Knowledgeable’s Score
Execs
- Distinctive and cozy design
- Good core monitoring and mapping help
- Wonderful battery life
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Not the very best in school AMOLED display
- Zepp OS 4 not as slick because the competitors
- Some evaluation, coaching options are hit or miss
Our Verdict
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a feature-rich outside ‘Extremely’ type smartwatch that comes at a fraction of the worth of the bigger-name competitors and delivers the place it issues to make it an important reasonably priced possibility for adventurers.
Worth When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Finest Pricing Right now
Worth When Reviewed
$279.99
Finest Costs Right now: Amazfit T-Rex 3
$279.99
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a smartwatch constructed for outside lovers who can’t abdomen paying huge for one thing just like the Apple Watch Extremely 2, Garmin Fenix 8 or the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely to get that rugged wrist-based companion.
With each iteration, the T-Rex has bought a bit of huge nearer to being a real outside watch. The primary supplied good core monitoring and lengthy battery however lacked key options like mapping. The T-Rex 2 addressed a few of these points and with the T-Rex 3, it’s ramped issues up.
You’re now getting a much bigger show to view your real-time stats and free offline maps, including new exercise modes together with one for ultramarathons. It additionally bolsters its skills as a smartwatch, with improved contactless fee and app help.
So does that each one equal an important outside smartwatch? I’ve put the Amazfit T-Rex 3 by its paces to seek out out.
Design & Construct
- Bigger case measurement
- Designed to work in excessive warmth and chilly
- Two strap colors
With earlier generations of the T-Rex, Amazfit has sought to barely tweak issues when it comes to the general look.
The primary was a little bit of a chunky beast whereas the T-Rex 2 had a extra likeable cumbersome construct. For the T-Rex 3, we now get a hexagonal case that helps it stand out from rival outside smartwatches in the fitting manner.
Mike Sawh
That case nonetheless is available in simply the one measurement possibility and is now bigger 48.5mm (up from 47.1mm), so it’s bigger than a Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely and a 47mm AMOLED Fenix 8 for comparability.
You’ve bought your decide of onyx (pictured) or lava liquid silicone straps and whereas not instantly clear, these straps are detachable. A strap removing equipment is included within the field, so it’s not a easy case of clicking a button or lug to take them off like most different watches.
The bezel is constructed from chrome steel so as to add many of the normal heft, but it surely’s not a lot that it makes the T-Rex 3 really feel cumbersome in your wrist. That’s matched up with a fairly normal polymer core.
As a package deal, it’s waterproof as much as 100 metres and joins the development of watches which can be additionally appropriate for leisure diving as much as 40 metres depth. I haven’t gone diving with it, however have taken it swimming and it’s handed that take a look at simply advantageous.
Mike Sawh
Like earlier T-Rex watches, it’s additionally constructed to function and endure excessive warmth (70 levels centigrade) and chilly (minus 30 levels centigrade), so you already know you’ve bought one thing appropriate to deal with the weather. The Galaxy Watch Extremely goes as much as 55c for comparability.
I’ve discovered the T-Rex 3 good to put on. I like that it presents one thing completely different when it comes to the general design.
It’s huge however doesn’t really feel too cumbersome and whereas the load has barely jumped up (66.6- to 68.3g), the distinction in weight in comparison with an Apple Watch Extremely 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely actually wasn’t a difficulty.
Display screen & Audio
- Bigger, brighter AMOLED display
- Helps always-on mode
- Microphone however no speaker included
One of many huge design adjustments for the T-Rex 3 is a much bigger and brighter display. There’s now a 1.5-inch, 480 x 480 decision AMOLED versus a 1.39-inch, 454 x 454 decision one.
In order that’s each a much bigger and better decision display, although with these pixels unfold throughout a bigger display. Colors for me felt a contact saturated and whereas it’s been good and vivid to make use of outside, I wouldn’t say it’s the very best smartwatch show I’ve glanced down at.
For visibility, responsiveness to the touch and providing help for an always-on mode, it actually does the job although.
Mike Sawh
It’s protected with Gorilla Glass versus Sapphire glass, which is the extra fascinating and stronger defence towards scratches and is current on Apple, Samsung and Garmin’s outside watches. There needed to be some compromises someplace given the worth, and display safety is one in every of them. It remained in fine condition throughout testing, however if you would like the very best display safety obtainable, you’re going to must go for a pricier smartwatch.
The T-Rex 3 additionally will get a built-in microphone to talk to its offline voice assistant, however does nonetheless lacks a built-in speaker to allow options like calls or enjoying music out loud. I
If you wish to make use of the onboard music storage, you’ll must pair up some headphones to do this. It’s a disgrace however not a dealbreaker, particularly with enhancements elsewhere.
Software program & Options
- Runs on Zepp 4.0
- Works with iOS and Android
- Entry to app retailer
The T-Rex 3 is an Android and iOS-friendly smartwatch with some limitations on what you possibly can entry regardless relying on in the event you’ve bought a Google-powered cellphone or an iPhone in your pocket.
You’ll get the flexibility to regulate your smartphone digital camera in the event you’ve bought an iPhone or the flexibility to shortly reply to calls with an Android cellphone.
Mike Sawh
Both manner, you possibly can view notifications and there’s roughly 26GB to retailer MP3 audio recordsdata, your health knowledge and apps.
You do have entry to the Zepp app retailer, which could not be the fully-fledged retailer you get from Apple or Google, however issues are enhancing. There are some native and third-party apps right here with a mixture of free and paid-for choices.
I attempted out a bunch together with a fairly straightforward to arrange Sonos controller, a to-do checklist and even one of many video games. They have been all put in and have been prepared to make use of swiftly. It’s positively turning into a greater storefront as time goes on.
Whilst you don’t get a speaker, you do get a microphone to make use of Zepp’s personal offline voice assistant to allow you to modify watch settings or examine in in your health stats. This has been knocking round on Amazfit’s watches for some time now and the microphone voice recognition on the entire is superb.
Mike Sawh
There’s additionally Zepp Pay supplying you with help for contactless funds, which once more, has been current on earlier watches, however I’ve had issues getting it arrange. It’s not obtainable in all nations and requires a Curve card, which I don’t have, in order that function was sadly out of bounds and certain shall be for a lot of others too.
As a smartwatch, I’d describe the Amazfit T-Rex 3 like loads of different Amazfit smartwatches. It’s fairly feature-packed, and the watch person interface is fairly straightforward to familiarize yourself with, supplying you with what you want.
The companion app isn’t tremendous slick and it’s not as mature as different working methods however is including the fitting issues. It simply feels prefer it’s all the time enjoying meet up with the competitors in sure areas.
Health & Monitoring
- Twin-frequency GPS
- Multisport monitoring mode
- Route and navigation options
My expertise of the core sports activities monitoring expertise throughout Amazfit’s watches has been superb. It simply doesn’t all the time supply parity with related watches when it comes to the execution of options and total efficiency.
Mike Sawh
The T-Rex 2 was a extremely stable performer after I examined it again in 2022, however there have been some huge issues it wanted to handle. Essentially the most notable one was mapping, with higher help for utilizing it that will help you discover your manner or discover new environment.
For the T-Rex 3, you will have entry to free offline maps, which must be downloaded within the app after which synced to the watch and could be finished in a comparatively stress-free method. This additionally extends to help to obtain maps for ski resorts. You even have the choice to import routes and it additionally helps turn-by-turn navigation as effectively.
The mapping help labored effectively for me. You possibly can decide from darkish and light-weight map views and may present contours to provide you a greater sense of elevation and the terrain. I’d say mapping obtainable on pricier outside watches feels a bit of extra detailed normally when it comes to what you’ll be capable to view on display, however in the event you evaluate what Samsung served up on the Galaxy Watch Extremely, then the T-Rex 3 places in a significantly better exhibiting.
From a monitoring perspective, there’s lots occurring, which might typically be to the detriment of the expertise you get on Amazfit’s smartwatches relying on what you’re after. There’s loads of outdoor-centric knowledge to look at together with altitude, storm alerts, tide data and the watch will even supply recommendation in your hydration wants.
Mike Sawh
It’s good to see it’s packing dual-band GPS to supply the newest in positioning expertise and ship improved accuracy for outside monitoring. It was fairly stable on the T-Rex 2 and it’s extra of the identical on the T-Rex 3.
I used it towards a Garmin Fenix 8 and an Apple Watch Extremely 2 and located knowledge like distance monitoring, tempo and calorie burn, the information was very related. Nonetheless, on some routes, notably beneath tree cowl, the pacing of exercises appeared to fluctuate a bit extra on the Amazfit, however GPS efficiency normally labored effectively.
Coronary heart charge knowledge nevertheless wasn’t so good and falls into the class of optical sensors the place most coronary heart charge readings towards a chest strap monitor could be wildly excessive. Fortunately, you now have the flexibility to pair exterior sensors to it, which incorporates coronary heart charge displays in addition to working and biking energy metres to assist handle these accuracy points.
Throughout the 177 sports activities modes supported, there’s now a free diving mode and a energy coaching mode that helps automated rep counting with muscle maps to point out which areas you’ve been specializing in essentially the most. There’s help to share knowledge to huge health apps like Strava and Apple Well being and it did that fairly seamlessly as effectively.
Mike Sawh
If you wish to delve deeper into your coaching knowledge, you are able to do that as effectively, however I’m undecided how dependable all of these insights essentially are. There’s some acquainted sports activities watch ones like exhibiting you your coaching load, really helpful restoration time and there’s a Readiness metric, which sounds and works just like related metrics supplied by Garmin and Oura.
I discovered the restoration recommendation and coaching scores didn’t all the time match up and would inform completely different tales about whether or not I must be coaching or easing off. It had a bent to say I used to be in fine condition to coach on days I felt exhausted and the place understanding was the furthest factor from my thoughts.
In the end, the T-Rex 3 throws lots at you and the essential issues sometimes land effectively. It desires to cater for everybody and attending to know every part it could do is barely overwhelming. It’s addressed some criticisms you can degree on the final T-Rex and it’s actually made it a greater performer and from and outside perspective, the nice actually outweighs the not so good.
Battery Life & Charging
- Larger battery than T-Rex 2
- As much as 27 days battery in typical use situation
- As much as 180 hours GPS battery life
What we all the time wish to see with a smartwatch that’s designed to be one you may resolve to go trekking with is one with the form of promised battery life that you just gained’t have to consider carrying round a charger and that’s completely the case with the T-Rex 3.
Mike Sawh
It’s now moved from a 500- to a 700mAh capability battery, which in most utilization eventualities and modes reveals an enchancment in endurance over the T-Rex 2. The battery life with typical utilization is now 27 days as a substitute of 24 days.
Utilizing essentially the most correct GPS mode sees the battery bounce from 26 to 42 hours. Heavy utilization battery life is as much as 13 days from 10 days. Relying on how restrictive you need that smartwatch life to be, it is a watch that would feasibly final for 80 days.
My time veered extra on the heavy utilization aspect. I used essentially the most correct GPS mode, saved the display on always and used the look ahead to options like notifications, constantly monitoring coronary heart charge and monitoring sleep too. I’d say that 13 days for me was correct of my time with the T-Rex 3.
On sooner or later after I used the GPS, the general battery drop was 7%. For over an hour exercise utilizing the very best GPS mode, the battery dropped by 3%.
The numbers appear so as to add up and you may see that in the event you decide to not hold the display on always or don’t want to make use of essentially the most correct GPS mode, then it would push additional. I used to be very pleased with the form of efficiency it put in total.
By way of charging, it sticks to a proprietary charger setup that sadly isn’t the snappiest of chargers if you do get all the way down to 0%. It takes roughly 3 hours to energy again up, although given you’ll most likely simply want to provide it the odd high up right here and there, that’s one thing I’m positive most will be capable to reside with.
Worth & Availability
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is on sale through the Amazfit web site in addition to retailers like Amazon. Worth is a giant issue right here as a result of the T-Rex 3 goals to provide you a fully-featured outside smartwatch for a lot lower than the competitors.
To that finish, the T-Rex 3 is priced at £279/$279, which is significantly cheaper than different AMOLED-packing outside smartwatches.
The Apple Watch Extremely 2 prices £799/$799, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely sits at £599/$649 and the Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED pricing begins at £949/$999.
That value does make it costlier than the T-Rex 2 although, which price £219/$229 at launch. Given the upgrades you’re getting over it, whereas nonetheless sitting at a fairly cheap value, it’s seemingly a value hike that almost all abdomen.
Take a look at our chart of the very best smartwatches for extra choices.
Must you purchase the Amazfit T-Rex 3?
In case you’re in search of a extra reasonably priced outside smartwatch that provides you tons of smartwatch, outside and sports activities options and crucially, delivers a great efficiency and lengthy battery life, that is completely price your consideration.
My expertise has been actually sturdy with the T-Rex 3, very similar to it was with the T-Rex 2, and the notable additions of the kind of mapping help you’d often pay extra for, together with added help for exterior sensors whereas nonetheless providing battery life that wipes the ground with Apple and Samsung’s outside watches are all substances that assist to make the T-Rex 3 stand out for the fitting causes.
It has jumped up a bit of in value on the T-Rex 2 and it’s nonetheless not fairly as mature as different extra established smartwatch, it is a T-Rex that now really feels prefer it’s constructed for outside adventures.
Specs
- 48.5mm case
- 10 ATM water resistance score
- Appropriate for freediving as much as 45 metres
- 1.58-inch, 480 x 480 AMOLED touchscreen show
- As much as 27 days battery life
- As much as 180 hours GPS battery life
- Twin-band GPS
- 177 sports activities modes
- Offline maps and turn-by-turn instructions