How Accurate Is the Mi Band 10? Scientific Heart-Rate Review

TL;DR

The Mi Band 10 delivered excellent heart-rate accuracy in one indoor cycling session, with both tested units reaching a 0.99 correlation against a Polar H10 chest strap. Small deviations appeared near the start, at lower heart rates, and briefly on the right wrist, so the finding remains preliminary rather than comprehensive. Read on for the test method, Strava troubleshooting, limitations, and planned follow-up activities.

Transcript

I just ordered and received two Mi Band 10 and today we're going to systematically and scientifically test them to find out how good the heart rate tracking and the sleep state tracking is of these cheap Xiaomi watches. By the way, for those of you who don't know me, my name is Rob and I'm a post-doal scientist specializing in biological data analy... Read More

Key Insights

• The Mi Band 10 achieved a 0.99 heart-rate correlation with the Polar H10 during one indoor cycling session on the left wrist. Nearly all paired measurements appeared on or very close to the perfect-agreement line.
• The second Mi Band 10 also achieved a 0.99 correlation when worn on the right wrist. Its results were similarly accurate overall, although it briefly reported a slightly elevated heart rate during one portion of the session.
• Indoor cycling is described as a relatively easy activity for wrist-based heart-rate tracking. During this test, the Mi Band 10 closely matched the chest-strap reference across most of the workout, with only minor deviations at the start and in lower heart-rate ranges.
• The Polar H10 served as the formal reference device for heart-rate analysis. The reviewer noted that chest straps generally provide good heart-rate measurements, while the Garmin device was mentioned only as an informal comparison during the workout.
• The initial Strava synchronization did not work after the first fake workout. Reconnecting the service resolved the issue, showing that account connections or synchronization behavior can complicate access to Xiaomi workout data.
• Two independently configured Mi Band 10 units were tested to reduce reliance on a single device. They used different phones and Mi Fitness accounts, and both ultimately produced closely matching, high-correlation indoor cycling results.
• The Mi Band 10 appeared among the better previously tested devices in the reviewer's correlation comparison. Its initial cycling result was somewhat stronger than the displayed Mi Band 8 result and potentially a little better than the Mi Band 9 result.
• Weightlifting is expected to be a more difficult heart-rate test because tension and movement in the arms interfere with wrist-based tracking. The provided material introduces this next test but does not include its results, so no conclusion can yet be drawn.

Questions & Answers

Q: How accurate is the Mi Band 10 heart-rate tracking?

Both Mi Band 10 units achieved a 0.99 correlation against a Polar H10 chest strap during one indoor cycling session. Their readings largely followed the reference, with small deviations near the beginning, at lower heart rates, and briefly on the right wrist. Because this was one session, the result is promising but preliminary.

Q: How was the Mi Band 10 heart-rate test conducted?

The reviewer wore two Mi Band 10 units simultaneously, with one on each wrist, during an indoor cycling workout. Their readings were compared with a Polar H10 chest strap using correlation and time-series graphs. The two bands were independently configured with separate iPhones, Mi Fitness accounts, Apple Health accounts, and Strava accounts.

Q: Why were two Mi Band 10 devices tested?

Using two independently configured bands reduced reliance on the performance of a single unit. One band was black and the other white, and each used a different phone and Mi Fitness account. Both produced a 0.99 correlation during the indoor cycling test.

Q: Does the Mi Band 10 sync workout heart-rate data to Strava?

Yes, the tested bands ultimately synced workout heart-rate data to Strava. The first fake workout did not appear, but reconnecting the service and repeating the test resolved the problem. This allowed the reviewer to access the recorded data for analysis.

Q: Is the Mi Band 10 more accurate than the Mi Band 9?

The initial cycling result appeared potentially a little better than the displayed Mi Band 9 result. However, the Mi Band 10 finding came from only one spinning session, so the reviewer did not establish a firm overall advantage.

Q: Why is weightlifting a harder heart-rate test for the Mi Band 10?

Weightlifting creates arm tension and movement that can interfere with wrist-based heart-rate measurements. The reviewer therefore identified it as a tougher test than indoor cycling. The provided material introduces this test but does not report its results.

Q: How reliable are the Mi Band 10 review conclusions?

The conclusions are encouraging but limited because the formal analysis covers only one indoor cycling session. Testing two independent units strengthens that specific result, but it does not establish performance across every activity. Weightlifting, outdoor cycling, running, and sleep required further evaluation.

Q: How accurate is the Mi Band 10 sleep tracking?

No analyzed sleep-tracking result is provided, so its accuracy cannot be determined from this material. The reviewer planned to examine sleep states over one or two nights, but the available findings focus on setup, synchronization, and indoor cycling heart-rate performance.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Two Mi Band 10 units, one black and one white, were connected to separate iPhones, Mi Fitness accounts, Apple Health accounts, and Strava accounts. Initial workout syncing failed, but reconnecting resolved the problem and allowed recorded heart-rate data to reach Strava for analysis.

• Indoor cycling produced surprisingly strong heart-rate results. Measurements from both Mi Band 10 units closely followed the Polar H10 chest strap, with correlations of 0.99. The time-series lines largely overlapped, although small deviations appeared near the beginning, at lower heart rates, and briefly on the right wrist.

• The findings represent an initial assessment rather than a comprehensive verdict. Only one spinning session had been formally analyzed in the provided material. Weightlifting was identified as a harder test because arm tension disrupts wrist measurements, while outdoor cycling, running, and sleep tracking were planned for additional evaluation.