Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 8

Pebble Mode is excellent for runners ; More premium-feeling than predecessors ; Very solid battery life

Lack of GPS ; Fitness tracking accuracy isn’t great ; Global edition misses out on smart features

Xiaomi has refined the design to improve both the look and functionality of the Smart Band 8, and it’s a move that pays dividends. It still has plenty of imperfections as a tracker, but it’s very hard to argue with the value for money here.

Comfortable to wear ; Plenty of health tracking features ; Wide range of straps to personalise device

Tracking isn’t always super-accurate ; No NFC ; No GPS

A solid budget fitness tracker with plenty of features. The accuracy is sometimes a bit off, but as a general guide to your health and fitness it’s one of the best around.

Only $50 ; Weeks-long battery life ; Lots of watch faces

Unsecure strap clasp design ; Non-standard magnetic POGO charger ; Can't set favorite workout modes

If you’re looking for a smartwatch-adjacent fitness band, there’s not a lot of fault to find with Xiaomi’s Smart Band 8. At just $50, it’s more affordable than the Fitbit or Garmin alternatives — and it may be more feature-rich than either of those...