Xiaomi’s Latest Innovation: The Watch 2

Xiaomi has finally joined the Wear OS family with its latest smartwatch, the Watch 2. This marks a significant shift for the Chinese manufacturer, as it abandons its closed system and connects to the Google app store. But what does this mean for users, and how does the Watch 2 stack up against the competition?

A New Era for Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s smartwatches have always had a built-in disadvantage: they came with the company’s operating system, which, although it offered a multitude of apps, did not connect to the Google app store and therefore limited the use of the device. But now, Xiaomi is getting things in order. After launching a new operating system for phones, which is expected to slowly reach more of the company’s devices, it is launching a new watch and abandoning its closed system.

The Xiaomi Watch 2 (and there is also a Pro model) is powered by Wear OS - Google’s operating system for smartwatches, similar to the one you will find in OnePlus, Samsung watches, and also Google’s own Pixel devices, of course.

Design and Features

We took the new model in the basic version for testing, to see what Xiaomi offers. The watch looks massive, weighs around 37g and doesn’t feel heavy, and has the look of a “serious” or “respectable” watch thanks to the aluminum case, but it came with simple plastic (or TPU, if you insist) straps. This is not a problem in terms of their operation, only in terms of appearance - who cares - overall they are comfortable.

The Xiaomi Watch 2 has a round design and a clean interface.

The screen itself remains clean overall and does not collect fingerprints, a problem that stood out in a previous Xiaomi model. The design is clean and includes only two buttons on the right side - one to switch between the main screen and the apps screen and the other to open the last app you used. Of course, part of the function of the first button can also be done with the touch of a finger - scroll through the shortcuts on the main screen of the watch and return from the application screen to the normal view.

Advanced Features and Conversion

To activate the watch and connect it to the phone you will need a Xiaomi application. The initial activation went off without a hitch. Then you can start playing with the settings - in some cases, there is an overlap and you can make adjustments through the watch or through the app on the phone, and there are things that can still only be changed through the app.

In Watch 2 you will find everything you can expect from a smartwatch: heart rate measurement, sleep and sports activity monitoring, blood oxygen level testing, Google Wallet, fall detection and contact alert, weather forecast display, notifications from the phone, of course, and much more. But it doesn’t stand on its own, meaning it doesn’t have an eSIM. It can be used to make calls, as long as it is near the phone.

During a call, you can control the volume, but in a cumbersome, confusing, and non-intuitive way: you have to click on a three-dot symbol that appears on the side, open the “volume” menu, and then don’t be tempted by the yellow arch that appears on the side and shows the volume, and it looks like you can use it to change in the desired direction, but press + or -.

“The Xiaomi Watch 2 is a significant innovation for the company, but it doesn’t provide any advantage over the competition.”

The Xiaomi Watch 2 has a range of features, including heart rate measurement and sports activity monitoring.

Conclusion

Xiaomi’s Watch 2 is a significant innovation for the company, but it doesn’t provide any advantage over the competition. The watch looks massive, weighs around 37g and doesn’t feel heavy, and has the look of a “serious” or “respectable” watch thanks to the aluminum case. However, the design is clean and includes only two buttons on the right side. The screen itself remains clean overall and does not collect fingerprints. The watch is also resistant to a pressure of 5 ATMs, that is to a depth of 50 meters.

The Xiaomi Watch 2 has a clean design and a round screen.

Overall, the Xiaomi Watch 2 is a solid addition to the Wear OS family, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table. If you’re in the market for a new smartwatch, it’s worth considering, but it’s not a game-changer.