Huami’s Amazfit is soon becoming a significant player in the sub Rs 15,000 smartwatch segment in India with a large portfolio of devices. Many of these smartwatches are targeted at the first time smartwatch buyer who’s investing in his/her first wearable or making the switch from a budget smart band. A little over a year ago we checked out the Amazfit GTR and were impressed with its build quality and its compelling price: value equation. The GTR 2 is the next chapter and makes some significant improvements.
The GTR 2 comes in two variants – there’s a Sports edition that’s finished in aluminium alloy casting with a silicon strap and the Classic edition that we checked out. This version is encased in stainless steel with a soft leather strap and is priced marginally higher. Ultimately it might well boil down to your choice of strap. The GTR 2 is elegantly designed, it sits easily on your wrist and feels weightless. I experienced no wrist fatigue even after wearing it for hours and going to bed with it. The 3D curved glass transitions seamlessly to the stainless watch. With the always-on display, this can pass off for a fashion watch.
The 1.39-inch AMOLED display (454 x 454 pixels) is similar to the GTR and packs an impressive 326 pixels per inch (PPI). You won’t have trouble keeping up with alerts even under direct sunlight. Setting it up is a breeze with the Zepp companion App (I paired this device with an iPhone; it also works with Android devices). The GTR 2 is embedded with a speaker, this means you can answer calls off your wrist or even play music (though we wouldn’t recommend this in public spaces) with the watch’s speaker. While you can’t stream music directly from the watch, there’s room (3GB onboard) for your favourite songs if you have the patience to transfer your playlist via the app.
Aside from call alerts, customisable watch faces and music playback, there’s not a tonne of smartwatch features that the GTR 2 boasts of. This is where the Apple Watch is in another league with its massive ecosystem of watch-specific apps and brands like Fitbit and Samsung still have an edge. Devices like the GTR 2 are still primarily driven by buyers who already lead active lifestyles or those who keep making (and breaking) resolutions about hitting the gym soon. The Amazfit GTR 2 comes with a bunch of fitness features.
It’s almost impossible to sell a wearable above Rs 10,000 without SpO2 tracking. Awareness around Blood oxygen levels has risen in a post-pandemic world. I tested the SpO2 sensor on the GTR 2 more than once; it works quite well. The watch also tracks your heart rate round the clock and sends vibration alerts if it detects any abnormal heart rates outside the recommended heart rate zone. Handy. The device offers 12 different sports modes including elliptical, walking, outdoor cycling (that I tried) and swimming. With its 5ATM water resistance (up to 50 metres), this one’s pool proof.
The Amazfit GTR 2 is one of the best smartwatches under Rs 15,000. Amazfit claims a 14-day battery life that seems accurate based on my five-day usage patterns. The GTR 2 looks good and comes with a raft of wellness features, just what most first-time smartwatch buyers are seeking.
The Amazfit GTR 2 comes in two variants – Sports Edition (Rs 12,999) and Classic Edition (Rs 13,999)
