- Amazfit, manufacturer of best cheap running watcheshas launched the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2
- Designed to go toe-to-toe with several premium running watches, it includes preloaded full-color maps, a Garmin-style flashlight, and a speaker/microphone for calls
- It costs $549.99 (around £410 / AU$800)
We just reviewed the Amazfit Balance 2, but Amazfit keeps churning out these devices. It is now targeting premium adventure watches like the Apple Watch Ultra 3, Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Garmin Fenix 8 by launching its own Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2.
“Designed for long, complex routes where preparation and reliability matter, it complements the T-Rex 3 Pro within the T-Rex family by serving a more expedition-focused use case.”
So, reading between the lines, this is the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro from the Amazfit series: you pay extra for premium features designed to keep you safe in nature. You can plan offline routes of up to 100 km, and the full-color maps include faster rerouting thanks to six different satellite networks. 64GB of storage ensures plenty of room for maps and music, there’s a flashlight to attract attention if you need it, and battery life lasts up to 30 days. Unlike the Garmin, there’s no solar option, but that’s a lot more than the Apple and Samsung Ultra watches get.
Technical routing software includes the ability to set your own checkpoints, so you get reminders after hitting certain points in a race to take on sugar or water, for example. More features include graduated pace, which tracks performance more accurately during outdoor training on hilly terrain, voice memo recording during training (which sounds similar to the Coros Pace 4’s tuning peg feature), and a built-in speaker and microphone for Bluetooth calling.
Best (at least funniest) of all, the watch has ‘a low interference green light that allows users to clearly see the watch while wearing night vision goggles’. This sounds completely baty in isolation, but Amazfit is clearly going after the same sort of military-inspired market as the Garmin Tactix 8, with its cerakote coating, stealth mode and watch wipe killswitch.
The watch costs $549.99 (around £410 / AU$800), with correct GB and AU prices TBD. That’s about half the price of a full-price Garmin Fenix 8, and slightly cheaper than the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra 3.
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