Smartwatch Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active VS Apple Watch SE (2022): features, differences and price

The market for “smart” watches with sports functions is saturated. There are many models and few stand out. The 2nd generation Apple Watch SE is one of them due to its good value for money, features and full compatibility with Apple’s iPhone.

But users who do not have the smartphone with the bitten apple cannot use it, having to opt for alternatives from other manufacturers. The one that manages to attract attention in (almost) all of its products is Xiaomiand the new Redmi Watch 3 Active is no exception.

The Asian company’s latest cheap smartwatch is a scaled-down version of the Redmi Watch 3, but it retains some great features and comes at a breakthrough price, so it’s aiming to be a bestseller. We put them face to face to compare their features, differences and prices.

Features Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active and Apple Watch SE 2nd Generation

• Filter: Apple Watch SE (2022) is available in two sizes. The 40mm version features a 1.57-inch Retina LTPO OLED panel and the 44mm version has a 1.78-inch one. It reaches a maximum brightness of 1,000 nits. The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active has a 1.83-inch LCD screen with a brightness of up to 450 nits.
• Chip, RAM and storage: Xiaomi does not specify any of this data in the characteristics of the device. The Apple Watch SE (2022) comes with a dual-core S8 chip with 1GB of RAM and 32GB of internal storage.
• connectivity: Redmi Watch 3 Active connects to the smartphone via Bluetooth 5.3. The 2nd generation Apple Watch SE is more complete, since apart from Bluetooth 5.3 it has WiFi, GPS, NFC and there is a paid LTE/4G option plus.
• Sensors: Apple’s proposal features an accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate sensor, barometer, always-on altimeter, and compass. Xiaomi has a heart rate sensor with a blood oxygen sensor and an accelerometer.
• Battery: Apple promises about 18 hours with mixed use of sports and physical activity (which translates to about a day and a half). Xiaomi assures that its Redmi Watch 3 Active is capable of reaching 12 days in normal use or up to 8 days in intensive use.
• Operating system: watchOS 9 on the 2nd Gen OS and a Xiaomi owner of which no details are provided.
• Compatibility: Apple Watch SE (2022) works from an iPhone 8 with iOS 16 or later. The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active can be used on Android 6.0 and iOS 12.0 or later updates.
• Price: the Redmi Watch 3 Active costs 49.99 dollars, while the Apple Watch SE (2022) starts at 299 dollars.

Apple Watch SE (2022) VS Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active, which smartwatch to compare?

Xiaomi has managed to establish itself in the market of its devices with good performance and a reasonable price. If for some time it has also set its sights on the top of the range, does not neglect its cheaper range productsand that’s where the Redmi Watch 3 Active comes in.

For 49.99 dollars (even less if it was obtained with an introductory offer), the Redmi Watch 3 Active is a very reliable “smart” watch with interesting options. It is true that there are gaps and significant cuts as to whether it’s compared to the “regular” Redmi Watch 3 or even the Apple Watch SE (2022), but it’s an entry-level smartwatch with health functions and aimed at users who seek only the essential.

OLED screen vs. LCD screen

We are used to seeing OLED screens both in smartphones and in the best known or best “smart” watches offered by brands. The same Apple Watch SE (2022) has such a panel and offers exceptional quality, but when looking to offer a cheaper device, the screen is usually one of the aspects in which it is cut .

The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active has an LCD panel whose quality is not comparable to that of the Apple Watch, but that does not mean that it is of poor quality: the colors are vivid, it has a good size (1.83 inches) and the resolution is sufficient to view detailed information. Its glass has a 2.5D curvature to offer a more elegant appearance and greater resistance to wear.

Obviously, if we put the two devices side by side, we can check the difference from one panel to another, but this on a daily basis does not pose a major problem. Although, yes, special mention should be made to the brightness: Xiaomi’s is around 450 nits; there will be no problems inside, but outdoors, especially when it is very sunny, the user can “suffer” to see the information clearly.

Connectivity conspicuous by its absence

If the original Redmi Watch 3 did not have great connectivity either, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active is even more limited: Bluetooth 5.3 for connection to the smartphone and that’s it, there is nothing left. Not having Wi-Fi could be forgiven, but it also lacks two handy features in a smartwatch: NFC and GPS.

NFC is a technology widely used in “smart” watches. make mobile payments. Credit card details are stored and you can pay virtually simply by touching your wrist to the dataphone. And GPS to record routes when starting a running workout.

Of course, It also doesn’t have LTE/4G., which also gives greater independence from the smartphone. All of these features are available on the 2nd generation Apple Watch.

sensors

Although the Apple Watch SE (2022) It’s not the Apple Watch with the most sensors, it’s pretty well equipped: Accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate (2nd generation), barometer, always-on altimeter and compass. With these sensors, more than decent measurements can be obtained in certain physical activities and daily health.

The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 has heart rate sensor with blood oxygen measurement and accelerometer. With this device, you can track your heart rate throughout the day with alerts when it gets too high, monitor your sleep, and train for a wide variety of exercises with its 100+ sport modes.

Good autonomy to forget the charger

Apple, Samsung or Google connected watches are not distinguished by good autonomy. They have so many functions that the normal thing is that they last a day and a half or two without going through the charger (if you exercise and use the device actively), and it can get inconvenient.

The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active, being more parsimonious in functions, has a battery life up to 12 days in normal use or up to eight days in active use. This is a common figure in other brand watches such as Amazfit or Huawei GT, which, like this Redmi Watch 3 Active, do not have as many functions as, for example, the 2nd generation Apple Watch SE.

And the price

Compared to the 2nd generation Apple Watch SE, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active lacks a lot, but also take into account the price difference. Xiaomi’s proposal is available at 49.99 dollars, even less with an offer (because of its launch it was 299 dollars, a bargain), and that of Apple starts at 299 dollars.

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pictures | Apple, Applefera and Xiaomi

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