Realme Band 2 vs Xiaomi Mi Band 6, which is the best bracelet?

A little over a year has passed since Realme decided to present its first activity bracelet, the Realme Band. Now the company renews the first version with a bracelet that notably improves some of the shortcomings of the original version, at the same time that it redesigns the lines to make its particular wearable more similar to a smart watch.

At the forefront of this, we find options as interesting as the Xiaomi Mi Band 6, which in the middle of 2021 reigns with an iron fist.

The question that many ask is the following: Which is the better bracelet of the two? And most importantly, what are the differences between the realme Band 2 vs Mi Band 6? We see it.

The DIfferences Start In The Design: Format, Screen And Width

If the original Realme Band borrowed some design lines from Xiaomi’s Mi Band, the second iteration arrives with a much more boxy form factor and a more generous 1.4-inch screen. Curiously, the Mi Band 6 has 1.56 inches, although the useful surface is smaller due to the format of the screen itself, more elongated in the case of Xiaomi and more square in that of realme, as can be seen in the product images.

This affects the amount of useful information that the panel is capable of holding, from notifications from applications to weather information or physical activity. In this sense, the realme bracelet takes the cake. Where we also find differences is in the technology of the screen, which can be seen in the maximum brightness of the panel outdoors and the calorimetry.

AMOLED is the technology on which the screen of the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 is based, while the realme bracelet opts for a conventional LCD panel. The resolution of the two panels is similar, beyond the difference in height and width, while the maximum brightness is higher on the realme Band 2: 450 nits vs 500 nits for realme. The result? Better viewing outside. It should also be noted that the Xiaomi bracelet has an anti-fingerprint coating, a feature that is not mentioned in Band 2.

Same Water Resistance, Theoretically At Least

With regard to exercising in swimming pools and beaches, the two brands offer an immersion level of 5 atmospheres, which is equivalent to a depth of 50 meters in a theoretical plane. Unfortunately, despite having a watertight design, neither of the two companies ventures to certify the resistance to dust and water in the IP standard (IP68, IPX8, IP67…). In this regard, it is best to remove the bracelet from the wrist in salty water or in the presence of dust or sand.

Blood Oxygen Meter: The Feature That Makes The Differences

The main novelty of the realme Band 2 beyond the design is found in the activity sensors that it incorporates. The new generation comes with a blood oxygen SpO2 meter, as well as a heart rate monitor capable of measuring the heart rate and, therefore, the level of stress, sleep, and respiration. The Mi Band 6, meanwhile, lacks such a meter, although it incorporates a PPG heart rate sensor to measure the same values ​​as the realme bracelet.

This affects the amount of useful information that the panel is capable of holding, from notifications from applications to weather information or physical activity. In this sense, the realme bracelet takes the cake. Where we also find differences is in the technology of the screen, which can be seen in the maximum brightness of the panel outdoors and the colorimetry.

AMOLED is the technology on which the screen of the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 is based, while the realme bracelet opts for a conventional LCD panel. The resolution of the two panels is similar, beyond the difference in height and width, while the maximum brightness is higher on the realme Band 2: 450 nits vs 500 nits for realme. The result? Better viewing outside. 

It should also be noted that the Xiaomi bracelet has an anti-fingerprint coating, a feature that is not mentioned in Band 2.

More Battery In The Realme Band 2 But Less Autonomy With Differences Also In Connectivity.

Who knows if because of the optimization, the smaller surface of the screen, or because of the technology of the same. Specifically, the realme bracelet has 204 mAh compared to the 125 of the Mi Band 6. Based on these figures, the autonomy estimated by the manufacturers is 12 and 14 days respectively, depending on the use of the connections and the screen. 

On the other hand, the charging of the bracelet in both cases is done through a magnetic mechanism. In the case of Xiaomi, the brand promises to get a full charge in just under 2 hours, while realme does not figure an estimate.

Speaking of connections, the realme Band 2 has Bluetooth 5.1 compared to the fifth version of the Mi Band 6. In theory, the range ratio and the stability of the connection are higher, although this also depends on the Bluetooth version of the mobile device. 

It should be noted that Xiaomi has just launched a vitaminized version of its bracelet with NFC connectivity in our country, although its availability is estimated until the end of this year or the beginning of the following. Its price will be higher and will have some other limitations, by affiliating only with Mastercard.

Price

That’s how it is. And it is that at the date of publishing the article, realme has not confirmed the price of the realme Band 2 in hough the change is about 34 euros approximately. Currently, the Mi Band 6 is sold for 45 euros on the official Xiaomi website, while the version with NFC will cost approximately 56 euros. It is up to the user to choose one model or another.