Redmi Smart Band Pro: The Affordable Fitness Tracker That Packs a Punch?

Xiaomi has introduced the Redmi Smart Band Pro simultaneously with the Redmi Note 11 and Redmi Note 11S. As suggested by its name, this device is designed to deliver more functionalities than the Redmi Smart Band. The latest Redmi Smart Band Pro includes several sought-after features, including an AMOLED display, SpO2 monitoring, stress management, and the ability to track various workout types. With the enhanced features comes a slight increase in price. So, does the Redmi Smart Band Pro provide decent value for your investment? I tested this fitness tracker to get the answers.

Pricing of Redmi Smart Band Pro in India

The Redmi Smart Band Pro is priced at Rs. 3,999 in India, but the company offers a limited-time promotional price of Rs 3,499. The Redmi Smart Band Pro will be available for purchase starting at 12pm on February 14.

The Redmi Smart Band Pro feels lightweight and hardly noticeable on the wrist

Design of the Redmi Smart Band Pro

The design of the Redmi Smart Band Pro features a rectangular polycarbonate frame that encloses a 1.47-inch AMOLED display. This display size allows for easy readability without straining your eyes. Additionally, it comes with an always-on functionality and an ambient light sensor to automatically adjust brightness. There are no physical buttons; navigation is entirely via touchscreen. The band comes with curved TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) straps, reminiscent of the ones found on the Mi Band 6 (Review). These straps utilize a proprietary connector for easy removal without any tools. However, finding third-party straps may pose a challenge for some users.

The back of the Redmi Smart Band Pro features all health sensors housed within a pill-shaped protrusion. It also contains contact pins used for charging. The included charger is magnetized for effortless connection when charging the device.

I found the Redmi Smart Band Pro to be exceptionally light at just 25.5g, making it barely noticeable on my wrist, and I even wore it while sleeping without any discomfort. The Smart Band Pro includes a 200mAh battery and is rated for 5ATM water resistance.

Software and functionalities of the Redmi Smart Band Pro

The Redmi Smart Band Pro can be connected to both Android and iOS devices via the Xiaomi Wear and Xiaomi Wear Lite applications, respectively. Pairing is straightforward and requires a Mi Account. Once connected, both apps allow you to adjust various settings of the Smart Band Pro. They support a range of Mi and Redmi wearables and are user-friendly. The band syncs with the app on your smartphone, displaying various metrics. Additionally, you can customize the watch faces on the Redmi Smart Band Pro through the app, with over 50 options available, including the ability to upload a personal photo from your phone’s gallery as a face.

The back of the Smart Band Pro houses all health sensors

The Redmi Smart Band Pro operates on custom software powered by the Ambiq Apollo 3.5 System-on-Chip (SoC) and features Bluetooth 5 LE for connectivity. Unfortunately, it lacks built-in GPS, relying instead on your connected smartphone for location tracking. The band can receive notifications from your phone and alerts you to incoming calls.

You can monitor nearly 110 workout types, including 14 water activities, with the Redmi Smart Band Pro. Common options like walking, running, cycling, HIIT, trekking, and swimming can be easily activated. The list of available workouts can also be tailored to fit your fitness routine. The device can auto-detect activities such as running, walking, and treadmill workouts. In addition, it tracks heart rate, SpO2, sleep patterns, stress levels, and menstrual cycles. The band continuously monitors the heart rate and SpO2 levels while you sleep, though these features are turned off by default to conserve battery life.

The interface for the Redmi Smart Band Pro is user-friendly. Swiping right from the home screen provides quick toggles, while swiping left brings up widgets for heart rate, SpO2, weather, workouts, and fitness statistics. Swiping down from the top allows you to view unread notifications from your paired smartphone, and swiping up from the bottom displays all the functions available on the Smart Band Pro.

Performance and battery longevity of the Redmi Smart Band Pro

I wore the Redmi Smart Band Pro for a week and found it comfortable enough for all-day wear. The display was easily visible in outdoor conditions, but I noticed it was overly bright in dim rooms, even with auto-brightness activated. Although the interface was straightforward to navigate, it initially felt slightly unresponsive, particularly while scrolling. During the review period, a software update (1.1.127) improved its responsiveness. The raise-to-wake feature was well-implemented, causing the display to light up promptly when I raised my wrist, and it turned off quickly when I lowered my hand.

You can monitor your SpO2 levels using the Smart Band Pro

I had to manually activate the automatic heart rate and SpO2 tracking, along with app notifications and advanced sleep tracking options through the app. I set the band to check my heart rate every minute and SpO2 levels every 30 minutes during sleep. Additionally, I enabled notifications for both resting and active heart rates and configured the band to vibrate for incoming alerts.

When it came to fitness tracking, I was impressed with the accuracy of the Redmi Smart Band Pro. I compared it with an Apple Watch Series 7 (Review) and found the heart rate measurements to be consistent between the two devices. Continuous heart rate monitoring affected battery life (which will be discussed further) but provided more valuable data. The sleep tracking was accurate, giving me a comprehensive breakdown of my sleep patterns. I also enabled SpO2 monitoring during sleep, and manual daytime readings aligned closely with those from a medical-grade pulse oximeter.

I employed the Redmi Smart Band Pro to monitor my evening walks. Due to the absence of built-in GPS, it relies on a paired smartphone to achieve accurate measurements. Without GPS, the band underrepresented the distance, showing 0.96km for an actual distance of 1km. However, when I carried my smartphone with me, it performed better, recording 1.02km for the same walk.

The Xiaomi Wear App displays health metrics on your connected smartphone

It can automatically detect workouts for three specific activities, as previously mentioned. The Redmi Smart Band Pro prompted me to log my walk within a minute of starting, accurately measuring 1,002 steps for every 1,000 steps I counted, which is an acceptable error rate considering the cost of the fitness tracker.

Battery performance was adequate given the small 200mAh capacity, but it largely depends on your usage style. I had enabled the always-on display, set the heart rate tracking to one-minute intervals, and adjusted SpO2 tracking for every 30 minutes during sleep, while also using the advanced sleep tracking feature. Notifications from apps were active, and I tracked outdoor walks daily.

With this level of usage, the fitness band lasted four and a half days, which falls short of Xiaomi’s claimed fourteen-day battery lifespan, achievable perhaps with lighter usage. With some trade-offs, you should easily reach a week or more on a single charge. The provided magnetic charger attached easily to the band and completed charging in under an hour and a half.

Final Thoughts

Upon reviewing the Redmi Watch (Review) last year, I found it to be a competent device, but its lack of SpO2 tracking was a significant downside. The Redmi Smart Band Pro has resolved that issue. Compared to the Redmi Watch, the only feature absent from the Smart Band Pro is GPS functionality. If you typically carry your smartphone while walking, the Redmi Smart Band Pro should still provide accurate tracking.

The Redmi Smart Band Pro encompasses all essential features expected from a fitness tracker, and its launch price is appealing. It is particularly attractive for anyone seeking a larger display than that of the Mi Band 6 (Review), which is a more affordable option and might suit individuals who prefer a sleeker design. The Honor Band 6 directly competes with the Smart Band Pro, offering a similar range of features at a comparable price point.