Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro

A fitness tracker that does almost everything a smartwatch does, at a fraction of the price. That, in short, is the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro. Xiaomi hasn't reinvented the whole thing, but improved what really matters: the screen, the heart rate tracking and the sleep analysis. The battery? Still lasts up to three weeks.

Readable, even in full sunlight

The 1.74-inch AMOLED screen reaches a brightness of up to 2000 nits, nearly double the previous generation. In practice, that means you can read your pace during a sunny afternoon run without shielding the screen with your hand. The 480 x 336 pixel resolution keeps numbers and graphs sharp, the curved 2.5D glass feels smooth when swiping, and with always-on you see the time without turning your wrist.

Measurements you can actually use

The heart rate sensor has been completely redesigned and works with two light sources and two sensors. According to Xiaomi, that delivers accuracy of up to 98.2%, precisely during interval training, where many trackers fall short. Your blood oxygen is monitored, and even underwater while swimming, heart rate tracking simply carries on.

The most interesting improvement may well be at night. In addition to the usual sleep stages, which the updated algorithm registers far more precisely, the band now also measures your heart rate variability (HRV) while you sleep. Sounds technical, but it comes down to this: in the morning you can see whether your body has recovered, or whether that tough workout is better postponed a day.

Phone at home? No problem.

The Band 10 Pro has its own satellite reception via five systems (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS). Your running, walking and cycling routes are recorded even when your phone is on the kitchen table. Riding with a bike computer? Via Bluetooth, the band sends your heart rate straight to it. There are over 150 sports modes in total, from pool laps to mountain hiking.

Charging is the exception

With light use, the 350 mAh battery lasts up to 21 days. Use GPS and sleep tracking a lot and that gets shorter, but even then you'll reach for the magnetic charger only a few times a month. And it's topped up in no time.

Thin enough to forget

At 9.7 mm and 21.6 grams, this is the slimmest Pro band yet. You barely feel it, even at night. Which is handy, since that's exactly when it needs to track your sleep. The aluminium frame comes in black, silver and pink, and swapping straps takes seconds. Want a little extra, then there's a ceramic edition in pearl white with a matching fluoro-rubber strap. The updated vibration motor gives a short, precise tap with every notification instead of a vague buzz.

Swimming is fine

Water-resistant to 5 ATM, meaning pressure comparable to a depth of 50 metres. There are separate modes for the pool and for open water, and showering after your workout with the band on is no problem.

Works with iPhone and Android

Pairing works via Bluetooth 5.4 with both platforms. A handy detail: you can receive notifications from two phones at once, for instance your work and personal phone. The band also syncs with Apple Health, controls your music and doubles as a remote shutter for your phone's camera.

• 1.74-inch AMOLED screen, up to 2000 nits
• Redesigned heart rate sensor, accuracy up to 98.2%
• Sleep analysis with HRV tracking for insight into your recovery
• Built-in GPS, so you can train without your phone
• Over 150 sports modes, water-resistant to 5 ATM
• Battery up to 21 days
  
  

Order the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro online now. Ordered on working days before 8 PM = delivered the next working day.