Is Amazfit a Xiaomi watch

Should you buy an Amazfit watch?

Should you buy an Amazfit watch? The short answer is, yes, many of Amazfits smartwatches and fitness trackers are capable alternatives to better-known wearable brands. But not all Amazfit watches are built the same, plus the models range in price, so youll want to do some research before buying.

Toms Guide has tested a number of Amazfit devices, from the $79 Amazfit Bip to the $229 Amazfit GTR 3 Pro. Weve even reviewed the Amazfit Band 5, a $39 fitness tracker with Amazon Alexa built-in.

Amazfit makes some of the best smartwatches and best fitness trackers, though the companys devices usually sit lower on our rankings. Thats because compared to, say, the Apple Watch 7, Amazfit lacks a dedicated app store and the option to send messages from your wrist.

Instead, Amazfit watches prioritize health-tracking and a long battery life. The Amazfit T-Rex has an epic 20-day battery life, for example. Heres everything else to consider when you buy an Amazfit watch.

Amazfit watches: Models and prices

Amazfit offers several product lines catering to different user needs and budgets. The flagship line is the GTS/GTR series, available in a S squircle-shaped watch that looks like the best Apple Watch models and a more traditional R round-faced watch. These models usually launch alongside the latest Amazfit features. Amazfit even offers a Pro version of the latest GTR series with a larger display and functional speakers.

• Amazfit GTS 2: $179
• Amazfit GTR 2: $179
• Amazfit GTS 2 Mini: $99
• Amazfit GTR 2e: $139
• Amazfit GTS 3: $179
• Amazfit GTR 3: $179
• Amazfit GTR 3 Pro: $229

Amazfits Bip line is behind many of the best cheap smartwatches, making the models soft on your wallet and a good choice for a first-time wearable. Though the Bip isnt as full-featured as the GTS/GTR series, it functions as a basic fitness tracker with long-lasting battery life. There are a couple of variations, but all cost under $100.

• Amazfit Bip U: $59
• Amazfit Bip U Pro: $69
• Amazfit Bip S: $69
• Amazfit Bip S Lite: $49

Amazfit offers some of the best GPS watches and and best running watches, too. The T-Rex line is a limited selection of ultra-rugged watches designed for any kind of adventure. If youve taken up outdoor sports, or simply need something durable, youll get the most use of the T-Rex.

• Amazfit T-Rex: $139
• Amazfit T-Rex Pro: $179

Lastly, Amazfit makes one of the best cheap fitness trackers. The Amazfit Band 5 is a traditional-looking activity band with a bright, color display and 15-day battery life.

Amazfit watches: Zepp Health fitness tracking

The saturated fitness- and health-tracking hardware market is dominated by the best Fitbit devices and best Garmin watches, as well as Apple and Samsungs flagship smartwatches. Zepp, Amazfits companion app and wellness platform, manages to keep up.

With more than 150 workout types, Amazfit watches are prepared for practically any kind of exercise. They support presets ranging from traditional cardio machines and pool swimming to esports and stretching. Regular walking, running, indoor cycling and yoga come as presets on all Amazfit devices.

Zepp Health offers some unique incentives compared to other health-tracking platforms. The service uses a Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) score, which might remind you of the Activity Zone Minutes tool found on the Fitbit Sense and Fitbit Charge 5. The goal is to earn and maintain at least 100 PAI points over a 7-day period, which isnt difficult as long as you workout regularly.

Beyond physical activity metrics, Amazfit watches offer SpO2, sleep, stress, menstrual cycle and even temperature tracking on the GTR 3 series. With most models, you can take on-demand readings whenever you want to see whats going on with your body.

Note that youll need your smartphones Zepp Health app to review most of your metrics, though. The app stores data on everything from your stride length and calories burned to your training loads and weight. You can manually input your body measurements if youre looking to track fitness goals as well. Apple and Samsung watches show more wellness data directly on your wrist.

Amazfit watches: Smartwatch features

Amazfits general smartwatch features (a.k.a non-fitness tracking features) are a mixed bag. Several models offer Alexa on-board, letting you whisper Alexa commands into your wrist like James Bond. It grants you access to many of the best Alexa skills, such as getting a weather report or changing the settings of any of the best Alexa compatible devices. Youll definitely want to know how to use Alexa with an Amazfit watch.

Weve had mixed experiences with mirrored notifications. In general, you can decide which phone notifications you want pushed to your wrist, plus whether you want to preview their contents. You cant reply to messages, but as one of the best smartwatches for Android and iOS, the GTS/GTR series lets you answer calls, no matter your connected smartphone. Still, the Apple Watch is better catered for iPhone users, while the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 and all the best Samsung watches are better for Samsung phone users.

Similarly, Amazfit watches dont have the app stores found in the watchOS and Wear OS software. Youre limited to Zepp-brand apps for productivity or music-listening.

Amazfit watches: Battery life

Amazfit watches win big on battery life. If you rarely want to think about charging your smartwatch, then you should buy an Amazfit watch. The Amazfit Bip Lite is the best Amazfit watch for battery life overall, offering up to 45 days of continuous use. The Amazfit T-Rex Pro lasts up to 18 days, or 45 hours with active GPS use. The Amazfit Band 5 gets 15 days, while the Amazfit GTS/GTR 3 series gets 14 days.

Only certain Garmin watches designed for multi-day GPS can last as long an Amazfit watch. Fitbit devices max out at one week, while Apple and Samsung last no more than two days.

Should you buy an Amazfit watch?

If you prioritize battery life and your budget, Amazfit watches are worthwhile purchases. Amazfit keeps up with the top wearable brands better than almost all other inexpensive smartwatches and fitness bands, specifically in health features.

That said, if you care more about general smartwatch features and don't mind frequent charging, there are better options than Amazfit watches. Be sure to check out our smartwatch buying guide to find the right device for you.

Amazfit T-Rex Pro review

Two-minute review

Youve started running and going on hikes, and you plan to go skiing and swimming. Now you want to start mapping your adventures, collecting data and measuring your heart rate, and for high-altitude hikes, even your SpO2 (oxygen saturation) levels. It may have a rather uninspiring, industrial design, but Amazfits T-Rex Pro can do all that and more.

Its got 100 sports modes from running and hiking to snowboarding, rock climbing and cross-country skiing and it can auto-detect most of them. Its got GPS so can map your run (though it wont help you navigate). Its also waterproof down to 100m. Its battery life can stretch to 18 days and thats despite it having a bright, colourful 1.3-inch AMOLED display.

For its low price thats quite an achievement, but is it a rugged fitness tracker or a smartwatch? Its actually both, also able to funnel through notifications from your smartphone and control music via Bluetooth 5.0. You can even switch-up watch faces. The T-Rex Pro will also give you a finely textured read-out of your nights sleep.

So why are we not totally convinced by the T-Rex Pro? Created by Chinese brand Zepp Health formerly Huami the T-Rex Pro collects a lot of data, but then what? Sure, its available in the Zepp app, but aside from being able to post your latest workout to social media, theres not much you can do with that data. So if youre currently using smartphone apps like Strava or MyFitnessPal to track your activity and/or your diet, youll have to live with two silos of data that dont integrate. And that just seems like a barrier to wanting extra activity data in the first place.

You'll be hard-pressed to find a better value rugged sports watch that covers the basics for running, cycling, hiking and more. But despite its many good points were not totally convinced the T-Rex Pro is generous enough with its data to be considered best-in-class.

Amazfit T-Rex Pro price and release date

• Out now
• Costs $179.99 (around 139, AU$249)

The T-Rex Pro was released in March 2021 for $179.99 / 139 / AU$249. In the US its available directly from Amazfit while in the UK it can be purchased either from Argos or Amazon. Its initially available in three colours: Meteorite Black, Desert Green and Steel Blue.

Amazfit T-Rex Pro design

• Chunky design
• 1.3-inch AMOLED display
• Silicone rubber wrist strap

You get a lot of features for your money with the T-Rex Pro, but a wow factor isnt one of them. The T-Rex Pro looks almost exactly like the original Amazfit T-Rex. This new version also has four screws in the bezel for a practical, industrial and slightly plasticky look.

There are also four metal buttons (mode, back, up and down) on the edge of the casing that are big enough to easily press while running or when wearing gloves. Too easily, in fact, making accidental presses inevitable.

A 47.7mm radius watch thats 13.5mm thick, the T-Rex Pro is a chunky polycarbonate product that has a relatively masculine look, but its paltry 59.4g means it never feels heavy when being worn. Zepp says that the T-Rex Pro is shock-resistant, can withstand -40C to 70C, copes with salt spray and meets the MIL-STD-810G standard, though by far its most important rugged feature is that its waterproof down to 100m. Thats double what the original version was capable of.

The T-Rex Pro is built around a 1.3-inch AMOLED touchscreen display that has a 360 x 360 pixel resolution (again, just like its forbear). Its easily visible in bright sunlight, though only if you set it to its top brightness level. Of course, that affects its battery life, which Zepp rates at 18 days. In practice, its 390mAh battery goes for about a week, which is still impressive.

It ships with a silicone rubber 22mm-wide wrist strap thats comfortable and stays in place when running. The only other accessory in the box is a proprietary charger that magnetically attaches to the case back. Thats where youll find the flashing LEDs of Zepps new-for-2021 Bio-Tracking 2 PPG optical sensor, which measures heart rate and SpO2 (oxygen saturation). Inside is also an accelerometer, a gyroscope, altimeter, geomagnetic sensor and an ambient light sensor.

In short, its a data-gathering monster.

Amazfit T-Rex Pro setup

• Arrives fully charged
• Links to Zepp app easily
• Customizable watch faces and screensavers

Although the T-Rex Pro is ostensibly a fitness-orientated watch it also has a few smartwatch-like features. Its nowhere near being the ultimate personal assistant, as claimed by the maker, but it can be set to haptically buzz for incoming text messages, calls and reminders. It can also exert basic control of the music on your phone.

Hook it up to a smartphone via Bluetooth a simple task and youll also get a weather forecast, sunrise and sunset times, and the current moon phase.

The tempered glass touchscreen is plenty responsive enough, which makes the T-Rex Pro a pleasure to use while on the move. Small swipes up and down swap between the watch face and the shortcut control panel, where you do everything from turn on the flashlight (which is not bright enough for any practical purpose!) and engage power-saving/do-not-disturb modes, to choosing a screensaver and setting the screens brightness. Its also possible to set the display to be always-on during set times.

Although Zepp state that the T-Rex Pro has an up to 18-day battery, it became clear that this applies only if you dont really do any exercise. However, if you take an hours exercise each day and purposefully track it then you can expect the T-Rex Pro to run for about a week. Slightly less if you customize the T-Rex Pro to say, emit a haptic buzz every time you run a mile, or you set the display to be at maximum brightness and always-on (though it does need to be on maximum brightness to be read easily during strong sunlight).

Amazfit T-Rex Pro fitness tracking

• Data is presented clearly
• Accurate heart rate monitoring
• Reliable GPS location tracking

Although a more capable version of the original T-Rex which we reviewed last year, like its forbear the T-Rex Pro is a good performing and great value smartwatch option that isnt without its limitations.

The T-Rex Pro arguably includes more features than it should at its low price. For day-to-day use, its GPS and heart rate monitoring are probably the most important, and both worked well during our fortnight-long test. It picks up your heart rate every 10 minutes while at rest, and constantly during an activity. GPS tracking which uses GPS, GLONASS, Galileo or BeiDou satellite positioning was immaculate during our tests.

So during and after a run, youll get at-a-glance data on the time elapsed, calories burned, your average heart rate, and even finer detail like cadence, average stride, speed, elevation changes, and heart rate zones. As soon as you finish a run the T-Rex Pro will give you a recommended recovery time.

It also gives you a readout for VO2 max. Huh? Thats the maximum amount of oxygen in millilitres one can use in one minute per kilogram of body weight. So what? Ditto its data on Aerobic Training Effect, Anaerobic Training Effect and Training Load, which will also mean nothing to the most people.

We also consider SpO2 (oxygen saturation) readings more of a novelty and not really relevant unless youre hiking at altitude and wary of altitude sickness. Theres too much data here and not enough interpretation and goal-setting/virtual coaching.

There are two ways to track your activity; let the T-Rex Pro auto-detect it, or physically hit the mode button and scroll down until you get to your intended activity such as outdoor running, walking, treadmill, trail running, indoor walking (to mention just five of 24 activities in the list though you can manually add more).

In our tests, when left to make its own mind up the T-Rex Pro maxed out at deciphering between outdoor running and walking, but proved less adept with the other activities. So its best to tell it exactly what youre about to do.

One frustrating issue we had was how impractical the button layout is for hiking. The select button on the watchs right-hand side is too easy to press accidentally while wearing a sleeve over the T-Rex Pro, which pauses your workout. Youre unlikely to be wearing the T-Rex Pro under a sleeve while running, sports its not a huge problem day-to-day, but while hiking in a jacket its almost inevitable. The result is incomplete data and theres no easy fix.

The T-Rex Pro is also not the perfect bedfellow. It does have a vibrating watch alarm, but instead of a gentle haptic buzz or two, you get heavy-duty bursts that dont let up for 20 seconds. So everyone else in your bed is also going to get woken.

Amazfit T-Rex Pro companion app

• Presents biometric and map data clearly
• Collates data from other Amazfit devices
• Doesnt integrate with third-party apps

The T-Rex Pro links to the brands free Zepp app, which it syncs to soon after you complete an activity and bring it close to your smartphone. Its a cinch to see your current heart rate, step count, SpO2 levels and previous workout records, which are clearly and colourfully presented.

However, we were also disappointed by the my goals section of the app, which is merely a target steps per day, target weight, target calories burned, and a target sleep. Thats all a bit basic given how esoteric is the data it seems obsessed with collecting.

Like most such devices and apps theres an attempt at simplicity and gamification in which youre awarded Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) points. Its a commendable effort to give users a single numerical value to represent that days physical efforts, but in practice a congratulations you just reached 30 PAI! has no practical meaning. Its yet another notification to ignore.

While it collects a lot of data, the T-Rex Pro doesnt do much with it. Its not going to coach you to make you run faster. Its workout assistant section does include a virtual rabbit mode so you can race against your time at a previous workout, but it doesnt alert you if youre behind the pace.

More seriously, the T-Rex Pro doesnt link up to third-party apps, so if youre already in a groove with a fitness tracking app like Strava, MyFitnessPal or RunKeeper and merely wanted to use it to improve on the data your collecting then youre out of luck.

First reviewed March 2021

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