Xiaomi to launch new fitness tracker Mi Band 1S on Nov. 11

Avid Xiaomi device users expect the Chinese handset maker to unveil the Mi Band 1S on November 11. This device is a new fitness tracker expected to feature a built-in heart rate monitor.

It looks like Xiaomi is going to introduce its new wearable device on Singles' Day, which happens to be the biggest and busiest nationwide shopping bonanza in China. Singles' Day is much like Black Friday in the United States, Tech Times pointed out.

The Mi Band 1S is an evolutionary improvement from the Mi Band, which was Xiaomi's very first fitness band entry in the tech market. It basically looks like its predecessor except for an optical heart sensor pre-installed under the band.

This sensor is the part in direct contact with the user's wrist. Through this contact, the Mi Band 1S can accurately record a user's heart rate.

Although the Mi Band 1S' heart rate monitor feature will make it easier for users to keep track of their daily fitness and health status, it’s also expected to place more burden on the wearable device's battery. That said, it would appear Xiaomi's new fitness tracker isn’t expected to have the 30-day battery life of its predecessor.

The original Mi Band was launched in July 2014. Although the product is relatively new, the band quickly rose to the top of the charts, and amassed total sales of 10 million, said Tech Times. This figure is actually larger than the estimated seven million Apple Watch units sold around the same period.

It’s worth noting, however, the Apple Watch and the Mi Band aren’t direct competitors. They might both be wearable devices but they are two different products.

Plus, their prices aren’t in the same ball park. The Apple Watch costs about $494 while the Mi Band is extremely cheap at a measly $21.

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