Amazfit GTR Mini Review: Small Frame, Big Battery

Worth When Reviewed

$119.99

Greatest Costs As we speak: Amazfit GTR Mini

Amazfit has added to its Mini line of smartwatches with a diminutive model of its common GTR 4. So, can it match the identical form of options right into a smaller area? Right here’s the complete Tech Advisor overview of the Amazfit GTR Mini. 

Design and construct

• Round design
• Light-weight and cozy
• Stainless-steel body

In comparison with the oblong Amazfit GTS 4 Mini that I reviewed not too long ago, it’s instantly obvious that some corners have been lower with the GTR Mini, however these are aesthetic somewhat than in high quality. It’s because the GTR bears a spherical design that’s akin to many basic watches, and can be consistent with the bigger GTR 4. 

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At round 36g, with the strap, the GTR Mini is a pleasant, light-weight watch. The 9.25mm depth means it sits nicely and doesn’t simply get caught on shirt sleeves or different clothes, plus the 42.83mm casing isn’t too large even on my fairly slim wrists. 

There’s a chrome steel band working across the circumference of the system, adorned with a single crown. In contrast to with the bigger GTR 4 (and Apple Watch), the crown is just a button, so you may’t flip it to scroll by means of choices on the 1.28in AMOLED round show. 

The rear of the system is the place you’ll discover the BioTracker PPG optical sensor, together with the dual magnetic charging factors to which you connect the included (and bespoke) charging cradle. Every part can be protected by a 5 ATM waterproof score, which suggests you may safely take the GTR Mini for a swim. 

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A 20mm silicone strap with quick-release fittings finishes off the design, providing sufficient holes to accomodate a wide selection of wrist sizes (Amazfit states 150-200mm). I did discover that the included one prompted a response to my pores and skin, with the underside of the clasp space rubbing barely. I’ve used loads of Amazfit units through the years, and haven’t discovered this to be the case, so I’m guessing this should be a pores and skin irritation specific to me somewhat than an issue with the design. I swapped it out for a leather-based strap I had on one other watch, and all the pieces was positive from that time on.

It’s a great wanting system that feels extra like a costume watch than the sporty vibes given off by the GTS 4 Mini. It’s accessible in three color-schemes: Midnight Black, Misty Pink and Ocean Blue, plus there are a selection of different shade straps accessible on the Amazfit website. 

Show

• 1.28in AMOLED show
• Round design
• 416 x 416 decision

The spherical 1.28in AMOLED panel acquits itself nicely. It’s vivid sufficient to nonetheless be legible on a sunny day, albeit solely simply, colours are simply discernible and the textual content is  clear and straightforward to learn. The 326ppi means all the pieces seems sharp, which is an efficient job as a few of the watch-faces on provide aren’t the very best by way of design. Extra on that later. Amazfit lists the face materials as tempered glass, however doesn’t state the likes of Gorilla Glass, which isn’t shocking at this value. 

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There’s a somewhat sizable bezel across the fringe of the show, leading to rather less on-screen area than you may first suspect. This additionally means you’ll lose the ends of textual content because it stays obscured till you scroll it as much as the upper components of the show. It’s no large deal, but it surely’s simply one thing to regulate to in case you’re used to extra rectangular designs. Contact response is sweet, with most instructions being executed instantly and scrolling by means of menus proved easy and dependable. A strong show from Amazfit. 

Software program and options

• Zepp OS 2.0
• No third occasion app help 
• No NFC

Amazfit makes use of a proprietary OS for its smartwatches referred to as Zepp OS 2.0, which can be accompanied by the Zepp app you’ll have to obtain to your iOS or Android system. Inside this you’ll discover all of the options that work on the GTR Mini, plus a really minimal app retailer which doesn’t actually have something helpful.

The very first thing to do is discover a watch face that shows the knowledge you require, which isn’t straightforward. Whereas there are over 80 accessible by means of the Zepp app, too many are variations on the identical design. That is compounded by the truth that this specific design mimics the dual hand format of basic watches, with the digital info squeezed both out to the perimeters and tough to learn or within the central dial problems that may be obscured by the fingers. 

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This makes the GTR Mini really feel like a, nicely, conventional watch somewhat than a sensible one. It additionally continues the costume versus sports activities watch differentiation theme between the GTS 4 Mini and GTR Mini, with the previous providing significantly better knowledge on the display screen whereas you’ll should go searching for it on the GTR Mini.

There are faces that provide helpful issues like coronary heart charge monitoring, steps and different metrics, plus you may edit a few of the normal ones, however a lot of the finest ones you’ll should pay for. Positive, they’re very low-cost (round $1/£1 or $2/£2) and might be downloaded in seconds, it simply feels dumb to not provide them as a part of the usual package deal, particularly once they do include the GTS 4 Mini. 

It’s a disgrace, because the GTR Mini has loads of helpful options underneath the hood. Alongside the well being monitoring that we’ll cowl under, there’s additionally a set of built-in apps that assist with messaging and private organisation. You received’t discover WhatsApp or Spotify, as a substitute issues are dealt with by Amazfit’s generic notifications and music apps, however these combine nicely with these providers and others.

You’ll be able to see incoming messages and reply with a small number of preset responses. To be truthful, they’re primarily alongside the strains of ‘I’m busy, I’ll reply later’ however in a pinch they are often all you want. There’s no onscreen keyboard or onboard microphone, so that you’re caught with these choices, which is a bit limiting. As an illustration, you might be notified that your cellphone is ringing, however you may’t reply it on the watch as there isn’t a speaker both. It’s all fairly widespread for units on this value level, however simply one thing try to be conscious of up entrance. 

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There’s a number of different apps together with instructions, to dos, varied timers, and a calendar that may be synced to Google Calendar, though you’ll want to do that on the Zepp app because it doesn’t arrange robotically.  Sadly, I couldn’t get the GTR Mini to recognise Duties from my Google Calendar, which is one thing I hope will get fastened with a future replace. 

Navigating by means of the menus is an easy case of swiping left and proper or up and down, all of which entry totally different options. You’ll be able to reorder them within the Zepp app and take away ones that you just don’t have to show on the watch at the moment (they are often restored later in case you want them). Urgent the crown button takes you straight again to the house display screen, then urgent it once more takes you to the fast launch menu for put in apps.

You may also choose an app that it launches in case you press and maintain for a few seconds. I set this to Music because it meant I may shortly alter quantity or playback on my bluetooth headphones when out strolling the canine with out having to swipe by means of menus. Very useful. 

There’s disappointingly no NFC, so that you received’t be capable of use the GTR Mini to make funds at a checkout. 

Well being and health monitoring

• 120+ sports activities modes
• GPS monitoring
• Coronary heart charge, SpO2 and Sleep monitoring

Whereas the GTR Mini could attempt to disguise its sporting nature, there’s loads of well being and health monitoring capabilities constructed into the system. You’ll be able to select from over 120 totally different sport monitoring modes, starting from the normal strolling and working, proper as much as hula hooping or foosball. 

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Monitoring isn’t automated, so that you’ll want to begin it manually as you start a session, however there are a couple of actions (reminiscent of strolling, working and biking) that may be set to set off as soon as the GTR Mini senses your actions. There’s additionally GPS onboard to trace your routes. 

You see your entire knowledge within the Zepp app, which collates your varied actions so you may overview your progress. There’s additionally the PAI system which rewards you for exercising and being energetic, all of which scores PAI factors and allows you to know the way your health targets have fared over the previous week. It’s much like closing your rings on the Apple Watch and acts as a refined problem to do extra in an effort to hold a streak of factors going. 

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As with the Amazfit Band 7 and Amazfit GTS 4 Mini I’ve reviewed not too long ago, the monitoring itself feels very a lot ballpark somewhat than correct. My coronary heart charge typically reported as being quicker than it was, and a few of the auto-tracking studies have been a bit wayward. The GTR Mini does appear constant although, in order you get used to carrying it you may mentally compensate for the readings it produces. They’re not miles off, only a bit beneficiant. 

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Sleep monitoring was an analogous story, with a great stage of knowledge being there to assist me analyse my sleep patterns and their high quality, however the watch did typically wrestle to grasp that I’d woken up, and was even utilizing my cellphone. Once more, ballpark continues to be useful, because it exhibits you a report of while you went to mattress and awakened (roughly), which might make you extra conscious of any adjustments in behaviour that might be higher to your well being. 

In case you’re coaching for a selected self-discipline the place you want exact knowledge, then I’d recommend you go for extra premium choices just like the Apple Watch SE or the brand new Samsung Galaxy Watch 6. However, in order for you a tool that can assist you monitor your health and push you to be extra energetic, and also you don’t wish to spend tons of, then the Amazfit GTR Mini will definitely match the invoice. 

Battery life and charging

• 280mAh battery
• Lengthy battery life
• Recharges in round two hours

One space the place the GTR Mini actually shines is the battery life. From a single cost, and utilizing the system in a standard vogue, with a coronary heart charge monitoring measuring each 5 minutes, occasional GPS monitoring, auto activity-tracking on, and loads of Bluetooth connecting to headphones, I managed to get by means of 10 days earlier than I began excited about recharging.

I may have gotten extra if I’d needed, however didn’t wish to be caught out on a run and discover the watch dying and shedding my progress. It makes an enormous change from my outdated Apple Watch Collection 6 which wants recharging on the finish of each day. Utilizing the GPS monitoring does chunk into this fairly a bit, with Amazfit saying you’ll get a most of 25 hours of steady monitoring earlier than the battery runs dry. 

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The proprietary charging cradle attaches magnetically to the bottom of the GTR Mini, though it does proceed the development of being comically brief. Why producers appear to assume that it is a good thought baffles me. Both make it you can plug in your personal cable or simply make them longer. It’s not tough. 

Recharging the GTR Mini takes round two hours, which isn’t unhealthy in any respect when you may in all probability get away with two weeks of use earlier than you might want to do it once more. 

Worth and availability

The GTR Mini is on the market now from Amazfit for $119.99/£129.90/€129.90. In case you’re eager on the round design then there’s additionally Google’s Pixel Watch but it surely’s a bit dearer at $349/£339/€379 and anticipated to get replaced by the Google Pixel Watch 2 earlier than the tip of the yr. There’s additionally the brand new Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 that was not too long ago introduced and begins at $299.99/£289/€299.99.

After all, there’s additionally Amazfit’s personal GTS 4 Mini, which sits across the identical value and favours a extra sporty, rectangular design and just about all the identical options. Or there’s the larger brother GTR 4 which provides scrolling through the digital crown, onboard storage for music, extra sports activities modes, a bigger show and a few additional upgrades for $199.99/£199.99/€199.99. If you need much more choices you may take a look at our information to the very best smartwatches at the moment available on the market. 

Verdict

The GTR Mini is a bit complicated. The design and accessible watch faces recommend a classier, costume watch aesthetic, but it surely nonetheless comes with loads of well being monitoring capabilities, identical to its sibling the GTS 4 Mini. The truth that it’s a must to delve a bit additional into the menus to search out a few of the vital knowledge is a bit disappointing. You’ll additionally discover extra correct well being and health monitoring in case you go for the upper priced alternate options, to not point out help for third-party apps.

However, with that being mentioned, it stays a really succesful and helpful assistant for individuals who wish to enhance their health and discover smartwatches with out breaking the financial institution. 

Specs

• 1.28in Round AMOLED show
• 416 x 416 decision
• Tempered glass
• Zepp OS 2.0
• BioTracker™ PPG biometric sensor (Coronary heart charge, SpO2 and Sleep monitoring)
• GPS
• Bluetooth 5.2
• 5 ATM waterproofing
• 280mAh battery
• Silicon strap with interpolating catch
• 42.83×42.83×9.25mm
• 24.6g (with out strap)