The first half of Xiaomi's big 2021 product launch is over, which you could follow along with us on our Facebook page, and on our YouTube channel. As it turns out, the event continues today, same time, same place, but let's not get ahead of ourselves, let's talk about what's already been released - well, less than a year later, and already here's the successor to the Mi Band 5, the Mi Smart Band 6.
What's new?
1 a 3
Full screen display
Display
The display is bigger this time, much bigger, but the band size is unchanged from last year. This has been achieved by making the display 'full-screen', so it fills most of the front of the bracelet, just like the 'full-screen' phones.
What this means in practice is that it's easier to read and navigate between menu items, and you can control the activity meter using the gesture controls you're used to with MIUI.
The brightness remains at 450 nits, but what's new is that the "full screen" experience just mentioned has been replaced by gesture control, rather than touch buttons.
With over 130 accounts in China and over 60 in the world, this is sure to grow with the community. Watch our video on installing third-party accounts you can view it here.
Measurement of blood oxygen levels
It was in the Amazfit Band 5, so it would have been odd to have missed it, although, there was one that ended up missing, but more on that later. As well as being able to measure blood oxygen levels, it also takes sleep monitoring to a new level, using this sensor to more accurately determine sleep quality (sleep breathing monitoring)
New sports
New Mi Band, new sports modes. 30 in total, a big improvement on the previous 11. There's a sport mode for everyone, and 6 of them are automatic, so you don't have to select them from the menu, the bracelet detects when you're walking or cycling and asks if it's monitoring your activity, just like we saw last year with Mi Band 5. I'm reporting below, there's ping-pong!
What you missed
We've been waiting for years, but it's not coming, and this year will be no different: we don't get NFC in the global version, nor voice control, and there's no built-in GPS - for these features we'll still have to go with the Amazfit watches (except for NFC, because there's none there either). But given the Hungarian situation, this is no tragedy. No doubt there are developments, we will see what the next year or period brings.
And the fact that there is one less listening device may not affect anyone too deeply, a voice assistant can be useful, but it is not a tragedy if Alexa remains for Amazfit owners.
What we didn't tell you has probably not changed, so if you're not familiar with last year's Mi Band, our test of it you can catch up here.
Prices, appearance
In China, the NFC-free version costs around $35, the NFC version a little more at $43.
The Global version, so the Mi Smart Band 6 (I still don't understand why they add a Smart to the name global, but whatever :D ), is 44.99 euros, no, not 45, 44.99.
In crisp Hungarian money, that's about 16,000, but don't expect to pay less than 20,000 forints.
What do you think?
Is the new Mi Band good? Is it worth switching from a 5 or a 4? What do you like, what do you like less? What do you miss? Write your opinion in the comments!
The series of presentations continues!
There's more where that came from! If you don't want to miss the second part of Xiaomi's big big 2021 Spring Product Launch, follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our YouTube channel. We'll continue at 13.30!
