Amazfit GTS Review: Premium Looks and Stellar Battery Life
3.8 (75%) 4 votes
The Apple Watch is one of those wrist accessories that is coveted by many and offers an experience that few other competitors can come close too. However, it’s pretty much a walled garden where it can only be hooked to the iOS ecosystem. So, what if someone (like an Android user) craves that cute squricle design and wants it at a relatively affordable price? Enter the Amazfit GTS from Xiaomi sub-brand Huami. We’ve used this eye-catching smartwatch for more than a week and we’re ready to give you a good idea about the different software and hardware facets of the product, so read on!
Amazfit GTS Specifications
Design: Looks like the Apple Watch but is slimmer and lighter
This is one of the most appealing aspects of the Amazfit GTS. I say this not because Apple also follows the same squircle dial philosophy but because it somehow is more suited to small screen UI compared to a circular dial. It uses the whole display and apps don’t have to fit into a weird circular form. Speaking about build and materials, it’s a premium quality without a doubt. Many of my friends, in fact, mistook it for an Apple Watch at first glance. The screen is OLED and the bezels are thinner. And the overall thickness is also less than an Apple Watch and this makes the Amazfit GTS a delight for everyday use. Also, the straps are replaceable. It’s got a 2.5D Gorilla Glass 3 layer, 5ATM water resistance, and a 1.65-inch AMOLED display. Suffice to say, Amazfit has impressed me with the right mix of good materials and features when it comes to the design.
Display: Just Gorgeous
I’m putting this in a separate place because Amazfit has done all the right things with it. And also of course, because it will be attracting all the eyeballs. It’s a Gorilla Glass-protected display with a better pixel density than Apple’s accessory. It has good sunlight legibility, good viewing angles and also an AOD feature, thanks to the AMOLED panel. More points for getting the display right.
Battery: Stellar
Battery life is one of the biggest highlights of the Amazfit GTS. It goes on and on and on. I used it with the Always-on display turned on and it still lasted me for more than five days. If you switch it off, the watch will go well beyond the seven-day mark easily. That’s a big blessing in an age where smartwatches can’t survive two days without a charge. And I can’t appreciate it enough. Not having to recharge one of your most important accessories every other day is a luxury that you can afford with the Amazfit GTS. And it puts most other similar offerings at a big disadvantage.
Software: Does the basic job
Setting up the Amazfit GTS is a breeze. Simply install the Amazfit app, connect via Bluetooth, and you’re good to go. Simple as that.
The Amazfit GTS comes with Amazfit’s own software and it’s where you’ll feel the need for more features or apps. What it is intended to do, it does well. For example, you get notifications, 12 different fitness-tracking capabilities, and basic functions like alarm, event reminder, weather, music playback and activity history. But that’s pretty much it. You don’t get any more apps, nor the freedom to go and download more. There is Amazfit’s app though which gives you control with customizing watch faces (and there are many) and also keep track of everything on the watch. You can silence or reject calls, but pick them up because there’s no speaker on it and this means no native music either.
The watch works well with daily fitness activities. Walk tracking is on by default and you get a real-time update on your screen updated constantly. Activities like running and cycling also get detected precisely and statistics are reliable. The Amazfit app keeps a record of all this stuff including details of your sleep. I’ve put a few screenshots of it on top, so check that out. You’ll also like that the heart rate scan is available simply at a swipe although it can be toggled to remain active all the time. There’s also a basic Always-On display that puts the battery to a disadvantage but is useful to have.
Note: The notifications stay only for a sec. but there’s a setting shortcut to access them via long-pressing the crown. This is a really convenient option to have.
Conclusion
The Amazfit GTS costs less than half the price of the Apple Watch and while it does miss out on some features as well as apps, the price is justified with features like a great build, a gorgeous AMOLED display, water resistance, fitness/smart features, and a battery that is super reliable.
