Xiaomi is not only the biggest smartphone brand in the country at this time, but also it is has become the biggest wearable brand as well courtesy of its popular releases. The Chinese manufacturer got a good rep for wearables with the launch of the Mi Band 3, but then, Xiaomi also proceeded the line-up with the launch of the Mi Band 4 later this year in India. However, with a more affordable price tag and essential features, Xiaomi has introduced a new Mi Band in India, which is the Mi Bad 3i. It is worth noting that last year, Xiaomi had released the Mi Band HRX last year and the launch of the new Mi Band 3 is actually the successor to that device. Xiaomi has also noted that it now boasts of a wearable market share of 39% as per Canalys Wearable Band Analysis, Aug 2019.
Xiaomi Mi Band 3 Features and Specifications
Coming to the features and specification of the Mi Band 3i, the first thing that the users should note is that it is an Indian centric product and has been launched for the Indian market only. As compared to the previous Mi Band HRX, the display size on the Mi Band 3i has gone up from 1.2cm (0.42) unit to a 1.9cm (0.78) one. The band also comes with AMOLED technology and touch support. Xiaomi has also upgraded the battery capacity from 70mAh to 110mAh for up to 20 days of usage on the Mi Band 3i. Also, the Mi Band 3i enables step tracking and calorie tracking along with checking notifications on the band itself. There is also the “Find Device” option which enables detection of a paired smartphone directly from the band. Xiaomi has also noted that the Mi Smart Band 3i is water-resistant up to 5ATM (50 metres in depth for 10 minutes), making it safe to be used while swimming and in showers.
Mi Band 4 or Mi Band 3i?
Now the users might have questions about whether or not they should get the Mi Band 3i if they have waited and skipped on the Mi Band 4. But then, the comparison would come down to the pricing and features of the Mi Band 3i and the Mi Band 4 which have a lot of differences in pricing and as well as features too. The Mi Band 4 is a much more feature-packed offering which means that it supports tracking features, heart rate monitor, sleep tracker. There is also the bigger colour AMOLED display with unlimited watch faces which are customisable. The brightness on the Mi Band 4 can also be adjusted, and it comes with a larger battery. Out of all this, the Mi Band 3i offers limited features of sleep and calorie tracking. So you would be missing out on features like sleep tracking, swim stroke tracking, watch faces with a colour screen and so on.
Mi Band 3i Pricing and Availability
On the other hand, the Mi Band 3i comes with a very affordable price tag of Rs 1,299 whereas, the Mi Band 4 costs Rs 1,000 more and it retails for Rs 2,299, and this price difference ensures a lot of features for the users. Previously, it was expected that Xiaomi would launch a fitness band that was a stripped-down version of the Mi Band 4, but instead, this new band is the toned-down variant of the Mi Band 3 and hence resembles the same. It is also worth noting that the Mi Band 3 costs Rs 1,999 to the buyers. Lastly, Xiaomi has also announced that the Mi Band 3i would cost Rs 1,299 and it would be available starting November 21 on mi.com.
