AfterDawn: News

Xiaomi gets into fitness tracker market with $13 Mi Band

Chinese powerhouse startup Xiaomi has expanded into the fitness tracker market, unveiling the new Mi Band.

The tracker is ridiculously cheap at CN¥79 ($13 USD) although Xiaomi does not sell outside of China yet, so getting a Mi Band in the U.S. will require going through an unlicensed third party.



Mi Bands will track your steps, track your sleeping patterns, work as a smart alarm clock (vibrate to wake you) and can last up to 30 days on a single charge, putting the Fitbit to shame by a huge margin.

In addition, if you have a Xiaomi phone, the band can unlock it wirelessly if close enough.

Xiaomi currently has a value of over $10 billion, especially notable for a three-year old company.

Rumours become official as @xiaomi gets into #wearables with Mi Band. At 79 RMB ($13US) it cud shift serious volume pic.twitter.com/4ZimmdTqfX

-- Ben Wood (@benwood) July 22, 2014

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 27 Jul 2014 22:48

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• 2 comments

• Jemborg

  I notice that even the ad is in English.
  
  I notice (also) that the Water Resistant (IP67) seems ok as one should always treat the statement "water resistant" with great caution. See here...
  
  IP67 means...
  6 = Dust tight. No Ingress of dust.
  and...
  7 = Protected against the effects of short term immersion (under defined conditions of pressure and time). OR Protected from immersion between 15 centimeters and 1 meter in depth.
  
  http://www.dsmt.com/resources/ip-rating-chart
  http://www.averyweigh-tronix.com/News/C...-Rating-System/
  
  At least it shouldn't bugger up if you work up a sweat like some other wearables.
  
  Btw, what IS the market in China for fitness products... I mean... do they give a toss...? :)
  
  
  
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  29.7.2014 04:08 #1

• DarthMopar

  At that price, it's probably worth trying out, but from what I can tell, it only sincs with THEIR phones...Did a search on Google, and they can be shipped to the U.S. for ~$25. Still a good price compared to Nike Fuel Bands, but if it won't sinc with other phones, it's kinda handicapped.
  

  4.8.2014 12:48 #2