Xiaomi, Hrithik Roshan launch Mi Band - HRX Edition, priced at ₹1,299

Xiaomi on Friday launched a new fitness band, Mi Band - HRX Edition, in India. As the name suggests, the company has teamed up with HRX, a new fitness-focused brand founded by actor Hrithik Roshan.

The Mi Band - HRX Edition is priced at ₹1,299 and will go on sale from September 18 on Mi.com and Mi Home stores. The device will also be available across Flipkart, Amazon, and Myntra from September 20. In addition to the band, Xiaomi is also offering a blue colour strap for ₹299.

The Mi Band - HRX Edition boasts more than 23 days of usage on a single charge. It comes with Bluetooth 4.0 and a power efficient OLED display. It can monitor your steps, calories burnt, and sleep patterns, as well as display notifications including incoming calls or text messages.

Xiaomi claims the band is resistant to scratches and fingerprints. It comes with IP67 certification with splash and dust resistance. The fitness band also has an improved pedometer algorithm for improved tracking. This edition of the Mi Band comes with a HRX engraving in the band strap lock.

In comparison, the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 comes with an OLED display, touch button and can monitor your calories, steps and heart rate. The Mi Band 2 is also IP67 certified, which makes it splash, dust and corrosion resistant. The Mi Band 2 is priced at ₹1,999. The main difference between the Mi Band 2 and Mi Band - HRX Edition is that the latter does not have the heart rate monitor. Xiaomi says the omission of the feature has helped increase battery life on the fitness band.

Ahead of the launch, Xiaomi VP Manu Jain told Hindustan Times, "Xiaomi is world's leading wearable company with 13.4% market share globally, as per Q2 IDC. It is an extremely important market for us, and we would definitely keep improvising our product to meet the demands of our Mi Fans."

He also pointed out that Xiaomi has been a top name in the wearable segment for some quarters.

Sharing his views about the smart fitness bands, Hrithik Roshan told Hindustan Times, "Simply put wearing a band makes one more aware of their activity levels. As you count, you tend to take a simple activity like walking more seriously. If a thin strap worn on your hand helps you calculate number of steps taken, number of calories burnt and quality fo sleep- I don't think one can ask for anything more in life? And with all this in mind HRX and Xiaomi have introduced a product that is not only utilitarian but also affordable with a long lasting battery life."

"When you go into a restaurant or an office, you will notice that most individual sport a fitness band. This is a clear indication of how everyone is going the healthy way. Today, People want to keep busy, walk a lot of steps, improve their sleep quality and so much more," he added.