Xiaomi Watch 2 With Wear OS Launched As Cheaper Alternative to Google Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6

At MWC 2024, Xiaomi has brought a large number of devices to the international markets. One of them is the Xiaomi Watch 2, which is a direct successor to the first offering from the brand. But, of course, Xiaomi’s wearable offerings aren’t as popular as the competitors.

As you may know, the Wear OS smartwatch market is largely dominated by two brands: Samsung and Google Pixel. There’s a good reason behind it. You may know this already: Wear OS is an Android operating system that Google designed for smartwatches. This automatically means you will get the best possible experience on Google Pixel Watch wearables.

Samsung, the South Korean company, has been in the wearables market for quite a long time. And in 2022, Google and Samsung shook hands to jointly improve Wear OS. As Samsung Galaxy Watches are now getting direct support from Google, they, too, offer a great Wear OS experience. But all this doesn’t mean that the other competitors, such as the Xiaomi Watch 2, aren’t worth considering.

What’s more important is that the new wearable is much more affordable. To look back, the Pixel Watch 2 (starting launch price: $349) and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 (starting launch price: $249.99). On the other hand, the Xiaomi Watch 2 launched at EUR 199, which is around $216.

Main Highlights of the Xiaomi Watch 2

So, even though the Xiaomi Watch 2 is more affordable than the flagship offerings from Samsung and Google, it nails the essentials. Let’s give you a quick rundown of its features:

Google Wear OS Brings Support for All Your Favorite Apps

Like the Google Pixel Watch 2 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 6, the Xiaomi Watch 2 is powered by Google Wear OS. This makes the wearable offer a smooth and stable smartwatch experience. To make your experience even smoother, the smartwatch comes with five of the most frequently used apps installed.

But you’re not limited to those five apps. Thanks to Wear OS, the Xiaomi Watch 2 has support for more than 200 third-party apps. You can install the ones you prefer with a couple of taps in Google Play.

Snappier and Reliable Performance With Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 SoC

Under the hood, the Xiaomi Watch 2 packs the latest Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 SoC. With 2 GB of RAM, the smartwatch can deliver great performance in all your favorite apps. The snapdragon chipset also enhances the battery efficiency of the smartwatch.

More specifically, the Watch 2 comes with a 495 mAh battery, which can last for up to 65 hours with typical usage. Xiaomi didn’t skimp on the storage either. This smartwatch comes with 32 GB of eMMC storage to let you keep multiple songs, apps, and watch faces.

Comfortable and Elegant Design of the Xiaomi Watch 2

Living up to its claim of a “flagship experience,” the Xiaomi Watch 2 strikes a balance between comfort, personalization, and style. The watch features a 1.43-inch AMOLED display encased in a lightweight aluminum alloy middle frame. Weighing in at just 37 grams, it feels comfortable during workouts, sleep, or everyday wear.

Xiaomi offers 33 built-in watch faces, many with customizable options to match your preferences. For the environmentally conscious, Xiaomi even includes watch faces featuring animals, plants, and landscapes.

Moreover, the smartwatch comes in multiple options. The Watch 2 is available in your choice of a black or silver strap, but Xiaomi also offers a variety of other strap materials to suit your individual style.

Fitness and Health Monitoring Features of Xiaomi Watch 2

The Watch 2 boasts over 160 sports modes, allowing you to track everything from your daily runs and cycling sessions to swims. Speaking of swims, the smartwatch has 5 ATM water resistance. So, you don’t have to worry about a thing.

For skiers, the watch goes beyond basic tracking. The Xiaomi Watch 2 can record distance and average speed for each glide and even map your entire ski track. Also, the dual-band L1+L5 GNSS system ensures accurate location tracking. The precise location feature also helps analyze your performance in outdoor activities.

Xiaomi has expanded its fitness ecosystem by partnering with popular platforms like Strava. This allows you to synchronize your workout data seamlessly between Xiaomi’s Mi Fitness app and Strava. You need to worry about losing data continuity when switching platforms.

Additionally, Xiaomi’s collaboration extends to other platforms like Suunto. This support for Watch 2 provides you with even more options for data synchronization and a holistic view of your fitness journey.

For health-conscious users, the Watch 2 offers a comprehensive suite of monitoring features. The upgraded 12-channel heart rate monitoring module delivers highly accurate data. It allows you to gain valuable insights into your heart health. The sleep monitoring system has received an upgrade as well. It incorporates blood oxygen and breath data into its analysis for a more complete picture of your sleep quality.