Xiaomi’s latest Apple Watch clone has built-in GPS, 11 sport modes

While it doesn’t have an original design, the Mi Watch Lite offers great value.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi has introduced an affordable new smartwatch for global markets.
• The Mi Watch Lite is based on the Redmi Watch, which was launched in China last month.
• It comes with a 1.4-inch color screen, 11 workout modes, built-in GPS, and a 230mAh battery.

Xiaomi’s Redmi sub-brand launched its first smartwatch last month, alongside new Redmi Note 9 series phones. While the Redmi Watch is currently exclusive to China, Xiaomi today announced a new watch based on Redmi’s first smartwatch for global markets.

Just like the Mi Watch, which was launched last year, the new Mi Watch Lite has a very similar design to the Apple Watch. It features a 1.4-inch 320 x 320 TFT color display with automatic brightness adjustment and over 120 themed watch faces.

While it obviously isn’t as impressive as the best Android smartwatches when it comes to activity tracking, the Mi Watch Lite does offer 11 workout modes and an automatic step counter. It also offers heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and 5 ATM water resistance. There is built-in GPS as well, something that is missing on the Redmi Watch.

When it comes to battery life, Xiaomi claims the Mi Watch Lite can last up to 9 days on a single charge under typical usage. If you use the GPS in sports mode, however, you’ll only get a maximum of 10 hours.

Unfortunately, there are no details on pricing and availability yet. The Redmi Watch was launched in China at just 299 yuan ($46), so it is likely that the Mi Watch Lite will be priced well under $100.

TicWatch S2

$120 at Amazon
$120 at Walmart
$180 at Newegg

The TicWatch S2 is an affordable sports-focused smartwatch that offers military-grade durability. It also has onboard GPS, 5 ATM water resistance, and a crisp 1.39-inch display.