Xiaomi Mi Band 3i - India reinvents Spanish wax

Is the Mi Band 3i a typical case of another skin being pulled, or was the Indian company just trying to fill another gap in the market? Let's not be too critical, but it would be nice to know the reasons behind the decision.

https://www.facebook.com/XiaomiIndia/videos/1296708127201157/

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is already a well-known wearable fitness device, with millions of units sold worldwide, making it a worthy successor to the series. Although the Mi Band 4 released in India on 17 September this year, probably did not deliver the numbers that were expected of it. Perhaps that's why they decided to put a Xiaomi product in the hands of more Indians with a cheaper version of the Mi Band 3.

The Mi Band 3i looks exactly like its predecessor, with no changes on the outside. However, it is missing one piece of hardware: the heart rate monitor. As a result, the software is also missing, as are the functions associated with it. Just like the Mi Band 2 with the HRX edition.

The other difference is price, because less hardware means less value. While in India, the regular Mi Band 3 costs INR 1,799 (~$7,550), the Mi Band 3i costs only INR 1,299 (~$5,450). But with a registration on RunWithMi.com, initiated by Xiaomi India, local athletes can get a bracelet for free if they complete a 3km walk or 5km run. Of course, the bracelet is not free for a registration fee...