I’ve been testing an uber-affordable fitness tracker, and it has all the features you need to improve your health on a budget

Tom's Guide Verdict The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is an affordable wearable to accurately track your workouts. It’s comfortable 24/7 and water-resistant for all types of training. The useful companion app gives easily digestible metrics, making it easy to understand your body. But the battery life isn’t as long as advertised, and sometimes the data doesn’t feel actionable. Pros +Affordable +Comfortable design +Water resistance +Useful companion app +Accurate fitness tracking Cons -Battery life is less than advertised, but still very good -Data doesn’t always feel useful Why you can trust Tom's Guide Our writers and editors spend hours analyzing and reviewing products, services, and apps to help find what's best for you. Find out more about how we test, analyze, and rate. Jump To: Specs Price & availability Design Fitness features Health & sleep features App Battery life Verdict Need to invest in your first fitness tracker but don’t know where to start? Well, picking up one of the best cheap smartwatches is the best way to understand what you're looking for. You can start to understand your metrics without breaking the bank, and by knowing what data you find most actionable, you can invest in a more advanced model down the line. I think the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is an ideal entry-level tracker, and it costs just $62.It’s comfortable to wear all day and all night, water-resistant, and gives very accurate tracking data. The useful companion app is the cherry on top, so you can take in all of your metrics at a glance and use it to make lifestyle changes.However, some of the data, such as sleep, doesn’t always seem actionable when compared to the feedback and advice I get from the Oura app. The battery life of the Smart Band 10 was also underwhelming, as I couldn’t achieve the advertised 21 days. To find out more about my experience with the wearable, you can keep reading this full Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review.Latest Videos FromTom's GuideXiaomi Smart Band 10 review: Specs Swipe to scroll horizontally Row 0 - Cell 0 Band 10 Band 10 Ceramic Edition Band 10 Glimmer Edition Price $51 / £42 $62 / £54 £69 Dimensions 1.8 x 0.9 x 0.4 inches 1.9 x 0.9 x 0.4 inches 1.8 x 0.9 x 0.4 inches Display 1.72-inch AMOLED Touch Display 1.72-inch AMOLED Touch Display 1.72-inch AMOLED Touch Display Display resolution 212 x 520 pixels 212 x 520 pixels 212 x 520 pixels Durability 5ATM 5ATM 5ATM Weight (without strap) 0.6 oz 0.8 oz 0.6 oz Band size 5.3 - 8.3 inches 5.3 - 8.3 inches 5.3 - 7.1 inches Screen brightness 1500 nits 1500 nits 1500 nits Colors Midnight Black, Glacier Silver, Mystic Rose Pearl White Glimmer Gold Sensors Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Electronic compass, Optical heart rate and pulse oximeter, Ambient light sensor Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Electronic compass, Optical heart rate and pulse oximeter, Ambient light sensor Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Electronic compass, Optical heart rate and pulse oximeter, Ambient light sensor Connectivity Bluetooth 5.4 Bluetooth 5.4 Bluetooth 5.4 Battery 233mAh 233mAh 233mAh Charge time 1 hour 1 hour 1 hour Operating system Android 8.0, iOS 14.0 and above Android 8.0, iOS 14.0 and above Android 8.0, iOS 14.0 and above Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review: Price & availabilityThe Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is available in three different editions. These editions are priced differently and have slightly different designs and materials, but their operation is the same. The standard edition, the Band 10, is available for purchase for $51 on Amazon U.S. and £42 on Amazon U.K. You can pick up this version of the band in three colors, including Midnight Black, Glacier Silver and Mystic Rose.The version of the watch I tested is the Smart Band 10 Ceramic Edition in Pearl White, which you can purchase on Amazon U.S. for $62 or on Amazon U.K. for £54. You can also purchase a Glimmer Edition of the watch for £69 from the Xiaomi online store, which is available in Glimmer Gold.This is obviously very cheap for an in-depth fitness tracker compared to well-known models such as the Garmin Venu 4, which starts at $549, or the Apple Watch Ultra 3, which costs $799.But there are also many cheaper smartwatches and fitness trackers that the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 needs to hold its own against. For example, the Fitbit Air only costs $99 if you want a screen-free tracker. Or the Amazfit Active 3 Premium will only set you back $169 and offers a more Garmin-esque style. We love both of these trackers, so if you’re looking for something more advanced, it could be worth the extra spend.Tom's Guide: Direct to Your InboxGet instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review: DesignAfter wearing the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 every day, it has seamlessly blended with my accessories and complements most outfits — not just my activewear. I have the Band 10 Ceramic Edition, which is a little heavier than the other models you can purchase at 0.8 ounces, but has the same 1.72-inch AMOLED Touch display. I have small wrists, and the pebble-shaped screen fits perfectly, so this is a great option for anyone with narrower features. It felt secure on my wrist when running. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)The Ceramic Edition, which I tested, has a ceramic frame and a fluororubber strap. This was comfortable to wear for the most part, although after I worked out, the strap rubbed slightly. The standard edition of the Band 10 has an aluminum alloy frame and a TPU strap, and the Glimmer Edition has an aluminum alloy frame and a stainless steel and glass crystal strap. The Glimmer Edition certainly looks the most sophisticated option for everyday wear, but practically, the TPU strap of the standard edition will provide the most comfort for workouts. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)With a 5ATM durability rating, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is water-resistant and can be submerged up to 50 meters. That means you can wear the watch to track activities like swimming, and don’t need to worry about your sweat causing any issues. However, the water resistance is not permanent and may reduce over time, according to Xiaomi — this is the case with almost all tech, as water resistance breaks down eventually, so it isn’t an issue.Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review: Fitness featuresAfter using the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 to track all of my workouts, I’m impressed by how accurate it is. The watch can track 159 different sports and activities, including card games and board games, which I found very interesting.It uses a combination of heart rate sensors and a nine-axis motion sensor to track performance. Daily, I wear the Oura Ring 5 to track my movement, and when comparing the data, I can confidently say that the Smart Band 10’s step counting is accurate. (Image credit: Mi Fitness)When wearing the Smart Band 10 for running. I appreciated notifications for my splits with a small vibration to keep me on track. The metrics such as heart rate, pace, and distance are clearly displayed on the screen, and even though it’s small, I could still read everything while moving. I was able to pause or stop the workout from my wrist without reaching for my phone, and even paused and skipped my music.More detailed feedback about your workout can be found in the Mi Fitness companion app, which has your training history and training load. Having these statistics on hand is very useful for managing your training and planning out your future workouts. I used it to plan out my workout days or rest days.Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review: Health & sleep featuresAs a girl who is almost unhealthily focused on her readiness and sleep scores, I was impressed by the number of metrics I could track with the Xiaomi Smart Band 10.HealthFirst things first. When you get the Smart Band 10, tracking has to be manually enabled for some metrics. Automatically, you get tracking for your heart rate and steps — you know, the basic stuff. But if you want the metrics that give you meaningful insights, you need to head into settings on the Mi Fitness app and enable them.These tracking metrics include blood oxygen tracking, continuous heart rate tracking, stress monitoring and relax reminders. Again, when comparing my readings to my trusty Oura Ring, there wasn’t much discrepancy. I felt as though I could rely on the Smart Band 10 to give me accurate data post-workout.SleepI was most interested in the sleep tracking on the Smart Band 10. One of the first things I noticed after downloading the app was that after seven nights of sleep, I would be given an animal to suit my sleep personality.Apparently I am a shark. This means I fall asleep late, sleep very little, and may even sleep while swimming. Not my most glowing analysis. (Image credit: Mi Fitness)I like that the app dissects your sleep for analysis, breaking up your deep, light and REM sleep so you can deduce how much rest you actually got. However, I didn’t feel as though I was getting actionable feedback as I do with my Oura Ring or the Amazfit Zepp app. Both of these apps can provide analysis and advice to better your overall health, and I didn’t feel I got that same level of tailored attention from the Mi Fitness app.Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review: AppThe Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is compatible with the Mi Fitness app, which is available to download on Android and iOS devices. The app is very straightforward to use and lays out all of your tracked metrics on the home page.There are sections in the app for workouts, customizing the watch with digital faces, and your health at a glance. You can delve into all of these sections to get more of an understanding of what they mean and how they are tracked too. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)One of my favorite features in the app is the ability to set thresholds for your blood oxygen levels and heart rate spikes and dips when at rest. This is very useful for me as I have an irregular heartbeat, so I like to keep an eye on my heart rate changes throughout the day.Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review: Battery lifeThe watch houses a Li-Po 233mAh battery that is charged magnetically with the included cable. Xiaomi says the Smart Band 10 has a battery life of up to 21 days under typical usage, but I was unable to obtain that. In fact, in that time I had to charge the watch twice. When the watch says there are six days of battery remaining, I got just over two. I didn’t mind this, though, as it only takes an hour to fully charge. (Image credit: Tom's Guide)Even though I wasn’t able to get the full 21 days of battery life and it was more like seven days, this is far better than the measly 24-hour battery life of the Apple Watch Series 11.It’s worth noting that if you turn on continuous tracking for blood oxygen and heart rate levels, the battery will drain significantly faster, but I think the trade-off is worth it for in-depth metrics.Xiaomi Smart Band 10 review: VerdictThe Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is an affordable option if you want a wearable that’s going to accurately track your workouts. The comfortable design makes it ideal for wearing 24/7, so I was able to track my sleep as well as the whole day’s activities. It’s water-resistant too, so it can be used to track swimming or left on when you hit the showers so you don’t misplace it.The useful companion app is the best thing about this watch, as having all of the metrics displayed in an easily digestible format makes it so much easier to understand your body.Unfortunately, the battery life isn’t as long as I had hoped. Even when the watch says there are six days of battery remaining, I only got about two. The data also doesn’t feel as actionable as the feedback I get from my Oura Ring, but this is merely a software qualm. The watch itself is great and a decent choice for anyone wanting to start their health tracking journey. Ashley is a staff writer on the the Reviews team at Tom’s Guide. She has a master’s degree in Magazine Journalism from Cardiff University and a BA in Journalism, Media and Sociology. She has written for titles including Women’s Health UK, writing health and wellness stories, and Virgin Radio UK, specializing in entertainment news and celebrity interviews. She has reported on a variety of topics including music, literature, motorsport, entertainment and health. She has previously reviewed live music events, books, and wellness products but discovering the top audio equipment on the market is what she does best. When she is not testing out the latest tech, you can find her either curled up with a cup of tea and a good novel or out hiking. You must confirm your public display name before commenting Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.