Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is the better buy for most gym-goers or anyone into general fitness: it lasts longer between charges, has a larger screen, and gives more training feedback. Huawei Band 10 is thinner and lighter, charges in 45 minutes, and focuses more on overnight health data.
Neither has built-in GPS, so both rely on a phone for outdoor routes and speed.
What each band lets you do
Xiaomi Smart Band 10
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 lists more than 150 sport modes and says the band tracks VO2 max, training load and recovery time. Runners get 10 built-in running courses of varying intensity, and the band shows the gap between current and target pace during a run.
Pool swimmers get real-time underwater heart rate for the first time on a Smart Band, and Xiaomi claims 96% accuracy for lap counts. Indoor cyclists can broadcast live heart rate to a bike computer or app that supports the standard Bluetooth heart rate profile.
Outside of training, the Smart Band 10 offers a 21-day sleep improvement plan built from past sleep data, all-day heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress monitoring, plus cycle tracking.
Huawei Band 10
Huawei puts more weight on daily health and sleep. Band 10 shows average heart rate variability (HRV) during sleep, with a personal range after seven days of wear, and monitors heart rate, blood oxygen, respiratory rate and abnormal breathing overnight. Activity rings for move, exercise and stand nudge office workers through the day.
For exercise, Huawei lists 100 workout modes and claims 95% accuracy for swim stroke and lap data. Heart rate broadcast appears in Huawei’s list of tools, though the product page gives no detail on which devices it works with. Huawei’s pages mention no running courses, VO2 max, or training load, so is offers less wrist-based coaching.
Battery life and charging
Xiaomi claims up to 21 days in typical use, 9 days with the always-on display, and 8 days in heavy use. Huawei claims up to 14 days, 8 days in typical use, and 3 days with the always-on display.
The two companies test differently, so the headline figures are not like-for-like. Xiaomi’s 21-day figure assumes sleep, stress and blood oxygen tracking are switched off, while Huawei’s 8-day figure has them on. The fairer match is each band with everything running and the always-on display lit: Xiaomi claims 8 days and Huawei 3 days. On Xiaomi’s figures, Smart Band 10 goes noticeably longer between charges.
Huawei charges faster. A full charge takes 45 minutes, and Huawei says five minutes on the charger gives two days of use. Xiaomi quotes about an hour for a full charge.
Gaps
- Neither band has built-in GPS. Huawei says outdoor cycling needs a phone with GNSS, and Xiaomi’s sensor list includes no satellite positioning.
- Neither specification sheet lists NFC for contactless payments.
- Quick replies to calls work only with Android phones on both bands, so iPhone owners lose that feature.
- Huawei’s sleep analysis is only available in the Huawei Health app.
- Xiaomi’s earbud and camera controls require a Xiaomi phone on HyperOS 2.
Specifications compared
| Huawei Band 10 | Xiaomi Smart Band 10 | |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 1.47in AMOLED, 194 x 368px | 1.72in AMOLED, 212 x 520px, 1,500 nits, up to 60Hz |
| Dimensions | 43.45 x 24.86 x 8.99mm | 46.57 x 22.54 x 10.95mm |
| Weight (without strap) | 15g aluminium, 14g polymer | 15.95g aluminium (Ceramic Edition 23.05g) |
| Case | Aluminium alloy or polymer | Aluminium alloy, or ceramic |
| Sport modes | 100 | 150+ |
| Built-in GPS | No (connected to phone for outdoor cycling) | No |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyroscope, magnetometer, optical heart rate, ambient light | Accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, optical heart rate and SpO2, ambient light |
| Heart rate broadcast | Listed | Bluetooth heart rate profile |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.4 |
| Battery, typical use | Up to 8 days | Up to 21 days |
| Battery, maximum | Up to 14 days | Not quoted separately |
| Battery, always-on display | Up to 3 days | Up to 9 days |
| Battery, heavy use | Not quoted | Up to 8 days |
| Full charge | 45 minutes | About 1 hour |
| Phone compatibility | Android 9.0, iOS 13.0 or later | Android 8.0, iOS 14.0 or later |
| App | Huawei Health | Mi Fitness |
Battery figures are manufacturer claims under different test conditions. Full details is on the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 specifications page and Huawei’s official Band 10 specifications.
Which to buy
Choose Xiaomi Smart Band 10 if you train regularly, swim in a pool, or ride indoors. Its battery claims are stronger, the screen is larger, and VO2 max, training load, and running courses give new runners more to work with.
Xiaomi Smart Band 10
A light band that counts swim laps, shows heart rate in the pool and lasts up to three weeks between charges.
Choose Huawei Band 10 if a slimmer band and overnight data matter more than workouts. It is about 2mm thinner, the polymer version weighs 14g, sleep HRV and breathing monitoring go further than Xiaomi’s sleep tools, and a five-minute top-up covers two days.
Newer models
Both bands now have successors, and two of them add GPS.
- Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro adds built-in multi-constellation GNSS, so a parkrunner can leave the phone at home and still get a route and pace. Xiaomi claims 15 days of normal use, and it adds overnight HRV. Pick it over either Band 10 if you run outdoors. See the Smart Band 10 Pro specifications.
- Xiaomi Smart Band 11 keeps the same no-GPS formula. It is 1mm thinner, can take notifications from an iPhone and a Xiaomi phone at once, and Xiaomi claims 10 days of normal use. Buy it over the Smart Band 10 only if the cost is close. See the Smart Band 11 specifications.
- Huawei Band 11, launched in February 2026, moves to a larger 1.62in display that Huawei says is brighter than Band 10’s, and adds 24/7 HRV monitoring. Battery claims are unchanged at 8 days typical and 14 days maximum, and it still has no built-in GPS. It is a sensible pick over Band 10 at a similar cost.
- Huawei Band 11 Pro adds GNSS positioning without a phone, a brighter display, outdoor, indoor and track running modes, race prediction, and running form analysis. It is the Huawei band to buy for regular outdoor runs.
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro
A slim band that tracks runs and rides with its own GPS and goes up to three weeks between charges.
Huawei Band 11 Pro
Record runs and rides without your phone, with up to two weeks between charges, in a slim alloy band.
Other models are on the Xiaomi and Huawei specifications indexes.
Quick answers
Does Huawei Band 10 or Xiaomi Smart Band 10 have GPS?
Neither band has built-in GPS. Huawei Band 10 uses a phone with GNSS for outdoor cycling, and Xiaomi lists no satellite positioning for Smart Band 10. Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Pro and Huawei Band 11 Pro both add positioning without a phone.
Which has the longer battery life, Huawei Band 10 or Xiaomi Smart Band 10?
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 has the longer claimed battery life. With the always-on display and full health tracking running, Xiaomi claims 8 days, while Huawei claims 3 days.
Can either band broadcast heart rate to a bike computer?
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 broadcasts heart rate over the standard Bluetooth heart rate profile once the feature is switched on. Huawei lists heart rate broadcast for Band 10 but does not say which devices it supports. Neither specification sheet lists ANT+.
Are Huawei Band 10 and Xiaomi Smart Band 10 waterproof for swimming?
Both are rated 5 ATM, which covers pool swimming and shallow open water. Neither is suitable for diving, saunas or hot showers.
Do Huawei Band 10 and Xiaomi Smart Band 10 work with iPhone?
Both work with iPhone. Huawei Band 10 needs iOS 13.0 or later, and Xiaomi Smart Band 10 needs iOS 14.0 or later. Neither band supports quick replies to calls on iPhone.
Last Updated on 27 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
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tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
