Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro is here; it has a new operating system, new display, a digital crown, and enhanced health tracking. But all that comes with a hefty price bump. It was initially launched in China a few months ago, which kills the glamour and hype, but still, it is a new smartwatch with much more to offer with its better hardware and revamped software.
So, does the upgrade justify the price increase?
Let’s Inspect!
Summary
Pros
- Beautiful and strong design
- Stunning AMOLED screen
- Exceptional health tracking
- Long-lasting battery
- Excellent Mi Fitness App
Cons
- Limited Xiaomi pay services
- No Wi-Fi
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Price
The smartwatch is launched at the price of 269EUR. The watch is competing against other WearOS based devices like Galaxy Watch 5, Apple Watch, Huawei GT Series, and Amazfit GTR.
Unboxing
The S1 Pro comes in a similar box as the previous generation. It is a nice premium box that feels good in hand. Opening the box reveals the beautiful smartwatch. And all the accessories like charger and user manual are underneath the cardboard.
The box is well-designed, and the smartwatch has ample protective stickers to keep it scratchless.
Appearance and Build Quality
Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro looks excellent out of the box. It has a nice circular dial with a digital crown and button on the right side. You will not notice any difference in size, but the S1 Pro has a bigger screen with thinner bezels. The sensor cluster is on the bottom, as it is in every smartwatch and fitness tracker.
The strap is made out of genuine leather. It looks stunning and feels great in hand. It is a 22mm strap with a traditional buckle and pin mechanism. The strap looks fantastic, but I would love to see a vegan alternative in the coming generations. The step will also prove to be fruitful in marketing campaigns.
Technical Specifications
- Chipset: Custom-Made Unspecified Processor
- Display: 1.45-inch, 480×480 pixels, 600nits peak brightness
- Body: Sapphire Crystal Front, Stainless Steel Frame, Sapphire Crystal Sensor area on back with plastic back
- Weight: 48.5 grams
- Sensors: Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Barometer, Heart Rate, SpO2, Thermometer
- Battery: 500mAh
- NFC: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
- GPS: GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS, QZSS
- Speaker and Microphone: Yes
- Waterproof: 5ATM
Features
First of all, the watch controls are very similar to the first generation. The crown works as a home and app button, while the bottom can turn on the sports modes. Swiping gestures are also the same, swipe up for quick toggles, swipe down for notifications, and the left and right swipe will take you through widgets. Xiaomi has kept it the same as the first smartwatch, and many options and menu icons have the same design and colors. The uniformity looks remarkable. Let’s get to the features and perks.
Firstly, we have an excellent NFC. It is operational in most regions, but you can only connect your Master Card. Visa cards are not compatible. The limitation is quite bad for many users because many people use Visa cards.
The microphone and speaker are a helpful addition. It adds significant value and enables us to make phone calls and use Alexa smart assistant. The watch can also receive notifications, but sadly, there are no quick reply options.
Inside the watch, you will find many customization and useful options, but a couple of features should have been there. Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro does not have Wi-Fi which means we have to rely on slow Bluetooth. Moreover, we can install extra apps through the Mi Fitness app, but we don’t have access to the storage, which makes music transfer impossible.
Fitness Tracking
Health tracking is one of the essential parts of the smartwatch. Let’s start with heart rate tracking. It is very detailed and accurate, and you can have a lot more data and charts in the smartphone app.
The SpO2 tracking is also on point. It can record 24/7 and takes data randomly to keep a record.
Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro also has sleep tracking. It is excellent; the watch precisely detects deep sleep and REM and provides a score about your breathing performance. Moreover, the app will also show some AI recommendations depending on your health data.
Pedometer data is inaccurate. I think it is undercounting 10% to 15% of the steps. We can hope to see it getting better with coming updates. Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro also has a temperature sensor that also provides accurate results.
Lastly, the watch has over a hundred sports modes. I could not try each of them, but the amount of data is quite diverse and valuable. Moreover, the watch also has Strava, which is the favorite app of many athletes.
GPS Performance
GPS is another alright aspect of the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro. Most of the time, it is good, connects rapidly, and stays connected. But sometimes, you will see fluctuation by 10 to 15 meters, which can also be resolved in the next update.
Battery Endurance
The battery is another strength of the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro. It has a 500mAh battery that only uses 12% to 15% per day, always on display. This is remarkable, considering the Galaxy Watch 5 only last one and a half day per charge.
Mi Fitness App
Mi Fitness is an excellent app and is something that I really love. It adds significant value with its very detailed charts and practical AI recommendations for a better lifestyle. Moreover, you will also find many watches, faces, and an app store to download a few available apps.
Drawbacks
- Internal storage is inaccessible
- Cannot attach external HR tracker
- No Wi-Fi
- Cannot respond to notifications
- A VISA card is not supported
- High Price
Conclusion
In the end, Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro is a decent smartwatch. It has good specs, but overall, it is only as good as Huawei Watch GT 3, which was released in 2021. But if you are in the Mi ecosystem and looking for the best possible options, Watch S1 Pro is the perfect choice. Moreover, we might see some improved and new features with further development and updates.
Watch the video review on our YouTube channel.
