Xiaomi Smart Band 8 review: Affordable fitness tracker with new versatility

With the Smart Band 8, Xiaomi maintains the biggest shortcoming of the affordable wearable series and once again dispenses with integrated GPS. This is reserved for the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro, which has not yet been officially released in Europe.

This is a shame, as it would offer significantly more options for workout tracking without always having to carry a smartphone with you.

If you don’t want to do without GPS, you’ll have to look elsewhere and should consider alternatives such as the Huawei Watch Fit Special Edition (approx. 70 Euros/~$77 on Amazon) or inexpensive smartwatches such as the Amazfit Active (approx. 130 Euros/~$143 on Amazon), although they all cost more.

What is exciting is the fact that the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is more versatile to wear – not only on the wrist, but also as a necklace or on a shoe (with fewer functions). However, it is doubtful whether this will really catch on in everyday life and among the masses.

Otherwise, the new generation largely builds on the strengths of its predecessor, continuing to offer a large and bright AMOLED display as well as a solid selection of health tracking with considerable accuracy. Various other features, some of which are new, and a slightly longer battery life than the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 round off the more than solid features of the Smart Band 8 from Xiaomi, especially considering the price.