Xiaomi Watch S1 Active in test: Sporty smartwatch with many strengths, but also some weaknesses

Only a few weeks ago, we had the Xiaomi Watch S1 in our review, in which the smartwatch revealed a lot of light, but also some shadow. Now, the sporty, and somewhat cheaper (MSRP of 179 Euros (~$180), Xiaomi Watch S1 Active has to be put to the test and show what the somewhat slimmed-down sibling has to offer. To set up the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active, a Mi account and the Mi Fitness app, which is available for iOS and Android for free, are required.

The device is then added in the app, which can optionally be done via a scannable QR code. In our test, there were no notable problems when establishing the connection between the app and the smartwatch. The setup was fast and reliable under iOS as well as Android.

Not only can the tracking data be synchronized and viewed via the app, but various settings can also be made. Among other things, the frequency of the pulse determination and the permanent SpO2 measurement can be set. It is noticeable that the range of functions differs between iOS and Android.

This affects Alexa (see below), and also the option to install the app on the smartwatch. This is only available at Android, but the selection is currently very limited. Besides GPS and Bluetooth 5.

2, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active is also equipped with Wi-Fi. Thankfully, the Wi-Fi key is entered in the app and not on the wrist. The smartwatch is then online.

The watch only displays the weather when tracking and transmission are enabled on the smartphone. Six different clock faces are installed. More can be downloaded for free via the app.

According to the manufacturer, there are over 200 different dials in many different designs to choose from. As a sporty smartwatch, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active offers a whole range of sports and health features, but does not differ from the Watch S1 here. An optical heart rate sensor is installed for 24/7 heart rate monitoring.

The blood oxygen content (SpO2) is also measured, although permanent 24-hour monitoring (measurement every 10 or 30 minutes) first has to be activated via the app. The smartwatch also monitors sleep and optionally the stress level. There is no ECG function.

A total of 117 fitness modes are available for tracking sports activities, so the selection covers many sports. Of these, 19 training modes are particularly extensive. The measured data is not only displayed and edited in detail on the watch, but also in the Mi Fitness app.

Furthermore, synchronization with Apple Health and Strava is possible, but not with Google Fit. Unfortunately, it is not possible to export the fitness data (GPX or similar). As is common today, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active also has sleep tracking in addition to stress tracking.

It thus analyzes sleep, measures the length, and monitors the pulse and blood oxygen saturation (SpO2). The detection was reliable in the test, and even small naps were detected. After waking up, the smartwatch provides an initial overview of the sleep quality.

More detailed insights into sleep phases and are provided by the app. Unfortunately, there is no intelligent alarm depending on the sleep phase. The usual bedtimes can be set in the app.

During these, the screen is not automatically activated when the arm is moved to unintentionally light up the bedroom. However, this caused a few problems in the test. With its 117 fitness modes, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active can track almost all imaginable sports, and it also provides 19 particularly extensive training modes for popular sports activities like running, cycling, etc.

The tracking has to be started before the workout, and running, walking, and cycling are automatically detected. In our test, we primarily used the cycling and walking sports modes. In both, the smart sports watch provides a lot of data both during and after the workout, as the screenshots embedded below show.

These can be viewed directly on the smartwatch, including the progression of heart rate and pace, the percentage breakdown across different heart rate zones, calories burned, and more. What is not available, however, are goals/challenges and exercises. We would have liked more from a sports smartwatch, especially since no optional sports apps can be installed.

The smartwatch’s dual-band satellite communication uses GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo and QZSS. The connection was usually established within a short time in the test, so workouts can be started without long delays Xiaomi’s sports smartwatch had to compete with the Garmin Venu 2 (approx. 310 Euros/~$311 on Amazon) as a reference model during a bike lap .

The differences are small. While the Venu 2 measured a total distance of 9. 16 km at 18.

4 km/h (~5. 69 mi at 11. 4 mph) average speed, the Watch S1 Active comes to values of 9.

12 km and 18. 68 km/h (~5. 67 mi at 11.

6 mph). We can live with these deviations, especially since they turn out to be significantly smaller and do not show such large outliers as on the Xiaomi Watch S1 – although the software and hardware are probably identical. Like in the Watch S1, Xiaomi also installs a 1.

43-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 466 x 466 pixels in the Active model. This results in a high pixel density of 461 PPI and thus a pleasantly sharp display of icons, text, and so on. The determined brightness is 433 cd/m².

That is not an outstandingly good rate. However, it is enough to ensure that the smartwatch is still quite legible in direct sunlight, even though this is quite difficult to capture in the photos below. The smartwatch follows touch commands immediately, even though the glass surface feels duller than that of an iPhone 13 Pro, for example.

The fact that a relatively large number of fingerprints and smears gather on the display after a short time is nothing unusual for a smartwatch with a touch display and a common evil. In the settings, you can choose how quickly the display should turn black after use. It then turns on again after turning the wrist – but unfortunately not always as reliably as desired in our test.

There is an optional “Always on Display” option, which saves the occasional fiddling with the arm, but naturally has a negative impact on the runtime. Convenient: Putting the palm of the hand on the display immediately darkens it. Xiaomi specifies a battery life of up to 12 days in typical use (24 days in energy-saving mode).

As is often the case, this is of course a rather theoretical value that is usually shorter in practice. Users who regularly use the smartwatch for sports activities and permanently activate heart rate, SpO2 tracking and the always-on display will have to connect the watch to the charging station every two to three days. A runtime of around seven to ten days is realistically achievable with moderate use.

When charging, a difference to the Xiaomi Watch S1 becomes obvious. While the more expensive model can also be charged wirelessly via Qi standard and is reverse-charging capable, the Active version only charges with the included and unfortunately quite short magnetic charging cable. Xiaomi does not include a power adapter.

The charging process itself takes about two hours. In our test, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active does many things well – and even a few things better than its more expensive sister model. Compared to the Watch S1 there were no unexpectedly high deviations in our GPS test, for example.

It also cuts a solid figure as a sports or fitness smartwatch in other respects, but it is definitely not free of points of criticism. As expected, the battery life is not as good as the manufacturer claims. However, those who do not put the smartwatch under particularly heavy use can get through a week without a charging stop.

One or two weaknesses should not go unmentioned. Besides the Alexa problem in combination with an iPhone, we have to mention a not completely successful localization and the NFC function that is not really usable in Germany. We would also have wished for a bit more independence from the Mi Fitness app and thus the smartphone in some aspects.

Overall, Xiaomi should improve the software and offer more sports functions, among other things. The integrated GPS is nice, but does not enable navigation. Unfortunately, Xiaomi does not offer a version with eSIM and LTE connectivity.

Here, other manufacturers like Samsung with the (still) current Galaxy Watch4 (from about 160 Euros (~$161) at Amazon ) or Huawei with the Watch GT 3 (from about 175 Euros/~$176 at Amazon ) are better positioned. Overall, the Xiaomi Watch S1 Active left a rather mixed impression in the test, even though many minor flaws could be fixed quite easily. .