, create reminders or choose sports goals.

My Smart Band 4, the color arrives

The only thing that could be missing from the bracelet in broad strokes was a color screen and with the Mi Band 4 it became a reality together with the slight modification in the official name. A year where beyond the change in the screen to offer this advantage and in software there were no other integrations. It evolved notably improving the results when doing sports with it thanks to the fact that it will allow activating an activity with GPS from the screen itself as long as the mobile is linked.

mi band 4 colores pantalla

The button on the screen was still present in a tactile way, but the gestures reached the entire screen. Keeping all the extras seen above, a 20-day battery and the possibility of controlling the music from the bracelet or even using it as a remote control of the camera. Personalization began to show the paw, allowing to choose covers on the bracelet . A transformation that led to its increase in Spain to 35 euros.

Mi Smart Band 5, more screen

The problems of the past had to be buried and the Mi Band 5 sought to be perfect to close 2020. In this generation the screen grew to 1.1 inches, boosting the brightness with 150 nits. And possibly the most desired change that arrived like rain in May was the new magnetic charger that avoided having to remove the capsule from the bracelet and thus we all gained in comfort.

mi band 5 colores

On-screen gestures were still present, but the fluidity had changed noticeably and now with the redesign of the software, seeing notifications on the screen was easier. Sports modalities multiplied and customization, as well as the options from My Fit continued to grow. A version that we could define as practically ideal. However, the official battery was redeemed up to 14 days. Its price on the other hand fell to be again as economical as we all wanted, with a price of 24.99 euros.

Mi Smart Band 6, professional level

In mid-2021 we met the Mi Band 6, a bracelet that, as in recent times, focused on continuing to improve specific aspects and adding software-based functions. In this case with an even larger screen of 1.56 inches to eliminate that lower button that had lost its meaning. This time with the advantage of also controlling the oxygen saturation in the blood.

More customization from the app by integrating the option to use our own photos, 30 sports on the wrist and automatic recognition of activities. But all this with an important, but the price rose to 39.99 euros.

A few months later, specifically in September, a Xiaomi event officially brought the Mi Band 6 with NFC to Spain. A sports bracelet that included the advantage of being able to make payments with it thanks to the collaboration of Mastercard.

Amazfit, the rival is at home

The story seems to have done nothing more than start around smart bracelets, since now Xiaomi’s greatest ally to develop bracelets, has begun to show its teeth. Huami is the company that owns Amazfit, who have developed together with Xiaomi all the Mi Band that we have known.

amazfit band 5

However, in 2020 the brand officially presented the Amazfit Band 5 in Spain, a bracelet that wanted to demonstrate its advantages. A bracelet practically identical to the Mi Band 5, but with some extras with which to show your chest. Among them the integration of Alexa to control the home automation of our home and the oxygen saturation in the blood that Xiaomi later adopted.

My Fit and its obligatory evolution

Although the bracelet is undoubtedly the main protagonist, we must not forget its ally, the mobile. From it we have configured notifications, menus and preferences thanks to the faithful Mi Fit application that has been with us since the first version.

mi fit app smart band xiaomi

Little by little the app has been updated to allow us to do more with it, although its news has really been coming with a dropper . The bracelet is the one that has set the pace and the development of the software on our mobile has only been concerned with complying with what is necessary without offering us a revolution.

From it we can control our health or start activities based on the GPS, as well as the configuration options. Beyond that, the only notable change would be the customization of covers for the Mi Smart Band. Where there are no differences is the Zepp, the application that Amazfit uses to give life to its bracelet and is that although the graphics change slightly, they are sisters.