Odds are you’re sharp enough to know that you can save your ears, sanity, and money by doing your Black November shopping online. You needn’t even look that hard to find the best deals on the most sought-after tech from Xiaomi, the best bang-for-buck tech brand. And they’re all under one roof… well, two roofs, technically – Incredible Connection and HiFiCorp.

Xiaomi brings the smarts to streaming

There are plenty of deals on new smart TVs but do you really want to spend R20,000 or more on a whole new television with all the bells and whistles if your current one works just fine? Rather give your current TV all those bells and whistles for less than 10% of that price.

The Xiaomi TV Box S (2nd Gen) is the gold standard for streaming boxes, capable of giving older or budget TVs a new lease on life. It’s packing some of the best hardware available. Combine that with its stellar Google TV operating system and superior software support, you’ll struggle to find a comparable experience at the same price.

Enough power for streaming spectacular video and audio? Check. Easy to set up and use? Check. Reliable long-term support? Check. Even cheaper than it usually is? Check. Whether you get your tech from Incredible Connection or HiFiCorp this November, the Xiaomi TV Box S (2nd Gen) has dropped to R899, from its already-low usual price of R1,199.

For those who don’t need 4K Dolby Vision picture quality and immersive Dolby Atmos audio, the Xiaomi TV Stick continues to be a favourite, wallet-friendly streaming solution. You’re still getting a slick Android TV OS, support for every popular streaming service you could want, and built-in Chromecast and Google Assistant support so you literally don’t even have to lift a finger. The best part? At R699, it’s even more affordable than usual.

Staying connected the smart way

With your streaming needs covered, it’s time to consider your home network. Unless the thought of laying network cable excites you, most of your home’s smart tech uses a wireless connection. Xiaomi’s networking solutions are plenty capable, especially when used to supplement an existing network.

If your current ISP-issued router lacks a feature or two and you’d like to fix that without overdoing it, the Xiaomi Wireless Router 4C features four antennas for better signal strength and it can be controlled with an app on any smartphone. It’s already a steal at its normal price of R349 but for Black November that has dropped to R249.

And those dead zones where the dreaded Buffering Monster lives? Unless you’re throwing bags of money at your network, you’re bound to have a few. Plug one of the Xiaomi Wi-Fi Range Extender Pros into a plug socket close to the dead spot and watch as the Buffering Monster is vanquished. You’ve just earned the admiration and respect of your family, possibly your neighbour too, and it only cost you R219 and the five minutes it takes to set up the Xiaomi Wi-Fi Range Extender Pro.

Keeping an eye on your health

So, you’ve already got a sweet streaming set-up, a strong home network to support it, and the adoration of your family for making it all happen without ‘borrowing’ from your retirement fund. But why stop there?

2024 is a few weeks away so why not get a headstart on those New Year’s resolutions you’re definitely going to see through this time? The Redmi Smart Band 2 is the perfect companion for the ‘fitness-curious’ and fitness aficionados alike.

The generous 1.47in display makes checking your vitals at a glance easy and with 30+ sports modes supported, first-timers can try a bunch and find the one they like the most. Not everyone is a runner, and that’s okay.

If you’re less concerned about the tech and more focused on your workout, the Redmi Smart Band 2’s attractive design and low on-wrist profile means it won’t get in your way. Its attractive price of R699 is even more attractive this November. Exactly R200 more attractive as it’s now down to R499.

These might be the top 5 Xiaomi tech deals this November, but they certainly aren’t the only ones. You’re sure to find more at either Incredible Connection or HiFiCorp. Get yours today.

The post The Top 5 Xiaomi smart tech deals this November appeared first on Stuff South Africa.

As ever, there’s a distinction between fitness bands and smartwatches. The key is in the name. One’s a band. One’s a watch. Smartwatches tend to include features like enhanced notifications, more advanced displays, and a greater number of sensors. Plus, they look and feel similar to a traditional wristwatch. Fitness bands are more stripped back with a lower on-wrist profile and more unobtrusive design. Both have their benefits and their fans. How do you know which is for you?

Beginning at the front

The Redmi Smart Band 2 (BHR6921AP – R699) doesn’t look like it’s priced at well under a grand. It features a 1.47in rectangular TFT display that almost positions it between the fitness band and smartwatch categories. The generous screen design makes it an ideal companion for first-time fitness freaks, while the price suggests it could be a handy backup for the more advanced health fanatic.

It doesn’t muck about, tracking all of the usual movement metrics and supporting more than 30 different exercise types. Sleep, SpO2 (blood oxygen), and heart rate tracking are also within its sphere of influence. The large display can be customised with one of more than one hundred downloadable looks, via the app, and Xiaomi’s Redmi Smart Band 2 is also rated to survive up to five atmospheres (ATM). It’ll handle its end in the pool as well as the street, gym, or track.

Finally, users get up to fourteen days of usage on a single charge. Actually using it for working out will cut down that amount a little but it’ll still net you around a week of solid usage. It wasn’t long ago that these features were at the heart of devices costing several thousand rands. If you missed the boat before, here’s an excellent spot to get on.

Intermediate awesome

The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 (BHR6008GL – R1,199) is a true fitness band. The narrow rectangular face consists of a 1.62in AMOLED display that will be visible even in the brightest sunlight. The skimpy profile means it’s out of the way while you’re chalking up those PBs and the strap design keeps it on your wrist through all but the most violent workouts. It’s a marvel that Xiaomi’s wearable clocks in at just R1,199.

It supports more than 110 different sports profiles, including one for esports, and also features more than 100 software faces to choose from. How it looks (slick) is less important than how it performs (extensively), however.

14 days of peak battery drive movement, sleep, blood oxygen, and even VO2 max data, in case you were looking at a wearable three times this price that also does exactly these items. It’ll do all of this in the water thanks to its 5 ATM rating. If you know what you’re after in terms of tracking and don’t want to overpay for it, here’s where you get off. Otherwise…

Efficient expert

It’s time to upgrade to a smartwatch. Specifically, Xiaomi’s Redmi Watch 3 (BHR6851GL – R2,099). This is a true smartwatch design with a rectangular 1.75in AMOLED display set into a raised metallic watch body atop one of a series of strap options. Tracking is, as you’d expect from a pricier device, more extensive. In addition to the features listed in the Smart Band 2, down to the SpO2, Xiaomi’s wearable also features an integrated GPS chip. Accurate movement tracking is just an option away, with several satellite options supported.

This does cut the battery back to 12 days on a charge, but that’s an acceptable loss. More than 200 faces and over 120 sports profiles mean there’s little that it can’t keep up with (and it’ll look good doing it) but there’s also one more big feature.

Okay, two, but they’re related. Xiaomi’s Redmi Watch 3 includes Alexa support, a feature you’d expect in a device twice this price. The internal speaker will also let you answer and conduct a Bluetooth phone call from your wrist, meaning there’s no need to unlimber your phone from your sports pockets if an important call comes in. Just raise your wrist and chat.

Watch the band get back together

At these prices and with these features, it’s honestly a harder choice than you’d expect deciding what to stick on your wrist before your workout. The Redmi Watch 3 is the best-looking device while the Xiaomi Smart Band 7 is the most athletically capable. Xiaomi’s Redmi Band 2 is the most affordable without missing out on many features. This is nearly an impossible choice, so why make it? You can buy one of each for about the same price as competing trackers with similar features.

Xiaomi’s wearables catalogue is available from Takealot, Incredible Connection, HiFi Corporation, and Makro. Get yours today and watch your fitness efforts leap ahead as accurate tracking and feedback push you down the right road to transform your body the way you want it.

The post Xiaomi’s smartwatch and fitness band are unbeatable on a budget appeared first on Stuff South Africa.