Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Anyone who wants basic health tracking — steps, sleep, heart rate, SpO2 — without spending more than $40 or carrying a bulky watch. Works with both iPhone and Android. A popular choice for kids, older adults, and budget-conscious fitness beginners.
Full details →Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest
Best for: Trail runners, ultramarathon athletes, and multisport competitors who want full maps and long GPS battery without paying $900 for the Vertix. A strong alternative to Garmin Forerunner 965 for users who prioritise battery over display quality.
Full details →| Xiaomi Smart Band 9 | COROS Apex | |
|---|---|---|
| Tier | Fitness Tracker | Sports GPS |
| Platform | iOS & Android | iOS & Android |
| Battery | 14 days | 45 days |
| Always-on display | ✅ | ❌ |
| GPS | ❌ | ✅ |
| Cellular | ❌ | ❌ |
| Health sensors | hr, spo2, stress, sleep | hr, spo2, hrv, training load, skin temp |
| Released | Jul 22, 2024 | Sep 14, 2022 |
| Cycle length | 365 days | 1047 days |
| Cycle advice | bad | bad |
| Deals advice | good | good |
| Next model | — | — |
Most fitness trackers at this price use basic LCD displays. The Smart Band 9 brings a vivid AMOLED always-on screen — rare at this price point.
Continuous heart rate, SpO2, stress, and sleep tracking — all running for 2 weeks before charging. Most smartwatches last 1–2 days.
Full functionality on both platforms via the Mi Fitness app, including notifications, sleep analysis, and health trends.
Enough for 3-day mountain stages without charging — a critical advantage for ultra-distance racing.
Breadcrumb + full TopoActive-style maps for turn-by-turn navigation on trails, mountains, and roads.
Lightweight yet scratch-resistant materials that hold up better than most competitor watches at this price.