Xiaomi has listed the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite on its global website, and finally it seems we’re getting a smartwatch from the company.
The Xiaomi Mi Watch has been out in China for a while, and has been touted for a global release since September. But it seems we’re set to get its pared-back sibling, the Mi Watch Lite first.
The full specs of the Mi Band Lite are listed, with a 1.4-inch TFT color display with a 320×320 resolution, and 5ATM water resistance. That means the screen won’t be as crisp or bright as the AMOLED displays found on the likes of the Amazfit GTS 2 or GTR 2, and is one area that reveals the Mi Band Lite as a budget smartwatch.
There will be 11 workout profiles, with GPS built-in for the accurate tracking of outdoor workouts. Xiaomi quotes the GPS battery life as 10 hours.
There’s running, cycling, swimming with an open water mode, trail running, trekking and cricket tracking.
There’s a heart rate monitor on board, but no mention of SpO2, which seems to be landing on every smartwatch going right now.
It will handle all the usual smartwatch notifications, with messages, calls, app notifications, fitness tracking and idle alerts.
What’s more, there will be nine days of battery life, and can muster 100% charge in two hours.
And it’s set to come in a bunch of colors, with blue, ivory and black cases and five strap options.
The only thing we don’t know about the Mi Band Lite is cost – and it seems Xiaomi wants to keeping us guessing.
The only clue we have is that the Redmi Watch, which is the Mi Watch Lite under a sub-brand, has already launched with a $45 price tag (converted from yuan).
Given Xiaomi is the more premium of the two brands, and Chinese-made devices always cost more when they make it West – we’re guessing this could be around $70.
That certainly makes it one of the cheapest smartwatches out there, and will provide a big challenge to the likes of the Amazfit Bip S.
Watch this space for pricing and availability as we get it.
