- Affordable
- User-friendly
- Includes helpful fitness features
- Large, bright screen
- Accurate heart rate tracking
- Tough competition
- Basic smartwatch features
During Redmi’s recent 10th anniversary event, they didn’t just unveil the highly anticipated K70 series. They also introduced several new products, including some cool accessories. What caught my eye the most was the Redmi Watch 4. It’s the first time the budget series has a sleek metal design, like wearing metal armor.
We were excited to buy one right when it launched. Now, let’s find out if it’s the best cheap smartwatch to get this year.
Design & Build
This is the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 4. Its metal shield design gives it a premium feel, but I couldn’t shake off the feeling that it resembles an Apple Watch. Despite liking the design, I think it’s the most similar to an Apple Watch of all models in 2023.
If you remember the previous Redmi Watch 3, you might recall it tried to look like metal but was criticized for feeling cheap due to its plastic frame. The new Watch 4 seems to have learned from this and is now using an aluminum frame, which is a good improvement.
The new watch is lightweight despite having a metal casing, which adds 10g compared to the Watch 3. Without the straps, the watch itself weighs about 32g, similar to the weight of a typical smart band.
The metal surface has a matte finish that prevents fingerprints. Another nice detail is the stainless steel crown, which has a subtle texture. When combined with the finely processed frame, everything comes together perfectly.
The front of the watch is flat with sharp edges. However, I’m worried because these edges could easily get scratched or damaged. So, just a heads-up to be cautious and handle it carefully.
I have a small issue. I usually wear my watch on my left wrist. Sometimes, I fasten it too tightly, and when I move my wrist, the crown sticks out and gets accidentally touched. If you face the same problem, the easiest fix is to loosen the watch on your wrist. Or if you prefer using wrist movements to wake up your watch, this feature might be a hidden bonus for you. But not for me at the moment.
Regarding the straps, the good news is that the Redmi Watch 4 now uses Xiaomi’s quick-release straps. These are easier to take off and change. You can also use straps from other Xiaomi devices like the Xiaomi Band 8 Pro. This gives you more options to pick from now and in the future.
Screen
Now, let’s check out the front. It has a square dial design similar to Apple’s, which Redmi has continued with their lineups. Compared to the previous model, it has a 1.97-inch AMOLED display and a 74.8% screen-to-body ratio. This setup provides more detailed information on the screen and improves the overall user experience a bit.
The screen looks great with sharp resolution and bright colors. It can automatically get very bright, up to 600 nits, making it easy to see outside in daylight. It also has a variable refresh rate. During use, the screen can run at 60Hz for smoothness. When the screen is off, the refresh rate can drop to 5Hz, especially in Always-On Display mode, which saves even more power.
Health Tracking & Sport Tracking
The health tracking features are quite good. They include an improved heart rate monitor for accurate readings. The blood oxygen monitor now tracks automatically all day, so you can see your levels anytime. It also has sleep tracking, stress tracking, reminders for female cycles, and breathing exercises.
When it comes to sports tracking, the new watch can track over 150 types of sports, including 40 outdoor activities, 17 water sports, 26 ball games, and even some card or board games. However, there are a few exercises, like basketball and football, where wearing the watch isn’t recommended due to the sharp edges that could potentially harm others.
Software
The software updates are a major reason why I’m excited about this watch. The Redmi Watch 4 includes Xiaomi’s newest operating system, HyperOS, which is now available on their second line of wearable devices.
I’m excited about this watch mainly because of the software updates. The Redmi Watch 4 now runs on Xiaomi’s latest HyperOS, which is the second Xiaomi wearable to use this new operating system.
The dial selection has many personalized options, so you can easily find a style that suits you.
The interface looks neat and simple. It’s similar to before: you swipe in different directions on the watch face to see notifications and widgets you set up in the Mi Fitness phone app. There’s only one button to open the app menu, though, so there’s no quick button for things like starting a workout.
Battery Life
The new watch claims to have improved battery life by 50% to 80%. It can last up to 10 days with Always-On Display (AOD) mode and up to 20 days with default settings. We haven’t tested the battery life ourselves yet because we wanted to share our thoughts on the watch quickly. I’ll update you later if I find the battery life disappointing after more use. But based on using it all day with most features like automatic tracking and AOD on, the 11% battery drop is quite impressive.
Specifications
- 470mAh battery capacity
- 1.97-inch AMOLED display that’s always on
- Tracks sleep patterns
- Includes a speaker and GPS
- Monitors stress levels
- 5ATM water resistance rating
- Lasts up to 20 days on a single charge
- Monitors heart rate and blood oxygen levels
- Allows Bluetooth calls
Our Verdict
In the latter half of 2023, the smartwatch I’m most looking forward to is the Redmi Watch. It’s leading as the best budget-friendly smartwatch. However, it currently doesn’t take full advantage of Xiaomi’s ability to connect with multiple devices. The Watch 4 only lets us control smart home auto-settings.