Mi Band 3: Sleep Tracking And More

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is a budget fitness tracker that offers automatic activity tracking, including sleep tracking. The Mi Band 3 uses a combination of sensors to detect movement and monitor sleep, including a heart rate monitor and a movement sensor. While it does not offer the same level of accuracy as more advanced trackers like the Fitbit, it provides insights into sleep regularity and duration. It also offers a sleep score and can provide explanations for your sleep quality. To improve the accuracy of sleep tracking, users can enable settings such as Assisted Sleep Monitoring and Sleep Breathing Quality Monitoring. Overall, the Mi Band 3 is a good option for those seeking basic sleep tracking features at an affordable price.

Mi Band 3's sleep tracking accuracy

The Mi Band 3's sleep tracking feature is considered accurate by many users, especially when it comes to detecting the time one falls asleep and wakes up. However, some users have reported limitations and glitches with the device's ability to track time awake during the night. It appears that the Mi Band 3 only labels a period as "Awake" if the wearer stands up and walks around, rather than detecting shorter periods of wakefulness, such as when one wakes up in the middle of the night to check their phone.

The Mi Band 3 can also track sleep duration and sleep quality. It uses a built-in accelerometer to detect motion and a heart rate sensor to estimate when the wearer falls asleep. Mi Band models with blood oxygen sensors can also monitor breathing quality during sleep. While the Mi Band 3 provides insights into sleep stages (light sleep and deep sleep), some users are unsure about the accuracy of this feature.

To improve the accuracy of sleep tracking, it is recommended that users wear the Mi Band correctly, with a snug fit on the arm, and enable certain settings, such as assisted sleep monitoring and sleep breathing quality monitoring. Additionally, combining the Mi Band 3 with third-party sleep tracking applications, such as "Sleep as Android," can provide more comprehensive insights into sleep patterns and offer smart alarm features.

It is important to note that all fitness trackers, including the Mi Band 3, have a margin of error. Therefore, it is advisable to focus on general trends over time rather than spot accuracy when interpreting sleep data from the device.

Mi Band 3's sleep tracking features

The Mi Band 3 is a budget fitness tracker that can automatically track your sleep. It uses a built-in accelerometer to detect motion and a heart rate sensor to estimate when you fall asleep. The band then tracks several sleep metrics, including sleep duration, sleep and wake times, and sleep stages.

To improve the accuracy of sleep data, it is recommended to wear the band correctly—snug on the arm but not too tight. Additionally, users can enable assisted sleep monitoring, which increases the heart rate measurement frequency when the band detects that the user is asleep. This feature is particularly useful if the heart rate monitoring interval is set to more than five minutes.

For a more comprehensive sleep analysis, the Mi Band 3 provides a sleep score that quantifies overall sleep quality based on sleep stage duration, total sleep, and other factors. The device also offers sleep quality analysis, which provides insights and explanations for your sleep data, such as whether you got enough sleep or if your sleep quality was worse than usual.

While the Mi Band 3 does not have a dedicated smart alarm feature, users can combine it with third-party apps like "Sleep as Android" to access this functionality, along with more accurate sleep tracking.

Mi Band 3's sleep tracking compared to other devices

The Xiaomi Mi Band 3 is an affordable device that can track daily activity and several health metrics, including sleep. The Mi Band 3 automatically tracks sleep by using a built-in accelerometer to detect motion and a heart rate sensor to estimate when you fall asleep. Once you're asleep, the device can monitor your breathing quality through its blood oxygen sensors.

Reviews of the Mi Band 3's sleep tracking capabilities are mixed. Some users have found it to be accurate, especially when it comes to detecting falling asleep and waking up times. However, others have noticed limitations, such as the device not registering brief periods of wakefulness during the night unless the user gets out of bed. The Mi Band 3 also seems to struggle with distinguishing between light and deep sleep phases.

Compared to other devices, the Mi Band 3's sleep tracking capabilities are considered basic but still useful. When pitted against the Garmin Fenix 3, the Mi Band 3 provided similar results for wake-up times and total sleep duration, although the Fenix 3 detected more instances of wakefulness during the night. The Mi Band 3 has also been compared to the Jawbone wristband, which was praised for its sleep tracking accuracy but is no longer available due to the company's bankruptcy.

Some users have expressed a preference for other devices, such as the Fitbit, for more in-depth sleep tracking. However, the Mi Band 3's affordability and ability to provide insights into sleep duration and quality make it a good option for those seeking basic sleep tracking features.

To enhance the Mi Band 3's sleep tracking accuracy, it is recommended to enable assisted sleep monitoring, which increases the heart rate measurement frequency when asleep. Additionally, the Zepp Life app is suggested for its insightful guidance and sleep quality analysis, providing suggestions for improving sleep habits.

Mi Band 3's sleep tracking limitations

The Mi Band 3 has several limitations when it comes to sleep tracking. Firstly, it only labels a time period as "Awake" if the user gets out of bed and walks around; it does not detect shorter periods of wakefulness, such as when the user wakes up in the middle of the night to check their phone. This can result in inaccurate data about the total sleep duration and sleep quality.

Secondly, the Mi Band 3 may not accurately distinguish between different sleep stages, such as light sleep and deep sleep. Some users have reported discrepancies in the data, with the device consistently showing less than 30 minutes of deep sleep regardless of their actual sleep quality. This limitation can impact the usefulness of the data, especially for those who want detailed insights into their sleep patterns.

Additionally, the Mi Band 3 may not be well-suited for shift workers or those with unconventional sleep schedules. There is limited information on how the device adapts to sleep patterns outside of its default tracking period, which is typically between 10 pm and 6 am. This limitation can exclude a significant portion of users who do not follow a traditional sleep routine.

While the Mi Band 3 does offer sleep tracking features, it may not provide the level of accuracy and customisation desired by some users. To enhance sleep tracking, some users combine the Mi Band 3 with third-party apps like Sleep as Android, which utilises the device's heart rate monitor and movement sensor for more comprehensive insights. However, this requires installing additional apps and may not fully address the limitations of sleep tracking through a wristband device.

Improving Mi Band 3's sleep tracking accuracy

The Mi Band 3 can automatically track sleep. However, there are some steps you can take to improve its sleep-tracking accuracy.

Firstly, it is important to wear the band correctly. It should be worn snug on your arm but not too tight. It is recommended that you wear the band about 1 cm away from your wrist.

You can also adjust the settings on the band to improve accuracy. One way to do this is by increasing the heart rate measurement frequency. To do this, open the Zepp Life app, tap the Profile tab, select your Mi Band device, tap Health monitoring, and toggle on Assisted sleep monitoring under the Heart rate section. You can also toggle on Sleep breathing quality monitoring in the same menu.

Another way to improve accuracy is to combine the Mi Band with a third-party sleep-tracking app such as Sleep as Android. This app uses the heart rate monitor and movement sensor to track sleep. However, note that you may need to install an additional app for the Mi Band to work with Sleep as Android.

Finally, it is worth noting that the Mi Band 3 may not accurately track sleep if you work shift work or wake up during the night. The band only labels a time period as "Awake" if you get out of bed and walk around.

Frequently asked questions