Mi Band Unboxing: My First Fitness Tracker [Photos] and 2026 Update

This is my mi band unboxing from 2015, when I bought the original Xiaomi Mi Band, my first fitness tracker. Below are my photos of the box, the tracker and the accessories, followed by an update on what happened to the Mi Band and what to know if you want a Xiaomi fitness band in 2026.

Quick answer: The original Mi Band came in a small cardboard box with a silver tracker “pebble”, a black wrist strap, a custom USB charging cable and a booklet. It had no screen, just three LED lights. The line has since become the Xiaomi Smart Band, and the old Mi Fit app is now called Zepp Life.

Why I bought the Mi Band

I had been trying to buy the Mi Band online for a while, but it always seemed to be sold out or available only at exorbitant prices, much like the Redmi 1S phones that sold out in minutes. This time I got it for Rs 999 in a 3-day Flipkart app sale. It shipped within a few hours and reached me on the third day. Here is what I found when I opened the box.

Mi Band unboxing photos

A small cardboard box, similar to the box my Redmi phone came in. The Mi logo is nicely printed on top.

Open the lid and there is a sponge-padded tray. The shiny silver object showing through is the actual brain of the Mi Band fitness tracker.

A closer look: the tracker has a steely silver colour with a fine finish.

Inside you get an instruction booklet, the black Mi Band strap and the USB charging cable in a small compartment at the front.

With everything out of the box, note that the charging cable is special. It does not use a standard Micro USB plug as I expected; it is custom made to hold the tracker. That is a reminder not to lose the cable, even though Xiaomi claimed a battery life of 30 days or more.

The tracker fits tightly inside the strap and is ready once you charge it from any USB charger with the special cable. Three lights on the band glow when it is ready.

Setting up the Mi Band

To set it up, I installed the Mi Fit app from Google Play and paired the band with my Redmi phone over Bluetooth. It worked with any Android phone. From there the app showed steps, sleep and alarms.

What happened to the Mi Band after this unboxing

Xiaomi kept releasing new generations of the Mi Band. Later models added a screen, and from the seventh generation onwards Xiaomi sells the line as the Xiaomi Smart Band.

The app changed too. In 2022 the Mi Fit app was renamed Zepp Life (external site) by its maker, Zepp Health (formerly Huami). It still supports the Mi Band series. Newer Xiaomi wearables use Xiaomi’s own Mi Fitness app instead, so check the box or the Xiaomi website (external site) to see which app your band needs.

Buying a Xiaomi fitness band in 2026

• Check the app: make sure the band pairs with the app (Zepp Life or Mi Fitness) available for your phone.
• Screen and battery: current bands have colour screens; compare the rated battery life, since bigger and brighter screens use more power.
• Charger: like my original, many bands use a proprietary charger, so keep it safe or buy a spare.
• Old bands: an old Mi Band may still pair through Zepp Life, but expect no new features.

You can browse current models of the Xiaomi Smart Band on Amazon. If you are picking a phone to pair it with, see our list of the best mobile phones under 10000.

FAQ

What comes in the original Mi Band box?

The tracker pebble, a black wrist strap, a custom USB charging cable and a small instruction booklet.

Does the old Mi Band have a screen?

No. The first Mi Band used three small LED lights instead of a display. Screens arrived on later models.

What app does the Mi Band use now?

The Mi Fit app was renamed Zepp Life in 2022 and still supports the Mi Band series. Newer Xiaomi bands use the Mi Fitness app.

Is the Mi Band now called Xiaomi Smart Band?

Yes. Newer generations of the band are sold under the Xiaomi Smart Band name.

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