Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 11: Everything I want to see
Xiaomi’s Mi Smart Band 10 made a solid impression with its punchy display and accurate heart rate tracking. After spending some time with it, I can’t help but wonder what Band 11 will bring. Not everything people had hoped for made it into the Band 10, so expectations for the next version are already building.
Release timing is easy to predict
The Smart Band or Mi Band, as some like to refer to it, line sticks to a very steady schedule. New models tend to appear between April and late June. The Band 10 arrived in early June 2025, so if Xiaomi keeps its usual rhythm, the Smart Band 11 will likely drop within that same window in 2026.
Before that, we may see a Smart Band 10 Pro variant hit the market. That could land sometime between September and October. But the mainline Band 11 is a spring release, if the past few years are anything to go by.
Don’t expect a major design overhaul
With Mi Band 10, Xiaomi stuck to its usual sleek approach. It introduced a slightly bigger – 1.72-inch AMOLED display with 60 Hz refresh and 1500-nit peak brightness, which made outdoor visibility slightly better than before. The build remained light and comfortable, with options for both aluminium and ceramic finishes.
These refinements were appreciated, but they didn’t change the overall silhouette much compared to Band 9. Which was probably the idea. And something that is likely to remain the case for Band 11. A slightly bigger screen or a touch more battery capacity is always possible, but the design will stay slim and minimalist to preserve comfort and price.
The Band’s small size is part of the appeal, but it also limits what can be added. There’s little room to get too creative without affecting usability. After all, this is a fitness band – not a smartwatch.
GPS is the feature everyone wants
Built-in GPS continues to be the most requested feature. So far, every Mi Band has relied on connected GPS through your phone. That works reasonably well on Band 10, and in my comparison piece I note that distance tracking is fairly close to my Garmin Forerunner. But having onboard GPS would change how the Band can be used. Right now you have to opt for the Pro iteration of the band for that feature.
If Xiaomi finds a way to squeeze GPS into the tiny chassis without wrecking the battery or hiking the price, Smart Band 11 could become the smallest GPS-equipped tracker around. That would open it up to runners and outdoor users who don’t want to carry their phone.
Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets
The challenge is real. GPS demands more power and antenna space. But it’s not impossible. Other brands have managed it in compact form factors, and Xiaomi has the volume and resources to make it work if they prioritise it. Assuming it would not hike the price up too much.
Global NFC would fix a long-standing limitation
Another feature that needs attention is NFC. The hardware has been there for a while, but it’s still locked to China. Global support for contactless payments is long overdue. It has been on the wish-list of folks for a while.
Adding that would make the Band far more useful in daily life. Even if support is limited to specific platforms or regions at first, extending it beyond China would signal that Xiaomi is serious about expanding the feature set beyond fitness.
Sensor upgrades, that do not compromise battery life
Band 10 made strides in heart rate tracking accuracy. In my testing, results were surprisingly close to a chest strap during running sessions. That’s no small feat for a wrist-based tracker in this price range. Xiaomi’s optical module has come a long way.
The next step is to enable HRV tracking. This would allow for better stress monitoring and recovery insights, especially if Xiaomi builds it into a simple readiness score or daily report.
A barometric altimeter would also add floor count tracking, which has been missing so far. Skin temperature is another area where Xiaomi could catch up, especially for sleep analysis and illness detection. Both sensors are now common even in mid-range wearables.
Battery life is expected to remain solid. Band 10 delivered over 20 days with normal use, even with a bright display. Band 11 could dip slightly if GPS or new sensors are added, but the software side may also improve battery optimisation.
Software experience still feels boxed in
The Mi Fitness app is serviceable but remains closed off. Xiaomi’s wearables are not compatible with third-party platforms in any meaningful way, and that’s unlikely to change with Band 11.
Still, there’s room to improve the experience. Better data visualisation, richer insights, more engaging progress reports and a wider selection of workouts would all help. The app delivers basic post-run analytics, including VO2 Max and training load. That foundation is solid but still leaves a lot on the table.
More flexibility in how users can access and use their data would go a long way in keeping pace with what competitors offer. Even if Xiaomi keeps everything locked to its own ecosystem, more polish is needed.
Mi Smart Band 11 needs to close the loop
Xiaomi doesn’t need to rip up the formula for Smart Band 11. The core experience already works. But for me, this next version is all about ticking off the features that have been sitting on people’s wish lists for far too long. Built-in GPS, proper global NFC support, better sensors and maybe even HRV would turn it into something far more useful day to day.
The price point will always shape what’s possible, but Xiaomi has shown before that it can squeeze a lot into a small package. If they get the balance right again, Band 11 could be the most complete budget tracker out there. I’ll be watching closely.
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