Launch date, rumors, worth, specs, all we all know to this point

Replace, April 14, 2023 (02:38 PM ET): We’ve up to date this Xiaomi Mi Band 8 rumor hub with information about carrying the tracker like a necklace.

Unique article: We’re nonetheless tickled by the unbelievable worth of the Xiaomi Mi Band 7, the corporate’s newest finances health tracker to hit wrists. The machine packs a strong wearable right into a tiny type issue and appears good whereas doing it. And but, we discover ourselves already wanting ahead to what Xiaomi will ship subsequent in its subsequent iteration, the Xiaomi Mi Band 8. Learn on to search out out every little thing we all know to this point and test again as we’ll maintain this hub up to date as rumors and information unfold.

Completely. Regardless of elevated competitors within the finances tracker enviornment, Xiaomi stays a pacesetter with its Mi Band lineup. Xiaomi has already confirmed that the brand new tracker is on the way in which. We predict it’s secure to imagine Xiaomi will proceed its established naming conference because the Mi Band 8 in chosen markets and the Xiaomi Good Band 8 in areas like Europe.

• Xiaomi Mi Band: July 2014
• Xiaomi Mi Band 2: June 2016
• Xiaomi Mi Band 3: Might 2018
• Xiaomi Mi Band 4: June 2019
• Xiaomi Mi Band 5: June 2020
• Xiaomi Mi Band 6: March 2021
• Xiaomi Mi Band 7: Might 2022
• Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Professional: June 2022

The record above represents the launch dates of earlier Mi Band generations in China. Sometimes, the bands hit the worldwide market a couple of weeks after their nationwide launch. An official poster on Xiaomi’s China web site revealed that the latest health tracker will debut on April 18, 2023.

Will there be a Mi Band 8 Professional?

We hope so. Throughout our Mi Band 7 Professional evaluation, we had been impressed by the pricier mannequin’s elegant design, built-in GPS, and prolonged battery life. We’d like to see this mannequin return within the subsequent technology, ideally with much more enhancements. If Xiaomi repeats the lineup, we’re more likely to see it introduced in China a month or so after the bottom mannequin.

Mi Bands don’t differ a ton in total design, however final yr’s mannequin debuted a a lot bigger, extra vibrant touchscreen show than its predecessors. It additionally upped the brightness of the road by way of nits. On the brand new mannequin, consumers will discover the identical capsule form we all know and love and an equally engaging AMOLED show. We count on the road to retain always-on performance and the identical redesigned UI we first noticed with the Mi Band 7.

The main change you may spot in leaked pictures reported by GoAndroid is a brand new strap design. Moderately than wrapping across the monitoring capsule, the upcoming strap connects to the machine on all sides. This aligns the Mi Band 8 extra carefully with the present Professional mannequin in addition to different fashionable wearables, together with Fitbit’s Encourage 3. Nevertheless, regardless of using detachable bands, it doesn’t appear to be the tracker will likely be suitable with bands from the corporate’s present Professional mannequin.

The identical report accommodates the band’s mannequin quantity M2239B1 and confirms that the machine has achieved NRRA Korea certification. The pictures present a barely totally different sensor package deal than that of the earlier mannequin however inner specs are nonetheless unclear. We see affirmation that the machine could have Bluetooth 5.1 (a downgrade on paper in comparison with the Mi Band 7’s Bluetooth 5.2) and a 3.87 volt battery.

And it appears to be like like bands received’t be the one approach you’ll be capable to put on the Mi Band 8. Xiaomi founder Lei Jun posted a picture of the Mi Band 8 strung up like a pendant on his Weibo web page. The corporate seems to be making necklace equipment for the machine as nicely.

Although we haven’t seen many particulars launched in regards to the well being and health monitoring we will count on, we all know the brand new band is more likely to characteristic an identical expertise to the final mannequin. Happily, throughout our Mi Band 7 evaluation, we had been very happy with the enhancements the corporate has been made.

The Mi Band 8 will doubtless supply all of the exercise and sleep monitoring fundamentals, plus steady blood oxygen monitoring and low SpO2 alerts, all-day coronary heart fee, sleep, and stress monitoring. We additionally anticipate the identical staggering variety of sports activities monitoring modes (120!), although hopefully not many extra. Like the sooner technology, the Mi band 8 will doubtless additionally monitor detailed health stats like coaching load, coaching impact, and restoration time, in addition to VO2 max.

We’re not assured Xiaomi will add GPS to this mannequin because it’s an element that retains the Professional mannequin a step above. Extra doubtless, the bottom mannequin will supply related GPS solely. We’ll maintain these particulars up to date, nonetheless, as we study extra.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 launched a small worth bump to the road and launched for round $60. It additionally launched a ton of latest options and an enormous improve by way of design. Shortly after, Xiaomi introduced a Professional mannequin with a smartwatch-style show priced over $100. If the corporate repeats this two-pronged method to its tracker line, we count on the upcoming units to land across the similar worth factors.

It’s arduous to think about Xiaomi bumping the Mi Band 8 once more until it provides one thing substantial to customers’ wrists (onboard GPS please?). More than likely, a couple of big-ticket options will stay reserved for the big-screened wearable.

Although “band” is one among 4 phrases within the machine’s identify, we wouldn’t balk if the tracker flirted extra closely with smartwatch territory. The present mannequin gives a couple of sensible options like notifications and music controls, nevertheless it’s nonetheless restricted in heavy hitters.

World fashions don’t supply NFC help nor do they characteristic a voice assistant. These aren’t unprecedented on a tracker, however they’re uncommon at this worth level and will assist maintain Xiaomi forward of the competitors. Merely put, we love the small type issue of this finances tracker and simply want it had been even tougher working.

One other pipe dream we’re harboring regardless of its unlikeliness is onboard GPS. As of now, Xiaomi has reserved this characteristic for its Mi Band 7 Professional.

Nobody likes taking their telephone on runs. Positive, often when a run turns right into a stroll, it’s good to have your telephone readily available to get some pleasant calls out of the way in which. Nevertheless, for monitoring common exercises open air, built-in GPS separates athlete-friendly units from these solely fitted to informal exercise monitoring. We’d like to see a finances tracker break the mould.

The Mi Band lineup is small and comfy. These are each nice descriptors for a tool you’d put on to mattress. Sadly, each the Mi Band 7 and Mi Band 7 Professional delivered inconsistent sleep knowledge throughout our evaluation durations. On the following mannequin, we hope to see Xiaomi step up its in a single day monitoring. We’re not anticipating Fitbit-level insights at this worth however then once more, why not?

This one isn’t even an enormous ask and has little to do with the brand new band itself. At launch, the Mi Band 7 proved suitable with two totally different companion apps: Zepp Life and Mi Health. Sadly, neither one gives a complete expertise. For instance, Mi Health can’t sync with Google Match and Zepp Life can’t sync with Strava. We hope to see the Mi Band 8 launch alongside a transparent and cleaned-up app state of affairs.

That’s every little thing we need to see from the Xiaomi Mi Band 8. Which options do you hope for many? Tell us by voting within the ballot beneath.