The first-generation Mi band wasn’t the most feature rich wearable around back in the day when it was first announced by Xiaomi. Yet, the ease of use, combined with what you can call an insane battery life meant that Xiaomi sold hundred of thousands of Mi Bands.
Come (end of) 2015, and Xiaomi decided to give the Mi Band a bit of a refresh. Mind you, too many changes could’ve resulted in fixing something that didn’t need fixing; so Xiaomi had to be careful, clever and resourceful to make the new Mi Band, which later came to be known as the Mi Band Pulse 1s.
I spent over a week with the new Mi Band Pulse 1s, and here’s my take on the newest fad in the wearable market. Presenting to you, the Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s review!
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s Review: Pricing
The Mi Band Pulse 1s is the equivalent of $15 in China, and that is pretty darn affordable. We got ours from TinyDeal.com, where it is priced $34.99 for now.
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s Review: In The Box
Xiaomi stick to their trademark style of shipping devices in recycled yet extremely durable cardboard boxes. Xiaomi were among the first online-only brands in China that was shipping smartphones, which explains the sturdiness of the boxes.
In the Mi Band Pulse 1s box, you get:
- The Mi Band capsule (the main unit)
- Wrist strap
- Charging cable
- User’s manual
For a more visual experience, check out the unboxing video below.
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s Review: Build Quality
The new Mi Band Pulse 1s is built pretty much using the exact same material as the first-gen wearable from Xiaomi. However, the strap seems to be using some higher-grade rubber as compared to the first-gen Mi Band.
The strap feels higher quality, and according to Xiaomi, this is done to prevent the Mi Band Pulse 1s capsule from falling off. Even with the first-gen band, the fit was quite a tight one (for the capsule), so I don’t quite understand how it can just fall off like that. But it doesn’t hurt to have better quality paraphernalia.
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s Review: Battery Life
This, along with the waterproof nature of the Mi Band Pulse 1s is what you’re going to like the most. Even with 1-2 alarms ringing per day (this, with the band vibrating with each one), you’ll easily get over three to four weeks of battery life on the Mi Band Pulse 1s.
Xiaomi will make it a point to tell you that it is the vibrator motor inside the capsule that takes the most energy, and so you should turn off vibration… but I reckon a 3-4 week battery life that you get even with vibration on is more than good enough.
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s Review: Heart Rate Sensor
This is the killer feature of the Mi Band Pulse 1s, and one that gives the band a middle name (‘Pulse’). Heart rate sensors on wearables aren’t something we haven’t seen before, but the Mi Band Pulse 1s is perhaps the most affordable wearable to offer the feature.
You can configure the Mi Fit app to keep monitoring your heart rate via the Mi Band. The Mi Fit app, I feel, lacks a few heart rate related features for now. There is an APK available on the internet that offers a standalone heart rate function, but I recommend you wait for the update to come officially via the Google Play channel.
As for the accuracy of the hear rate sensor, I believe it is fairly accurate… with an error of ±5%. Which is acceptable, considering the amount you’re paying for this gadget. Just use the data is provides as a rough measure and not to replace your family physician and you’ll be alright.
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s Review: Tracking Features
These remain the same, i.e., as seen on the original Mi Band. The Mi Fit app will tell you:
- How much distance you’ve covered on foot
- How much you’ve slept
- How many calories you’ve burnt
- How much fat you’ve burnt
While the heart rate sensor is the killer new feature, this section is probably why you should buy an Mi Band, Pulse or otherwise.
The sleep tracking feature is creepily accurate; more than the hardware, it’s the complex algorithms that help calculate your exact sleep duration. Needless to say it’s my favourite feature about the Mi Band Pulse 1s, but one that exists on the first-gen Mi Band also.
Moving on to your activity, the Mi Band will tell you: (i) how many steps you’ve taken, (ii) total distance you’ve covered on foot, (iii) total distance covered running, (iv) total distance covered walking.
While there’s no foolproof way of checking the exact number of steps (please don’t expect me to keep a count!), the total distance does seem accurate with a 5-8% error.
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s Review: Other Features
Not much has changed from the original Mi Band. However, thanks to the app, you can now set the Mi Band to vibrate for notifications. The catch here is that you can set only up to three apps the notifications of which the Mi Band Pulse 1s will listen to. So it is generally a good idea to keep this turned on for important stuff, for example mail, etc. and off for WhatsApp, Facebook and the like.
The Mi Fit app will sync to Google Fit if you need, but again that’s not an Mi Band Pulse 1s feature per se. Oh, and did I mention, since the 1.1 update (of the Mi Band), the LEDs are only one colour, instead of RGB. Mine is white… and I truly miss the cyan and green and blues of the original Mi Band.
Xiaomi Mi Band Pulse 1s Review: Conclusion
I feel that Xiaomi have been extremely wise with the Mi Band Pulse 1s. Instead of giving it a complete overhaul and adding useless features, Xiaomi stuck to the minimal approach and have yet again delivered a killer budget device.
If you don’t own an Mi Band yet, the Pulse 1s is what you should go for. On the other hand, if you already have the first-gen Mi Band, you needn’t bother getting the Pulse 1s just for the heart rate sensor.
I’ve got mine from Gizchina shop with the new Xiaomi Hybrid earphones.
DHL is supposed to drop it tonight.
Hurry up already 🙂
here they are! 🙂
Gimme
Wai… DHL does night deliveries? Didn’t know that!
yeah, they deliver even at 10 pm.
bad news though:
my wife came back home saying that her phone (the OPO bamboo i won here @ Gizchina) is broken.
she was trying to remove the battery but she couldn’t remove the back cover (no wonder)
then she tried to remove the sim card and she put that metal tool inside.
And she told me that some gold pieces came off.
she broke the sim reader.
note she
*Awestruck*
Moto g 2nd edition is not bad but…
The only thing that she might say is that it doesn’t feel snappy but she won’t complain 😛
Are going to try to repair the OPO?
What about theAmazon tablet for $49? I mean decent right.?
I’ll give a it try, hopefully i will be able to fix it.
what she did was really retarded.
I’ve heard that the tablet is not good, but you can’t expect good stuff at that price.
i would buy one for my 3 years old son but he already owns an ipad mini (i bought it when he was 1)
you must repair it lol
im going to give it a try.
otherwise I’ll sell it on eBay for spare parts.
only the sim doesn’t work, the rest works nicely.
Sorry to hear about your wife’s OPO. I use the same phone but realize it’s just not worth repairing here in the US if it ever breaks. Good choice with the Moto G2. My three teens are using that phone and I just picked up a spare on Amazon for $99 when it went on sale over the weekend. Glad I did as it’s now back to $150.
i usually fix my stuff, i did in the past with a laptop dc jack and my phone screen.
i can do a “not so clean” basic soldering .
I’ve checked some forum about the OPO but it looks a big deal even for skilled solders.
i might give a chance trying to fix it just soldering those golden plates that came off (in not going to replace the whole socket because it seems very hard.
The G2 for $99 was a good deal, there’s was really nothing better on her budget.
Why not try and replace the motherboard of the OPO itself?
how much is going to cost me?
that was the 64GB version.
oh my hybrids are still getting shipped – you luckt brat
lol. did you pick DHL?
in the country where i live in the moment dhl shipping’s Average cost is 50 bucks , Btw where did yoy buy those? Gearbest or ali?
here on shop gizchina
Aliexpress sellers charge crazy money for DHL shipping.
Sweet how do you like them? I got mine a while ago. Are your volume control buttons mushy to press?
i can’t use them because they were supposed to be a present to put in the stockings. (i know, that’s weird)
i have to wait till xmas
No colored led is a bummer, but hey you’re getting a heart rate sensor.
I’m also curious about the heart rate sensor’s accuracy are you just guessing +/- 5% or did you actually compare it’s accuracy while wearing a real heart rate monitor (ie. chest strap model) at the same time?
Got a retired doc to check my heart rate using a good old stethoscope while the band did the same.
I’ll still give an “A” for effort but really in today’s day and age the good old stethoscope is actually the least accurate. Actually some hospitals have stopped using them altogether.
Is it able to continuously monitor HR throughout the day/night/longer period/workout?
I’ve got mine from Gizchina shop with the new Xiaomi Hybrid earphones.
DHL is supposed to drop it tonight.
Hurry up already 🙂
here they are! 🙂
Gimme
Wai… DHL does night deliveries? Didn’t know that!
yeah, they deliver even at 10 pm.
bad news though:
my wife came back home saying that her phone (the OPO bamboo i won here @ Gizchina) is broken.
she was trying to remove the battery but she couldn’t remove the back cover (no wonder)
then she tried to remove the sim card and she put that metal tool inside.
And she told me that some gold pieces came off.
she broke the sim reader.
now she wants a new phone and i asked what was her budget.
she said 50-100 bucks. lol
i told her if she realized she broke an almost brand new $400 phone. jeez!
Motorola is giving the MotoG 2nd generation for $99 on cyber Monday deals.
I’m buying her that one.
i would buy a cheaper one if i could.
*Awestruck*
Moto g 2nd edition is not bad but…
The only thing that she might say is that it doesn’t feel snappy but she won’t complain 😛
Are going to try to repair the OPO?
What about theAmazon tablet for $49? I mean decent right.?
you must repair it lol
oh my hybrids are still getting shipped – you luckt brat
Sweet how do you like them? I got mine a while ago. Are your volume control buttons mushy to press?
Sorry to hear about your wife’s OPO. I use the same phone but realize it’s just not worth repairing here in the US if it ever breaks. Good choice with the Moto G2. My three teens are using that phone and I just picked up a spare on Amazon for $99 when it went on sale over the weekend. Glad I did as it’s now back to $150.
i usually fix my stuff, i did in the past with a laptop dc jack and my phone screen.
i can do a “not so clean” basic soldering .
I’ve checked some forum about the OPO but it looks a big deal even for skilled solders.
i might give a chance trying to fix it just soldering those golden plates that came off (in not going to replace the whole socket because it seems very hard.
The G2 for $99 was a good deal, there’s was really nothing better on her budget.
i can’t use them because they were supposed to be a present to put in the stockings. (i know, that’s weird)
i have to wait till xmas
lol. did you pick DHL?
im going to give it a try.
otherwise I’ll sell it on eBay for spare parts.
only the sim doesn’t work, the rest works nicely.
I’ll give a it try, hopefully i will be able to fix it.
what she did was really retarded.
I’ve heard that the tablet is not good, but you can’t expect good stuff at that price.
i would buy one for my 3 years old son but he already owns an ipad mini (i bought it when he was 1)
Why not try and replace the motherboard of the OPO itself?
in the country where i live in the moment dhl shipping’s Average cost is 50 bucks , Btw where did yoy buy those? Gearbest or ali?
here on shop gizchina
how much is going to cost me?
that was the 64GB version.
Aliexpress sellers charge crazy money for DHL shipping.
No colored led is a bummer, but hey you’re getting a heart rate sensor.
Good review.
Thanks
I’m also curious about the heart rate sensor’s accuracy are you just guessing +/- 5% or did you actually compare it’s accuracy while wearing a real heart rate monitor (ie. chest strap model) at the same time?
Got a retired doc to check my heart rate using a good old stethoscope while the band did the same.
I’ll still give an “A” for effort but really in today’s day and age the good old stethoscope is actually the least accurate. Actually some hospitals have stopped using them altogether.
Is it able to continuously monitor HR throughout the day/night/longer period/workout?
RIP rgb led
Good review.
Thanks
RIP rgb led
If you want to save some money its 25 usd from coolicool
I was told the only way it will monitor the heart rate is when you are in the program and press a button. meaning it doesnt monitor it during the day. is it true? seems useless then
Yeah, that is true. There is an option in the Mi Fit app that will let you turn on ‘heart rate monitoring in the night to track sleep better’, but that of course doesn’t return any heart rate data per se.
I bought the original multi-color Mi-Band back in March. I never realized how ‘self-competitive’ I was until I got this thing. I set my daily walking goal to 8K steps (about 5 km) and would not miss that goal for the next four months. In July I increased the threshold to 10K steps and stayed with that until the weather started getting colder before going back to 8K. There’s a big difference between telling yourself ‘I want to get into shape’ and actually seeing, measuring and improving your own performance. I’ve lost about 7 kg since March and feel remarkably better than I did before. I’m not sure the added heart rate monitor is necessary. I would much rather have prolonged battery life. I usually can get 4-5 weeks on a single charge. Best $15 I every spent!
I use a free app called ‘Mi Band Notify’ for notifications. No ‘3 app limit’ like the Mi-Band app. Upon feeling my Mi-Band vibrate, the LEDs pulse, letting me know which app is receiving a notification. I configured mine to coincide with the color of the app’s icon.
Blue=Facebook, Red=Gmail, Green=WhatsApp, Yellow=SMS.
There’s also a ‘PRO’ version of the app with additional features.
I’m assuming you have the first generation Mi Band?
Correct.
If you want to save some money its 25 usd from coolicool
I was told the only way it will monitor the heart rate is when you are in the program and press a button. meaning it doesnt monitor it during the day. is it true? seems useless then
Yeah, that is true. There is an option in the Mi Fit app that will let you turn on ‘heart rate monitoring in the night to track sleep better’, but that of course doesn’t return any heart rate data per se.
I bought the original multi-color Mi-Band back in March. I never realized how ‘self-competitive’ I was until I got this thing. I set my daily walking goal to 8K steps (about 5 km) and would not miss that goal for the next four months. In July I increased the threshold to 10K steps and stayed with that until the weather started getting colder before going back to 8K. There’s a big difference between telling yourself ‘I want to get into shape’ and actually seeing, measuring and improving your own performance. I’ve lost about 7 kg since March and feel remarkably better than I did before. I’m not sure the added heart rate monitor is necessary. I would much rather have prolonged battery life. I usually can get 4-5 weeks on a single charge. Best $15 I every spent!
I use a free app called ‘Mi Band Notify’ for notifications. No ‘3 app limit’ like the Mi-Band app. Upon feeling my Mi-Band vibrate, the LEDs pulse, letting me know which app is receiving a notification. I configured mine to coincide with the color of the app’s icon.
Blue=Facebook, Red=Gmail, Green=WhatsApp, Yellow=SMS.
There’s also a ‘PRO’ version of the app with additional features.
I’m assuming you have the first generation Mi Band?
Correct.
actually Gearbest got them in stock yesterday,
so might be a good spot to order now – http://bitly.com/xiaomi-miband1s
actually Gearbest got them in stock yesterday,
so might be a good spot to order now – http://bitly.com/xiaomi-miband1s