Published 15:10 IST, November 5th 2019
Xiaomi’s first Mi-branded smartwatch looks a lot like Apple Watch
The biggest highlight of the Mi Watch is possibly the software. The Mi Watch is based on Google’s Wear OS. But like its phones, Xiaomi has skinned it with MIUI.
As expected, Xiaomi launched its first Mi-branded smartwatch, aptly called the Mi Watch, in China on Tuesday alongside the 108MP penta camera-toting Mi CC9 Pro phone. And as expected, the Mi Watch looks a lot like the Apple Watch. Only consolation is, it doesn’t cost as much – which is the point of the whole thing. And it has good hardware, even more so for the price. Xiaomi has launched the Mi Watch in China at a price of CNY 1,299 (roughly Rs 13,000). There’s also a more Premium edition of the Mi Watch that will sell for CNY 1,999 (roughly Rs 20,000).
Xiaomi Mi Watch specs and features
The biggest highlight of the Mi Watch is possibly the software. The Mi Watch is based on Google’s Wear OS. But like its phones, Xiaomi has skinned it heavily with MIUI. The software inside the Mi Watch is called MIUI for Watch. Xiaomi has outfitted the Mi Watch with its own app store so users will be able to download and install apps on it directly without needing a Mi phone. The Mi Watch comes bundled with over 40 apps and Xiaomi is also opening the platform for third-party developers to build more.
Speaking of core specs, the Mi Watch comes with a 1.78-inch AMOLED display with always-on functionality – like the Apple Watch Series 5. Under the hood, the Mi Watch packs a Snapdragon Wear 3100 4G processor paired with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage. The 570mAh battery inside the Mi Watch is claimed to offer up to 36 hours of usage with 4G turned on. Fitness tracking features include heart rate monitoring, swim tracking and more.
The Mi Watch supports e-SIM for cellular connectivity which means that it will be possible to stay connected on it without a tethered smartphone. The Mi Watch also supports NFC as well as GPS.
While the design may be inspired by the Apple Watch, it’s safe to say that the Mi Watch is a stunning piece of hardware.
On the side is a crown and a physical button for navigation – much like the Apple Watch. On the left side is a single speaker and microphone. The back is made of ceramic. The Premium edition of the Mi Watch comes with a sapphire crystal screen, stainless steel frame and band.
Updated 15:23 IST, November 5th 2019