Full Review of Xiaomi Watch 2: Features, Design, and Specifications

Introduction

Smartwatch from Xiaomi running on Google’s VOS operating system, powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 Gen1 processor. Featuring all essential modules, support for over 160 sports, Google Maps, and Google Assistant.

Twelve-channel advanced health monitoring technology, battery life up to 65 hours, enhanced positioning accuracy, waterproof to 5 atmospheres. AMOLED display with Always On Display technology, supports Bluetooth call functionality.

And this is just a small part of what the manufacturer promises in the advertising for the Xiaomi Watch 2 smartwatch. How close we are to the Pip-Boys from Fallout, but what is the actual state of this model, I will now tell you.

Unpacking

This model comes in a white elongated box with an image and the name of the model, as well as brief specifications. The packaging is excellent. The set includes a smartwatch with a strap, a quick start guide, and a two-pin charger. The smartwatch weighs 52.6 g, with dimensions as follows: 47x57x144 mm, and the strap width is 22 mm.

Model and Functionality

Let’s move on to the watch. The Watch 2 is a simplified version of the Watch 2 Pro. Plus, both models run on the VOS operating system. Therefore, third-party applications can be installed on the smartwatch. NFC is available.

The Watch 2 comes in black and silver colors. The design of the model is ordinary. Compared to the Pro version, overall, the smartwatch looks good. Additionally, the case is made of aluminum, and the strap is silicone. The model is well-assembled.

The strap is quick-release, has a standard mount, and a classic metal buckle. The end of the strap tucks inside. The strap is comfortable but slightly rough. The wrist under the strap sweats a little, but the strap does not chafe.

When worn, the smartwatch does not cause discomfort, even during sleep. For those who joke that nothing causes me discomfort during sleep, you are wrong. I cannot use the Apple Watch Ultra for sleep at all.

On the case, there is brief information, a magnetic charging area, pins, a microphone, a speaker, and health monitoring sensors.

Technical Specifications

Sensors onboard include an optical heart rate sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, electronic compass, and barometric pressure sensor. Two mechanical buttons are located on the right edge.

The top button is used to enter the menu, pressing and holding it can call Google Assistant, and double-pressing it switches to recently opened applications. The bottom button is used to switch to the last opened application, the GPay payment system, and pressing and holding it allows you to access the shutdown, restart, and emergency call tabs.

In the smartphone app, you can enable the emergency help feature, and pressing the bottom button three times will make a call to the specified number. The buttons have no play, they press well. A downside is that commands cannot be reassigned.

Display and Performance

On the front, we have a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 466 by 466 pixels and a pixel density of 326 ppi. The screen refresh rate feels like 60 Hz. The brightness reaches up to 600 nits according to my measurements, the screen outputs up to 880 lux of brightness. The screen is sufficient even for use in sunlight.

There is automatic brightness adjustment and manual setting. The processor is Qualcomm Snapdragon W5+ Gen 1 with a 4nm process. It has 2GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 32GB of eMMC internal storage. Wi-Fi supports 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz. The Bluetooth chip is version 5.2.

The interface is available in all languages, the translation is accurate, and the font is well-readable. Navigating the interface is convenient, the system operates almost without micro-freezes.

Applications and Functions

Various settings functions are available. For example, they support full multitasking, the built-in Play Market, and more. The screen timeout can be set to a maximum of 60 seconds.

The always-on display function can be set up to 20 minutes, which is standard. Always On Display is also present, working on a schedule or in automatic mode, the style depends on the watch face.

The screen-off function by covering it with your palm is onboard. The screen activation when raising the wrist works steadily well and quite quickly.

Useful features include setting a password, configuring the “Do Not Disturb” and sleep modes, selecting the menu layout style, enabling the unread notification icon, enabling zoom gestures, and enabling text-to-speech functionality.

Control

Next, by swiping from the main screen from top to bottom, you access notifications, from bottom to top, the quick access panel, which can be personalized. It includes brightness control, access to settings, airplane mode, Do Not Disturb mode, theater mode, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth toggle, speaker blowing, and more.

Left to right and vice versa are widgets, which can also be personalized and sorted in the application. Conveniently, you can sort applications by simply holding any app in the menu.

Sports Functions and Navigation

The menu includes workouts with over 160 types, swim tracking onboard, automatic activity detection, running courses, various workout settings, and post-workout statistics. For navigation, dual-band L1 + L5 GPS, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, and QZSS are used.

Route tracking via GPS works quite well but not accurately, as there are deviations in the route. Navigation works paired with the smartphone, no issues here. Conveniently, the workout can run in the background, as most do in this model.

Applications and Widgets

The menu includes the Play Market with applications. For example, you can install Google Fit, WhatsApp, watch faces, and more. The menu also includes Google Maps, weather with detailed forecasts, a calendar, contacts, a voice recorder, a Bluetooth shutter button, even in the stock camera app on the smartphone.

There is also an alarm clock that can be set directly from the smartwatch, a hand washing app, world time, a compass, atmospheric pressure and altitude, phone finder, timer, stopwatch, volume control, and track switching for playback on the smartphone.

The menu includes a music player, but I personally did not find a separate tab in the app to load music onto the smartwatch. You cannot connect a chest strap, but you can connect Bluetooth headphones to the smartwatch.

Health Monitoring

Now let’s talk about health monitoring functions. The heart rate works in automatic mode or automatic mode with a selected interval, SpO2 and stress level are measured in automatic mode. Of course, all these indicators can be measured manually.

There are also breathing exercises, women’s health tracking, and sleep monitoring with breathing assessment during sleep. It is convenient that all health monitoring can be configured directly from the smartwatch. Plus, informational graphs are displayed on the smartwatch.

Unlike the Pro version, this model often shows incorrect readings during certain activities for reasons unknown to me. This could be a workout in the gym or a bike ride.

Additional Settings

Next in settings, in addition to the aforementioned, you can configure the sound. The speaker is loud, and the sound quality is excellent. However, the vibration motor is tactilely pleasant, but the vibration strength cannot be adjusted. You can make calls through the smartwatch as this version supports Bluetooth call functionality.

Notifications arrive instantly, application icons, user photos, emojis, and pictures are all displayed. Conveniently, long texts can be read directly from the smartwatch, and there is also voice input, emoji replies, and a keyboard for replying to notifications.

Battery Life

The battery capacity is 495 mAh, a full charge cycle takes 50 minutes. Battery life in normal use scenarios, according to my tests, is 2-3 days, no more.

Water Resistance

Overall, like the Pro version, the water resistance is 5 atmospheres. For example, I submerged them in running water, and they were fine. You can swim with them and take a shower, but not in hot water.

Mi Fitness App

Upon initial connection, I immediately received an update. The Mi Fitness app has four main tabs: health, workout, device, and profile. The app includes a watch face store, with personalized, clickable, animated watch faces, and any photo can be set as a watch face.

Moreover, watch faces can be installed both third-party and from the Play Market. The app also includes the Play Market itself, a feature for syncing calendar events, a screenshot feature, health monitoring settings, and device settings.

Disadvantages

For some, it might be a downside that the smartwatch connects to the fitness app.

You cannot reassign commands to buttons, the battery life is modest, and you cannot connect a chest strap. Plus, there are some issues in the system, and certain functionalities may occasionally not work correctly.

Additionally, unlike the Pro version, this model poorly reads health indicators during activities. Navigation also works poorly. There is no option to load routes for workouts.

In any case, I did not find this feature in the stock app, nor did I find the option to load music onto the smartwatch through the app.

Conclusion

In summary, the Xiaomi Watch 2, as I mentioned, is a simplified version of the Watch 2 Pro. The processor is the same, the screen is the same, and the system is the same. It lacks skin temperature and body composition measurement, and externally, they are slightly different. Otherwise, these are the same watches, only in profile.

Note that the Watch 2 does not have an LTE version, unlike the Watch 2 Pro. Despite this, I give the device a definite “yes” because I bought it at an incredibly good price. Subscribe to the channel with the bell.

Wishing you all the best, dear friends!