New Xiaomi smartwatch launched for 40 euros

The Xiaomi Watch 3 Active wants to score with a low price and good functionality. (Source: Xiaomi)

Last week, the Chinese company Xiaomi introduced a new watch with the Watch 3 Active – nothing unusual so far.

However, the price is suspicious: the manufacturer calls just 40 euros as a recommended retail price (RRP) for the Watch 3 Active and is oriented towards the lower end of the price scale.

Can such a cheap watch serve as a real alternative in the competitive Android smartwatch market? To answer that question, let’s take a look at the specs.

Xiaomi Watch 3 Active: Small but mighty?

In terms of looks, the Xiaomi Watch 3 Active is reminiscent of the Apple Watch SE with its rectangular design.

A 1.83-inch LCD panel is used as the display, which works with a resolution of 240 x 280 pixels and a maximum brightness of 450 cd/m². According to Xiaomi, users can choose between more than 200 dials on the screen itself.

For the bracelets, on the other hand, the Xiaomi Watch 3 Active uses the classic colors black and gray; The variations in green and yellow can be ordered for a surcharge.

True to the name, the latest Xiaomi watch is aimed at active users: According to the manufacturer, more than 100 sports modes are available for this, including the usual modes for running, cycling or hiking.

In terms of sensors, the Xiaomi Watch 3 Active works with the classic heart rate sensor and is also able to measure sleep duration and phases. A sensor for measuring the blood oxygen content is also on board.

However, the watch does not have an integrated location via GPS & Co.

On the battery side, the Xiaomi Watch 3 Active has a capacity of 289 mAh and should last up to 12 days with regular use.

The direct comparison with the big sister

The Active variant is a slimmed-down new edition of the existing Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3.

At 1.75 inches, it is even smaller than the Active counterpart, but offers a brighter and sharper display with an AMOLED panel, a resolution of 390 x 450 pixels and 600 cd/m². In addition, this should be covered with a fingerprint-repellent layer.

In contrast to the Watch 3 Active, the regular version also has GPS, GLONASS and Galileo positioning sensors.

Also, NFC connectivity is a connection option unique to the Redmi Watch 3.

Both watches can be easily paired with a smartphone via Bluetooth 5.2 and are compatible with Android 6.0 and iOS 12 and newer.

Is that enough to justify the 80 euro surcharge compared to the Active version?

We find: Limited. Sure, the Redmi Watch 3 is brighter and has GPS tracking, but the low price of the Watch 3 Active is hard to beat if you’re looking for an affordable smartwatch with all the necessary features.

What do you think of the performance data of the Xiaomi Watch 3 Active? Is that enough to offer the strongest price-performance alternative among Android smartwatches, or would you rather spend a little more money for an AMOLED display and GPS functionality? Which watch are you currently using? Let us know in the comments!