Among Xiaomi’s recent product launch is the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro, a ￡279 smartwatch that runs on the company’s MIUI Watch OS. Let’s strap it to our wrists and see what type of experience it delivers!

Packaging and content

Out of the box comes the following:

• Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro
• Wireless Charging Dock (including charging cable)
• User Manual (including warranty notice)

For more technical details, you can find the specs of the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro below:

 

Hardware impressions

When it comes to smartwatches or regular watches alone, I personally prefer them to bear a rounded body and the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro was immediately appealing. Not only does it offer a generous 1.47" circular display with a narrow bezel but the AMOLED screen delivers crisp visuals that are immediately eye-catching.

The device’s overall build is also eye-catching with its stainless steel watch body and ceramic-like back coating. The latter, along with the synthetic sapphire glass on the front display enable the S1 Pro to withstand scratches, making it easy to use as a daily driver with some added peace of mind.

I was also happy to see that this smartwatch features a detachable strap with a spring loaded mechanism for the pins. This makes swapping straps much easier and user friendly, whether it’s to replace following damage or to switch between looks. To further customise the looks, you can change the device’s watch face via the companion app that will help you find one to your liking.

 

Another noteworthy feature of the hardware is the rotating crown, which isn’t unlike the one of the Apple Watch. Pressing it can toggle the screen to switch on/off as well as acts as a ‘Home’ button. Rotating it allows you to scroll down the menu screen, which you can also operate via the device’s touchscreen panel. Having the rotating bezel is a nice addition as it is responsive and offers an alternative menu control mode in cases you can’t use the touchscreen like when wearing gloves.

The other hardware key on the device is located just below the rotating crown. This button acts as a “shortcut” which you can customise to launch a specific app. It’s quite handy to quickly access your favourite app and I use it to launch fitness tracking myself.

Daily driver and fitness tracker combo

When it comes to regular use, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro works well as a daily driver. Once paired to the companion app, you can receive mirrored notifications from your phone and can even answer calls from the device. The latter is quite a handy feature that lets you converse without having to take your phone out of your pocket. There’s added peace of mind for using the watch when out and about thanks to the 5 ATM waterproof rating, allowing you to keep the watch on while washing your hands or even while swimming. 

This smartwatch also packs some additional welcome features. On top of the on-device call answering, you’ll have access to Alexa voice assistant as well as NFC contactless payment to a Mastercard payment terminal. These additions deliver an experience that is more akin to using a smartwatch than a fitness tracker and is a notable difference with other devices like the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 Pro.

As for fitness, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro includes a number of sensors to provide health guidance. In addition to the traditional heart rate monitor, it also packs a blood oxygen monitor and the watch will send you notifications if the readings are not within normal range. There’s also a stress monitoring feature with reminders to relax occasionally as well as a sleep tracker to get insights about your sleep quality. However, I would still have liked for the sleep tracker to include a smart sleep alarm that can wake you up at the optimal time based on your sleep cycle.

The watch also includes a built-in fitness tracking app with over 100 modes. This allows you to track your workouts and easily monitor your performance. With the companion app, you can get more detailed tracking results such as GPS maps of your outdoor training routes.

While the sensors for tracking your health and workout are not meant to be of clinical level, they are still handy to provide indications which can help you make more informed decisions. For such indications, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro will deliver.

One of the biggest woes with wearables is the battery life and the S1 Pro’s built-in 500mAh battery life is quite generous in this regard. Mileage will vary based on individual use but for me, it can easily last for a week.

An premium smartwatch restricted by its OS

The Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro definitely makes for a decent smartwatch. It has a host of fitness tracking features as well as practical options for use as a daily driver. However, it is constrained by the MIUI OS which has a limited ecosystem. For instance, while there is no official smart sleep alarm app, a third-party app could have fixed the issue if such apps could be loaded on the device. 

Other built-in features are also limited such as limited interaction with notifications and the NFC payment is only available with Mastercard credit cards and through limited banks. Other apps could have opened the potential for the watch further. Thus, Xiaomi might need to consider opting for an OS with a more fleshed out ecosystem such as Wear OS. In fact, such issues are not encountered with older Wear OS smartwatches such as the TicWatch E3 and the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro would have benefited by adopting a similar OS. 

As it stands, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Pro, save for some welcome features, won’t feel much different from a fitness tracker from Xiaomi itself. It surely looks and feels more premium to use but its potential feels limited given the nature of its OS.