Smart watches and health trackers are becoming increasingly popular and are described as devices that can be used as aids in living a healthy daily life. It also provides great benefits if used in the right way. Sharing more, this review article is about the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active which is equipped with a design similar to a regular watch with a round screen.
As the name suggests, the concept used must also be durable with a frame made of stainless steel material coated with polyamide glass fiber reinforced. It is then combined with several watch strap options, either silicone or TPU for a fairly minimalist look. What else does Xiaomi have in store for it? Read on for more.
SPECIFICATION AND DESIGN
Xiaomi Watch S1 Active
Basic Smart Watch Types
Display 1.43″ AMOLED (466 x 466), 60Hz
Processor –
RAM –
Internal Load –
420mAh battery
SIM / Telephony Calls via bluetooth tethering
Sensor Heart rate sensor, blood oxygen, acceleration, gyroscope,
geomagnetic, atmosphere, ambient light
NFC Yes
Infrared None
5ATM Resistance Level
Diameter 46.2 x 45 x 11.1 mm
Color Moon White / Ocean Blue / Space Black
Selling Price RM649
When worn the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active looks just like an existing wearable device. Classic design with a 46mm round screen with two physical buttons on the right side. The screen type from the AMOLED color family is 1.43-inches with a resolution of 466 X 466 pixels without high refresh rate support. Despite that, scrolling felt smooth without extreme issues.
Furthermore, the screen is also generally large enough and clear for a good user experience. The screen is generally large and clear enough for a good enough user experience while being decorated with colorful icons. The brightness provided also makes the clock screen easy to see in a variety of conditions, whether indoors or out in bright sunlight. There is also an Always-On-Display feature provided but it will definitely affect the battery life when used continuously.
There is no rotating bezel on this watch. Instead the navigation system relies on touch support only. But there are still a number of functions that can be accessed using the physical buttons provided. This additional ability makes it very easy to use especially when the fingers are sweaty which results in the touch support sometimes failing to work properly. Next, no information is known about the layer that protects the screen glass. Therefore, close care is necessary to avoid the issue of scratches that can damage the cosmetic value of this watch.
If you notice, the main glass is actually seen to be somewhat hidden in the frame which is able to protect it from being easily scratched. To be honest, I myself have accidentally bumped into table corners, doorknobs and iron handles several times. But luckily no trace of damage was found until today. At the same time, no negative comments can be given regarding its light weight while being able to provide comfort even when worn throughout the day including during sleep.
The combination of an all-black TPU type strap on the review unit received can be said to be a bonus because this color is often considered not to get dirty easily. It is different from the white and blue colors which look cheerful but require careful care. The use of a standard hook also allows the watch strap to be easily changed. There is no need to rely entirely on Xiaomi for the choice of strap, on the contrary, a regular watch strap on the market can also be used as long as the size and mechanism are the same.
The many holes on the watch strap make it suitable for use on various wrist sizes. It is also very comfortable with no skin irritation issues at the time of this review. However, no guarantee can be given because the situation is definitely different for some users who may have sensitive skin problems and experience severe itching.
On the right side there are two circular navigation buttons to go back and select built-in functions. Pressing with a little page on the second button will enable the virtual assistant with artificial intelligence to be activated. The lower part of this watch uses a plastic material with a magnetic plate for charging purposes. Even so, there is no wireless charging feature provided on this watch.
Xiaomi Watch S1 Active also passes the 5 ATM water resistance rating which allows it to be used at a water depth of up to 50 meters. However, we did not try it by immersing it in water directly, instead it was only exposed to raindrops and no damage was detected until today.
HARDWARE & APPLICATIONS
Xiaomi Watch S1 Active uses its own operating system without the ability to download third-party applications. It has been slightly reworked from the previous Mi Watch without major changes. Furthermore, the built-in memory and storage capacity remains a mystery. Smooth function and software support requires Mi Fitness (Xiaomi Wear) app to be downloaded first. It is available natively through the AppStore for iOS devices and the GooglePlay Store on Android devices.
The connection process between the device and the watch takes about a minute with a few simple steps. First of all, make sure the watch is first connected with the device through the bluetooth menu. Next scan the provided QR code then a pop-up with four numbers will appear for full connection purposes. Once done, you will be presented with several screens showing the usage steps.
The interface on the Android and iPhone apps looks the same without major differences. It is simple and easy to understand without needing a long time to get used to it. Various health and fitness info can also be easily monitored through the main screen which includes blood pressure, heart rate, sleep quality detection features and so on. The setting options provided are also quite diverse, which makes it easier for users to optimize the display on the main screen according to their suitability, while also preventing it from being overloaded with info.
Furthermore, the collected data is displayed in the form of fairly compact information, either in text, graphs or tables. In addition, basic functions such as settings for application notifications, incoming calls, tracking smartphone location, listening to music, clock alarms and so on are also offered. In addition, the collected data can also be synchronized with some external applications such as Strava and Apple Health.
USAGE EXPERIENCE
First of all, it can be used on both Android and iOS devices without any problems. The overall experience is good with no major issues while connecting to smart devices. Furthermore, Xiaomi Watch S1 Active can be said to have succeeded in making me move more actively. Comparing it to the main line of smartwatches feels very unfair. This is due to the smartness of these smartwatches not being as good as competitors that are sold at a more premium price.
What can be said even though it is basic but the usage experience is satisfactory. On the watch itself, the scrolling experience feels smooth with no noticeable extreme lag issues. Various functions are also easy to access by simply scrolling up, down, right and left. From the home page, scrolling up will give access to a number of important settings such as Always on Display, Raise to Wake, Silent Mode and flashlight. The rest can also be accessed through it by clicking on the 'settings icon' which in turn allows the user to change more things.
Scrolling down displays a notification for notifications received without any ability to reply. Further scrolling to the right and left is made to access various installed applications such as fitness functions, weather, audio control and so on. As an option, Xiaomi also provides support for Tiles like the previous Mi Watch where all important applications are displayed in a simpler form. It can be accessed by pressing the home button on the side of the watch bezel. This combination also makes using the watch easier.
With this, users don't have to swipe multiple times to find a specific function. Meanwhile, the built-in sports mode can be accessed through the Sport button with various options such as running, walking, climbing, cycling, swimming, yoga and so on.
The included sensors track various parameters well. For those who like to monitor their heart rate while running, I found this watch to be able to track it well with the right data. All of this data is then displayed in the form of fairly compact info with the addition of an interesting running map. Next, it also has the ability to automatically detect activities that need to be activated first through the settings. After the activity is detected, the user needs to confirm the type of activity for the purpose of tracking the full workout.
It gets even more interesting when it can also detect real-time movement, then stop tracking when no movement is detected. I noticed this while running, the watch was seen tracking data as usual. But when I stop, it also stops tracking which then issues a pop-up as a notification. Then back to normal tracking when I run again. Another thing that I also noticed, this watch does not take long to lock the GPS every time it is used.
Apart from that, I also took it to sleep to test the built-in sleep pattern detection feature. It works automatically with the ability to track a number of things such as proper sleep time cycles, in addition to active heart rate. The collected data is divided into four types of sleep zones, either deep, moderate, REM or awake.
The information is then displayed in the form of graphs and percentages that are easy to understand. The app also provides scores and proper recommendations for better quality sleep.
The advantage is also for female users like me when the menstrual detection feature is built in which is very helpful to detect the period of the cycle that should be accompanied by a notification as a reminder.
In addition, the watch also supports smart notifications by enabling various content such as emails, texts, notifications and incoming calls from connected devices. There is no problem answering incoming calls from this watch because of the built-in microphone. At the same time, users are also given the option to decline if necessary. Unlike all other notifications that can only be read without the ability to reply. It can only be fully answered via a connected smart device, but is still forgivable for a basic smartwatch.
BATTERY
The performance of the 420mAh battery used on this watch is at a good level with more than a week of use with GPS support. Xiaomi advertises it to be able to last up to 12 days for normal use, further increasing to 24 days in battery saving mode. Our own test, however, was only able to get 9 days of endurance with 20% battery remaining. All of these involve normal usage that includes continuous connection to a smart device for the purpose of receiving application notifications such as Telegram, WhatsApp and so on.
In the meantime, it is also used for the purpose of tracking daily health and fitness activities, including the regular activation of sports mode. With this Xiaomi's claim is not baseless, in fact almost accurate.
Furthermore, Xiaomi provides a USB-A cable with a special dock that can be magnetically connected to the back of the watch for recharging purposes. It must however be placed in the correct direction, otherwise the watch cannot be charged properly. A full recharge takes less than an hour.
WHAT'S IN THE BOX
Here's what you get with every Xiaomi Watch S1 Active purchase in Malaysia.
1 X Xiaomi Watch S1 Active
1 X USB-A to dedicated dock charging cable
1 X User manual.
1 X Warranty Notice
CONCLUSION
Xiaomi Smart S1 Active is an updated variant with a brand new premium design. In terms of functionality and internal hardware, it's not a big change as a lot of them resemble basic smartwatches on the market today. All popular sports activities can also be tracked with consistent tracking.
At the same time, it is also very easy to use on any device whether Android or iOS. Not only that, it can also be made an attractive option with various functions included to help reduce dependence on the smartphone screen. In Malaysia, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active is offered in Malaysia at a price of RM649 each.
Pro
Good performance with easy to use software.
Cheerful clock design with fun interface.
Beautiful AMOLED screen, bright, clear and real.
Long-lasting comfort without causing skin irritation.
Cons
No ability to reply to texts or messages.
Vibration is not as good as expected.
Limited watch face options.