Image source: Xiaomi

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro gets 21 day battery life & brighter display

Xiaomi has unveiled its latest fitness tracker, the Smart Band 9 Pro, at an event in China. There is little that is new beyond extended battery life and a brighter display.

For starters, the Smart Band 9 Pro maintains the familiar 1.74-inch AMOLED display of its predecessor, with a 60Hz refresh rate. But it now offers double the peak brightness at 1200 nits, making it considerably easier to read outdoors. The aluminum case comes in three color options – black, gold, and pink – and maintains a slim profile weighing a mere 24.5 grams. The dimensions of the device have changed by a fraction.

Battery life sees a significant boost in this iteration, with Xiaomi claiming up to 21 days of usage on a single charge. That’s up by a week on Band 8 Pro. Expect that to come down rapidly, though, with always-on display and GPS switched on.

Beyond that you get the same comprehensive fitness tracking capabilities with over 150 sports modes and built-in satellite functionality. Xiaomi has also reportedly enhanced the accuracy of both sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring. NFC for contactless payments, also appears, but most likely only for the Chinese iteration.

Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro

For context, the previous model, the Xiaomi Band 8 Pro, has been well-received in various markets, particularly in Europe, where it sells for around 65 euros. In my hands-on review, I found it offered exceptional value with its built-in GPS, large display, and comprehensive fitness tracking features. However, the lack of NFC and occasional GPS inconsistencies in urban areas are some limitations. Hopefully, this iteration improves those areas.

The Smart Band 9 Pro launches with flexible band options, including both sporty and leather variants, with a Milanese loop available separately. The device maintains 5ATM water resistance.

Currently, the Smart Band 9 Pro is available exclusively in China, with pricing starting at 399 yuan (around €50) for the sports band version and 449 yuan (around €60) for the leather variant. Global availability details remain pending.


Tech specs comparison: Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro vs 8 Pro

Specification
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 9 Pro
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 8 Pro
Release date
Oct-24
Aug-23
Case material
High strength fibre polymer, TPU wristband
High strength fibre polymer, TPU wristband
Shape
Curved, rectangular
Curved, rectangular
Size
43.27 x 32.49 x 10.8 mm
46 x 33.35 x 9.99 mm
Display type
AMOLED, 2.5D slightly curved glass cover
AMOLED, 2.5D slightly curved glass cover
Resolution
336 x 480 pixels, 1200 nits
336 x 480 pixels
Screen size
1.74 inch
1.74 inch
Weight (without strap)
24.5 grams
22.5 grams
Sensors
6-axis sensor: Low power-consumption 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope, PPG heart rate sensor, SpO2, ambient light sensor
6-axis sensor: Low power-consumption 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope, PPG heart rate sensor, SpO2, ambient light sensor
Water-resistance
5 ATM
5 ATM
Positioning
BeiDou, GPS, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
GPS, Galileo, Glonass, QZSS
Built-in speaker
No
No
Microphone
Yes
Yes
NFC
China only
China only
Music storage
No
No
Connection
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
Battery type
350 mAh
289 mAh
Battery life
21 days with normal use
14 days with normal use
Colors
Black, Gold, Pink
Black, Grey

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Marko Maslakovic

Marko founded Gadgets & Wearables in 2014, having worked for more than 15 years in the City of London’s financial district. Since then, he has led the company’s charge to become a leading information source on health and fitness gadgets and wearables.

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