Watch or fitness band for counting steps: what to check before choosing

Editorial guidance

Start with your activity, not a list of features

A step-counting device can be useful as an everyday reference, but buying the one with the most features does not automatically meet your needs. Before comparing, describe how you will use it: daily walks, getting from place to place, recorded sessions or a combination. Also decide whether you want to see the figure on your wrist or review your history in an app.

Our editorial guidance is to separate three decisions: what information you need, which phone you will use and what you are willing to keep charged and configured. A simple device you can wear regularly may suit your routine better than one with features you will not use. That does not make it more accurate or justify recommending it to everyone.

Documented facts and editorial criteria

What the step count means and where its limits lie

Wrist-based counting is an estimate based on movement signals and the device’s interpretation. Garmin explains that some repetitive arm movements can add steps, while walking with your hands still can reduce the count. A daily figure is not a laboratory measurement and does not, by itself, describe the intensity of a session.

We do not have a comparable step-count error test for the two models in this guide. We therefore provide no accuracy percentage, ranking or winner. An improvement advertised for another sensor does not demonstrate better step counting either: Xiaomi describes an improvement in heart-rate measurement, which must not be applied to the step counter.

As a practical guideline, observe trends under similar conditions and consult the manual if a record seems inconsistent. Check placement and fit, when synchronisation took place and whether you were carrying objects. Do not automatically add the steps from two devices: they may represent the same activity or use different rules.

Section documentation: Garmin · vívosmart 5 manual · Garmin · Limitations of step counting on vívosmart 5 · Xiaomi Spain · Smart Band 9 and battery-life conditions

Documented facts and editorial criteria

Battery life, comfort and the controls you will use

“Up to” expresses a claimed battery life under specific conditions. An always-on display, notifications, brightness and measurement frequency change power consumption. The table’s figures come from manufacturers using different protocols; they are not results from a SportLoop test.

To compare comfort, check dimensions, strap size range, fastening, replacement options and how you will access the screen during a walk. A specification sheet cannot tell you how the device will feel on you. If you can try it before buying, assess its fit without turning a personal impression into a universal property.

Section documentation: Garmin · vívosmart 5 specifications · Garmin · vívosmart 5 manual · Xiaomi Spain · Smart Band 9 and battery-life conditions

Documented information

Two documented examples for reading a specification sheet

Garmin vívosmart 5 and the standard Xiaomi Smart Band 9 are included as examples, not as a best-buy selection. They do not represent every watch or fitness band on the market. The cells describe the documentation consulted; commercial availability and data transfer to SportLoop have not been checked.

On Xiaomi Spain’s website, the typical 21-day scenario uses a static watch face, heart-rate measurement every 30 minutes, several advanced measurements disabled and 60 minutes of exercise per week. The always-on-display and intensive-use scenarios change those conditions. Garmin’s power consumption also depends on settings; we do not have an identical protocol for comparing the two devices.

Xiaomi’s UK FAQ states 18 days of typical use and 8 with an always-on display. This table retains the figures and conditions published by Xiaomi Spain. We have not conducted our own test to resolve the regional difference, so you must consult the documentation applicable to the specific market.

Documentary comparison of fitness bands: specifications and conditions

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Documentation checked: October 13, 2026. Documented information.

Section documentation: Garmin · vívosmart 5 manual · Garmin · vívosmart 5 specifications · Garmin · Official comparison, vívosmart 5 column · Xiaomi Spain · Smart Band 9 specifications · Xiaomi Spain · Smart Band 9 and battery-life conditions · Xiaomi · Phone GPS on Smart Band 9 · App Store Spain · Garmin Connect · App Store Spain · Mi Fitness by Beijing Xiaomi · Garmin · Android requirements for Garmin Connect · Xiaomi · Smart Band 9 connection and synchronisation; regional FAQ

Documented facts and editorial criteria

Compatibility, privacy and synchronisation

Check two different kinds of compatibility: what the device claims and what the current version of its app requires. Older specifications may list an operating system the app no longer supports. In the documentation consulted, Mi Fitness requires a newer iOS version than the Smart Band 9 specification sheet lists. It is advisable to open the official store on your own phone before deciding.

Recording, synchronising and sharing are different operations. Review which account you need, which permissions the app uses, whether it synchronises to the cloud and which settings allow you to export data, revoke permissions or delete data. Garmin describes Connect’s privacy controls, but privacy from other users does not mean data is stored exclusively on the band.

Xiaomi’s regional FAQ describes synchronisation and third-party connections. Its complete privacy policy needs further checking. Our guide does not claim that everything stays on the device or that a connection to another platform includes SportLoop. Nor does it equate saving a route with counting steps: phone location may require different permissions.

Section documentation: App Store Spain · Garmin Connect · App Store Spain · Mi Fitness by Beijing Xiaomi · Garmin · Android requirements for Garmin Connect · Garmin · Connect privacy · Xiaomi · Smart Band 9 connection and synchronisation; regional FAQ · Xiaomi · Phone GPS on Smart Band 9

Editorial guidance

How to prioritise features within your budget

If your budget is tight, start with essential features: a readable step count, a compatible app, a suitable strap and manageable charging. With more room in your budget, compare the screen, session controls or export options only if you will use them. If you need to record routes without carrying a phone, rule out models that rely on connected GPS and look for documentation of built-in GPS.

Before buying, confirm the exact model and variant, included accessories, warranty, returns and any paid features. An offer from another region or a Pro version may have different characteristics. We include no prices, discounts or savings promises because none have been authorised or verified for a specific offer.

Documented information

The device accompanies your activity; SportLoop organises your progress

SportLoop lets you record activity, track progress and take part in challenges. The app displays steps and offers access to compatible data through Health Connect on Android when the user grants permission. This does not establish that a specific band sends its data directly to SportLoop: that compatibility chain must be verified separately.

You can discover the app’s features and explore its activity and challenge options without this guide directing you to a purchase. Choosing equipment is a secondary decision; the goal is to find a way to support your routine that you can understand and maintain.

Section documentation: SportLoop · Publicly described app features