Fitness bands
Fitness bands from Xiaomi and Huawei: heart rate, sleep, steps and workouts on your wrist, an AMOLED screen and weeks per charge — at half the price of a smartwatch.
Huawei Band 11 Pro fitness band with a 1.62″ AMOLED screen, Black
Huawei Band 11 Pro fitness band with a 1.62″ AMOLED screen, Blue
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Ceramic Edition fitness band with AMOLED screen, Pearl White
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro fitness band with a 1.74″ AMOLED screen, Glacier Silver
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro fitness band with a 1.74″ AMOLED screen, Lavender Pink
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro fitness band with a 1.74″ AMOLED screen, Midnight
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro Ceramic Edition fitness band with GPS, Pearl White
Huawei Band 11 fitness band with a 1.62″ AMOLED touchscreen
Xiaomi Smart Band 11 Active fitness band with heart rate sensor, Black
Xiaomi Smart Band 11 Active fitness band with heart rate sensor, Gray
A band is the cheapest way to start measuring yourself
A fitness band does what most people buy a smartwatch for: heart rate, steps, sleep and workouts, with notifications on the wrist. The difference is price and battery — a band typically costs 40–110 € and lasts weeks rather than days. If your first question is "will I even wear this", start with a band.
Band or watch
- Battery. A band runs up to three weeks; a screen-equipped smartwatch a day or two.
- Weight and shape. The narrow case does not catch on a sleeve and goes unnoticed in bed — so sleep actually gets measured.
- What a band does NOT do. Card payments and calls are rare, you cannot install apps, and only models with built-in GPS record a phone-free run.
- Screen. AMOLED is clearly easier to read in sunlight than TFT — you notice it on the first outdoor run.
How to choose
Four things matter. Screen: AMOLED is brighter and sharper, TFT is cheaper. Battery: two to three weeks is today's norm. Water resistance: 5 ATM (50 m) means you can swim without taking it off. Wrist size: makers give a range (typically 135–205 mm) — check it for a slim wrist.
What to add
A band charges from a magnetic dock over USB: if you have no spare port see chargers, and a power bank for travel. If you want a bigger screen and apps, look at smartwatches; if you would rather drop the screen entirely, see smart rings.
FAQ
Does a band work with an iPhone? Yes — Xiaomi and Huawei bands support both iOS and Android through the maker's app.
How accurate is the heart rate sensor? Accurate at rest and at an easy pace; in intervals and in the gym an optical sensor lags a chest strap — equally true of bands and watches.
Does a band measure blood pressure? No. Steps, heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen and stress, yes; blood pressure and glucose are outside what these devices do.