Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro smartwatch review - Great hardware, weak software

The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is operated via the 1.43-inch touchscreen as well as two buttons and the crown, which can be rotated and pressed. The top button opens the training menu with an overview of the sports that can be tracked. A double tap or long press does not trigger another command.

The lower button opens the last app used when pressed once. Double-tapping leads to Google Wallet. A short press on the crown opens the app overview. A double tap opens an overview of the last apps used. A long press opens the voice assistant. The assignment of the top button can be customized in the menu, and various other apps can be opened instead of training. However, the other commands are fixed.

Swiping sideways leads in both directions through the various tiles. Daily activity, weather, training, sleep, heart rate, and blood oxygen saturation are displayed by default. Clicking on the tiles opens the respective submenu. The order and content can be changed in the app.

Xiaomi uses a reverse scheme to most other smartwatches for swiping gestures from top and bottom. Swiping from top to bottom opens the notification overview. Notifications listed there are sorted by app.

Swiping from bottom to top, on the other hand, opens the short menu with access to the settings for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, mobile data, flight or do not disturb mode.

During operation, it is noticeable that the software does not work flawlessly in some areas. For example, the alarm function suddenly stopped working. However, after restarting the smartwatch, it worked again without any further settings. On another day, the Watch 2 Pro suddenly started making training announcements at very short intervals and without any training having started. To stop this, the smartwatch also had to be restarted.

All the health data collected by the Watch 2 Pro comes together in the Mi Fitness app. For example, the app provides information on heart rate values throughout the day. In addition to the graphical representation on a timeline, the Xiaomi smartwatch provides a daily summary with minimum and maximum values. The software also calculates an average. The heart rate is also divided into five different zones.

The Watch 2 Pro can also measure stress and displays it as a value between 0 and 100. As with the heart rate, there is a graphical display and individual values. Stress is also categorized into zones. The zones are given a percentage and a time. To reduce stress, the smartwatch offers breathing exercises. Stress and heart rate can be displayed not only for one day but also for weeks and months.

The smartwatch can also detect prolonged sitting and prompt you to exercise. However, this function did not inspire much confidence in the test. This is because the reminder to stand up comes when you are running or usually a few minutes after you have just stood up. The times recorded when standing up should therefore be treated with caution.

The Watch 2 Pro can also measure body composition. To do this, two fingers are placed on electrodes in the buttons. The software indicates the proportion of water, fat, muscle mass, protein, bone mass, and salts present in the body. The values are graphically categorized and explained on scales.

The Mi Fitness app displays daily activity prominently at the top of the dashboard. The calories burned, steps taken, and time spent standing up per hour are displayed in three semicircles. The values can be specified not only for the day, but also for a week, and the software also calculates an average. The smartwatch itself also offers a corresponding graph. The goals can be individualized in the app.

In addition to the steps, the Mi Fitness app can also display the distance covered in meters. Steps from training sessions are not included in the statistics. Floors or altitude meters are not displayed. The smartwatch only measures VO2max values for corresponding workouts.

On several test days, the Watch 2 Pro suddenly stopped recognizing movements. In the afternoon, it claimed that the tester hadn't moved yet. A restart provides a remedy.

The sleep tracking of the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro is extensive. The smartwatch measures times for light, deep, and REM sleep. Waking times are also reliably detected. The different phases are displayed graphically on a timeline. The software also displays times and percentages for each sleep phase.

The Mi-Fitness app also lists the average pulse rate, the average blood oxygen saturation and assigns breathing points. All parameters are combined by the software into a sleep score, which lies between 0 and 100. The value is compared with that of other users in the same age group.

All values can be displayed not only for one night but also for weeks and months. In addition, the software indicates a sleep animal when worn regularly, which should correspond to a certain sleep type. The sleep rhythm and sleep continuity are monitored. Stress and movements before going to bed are also included in the assessment. The software suggests a daily schedule to improve the quality of sleep.

Bedtime can be defined on the smartwatch itself using a schedule. This can influence the always-on display and notifications. The alarm clock can also be adjusted accordingly. However, the Watch 2 Pro does not offer a smart alarm clock that is based on the sleep phases.

The Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro can track over 150 different trainings. Goals can be set on the smartwatch for individual sports, such as distances or times. Interval training is also possible with the smartwatch, and the settings can be made separately for each sport.

The watch can also provide status messages during training, such as the current heart rate or average time per kilometer. Especially for runners, there are various pre-installed training courses on the smartwatch for different performance classes. Apart from the running courses, however, there are no other programs, not even in the Mi Fitness app.

The Watch 2 Pro provides a good overview during training. The heart rate is displayed as a number and assigned to color-coded levels. Thanks to the integrated satellite connection and eSIM, training sessions with route recording and music via paired Bluetooth headphones are no problem, even without a smartphone.

The training data output is extensive. In addition to heart rate, speed, and distance, the smartwatch also measures altitude, cadence, and stride length. After training, the software indicates the training effect and the training load. A recovery time is also recommended. According to the menu, the Watch 2 Pro has automatic training detection, but this did not work in the test.

The Mi Fitness app can be used to hold competitions with other users, such as family members and friends. Data exchange with Google Fit and Strava is possible. However, training maps can only be imported or exported via a detour - for example, by synchronizing with Strava.