Redmi has now launched an upgrade to the initial Redmi Watch, called Redmi Watch 2 Lite. The new smartwatch offers a bigger screen, blood oxygen sensor, and more sports modes. Yet, they both share a lot of similarities. In this article, we will be doing a detailed real-life Redmi Watch vs Redmi Watch 2 Lite comparison for you to decide if it’s worth upgrading to the new Watch 2 Lite from the first-gen model. Read on.
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Redmi Watch vs Redmi Watch 2 Lite Comparison
After the Redmi Watch 2 Lite launch, many consumers are confused about whether to buy the first-gen Redmi Watch or spend a little more and get the Redmi Watch 2 Lite. Let’s see which smartwatch will be a perfect choice for you to go!
But before we start, let’s have a look at the key specifications of both smartwatches:
| Features | Redmi Watch 2 Lite | Redmi Watch |
| Display | 1.55″ TFT Display | 1.4″ IPS Display |
| Resolution | 360 x 320 pixels | 320 x 320 pixels |
| Pixel Density | 311 PPI | 323 PPI |
| Heart Rate and SpO2 | Available | Available |
| Weight | 36 Grams | 35 Grams |
| Dimensions | 41.2 x 35.3 x 10.7 mm | 41 x 35 x 11.9 mm |
| Compatible App | Mi Fitness (Xiaomi Wear) | Mi Fitness (Xiaomi Wear) |
| Sports Modes | 100+ | 11 |
| GPS | Available | Available |
| Water-Resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Battery | 262mAh | 230mAh |
| Fast Charging | Not Available | Not Available |
| Temperature Sensor | Not Available | Not Available |
| Price | Rs 4,999 | Rs 3,999 |
Does Redmi Watch 2 Lite Have Better Display Than Redmi Watch?
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite has a slightly bigger 1.55-inch display compared to the Redmi Watch, which has a 1.4-inch screen. But, the Redmi Watch has an IPS LCD, whereas the Redmi Watch 2 Lite has a TFT LCD. The display resolution is higher on the Redmi Watch 2 Lite, but the pixel density of the Redmi Watch is better due to the smaller screen.
In real life, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite’s display looks far better than the Redmi Watch. It has thinner bezels and chin than the latter, which looks dated. Moreover, it also has an improved UI and comes with swipe animations that look smooth compared to the Redmi Watch which doesn’t have any animations.
Talking about colors and brightness, the Reedmi Watch 2 Lite is a clear winner here. The colors and saturation are well-balanced with better clarity and sharpness. Whereas the Redmi Watch has quite dull colors and brightness. Although the sharpness is really good, the screen is not bright enough even at the maximum brightness.
Do Redmi Watch and Redmi Watch 2 Lite Have the Same Design and Build?
The design and build of both watches are pretty similar, but the strap size is different. Both smartwatches have a flat side frame with a curvy design at the back. The whole body is made of matte plastic material that looks good in both, and the sensors are embedded in a plastic module at the back. The Redmi Watch has the branding at the back, but there is no branding on the Redmi Watch 2 Lite.
Both smartwatches also have side buttons that work almost similarly and are responsive and tactile. The Redmi Watch’s side button has a matte texture, while the Redmi Watch 2 Lite’s button has a glossy finish. Both have magnetic charging points at the back.
Both the watches have the same strap design and quality with a button locking system. But the Redmi Watch 2 Lite comes with a 22m strap, whereas the Redmi Watch comes with a 20mm strap. Both are made of silicone plastic material and are skin-friendly, so there is no skin irritation or other problems.
Overall, we haven’t noticed any major change in the design and build quality of both smartwatches. The design and build quality is quite good and looks decent as well.
Which is Better for Health and Activity Tracking?
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite has all the essential health-tracking sensors like heart rate and SpO2, but the Redmi Watch only has the heart rate sensor. This is a major down point because, at present, most smartwatches come with a SpO2 sensor to track blood oxygen levels.
In terms of activity tracking, the Redmi Watch comes with only 11 sports modes, whereas the Redmi Watch 2 Lite has over 100 sports modes. This makes the latter the obvious choice for workout and activity enthusiasts.
You can add or remove sports modes in the Redmi Watch 2 Lite from the watch itself or via the app and select the important ones you need. Both smartwatches come with built-in GPS, which is a good thing. It means that both smartwatches can track more accurate steps, calories, and distance through location tracking.
The Redmi Watch also lacks some features like stress tracking and female cycle tracking, which are present in the Redmi Watch 2 Lite.
We have tested both smartwatches with a pulse oximeter. Upon checking the heart rate, the Redmi Watch showed 113bpm compared to 115bpm on the oximeter. On the other hand, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite showed 99% SpO2 level and 111bpm vis-a-vis 97% SpO2 and 113bpm on the oximeter. With these readings, we can say that both the watches are about 95% accurate in health tracking.
Being an upgrade, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite adds a SpO2 sensor and over 100 workout modes.
Does Redmi Watch 2 Lite Have More Features Than Redmi Watch?
Common features like a stopwatch, timer, find phone, flashlight, weather, alarms, and music control are present in both watches. Coming to the differences, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite has the camera control feature, but the Redmi Watch doesn’t. Also, the Redmi Watch has an air pressure monitor, which the Redmi watch 2 Lite doesn’t have.
Overall, both watches have some more similar features like PIN lock, vibration control, and compass. Also, there is no speaker and microphone present on either of them, making it obvious not to have Bluetooth calling or a built-in Alexa.
Redmi Watch vs Redmi Watch 2 Lite – Mobile App Experience
Both Redmi Watch 2 Lite and the Redmi Watch have the same companion app called Mi Fitness (Xiaomi Wear). It is available for both Android and iPhone. It has an intuitive and easy-to-use UI with separate tabs for different information.
The app interface is the same for both watches, where you can see the health and activity data on the app’s home page. On the device page, you can see the features and settings of the watch, including battery percentage and the watch face. You can change from hundreds of watch faces available for both smartwatches from the app itself.
Talking about features, then the Redmi Watch 2 Lite has some extra features in the app compared to the Redmi Watch. You can add or remove workout modes, use camera control, and change the app layout and widgets on the Redmi Watch 2 Lite, which you can’t do on the Redmi Watch.
Overall, the app experience is very good in both watches as both are compatible with the same app. But, as we saw that the Redmi Watch 2 Lite has some more features than the Redmi Watch, the point goes to the Redmi Watch 2 Lite here as well. If you’re upgrading from a Mi Band, here’s how to transfer data from Mi Fit to Xiaomi Wear.
Does Redmi Watch 2 Lite Have Better Battery Than Redmi Watch?
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite has a 262mAh battery which is a bit higher than the Redmi Watch’s 230mAh cell. According to the brand, both watches can give up to 10 days of battery backup in typical usage.
We have been using both the watches with continuous heart rate and notifications enabled with brightness at level 5. In our testing, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite gave around seven days of battery backup, while on the other hand, the Redmi Watch gave around six days of backup. So, there is not much difference in the battery backup of both the watches.
Talking about charging, both smartwatches come with magnetic chargers- the Redmi Watch 2 Lite has a pogo pin charger, whereas the Redmi Watch has a charging dock with magnetic points on it. The former is more convenient to charge because you only have to attach the cable to the watch, but, on the Redmi Watch, you have to attach the dock every time. Also, both smartwatches take around 2.5 hours to get fully charged from 0-100%.
Overall, we do not have any issue with the battery backup of both smartwatches, but the charging convenience is better in the Redmi Watch 2 Lite.
Redmi Watch 2 Lite vs Redmi Watch Comparison – Verdict
We have discussed everything about the Redmi Watch 2 Lite and Redmi Watch, along with their differences. Now, the question is, which one is the best buy at present?
As we shared our experience above, the Redmi Watch 2 Lite is a clear winner in this comparison as it offers worthy upgrades over its predecessor. In our opinion, if you want to buy the Redmi Watch, we’d suggest you spend extra and get the Redmi Watch 2 Lite for a better user experience with more features.
For those already using the Redmi Watch and planning to upgrade to the Redmi Watch 2 Lite, you will get better display quality and some additional features like a SpO2 monitor and over 100 sports modes. But there aren’t any significant fundamental changes if you are not a fitness enthusiast.
We do have several other options available under Rs 5000 from brands like Realme, Noise, and Boat. You may also consider the new Amazfit GTS 2 Mini, which falls in the same bracket yet offers more features.
