Professional’s Score
Execs
- Distinctive and comfy design
- Good core monitoring and mapping help
- Glorious battery life
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Not the perfect 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 awesome inexpensive choice for adventurers.
Value When Reviewed
This worth will present the geolocated pricing textual content for product undefined
Finest Pricing At the moment
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a smartwatch constructed for outside lovers who can’t abdomen paying massive 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 received a bit of massive nearer to being a real outside watch. The primary provided 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 an even 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 every one equal an awesome outside smartwatch? I’ve put the Amazfit T-Rex 3 by its paces to search 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 precise approach.
Mike Sawh
That case nonetheless is available in simply the one measurement choice 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 received your decide of onyx (pictured) or lava liquid silicone straps and whereas not instantly clear, these straps are detachable. A strap elimination 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 stainless-steel so as to add many of the normal heft, nevertheless it’s not a lot that it makes the T-Rex 3 really feel cumbersome in your wrist. That’s matched up with a fairly customary polymer core.
As a bundle, it’s waterproof as much as 100 metres and joins the development of watches which are 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 recognize you’ve received 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 affords one thing completely different when it comes to the general design.
It’s massive 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 problem.
Display & Audio
- Bigger, brighter AMOLED display
- Helps always-on mode
- Microphone however no speaker included
One of many massive design adjustments for the T-Rex 3 is an even 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 an even 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 brilliant to make use of open air, I wouldn’t say it’s the perfect smartwatch show I’ve glanced down at.
For visibility, responsiveness to the touch and providing help for an always-on mode, it definitely 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 good condition throughout testing, however if you need the perfect 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 taking part in music out loud. I
If you wish to make use of the onboard music storage, you’ll must pair up some headphones to try 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’ll be able to entry regardless relying on in case you’ve received a Google-powered cellphone or an iPhone in your pocket.
You’ll get the power to manage your smartphone digital camera in case you’ve received an iPhone or the power to rapidly reply to calls with an Android cellphone.
Mike Sawh
Both approach, you’ll be able to view notifications and there’s roughly 26GB to retailer MP3 audio information, your health information 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 had been all put in and had been prepared to make use of swiftly. It’s undoubtedly 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 verify 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 excellent.
Mike Sawh
There’s additionally Zepp Pay providing 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 international locations and requires a Curve card, which I don’t have, in order that function was sadly out of bounds and certain will probably be for a lot of others too.
As a smartwatch, I’d describe the Amazfit T-Rex 3 like plenty of different Amazfit smartwatches. It’s fairly feature-packed, and the watch person interface is fairly straightforward to become familiar with, providing you with what you want.
The companion app isn’t tremendous slick and it’s not as mature as different working techniques however is including the precise issues. It simply feels prefer it’s all the time taking part in 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 excellent. It simply doesn’t all the time supply parity with related watches when it comes to the execution of options and general efficiency.
Mike Sawh
The T-Rex 2 was a very strong performer after I examined it again in 2022, however there have been some massive issues it wanted to handle. Probably the most notable one was mapping, with higher help for utilizing it that will help you discover your approach or discover new environment.
For the T-Rex 3, you have got entry to free offline maps, which must be downloaded within the app after which synced to the watch and may be completed 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 lightweight map views and may present contours to offer you a greater sense of elevation and the terrain. I’d say mapping obtainable on pricier outside watches feels a bit of extra detailed basically when it comes to what you’ll have the ability to view on display, however in case you evaluate what Samsung served up on the Galaxy Watch Extremely, then the T-Rex 3 places in a a lot better displaying.
From a monitoring perspective, there’s loads occurring, which may generally 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 information to look at together with altitude, storm alerts, tide info 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 most recent in positioning know-how and ship improved accuracy for outside monitoring. It was fairly strong 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 information like distance monitoring, tempo and calorie burn, the information was very related. Nonetheless, on some routes, notably underneath tree cowl, the pacing of exercises appeared to fluctuate a bit extra on the Amazfit, however GPS efficiency basically labored effectively.
Coronary heart fee information nevertheless wasn’t so good and falls into the class of optical sensors the place most coronary heart fee readings towards a chest strap monitor may be wildly excessive. Fortunately, you now have the power to pair exterior sensors to it, which incorporates coronary heart fee screens in addition to operating and biking energy metres to assist deal with these accuracy points.
Throughout the 177 sports activities modes supported, there’s now a free diving mode and a power coaching mode that helps automated rep counting with muscle maps to indicate which areas you’ve been specializing in essentially the most. There’s help to share information to massive 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 information, 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 displaying you your coaching load, really helpful restoration time and there’s a Readiness metric, which sounds and works just like related metrics provided 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 ought to be coaching or easing off. It had a bent to say I used to be in good condition to coach on days I felt exhausted and the place figuring out was the furthest factor from my thoughts.
In the end, the T-Rex 3 throws loads at you and the essential issues sometimes land effectively. It desires to cater for everybody and attending to know every thing it might probably do is barely overwhelming. It’s addressed some criticisms you may stage on the final T-Rex and it’s definitely made it a greater performer and from and outside perspective, the nice definitely outweighs the not so good.
Battery Life & Charging
- Larger battery than T-Rex 2
- As much as 27 days battery in typical use state of affairs
- 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 type 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 exhibits an enchancment in endurance over the T-Rex 2. The battery life with typical utilization is now 27 days as an alternative of 24 days.
Utilizing essentially the most correct GPS mode sees the battery soar 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, this can be a watch that might feasibly final for 80 days.
My time veered extra on the heavy utilization facet. I used essentially the most correct GPS mode, stored the display on always and used the look ahead to options like notifications, constantly monitoring coronary heart fee 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 perfect GPS mode, the battery dropped by 3%.
The numbers appear so as to add up and you may see that in case you decide to not maintain 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 proud of the type of efficiency it put in general.
By way of charging, it sticks to a proprietary charger setup that sadly isn’t the snappiest of chargers whenever you do get right down to 0%. It takes roughly 3 hours to energy again up, although given you’ll in all probability simply want to offer it the odd high up right here and there, that’s one thing I’m certain most will have the ability to reside with.
Value & Availability
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is on sale by way of the Amazfit web site in addition to retailers like Amazon. Value is a giant issue right here as a result of the T-Rex 3 goals to offer 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 worth 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 affordable worth, it’s probably a worth hike that the majority abdomen.
Try our chart of the perfect smartwatches for extra choices.
Must you purchase the Amazfit T-Rex 3?
If you happen to’re in search of a extra inexpensive outside smartwatch that provides you tons of smartwatch, outside and sports activities options and crucially, delivers a superb efficiency and lengthy battery life, that is completely price your consideration.
My expertise has been actually sturdy with the T-Rex 3, very like it was with the T-Rex 2, and the notable additions of the kind of mapping help you’d normally 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 components that assist to make the T-Rex 3 stand out for the precise causes.
It has jumped up a bit of in worth on the T-Rex 2 and it’s nonetheless not fairly as mature as different extra established smartwatch, this can be a T-Rex that now actually 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