Fitness enthusiasts looking for an affordable option to track their activity will be pleased with Xiaomi's new Smart Band 8 Pro. This hybrid smartwatch/fitness tracker delivers big on display quality and battery life without the big price tag.
The Band 8 Pro sports a sizable 1.74-inch AMOLED screen that truly comes alive with its always-on functionality. Users can easily see stats and notifications at a glance without having to wake the display. The bright, colorful panel remains readable even in direct sunlight.
Navigation through the Band 8 Pro's interface is delightfully smooth thanks to the speedy 60Hz refresh rate. Widgets and menus glide across the screen with nary a stutter. Quick access to stats, music controls, and more is just a flick of the wrist away.
Accuracy for basic fitness tracking proved reliable in testing. Step counts, calorie burns, and auto-recognition of activities like walking and running provided a good overall view of daily movement. GPS performance for outdoor workouts also impressed with pinpoint route tracking.
Lasting up to two weeks between charges, the Band 8 Pro's battery life blows past most competitors. Its enlarged cell clearly provides plenty of juice for non-stop 24/7 wellness monitoring.
While not a full-fledged smartwatch, the Band 8 Pro does sync notifications, weather, music controls and calendar events from paired phones. Some may miss extra app support, but most will appreciate its wallet-friendly cost.
For fitness fanatics seeking an affordable, long-lasting companion to stay on top of steps, workouts and wellness stats, the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro could be a great fit.
