How Xiaomi Smart Band 10 holds up vs Garmin for run tracking

Xiaomi’s Smart Band 10 brings a few new tricks for runners, like guided workouts and better heart rate tracking. I took it out for a spin and tested it against my Garmin Forerunner 955 paired with a chest strap over three outdoor runs. It held up surprisingly well.

Run tests in real-world conditions

I ran the three different sessions in a mix of city streets and shaded paths. The Xiaomi Band 10 was paired with my phone, since it relies on connected GPS. I used the Garmin Forerunner 955 paired with the Frontier X2 chest strap as a reference.

Heart rate accuracy was surprisingly good. The differences in average and max readings were consistently within a beat or two. That’s not something I expect from a wrist-based tracker in this price range. Just make sure to tighten the strap on your wrist before commencing your run.

For example, one session showed 144 bpm average and 160 max on the Xiaomi, compared to 143 and 158 on the Garmin. Even in the final test, which was longer and included tempo changes, the Band 10 tracked at 152 bpm average against Garmin’s 150. Max heart rate was 164 on the Xiaomi versus 163 on the Garmin. That’s solid consistency.

Here’s a table summarising the three run comparisons between the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 and the Garmin Forerunner 955:

As can be seen GPS distance did show a bit more drift. Since the Band uses your phone’s GPS, the margin depends on your phone’s positioning, an iPhone 11 in my case.

In my tests, Xiaomi’s numbers were always a bit short. The largest gap came during the second run: 7.76 km on the Band versus 8.1 km on the Garmin. On the longest session, they were much closer, with 10.01 km on the Band compared to 10.1 km on the Garmin. Again, that’s down to the phone. If you want built-in GPS on the Xiaomi, you will need to opt for the Pro version of the Smart Band.

Here are the Xiaomi stats for my longest run.

This is the Garmin data for the same 10K run.

Display and usability on the go

A good thing about the Band 10 during these sessions was the new display. At 1.72 inches, it’s bigger and noticeably brighter (300 nits more) than the previous model. That makes it easier to glance at mid-run without breaking rhythm.

Also, if you want to track GPS you need to commence the workout from the smartphone app. But you can pause or end sessions directly on the Smart Band, and this works smoothly. So no need to reach for your phone once the workout is underway.

The addition of on-wrist running courses is a step in the right direction. Having said that, I didn’t really find much use for them. They’re basic but functional, something you might rely on if you’re just getting into structured training. You pick a session, follow the pace prompts, and the Band handles the rest.

The app gives you the basics

After each run, the Mi Fitness app gives you a breakdown of pace, heart rate zones, calories burned, and a couple of performance metrics like VO2 Max and Training Load. For most casual or even semi-serious runners, that’s enough to track progress. If you’re used to Garmin’s deep analytics though, you’ll notice the difference. There’s less granularity. You won’t find detailed performance metrics or recovery time suggestions.

Still, the accuracy on the Band 10 makes a decent case for itself. Heart rate was close enough that I’d feel confident using it for zone-based training. Distance tracking was acceptable, as long as you’re aware of its reliance on your phone.

Xiaomi’s Smart Band 10 isn’t meant to go head-to-head with something like the Forerunner 955. It’s a much cheaper device, and that needs to be factored in. You’re looking at around $50 versus several hundred, so the comparison isn’t exactly level. But even with that in mind, the Band 10 delivers a level of tracking that’s more than good enough for most people. I wouldn’t lean on it for marathon prep or precise pacing, but for everyday runs, intervals, and casual training, it does a solid job.

Don’t forget to read my full hands-on review of the Xiaomi Smart Band 10. You can also check out the device on Xiaomi’s website.

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