Wear Radar

Xiaomi Smart Band 9vsFitbit Charge

Xiaomi Smart Band 9
Buy/Wait:bad

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.

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Fitbit Charge
Buy/Wait:bad

Overdue for a refresh — no successor announced yet. Prices should be at their lowest

Best for: Anyone who wants serious health and fitness tracking without the bulk or cost of a full smartwatch. Works with both Android and iPhone, making it the most accessible Fitbit tracker in the lineup.

Full details →
Xiaomi Smart Band 9Fitbit Charge
TierFitness TrackerFitness Tracker
PlatformiOS & AndroidiOS & Android
Battery14 days7 days
Always-on display
GPS
Cellular
Health sensorshr, spo2, stress, sleepecg, spo2, eda stress, hr
ReleasedJul 22, 2024Sep 28, 2023
Cycle length365 days731 days
Cycle advicebadbad
Deals advicegoodgood
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Why buy each?

Xiaomi Smart Band 9

AMOLED always-on at under $40

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.

14-day battery with health monitoring

Continuous heart rate, SpO2, stress, and sleep tracking — all running for 2 weeks before charging. Most smartwatches last 1–2 days.

Works with iPhone and Android

Full functionality on both platforms via the Mi Fitness app, including notifications, sleep analysis, and health trends.

Fitbit Charge

ECG and EDA stress in a slim band

Full ECG, electrodermal activity stress sensing, SpO2, and continuous heart rate in a tracker thinner than most smartwatches.

Google apps integration

Google Maps navigation, Google Wallet NFC payments, and YouTube Music controls — more useful on-device apps than any previous Charge.

7-day battery with GPS

7 days of typical use, dropping to around 30 minutes per GPS workout session before needing a charge.