Xiaomi Mi Band 2 UK release date & price: Where to buy the Mi Band 2 in the UK
Xiaomi products are not officially sold in the UK; however, the Mi Band 2 can be shipped to the UK via grey-market importers such as Geekbuying. Geekbuying says the Mi Band 2 will be available from 7 June, and is listing it at £28.62 with free UK delivery. Factor in the possibility you may have to pay import duty, too – read our advice on buying grey market tech. At under £30 the Mi Band 2 offers excellent value, even if it’s priced higher than in China itself.
Xiaomi Mi Band 2 new features and specification: What’s new in the Mi Band 2?
For the first time Xiaomi has added a scratch- and fingerprint-resistant 0.42in OLED display to its Mi Band fitness tracker. This allows you to view the time, step count and heart rate without having to launch the associated app on your paired phone. (And when you do want to use your phone, the Mi Band 2 can automatically unlock it without you needing to input a password or scan your fingerprint.) Even with the screen the Mi Band 2 still offers excellent battery life – up to 20 days, claims the company. Also see: Best smartwatches 2016. Xiaomi has also upgraded the pedometer algorithm and added an anodised button that sits flush to the display. This can be used to activate the display or, as before, you can lift your wrist as if you are checking the time. The Mi Band 2 has second-gen Bluetooth 4.0, IP67-certified dust- and water protection, a power-efficient ADI accelerometer and optical heart-rate sensor and a hypoallergenic, colour-customisable silicon band. It will track your activity, plus sleep quality and length, and give you a nudge when you’ve been inactive for a long period.
Also read our Xiaomi Mi Band and Mi Band 1S Pulse reviews Follow Marie Brewis on Twitter. Marie is Editor in Chief of Tech Advisor and Macworld. A Journalism graduate from the London College of Printing, she’s worked in tech media for more than 17 years, managing our English language, French and Spanish consumer editorial teams and leading on content strategy through Foundry’s transition from print, to digital, to online - and beyond.
