The Mi Band 7 adds incremental improvements from the Mi Band 6, the previous model. The Mi Band 7 adds about 20% screen real estate growing from 1.56” to 1.62”. The Mi Band 7 also now packs a more powerful processor, a bigger battery of 180mAh battery compared to 125mAh on the Mi Band 6. This band is also slightly heavier, weighing 13.5g compared to 12.8g on the Mi Band 6. The user interface has been redesigned to accommodate a bigger screen and better animations thanks to a faster processor. These improvements might not be enough to convince someone with last year’s model to upgrade but are notable if you’re upgrading from Mi Band 5 and older.
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Mi Band 7 Specs
Mi Band 7 Specs:
Dimensions: 46.5 mm x 20.7 mm x 12.25 mmWeight: 13.5gDisplay: 1.62 inch AMOLED Touch DisplayResolution: 192 x 490 pixels，326 PPIBrightness: up to 500 nits, adjustableBattery: 180mAhBluetooth: 5.2 BLEWater resistance: 5ATMFitness modes: 110+ sports modesSensors: High precision 6-axis sensor and PPG heart rate sensor 6-axis sensorWatch faces: 100+
Summarily, here’s what I liked;
Bigger brighter AMOLED display Always-on display Training load analysisBigger battery
What we didn’t like
No built-in GPS
I have been using the Mi Band 7 as my daily driver for close to a month now. While there’s no significant difference with last year’s model, I must say that this is Xiaomi’s most refined Fitness band. The company has kept on making incremental improvements to this fitness band on both the hardware and software front. One of the most requested features has always been a built-in GPS. While Xiaomi didn’t include it in this model, Xiaomi instead decided to produce a “Pro” which includes a GPS. So if that’s what you’re going for, then consider the Mi Band 7 Pro instead.
Xiaomi Mi Band 7 Pro: Here’s What is newThe difference between Xiaomi Mi Band 7 and Mi Band 7 Pro
Another noticeable improvement I see is the inclusion of an Always-on Display. Xiaomi has managed to do this without severely impacting the battery. With an Always-on display, your fitness band has a lock screen showing basic information such as the time and steps. I now have mine turned on by default. The lock screen is different from the watch face and I don’t think you can customize it the way you do with Watch faces. Xiaomi has over 100 watch faces you can download from its watch store making this device highly customizable. Read more:
10 Useful Tips and Tricks of the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7 You Should knowHow To Setup the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7
Xiaomi has also added continuous Blood saturation (SpO2) monitoring. In the previous model, you still had a SpO2 sensor, but you only got a value when you wanted to measure. With the Mi Band 7, you now have the option to have it running in real-time like the heart rate monitor. I wouldn’t know of any instances where real-time SpO2 monitoring comes in handy except in cases where you’re hospitalized or hiking a mountain or involved in a high-altitude activity. Still, having the option available is a plus for those who might need it.
What else is new?
25% bigger 1.62” AMOLED displayMore powerful Dialog 14706 processorBluetooth 5.2 LEBigger 180mAh batteryBrighter display with 500 nits
Xiaomi has continuously increased the screen of real estate with each iteration of the Mi Band. With a 1.62” AMOLED display, you now have about 25% more screen display compared to last year’s version which had a 1.56” screen. The icons and text font are noticeably bigger and brighter as well. The resolution has been bumped up from last year’s 152 x 486 pixels, 450 nits to 192 x 490 pixels and upto 500 nits. This makes the screen a little sharper and crisper than the previous model. The animations are also a lot smoother thanks to a faster Dialog 14706 processor. Even though this year’s model is a few grams heavier than last year’s model, it still feels incredibly light on my wrist. While the display is bigger and brighter than last year’s model, you still get 7-14 days of battery just like last year’s model. To compensate for these changes that would obviously impact on battery, Xiaomi bumped up the battery of the Mi Band 7 to 180mAh up from last year’s 125mAh. Battery usage is highly dependent on features you enable on your fitness band. For instance, having an Always-on display, continuous heart rate, or SpO2 monitoring will severely reduce the battery of the band. You might hit even 7 days with these turned on. The band is still charged by the same 2-PIN magnetic charger that shipped in last year’s model. Using the Mi Band 7 as an activity tracker has been incredibly helpful. Xiaomi has managed to sneak in activity tracking features seen on more premium brands and models such as the Fitbit charge 5. One of those features is called “Training load analysis”. This feature enables you to know when it’s best to work out or take a break so as to give your body some time to recover. The band will calculate the corresponding workout load based on the EPOC (Excess Post-Exercise Oxygen Consumption) you have produced in the last 7 days in order to assess your workout. You can then adjust your next workout schedule based on the zone your score is in. As a sedentary lifestyle tracker, the Mi Band 7 shines. It’ll alert you when you’ve sat for long periods of time and prompt you to stand up and stretch or take walks. You don’t have to set up anything, this feature is enabled by default. As a person who works in front of a computer for long periods of time, I put on the fitness band to remind myself to take those breaks for the benefit of my own health.
Another fitness tracking feature I find cool with the Mi Band 7 is workout detection. With this feature, the Mi band will remind you after it detects the type of workout you selected has been going on for some time. It will ask you if it should start tracking the activity or not. For instance, I occasionally take evening walks. Instead of manually starting the walking activity, the Mi Band 7 will automatically detect that I am walking after about 300 meters and ask if it should record the activity. If you stop walking, it’ll automatically pause the activity and resume when you restart walking. Workout activity tracking is supported for outdoor running, walking, treadmill, rowing machine, elliptical.
Key features of the Mi Band 7
Female Health managementPersonal Activity IndexStress Level MonitoringDeep breath exerciseSleep trackingHeart rate MonitoringSpO2 Blood Oxygen MonitoringWorkout activity detectionOver 110+ Activity modes supportedOver 100 Watch facesMusic Playback controlWeatherApp notificationsFlashlightPomodoro TimerPhone finderTimer and Stopwatch
One thing I noticed missing is the ability to sync the Mi Band 7 with Google Fit. This feature is only present if you use the Zepp Life App instead of the Mi Fitness App. Zepp life App is mostly used to set up budget Amazfit devices. But since it’s the same company that manufactures Mi Smart Band — Huami technologies — the app will work just fine. If you’re not a Google Fit user, you can sync your Mi Band 7 with Strava instead. You can also watch our video review of this Mi band 7 below;
Price and Availability
Conclusion
I love the larger, brighter, and sharp display of the Mi Band 7. I like the refreshed and refined User Interface that now has a lot smoother animations thanks to a faster processor. The Mi Band 7 now packs a little more information within the band itself rather than getting everything from the companion smartphone App.
However, for $10 more, the Mi Band 7 isn’t an obvious recommendation for users with the previous model. However, if you’re coming from older models older than the 5th model or if you’re buying a fitness band for the first time, the Mi Band 7 is an easy recommendation. If you’re looking for a built-in GPS specifically, then go with the Mi Band 7 Pro. For $50 or less, the Mi Band 7 offers a lot of value that the competition can only dream of.
