Xiaomi Mi Band 7 vs Mi Band 6: A larger display, bigger battery, and continuous blood oxygen monitoring for the 2022 model
Xiaomi has put its Mi Band 7 up for sale in China, with the regular edition of the activity tracker costing 249 yuan (US$37; 239-yuan sale price for a limited period (US$36)) while the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 NFC model is priced at 299 yuan (US$45; 279-yuan sale price (US$42)). Xiaomi has yet to announce a global launch date for the Mi Band 7; however, if it is going to see a global release it could be expected that there will be relevant news at some point in late June. It took almost a month from the Mi Band 6’s announcement date (March 29, 2021) for the wearable to become available as the Mi Smart Band 6 Global Edition (April 28, 2021).
There are some noticeable differences between the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 and the Mi Band 6, although perhaps not considerable enough to make an upgrade. The newer band comes with a slightly larger display (see table below), a significantly higher capacity battery, a more-recent CPU, and the above-mentioned continuous SpO2 blood oxygen monitor. Those with a Mi Band 5 or older should certainly consider an upgrade, but it’s arguable to say if these changes are enough for a Mi Band 6 user to buy the 2022 model. Especially as it doesn’t feature a much-desired GPS, which is currently speculated for a potential Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro edition.
The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 vs. Xiaomi Mi Band 6 key specifications are as follows:
| Mi Band 7 | Mi Band 7 NFC | Mi Smart Band 6 | Mi Smart Band 6 NFC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.62-inch AMOLED | 1.62-inch AMOLED | 1.56-inch AMOLED | 1.56-inch AMOLED |
| Resolution | 192x490 | 192x490 | 152x486 | 152x486 |
| Brightness | Up to 500 nits | Up to 500 nits | Up to 450 nits | Up to 450 nits |
| Sensors | Optical heart rate, blood oxygen, and 6-axis motion | Optical heart rate, blood oxygen, and 6-axis motion | PPG heart rate and 6-axis motion | PPG heart rate and 6-axis motion |
| Battery | 180 mAh | 180 mAh | 125 mAh | 125 mAh |
| Battery life | Up to 15 days | Up to 14 days | Up to 14 days | Up to 12 days |
| Charge time | About 2 hours | About 2 hours | About 2 hours | About 2 hours |
| Sports | 120 fitness modes | 120 fitness modes | 30 fitness modes | 30 fitness modes |
| Weight | 13.5 g | 13.8 g | 12.8 g | 12.8 g |
| Dimensions | 46.5 x 20.7 x 12.25 mm | 46.5 x 20.7 x 12.25 mm | 47.4 x 18.6 x 12.7 mm | 47.4 x 18.6 x 12.7 mm |
| Waterproof | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Connection | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.2 | Bluetooth 5.0 | Bluetooth 5.0 |
| Support | Android 6.0/iOS 10.0 or above | Android 6.0/iOS 10.0 or above | Android 5.0/iOS 10.0 or above | Android 5.0/iOS 10.0 or above |
| Launch price | 249 yuan (sale 239 yuan) | 299 yuan (sale 279 yuan) | 229 yuan | 279 yuan |
