Another year, another generation of Xiaomi fitness trackers. This year, the Smart Band 9 is the brand’s affordable option for those logging the basics, replacing the Smart Band 8 released last April.
With the global edition of the Smart Band 9 now officially available, you might wonder what the key upgrades are over the previous generation. That’s where this guide comes in.
As with each generation, the amount of changes is minimal – mostly coming through battery life and sensor accuracy – but they are still relatively significant. Some other areas, like the operating system and companion app support, are also completely unchanged.
Without further ado, then, let’s get into the full comparison.
Price comparison and availability
As ever between generations, there’s a slight bump for the new model while the last-gen device is available for a little less. That’s reflected in our live widgets above and below.
In terms of RRP, though, the global edition of the Smart Band 9 is £34.99/€39.99. This is actually a bit cheaper than what the Smart Band 8 arrived at (£39.99/€49.99), though this, as we say, is now available for less if you can still find stock.
The equation remains the same for those in the US; there’s no official way to buy either band through Xiaomi, but you can pick it up (usually for a bit of a premium) via third-party sellers.
Design and display
After Xiaomi refreshed the design through the Smart Band 8, we weren’t surprised to see the new, ninth-gen option stick with roughly the same look and specs.
That means both feature the same highlights: a versatile design that can detach from the strap and be worn as a necklace or running pod (Pebble Mode), a buttonless and lightweight case, and a bright, 1.62-inch AMOLED display.
There are still slight differences to be aware of, though. The Smart Band 9, for example, has a much brighter display – pumping out 1200 nits, up from the Band 8’s 600 nits.
The Band 9 also enjoys a slightly different case finish, with the aluminum alloy now brushed and available in silver, black, pink, and blue. There’s also a more premium ceramic edition for those who don’t mind paying a little extra (though it’s still unclear whether this will be released outside of China).
Then there are a couple of differences we’re yet to notice. For example, the overall dimensions of the Band 9 are slightly smaller (46.53 x 21.63 x 10.95 mm) than with the Band 8 (48mm x 22.5mm x 10.99mm), but it’s not super significant. The Band 9, Xiaomi also says, features an upgraded haptic feedback motor, but it’s a change we find difficult to feel too excited about either way.
Activity and health tracking
While there are no operating system or processor changes, Xiaomi claims that significant upgrades have been made between generations in tracking accuracy.
The PPG sensor has been redesigned to boost blood oxygen saturation monitoring and heart rate tracking performance. According to Xiaomi, it should be 16% better off than equivalent tracking on the Band 8. Sleep tracking and stage analysis also benefit, with accuracy improved by 7.9% compared to the previous generation.
Data accuracy in these areas was one of our major concerns when testing the Band 8, so we’re encouraged by the change. To see if Xiaomi’s claims pass muster, we’re currently testing this out ahead of our full Band 9 review.
However, the upgrades only stretch so far. GPS remains scarce on both of these models – meaning you’ll only get location tracking if your phone is connected – and NFC functionality is saved for the China model of each, too.
Battery life
Another major difference between these two trackers is in the battery life estimations. For the Band 8, our testing showed that you could expect around 15-16 days from the tracker in regular use, with this dipping to five days with the always-on display and other power-intensive features enabled.
We grade that as pretty impressive, but the improved battery unit (233 mAh in the Band 9, up from 190 mAh) sees that estimation grow a fair chunk. With the newer mode, Xiaomi says that you should be able to eke out around 21 days of ‘normal’ use, with a more power-hungry setup still able to achieve nine days.
Again, we’re eager to put these claims to the test, but Xiaomi is usually pretty reliable in this area. And that means those who value battery are much better off with the Band 9.
Verdict: Which is best – and should you upgrade?
Though the differences between these two fitness trackers may be small, Xiaomi has upgraded just enough to make the Band 9 a clear winner. With the asking price also so low, the savings you might find by picking the Band 8 are also insignificant.
Whether you should upgrade, however, is a different question. Unless you value the slight battery boost or want a slightly more accurate version of the Band 8, we don’t think it’s a necessary upgrade. And if you are considering an upgrade, you can also widen the net and consider some of the best cheap smartwatches or Xiaomi’s Smart Band Pro line.
