The Xiaomi Mi Band 5 has already been presented in China, and it seems like one of the wearable fashion accessories for this summer. We are still waiting for news about its Spain marketing plans, but luckily we know everything about this new bracelet, including its new compatibility requirements.
The Mi Band 5 comes with some improvements that we have seen previously on our site, but there is something that remains unchanged model after model: dependence on our mobile. The Mi Band 5 loses its meaning if it does not have a linked mobile on which to dump the registered data, which are displayed in the Mi Fit app.
Mi Band 5: compatible with less mobiles
But with the new Mi Band 5, Xiaomi has tightened the compatibility requirements a little more, although it is clear that most users will have no problem working with it. However, there are many users who go out to walk or run with an old mobile and their Mi Band, in order to avoid possible accidents with their first terminal. Now, the number of veteran terminals with which the bracelet is compatible has been reduced, although this is not the only weak point of the bracelet, as we have already seen.
iOS version
The Mi Band 5, like its previous generations, is still compatible with the Android and iOS operating systems for Apple iPhones. However, in the case of the Cupertino operating system, the Mi Band 5 is compatible with iPhones updated to at least iOS 10 or a later version, while the Mi Band 4 accepts devices with iOS 9. This means that it is compatible with all the iPhone from the iPhone 5, in addition of course to other veteran terminals such as the iPhone 6. It is therefore left out, the iPhone 4S and earlier, which were previously compatible with the Mi Band.
Android version
In the case of Android, Xiaomi has also reduced the number of mobile phones compatible with the Mi Band 5. Now, the pairing will be carried out without problem on mobiles that have Android version 5.0 or higher . The Mi Band 4 was compatible with Android phones since version 4.4, which is another difference between both bracelets. This also leaves out many old Bluetooth phones that many use to go out with the bracelet.
What is the reason
Reducing the compatibility of the bracelet responds to a logical advance. As operating systems evolve their version, support for older versions is being abandoned. In addition, new technologies are being integrated in sections such as connectivity, such as NFC or new Bluetooth standards, which can offer problems with outdated operating systems. To this we must add the cost to Xiaomi of maintaining the support of its Mi Fit application and the bracelet, for versions of Android and iOS that are in danger of extinction, as there are fewer and fewer mobiles working every day with those older versions .
