It’s been a while since the Redmi Watch 2 Lite was launched in India. Priced under Rs 5000, it packs a lot of interesting features discussed in our detailed FAQ. We have been using this smartwatch for over a month now, and here’s the full Redmi Watch 2 Lite review, including our experience with the features onboard, their accuracy, and pros and cons.
Also, Read | Redmi Watch vs. Redmi Watch 2 Lite Detailed Comparison
Redmi Watch 2 Lite Detailed Review
Before moving toward the review, let’s look at the box contents of the Redmi Watch 2 Lite. It has a cute square box with the watch printed on the front. Here are the box contents:
- Redmi Watch 2 Lite
- Magnetic Charging Cable
- User Manual
Redmi Watch 2 Lite: Display
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite features a 1.55-inch TFT LCD with 360 x 320 pixels resolution. It also has a higher 311 PPI density. You get an immersive display with clear and sharp text, large icons, and bright and saturated colors. The bezels and chin, too, are cut down compared to the previous version. The watch does not have any protection on display and is prone to scratches in rough usage.
Although it’s a TFT LCD, it has excellent brightness, and the screen is visible even outdoors. The display glass is quite smooth, and the UI works flawlessly. There is no lag in UI, but you can see a slight delay which may bother some people.
To make the display look attractive, Redmi has provided support for over 120 watch faces with many customizations. It also has the raise to wake feature to light up the display by turning your wrist and an option to keep the display on for 5 minutes. Overall, we don’t have any issues with the display, and it looks quite an upgrade compared to the previous iteration.
Redmi Watch 2 Lite: Design & Build Quality
Like its predecessor, the Redmi Watch comes with a square dial with a flat-edge design. It looks casual yet very appealing due to the shape. The side button has a glossy finish that does feel premium on the watch and is also decent while clicking.
The back of the watch has a curved matte design with the sensor module embedded. The magnetic charging points are also present there. The sensor module protrudes out, but it does not feel uncomfortable while wearing on the wrist.
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite has a TPU strap with a rubber finish. The strap quality is decent, and it is a 22mm strap with many pinholes to provide you with a better fit even if you have small hands. The pin lock loop is also made of plastic which is quite okay, but we prefer metal locks. The straps are detachable but come with a button lock system, so you can only replace them with the official brand straps.
The watch also does not feel heavy on the wrist because it weighs only 35 grams. It has a comfortable fit because of the perfect dial size and decent strap. You also get a 5ATM water-resistance rating, so you can enjoy it even while swimming up to 50 meters. That’s about the design and build quality of the Redmi Watch 2 Lite, which we found a kind of perfect for the price.
Redmi Watch 2 Lite: App and Connectivity
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite is compatible with Android and iOS and can be connected to your phone via the Mi Fitness (Xiaomi Wear) app. This is a standalone app for other Redmi smartwatches and smart bands, which is a nice thing. It runs Bluetooth 5.0 and can be set up with Android or iPhone within minutes.
The app has a very minimal and attractive UI design. The functionality and looks of the app are good and very responsive. It has separate tabs for health and workout data to check everything clearly in detail. On the device page, you can check all the settings and features of the watch like watch faces, camera control, raise to wake, watch update, etc.
Overall, the app is really good and works very well. It has a user-friendly UI and easy-to-access tabs with separate details. Also, the watch syncs automatically in the app in a few seconds, and you can manually press the sync button anytime to sync the data.
Redmi Watch 2 Lite: Health and Watch Features
You can access the notification panel by swiping down on the home screen, and swiping up will take you to the quick access menu. You can also swipe left or right on the home screen to access features like weather forecast, heart rate monitor, SpO2 monitor, and steps & calories tracker.
The app list shows you the workout mode, calorie tracker, sleep tracker, stress monitor, breathing exercise, female cycle tracker, music control, camera control, alarm, stopwatch, timer, compass, find phone, and torch. You also get some settings like PIN lock, brightness control, vibration control, Bluetooth disconnection reminder, and auto workout detection.
Talking about health features, it has all the necessary things like heart rate & SpO2 monitor, sleep tracker, stress monitor, female cycle tracker, and breathing exercises. It brings a built-in GPS, tracking your steps and calories more accurately with location tracking.
We have tested the heart rate and SpO2 monitor of the watch with a pulse oximeter, and comparing the results several times, we can say that the watch is about 95% accurate for health and activity tracking.
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite also has 100+ sports modes that you can add or remove on your watch through the Mi Fitness app or the watch itself. And since there’s no mic onboard, you don’t get Bluetooth calling or any voice assistant on board.
All these features make it a perfect package for this smartwatch. You can also get notifications of any app installed on your phone that you can enable from the Mi Fitness app. At last, we would say Redmi has done a good job in terms of health and other features in this watch.
Redmi Watch 2 Lite: Battery Life & Charging
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite has a 262mAh battery that Redmi claims to give up to 10 days of backup in typical usage. In our testing, we got about seven days of backup with notifications enabled, automatic heart rate enabled, and the watch connected to the phone throughout the day.
The charging time of the watch is quite high as it does not support fast charging. It charges from 0-100% in around 2.5 hours through a standard 10w charger. The battery life is decent, in my opinion, as per the usage and what the brand has claimed. That said, we’d have preferred slightly faster charging.
Redmi Watch 2 Lite: Pros and Cons
Things We Like:
- Looks Premium
- Lightweight and Comfortable
- Bright and Colorful Display
- Built-in GPS
- About 95% Accuracy
- PIN Lock
- User-Friendly App
Things We Don’t Like:
- No AMOLED
- It doesn’t Support Google Fit
- No Bluetooth Calling or Voice Assistant
- Slow Charging
Redmi Watch 2 Lite Review: Verdict
The Redmi Watch 2 Lite is mainly geared toward health and fitness. And with the good looks and all the necessary features working with accuracy, it is a solid option to buy for fitness enthusiasts. But again, it lacks fancy stuff like Bluetooth calling and voice assistant, which may disappoint some.
If you need a reliable fitness tracking smartwatch under Rs. 5000, Redmi Watch 2 Lite is the way to go for. However, if you want something extra like Alexa, you can look forward to the newly released Amazfit GTS 2 Mini or even the Amazfit Bip U Pro.
