Xiaomi has always been straightforward with how it calls its wearables. “Active” is the entry-level variant; “Pro” is, for one, the priciest in a series, but comes with next-level features as well.

And in between where there’s no extra name is the standard model, which I feel is for those taking that next step. That’s how the new Xiaomi Smart Band 10 resonated with me after a week of use.

I have been utilizing the device for my workouts as I continue to lose weight and get into competitive shape. But it’s more than just a fitness companion.

It’s positioned as a tool for personalized wellness, elevated style, and long-lasting functionality. I can say that the wearable can definitely provide users with all three.

Sleek, stylish, functional

Immediately upon setup, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 feels like a step-up from its Active counterpart. Appearance wise, it comes in an oblong shape instead of the rectangular form factor found on the Active and Pro variants.

Good display

It has a 1.72-inch AMOLED display so the visuals look a lot crisper and sharper than the previous band I’ve worn. Navigating the screen feels a lot smoother with hits 60Hz refresh rate.

The display also has up to 1,500 nits of HBM brightness, which is higher than previous iterations. I’ve had auto-brightness turned on whenever I have the device. What’s on the screen is still visible no matter what the scenario is. It’s not tough on the eyes either.

Moreover, the display stays functional even when it’s wet; that comes in handy when running or playing football under the rain.

Long battery life

The device also lasts up to 21 days for casual usage. It does drain just about 5% overnight if you’re just wearing it to check your daily steps and the time, plus occasional heart rate checks and a quick workout.

Fashion add-on

The model I’ve been wearing is in the Glacier Silver colorway. It’s a great fit for my fashion style as I usually wear neutrals. You can also select from a wide range of watch faces to suit your preference.

Vincenz and I even stumbled upon this cute capybara watch face which can definitely blend into related merch like bag charms, keychains, and everything in between.

Other available options are Midnight Black and Mystic Rose. There are a ton of straps to choose from, including ones with leather material.

Necklace Mode, Pebble Mode

The smart band also has a Necklace Mode if you want it to blend with your OOTD. However, you have to purchase accessories for that.

In my case, if I’m not in the mood to wear it, I can just let it blend with my bag charms.

Furthermore, there’s a Pebble Mode for running that helps you with your form. Although, you have to purchase a Xiaomi running clip.

But I did find a quick fix where I just tied the band to my shoe’s lace and tongue.

Fitness upgrade

Onto workouts, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 comes with an upgraded 9-axis linear motor. And as I’ve leveraged the wearable mainly for physical activity, I can tell that it does it work better than previous Xiaomi smart bands I’ve worn.

For one, the smart band quickly displays your heart rate instead of saying “Can’t measure, try again”. I’ve experienced this with previous smart bands. Sometimes, they also display an inaccurate heart rate.

This is just one of those features that may seem little but is very useful for quick runs. It matters to have accurate information displayed to accompany you with your workouts.

Even the vibration for notifications and other purposes feels a lot more intense. And you can choose between three intensity levels. The reminders are helpful especially when your focus starts to drift away.

The Smart Band 10 comes with over 150 workout modes, including six auto-detection activities. For competitive athletes, there’s advanced metrics like VO2 max, training load, and recovery time.

With 5ATM water resistance, users can also leverage the device for swimming. The upgraded swim mode even comes with real-time heart rate monitoring and a 96% lap count accuracy.

Advanced sleep insights

One of the key features I also enjoyed exploring on the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is its advanced sleep management. The smart band offers great insights for those who need them.

Personally, I try my best to be in control of how much I’ve slept daily. It just ties into how I value my health and fitness overall. However, not everyone has the luxury of time.

I am quite privileged in terms of being able to note of all these manually, but it takes a lot these days to organize even just these things or be good multi-taskers in general.

That’s where the Smart Band 10 comes in. There are people who are simply swamped with whatever they do on a daily basis, especially those who work extra hours or simply have too much going on.

Sleep report, 21-day improvement plan

As I’m fond of analytics, it’s actually cool to see your sleep stats organized in one section on the Mi Fitness app.

There’s a sleep trend report which includes sleep score, duration, efficiency, and bedtime routine. This is available in daily, weekly, and monthly bases.

It’s a quick overview of your sleep quality, and whether or not you’re hitting the recommended eight hours of sleep daily. The app will also tell if your sleep quality is Poor, Fair, or Excellent.

For those who feel they should start developing better sleeping habits, the band and the app can help you get going with a 21-day sleep improvement plan. There are tasks to accomplish each day to help you stay glued.

You can even turn on REM sleep tracking, although it drains the battery a little faster.

Likewise, there are sleep interpretations and suggestions, powered by the World Sleep Society, Asian Society of Sleep Medicine, and Chinese Sleep Research Society. These will help you turn the information into something helpful.

Which sleep animal are you?

If you don’t know where to start, I suggest taking on this quiz under the sleep management section.

More than being a cute way to get engaged, this feature will give you sleep analysis stats after at least a week’s worth of recorded sleep data.

Based on the descriptions, the goal is to sleep like a bear.

On the right track

For now, one of my takeaways with this feature is that my average resting heart rate while asleep is right up there with athletes in shape. So I know I’m on track to becoming an even better version of myself.

Another is that the band feels light and comfortable to wear. It doesn’t feel as if I had one on while sleeping. I observed the same for quick workouts. It just stays in place to let you do you.

Overall: Your accountability partner

Overall, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 serves as an accountability partner. As I’ve mentioned in a previous review, if the Active variant helps beginners get going, the standard model lets you follow through the progress you’ve made and be in control.

Be it workouts or daily habits like better sleeping routines or task management, the wearable lets you know how far you’ve become.

The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 retails starting at PhP 2,499 in the Philippines. Customers can get the regular variant via Lazada, Shopee, and official Xiaomi stores starting July 4.