Amazfit T-Rex Pro Review: Far from extinct, but having difficulty evolving
"A shorter than promised battery life and the same design as the old version dampen the craze for the Amazfit T-Rex Pro, but a reasonable price, reliable software and strong activity tracking keep it from extinction."
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Comprehensive activity tracking
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Reliable, easy to use software
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Acceptable price
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Robust and waterproof
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The battery life is not as advertised
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No design changes compared to the previous model
Amazfit has made a name for itself with a range of affordable, attractive and easy-to-use smartwatches like the GTR 2 and is now back with the Amazfit T-Rex Pro. It's sort of a successor to the T-Rex as of early 2020, but it's not the big evolutionary leap that we'd like to see after a year of waiting.
Repeating the same designs over and over again (the Amazfit GT series basically all look the same too) is not what we expect these days and while this may help keep the price down, it doesn't really generate much interest or concern Excitement. Let's take a closer look at the T-Rex Pro to see if we should ignore the lack of imagination or if Amazfit needs inspiration.
design
Have you seen the Amazfit T-Rex? Good, because the T-Rex Pro looks almost identical. One minor change has changed the impression the watch makes and that is the different bezel treatment. The bezel on the T-Rex on my test unit was made of black plastic and looked cheap and nasty. The bezel of the T-Rex Pro has a contrasting gray color and has been given a “metal spray” effect. It has a slightly more elegant style than the old version.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Otherwise the shape, size and design are the same. The metal buttons have the same texture, the watches basically weigh the same at 59 grams, the Pro's 22mm silicone rubber strap has more texture but the same design, and the 1.3-inch AMOLED screen is the same size and the same 360 x 360 pixel resolution. They are equal.
The T-Rex Pro is built to be tough and can withstand high and low temperatures, moisture, salt and shock. It passed 15 different tests compared to the T-Rex's 12 tests, and is 10 ATM water resistant compared to 5 ATM on the old T-Rex. This all means that the Amazfit T-Rex Pro is a bit of a Casio G-Shock watch, complete with button protection and the oversized 13.5mm thick polycarbonate case, plus some G-Shock-like dials. It is also similar to the Honor Watch GS Pro, but it doesn't look or feel that expensive either.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I hate it no The strap is comfortable and can be adjusted for all wrist sizes (although the 48mm case isn't suitable for small wrists at all). As someone who really likes G-Shock watches, I don't completely oppose the choice of style, but many will see it as big, ugly, and unsightly. The class that goes with everything is definitely missing, the GTR 2.
What I really disagree with is that the T-Rex Pro is the T-Rex, just with a different color bezel, and even the most optimistic will struggle to label it "brand new". I appreciate that repeating the same design keeps development costs down and therefore the final price is low. Repeating this ad nauseam doesn't create any fuss, however, and that's a serious problem in the competitive world of wearables.
Fitness and activity characteristics
Now I moaned about the design. Surely we get to what makes the T-Rex Pro an upgrade over the T-Rex and maybe see what makes it a Pro. Although the hardware contains the most important upgrades compared to the old smartwatch, these are hardly any massive changes. The heart rate sensor was converted to the optical PPG sensor BioTracker 2 from Amazfit. The watch now has a 3-axis gyroscope that matches the 3-axis accelerometer and a barometer.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The updated BioTracker 2 sensor also measures Sp02 blood oxygen and Amazfit has a clock that supports 100 different training modes. However, this seems to be a software update function that can also be found on the GTR 2e and is not only specific to the T-Rex Pro. Thanks to the sensor upgrades, Amazfit was able to integrate some excellent new functions of the fitness tracking software, which are described in surprising detail on the watch and in the associated Zepp app.
When you track a 30-minute training session, it returns the expected elapsed time, calories burned, and average heart rate. However, you also get more specific data like cadence, average stride, speed, changes in altitude, and heart rate zones. Once done, a recommended recovery time will be provided along with VO2 Max data and data obtained using FirstBeat algorithms. It's comprehensive and for the most part easy to understand, and I love that everything can be viewed on the watch without visiting the app on your phone.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
The FirstBeat training effects data highlights a common problem with the fitness tracker. It contains graphs showing your aerobic training effect and anaerobic training effect, as well as your training load. This is all very interesting, but there is very little information about what to do with the data or how to correctly interpret it. When I was forced to look for more information, I was directed to FirstBeat's own website, but found that after reading the information, I really wasn't the wiser.
It is likely that this data would be more helpful, or perhaps just more familiar, to athletes or those engaging in specific sports, but it goes too deep for occasional use without adequate explanation. Otherwise, the T-Rex Pro's activity-related upgrades would have been better than the old model, but would have to come with other improvements to make for a highly desirable upgrade.
Using the T-Rex Pro
The T-Rex Pro uses Amazfit's RTOS software rather than Google's Wear operating system. It is quick to respond, scrolls smoothly for the most part, and the menu system is logically structured. It works by tapping and swiping the screen as well as the very sensible physical buttons. There are four labeled Up, Down, Back, and Select. They do exactly what you'd expect and are big enough to handle gloved fingers.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Notifications are more reliable than Wear OS, although the text is simple and there is no way to reply to or interact with messages on the watch. For each watch face there is an effective screen that is constantly displayed. I like the comprehensive weather reports, and I'm sure climbers will appreciate the barometric pressure data too. It also controls the music on my phone. Best of all, I haven't had any instability or software issues.
The heart rate measurement appears to be accurate. The results from the T-Rex Pro are in line with the numbers from the Apple Watch Series 6. However, it's not as fast as the Apple Watch to measure your heart rate. It also takes longer to get an Sp02 blood oxygen reading, but it mostly gave the same result as the Apple Watch Series 6, but this information is not very helpful for someone who is not halfway up a mountain and worried about altitude sickness.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I compared the T-Rex Pro to the Apple Watch on a 30-minute walk, where it matched the average heart rate, but there was a discrepancy of about 200 steps, with the T-Rex counting fewer steps than the Apple Watch. A higher calorie consumption was also estimated. While both are probably not exactly right, the Apple Watch is considered to be one of the most accurate for heart rate and step count data, but the T-Rex Pro's difference isn't drastic.
The Zepp app is the same as the Amazfit GTR 2 and GTR 2e and works with both Android and iOS. It collects your activity data, allows you to customize the functions of the watch, choose apps to send notifications, and perform software updates. It's stayed tightly linked throughout my reporting period. Overall, the software of the Amazfit T-Rex Pro and therefore the owner experience is very good.
battery
If the software is good, what about the battery? It's not that good, and it definitely doesn't keep Amazfit's promises, at least if you intend to take advantage of the features it contains. The company says the 390 mAh battery – unsurprisingly the same as the one in the T-Rex – will last 18 days with typical use and nine days with heavy use. With the screen always on, heart rate and stress monitoring, two 30-minute workouts, and general notifications via notifications, the T-Rex Pro's battery lasted six days. I don't think this is heavy use as I haven't started GPS or exercised for hours.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
I could turn off the constantly on screen and heart rate monitoring which would save battery life (although I would be very surprised if it could suddenly hit 18 days), but what is it about? You buy the watch to use the features, not pretend they don't exist. The claims made by Amazfit about such a long battery life are extremely optimistic in my experience with the T-Rex Pro and other wearables from Amazfit.
Price and availability
The Amazfit T-Rex Pro costs $ 180 or £ 139 and can be purchased through Amazfit's own website. It is covered by a one-year warranty and a 30-day trial period is also granted.
Our opinion
The total lack of imagination in the design of the T-Rex Pro is frustrating. It doesn't have to look exactly like the previous model released over a year ago, especially if the original was hardly a design classic and the hardware upgrades here are just modest. It's a rather lazy update from a company that isn't interested in attracting new buyers. If you didn't like the look of the T-Rex – and anecdotally, a lot of the people I've spoken to didn't – you won't like the T-Rex Pro either.
Andy Boxall / Digital Trends
There's nothing at all to say "Oh it's the new T-Rex Pro" from the outside and it's a shame as the software, performance and activity tracking is very good. In many ways, the T-Rex Pro gives a Wear OS smartwatch a superior overall experience, and the low price makes it very tempting. Style aside, the main negative point here is battery life. Six days that I think will be widely used isn't bad, but it doesn't live up to what Amazfit claims or it doesn't go well with smartwatches like the Huawei Watch GT2 Pro or most fitness trackers.
Perhaps you're not as into the design aspect as I am and are looking for an inexpensive, outdoor-oriented smartwatch. In this case, the T-Rex Pro does whatever you want with just more visits to the charger than Amazfit tells you to.
Is there a better alternative?
The price of the T-Rex Pro is very cheap. For example, the Honor Watch GS Pro weighs £ 250 and has very similar functionality, although the materials used give it a sense of higher class. Our recommended smartwatches cost a lot more without the toughness. The Apple Watch SE is $ 279, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is $ 330, and the Mobvoi Ticwatch Pro 3 is $ 300.
If you're not concerned about the rugged exterior, Amazfit's GTR 2e packs most of the same features in a more fashionable, sleeker body and costs just $ 140. If the smartwatch features are less important, a fitness tracker might be better for you. If you like the G-Shock look, just get yourself a G-Shock watch. The G-Shock Move GBD-H1000 is priced at $ 400 and has extensive activity tracking features. It is also very robust.
After all, the T-Rex can still be put up for sale online. It costs around $ 140 but is available for less money. Yes, the hardware additions are welcome, but if you just want a rugged smartwatch and aren't spending too much on it, it's very similar otherwise.
How long it will take?
The T-Rex Pro's toughness means it can withstand significant punishment. So if you wear it in harsh environments, it shouldn't break at the first sign of water or dust. Assuming Amazfit continues to support the Zepp app and software on the watch, this will take a few years.
However, I think the design is quickly dated and the polycarbonate case is likely to pick up scratches and scrapes over time if used as intended, meaning you may feel the need to replace it sooner.
Should you buy it?
Yes, the T-Rex Pro is very similar to the old model, but still an inexpensive, feature-rich smartwatch.
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