Since the beginning of budget fitness tracker, Xiaomi has its gen 1 release back in the summer of 2014 although it was only basic fitness tracker but still it has a extraordinary battery life and super low price. It successor the Mi Band 2 equipped with a screen and with watch function. After the Mi Band 2 came the Mi Band 3 packed with OLED screen touch screen, heart -rate scanner, app notification and many more.
The Mi Band 3 is the best fitness tracker so far, by having a larger display, improve waterproofing and a higher capacity battery and also able to read messages from the screen itself.
SPECIFICATION
- 0.78″ PMOLED capacitive touchscreen
- Continuous heart rate sensor
- IP67 rated, waterproof to 50m
- Black silicone band (adjustable from 155-216mm), and proprietary USB charging cable included
- Total weight: 20g, including the standard band
- $35.99 from GearBest
The larger screen of 0.78-inch OLED(128×80 resolution) is truly very useful for much function than its predecessor. The Mi Band 3 now has notifications that are more specific and weather updates. However, the screen not as responsive as expected. With the larger screen now, Mi Band 3 are able to utilize the screen to it full. You may able to scroll through various screen on the band itself including the steps, weather, and incoming notifications. The small dent at the bottom works as the home button or long press use the function on each page of the band such as long press to monitor heart rate without using the phone.
The hardware is just part of the what Xiaomi Band 3 can do for you, the app is the brain where it combines and perfected both the Mi Band 3 and its full function. The app Mi Fit is a free app and connected via Bluetooth with the Mi Band 3. Although is may not have lots insights as the FitBit or Garmin, but you are getting what you are needed for this price.
Battery Life
The Mi Band 3 can last about over a week with its full charge of the 110mAh battery. It took 3 hours to fully charge the band and it will last you for more than 1 week.
What can you use it for?
Fitness Tracking
Your daily steps are recorded once you walk or run with the Mi Band 3 on your hand. The band tracks your light walking, standing, and light activities, all these activities are recorded automatically. For specified activity tracking, you may need to use the app to start the session.
- Outdoor running
- Treadmill running
- Cycling
- Walking
Heart Rate Monitoring
At the back of the band which is facing towards the wrist of the user, an optical sensor is used on the Mi Band 3, it will then track your heart rate during fitness activities and during sleep (if you are wearing during your sleep). It can be set to monitor at the interval of 1,10, or 30 minutes throughout the day.
However user may experience of failure of the heart rate sensor sometimes, it is recommend to have the band tight on hand to prevent any failure. If the band is too loose, the sensor may not pick up any heart rate.
App Notifications
With the larger screen from Mi Band 3, it is certainly an extra bonus to read notifications instead of just showing the app icon on the band like the Mi Band 2. But the downside is that it only can fit so much with the somehow limited space of the screen, it’s larger but still no larger enough. Longer message will then be cut away, but who cares, you are going to read it on the phone anyway. The notification just to let you now roughly who sent you a message.
Verdict
For most of the people that wanted a fitness tracker at at budget, the Mi Band 3 is the choice regarding its functionality and price. The battery life is good and you only need to charge it once a week or maybe a week and a half. Although the Mi Band 3 was sent in Chinese, however it was switch to English after the latest firmware update. It is truly an ultimate budget wearable and can doubles as a watch.
Buy From GearBest- $35.99
