Xiaomi Mi Band, the pioneer of affordable activity trackers, has come a long way. At first, the series without even a display (it gained one with the Mi Band 2 in 2016) or a heart rate sensor was as simple a device as possible.

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 review

Now in its 9th generation, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 comes with a 1200 nits display with Always On function, a quality heart rate sensor (which Xiaomi says is 16% more accurate than version 8) and a new linear vibration motor for better haptic feedback. Compared to the 8th series, the new band has a bigger battery and a brighter display.

What’s missing?Built-in GPS. You’d usually have to get a Pro model with a bigger screen for that, but Xiaomi has yet to announce the 9th generation version – probably soon.The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is available in four colors – pink, black, white and blue – and retails for 40 euros for the non-NFC model. It comes with its own special magnetic charging cable.

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You can also buy a Smart Band 9 running clip for 10 euros and a dual-tone leather strap for 25 euros.Note that if you have a Xiaomi Smart Band 8 and upgraded to the Smart Band 9 with a running clip, you will also need to get the new running clip due to the small size differences between the two trackers.We tested running with the Smart Band 9 on our shoes and on our wrist and found a deviation of less than 5%. However, it wasn’t ideal not to have the band on your wrist to periodically check your heart rate and pace. Xiaomi sells a number of different straps depending on the market – you can choose from silicone, leather, metal and even magnetic straps.Or you can find a third-party option online – you really do have a lot of options.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is made of metal (though there is also a special ceramic version) and weighs just 15.8 grams without a strap.It has a 5 ATM water resistance rating (50 meters).The design is unchanged from the previous version and you get the same 1.62-inch screen diagonal with a resolution of 192×490 pixels, but the panel is twice as bright with 1,200 nits.

This is a welcome improvement – the panel is easy to read in bright sunlight during the day and serves as a much more useful flashlight in the dark. On the back of the Smart Band 9 is an optical heart rate sensor that Xiaomi says is 16% more accurate than its predecessor. It can monitor stress and SpO2 (aka blood oxygen saturation) through breathing exercises. There’s also an accelerometer and gyroscope for motion tracking and an ambient light sensor for the display.

The TPU strap is easy to put on – just snap it into place. To remove it, press the release lever on the underside of the band. Putting the strap on your wrist isn’t the easiest thing and it only fits well when it’s secured tightly – loose means the band will move around your wrist, which isn’t the most comfortable experience. The screen is very good. We left it on auto brightness and it managed to stay consistently readable in all lighting conditions. It doesn’t have any anti-reflective coating, but it’s bright enough to be easily visible outdoors.

There are 11 pre-installed watch faces to choose from and an endless catalog of third-party watch faces to download. Despite the narrow and tall aspect ratio, you can easily find a face that suits your needs. This editor wanted a large time, date, and battery indicator, and there was no shortage of options.

For every watch face we tested, there is an always-on display mode that can be customized. By default, it’s set to Smart, which will turn off AOD when you’re not wearing the band or when you’re sleeping. Xiaomi Smart Band 9 uses the Mi Fitness app. ‘Mi’ is a strange relic from Xiaomi’s past life – nowadays all of the company’s products give up the Mi moniker.