Amazfit wearable electronics has grown from fitness bracelets in smartwatch format to highly advanced wrist gadgets. I judge by new Amazfit GTR 4, got, perhaps, all the necessary options. In this review, I will not once again list the basic functions, but will concentrate on the features of the novelty and my own long-term experience of use.
Specifications
- Screen: 1.43 inches, AMOLED, 466 × 466 pixels, 326 PPI, ambient light sensor, Always On support.
- Health: pedometer, heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, stress level, sleep phase tracking.
- Sensors: optical heart rate monitor/pulse oximeter, 6-axis motion sensor (accelerometer and gyroscope), GPS navigation, electronic compass, barometer.
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, compatible with devices starting from Android 7.0 and iOS 12.
- Battery: 475 mAh.
- Dimensions: 46×46×12.4 mm, 34 grams without strap.
- Protection: water ingress protection 5 ATM.
- Features: Built-in speaker and microphone for headset mode.
Appearance and ergonomics
Classic round smartwatch in an aluminum case with a diameter of 46 mm. It seems to be nothing unusual, but Amazfit GTR 4 is easy to recognize, thanks to the unusual flows and contrasting buttons. I also like the matte bezel, which I have never seen before in a smartwatch.
The bottom button is responsible for opening the workout directory by default, but it can be reconfigured to your taste. The top button opens the menu and returns to the watch face, and can also scroll through lists. This is not only about the menu, but also, for example, about setting the time in the alarm clock and other points that speak of a careful approach.
Traditionally for Amazfit, the watch turned out to be light, only 34 grams excluding the strap. This is partly achieved by a plastic back, while in more expensive segments it is customary to use ceramics. Plastic does not affect the wearing experience in any way, the GTR 4 is a comfortable watch that can be worn around the clock for sleep monitoring. After a month of use, my watch has not lost its neat appearance, there are no scratches on the case or on the glass.
Protection against water ingress according to the hourly standard 5 ATM makes it possible to take them into the pool. After swimming, the “drying of the watch” is activated – an option that gives a vibration signal to expel water from the case. I would change the strap for the time of swimming to a rubber one, since regular leather does not like water. By the way, its appearance is neat and expensive, but I do not like the quality of the materials used in Amazfit. They are rough, not very elastic and, as a result, do not fit the wrist in the best way.
The bezel is rounded and the screen is completely flat. In everyday life, AMOLED with a diagonal of 1.43 inches is gorgeous: it is not afraid of the sun, adjusts the brightness itself, remains readable at any angle and can constantly display the time (Always-On). Now Amazfit have gone further and added two color saturation profiles to the settings, similar to smartphones.
Updated ZeppOS 2.0
Zepp OS has a long established user experience format. Now there is a desire for customization. The order of the programs in the menu is customizable, the excess can be removed in the “More” sub-item. Both the control panel on top and the widget cards located to the left of the dial are customizable. And now it’s also possible to choose one of three icon styles and change the way the menu is displayed.
In this generation of watches, performance has clearly grown, thanks to which the system works very quickly. Let me remind you that in the review of the previous GTR 3 Pro, I complained about the lack of smoothness, conspicuous.
An interesting feature is the morning news. Every day after waking up, the watch shows the weather, battery level, upcoming events from the calendar and a summary of yesterday’s activity. The content of the report and the order of the information are configurable.
GTR 4 features
There is a long-awaited opportunity to respond to notifications with pre-saved templates or emoji. This is a common feature of all fresh Amazfit watches, related to the improvement of Zepp OS.
And the GTR 4 chips include the ability to take a call in headset mode and talk using the built-in speaker. A convenient option for short conversations when there is no way to hold a smartphone to your ear or get headphones. The reverse case is also available, you can call your favorite contact from the address book or just dial any number.
The built-in memory is now used for its intended purpose, you can upload music to it and play it through wireless headphones. That is, the GTR 4 works in standalone player mode, which is useful during fitness training when the smartphone is left at home. There is also Wi-Fi, but its purpose is limited to downloading updates. When connecting to a home network and turning off Bluetooth, pairing with a smartphone via the Internet is not established.
During training, accurate satellite navigation works with support for 6 systems, including GPS, GLONASS and BeiDou. Satellites are used in reverse navigation mode. Routes are downloaded from a smartphone via the Zepp app in GPX, TCX or KML formats. Route files can also be transferred from third-party applications. During navigation, the watch shows the user’s movement in real time directly on the display. This makes it easier to navigate the place without pulling your smartphone out of your pocket.
The list of supported workouts in practice is endless (150+ sports). Much more interesting is the automatic recognition of 8 types of activity, which works very sensitively. Checked on the example of hiking, which the GTR 4 calculates and records accurately. However, in the process, the watch accompanies the process with voice information, which is sometimes scary in the case of automatic training. You are walking with someone, talking, and the clock is in a hurry to report on the kilometer traveled in a loud and enthusiastic male voice in English. I didn’t find a way to turn this off, so I turned off automatic recognition of entire workouts.
Monitoring is complete, only the ECG is missing, but this technology remains the lot of the most expensive smartwatches. I love the infographics that come with the app. If we talk about sleep analysis, the watch tracks, among other things, snoring and breathing rate, not to mention basic things like phases and the number of awakenings.
Autonomy and charging
My format for using smartwatches is the same: Always-On works 14 hours a day, heart rate is measured every 10 minutes, sleep is tracked, and incessant notifications and regular calls come. The result of Amazfit GTR 4 in this mode is stable 8 days. If you slightly slow down the activity, you can count on two weeks. That is, with such a watch you don’t think about charging once again. The cradle is a small magnetic platform from me, which itself clings to the back of the case. Alas, there is no Qi wireless technology for smartphone power.
Review after a month of use
Six months ago, with the release of the GTR 3 Pro, Amazfit watches have grown from the likeness of smart bracelets into a full-fledged smart watch. Amazfit GTR 4 went even a little further and got new options. This is primarily about the ability to respond to notifications. I’ve been waiting for this useful feature for a long time. I also liked the ubiquitous customization, which allows you to customize every nuance of the system for yourself. Thus, Amazfit should be praised for the systematic development of related GTR and GTS lines, taking into account the wishes of users.
What about Amazfit GTR 4, my experience of use knowingly stretched for more than a month. The watch took root and they simply did not want to return it at once for several reasons. First, they are stylish and stand out from other smartwatches. Secondly, they cope with their tasks, all the functionality described in the review works smoothly. And finally, they do not irritate the need for constant charging, even in my busy mode. By the way, autonomy relative to the GTR 3 Pro has improved slightly, and the increase is noticeable. A kind of independence from the outlet is a hallmark of Amazfit.
Advantages:
- the updated design turned out to be original;
- notifications can be answered with a template;
- there is a headset mode for calls;
- built-in music player;
- ZeppOS customization;
- support for Android and iOS;
- chic autonomy against the background of functionality.
Flaws:
- charging could be wireless.
Source: Trash Box
Charles Grill is a tech-savvy writer with over 3 years of experience in the field. He writes on a variety of technology-related topics and has a strong focus on the latest advancements in the industry. He is connected with several online news websites and is currently contributing to a technology-focused platform.
