Redmi watch move review a budget smartwatch that gets the basics right

Redmi watch move review a budget smartwatch that gets the basics right

Ultra-cheap smartwatches are everywhere these days. But I’m definitely not the only one who thinks that most of them are not good. In fact, global smartwatch sales fell for the first time last year with the India market dipping from 30 per cent to 23 per cent, according to market research firm Counterpoint.

These new figures indicate that the bubble has burst. People are fed up with poor quality smartwatches that lack accuracy, durability, and simply don’t do what they are supposed to do. Xiaomi’s newly launched Redmi Watch Move aims to address the very pain points that have plagued this segment. It is priced at Rs 1,999 to target budget-conscious consumers in India and elsewhere.

While I have reviewed more than a few smartwatches by now, this is the first time I’ve seen one being built right on the assembly line. Positioned as the first ‘Made in India’ smartwatch, the Redmi Watch Move’s price tag is a result of what Xiaomi has saved on custom duties through local production. It also brings a few unique features to the table. But do they work as advertised? Or is the Redmi Watch Move guilty of the flaws it tries to fix?

Here is my review of the budget smartwatch after three weeks of usage.

One thing’s for sure. The Redmi Watch Move looks really good on my hand. It bears a somewhat resemblance to the Apple Watch SE and is likely to appeal to those looking for a smartwatch with a premium feel to it at a reasonable asking price.

My review unit came in silver, though the smartwatch is available in black, blue, and gold as well. It boasts of a 74 per cent screen-to-body ratio and is fairly lightweight (29.2 grams with the straps).

But is it comfortable to wear all day? Not really. Unlike most smartwatches whose straps are made of silicone, Xiaomi said it opted for TPU material in order to make it skin-friendly and anti-bacterial. During Delhi’s April heatwave, the straps would leave a faint white mark on my wrist. After three weeks of regular use, they’ve not just darkened with dust but also taken on a noticeable odour of sweat.

Two quick-release buttons on the back allow you to swap out the straps, but compatible options are limited to Xiaomi-made straps. On the other hand, the body has a standard square design with a bezel around it and a rotating crown on the right side. The tactile feedback from the crown is satisfying but falls short of delivering a truly premium, rich experience.

The Redmi Watch Move boasts of a high-quality and smooth AMOLED display with 600 nits brightness and 50-60 Hz refresh rate. It comes with AOD (Always On Display) but the smartwatch does not automatically adjust its brightness to ambient lighting. Still, the screen remained clearly visible under the harsh glare of the afternoon sun.

In terms of battery life, the smartwatch packs a 300mAH battery. Xiaomi claims it can run for 14 days on a single charge under typical usage. With AOD enabled, I expected the smartwatch to last for two days but it surprised me by running for more than five days. It’s clear that battery life and optimising performance remain top priorities for the House of Xiaomi.

The Watch Move comes with over 140+ health and fitnesstracking features. But in my testing, I found the sensors to be slightly less accurate than what Xiaomi claims. Simply shaking my hand didn’t add steps, but at times, a single step would register as five or six.

It also has a lot of interesting options for watch faces. The AI feature lets you ask questions in English and Hindi, though it is not clear if support for more languages is coming. The AI feature appears to be built on top of OpenAI’s GPT-4, which was recently pulled from ChatGPT but still accessible via API. AI-generated watch faces are a neat addition as well.

While it is exciting to see generative AI features make their way to budget smartwatches, what really impressed me was the performance of the HyperOS-powered device. Thanks to Xiaomi’s dual core processor, it is able to pull off complex tasks smoothly and quickly.

The Redmi Watch Move feels like Xiaomi’s measured response to the smartwatch boom – waiting until it could make the right product and offer it at the price point. It packs all the goodness of the Mi band, with battery life and a rich, vibrant AMOLED display being the device’s strong suits. If you’re looking for a basic health-tracking wearable under Rs 2,000, the Redmi Watch Move is worth considering as you are likely to end up with more than what you bargained for.