Xiaomi finally has it the new ninth generation smartband announced in Italy, a little later than usual. Usually, the new model is presented in May or early June, but this year we had to wait until the second half of July for the Chinese model while mid-August for the variant Global. But is it worth buying? Here you are all the differences to help you understand it.
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Design and materials
Both devices maintain the familiar curved rectangular shape, a hallmark of the series. However, the Mi Band 9 features an aluminum alloy body treated with sandblasting technology, offering a more premium feel than the high-strength fiber polymer construction of the Mi Band 8. Additionally, the Mi Band 9 is also available in aspecial edition in ceramic.
In terms of size, the Mi Band 9 is slightly more compact, measuring 46,53 × 21,63 × 10,95 mm, while the Mi Band 8 measures 48 × 22,5 × 10,99 mm. The weight difference is imperceptible, given the lightness of both devices, but it is just a few grams (with attached strap)
Display and water resistance
The display of both models is a 1,62-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 192 x 490 pixels. The Mi Band 9, however, boasts a significant improvement in brightness, with 1200 nits compared to the 600 nits of the Mi Band 8, ensuring better visibility outdoors. In any case, both maintain a certification of 5 ATM water resistance, which has now become a standard for wearable devices.
Features and sensors
Under the hood, both devices feature a 6-axis sensor, which includes a power-efficient 3-axis accelerometer and a 3-axis gyroscope. They also have PPG heart rate sensors and SpO2 monitoring capabilities. There However, Mi Band 9 boasts improved precision, with heart rate and blood oxygen sensors being the 16% more accurate compared to the Mi Band 8.
The ninth-generation smartband supports over 150 sports modes, compared to the already extensive range of the Mi Band 8, and introduces ten integrated running courses that can be started directly from the wrist. Sleep tracking has also been refined in the Mi Band 9, with 7,9% more accurate sleep data and expert advice to improve the quality of rest.
Both the Mi Band 9 and Mi Band 8 offer notifications, alarms, and basic app interactions. The first, however, is equipped with a updated vibration motor with 20 different modes, providing more nuanced haptic feedback than the Mi Band 8, improving the overall user experience.
Battery and connectivity
The Mi Band 9 houses one larger 233 mAh battery, compared to the 190 mAh of the Mi Band 8. This translates into an autonomy of up to 21 days with normal use for the Mi Band 9 (18 days for the NFC version), compared to 16 days for the Mi Band 8. Furthermore, with the Always-on Display active the Mi Band 9 lasts up to 9 days, while the Mi Band 8 reaches 6.
As for connectivity, the latest smartband Switch to Bluetooth 5.4, while the Mi Band 8 uses Bluetooth 5.1. NFC functionality is only available in China-specific versions of both models. For the moment there is no news about the arrival of the Mi band 9 NFC in Italy.
Price and availability Mi Band 9 and Mi Band 8
The price of the two smartbands is identical, so perhaps it is better to buy the latest model. This is found on the Xiaomi official site while the eighth generation is also available on Amazon at a discounted price.
