Mi Band 8 is expected to launch on April 18 alongside Xiaomi 13 Ultra; teased design

Xiaomi is set to launch the highly anticipated Xiaomi 13 Ultra smartphone on April 18. It is confirmed that the upcoming handset will feature Leica-branded cameras with special Summicron lenses and Sony IMX989 and Sony IMX858 sensors. Now, the Beijing-based company confirms that it will also launch the Mi Band 8, the successor to the Mi Band 7 fitness tracker, on the same date. The new smart wearable will be launched with some redesigns and is also expected to bring some functional improvements over its predecessor.

Xiaomi China’s website confirms the upcoming launch of the Mi Band 8 smart wearable device. It is seen in a promotional image sporting a pill-shaped dial with an AMOLED display. Instead of wraparound bands as seen on previous models, the Mi Band 8’s strap attaches to the wearable on both sides.

Lei Jun, the co-founder and CEO of the company, confirmed via his Weibo account that the upcoming Mi Band 8 can be shaped in many ways, including being worn as a necklace.

Mi Band 8 worn as a necklace
Photo credit: Weibo/ Lei Jun

A report from Android Authority notes that the Mi Band 8 will most likely offer the same basic activity tracking features as the Mi Band 7. Continuous blood oxygen monitoring and low SpO2 alarms, heart rate tracking all-day heart rate, sleep tracking and stress monitoring should all be included in the wearable’s fitness tracking capabilities, according to the report.

He adds that the company may also launch a Pro model of the Mi Band 8. The standard model will likely provide GPS connectivity through a tethered phone, while the Pro model, acting as the successor to the Mi Band 7 Pro, is likely to include built-in features. GPS. The Chinese variant of the purported fitness tracker may likely differ from its global variants, the report adds.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 7, which comes in Black, Blue, Green, Orange, Pink and White color variants, costs CNY 249 (around Rs. 2,900) for the non-NFC variant, while the NFC version is available at CNY 299 (about Rs. 3,500). It features a 1.62-inch Always-On AMOLED display with 192 x 490 pixel resolution, 500 nits peak brightness, and 326 ppi pixel density. The fitness band also offers health tracking, including an SpO2 monitor alongside a heart rate sensor, female health tracking, and sleep monitoring with an additional 120 sports modes.

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