Mi Band 3 vs Mi Band 4
The Battle Of The Bands
Can Xiamoi’s Latest Smart-Watch upstage it’s old brother?
On June 26th, 2019 Xiaomi released the eagerly anticipated follow up to the Mi Band 3 with the Mi Band 4 onto the UK market. This was just a mere ten days after its initial release in China. The question on everyone’s mind was if it would not only stand up to its previous generation counterpart but if it would make any significant improvements. So let’s answer those questions as best we can shall we.
In many ways, the Mi Band 4 is similar to Mi Band 3. However, there are some notable differences that deserve highlighting.
A whole new screen
We will start with the main difference, and that revolves around the screen. The Mi Band 3 featured a 0.78 inch OLED, Single-point touch screen and had a resolution that clocked in at 128 x 80 pixels. Whereas the Mi Band 4 is rocking a bigger 0.95 inch AMOLED display with an advanced resolution of 120 x 240 (RGB). The Mi Band 3 was plagued from launch with issues of brightness in certain situations, and mainly this occurred when under direct sunlight. With the Mi Band 4 this is no longer an issue as the display pops with both colour and vibrancy. This is achieved from the aid of a backlight that can power up to 400nits, making it easier to see the screen in all scenarios. The colour depth is a respectable 24bit, whereas the Mi Band 3 was only able to project a singular and albeit pix-elated colour.
A significant downside to the new screen is the fact it now uses tempered glass as a finish, The Mi Band 3 was made solely of plastic. This means the new material being used is more likely to suffer breakages and could require a screen protector at an added expense. The Mi Band 3 although cheaper in design and feel to the Mi Band 4 could handle quite a bit before it would show any signs of wear and tear. Also on the previous Mi Band, the screen blended seamlessly with the overall design, The same cannot be said for the latest device as this has a noticeable square outline on display which impedes on the otherwise smooth transition into the rest of the hardware design
A big feature is that this has some big features
As well as the impressive new screen design the Mi Band 4 comes packed with a whole host of new and updated features. You can tailor the full experience to how you want it with an impressive 380 customization combinations. The latest 6-axis accelerometer will allow for more improved fitness and activity tracking as well as an option to use voice commands
To change or not to change? The charging debate
The option to charge your new device with old charging hardware is not possible. As with previous models Xiaomi has released a new charging cable to accompany the product. This is due to charging pins being placed in a new spots on each device. If the Mi Bands history is anything to go by, then the next iteration will be no different.
More Juice to provide the same life span
The Mi Band 3 was powered by a 110mAH Li-Po battery. The Mi Band 4 has bumped this up to 135mAh. This means that even with all its new bells and whistles the Mi Band 4 will still be able to provide around 20 days of battery life. This is dependant on how you use the watch. If connected to your phone to receive notifications and getting reminders regularly you can expect either this 20-day mark or perhaps slightly under to be the result. On the flip side, if you use this to merely track your activity and only connect to your phone to input the figures periodically, then you could exceed that 20-day mark. The more you use the watch, the more the battery will be used. So this choice is left in your hands.
It’s all about having a connection
The Mi Band 4 now supports Bluetooth 5.0 BLE, so connectivity with the accompanying “MIFit” app is now more fluid and reliable. The Mi Band 3 supported Bluetooth 4.2 BLE which at times could be quite lengthy when syncing information and updating the firmware. NFC support is currently only available in China so unless this is updated by the aforementioned firmware we may have to wait until the next iteration of the Mi Band to have this feature
How do I Look?
The overall design of both is very similar. Each has an interchangeable strap (Mi Band 3 and Mi Band 4 straps will work with each device) that houses the main component of the watch both effectively and comfortably.
The new Mi Band 4 feels and looks noticeably more of a higher quality than its predecessor. With this budget line of smartwatches, you’re not going to break the bank to be able to own one. As the years have passed, Xiaomi has been consistent in producing and releasing high-quality products at affordable prices. The days of the terrible Chinese tech are now being overshadowed by companies such as Xiaomi. Market leaders understand the demand and need for such products that the everyday man or woman can afford.
So is it worth it?
So with that being said is the Mi Band 4 worth it? Has Xiaomi given us another worthy product to invest our money into? In short, the answer is yes. The Mi Band 4 is not a massive jump from the Mi Band 3, but it’s a big enough jump to make it stand out with its new colorful and bright screen. With its myriad of tracking and activity options and the fact you can customize your watch to suit who you are is reason enough to either upgrade or begin your MI Band journey with the Mi Band 4.
Currently, you can purchase Mi Band 4 on
- Amazon.com — £39.90
- Ebay.com — £26.98
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