Xiaomi has added the Redmi Watch 6 to its world web site, confirming a wider rollout for its newest price range smartwatch with a big AMOLED show, 550mAh battery and in-built GNSS. There’s additionally a separate NFC model with Mastercard and Visa help, which addresses one of many extra apparent omissions I discovered when reviewing the Watch 5 final yr.
A well-recognized huge display screen method
Redmi Watch 6 sticks with a big 2.07 inch AMOLED show, however Xiaomi now claims as much as 2000 nits peak brightness. The Redmi Watch 5 already had one of many higher screens on this worth vary, with a pointy, vibrant panel that made menus, widgets and exercise knowledge straightforward to learn. The brand new brightness determine ought to make outside visibility stronger, assuming actual world efficiency traces up with the spec sheet.
The case now measures 46.45 x 40.03 x 9.94mm and weighs 31 grams with out the strap. That makes it slimmer and lighter than the Redmi Watch 5, though that is nonetheless a big rectangular watch.
Xiaomi has stored the aluminium alloy body and added a chrome steel crown plus a second bodily button. The later ought to make it just a little simpler to make use of throughout exercises.
Redmi Watch 6
Battery life stays the secure guess
Battery life was one of many strongest components of my Redmi Watch 5 evaluate. It used the identical 550mAh battery, and through my two week check I didn’t must cost it as soon as. That was spectacular for a watch with such a big AMOLED show.
Redmi Watch 6 retains the 550mAh capability, with Xiaomi claiming as much as 24 days in gentle use, 12 days in typical use and seven days in heavy use. These figures will depend upon settings, GPS use and the all the time on show, however the Watch 5 offers some confidence that Xiaomi’s battery claims usually are not simply ornament.
NFC is the improve to look at
Probably the most attention-grabbing half is the separate Redmi Watch 6 NFC mannequin. Xiaomi says it helps contactless funds by Mastercard and Visa, though this may depend upon the area and supported banks.
That stood out as a result of NFC was one of many gaps in my Redmi Watch 5 evaluate. The Watch 5 had an incredible display screen, sturdy battery life, Bluetooth calling, native music storage and in-built GNSS, however the lack of wrist funds made it really feel barely much less full as an on a regular basis smartwatch. The NFC model of Redmi Watch 6 adjustments that, at the very least in markets the place help is lively.
Health monitoring ought to really feel acquainted
Redmi Watch 6 helps greater than 150 sports activities modes and in-built satellite tv for pc positioning by GPS, Galileo, Glonass, BeiDou and QZSS. Xiaomi additionally mentions a twin L1 antenna setup that chooses the stronger sign relying on how the watch is worn.
The Watch 5 carried out surprisingly nicely in my testing, together with GPS runs in Central London the place tall buildings could make monitoring messy. Coronary heart charge additionally improved as soon as I swapped to a tighter strap, bringing the readings a lot nearer to my Garmin comparability setup. That’s value remembering right here, as a result of match nonetheless performs an enormous function in optical coronary heart charge accuracy.
The brand new mannequin additionally contains all day coronary heart charge, blood oxygen, stress and sleep monitoring, plus 5ATM water resistance. Xiaomi says coronary heart charge monitoring now works whereas swimming, which provides the watch a barely broader health profile.
Early takeaway
Redmi Watch 6 seems like a tidy observe up. Xiaomi has stored the components that labored on the Watch 5, together with the massive AMOLED display screen, sturdy battery life, in-built GNSS and sensible good options. The brighter show, slimmer case, additional button and NFC choice make it really feel higher rounded.
The NFC mannequin is the one I’d watch most carefully. If Xiaomi will get pricing and regional cost help proper, Redmi Watch 6 might be one of many extra attention-grabbing price range smartwatch launches of the yr.
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