Tag Archives: Challenger

"The Amazfit GTR 2 smartwatch is nice and fast, but luckily not very expensive. It has the looks and the ability to take over more expensive activity trackers from the big names."

• Nice design

• Low price

• Comfortable to wear day and night

• Solid features for recreational activities and sleep tracking

• Some software improvements are still needed

• Battery life suffers when many functions are used

It would be difficult for any smartwatch to remove the top-of-the-line Apple Watch Series 6 from my wrist, but that's exactly what the Amazfit GTR 2 did, and it has stayed there for more than a week. It costs $ 179Half of what a Series 6 will set you back, which looks like great value, but the brand has a spotty history with their software that made me very wary.

My fears were unfounded as it turns out that the Amazfit GTR 2 could be one of the best budget smartwatch purchases of the year.

Design and screen

There are two new Amazfit smartwatches, the GTR 2 and the GTS 2. I wore the round GTR 2, which looks much better than the square, Apple Watch-like GTS 2. I assume that Amazfit has it in its range because it's smaller, the size might fit smaller wrists than the GTR 2, but I think the tiny style hurts both them and the Amazfit range. The GTR 2 is my choice of the couple.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The round, light aluminum housing of the GTR 2 was judged perfectly in terms of design and feel. It's only 10mm thick, the aluminum is attached to a plastic case back, and the glass above the screen has a subtle curve that blends into the case itself, making wiping convenient and quick. It's attached to a quick release silicone strap that is soft and won't get hot and sweaty. There are two buttons, the top of which is decorated with a sporty red stripe, which have a pleasant movement when pressed.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

I've worn the GTR 2 day and night and it didn't cause any discomfort. Back to the glass: The shape gives the GTR 2 a certain class, as the curve captures the light in such a way that it appears much more curved than it actually is. Under the glass is a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen with a resolution of 454 x 454 pixels. It's as sharp and colorful as the technical data suggests. It's pretty "deep" under the tempered glass, which means that in certain lighting conditions the bezel will be obvious.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Other than black, I'd like some alternative colors, but the GTR 2 is a brilliant looking, well-made, and comfortable smartwatch.

software

Here Amazfit has made the greatest progress. This is particularly evident when we compare the GTR 2 to the company's previous smartwatches. The rugged Amazfit T Rex and Amazfit GTS were awkward and tedious to set up, the user interface was inconsistent and often not intuitive, and I had issues with notifications and usability. The software has been a huge downside, and when a smartwatch is difficult or frustrating to use it is quickly forgotten.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

It looks a lot better with the GTR 2. Amazfit has renamed its companion app, which is now called Zepp. It looks better, is more informative, and more reliable. It's available for iOS and Android, and I've used it on an Android phone. On the watch, things are pretty much the same as before, but with greater speed and ease of use due to some general UI improvements.

A good example of how things have been improved is the way you switch watch faces. These were previously synchronized via the associated app. This process could take a few minutes. Now it immediately runs like an Apple Watch or Wear OS watch, and many of the watch faces have customizable complications. There's a new screen that always appears, and software updates are much faster than before, too. Overall, the watch and app are solid improvements over previous efforts and are easy to live with every day.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Unfortunately, the notifications haven't improved dramatically. While I've received more regular notifications on the GTR 2 than on the Amazfit T Rex I used earlier this year, you can't interact with any of them, and the text that appears is often jumbled and misaligned. It could be a lot better, but what's there is manageable provided your expectations are low. On the upside, the GTR 2's software is pleasantly responsive and reduces frustration, while the menus and options are clearly laid out and meaningful, making it easy to use on the wrist.

The Amazfit GTR 2 can also receive calls – the speaker is loud enough for callers to be easily heard indoors – and store music. The Amazfit software cannot challenge WatchOS 7 on the Apple Watch and does not look as mature or fluid as the Wear OS. However, it does mate with other portable platforms available such as Huawei and Honor software and Fitbit's platform. What I need from software on a wearable is reliability, clarity and ease of use, and the Amazfit GTR 2 delivers.

Activity tracking

The Amazfit GTR 2 is a relatively simple activity tracker. There are 12 training modes including indoor and outdoor cycling, climbing and swimming. Each provides a lot of data, with cadence measurement on the treadmill as well as train speed and distance when swimming. The watch also has GPS for on the go.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The latest activities are displayed on the watch and also in the Zepp app. There you get the usual data – time, distance and calorie consumption – as well as other information from the heart rate sensor. The breakdown shows the time it takes for fat burning, aerobics, and endurance zones. The watch also uses the Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) metric, which makes it easy to see if you are getting enough exercise.

The Amazfit GTR 2 has a heart rate sensor, a blood oxygen monitor (Sp02) and a stress measurement. The heart rate monitor matched the results from my Apple Watch Series 6, but the Sp02 results were always very different. This is not evidence that one is more accurate than the other, but rather a statement about the usefulness and accuracy of blood oxygen measurements on your wrist in general.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

The Sp02, heart rate and stress measurement (determined with the heart rate sensor) can be carried out automatically if necessary and is also used to track sleep. The GTR 2 is comfortable enough to be worn at night. The sleep data it contains is more comprehensive than that of the Apple Watch and is more closely related to the informative TruSleep system from Huawei.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Problems? Some things from the old model have not yet been fixed. The motion alerts do not pay attention to what you are doing. For example, I was often asked to stand up and move around while driving. And I've noticed that some localization still needs to be done, as scanning the screens occasionally revealed a Chinese language that was still there. I would have preferred a few more training modes instead of using the free yoga training mode, for example.

The workout modes have been made easier to use, with a clear display during the session and a swipe of the screen to exit. However, the live reporting of data is incorrect and significantly delayed compared to an Apple Watch Series 6. It also appears that the GTR 2's display isn't updating as often as it should. For my basic training and activity tracking needs, the GTR 2 worked very well, although it can't compete with hardcore fitness smartwatches like the Suunto 7.

battery

According to Amazfit, the 471 mAh battery usually lasts 14 days between charges, but when the heart rate and SpO2 measurement is automatic and the screen is always on, that value has dropped to just eight days for me. The workouts I tracked did not use GPS. So expect another hit when using this feature.

Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

Charging from 10% to full took about two hours and is done via a magnetic plug attached to the back of the watch. It's pretty safe and shouldn't slip off accidentally.

Price and availability

The Amazfit GTR 2 is priced at $ 179 in the US.. In the UK it costs £ 159. It's available for pre-order now and is expected to be released on November 20th. The model tested here is the sport. A classic version with a stainless steel case and leather strap is also available for $ 199. Amazfit offers a one-year warranty as well as a 30-day satisfaction guarantee.

Our opinion

The price of the Amazfit GTR 2 at $ 179 is very tempting, and its design and functionality are far better than you can expect for the money. Amazfit has cured many of the software gremlins that made its older wearables unsustainable, giving us a smart, stylish, and well-made alternative to boring fitness bands and ugly smartwatches from Fitbit.

Is there a better alternative?

The price of the Amazfit GTR of $ 179 is very affordable. If the Fitbit name entices you, the Fitbit Versa 3 Watch costs $ 229, while a Fitbit Charge 4 fitness band starts at $ 149 and performs best when you buy Fitbit's premium monthly subscription for 10 Pay US dollars. A simple Garmin Vivomove 3S costs $ 199 and doesn't have a full touchscreen. The GTR 2 is cheaper than these examples.

We recommend spending a little more and getting a better all-round smartwatch experience. Apple is still selling the Apple Watch Series 3, which starts at $ 199, and it holds up admirably against the much more expensive Apple Watch SE. Right now there are some great deals on the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, available for $ 179 and up. Both models are older models but the overall software and owner experience is better than the Amazfit GTR 2.

How long it will take?

This is not a sturdy watch, but the tempered glass should keep it safe if handled well. It is waterproof to 50 meters and is suitable for swimming. The 22mm bracelet has quick release pins so it can be easily changed if it breaks or gets dirty in the future.

The duration is mainly influenced by software updates on the watch as well as by the app itself. There is no reason to believe these are drying out, however, and my review watch has already received an update. Another is expected in the near future that will add Amazon Alexa support. Unless you get bored of the design, the GTR 2 should last at least a couple of years.

Should you buy it?

Yes it is way better than the low price and the previous Amazfit smartwatches would have you believe.

Editor's recommendations