Xiaomi continues its offensive on the smartwatch market with the Watch S4. Following the already well-received Watch S3, this new iteration arrives on the French market with sharp arguments: a design that can be personalized at will thanks to its interchangeable bezels, an AMOLED screen announced as ultra-bright, and a marathon battery life. Offered under 170 euros, it clearly aims to democratize an experience perceived as premium. But behind this enticing technical sheet and this aggressive pricing positioning, is the Watch S4 really the good deal it seems to be? We put it to the test.
We like:
Its customizable design
This is THE signature feature of this Watch S4, inherited from the S3 but refined here. The concept is simple, but still just as effective with its removable bezel. It can be unclipped by turning it and replaced with another in a few seconds. Beyond the Black, Silver and Rainbow versions supplied as standard, Xiaomi offers bezels in various styles for purchase: two-tone ceramic with GMT function, forged carbon with compass integrated into the exclusive dial, or even laser-engraved imitation wood.
It's not just cosmetic: some bezels activate specific dials and associated features, linking appearance to use.
Added to the compatibility with any standard 22mm strap, this offers an impressive customization capacity at this price, allowing you to adapt your watch to your style or your daily activities. The aluminum alloy case, although less noble than steel, benefits from good build quality and a successful glossy appearance.
Its bright AMOLED screen
Xiaomi has not skimped on the quality of the display. The 1.43-inch AMOLED panel delivers the vivid colors and deep blacks that are characteristic of this technology. Its 466x466 pixel resolution (326 ppi) ensures a beautiful sharpness, but it's its brightness that really impresses: with a 1500 nits HBM (High Brightness) mode, it's a spectacular improvement over the S3's 600 nits. In concrete terms, the screen remains perfectly readable, even in direct sunlight, which is a significant comfort in everyday life. The fluidity at 60 Hz is correct and the “Always-On Display” function allows you to keep the time visible, although it reduces the battery life.
Its really solid battery life
Xiaomi puts in before an endurance of up to 15 days. Let's be clear: in reality, with mixed use including continuous health monitoring, notifications and a few sports sessions, it is difficult to achieve this figure. It is, however, possible to obtain autonomy ranging from 5 days (with the Always-On screen activated and intensive use) to 10 days (with more moderate use). While the gap with the promise is significant, this performance is nevertheless very good, even excellent, for a connected watch of this category. It easily outperforms most models running Wear OS and charges using a two-pin magnetic charging station. It takes about 1 hour 15 minutes to fully charge, but the fast charging function allows you to quickly regain energy.
Its essential and rather reliable health monitoring
The Watch S4 includes the expected sensors: heart rate (PPG), oxygen saturation (SpO2), accelerometer, gyroscope, barometer. It provides continuous monitoring (up to 24/7) of heart rate, SpO2, and stress levels. Sleep analysis is also included, breaking down the phases.
The watch is quite well equipped and proves to be quite accurate when it comes to heart rate tracking and sleep analysis. The Mi Fitness app, although simple, presents the data clearly and allows synchronization with Strava or Suunto.
Its fluid interface and improved navigation
The watch runs on HyperOS 2, Xiaomi's in-house system. The user experience is generally pleasant, fluid, and responsive, while the addition of a rotating crown, in addition to the touchscreen and side button, makes navigating menus and widgets easier. We also appreciate the interface customization options, such as configurable widgets or different displays for the application list.
Its value for money
This is undeniably one of Xiaomi's biggest assets, and the Watch S4 is no exception. Launched at around 160-170 euros, it offers a range of features and perceived build quality that defy much of the competition in this segment. Faced with often more expensive alternatives, it manages to integrate technologies like a very bright AMOLED screen, dual-frequency GPS (on paper), and a modular design, all without blowing the price.
Its Bluetooth calling function, always practical
Thanks to its two integrated microphones and its speaker, the Watch S4 allows you to make and receive calls directly from your wrist, as long as it is connected to your smartphone. It's a practical function for quickly answering calls without taking out your phone, even if it remains a gimmick. You should choose a quiet place to really take advantage of it.
We like less
Its sometimes capricious GPS
This is potentially the biggest downside. On paper, the Watch S4 moves upmarket with a dual-frequency GNSS chip (L1+L5), compatible with all major satellite systems (GPS, Galileo, Glonass, Beidou, QZSS). This technology is supposed to offer increased accuracy, especially in cities. Unfortunately, the watch disappoints on this last point and tends to produce fanciful routes by cutting through buildings or deviating from the actual path. For athletes who rely on reliable location tracking for their running, cycling, or hiking outings, this is a major flaw that may call into question the watch's usefulness. However, the Watch S4 is first and foremost a lifestyle watch, and this problem dissipates as soon as you take care of the city.
Specialized athletes or data geeks may also regret the lack of advanced metrics or more detailed performance analysis. The connection to Strava/Suunto can partially compensate for this.
Its locked application ecosystem
The choice of HyperOS 2, while beneficial to battery life, has a significant drawback: the inability to install third-party applications. Forget the abundant catalog of the Google Play Store (Wear OS) or the App Store (watchOS), the user is limited to the thirty or so pre-installed applications from Xiaomi. This positions the Watch S4 more as a highly advanced activity tracker than a true platform.
Its NFC chip... almost no payment function in France
The watch does integrate an NFC chip and theoretically supports Xiaomi Pay with Mastercard and Visa. However, its practical usefulness in France is close to zero. Major French banks are not partners with Xiaomi Pay. Only a few niche players like Curve or ZEN.com are listed for Europe. In short, don't buy this watch if contactless payment is an important criterion for you in France... unless you are a customer at Curve or Zen establishments.
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