The second iteration of Xiaomi's fitness tracking band, Xiaomi Mi Band 2. The tracker features an OLED display -- which is touted as resistant to scratches and fingerprints, and helps the wearer track time, notifications, heart rate, calories burned, and number of steps taken among other things. The company says that Mi Band 2 can function for 20 days on a single charge.
Top comments
Slarty
4 Jun 163#23
Now down to $29.99 here and 5% Topcashback. Say £19.65 net. May not wait that much longer...
Latest comments (62)
horsey
20 Jul 16#62
Nope, still at £27.68 for me
try logging in
moneysavingkitten
3 Jul 16#61
The image in this thread looks like one of the generic even cheaper ones :smiley: I can't for the life of me remember what it's called, but I am sure you would find it on Gearbest.
Denbi
3 Jul 161#60
moneysavingkitten, thanks, shame, the image in the deal looks far better :disappointed:
moneysavingkitten
3 Jul 16#59
Apologies, the image is right when you click through, I am not sure it's right in this thread though.
Denbi
3 Jul 16#58
but doesn't it look like this ? http://www.wareable.com/xiaomi/xiaomi-mi-band-2-price-specs-release-date the one in picture looks better but I can't find any for sale, they look like my link.
moneysavingkitten
3 Jul 16#57
It's cheaper.
Yes, it is. It's the newest one. It's not astoundingly different, just has a screen.
Denbi
3 Jul 16#56
I'm confused, the image isn't a miband is it ?
hassony
3 Jul 16#55
How does this differ to a fitbit?
therealjohnpeat
2 Jul 161#54
In fairness, being forced into allowing an app access to premium rate calls just to use a cheap fitness band is a problematic situation!!
I prefer Android's "upfront notification" approach to Apple's "on demand" one - BUT it needs to be able to knock-out certain permissions rather than the 'all or nothing' approach.
Example: someone made a remote App for XBMC/Kodi and they decided it would be nice to put the name of someone calling you onscreen so they included the 'Contacts' permission in the manifest.
Loads of people want to know why a remove control app needs to read your contacts - developer highlights it has a potential use but it can also be EASILY abused so a CHOICE would be better in that case.
Example 2: I used to develop games using a framework called AndEngine - a bug in early Android kernels meant that it required a 'Get Call Information' permission (just state/numbers of any incoming/outgoing calls) and I got a TONNE of abuse for asking for that (it was eventually fixed and at least it shows people do look at this stuff)
Example 3: loads of people wonder why Soundcloud requires access to your photos - obviously people UPloading music may wish to add pics but most people use that app to listen so it's an odd thing to ask (contextual - again, it should be optional)
dt_matthews
2 Jul 16#53
perhaps a semi-troll, or genuine belief that android security is problematic, vendor fragmentation of the distro isnt exactly helping the android cause after all.
dayuum
2 Jul 16#52
1 - you can control the permissions any app has access to providing you're on marshmallow or above
2 - what on earth does using android have to do with privacy?
lavafire
2 Jul 16#51
I have both the original and this one, have to say such an improvement after including an old panel. Can check the time, steps, and etc. Love it!
jamesantro
2 Jul 16#50
Now £38 cold for me
sm-1991
2 Jul 16#49
You are using an Android device, do you really expect privacy?!?
tootricky
2 Jul 16#48
get the 1s for £12 instead
mmp669
2 Jul 16#47
That's how xiaomi do business. Set a ultra low price to generate hype then inflate price through retailers. :disappointed:
mattrixdesign2
2 Jul 16#46
Thanks, just bought my lad a Fitbit, as its his birthday spoilt him with the colour watch type (Blaze, got a deal and was £120), that looks like a more useful cadget, it not his birthday yet, but will have a look what it's like.
For my own use I would want GPS built in, but it adds price, and drains battery.
therealjohnpeat
2 Jul 161#45
I think a lot of these sell to people who think buying one will help them lose weight even if they don't take it out of the box ;0
Those who actually USE them - a lot are just guilting themselves into doing more/sleeping better but data is only useful if it's consistent, reliable and you act upon it in a logical fashion and this is a cheap device which offers 'data' of questionable value.
There was a test done of a huge range of fitness trackers, almost none of which were remotely accurate. Now I've always said that it doesn't matter if it's accurate, so long as it's consistent (like your scales, absolute weight is less important than relative weight - e.g. you gained/lost some) but that's also suspect in many devices too!
End of the day, you don't need an HRM to know you're getting useful exercise, if it feels like an effort/your breathing is increased then you're getting exercise. The level of detail you need to improve on that is WAY above this thing's paygrade...
It's a gadget - IMO it's most useful as a VERY cheap secondary notification tool for calls/texts/alarms (the original does this fine) - well, it would be were the Android app not a privacy nightmare (see above) - tho there are third-party apps which get around that...
therealjohnpeat
2 Jul 16#44
Worth mentioning for Android users that the Android app for the original band (and I assume this one will be similar if not the same) is a privacy NIGHTMARE.
It asks for almost every permission possible INCLUDING to make Premium-Rate Calls!! Not just the usual dodgy stuff like reading your Contacts for Xiaomi, they want the lot...
You're mad to trust an app like that - mad...
stupascoe
1 Jul 16#43
I bought 4 of these for my family to wear. They arrived last week from geekbuying.com (took a few weeks to arrive). My wife was looking for a pedometer that also had a watch and this seemed great. So far we are all pretty happy with them for what we need and the price (we paid just over £28.50 each). My battery is at 85% so is doing well and I mainly like it for the silent phone notifications (vibrates). My wife and kids like it for the step counting as they like to have a bit of a competition. we all use the alarm feature and log our sleep patterns, interesting but I'm not sure it is that accurate. The heart rate is also interesting but I can't imagine it is that accurate, it takes a few seconds each time you request a reading. I believe it takes readings every 10 mins overnight for sleep tracking. We are not sporty people, just day to day tracking..
mattrixdesign2
1 Jul 16#42
Serious question, do you guys use these to just monitor day-to-day activity, or for running/fitness etc?
I use GPS and HRM (and cadence) and upload to Strava to measure my cycling performance, but wonder why people use these, are they 'motivating' I.e. Encourage you to keep moving and active?
I can't help but think people just buy these and wear them just because they can. Rather than as a motivator to monitor and increase activity.
Not a critism, genuinely intetertsted, may even get one.
I do plenty of cycling, and stay active, but I think I could do more.
blackrat62
1 Jul 16#41
£35 when I go to the link?
SpyJoe
1 Jul 16#40
Too expensive, should drop soon.
biggysilly
1 Jul 16#39
That is still no where near the deal price of £28.20 though. Please expire. Deal is dead.
collo1989
1 Jul 16#38
I've been using mine for 2 day, the pedometer is OK although I think it overestimated me by about 20%
notifications work well and the sleep tracking is looking OK too
HR Monitor is pretty pants and has be at 59BPM as and when it works...
fire_emblem
1 Jul 16#37
I have used both the Miband 1 and 1S. The 1 had more accurate results, the 1S gives out random numbers sometimes.
daedos
1 Jul 16#36
Very tempted when the initial hype and demand dies down
you need immediate feedback for a heart rate monitor or what's the point ?
bottle123
1 Jul 16#34
This inaccurate step counting is actually with all fitness watches/ bands! Had it on my vivosmart and there's reports of Fitbit and new garmin watches like the vivoactive hr having the same issue!!
mhasan
1 Jul 16#33
Showing as £38.45
moneysavingkitten
1 Jul 16#32
£6 cheaper at gearbest.
fatbiker
1 Jul 16#31
My 1s managed to record 765 "steps" over a 150 mile drive. For that reason alone Matthew, tonight I'm out :neutral_face:
biggysilly
1 Jul 161#30
£39 now
Batmobile543
28 Jun 16#29
Brexit effect - prices on banggood has risen
5uspended
19 Jun 16#28
Has anyone received their order yet?
tek-monkey
7 Jun 16#27
I've noticed the same, was thinking of putting it on my ankle instead.
nanuek
7 Jun 16#26
I have just bought the 1s (AKA Pulse) last week (typical). I use the heart rate monitor on Android with a 3rd party app that adds near-continuous heart rate monitoring and decent notifications support. The heart rate readings were about 30bpm above actual for the first day and then seemed to sort themselves out. I wonder if the firmware got updated or something. My biggest gripe is the activity monitoring which can't tell the difference between walking and typing or even sometimes just watching telly. The details for the Band 2 specifically mention improved step tracking so hopefully they have been able to address this.
winchman
7 Jun 16#25
Doesn't look like the old band will fit the new one, looks close though.
tek-monkey
6 Jun 16#24
Use the 1s all the time, but mainly just for fitness tracking not the heart rate monitor. Interested in this one, but may wait a little to see how much they drop after launch.
Slarty
4 Jun 163#23
Now down to $29.99 here and 5% Topcashback. Say £19.65 net. May not wait that much longer...
Graham1979
4 Jun 16#22
Thanks dude.
ninp
4 Jun 161#21
These officially go on sale in China on 7th June.
I have the 1s and 2nd generation mibands. they're both really good, especially considering the face that they're £10.
The notifications are accurate and the heart rate monitor on the 1s is accurate when still.
I'm planning to get the new one as the ability to have a watch and use the heart rate sensor whilst moving, really appeals to me and at £16 (the price it will be selling at in China) you can't go wrong. I still think that £30 is a good price.
This doesn't have the same specs as the Microsoft band but for the price, accuracy and features it's worth the price
moneysavingkitten
4 Jun 16#20
The tightness of the band seems to make large difference to the accuracy. But not, it isn't fantastically accurate. It does well enough for a rough guide.
moneysavingkitten
4 Jun 16#19
Fair enough :smiley: I agree notifications it seems like Xiaomi are going backwards on. The first version of the band with coloured LEDs was really useful for that and each new iteration seems to have less functionality in that regard.
I wish they would make one that was properly waterproof too. I would pay more if I could swim with it confidently.
jaques_kalis
4 Jun 16#18
I have xiaomi band, the one without display. Half the functions don't work. heart rate monitor is crap, for readings taken within a min, it will vary by 100+. Steps are very inaccurate. waste of money...
sbodyontheweb
4 Jun 161#17
May be another model from vidonn has the HR, just wanted to highlight about notifications for equivalent price xiaomi doesn't support them, and it's even rarer to support iOS notifications for 25£... And vidonn x6 does. If the focus is purely fitness It's another story ;-)
DEVMAX
4 Jun 16#16
how much is import charges on this, any ideas?
moneysavingkitten
4 Jun 16#15
Doesn't appear to have a heart rate sensor?
It's dropping a little over night already, £27.82. 1S didn't take long to drop about a tenner either.
sbodyontheweb
4 Jun 161#14
You can have the vidonn x6 for less that supports Android AND iOS notifications. Sleep tracking is better on xiaomi though, notifications better on Vidonn
GlentoranMark
4 Jun 161#13
I'm a Miband 1 user and am very happy with it. The official app won't record heart rate continuously but there is another paid app that does it continuously. It's not that accurate though but the app gets frequent updates and is improving all the time.
Like others have said, this is expensive relative to the Miband1, the only extra (but useful) feature is the clock.
Also note the Miband1 (so probably Miband2) won't work with the Bounts App.
I plan on getting my whole family on these for XMas, I find the Miband1 really useful which encourages me to exercise. Hopefully the price can drop to similar to the Miband1 by October.
Kasr
4 Jun 162#12
Xiaomi's rrp for the Mi band 2 is $23.
No supply, high demand, hence $40 price.
As others have suggested, leave a couple of months for price drop and reviews. :sunglasses:
Slarty
4 Jun 161#11
Wareable review here. It's launched Tuesday 7 June, so probably will get cheaper by end of month.
sofiasar
4 Jun 16#10
any review?
how long is warranty?
cikki100
4 Jun 161#9
isn't it meant to be $25
moneysavingkitten
4 Jun 162#8
Interesting, don't think it's worth £30 though. Will wait for it to drop a bit.
vassy201187
4 Jun 161#7
I guess it's too early for anyone to comment on this..
TesseractOrion
4 Jun 16#6
How does this compare to a Microsoft Band (1 or 2)? Apart from being a lot cheaper of course LOL
vassy201187
4 Jun 16#5
Mi band 2 - inboxing and first impressions - click here
Batmobile543
4 Jun 16#4
6% Quidco
Graham1979
4 Jun 161#3
IP67 wahter resistant? :smile:
Graham1979
4 Jun 161#2
Does the heart rate tracker actually record constantly or is it every 5 seconds?
I ask as some of the trackers don't record like a watch/heart strap does to save battery life.
Opening post
Top comments
Latest comments (62)
try logging in
Yes, it is. It's the newest one. It's not astoundingly different, just has a screen.
I prefer Android's "upfront notification" approach to Apple's "on demand" one - BUT it needs to be able to knock-out certain permissions rather than the 'all or nothing' approach.
Example: someone made a remote App for XBMC/Kodi and they decided it would be nice to put the name of someone calling you onscreen so they included the 'Contacts' permission in the manifest.
Loads of people want to know why a remove control app needs to read your contacts - developer highlights it has a potential use but it can also be EASILY abused so a CHOICE would be better in that case.
Example 2: I used to develop games using a framework called AndEngine - a bug in early Android kernels meant that it required a 'Get Call Information' permission (just state/numbers of any incoming/outgoing calls) and I got a TONNE of abuse for asking for that (it was eventually fixed and at least it shows people do look at this stuff)
Example 3: loads of people wonder why Soundcloud requires access to your photos - obviously people UPloading music may wish to add pics but most people use that app to listen so it's an odd thing to ask (contextual - again, it should be optional)
2 - what on earth does using android have to do with privacy?
For my own use I would want GPS built in, but it adds price, and drains battery.
Those who actually USE them - a lot are just guilting themselves into doing more/sleeping better but data is only useful if it's consistent, reliable and you act upon it in a logical fashion and this is a cheap device which offers 'data' of questionable value.
There was a test done of a huge range of fitness trackers, almost none of which were remotely accurate. Now I've always said that it doesn't matter if it's accurate, so long as it's consistent (like your scales, absolute weight is less important than relative weight - e.g. you gained/lost some) but that's also suspect in many devices too!
End of the day, you don't need an HRM to know you're getting useful exercise, if it feels like an effort/your breathing is increased then you're getting exercise. The level of detail you need to improve on that is WAY above this thing's paygrade...
It's a gadget - IMO it's most useful as a VERY cheap secondary notification tool for calls/texts/alarms (the original does this fine) - well, it would be were the Android app not a privacy nightmare (see above) - tho there are third-party apps which get around that...
It asks for almost every permission possible INCLUDING to make Premium-Rate Calls!! Not just the usual dodgy stuff like reading your Contacts for Xiaomi, they want the lot...
You're mad to trust an app like that - mad...
I use GPS and HRM (and cadence) and upload to Strava to measure my cycling performance, but wonder why people use these, are they 'motivating' I.e. Encourage you to keep moving and active?
I can't help but think people just buy these and wear them just because they can. Rather than as a motivator to monitor and increase activity.
Not a critism, genuinely intetertsted, may even get one.
I do plenty of cycling, and stay active, but I think I could do more.
notifications work well and the sleep tracking is looking OK too
HR Monitor is pretty pants and has be at 59BPM as and when it works...
Interesting review here:
http://www.cnx-software.com/2016/06/27/review-of-xiaomi-mi-band-2-activity-tracker/
I have the 1s and 2nd generation mibands. they're both really good, especially considering the face that they're £10.
The notifications are accurate and the heart rate monitor on the 1s is accurate when still.
I'm planning to get the new one as the ability to have a watch and use the heart rate sensor whilst moving, really appeals to me and at £16 (the price it will be selling at in China) you can't go wrong. I still think that £30 is a good price.
This doesn't have the same specs as the Microsoft band but for the price, accuracy and features it's worth the price
I wish they would make one that was properly waterproof too. I would pay more if I could swim with it confidently.
It's dropping a little over night already, £27.82. 1S didn't take long to drop about a tenner either.
Like others have said, this is expensive relative to the Miband1, the only extra (but useful) feature is the clock.
Also note the Miband1 (so probably Miband2) won't work with the Bounts App.
I plan on getting my whole family on these for XMas, I find the Miband1 really useful which encourages me to exercise. Hopefully the price can drop to similar to the Miband1 by October.
No supply, high demand, hence $40 price.
As others have suggested, leave a couple of months for price drop and reviews. :sunglasses:
how long is warranty?
I ask as some of the trackers don't record like a watch/heart strap does to save battery life.