With the GTR 4, the manufacturer presented its new top model in the fitness smartwatch segment at IFA 2022 in early September. Thanks to circularly polarized GPS antenna technology, this is supposed to enable highly precise positioning. Our Amazfit GTR 4 test reveals how well this works and what the smartwatch is capable of.
Technical data
| article name | Amazfit GTR 4 |
| Colors | Superspeed Black (fluorocarbon rubber), Vintage Brown (leather strap), Racetrack Grey (nylon strap) |
| Operating system compatibility | Android (version 7.0 and above); iOS (version 12.0 and above) |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0 + BLE, GPS, WLAN (2.4 GHz) |
| Health features / sensors | Compass, gyroscope, heart rate, SpO2, sleep tracking, pedometer, barometer, ambient light sensor |
| Display | AMOLED (1.43 inches, 466 x 466 pixels, 326 PPI) |
| Water resistance level | 5 ATM (50 meters) |
| Memory | Memory: unknown, 4 GB system memory (3.2 GB free available) |
| Battery life | 14 days (normal use); up to 50 days (clock mode) |
| Physical buttons | 2 |
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.6 mm x 46 mm x 46 mm |
| Weight | 34 g |
| Price | from 210,91 € |
Amazfit GTR 4 review: the scope of delivery
In a small, square box, the Amazfit GTR 4 trundles into our test lab. For the test, the manufacturer provided us with the model in the nobler look, namely in the “Vintage Brown Leather” variant.
Accordingly, the wearable takes up most of the packaging and is only supplemented by the USB-A charging cable with magnetic connector and a quick-start guide. The latter does not provide any added value on just three pages in German. But setting up a smartwatch isn’t exactly witchcraft.
Design and workmanship
- Elegant and high-quality design
- Pleasantly low weight
The first visual impression of the Amazfit GTR 4 can convince. Especially the leather model looks very high-quality and classy. By the way, the wearable is also offered in two more sports-trimmed variants including a plastic or fabric wristband: Superspeed Black and Racetrack Grey.
Our brown leather model, on the other hand, looks more dignified and is absolutely suitable for business. Of course, the 46 mm case that houses the 1.43-inch AMOLED touchscreen immediately catches the eye. It is surrounded by a ring in dark gray, which displays the seconds, minutes or hours in small or large lines.
The frame itself comes in matte silver, which provides a nice color contrast and once again emphasizes the chic design. By the way, Amazfit uses a round case for the GTR 4, while the GTS 4, which is almost as expensive, is angular and somewhat reminiscent of the Apple Watch models.
The rotating crown and the only other button on the right side of the smartwatch are also striking. These are, on the outside, painted in red – a nice detail that is supposed to reflect a sports car design, according to the manufacturer.
In the middle of the left side, you’ll find a bulge in the same color as the frame, which looks like an additional button, but it’s only the counterpart on the right side and has no function.
As with every smartwatch, you will find the sensors on the bottom, while the speakers, microphones and the like are located on the lower edge. According to Amazfit, the GTR 4 has a thickness of 10.6 mm, but I measured 10 mm pretty accurately. This makes the wearable a comfortable companion despite the rather large case.
Especially in connection with the weight, which is comparatively low at only 34.1 grams (without wristbands; 46 grams including leather wristbands), this speaks for a high wearing comfort.
No surprises await you when it comes to the bracelet. It is 22 mm wide and can be adjusted between 150 mm and 215 mm. Replacing both halves is quick and easy with the help of a metal pin – we already know the system in this form from the Honor Watch GS3 (our review), for example.
Workmanship of the GTR 4
- Mostly good workmanship and high-quality materials
- Scratch-prone case
The build quality of the Amazfit GTR 4 is basically on a good level. You will look for gaps or unclean components in vain. However, the wearable does not look as robust as one would actually expect at this price.
For example, the matte, silver aluminum alloy along with the polycarbonate underneath is relatively susceptible to scratches. Although this keeps the weight pleasantly low, the smartwatch does not look quite as high-quality as models from other manufacturers in the same price range. And an Apple Watch SE 2 is in a completely different league – but also costs around 100 Euros more.
Setting up the Amazfit GTR 4
After unpacking, the Amazfit GTR 4 is quickly ready for use. It is compatible with Android and iOS and is put into operation with the corresponding Zepp companion app. Already after starting the watch, a QR code points the way to the corresponding app store to download the program.
You can already select the desired language, whereupon the pairing via Bluetooth is triggered. Just add your own data, such as age, height and weight, and you are ready to go – without annoying registration requirements and data access to every millimeter of your body. Very commendable!
In the main menu, you can already see the first firmware update, which we of course immediately installed for the Amazfit GTR 4 test. That’s it: Your new wearable is ready for use.
Display and operation
- Bright, large AMOLED display
- Two different color modes
- Toughened glass
The Amazfit GTR 4 actually leaves nothing to be desired in terms of the display. Thus, the smartwatch relies on a 1.43-inch AMOLED panel, which has a pleasantly sharp resolution of 466 x 466 pixels with 326 ppi.
These are exactly the same values that are also offered in the Honor Watch. The rich colors and pleasant contrasts indicate that the exact same panel is used here. It is touch-enabled over the entire surface and implements all inputs immediately and very precisely.
However, you won’t notice much of the promised anti-fingerprint coating in practice. The prints are already everywhere after a few minutes with the watch. However, the tempered glass promises a certain robustness.
The display implements inputs precisely and enables swiping and swipe gestures in addition to touches. The automatic brightness is also convincing. Even in direct sunlight, the watch is always easy to read.
Successful operation
- Comfortable, rotatable and pressable crown
- Clearly structured menu navigation
The operation is also pleasing. Especially the rotatable and pressable crown scores with a pleasant feel within menus. The button on the right side is responsible for the various sport modes, which you can choose between in a clearly structured menu. The operating concept is based on most common smartwatch models.
Pressing and holding on the watch face lets you switch between installed watch faces. Swiping from top to bottom opens the quick selection menu, and notifications are displayed from bottom to top.
However, the notifications first want to be activated via Zepp app on the smartphone, at least on iOS. And that for each app individually. Only then are they displayed on the smartwatch. A bit awkward.
Swiping from left to right, you can access the voice assistant Amazon Alexa, as well as scroll through widgets. Swiping from right to left takes you to a preselection menu that displays various widgets – from the pedometer to the plus meter to the weather and much more.
Always-On Display
The Amazfit GTR 4 also offers an Always-On Display (AOD) that is always active. At least, once you have activated it under the settings. You can also choose from different watch faces here. It darkens pleasantly and displays the most important details. This fits.
Unlike the Honor Watch GS3, the wrist detection also works flawlessly here and allows you to switch from the AOD to the normal display when you move your arm. That’s the way it has to be. Of course, the AOD consumes more battery, but more on that later.
Health and fitness: the sensors
- New sensor with added precision
- New, extremely accurate and fast GPS system
The Amazfit GTR 4 is equipped with a new BioTracker 4.0 PPG optical sensor. This is said to be able to capture 33 percent more data than its predecessor. At the same time, the heart rate detection algorithm is said to have been improved, reducing potential signal interference from arm movement during exercise.
The new dual-band GPS sensor is also supposed to work extremely precisely and can find the position within a few seconds. All sounds like full-bodied promises, but in fact, in was absolutely positively surprised by the sensor technology.
If you activate an outdoor workout, for example, it starts after a 10-second timer expires. The GPS connection is established at the latest then, but in most cases much earlier. The tracking itself works very precisely, even in dense forests, city centers and similarly difficult scenarios.
During my test, all parameters of the route were recognized accurately. Both ascents and descents, stops and changes in your own pace are precisely displayed on the map afterwards.
Heart rate, sleep, and PAI
- Precise sensors
- Overviewable and detailed health data
- 150 sport modes, some with automatic detection
The other sensors also work extremely precisely. Whether now the heart rate measurement can keep up with that of real heart rate belts, I can not confirm, but the sensor makes accurate measurements in any case.
The sleep tracking is also convincing. Here, individual sleep phases are listed in almost as much detail as I’ve only seen on much more expensive smartwatches like the Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar (our review). Sleep times are also in line with the Garmin model. Even short naps during the day are tracked accurately. Chapeau.
Within the Zepp app, you also get detailed analysis on the measurement data of all sensors. Especially for training enthusiasts, you can also expect the PAI system (Personal Activity Intelligence), which long-time Amazfit users should already know. PAI was developed by the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
PAI is meant to spur you on, because you earn points for increasing your heart rate. The higher your heart rate, the more points you earn. The goal is to collect 100 points in a week – although you can also start with 30 points.
The trick is that PAI adapts to your fitness and health. So it becomes more and more difficult to reach the 100 points over time. However, the basis for this is steady and accurate heart rate measurements, but then the PAI value is an easy to understand and good indicator that can definitely motivate.
The GTR 4 also has 150 built-in sports modes and is said to even be able to intelligently recognize and track weight training exercises, as well as eight of the sports. Even the load on the individual muscle groups shall be displayed. This makes the smartwatch in my eyes, especially in combination with the accurate sensors, an excellent companion for all fitness and health enthusiasts.
Smartwatch features of the Amazfit GTR 4
- Only a few useful apps available
- No NFC
- Bluetooth calling and Alexa support
However, there is one downer with the Amazfit GTR 4 and it can be found in the manageable smartwatch features. Because there are comparatively few of them. Less than 30 apps can be found in the app store and you also have to do without NFC and the associated contactless payment.
Otherwise, there are notifications from the smartphone (albeit without displaying emojis), as well as the option to control music and camera directly via the smartwatch. However, thanks to a built-in speaker and 2.3 GB of free internal storage, music can also be played directly via the watch and in quite decent quality, as the following test recording shows:
Calls via Bluetooth can also be made directly via the wearable, and the intelligibility is okay. However, there is not much more in the way of smartwatch functions. With the exception of Amazon Alexa support, if you pair the voice assistant accordingly via the smartphone.
Battery life of the Amazfit GTR 4
- 14 days of battery life with normal use
- Up to 50 days of battery life in watch mode
- Fully charged in 2 hours
On the other hand, the battery life of the Amazfit GTR 4 turns out to be really convincing. The manufacturer promises up to 14 days in normal use, or 7 days in very intensive use. In energy-saving mode, it should even last 24 days, and in watch mode – without smart functions – up to 50 days.
I can also confirm these values. In my test, the watch, including the always-on display, lost around 9 percent of battery within 24 hours of normal use. In the end, I got just under 10 days of runtime with Always-On Display and around 13.5 days without AOD, so the stated values are definitely realistic.
Convincing runtimes, at least if you don’t add a constant SpO2 measurement or use constant GPS tracking. The smartwatch is also charged quite quickly. You can magnetically charge the 475 mAh battery from 0 to 100 percent within about two hours.
Amazfit GTR 4 Test: Conclusion
The Amazfit GTR 4 does quite a lot right and cuts an excellent figure, especially as a sports and fitness smartwatch. You can clearly feel the improvements of the new sensors, because quite a lot has been done in terms of accuracy and the scope of the measurements.
I also like the high-quality and elegant design. In addition, the GTR 4 works equally well with iOS and Android. The battery life of up to 14 days is also impressive.
Unfortunately, the build quality does not quite live up to the high price. I would have preferred a more scratch-resistant and robust case and would have gladly accepted a higher weight.
The actual smartwatch functions are also limited. I sorely miss NFC and the app store does not really have much to offer. Otherwise, there is not much to complain about. Especially in the fitness and sports segment, the Amazfit GTR 4 cuts an excellent figure and can easily compete with much more expensive models. If that’s what you’re after, you’ll be excellently served in any case.
Amazfit GTR 4
Workmanship
Hardware
Performance
Features
Battery
Value for money
89/100
Stylish and high-performance fitness smartwatch with strong and precise sensors, convincing GPS and long battery life. There is only room for improvement in terms of smartwatch features and workmanship.
No replies yet
Neue Antworten laden...
Gehört zum Inventar
Beteilige dich an der Diskussion in der Basic Tutorials Community →