The Xiaomi Watch S4 marks the latest iteration in Xiaomi’s line of wearables, offering a blend of premium features and health tracking capabilities at an affordable price point. While it may not be a revolutionary upgrade, it refines and builds upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, the Xiaomi S3, with key enhancements. The S4 offers a sleek design, improved health sensors, and a longer battery life that promises up to a week of use on a single charge. One of its standout features is the addition of NFC for contactless payments, making it more convenient for users who want a smartwatch that doubles as a payment method.
For fitness enthusiasts, the S4 offers multiple workout modes with accurate GPS tracking, making it a reliable companion for outdoor activities. The integration of a crown for smoother navigation, combined with its intuitive touchscreen interface, elevates the overall user experience. However, despite the impressive health tracking, the sleep tracking feature still needs some improvement, especially with initial firmware versions.
With a premium build and battery efficiency, the Xiaomi Watch S4 positions itself as a strong contender in the budget-to-mid-range smartwatch market for 2025. It delivers the essentials, offering users an affordable yet feature-packed smartwatch for everyday use. Whether you’re upgrading from an older model or entering the world of wearables, the S4 brings solid value with every feature it delivers.
Design & Build Quality
The Xiaomi Watch S4 boasts a sleek, modern design that combines premium materials with a functional, sporty aesthetic. The frosted glass back and high-quality metallic finish give it a sophisticated yet durable feel. The design has been refined over previous models, with a more streamlined and ergonomic build that makes it comfortable for all-day wear. The removable bezel is a standout feature, allowing users to customize their watch to match personal style, which adds a nice touch of personalization.
One of the key upgrades is the crown-style button, which enhances navigation, offering an intuitive way to scroll through the interface. This, combined with the touchscreen, ensures a seamless interaction with the watch. The buttons are well-placed, and their feedback is solid, making it easy to navigate through settings and apps.
The Xiaomi Watch S4 also comes with IP68 water and dust resistance, making it suitable for swimming and outdoor activities without worrying about exposure to water or dust. The build quality is sturdy, and despite the thick bezel, the overall watch feels solid and well-constructed.
Its lightweight design is a perfect balance of strength and comfort, ensuring it doesn’t feel too bulky on the wrist. Overall, the Xiaomi Watch S4 offers a highly polished look and feel, making it one of the more stylish and robust smartwatches in the mid-range market.
Display Specs and Features
The Xiaomi Watch S4 is equipped with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, offering sharp and vibrant visuals that stand out even in bright outdoor environments. The screen boasts a higher peak brightness, ensuring clear visibility under direct sunlight, which is a noticeable improvement over previous models. The AMOLED panel delivers deep blacks, vivid colors, and crisp details, making it perfect for reading notifications, tracking workouts, and viewing health data with clarity.
One standout feature is the always-on display (AOD) mode, which allows users to check the time and basic notifications without having to activate the screen. The AOD is customizable, and it automatically adjusts its brightness based on ambient light levels, ensuring it remains visible in various lighting conditions. This feature, while convenient, does slightly impact battery life, but the Xiaomi Watch S4 manages it well.
The watch faces are another highlight, offering a wide range of customizable options that users can tailor to match their style or preferences. With multiple display formats available, the watch caters to a variety of aesthetic tastes. Whether you prefer a minimalist look or something more dynamic, there’s a watch face that fits.
The touchscreen responsiveness is smooth, and the addition of the crown-style button enhances navigation, allowing you to easily scroll through menus and settings. Overall, the Xiaomi Watch S4’s display is not only functional but also a standout feature that enhances the overall user experience.
Tech Specs Analysis
The Xiaomi Watch S4 comes packed with impressive tech specifications that deliver a top-notch experience in both functionality and performance. It features a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with higher peak brightness, making it easier to view in direct sunlight compared to its predecessors. The display is sharp, vibrant, and supports always-on mode, allowing users to check the time and notifications without interacting with the watch.
Under the hood, the Xiaomi Watch S4 runs on a new mono-chip system, which enhances the interface responsiveness and ensures smooth performance. This chip also powers the improved health sensors, making tracking metrics like heart rate, SpO2, and stress levels more accurate and reliable. The watch supports GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), which combines multiple satellite systems (including GPS) for precise location tracking during outdoor workouts.
With 12 workout modes and a suite of fitness tracking features, the watch provides excellent versatility for sports enthusiasts. It also includes NFC support for contactless payments, which is a huge convenience for users in supported regions. The battery is another highlight, providing up to a week of usage with features like always-on display and GPS workouts active, thanks to the 500mAh battery.
The watch also comes with Bluetooth connectivity for syncing with your phone, and IP68 water resistance, ensuring durability in various environments. Its lightweight build, coupled with a solid and premium finish, makes it a well-rounded wearable that stands out in the market.
Speaker Test
The Xiaomi Watch S4 features a built-in speaker, allowing you to make Bluetooth calls directly from the watch. While it works well for basic calls, the sound quality is somewhat muffled and lacks depth, making it suitable for quick chats but not ideal for long conversations. For music or media playback, the speaker is loud enough but not as clear or rich as higher-end smartwatches. It’s adequate for basic notifications and voice prompts, but if you want premium audio quality, you’ll likely prefer using Bluetooth earphones or a headset. The speaker is a nice feature but not a standout.
Health Tracking
The Xiaomi Watch S4 comes equipped with a robust set of health tracking features that cater to a wide range of fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious individuals. One of its standout features is the heart rate monitor, which offers accurate tracking and the ability to set alerts when your heart rate exceeds or falls below certain thresholds. This feature is particularly useful for users who want to stay on top of their cardiovascular health during exercise or throughout the day. The blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitor is another valuable addition, giving users insight into their respiratory health, especially important during workouts or in high-altitude environments.
In addition to these, the Xiaomi Watch S4 also includes stress monitoring, which analyzes multiple physiological factors to provide a stress level reading. This can be helpful for users looking to manage stress or track how it fluctuates during the day. The watch’s pedometer function, powered by a gyroscope and accelerometer, is incredibly reliable, providing precise step tracking and activity monitoring.
While the watch excels in many areas, it’s worth mentioning that the sleep tracking feature leaves much to be desired. In its first iteration, the sleep tracking was inaccurate, particularly when it came to detecting sleep cycles and wake periods. This can be frustrating, but Xiaomi is likely to release updates that could improve its performance over time.
For sports enthusiasts, the Xiaomi Watch S4 supports multiple workout modes, including outdoor activities that make use of GPS tracking for more accurate location-based data. Whether you’re running, cycling, or walking, the watch is equipped to provide detailed statistics on your performance, such as pace, distance, and calories burned. The heart rate sensor also performs well during these activities, providing near-instantaneous readings, which is especially useful for tracking your exertion levels during intense workouts.
Overall, the health tracking capabilities of the Xiaomi Watch S4 are impressive for its price point, offering a comprehensive suite of features that are accurate, easy to use, and beneficial for both casual fitness trackers and more serious athletes.
Workout Modes
The Xiaomi Watch S4 offers a wide variety of workout modes, catering to athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all levels. With multiple tracking options, it covers everything from running and cycling to hiking, swimming, and even yoga. For outdoor activities, the watch supports GPS tracking, which provides accurate location data to help you monitor your performance and progress in real time. Whether you’re jogging through a park or cycling along a route, the GPS ensures that your distance, pace, and route are logged with precision.
The heart rate sensor is highly responsive during workouts, providing real-time readings that can help you gauge exertion levels throughout your exercise. Interval training, high-intensity workouts, and strength training are also tracked with specific settings that allow for detailed feedback. This allows users to configure and customize their workouts based on personal fitness goals and preferences.
For those who enjoy outdoor activities, the Xiaomi Watch S4 has built-in support for trail running and other adventure sports, capturing important metrics like altitude and elevation changes. It’s great for those who want to track not only the basics but also more specialized aspects of their workouts. Additionally, the watch is water-resistant, which makes it suitable for swimming, providing accurate data on laps, strokes, and swim efficiency.
Whether you’re into casual fitness tracking or more serious athletic training, the Xiaomi Watch S4 offers reliable tracking and a wide array of customizable workout modes to suit different fitness levels and preferences.
Battery Life
The Xiaomi Watch S4 impresses with its excellent battery life, making it a standout feature in this smartwatch. With a 500mAh battery, the watch can last up to a week with always-on display (AOD), continuous heart rate monitoring, and GPS workouts. This makes it ideal for those who don’t want to worry about charging every day.
When the AOD mode is turned off, the battery life extends even further, reaching up to two weeks of use, depending on activity levels and usage patterns. In battery saver mode, the Xiaomi Watch S4 can last up to a month, which is impressive for a device that offers such a wide range of features.
The watch also supports fast charging, allowing users to recharge the device quickly if they’re in a pinch. Despite the added features like GPS and continuous health monitoring, the watch manages power efficiently, ensuring that you get the most out of each charge.
The Xiaomi Watch S4‘s ability to provide long-lasting battery life without compromising functionality makes it a great choice for users who need a reliable and low-maintenance device. Whether you’re tracking workouts, monitoring health metrics, or simply using it for everyday tasks, the battery performance ensures the watch can keep up with your routine without constant charging interruptions.
Connectivity
The Xiaomi Watch S4 offers robust connectivity options, ensuring it stays seamlessly integrated with your daily life. It features Bluetooth technology, allowing smooth pairing with your smartphone for syncing notifications, calls, and messages. This connectivity is essential for users who rely on their smartwatch to stay connected while on the go.
The watch also supports GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System), providing reliable GPS tracking during outdoor workouts. This allows for precise location data without needing to rely on your phone, making it ideal for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts. The GPS functionality also supports multiple satellite systems, ensuring quick signal lock and consistent performance during activities.
In addition to Bluetooth and GNSS, the Xiaomi Watch S4 includes NFC for contactless payments, enabling users to make quick purchases directly from their wrist. The NFC feature is a convenient addition, especially for those in supported regions, making the watch a practical tool for on-the-go transactions.
Lastly, the watch supports Bluetooth calling, allowing users to make and receive calls directly from the watch when paired with a smartphone. This feature is especially useful for those who prefer hands-free communication or need quick access to calls while exercising or multitasking. Overall, the Xiaomi Watch S4 offers comprehensive connectivity features that enhance its functionality and ease of use.
Software & Apps
The Xiaomi Watch S4 runs on HyperOS, Xiaomi’s custom software designed specifically for their wearable devices. The system is streamlined and user-friendly, offering an intuitive interface that’s easy to navigate with both the touchscreen and the crown-style button. Although it’s not as feature-rich as more popular operating systems like Wear OS or watchOS, it’s still highly functional and provides a smooth experience for most users.
The watch comes with a suite of pre-installed apps tailored for fitness tracking, including workout modes, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and more. Xiaomi’s Mi Fitness app is the primary platform for syncing the watch with your phone. This app provides a comprehensive overview of your health and fitness data, including detailed insights into workouts, steps, heart rate, and stress levels. For sports enthusiasts, it also syncs with Google Fit and Strava, enabling you to access and analyze your data from multiple sources.
However, one limitation is the app ecosystem. Unlike Wear OS or Apple Watch devices, the Xiaomi Watch S4 doesn’t support third-party app installations from the Google Play Store or App Store. This restricts the ability to add additional apps, which may be a dealbreaker for users who prefer more customization and flexibility.
The Xiaomi Watch S4 also offers customizable watch faces, and you can adjust various settings like brightness, AOD mode, and gesture controls directly from the watch or within the app. Additionally, the Mi Fitness app is constantly being updated, with Xiaomi enhancing its functionality to add more features over time.
For those who rely on their watch for communication, the Xiaomi Watch S4 supports call notifications and the ability to make calls via Bluetooth, though it lacks advanced messaging capabilities or third-party app notifications.
While HyperOS isn’t as open or versatile as other smartwatch platforms, its integration with Xiaomi’s hardware ensures that the watch remains responsive and efficient, with solid performance across the board. Overall, the software and apps on the Xiaomi Watch S4 provide a good balance of functionality for most users, but those looking for extensive app support might feel somewhat limited.
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Smartphone App:
The Mi Fitness app serves as the central hub for syncing data from the Xiaomi Watch S4 to your smartphone. It provides a clean, user-friendly interface that’s intuitive to navigate, allowing you to easily view your health and fitness metrics. Upon syncing, it offers detailed insights into your heart rate, step count, workout history, sleep patterns, and even stress levels. The app’s layout is well-organized, with clear sections for different categories of data, making it easy to track progress over time.
The Mi Fitness app syncs seamlessly with the watch, ensuring real-time data transfer. It also integrates with other popular fitness apps like Google Fit and Strava, giving users the flexibility to access their data across multiple platforms. The app supports customizable notifications, allowing you to tailor alerts for various activities and health metrics, keeping you motivated throughout the day.
One of the standout features of the Mi Fitness app is its ability to track long-term health trends, providing users with actionable insights into their fitness journey. Xiaomi continually updates the app, adding new features and improving functionality, though it’s still not as extensive as other more established fitness platforms like Apple Health.
Despite its limitations, Mi Fitness is an excellent companion for the Xiaomi Watch S4, offering solid integration and making it easy to manage health data. It’s a simple yet effective way to keep track of your fitness and well-being.
Pros and Cons of the Xiaomi Watch S4
Pros:
- Excellent Battery Life: The Xiaomi Watch S4 offers impressive battery life, lasting up to a week with continuous tracking, always-on display, and GPS workouts. It can last up to a month in battery saver mode.
- Strong Health Tracking Features: It excels at heart rate tracking, oxygen saturation, and stress level monitoring. Additionally, the GPS functionality works reliably for outdoor workouts, and the pedometer is accurate.
- Improved Display: With higher peak brightness, the Xiaomi Watch S4 performs well outdoors and offers better visibility than previous models, ensuring you can read the screen in bright sunlight.
- Responsive Interface: The combination of touchscreen and crown navigation makes for a smooth, intuitive user experience. It’s easy to interact with and features a detailed tutorial at the start.
- NFC for Contactless Payments: Xiaomi Watch S4 supports NFC for contactless payments, adding a useful feature for daily convenience.
- Great for Sports: Supports multiple workout modes, including outdoor activities with GPS tracking, and gives detailed reports on your performance through the companion app.
- Solid Build and Aesthetic: The watch features premium materials and a sleek design, with a frosted back (on certain colorways) and a solid, attractive appearance.
Cons:
- No LTE Edition: The Xiaomi Watch S4 does not have an LTE model, which means it lacks standalone connectivity and must be paired with a phone for full functionality.
- Sleep Tracking Issues: The sleep tracking still needs improvement, especially with the first firmware release. It struggles to accurately track sleep cycles and awake times, which can be frustrating.
- Thick Bezel: The bezel remains relatively thick, despite being removable, and while it’s customizable, it still feels bulky compared to other wearables.
- Limited App Ecosystem: It lacks the ability to install third-party apps like Wear OS-based devices or Apple Watches, which limits its functionality if you want more customization and app options.
- Unimpressive Audio Performance: While it supports Bluetooth calling and NFC, the speaker and microphone quality might not be on par with higher-end smartwatches.
Drawbacks & Verdict
The Xiaomi Watch S4 is a well-rounded smartwatch with several strong features, but it does have some drawbacks. One of the main limitations is its closed ecosystem; it runs on HyperOS, which doesn’t support third-party apps from platforms like Google Play Store or App Store. This restricts the app selection compared to other wearables, such as Wear OS or watchOS, which may be a dealbreaker for users seeking more customization. Additionally, while the sleep tracking is useful, it still lacks accuracy in some instances, especially with initial firmware, which can be frustrating for users looking for detailed sleep data.
Another downside is the thick bezel, which, while removable, may feel bulky and detract from the overall aesthetics of the watch. The speaker quality is also mediocre, adequate for calls but not great for media or audio-based tasks. Xiaomi Pay is available but still has limited support for certain countries and banks, which might not be convenient for all users.
Despite these drawbacks, the Xiaomi Watch S4 remains a solid choice for users looking for a budget-friendly wearable with impressive battery life, reliable health tracking, and GPS functionality. Its combination of fitness features, long battery life, and contactless payments make it a compelling option for most users. Overall, the Xiaomi Watch S4 offers excellent value for its price, but it might not be the right fit for those who need extensive app support or advanced sleep tracking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What’s the difference between the Xiaomi Watch S4 and its predecessor, the Xiaomi S3?
- Answer: The Xiaomi Watch S4 offers several upgrades, including improved health tracking (better heart rate, oxygen saturation, and stress monitoring), a higher peak brightness display, and longer battery life. It also features a crown for easier navigation, improved GPS functionality, and NFC for contactless payments.
2. How long does the Xiaomi Watch S4 battery last?
- Answer: The Xiaomi Watch S4 offers exceptional battery life. On a full charge, it can last up to a week with always-on display, heart rate tracking, and a few GPS workouts. In battery saver mode, it can last up to a month.
3. Can the Xiaomi Watch S4 make phone calls?
- Answer: Yes, the Xiaomi Watch S4 supports Bluetooth calling, allowing you to make and receive calls directly from the watch as long as it is paired with your phone.
4. Does the Xiaomi Watch S4 have an NFC feature for payments?
- Answer: Yes, the Xiaomi Watch S4 has NFC for contactless payments, allowing you to make purchases without needing your phone or a physical card, provided your bank is supported in your region.
5. Is the Xiaomi Watch S4 good for fitness tracking?
- Answer: Yes, the Xiaomi Watch S4 is an excellent choice for fitness tracking. It supports multiple workout modes, including outdoor activities with GPS tracking, and offers detailed performance metrics through the companion app. The heart rate sensor is responsive, and the GPS implementation is reliable.
6. What are the key improvements in the Xiaomi Watch S4’s display?
- Answer: The Xiaomi Watch S4 has an improved display with higher peak brightness compared to its predecessor, making it easier to see in bright sunlight. It also supports always-on display and reacts to brightness changes outdoors.
7. Can I install third-party apps on the Xiaomi Watch S4?
- Answer: No, the Xiaomi Watch S4 does not allow you to install third-party apps like Wear OS or Apple Watch models. It has a more limited app ecosystem and focuses more on health and fitness tracking.
8. How accurate is the sleep tracking on the Xiaomi Watch S4?
- Answer: While the sleep tracking on the Xiaomi Watch S4 has potential, it’s still inaccurate in the first firmware iteration. It struggles to accurately detect sleep cycles and awake times, though Xiaomi may improve this feature with future updates.
9. Does the Xiaomi Watch S4 support GPS for outdoor workouts?
- Answer: Yes, the Xiaomi Watch S4 supports GPS for accurate tracking during outdoor workouts like running, cycling, and hiking. It locks the signal quickly and provides reliable performance throughout the workout.
10. Is the Xiaomi Watch S4 a good choice for 2025?
- Answer: Yes, the Xiaomi Watch S4 is a strong contender for 2025, offering great battery life, reliable health tracking, and a solid design at an affordable price. However, if you need more advanced app support or LTE connectivity, you might want to consider other options.
