Xiaomi Watch 2 vs. Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro: How to choose between the smartwatches

If you're in the market for a new Wear OS smartwatch, Xiaomi now has two premier options for you to consider: the Watch 2 and the Watch 2 Pro.

Semi-confusingly, the Pro model actually arrived first - landing at the back end of 2023 - while the standard version of the smartwatch was only officially unveiled at MWC 2024 in February.

There are plenty of things Xiaomi has kept the same between these smartwatches, as you would expect, but they're also defined by some clear differences in design, features, and - perhaps most importantly - the price tags.

We've had our hands on both of these watches, and, in this guide, we're able to provide expert insight for those looking to discover all the key points of comparison. Let's go.

• Xiaomi Watch 2 hands-on review
• Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro in-depth test

Price, versions, and the competition

• Xiaomi Watch 2 - £170 (around $190)
• Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro - £240 (around $280)
• Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro eSIM - £290 (around $350)

With a pretty sizeable price disparity, we think these two smartwatches are actually for two different budgets. 

The base edition of the Watch 2 Pro is very competitive, but that price can start to get close to the likes of the 44mm Galaxy Watch 6 (£319 / $329), TicWatch Pro 5 (£329 / $329), and Google Pixel Watch 2 (£349 / $349) if you want cellular support. 

The LTE versions of these rival watches are another step on in price, too, but, as you'll discover from our detail below, we don't consider the Watch 2 Pro anywhere near as polished as its rivals.

The Watch 2, on the other hand, is more of a classic budget smartwatch - which means it's no surprise to see it offered without LTE.

There's no direct competition within the Wear OS stable unless you look to older generations (like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4/5), though you could also consider watches from outside of Google's platform, such as the Huawei Watch GT 4 (£229/$229).

Design and display

Wareable

As we say, the design language here remains relatively consistent between these two smartwatches. Both feature circular-shaped cases, with the Watch 2 relying on two buttons on the right side for navigation and the Watch 2 Pro adding a crown to this setup.

Really, the major difference between this pairing in the design department is the case material and detail. 

The Watch 2 Pro model's stainless steel case gives it a premium edge over its standard sibling, which instead opts for an aluminum exterior. The material you prefer will naturally depend on your needs, but we found the pricier Xiaomi device very cumbersome during outdoor exercise. 

It's not necessarily the heaviest watch on the scales (the TicWatch Pro 5 weighs more, for example), but the weight distribution was something we really didn't get on with during testing.

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The 47.6mm case is great for those with larger wrists, and a gloriously detailed 1.43-inch AMOLED display accompanies it.

However, anybody who wants a smartwatch primarily for workouts will be better off with the Watch 2. Our initial impressions are that it's much lighter on the wrist, though we'll be testing this out in more depth for our full review.

You'll also notice that these watches are only offered in a singular case size, as well. It's a little frustrating for those with smaller wrists, and not necessarily an experience we recommend unless you're used to it.

Features and Wear OS performance

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The big draw of these watches is the Wear OS integration. It ensures that both feature the full gamut of Google's apps and services directly from the wrist - Maps, Wallet, Assistant, and more - as well as ever-improving third-party support that boasts big hitters like Spotify and WhatsApp.

Neither features the latest version of Wear OS, however. Both run on a Xiaomi skin based on Wear OS 3.5, and it's not really clear what the roadmap is here for future updates and added features - something that's more pertinent with Wear OS 5 reportedly coming in the summer of 2024.

• All the Wear OS apps we actually use

Our experience with Xiaomi's MIUI/Wear OS hybrid interface wasn't overly positive, with plenty of bugs and jittery performance, and we recommend the standard version of Google's platform over it at present. 

With that said, we're yet to test it out fully on the Watch 2, and it could have improved considerably in the time between each watch's release. We'll update this section when we know more on this front.

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On the whole, though, you shouldn't really notice much difference in terms of performance; both run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon W5+ chip, and it's actually pretty incredible to see this land in a budget-level device like the Watch 2. 

We should point out again, as well, that the Watch 2 Pro is capable of LTE if you pay extra for the eSIM edition. You'll have to pay the standard monthly carrier fee, too, but those who prioritize an untethered experience from their phone only have this model to consider.

Health and fitness tracking

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The Watch 2 featuring Qualcomm's flagship smartwatch chip isn't the only coup here, with Xiaomi also including dual-frequency GNSS typically reserved for more premium sports watches.

By using L1 and L5 satellite frequencies, it should be capable of swift lock-on and (in theory) first-class accuracy for tracking outdoor workouts. 

This is also present on the Watch 2 Pro, as you would guess, but we should say that our experience wasn't wholly recommendable. Accuracy was nowhere near Garmin's Multi-Band (dual-frequency) setting, which we view as the gold standard, though lock-on was at least very quick.

Elsewhere, the fitness tracking makeup of these watches is virtually identical. They both feature 150+ tracking modes (though many of these, obviously, are just glorified ways to tag your exercise), and you'll get roughly the same heart rate breakdowns and post-workout analysis.

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This kind of pattern continues into areas like sleep tracking, blood oxygen monitoring, heart-related notification, stress logging, wellness features, and women's health tracking, but the Watch 2 and Watch 2 Pro diverge on one health feature: body composition analysis.

The latter features a bioimpedance sensor to provide a breakdown of your body fat levels, basic metabolic rate, and bone salinity - but, spoiler alert: it's not very accurate.

When it comes to this area, the Watch 2 definitely offers better value. 

Battery life

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When we tested the Watch 2 Pro, we were pleasantly surprised by the battery life. It performed very strongly, comfortably providing two days of always-on time, and this included turning on all the tracking settings Xiaomi likes to have 'off' by default.

Outdoor workouts don’t drain the battery too significantly, either. We found that an hour of dual-frequency GNSS tracking only depleted the Watch 2 Pro battery by around 15-20%.

For the Watch 2, Xiaomi estimates you'll receive 65 hours - and, given the pair share the same processor, we haven't got any reason to be suspicious of this claim. As ever, though, we'll provide more detailed analysis in this area when we've spent a prolonged period with the watch.

Verdict: Which is best?

Until we've had the chance to fully test the Watch 2, we'll reserve our full judgment in this area. 

With that said, though, there are some fairly obvious conclusions we can already draw from our time with both of Xiaomi's Wear OS smartwatches. 

Choose the Xiaomi Watch 2 if:

• You want the ultimate budget Wear OS watch
• You don't need a premium-feeling design
• You don't require the odd extra feature (like body composition analysis)

Choose the Xiaomi Watch 2 Pro if:

• You don't prioritize comfort during exercise
• You're looking for a cheap-ish LTE smartwatch
• You prefer a premium case design

Specs comparison: Watch 2 vs. Watch 2 Pro