Review of the Amazfit GTR 4: Reigning Supreme Among Budget Smartwatches
When pitted against the Amazfit GTR 4, the rationale behind opting for a Fitbit becomes rather challenging to uphold. The GTR 4 not only boasts a more appealing aesthetic, but it also outlasts its counterparts in terms of battery life, while packing an unexpectedly extensive array of features.
Certainly, the adage that you get what you pay for often holds true. Yet, occasionally, a device emerges that delivers exceptional value for its cost. Priced at $199, the Amazfit GTR 4 stands as a prime example. While it may not rival the Apple Watch Series 8 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 in terms of features, nor boast the elegance of the Pixel Watch, it manages to incorporate numerous attributes typically associated with pricier watches. These include multiband GPS, a vibrant OLED display, and turn-by-turn route navigation. Following my experience with the GTR 4, I unequivocally recommend it over the new Fitbit Versa 4 or Sense 2.
It may not win any awards for its aesthetics, yet the display is certainly impressive.
The GTR 4 might not secure a place in the design hall of fame, but it does manage to exhibit a respectable appearance for a budget watch, particularly in comparison to its previous iterations. Encased within a 46mm aluminum frame, the 1.4-inch always-on OLED display is adequate in its appearance, if somewhat unremarkable. The fluoroelastomer strap provided with my review unit, however, feels somewhat cheap. Despite being crafted from the same material as Apple’s Sport Band, it doesn’t exude a similar quality. Within just a couple of weeks of wear, one of the keepers on the strap is already showing signs of wear. Thankfully, the GTR 4 is compatible with any standard 22mm strap, offering an opportunity to enhance its aesthetic.
Yet, even with a change of straps, it undeniably carries a masculine undertone. There’s a limited scope for making it appear more feminine, and in my scenario, it would be unsuitable for formal events unless I was donning a stylish suit. My physique is relatively petite, and a colleague commented that the GTR 4 appeared “so freaking big” on my wrist. However, at a weight of 34g and a thickness of 10.6mm, it remains fairly lightweight and not uncomfortably thick, allowing me to wear it around the clock without significant discomfort. While it did catch on my leather jacket, this is a common occurrence with nearly all but the smallest smartwatches. Moreover, it boasts a 5ATM water resistance rating, permitting you to wear it while swimming. I wore it in the shower and during dishwashing without encountering any issues.
Despite my underwhelmment with the watch’s overall aesthetics, the OLED display is a completely different story. Watchfaces and animations appear sharp, colors exhibit vibrancy, and notifications are easily legible. With 326 pixels per inch, the GTR 4’s display matches the quality of the 41mm Apple Watch Series 8 and slightly surpasses the 40mm Galaxy Watch 5. Moreover, the bezels are kept minimal. No matter how you assess it, it surpasses the displays on the pricier Fitbit Versa 4 and Sense 2.
A Plethora of Sensors and Remarkable Battery Life
The GTR 4 leaves no gaps in its sensor array. Standard motion sensors, including an accelerometer and gyroscope, are accompanied by a geomagnetic sensor, barometric altimeter, and ambient light sensor. In addition, it features a novel continuous heart rate sensor that doubles up as a blood oxygen level monitor. In terms of connectivity, it supports 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and Bluetooth Low Energy. To top it off, the watch is equipped with a speaker and microphone, enabling calls and interaction with digital assistants. Essentially, it fulfills all the requirements of a contemporary smartwatch. While it lacks advanced health sensors like EKG and body temperature measurement, these are specialized metrics that often go underutilized even in smartwatches that incorporate them.
Of particular note is the inclusion of multiband GPS in the GTR 4, a feature impressive in its own right given the price point. Multiband GPS is still relatively uncommon, having only started appearing in fitness watches over the past year. In essence, it leverages both L1 and L5 satellite frequencies, resulting in more accurate GPS performance in challenging environments such as urban areas or forests. Interestingly, this feature is more commonly found in higher-end GPS watches from brands like Coros and Garmin, and is even absent in the Apple Watch Series 8, being reserved for the Ultra variant. It’s challenging to identify another smartwatch within this price range that offers multiband GPS. The closest contender is the Garmin Forerunner 255 series, which starts at $349.99.
Typically, less expensive smartwatches tend to exhibit superior battery life compared to their pricier counterparts. This is usually attributed to the use of dim, lower-resolution screens that consume less power. However, the GTR 4 deviates from this norm. Despite featuring a more advanced display, Amazfit asserts that heavy usage, including features such as multiband GPS and an always-on display, can yield up to seven days of battery life. Under regular usage, the watch can endure for approximately 14 days. For athletes requiring long-lasting performance, activating multiband GPS translates to an estimated 25 hours of continuous usage, while standard GPS usage extends this to 44 hours. In summary, you’ll enjoy significantly longer battery life compared to flagship smartwatches.
Simplified Health Tracking with a Focus on PAI
I’ve always been skeptical of arbitrary “goal” metrics. Calorie burn calculations from smartwatches often lack reliability, and the 10,000-step target lacks a strong scientific foundation; it emerged as a marketing concept from a Japanese pedometer company. However, the GTR 4 adopts a more comprehensive measure known as PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence), which may evoke memories of Mio trackers from the past.
PAI, short for Personal Activity Intelligence, is an algorithm developed by Professor Ulrik Wisløff, a prominent figure in exercise science with over 115,000 citations on Google Scholar. Essentially, PAI calculates a score using demographic data, your resting heart rate, and your heart rate data from the past seven days. The objective is to maintain a weekly score of 100 PAI, with a maximum daily score of 75, encouraging people to engage in exercise at least twice a week.
Similar to Fitbit’s Active Zone Minutes, I find PAI to be a more sustainable and holistic metric for assessing whether you’re achieving the recommended 150 minutes of moderate exercise advised by the American Heart Association. With PAI, you can accumulate points based on your schedule, and regular daily activities that elevate your heart rate contribute. This flexibility is crucial for individuals struggling to establish lasting healthy habits, based on my personal experience. I wish more wearables, particularly popular flagship models, would adopt this approach instead of fixating on streaks.
Apart from PAI, the GTR 4 facilitates the tracking of VO2 Max and Training Load, which aid in assessing progress and determining whether a focus on recovery is necessary. Sleep tracking on the GTR 4 was on par with my Oura Ring, a sleep tracker that I utilize as a benchmark device. It matched up well in terms of sleep stage breakdowns, fundamental sleep metrics (e.g., resting heart rate, breathing rate), and sleep duration. These features, coupled with PAI, offer a comprehensive snapshot of overall activity and recovery within a user-friendly interface. The only aspect that didn’t impress me was stress tracking. Stress is a somewhat elusive metric to begin with, and the implementation by Zepp doesn’t provide actionable insights. It mostly reaffirms what you likely already know without offering substantial solutions. To be fair, the majority of wearables struggle with effective stress tracking.
