How does the Xiaomi Band detect sleep? Mi Band Sleep Tracking Accuracy Revealed!
by Tim Blue on Sep 26, 2024
To notch up the fitness game, Xiaomi bands have introduced a distinctive feature to track your sleep cycle to improve your sleeping pattern. Read more below on the key takeaways and features of Mi sleep trackers.
Do you have trouble following a fixed sleeping pattern? Smart gadgets tycoon Xiaomi has a perfect solution with a sleep tracker and detector Mi band. Read below on how to activate it on your wrist!
According to a credible survey report, sleep problems are on the rise globally, and 45% of the populace suffer from sleep deprivation and other adverse effects from sleeping disorders. The main culprit is the changing lifestyle and the modern-day stress-filled work and life.
Several electronic gadget companies have included a sleep detecting app to combat sleep problems.
Sleep trackers detect and analyze your sleep cycle thereby, giving rational solutions to the cause of the sleep disorders. The electronic gadget giant Xiaomi has introduced Mi bands that detect sleep patterns through complex mechanisms.
So without further ado, let’s look at some of the outstanding features of Xiaomi bands for sleep detection and how it works.
Xiaomi Mi Band Sleep Tracking Accuracy
Before we get into the specifics, let's understand the accuracy of the Xiaomi Mi Band. The Mi Band 8 as it's the latest of the Mi Band's, has a not so good sleep tracking accuracy. In fact, it cannot recognize different stages of sleep. You would be better off with the Fitbit and Apple watches if you want to accurately measure sleep. In the chart below, you can see the MI Band 7 is in the bottom pile in identifying the Worst Sleep Stages of your sleep patterns.
The Xiaomi band uses body movements to monitor the sleep cycle, and the phone’s algorithm will generate the report of your sleep irregularities.
All it does is track the heart rate, breathing pattern, and other factors like temperature, noise, and light to analyze the sleeping pattern.
Mi bands have three prominent biosensors to detect your sleep: accelerator, gyroscope, and PPG. The working principle is the same in all these cases. They sense irregular motions, and the rest period is identified as sleep.
Accelerometer
It is a sensor that detects all kinds of body movements. Your body inevitably produces different types of displacements when you sleep. The six-axis accelerometer in the Mi band detects these slight motions and gravity changes.
Hence the band worn on the wrist converts these wrist movements into sleep patterns. It concludes that having zero body movements is a state of sleep, and rigorous movements as the state of awakening from the sleep state, thereby helping deduce sleep patterns.
Gyroscope
A gyroscope is a motion sensor that detects angular displacement like tilting and rotation. Your wrist makes various irregular movements during the entire sleep cycle period and is believed to be still during a deep sleep state. The gyroscope uses this analogy to take readings.
PPG
PPG is a sensor that records heart rate from the surface of the wrist. Most wearables use a PPG sensor to detect heart rate. It works on the principle of shining infrared light to detect the blood flow rate in the portion of the skin illuminated with light.
What types of sleep parameters does the Xiaomi band track?
Before diving straight into how the Mi detects various sleep parameters, let's understand each parameter in detail.
Sleep tracking is of three types: Light sleep, deep sleep, and Rapid Eye Movement (REM). Light sleep is suggested for your memory and makes up for half of your sleep. Deep sleep is vital to build immunity and recover from physical fatigue. REM sleep happens when you have dreams and when coMing out of sleep. It helps restore mental health.
Does Mi band support sleep monitoring during the day?
The Mi band does support it and here's an article from Xiaomi relating to that.
How do Mi bands track light sleep?
Light sleep is a transitional stage between awake and sleep. You can be woken up easily during light sleep, and body movements are Minimum. Mi bands track light sleep with the help of an accelerometer and heart sensor.
When the body movements and heart rate slows down, it detects the phase of light sleep.
How does the Mi band track deep sleep?
Deep sleep occurs after the period of light sleep. It is a state of complete unconsciousness. During this, the heart rate and blood pressure drastically slow down. It is picked up by the sensor and identified as a state of deep sleep mode.
How does the Mi band track REM sleep?
It is the last stage of the sleep cycle where the brain is at complete rest. When the body is in the REM sleep mode, it experiences more variations in the heart rate. Thus the accelerometer and heart rate sensors differentiate this as REM sleep.
Once you wake up from sleep, the Mi fit app collates the readings of the sleep cycle and notifies the result.
Is it safe to wear the Xiaomi band while sleeping?
You must wear the band on the wrist while sleeping for the sensors to detect even the slightest motion of your body. It gives rise to the obvious question. Are they safe to wear?
Generally, there is a wrong notion that wearables eMit harsh radiation and Might prove harmful to your body if worn for a longer time. While they eMit non-ionizing radiation, they are harmless.
Mi bands do not eMit radiation and hence pose no danger. In addition to that, the Xiaomi bands consume a low percent of battery, and there is no danger of battery heat penetrating your body and causing harm.
Another notable feature is that Mi bands are lightweight and do not cause any strain on your wrist if worn for the entire day.
How does the Xiaomi band know that you are sleeping?
While the sleep tracker in the Mi band looks stylish and elegant, it has several technological aspects running in the background. A couple of sensors like accelerometer and heart rate sensors detect the body movements during sleep, and convert them into valuable information on the sleep cycle.
Everyone has a different sleep pattern, and the Xiaomi band records it from the moment you go to bed till you wake up. It also identifies sleep during the daytime if you sleep for a longer time.
How does it know you are sleeping? It’s simple. When you sleep, the body movements are significantly low. It is the feature relied on in the Mi band. The body displacement and the heart rate gradually dips when you enter the phase of deep sleep.
What is the sleep tracking accuracy of the Xiaomi Band?
The Xiaomi Band sleep tracker is not 100% accurate as of the traditional way of detecting heart rate and temperature changes. It does not have a foolproof method to differentiate between the different types of sleep patterns.
You must remember that sleep trackers provide the readings of total sleep time. But the diagnosis and the conclusion drawn from the data is a separate area of expertise that requires medical intervention.
However, the Mi bands have a bunch of advanced sensors that can detect even the slightest displacement of your body.
To sum it up, sleep tracking features in Mi bands have an accuracy rate of 70% to 78%.
How to activate the Xiaomi band sleep tracker?
The sleep tracker on the Mi band is turned off by default to save battery life. Hence, you have to switch it on when necessary. Follow these steps outlined below to activate the sleep tracker on the Xiaomi band.
Download Mi Fit App on the smartphone
The official app synced with the Xiaomi smart band is the Mi Fit. Download it from the play store and keep it ready on your smartphone.
Tap on the Mi band on your wrist
Now, switch on the band by tapping on it, and the home screen becomes visible.
Open Mi Fit App and select the Profile option.
Open the Mi Fit app on the phone, and select the Profile menu in the lower right corner.
Select your device name
After clicking on Profile, you must select the device name of the Mi band on your phone.
Select heart monitoring menu
In the user interface, select the heart rate monitoring box.
Turn on the sleep assistant feature
In this menu, select the sleep assistant feature and activate it. When you go to sleep wearing this band, it will generate information on your sleep cycle.
The market price of the Xiaomi Band on Aliexpress
The Xiaomi band is water-proof with flexible straps and a sleep tracking feature that activates and records near-to-accurate data to make preliMinary guesses on your sleep pattern.
Aliexpress has a vivid collection of Mi bands at competitive rates. The Xiaomi bands on Aliexpress range between USD 35 to USD 45.
With the world leaning towards a modern lifestyle, there is a risk of falling trapped in unhealthy food and sleep habits that lead to stress and anxiety. Lack of sleep is an alarMing issue among most people.
Xiaomi bands detect different sleep patterns and heart rates and produce a sleeping chart. By knowing this, you can understand your sleep cycle better and make amends to improve the quality of your lifestyle.
They are not 100% accurate or unable to detect short 30-Minute naps. But it provides a quantifiable result of the sleep/wake cycle to change a few habits that adversely affect your sleep. Nothing is better than a lightweight wristband that favors your regular sleep!
FAQs on Xiaomi sleep detection bands
1. Where should I wear the sleep tracker band?
You must wear the Mi band on the wrist. To get better results, don't wear it too tight or loose. It must be in a firm position.
2. Is the Mi sleep tracker accurate?
The Mi sleep tracker gives a 75% accurate reading about the sleep cycle and heart rate.
3. How to check my sleep activity in Mi bands?
Your sleep activity can be viewed in the Mi fit app installed on your smartphone.
