Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
MSRP $290.00
“If the Google Pixel Watch 2 is too small for you, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is exactly what you’re looking for.”
Pros
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two days battery life
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very fast charging
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Great performance and software
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Big, bold design
Shortcoming
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One case size only
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no ip rating
You know the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for?” Well, I guess that might be true. For the past week, I’ve been wearing the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro. This is much larger than the Google Pixel Watch 2, which is slightly smaller.
The trouble is that it’s really a little huge For my wrist. Yes, I know I’m hard to please, but the more I wear the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, the more it feels like the anti-Pixel Watch 2, and the more I think it’s Google’s comprehensive It’s a worthy alternative to a better – yet extremely beautiful – smartwatch.
Everything about Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, size issues aside, has become one of the best smartwatches of the year. It uses the same Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 platform as the Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5, and it’s an absolute powerhouse. The Pixel Watch 2 uses the Snapdragon W5 chip, where Google chose a different, lower performance co-processor to go with it compared to the higher specification co-processor that comes as standard with the W5+ chip. It really makes a difference because the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is a rocket ship, even compared to the speedy Pixel Watch 2.
It’s great to see more wearables use Qualcomm’s latest range of aptly-named chips, and perhaps even better to see Xiaomi use Google’s Wear OS 3.5 software instead of its own proprietary software for the Watch 2 Pro. Have done. It connects with Xiaomi’s Mi Fitness app, I’ve been using it with a Google Pixel 8, and everything from initial setup to downloading apps has been flawless. The app itself is straightforward and logically laid out, reminding me more of Samsung Health’s approach to data than Fitbit.
The heart rate sensor on the back also monitors blood oxygen and stress levels, plus the watch will measure your body composition, just like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. Is there something missing in the specification? It doesn’t have extensive safety features like fall detection, and there’s no ECG, but there’s onboard GPS, you can program a contact to send alerts in case of an emergency, and there’s also the option to buy a model with an LTE connection. Is. ,
There’s a big 495mAh battery inside, and with the always-on screen and a workout track, it’ll easily last for two days. However, Xiaomi disables blood oxygen and stress monitoring throughout the day by default, and turning these on means the smartwatch will need to be recharged in the evening on the second day if you track both sleep and GPS workouts. Might be possible. Still, it’s a fantastic display, especially considering it’s also driving a large, color screen.
The biggest differences compared to the Pixel Watch 2
Okay, now that we’ve covered the impressive specs, let’s talk about the size. Simply put, everything about the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro Big, On the front is a 1.43-inch screen with 466 x 466 pixel resolution and 600 nits of brightness. It’s wrapped in a massive 47.6 x 45.9mm case that’s 11.8mm thick, making it slightly bigger and thicker than even the 47mm Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic. The design does nothing to hide its overall largeness, as there’s a thick, bold, flat bezel around the screen, and a large crown on the right side with two buttons.
It’s essentially the anti-Pixel Watch 2, embracing its minimalism to such an extent that it doesn’t have any standout design features to give it any character of its own. The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is the opposite, with its bold, black case, oversized crown, and textured edge on the unmatched bezel.
If the Pixel Watch 2 disappears from your wrist, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro announces it with a message. It’s not light either, weighing in at 79 grams with the strap. Unlike the Pixel Watch 2, its size and weight make it uncomfortable for me to wear all day and night.
But like the Pixel Watch 2, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro only comes in one size. It’s huge, or nothing. While I personally prefer the statement-making looks of the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, it hardly looks sensible on my 6.5-inch wrist. This is the same problem I faced with the Pixel Watch 2, just the other way around. Yet neither company gives me the option to try a smaller or larger model, so everyone is stuck with only one option.
Using Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro
This is the third time in 2023 that I have faced this situation, as the Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 5 is also only available in one size, limiting its appeal. But let’s say you’re okay with the size of the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro; What’s it like to use? Is excellent. Xiaomi has added its own interface to Wear OS, and it mirrors its own MIUI interface found on Xiaomi phones with lots of colors, larger fonts, and clear typefaces that make viewing and interacting with the smartwatch easier. Makes it easy. The crown can be rotated to navigate menus, while a long press calls up the Google Assistant. Swipe left or right to view different informational tiles, as well as the option to add several additional tiles to the list.
It took me a little while to get used to one interface difference compared to other Wear OS smartwatches, however, as swiping up on the screen shows quick settings and swiping down shows your notifications. This is unlike most other smartwatches, and I don’t see any functional reason why it would have been changed. But this can be forgiven when the software is so fast, with everything from Google Maps to YouTube Music launching and responding instantly.
The screen sometimes requires a little prodding to register an action, but this mostly happens when the smartwatch has just turned on, and you want to see notifications as they come without having to tap the screen. So raise-to-wake needs to be active. This will drain the battery a little more, as well as activate automatic workout detection. The haptic vibration is subtle but noticeable, though, so sadly there’s no way to change the intensity if you want to make it a little more pronounced.
I like how fast the battery charges. The magnetic puck has two locating pins so it sticks securely to the back of the watch, and in my tests, it usually beats Xiaomi’s promise of recharging in 45 minutes by doing so in just 40 minutes. When you consider that the battery is capable of lasting up to two days in many conditions, the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro never feels like a burden, especially when the powerful chip makes using the software so easy too.
Workout and Health Tracking
The optical heart rate sensor on the back measures heart rate and blood oxygen levels, both of which can remain active throughout the day. It has a skin temperature sensor that also helps in tracking the menstrual cycle. Although it has no ECG feature, it does return body composition measurements. Open the app, touch two buttons at the same time, and after less than 30 seconds, the smartwatch returns data including body fat, muscle mass, water, bone mass, protein, and your BMI. Xiaomi has clarified that this is not medical advice, but it can help track improvements over time. This is arguably a feature that will be more useful to more people than ECG.
There are 150 activities to track, as well as a variety of guided running workout sessions to follow, along with guided relaxation sessions built into the watch’s software. Starting a workout is done through the app or from a dedicated tile, but unfortunately, there’s no obvious way to personalize the tile to show your favorite workouts, and because there are so many, it can take a while to find it. You may not want it to be walking or running. That said, it’s quick and easy to get things going – just keep in mind that Xiaomi also has a voice guidance system that’s active by default, so unless you turn it off, it’ll follow you. The statistics will tell everyone around you.
The case of the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is made of stainless steel, and has the option of either the rubber strap seen in our photos – or a leather version attached to a silver case. It all feels very solid and durable, but there’s no IP rating or military standard certification for toughness, so it comes with 5ATM water resistance which means it’s fine for swimming.
The Mi Fitness app presents its data clearly, and there’s a lot of depth and information. It’s great for casual and semi-serious exercisers, but anyone really interested in running will want to look at a smartwatch like the Garmin Forerunner 265, or multi-sports fans might prefer the Garmin Epics Pro (Gen 2). Are.
A cheaper alternative to Pixel Watch 2
You can probably tell that I’m impressed with the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro, but I haven’t gotten to the best part of it yet. Its price in UK is 240 British pounds i.e. 290 dollars. That’s £110 less than the Google Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 Classic, making it great value for money. Even the LTE version is only 290 pounds, or about $350.
The adoption of Wear OS 3.5, along with improvements over previous versions, makes the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro far more attractive than models with Xiaomi’s proprietary software. Plus, it’s one of the few smartwatches to use the highest-performance Qualcomm chip available for wearables. The fact that it all works so flawlessly and also costs less than the competition makes it extremely exciting.
What a shame that Xiaomi only offers a single case size with the Watch 2 Pro, Pixel Watch 2 and Ticwatch Pro 5, whether you like it or not. When it comes to watches again I won’t say much about why this is short-sighted, as I already have a lot to say about the matter.
But if the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro fits your wrist, it’s available for purchase where you live, and you think the Google Pixel Watch 2 is too small, then it might be the ideal smartwatch for you.
