Xiaomi Watch 2 Review: Why Pay More?

How a lot must you spend on a smartwatch? 

There are tons of low cost choices on the market, however if you would like Android compatibility and entry to third-party apps, the reply is normally loads. 

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 6 is among the least expensive Put on OS watches on the market with a £289/$299.99 beginning worth, whereas the Pixel Watch 2 (£349/$349), Galaxy Watch 6 Basic (£369/$399.99), OnePlus Watch 2 (£299/$299) and Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5 (£329.99/$349.99) are all costlier. 

Presently, the very best reasonably priced possibility is Xiaomi’s Watch 2 Professional, which begins at simply £239.99. However the non-Professional model takes issues to the following degree. For simply £169.99, the one issues you really want to surrender are a stainless-steel body and mobile connectivity.

Does that make the Xiaomi Watch 2 a no brainer in case you’re searching for an reasonably priced smartwatch? Sadly, as intensive testing exhibits, not fairly, but it surely’s nonetheless a strong possibility in some ways. 

Nevertheless, as common, neither Xiaomi watches can be found within the US.

Design & Construct

• Premium aluminium and sophistication design
• Comparatively light-weight
• 5ATM water resistance

Xiaomi is on to a winner with the design of the Watch 2. It’s slightly plain, with small clock indicators on the bezel across the display screen the one splash of persona, however I don’t thoughts that. 

This minimalist look (within the black you see right here or silver) makes it appropriate for any event, and you may simply swap issues up on the subject of the straps. The versatile TPU one included within the field is nice for figuring out, however not significantly comfy for on a regular basis utilization.  

Nevertheless, it’s simple to swap out for Xiaomi’s official leather-based or braided straps, which had been rather more to my liking. In actual fact, any 22mm band needs to be appropriate, so there are virtually infinite potentialities for customisation. 

The construct high quality is a slight step down from the Watch 2 Professional, with Xiaomi choosing an aluminium body moderately than chrome steel. But it surely nonetheless seems to be and feels premium, and I want the lighter 36.8g chassis.  

All the opposite dimensions are virtually the identical (47.6 x 45.9 x 11.8mm), so the Watch 2 continues to be a chunky smartwatch. Even with a snug band, I couldn’t ever neglect it was there and didn’t take pleasure in sporting it whereas sleeping. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

The bezel across the 1.43-inch display screen seems to be good, however doesn’t rotate like on some smartwatches. Your solely options to the touch are two bodily buttons on the precise facet, although they’re very simple to make use of and customise, so it doesn’t really feel such as you’re lacking out. 

Regardless of the shift to an aluminium construct, the Watch 2 nonetheless feels very sturdy. I wasn’t apprehensive concerning the display screen getting broken both, even with none safety from the flat bezel or a selected Gorilla Glass for toughness.  

The watch additionally advantages from 5ATM water resistance, that means it may face up to strain equal to round 50m underwater. Most individuals gained’t take it to these extremes, however you don’t have to fret about it within the swimming pool or bathe. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Display screen & Audio

• 1.43-inch AMOLED display screen
• Identical as on Watch 2 Professional
• Respectable speaker and microphone

The Xiaomi Watch 2 has the very same show because the Watch 2 Professional, which is nice information. That is undoubtedly one of many most interesting screens you’ll discover on any smartwatch, although you’ll have to be a fan of a bigger show. 

At 1.43-inches, it’s in no way compact, which can put some individuals off. Nevertheless, the 466 x 466 decision is excessive for a display screen of this measurement and means readability is superb in all circumstances. That features direct daylight, with the show in a position to get lots vibrant sufficient. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

It’s additionally an OLED panel, so that you get the same old mixture of vibrant, vivid colors and wealthy, deep blacks. I actually can’t fault the show on the Watch 2. 

I’m additionally happy to see audio {hardware} constructed into the watch. The built-in speaker is nothing particular, however sacrifices virtually all bass in favour of readability, which I feel is the precise transfer on such a small machine. Nevertheless, I do want the utmost quantity was greater. 

In fact, the Google Assistant assist depends on the built-in microphone. It may be slightly present to recognise what you’re saying at instances, however accuracy was wonderful. If you wish to take calls instantly on the watch, the opposite individual will be capable of hear you with none points.

Specs & Efficiency

• Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 chipset
• 2GB RAM
• Stable all-round efficiency
• No mobile possibility

Underneath the hood, the Xiaomi Watch 2 is powered by the Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 processor, which stays Qualcomm’s newest and biggest for smartwatches.  

The resultant efficiency is excellent, and in step with virtually all flagship Put on OS watches, but it surely gained’t blow you away. Simply 2GB of RAM means it may really feel slightly sluggish at instances, and it’s sluggish to grow to be absolutely responsive after being switched on which may very well be a ache in case you’re hurriedly leaving the home. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Nevertheless, that is nothing we haven’t seen earlier than, together with from many costlier watches.

The Watch 2 is highly effective sufficient for straightforward day-to-day utilization, which is a very powerful factor. In the end, to seek out one thing that feels completely easy, you most likely should ditch Put on OS. 

The one factor you do miss out on right here in comparison with the Watch 2 Professional is the choice for mobile connectivity. With solely Wi-Fi, you’ll must be linked to your cellphone to obtain calls and notifications, but it surely nonetheless works as a standalone machine for monitoring exercises with the built-in GPS. 

That connection to your cellphone is through Bluetooth 5.2, which maintained a dependable connection all through my testing time. 

And 32GB of on-device storage is lots for most individuals. You’ll be able to obtain just a few playlists, podcasts and audiobooks and nonetheless have greater than sufficient room left. 

Software program & Options

• Put on OS 3.5
• Slick and straightforward to make use of, however Google Maps is irritating
• Unclear replace schedule

Out of the field, the Xiaomi Watch 2 runs Put on OS 3.5. Frustratingly, there’s nonetheless no phrase on when it’d get the replace to Put on OS 4, regardless of it being launched by Google in 2023.

It’s additionally unclear how lengthy Xiaomi plans to assist the look ahead to with software program updates. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Nonetheless, there’s nonetheless loads to love right here. Xiaomi’s tweaks to the same old Put on OS expertise are restricted to a number of of its personal apps, and in contrast to on its smartphones, none of them are annoying.

In actual fact, I most well-liked Xiaomi’s apps for health, well being monitoring and sleep to the Google equivalents, all of which can be found through the Play Retailer. 

One app you gained’t discover a Xiaomi model of is Google Maps, although I’m not satisfied by its implementation right here. Even on Wi-Fi, it’s completely reliant in your cellphone to begin navigation, which doesn’t all the time set off correctly. And the turn-by-turn instructions are typically unclear, that means I needed to squint on the tiny on-screen map as a substitute. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

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Equally, Google Pay (through NFC) may be very handy however requires an annoying display screen lock to work. 

The collection of third-party apps obtainable is smaller than on the Apple Watch, but it surely’s nonetheless the very best different in case you don’t need an iPhone. The likes of WhatsApp, Audible, Amazon Music (Spotify and YouTube Music additionally obtainable) and the meditation app Calm all run very properly, and extra are being added on a regular basis.  

As for the final navigation expertise, it’s about as slick as you’ll get on a watch. From the principle watch face (which may simply be customised through a press and maintain), a swipe up reveals fast settings and swipe down exhibits notifications – the other of the Pixel Watch.

Swipe left or proper to maneuver between widgets, or entry a variety of key capabilities through the bodily buttons on the precise facet. 

The highest one means that you can shortly entry the app drawer (one press), see latest apps (double press) or set off the Google Assistant (press and maintain). The underside one opens your most up-to-date app (one press), Google Pay (double press) or energy choices (press and maintain). These will be customised, however the defaults are simple to be taught and really feel intuitive. 

Health & Monitoring

• Help for over 160 exercises
• Unreliable coronary heart price knowledge
• Respectable sleep monitoring

Like virtually all fashionable smartwatches, the Xiaomi Watch 2 is primarily a well being and health machine. 

It has no fewer than six devoted sensors: coronary heart price, blood oxygen, compass, accelerometer (to trace motion and distance coated), gyroscope (for display screen rotation and extra correct motion) and barometer (for atmospheric strain).

It’s a complete suite and permits a variety of health-related knowledge to be collected. However how good is it? 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Let’s begin with exercises. The Watch 2 can monitor greater than 160 various kinds of train, together with numerous pre-defined programs. Nevertheless, the precise knowledge you get varies significantly when it comes to accuracy and usefulness. 

With no computerized exercise monitoring, you’ll have to begin each manually. I did this for 3 various kinds of exercises, and swimming was undoubtedly my favorite. 

Not solely was the watch extra comfy to put on within the pool than on dry land, however the degree of knowledge it supplied was spectacular. It recognised my essential stroke and size of the pool, then gave me an in depth overview of tempo, stroke price and SWOLF (an general measure of effectivity). 

As with all kinds of exercise, it was simple to set a objective (time or distance) and be notified once I reached it.  

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Nevertheless, the swim monitoring isn’t significantly reliant on coronary heart price knowledge, which I discovered to be the weakest side of the Watch 2. A 20-minute run produced a great deal of helpful knowledge (albeit with no clear explanations why it was vital), however I couldn’t belief the BPM scores it was displaying me. 

Even throughout a run, I observed the studying on the watch bounce round loads, regardless of the same degree of exertion. Whereas I don’t have absolutely correct knowledge to check it to, this didn’t appear proper.  The discrepancies had been much more dramatic whereas strolling, which noticed my coronary heart price bounce from 85 to 150 after which slowly again down once more. I wasn’t even strolling that shortly. 

These issues might probably be prevented by tightening the watch strap, however I feel anybody would discover that clamping of their wrist to be very uncomfortable. Nevertheless, except you do this, you possibly can’t fully belief the guts price knowledge. 

Given its reliance in your coronary heart price, I used to be involved that sleep monitoring would endure badly. And whereas I can’t make sure of the accuracy, the general ‘sleep rating’ appeared to largely match how I felt the night time went. 

This metric makes use of a mix of the full time you had been asleep and the way lengthy you spent in every of the three essential phases (mild, deep, REM) to provide you a rating out of 100. The recommendation on enhancing it’s moderately generic, although. 

In the event you allow superior monitoring, the Watch 2 may monitor your blood oxygen ranges to offer a ‘respiratory rating’. Respiratory points will be linked to circumstances equivalent to sleep apnea, so it’s helpful to know. 

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

After sporting the Watch 2 to mattress for 7 nights, you’ll even be assigned a ‘sleep animal’ which your sleep model is supposedly intently matched to. 

Battery Life & Charging

• 495mAh battery
• Disappointing, one-day battery life
• Quick charging

Poor battery life is one thing that impacts many Put on OS watches. However there are outliers in case you look exhausting sufficient, such because the OnePlus Watch 2 and Xiaomi’s personal Watch S3, although that runs on HyperOS as a substitute. So, can the Xiaomi Watch 2 take into account battery life a power? 

Sadly not. In actual fact, poor battery life is among the essential causes to not purchase the Watch 2.

It has the identical 495mAh battery because the Watch 2 Professional, which is a good capability on paper, however I nonetheless solely nearly made it by means of in the future on a full cost.  

Anyron Copeman / Foundry

In the event you plan to trace a exercise and your sleep, there’s an actual probability it’ll run out of cost earlier than you get up the following morning, resulting in incomplete knowledge. 

Xiaomi claims as much as 65 hours of battery life, however that’s presumably with brightness stored low and key settings equivalent to GPS turned off. Principally, to get good battery life from the Watch 2, you’ll should both barely use it throughout the day or make do with out some options. Each are removed from excellent. 

Nevertheless, one redeeming high quality is that charging is so quick. Xiaomi makes use of a proprietary magnetic charger with USB-A, and it went from 0-100% in just below 35 minutes. In the event you want a fast top-up, it reached 54% in simply quarter-hour. 

Worth & Availability

Given every little thing you’re getting right here, the Xiaomi Watch 2 is impressively reasonably priced.  

It prices simply £169.99 from the Xiaomi UK website. As with all Xiaomi merchandise, it’s unavailable within the US, however you would possibly be capable of import one. 

Nonetheless, it’s very competitively priced. The Xiaomi Watch 2 is considerably cheaper than the Watch 2 Professional (£239.99), which itself prices lower than the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (£289/$299.99), OnePlus Watch 2 (£299/$299), Mobvoi TicWatch Professional 5 (£329.99/$349.99), Google Pixel Watch 2 (£349/$349) and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Basic (£369/$399.99).  

Basically, if you would like a reliable Put on OS smartwatch, it doesn’t actually get cheaper than this. See extra options in our information to the very best smartwatches. 

Do you have to purchase the Xiaomi Watch 2?

Presumably, however provided that you possibly can put up with its two main flaws: poor coronary heart price monitoring and underwhelming battery life. 

The Xiaomi Watch 2 has obtained loads going for it, from close to flagship-level efficiency to a wonderful 1.43-inch show. Google’s Put on OS software program runs very easily general, providing entry to Google and different third-party apps that you just don’t normally get on an inexpensive smartwatch. 

Tons of exercises and sleep will be tracked (although not mechanically), and there’s a formidable quantity of knowledge obtainable through the intuitive companion app. I simply want I might belief all the outcomes I used to be offered with – a lot of it depends on coronary heart price knowledge. 

In the event you like a watch to suit snugly to your wrist and don’t thoughts charging it recurrently, the Watch 2 is an effective alternative – particularly at this worth. But when that’s not the case, you’re higher off spending only a bit extra for a greater all-round expertise. 

Specs

• 1.43-inch, 466×466 (46mm) round AMOLED always-on show   
• Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 processor   
• 2GB RAM   
• 32GB storage   
• Put on OS 3.5  
• Bluetooth 5.2  
• NFC   
• GPS   
• Wi-Fi   
• Microphone   
• Speaker   
• Coronary heart price sensor  
• Blood oxygen sensor  
• Barometer  
• Accelerometer  
• Gyroscope  
• Compass  
• Google Assistant  
• Google Pay  
• Help for 150+ exercises  
• Sleep monitoring  
• 5ATM water resistance  
• Wi-fi charging   
• 495mAh battery  
• 47.6 x 45.9 x 11.8 mm (46mm case)  
• Colors: Black, Silver  
• Suitable with Android 8.0 or greater