Whether you have the Xiaomi ecosystem or not, their new Gold Collection wearables are compelling gadgets, freshly added into Xiaomi's Artificial Intelligent of Things (AIoT) portfolio. In the collection, the star icons we were given the chance to try were the Xiaomi Watch S4 (41mm) and the premium Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro earbuds, which costs RM799 and RM549 respectively.
At such great value, both devices also prove Xiaomi is taking significant steps forward into design all the while ensuring great functionality and user experience, together with the most relevant Here are the best highlights we think are worth picking up the duo for.
Editor
Jodee Tan chevron_right
Table of Contents
Xiaomi Watch S4 (41mm): Compact, Elegant & Advanced
The Xiaomi Watch S4 (41mm) is just RM799, making it a mid-range smartwatch yet, has the aesthetics of a premium smartwatch with several sophisticated features all packed into a compact and stylish wearable form factor.
In many of our previous smartwatch reviews, we had often wish for smaller, delicate, feminine-esque smartwatch options, thus we're happy to see that the Xiaomi Watch S4 is in such a sleek form that's almost unisex in aesthetics. Notably, the wear and connectivity has also improved, especially as a non-Xiaomi smartphone user.
- Display and Design
The Watch S4 (41mm) features a 1.32-inch round AMOLED display with impressive 2,200 nits peak brightness, which displayed excellent visibility even in direct sunlight (tested at noon). As someone with small wrist, its size is a great balance of visibility and style. Not to mention, you'll also be able to enjoy the many watch faces it has to offer.
The smartwatch's star variant is the Sunset Gold version and comes in this beautiful stainless-steel Milanese magnetic strap, which wears very well; it never felt loose even when we're doing HIIT exercises.
- Health and Fitness Capabilities
Speaking of which, Xiaomi has equipped the Watch S4 (41mm) with an upgraded 4-LED + 4PD heart rate monitoring module, which Xiaomi claims it provides enhanced accuracy for health tracking. Although we do not have the right tools to teack accuracy; in our (right-hand) experience, when used together with another similar competitor watch, we find the Watch S4's accuracy to be almost similar.
As expected, the watch maintains comprehensive fitness monitoring capabilities with support for over 150 sport modes, making it suitable for both casual fitness enthusiasts and serious athletes. it also boasts a 5ATM water resistance rating that ensures durability whether you're swimming or doing other leisure water-based activities.
- Battery Life and Connectivity
One of the standout features is the nice battery performance. With 320 mAh battery, the Xiaomi Watch S4 is able to provide up to 8 days of battery life with network connectivity enabled, actually outperforming the larger Watch S4 model which offers about 6 days. However, with GPS active, users can expect approximately 3 days of usage.
In our experience, when connected to just Bluetooth and with daily modest use (as well as casual tinkering of app and customisation), we enjoyed an average of 6-days battery before needing to charge the watch. We're also impressed with connectivity. When paired Bluetooth with a non Xiaomi phone, the Watch S4 immediately paired and stayed constantly connected.
The watch runs on Xiaomi's HyperOS platform and includes many other smart connectivity features, best experienced with a Xiaomi tablet or smartphone, especially with the new premium Xiaomi 15T flagship series, as well we the new OpenWear Stereo Pro. Seamless connectivity features include remote photo-taking, phone finding capabilities, and the ability to better control Xiaomi Home devices.
Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro: Clear & Loud Audio in an Open-Ear Design
Xiaomi is one of the few brands to openly push for open-style earbuds, which are known for their less-powerful audio quality. However, their Xiaomi OpenWear Stereo Pro is quite commendable, as I could hear the improvements in not just clarity, but also volume when compared to the original OpenWear Stereo earbuds (review). This new pair is definitely an upgrade and is targeted at music lovers who want high-quality sound without complete isolation from their surroundings. It's also great for those who cannot take silicone-tips in-ear earbuds (like me).
- Audio & Wear Performance
The OpenWear Stereo Pro distinguishes itself with a sophisticated five-unit acoustic system. This includes a custom 1813 super-large dynamic woofer for powerful bass response, dual balanced armature drivers for enhanced detail and clarity, and a piezoelectric ceramic (PZT) driver specifically handling high frequencies.
Audio development to the audio tuning is also in partial thanks to being in collaboration with Harman Kardon's Golden Ear team, ensuring professional-grade sound quality as per Harman Kardon's vision.
The earbuds support Hi-Res Audio Wireless certification and LDAC codec, delivering superior audio quality for music enthusiasts and content creators. Not forgetting; with an open-ear design, Xiaomi has implemented advanced anti-leakage sound technology to maintain audio privacy.
As mentioned earlier, the open-ear design allows users to remain aware of their surroundings, but is not a popular choice for most users looking for ample volume. However, I found the audio volume to improve significantly. It was easy to enjoy even immersive audio when in a surrounding space with background music. As expected, the earbuds also offer secured wear and shouldn't fall off easily even if you're doing any jumps or mid-impact activities.
- Battery and Charging
On paper, the OpenWear Stereo Pro offers up to 8.5 hours of continuous playback on a single charge. The charging case features a substantial 788mAh battery with 6W fast charging support, providing extended usage throughout the day. When combined with the case, users can expect significantly longer total battery life.
Our Take: Premium Stylish Upgrades That Are Worth It
Whether you're a Xiaomi smartphone user or not, both the Xiaomi Watch S4 (41mm) and OpenWear Stereo Pro are worth getting for anyone looking to try these new technologies, wants advanced gadgets with good balance of aesthetics and practicality, or to merely upgrade their experiences from more basic setups.
To find out more about the Xiaomi Watch S4 (41mm) and OpenWear Stereo Pro, visit Xiaomi Malaysia. Also, stay updated with ProductNation on here, Instagram & TikTok as well.
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