Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro also handles card payments. It offers higher brightness and a new sensor, and is now available in the Czech Republic.

Xiaomi sports bands have long been popular among Czech users. However, after the release of the basic Smart Band 10 model, there was an unusually long hiatus, and we are only now seeing the new generation Pro version. As an apology for months of waiting, the manufacturer this time also brings an NFC version that supports card payments. Even without an extra charge, you will get a thinner design, a display with higher brightness, and a new PPG sensor.

Thinner Body and Brighter Display

The Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro retains its 1.74″ curved AMOLED display with a resolution of 480 × 400 pixels and a refresh rate of 60 Hz. Neither the size nor the resolution of the panel has changed compared to its predecessor, but there has been an improvement in brightness. The peak value has increased from 1,200 nits on the Band 9 Pro to 2,000 nits, while Xiaomi states the global full-screen brightness at 1,500 nits. For a band costing two thousand, this is a respectable number that ensures readability even in direct sunlight.

However, the work on the design will be more noticeable. The body, made of high-strength aluminum alloy, measures only 9.7 mm in thickness and weighs 21.6 g without the strap, while the Band 9 Pro measured 10.8 mm and weighed 24.5 g. A difference of 1.1 mm and less than three grams sounds like a trifle, but every gram counts on the wrist during all-day and night wear. In addition to the aluminum version, Xiaomi also offers a ceramic edition, which, according to the manufacturer, weighs 28.7 g.

New Sensor and Smarter Sleep Analysis

The main improvement over the previous generation is hidden beneath the display. Xiaomi has implemented a new PPG module with two light sources and two PD sensors, which, along with its proprietary algorithms, is designed to make heart rate measurement more accurate. The manufacturer claims an accuracy of up to 98.2 percent, but this is its own laboratory value, so take it with a grain of salt.

There has also been progress in sleep tracking. The band now monitors heart rate variability (HRV) during the night and evaluates recovery, adding weekly and monthly overviews of sleep trends. According to Xiaomi, the Sleep 2.0 algorithm is designed to recognize falling asleep and waking up 11 percent more accurately and individual sleep phases 14 percent more accurately than on the Band 9 Pro.

The sports features remain extensive. There are over 150 sports modes available, with a new Track mode featuring correction for standard 400-meter tracks and an improved cycling mode that turns your phone into a speedometer with real-time data synchronization. For swimmers, underwater heart rate measurement has been added, which is complemented by 5 ATM water resistance. Position is monitored by independent GNSS with support for five satellite systems (GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, Galileo, and QZSS), so the band can record routes even without a phone. Furthermore, the measured heart rate can be sent via Bluetooth to a cycling computer or third-party applications.

Women’s health is addressed through collaboration with the Clue app. Xiaomi has included a three-month Clue Plus subscription with each unit, offering more detailed menstrual cycle analysis, more accurate fertile window predictions, and pregnancy tracking.

NFC, Dual-Phone Pairing, and Stronger Haptics

The main draw of the new product is the NFC variant. This allows card payments directly from the wrist at terminals supporting Mastercard and Visa, though the availability of the service itself depends on your bank and region. This particular feature did not arrive on the Czech market with previous Xiaomi bands, making it a significant step forward for anyone who doesn’t want to pull out their phone or wallet at the checkout.

The band runs on HyperOS 3 and supports notification synchronization from two phones simultaneously, including a combination of Xiaomi and iPhone. However, for this feature, you need a Xiaomi phone with HyperOS 3 and the Interconnectivity app installed, or an iPhone with the corresponding app. Notifications are distinguished by type thanks to an improved high-voltage linear motor, which has increased both the strength and subtlety of vibrations.

The NFC variant is sold in Midnight Black, Glacier Silver, and a ceramic edition, while the standard version comes in Midnight Black, Glacier Silver, and Lavender Pink shades.

Battery Life

Inside, there’s a 350 mAh battery, which is half again as large as the 233 mAh cell in the basic Band 10. Xiaomi promises a battery life of up to 21 days in power-saving mode, approximately 15 days with typical use, and 8 days with the Always-on display enabled. Real-world figures will vary depending on how many features you keep active, but a roughly two-week battery life can be expected from bands of this size.

Price and Availability

In the Czech Republic, the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro starts at 1,899 CZK for the standard version, while the manufacturer charges 2,199 CZK for the NFC variant. The 300 CZK surcharge for contactless payments makes sense if you genuinely use the feature. We do not yet have information on the availability of the ceramic edition in our market.

However, here begins a crucial question. The basic Smart Band 10 can be found in the Czech Republic for roughly a thousand crowns, so you’ll pay almost double for the Pro version. What do you get for that extra cost? A larger and brighter display, independent GNSS for tracking routes without a phone, more accurate sensors, a more robust aluminum body, and NFC in the more expensive variant. If a pedometer, heart rate measurement, and notifications are enough for you, the basic model will suffice. The Pro version is excellent for people who want to run or cycle without their phone but don’t want to buy a traditional smartwatch (whether due to price or design).

Are you tempted by the NFC variant, or would the basic Smart Band 10 be enough for you?

Sources: Xiaomi (1, 2), PR