Xiaomi Mi band All you need to know thread

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If you ask a question, check the OP FAQ section for the answer.I'll post replies there!Don't PM me with questions

Use the search function to scan the thread.I'm using it with my G2 on Mahdi 4.4.4.
Buy it here

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Droidriven
Forum Moderator

Video Review

 

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FAQ

Mod edit:

Links removed for violating rule #11 of the XDA Forum Rules.


Droidriven
Forum Moderator

There is this general conception of how Bluetooth kills battery and how you shouldn't leave it on.The Mi band is the only device that doesn't kill your battery at all(I mean it literally) and has amazing battery life. I've had it for a week and it's gone from 63-44%.It's battery life is fantastic.No matter the device you have, if it has Android 4.4+ and Bluetooth 4.0+ then it shouldn't drain your battery.It's connection is completely over Bluetooth LE in such a way that the Bluetooth settings show no device connected but it can be found using the app.This means it's using just the Bluetooth LE code introduced by Google with 4.3.So Don't ask about Bluetooth on blahblah.....It does nothing to your battery.

Where did you get it from?

How much?
How long did the shipping take (and to what country) ?

China Link removed I'm in China. $22 because it's scarce.

Can you use it to unlock your device or does it really only work on Xiaomi phones?

How comfortable is it?
Cheers

Unlocks only xiaomiMiui devices(any device with miui v5+).If you wear it too tight it can hurt a little but usually it is comfortable and light.

where to download the latest version of the app with english language ?

Link removed

nice one

does that come with the band ?
I have ordered one from aliexpress i hope to receive in a couple of weeks
edit: yeah okay i dont read chinese -.- how do i download it ?

It's straight forward.Any button with the words 下载 will do the download.Or just wait it's in the manual from the box

How does it work with non MIUI devices? Any problems, except the unlocking feature that doesn't work?

Does it need to be connected all the time to BT?
Is it possible to change the vibration during call time to 1 or 0?

-No probs at all.I use it with my G2.I'll be switching roms to check but flawless on AOSP 4.4.
-It's connected to bluetooth all the time but it is completely LE unlike anything I've seen before.It doesn't show up in bluetooth devices and only its app detects it.Also the bluetooth icon shows bluetooth on but not connected unlike with a speaker or headset.This means it really almost never affects battery life as I noticed for the past 72hrs and that the connection is not active but completely on bluetooth LE.Syncing is done when u open the app without any pain.
-Call time vib is 3secs because it may need time to connect the band and send the vibration command depending on where you are.This is convenient if you go lets say to a store.It disconnects but as soon as u get back home say u have a call.Because the band doesn't need to be connected to ur phone all the time(power saving) it reconnects within the 3 secs and vibrates.But it's almost instant.Open an app on your device afresh and that's how long it takes.

What does it mean when it shows 3 leds and vibrates? Also, I saw something about being able to check my progress in daily goal via the leds how do I do that? I seem some places claiming it can vibrate for notifications, I only got mine to vibrate on missed calls, can I get it to work for sms or other notifications too?

Thanks for your time doing this AMA.

The LEDs light up for calls,when ur close to ur goal(with 2LEDs) and when u reach your goal(3).Also for alarms,finding your miband and low battery(never had this yet).For notifications nothing yet.Vibs are only for calls.I wish someone would make an app for this notifications and LEDs changing with various notifications(it's a multicolor LED) for the mi band.It's only for calls for now.But it's xiaomi.That option may come.I got a firmware update when I installed the official app so yeah they do updates.This was obviously downloaded on the phone and pushed over and it took 20secs or so.

I forgot to ask. What's the maximum distance between the phone and band? At home If you go to another room, is the Mi Band still able to connect?

You never know if it is connected(only if u have the app opened) because it doesn't have to be every time.The band records data and when ur close it syncs when the app is open.The battery truely last long.It's on 51% from 63% after 4 days of intensive use.Also come on dude 10m is the maximum for bluetooth so don't expect magic here.

Hey,

First of all, thank you for the AMA!
I would also have a couple of questions:
1. How does the vibrating alarm work? Does it wait this it senses movement in the half hour before the set time and wakes you then or it begins to vibrate at the set time?
2. Does this function work even if the phones Bluetooth is turned of? (are the alarms transferred to the band and the it can be independent)
3. How accurate do you consider the sleep/motion tracking to be?
Thank you

Good second question.
1.It works well.I didn't quite get it's smart alarm feature yet but if you set an alarm it vibrates 4 times on your wrist at the time of the alarm.I set two simultaneously as i find it hard to get up in the morning.The smart alarm says it can get you up in a 30mins range from the time you set the alarm so maybe when it detects light sleep during 30mins from the set time it will get you up.That's the only hit or miss feature but you don't need smart alarms just do a regular one.
2.It is a transfered alarm unfortunately.During my testing I noticed the mi band stores only motion and its app translates it into steps,run,sleep,blabla....Alarms and call vibrations are all triggered from the phone so if your phone is off you would not get up in the morning.Buetooth off is not allowed.
3.The motion tracking is good it does a nice job at not counting steps when using your "mi band hand" like during eating or typing or even closing your mouth when you cough(don't put it on your active hand though,all fitness trackers advice this for more accuracy).It's accurate and on par with the best fitness tracking tech available.It's not like S health or LG health that can give you 100 steps just for shaking your phone.The sleep tracking is magical.It works so well for me.Detects when I'm about to sleep,in deep sleep,light sleep,get up at night,wake up time...It does all that so well and if it is off maybe just by one minute or two and seldom happens.The sleep tracking is a winner.Well the only thing is you get info on your sleep but how to make it better is up to you.

Can you get other notification on mi band ? I mean if a Text message come, will it vibrate and use led ? or Whatsapp and things like that ? If not with stock app .. Maybe with a third party app ? did you try it ?

Link removed

Does Xiaomi provide a SDK ? As a workaround does Tasker detect the device ?

No.I've tried myself.It is completely over bluetooth LE even while syncing.Only miui detects it.I guess a dev will have to start from there to get the "universal" detection part working(ripping the files and porting).

Hello.

You told a few post ago that you are left-handed (like me) and you wear Mi Band on your left wrist. I'd like to know why you are using Mi Band that way. It seems logical for me to wear it on the right wrist so you avoid movements like drinking water, using the computer mouse and so and just monitor movements related to walking, running, etc. I'm not sure if my logic is flaw. What do you think? Also I'm not sure if Xiaomi recommends anything about it.
Thank you very much.

I'm L&R handed but it is configurable for left or right hand use in the settings.You have to use it on your less active hand.It does a good job at not counting steps unnecessarily(using a mouse,greeting some one,typing .....).I've not seen it miscount like that yet.I'll post a video review here soon.Stay posted.

How reliable is the vibrate on call?

Reliable if you are close to your phone.For me 98%.

How do you reset your mi band? So that it starts showing stats from zero?

All in the app.But stats are reset everyday automatically and the history is stored on the device & found in the app.

1. How long does it takes for the band to re-connect to the app, mine is taking forever. 2. I was walking earlier today and the band vibrated 2/3 times, that signifies that i have meet my goal? 3. how good is the "water resistant"? can i shower with it, get in the rain with it?

At most 10 secs after long disconnection but usually around 5 sometimes less.I started taking a shower with mine everyday.No issues.Water resistance is great.I play tennis too and sweat alot.2 vibs with many LEDs for goals,3 with on blue LED for calls,5times no LED for alarms.

 

[z3r0-c001]

Where did you get it from?
How much?
How long did the shipping take (and to what country) ?

 

[k0uki_m0nster]

Can you use it to unlock your device or does it really only work on Xiaomi phones?

How comfortable is it?

Cheers

 

[hackarchive]

FAQ

 

[jalabert]

where to download the latest version of the app with english language ?

 

[hackarchive]

FAQ

 

[jalabert]

Mod edit: Unauthorized quoted link removed


Droidriven
Forum Moderator

nice one

does that come with the band ?

I have ordered one from aliexpress i hope to receive in a couple of weeks

edit: yeah okay i dont read chinese -.- how do i download it ?

 

[hackarchive]

FAQ

 

[jalabert]

It's straight forward.Any button with the words 下载 will do the download.Or just wait it's in the manual from the box

thank you

 

[tomlock]

How does it work with non MIUI devices? Any problems, except the unlocking feature that doesn't work?
Does it need to be connected all the time to BT?
Is it possible to change the vibration during call time to 1 or 0?

 

[Superbia]

What does it mean when it shows 3 leds and vibrates? Also, I saw something about being able to check my progress in daily goal via the leds how do I do that? I seem some places claiming it can vibrate for notifications, I only got mine to vibrate on missed calls, can I get it to work for sms or other notifications too?

Thanks for your time doing this AMA.

 

[hackarchive]

If you ask a question, check the OP FAQ section for the answer.I'll post replies there!

 

[Adv.Chirag]

I will buy one asap

When it will launch in india i will buy one.

 

[tomlock]

I forgot to ask. What's the maximum distance between the phone and band? At home If you go to another room, is the Mi Band still able to connect?

 

[Superbia]

I forgot to ask. What's the maximum distance between the phone and band? At home If you go to another room, is the Mi Band still able to connect?

I can connect and sync from maybe 2-3 meters but for using it to unlock the phone it's just a few 10's of cm. For example, I am left-handed and have the mi band on my left wrist, if I hold the phone normally in my right hand it won't unlock, but if I move it too my left hand it will.

 

[hackarchive]

I can connect and sync from maybe 2-3 meters but for using it to unlock the phone it's just a few 10's of cm. For example, I am left-handed and have the mi band on my left wrist, if I hold the phone normally in my right hand it won't unlock, but if I move it too my left hand it will.

That's maybe on a xiaomi device.With my G2 running miui it unlocked any I was in my room.Except If I went out.

 

[Superbia]

That's maybe on a xiaomi device.With my G2 running miui it unlocked any I was in my room.Except If I went out.

That could be that it's xiaomi only feature but I do love it.

 

[Muadib83]

Hey,

First of all, thank you for the AMA!
I would also have a couple of questions:
1. How does the vibrating alarm work? Does it wait this it senses movement in the half hour before the set time and wakes you then or it begins to vibrate at the set time?
2. Does this function work even if the phones Bluetooth is turned of? (are the alarms transferred to the band and the it can be independent)
3. How accurate do you consider the sleep/motion tracking to be?

Thank you

 

[hackarchive]

Just to repeat all questions asked will be answered in the Q&A section.If you post a question just come back after some hours and check it for an answer.Your question will be quoted there.This avoids repetition!
FAQ