The smallest in the GTS line, but with GPS and SpO2. Amazfit GTS2 mini smart watch review

Amazfit GTS2 mini smartwatch is the best option for athletes, travelers and those who want a lot of functionality for sane money. The second generation GTS watch received an updated BioTracker 2™ PPG optical sensor with support for SpO2 measurements, accurate heart rate and step counting, as well as smart home control using Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant.

Factory packaging

A standard white box with a picture of a watch from Amazfit. Features of the device are placed on the sides, while information on nutrition is on the back.

Equipment

Standard set of watches, instructions and charger. There is no kit with spare straps, but Ali has a lot of them.

Appearance

For all owners of the GTS line (the first generation, the second and its multiple branches), the watch case will be immediately recognizable. But the main difference between the mini and the older version lies in the case, which contains a little more plastic elements and a smaller display. The screen itself is made using Amoled technology with a resolution of 354 × 306 pixels. Diagonal — 1.55″, there is auto brightness and AoD mode.

The chamfered metal bezel on the side adds a touch of luxury to the watch. When compared closely with the Bip line, it immediately becomes clear what is at stake. I would also like to note the dimensions of the watch — 35.8 * 40.5 * 8.95mm and low weight — 19.5g. With prolonged wearing, they do not cause discomfort, as well as using the watch at night.

The lower half of the watch case is made of glossy plastic. On the right side is a crown that performs the back/forward function. On the reverse side there is a microphone hole for the Alexa voice assistant, which allows you to control your smart home. I will say right away that it does not work in the Russian Federation yet and it is not clear whether it will work in the future. If you want to try out this function, then change the language of the system and the clock to English, after which you can give commands to «Alekha».

This watch uses an updated BioTracker 2™ PPG multifunctional sensor, which has minimal flaws in counting steps. At the same time, measuring the heart rate, as well as measuring the level of oxygen in the blood, does not raise questions about accuracy. With Amazfit devices that used the first generation of the BioTracker™ PPG sensor, you can clearly see the difference in the data received. In general, if you need an accurate and multifunctional device, then you should look at this watch.

Also, if there is a need for a more functional model (GTS, GTS2e, etc.), then check out the detailed guide for the entire Amazfit GTS line.

The strap is moderately soft, fastened with a quick-release connection. The length of the standard strap is 195mm, the buckle is plastic. The width of the strap is 20mm, so choosing the optimal one in terms of quality / color / aesthetic considerations will not cause problems.

As mentioned earlier, long-term wearing of the watch 24/7 does not cause discomfort or any kind of irritation. The habit of constantly wearing a watch (going to the pool, swimming in the river, taking a shower, etc.) is developed quite easily, and if there are a number of straps, after which irritation remains on the hand, then Amazfit soft straps completely eliminate this.

Pulse/SpO2 monitoring

For standard needs in the form of tracking aerobic / anaerobic zones, Amazfit GTS2 mini does an excellent job. And it’s all the fault of the BioTracker 2™ PPG optical sensor, which received a number of new algorithms (RealBeats™ 2, OxygenBeats™, ExerSense™) for accurate monitoring of all parameters. Therefore, there will be no problems with counting the pulse, as well as the level of oxygen in the blood. But it is worth saying that the measurement of SpO2 (aka the level of oxygen in the blood) cannot be done “according to the schedule” and any measurement takes place using the corresponding menu in the watch. When compared with a household pulse oximeter, it shows almost identical indicators or parrots, as it suits you.

Updated software

After rebranding the regular application and giving it the name Zepp, Amazfit did not touch its UI for a long time. But as time goes by, manufacturers are moving towards concise and minimalist designs, so Amazfit recently completely redesigned the user interface of their application.

Now, when you open Zepp, we are greeted with all the relevant information about your health and its condition: current PAI value, sleep duration, heart rate, stress level, saturation measurement and training logs. This interface has become more friendly and informative than the previous design.

The primary section is PAI, which is an indicator of individual physiological activity. That is, the higher this value, the more effective your health is strengthened based on training with an increased heart rate.

Also paired with Amazfit GTS2 mini and the Zepp application, it became possible to analyze the quality of breathing in a dream. This monitoring is for informational purposes only and does not claim to be medical treatment. This function is still in the nature of a beta version, but the general analysis is already giving out even now.

Otherwise, Zepp is a familiar application with monitoring sleep, heart rate, and the number of steps taken. But what has not yet appeared in the Amazfit software is the settings for automatic SpO2 analysis, because forced measurements are available only in the watch menu.

autonomy

During normal operation (permanent BT connection, notifications, alarm clock), the clock keeps calm for 9-11 days. If you limit the use of the watch (only an alarm clock), then the watch can easily hold 2 weeks of work. About autonomy with the included positioning system will be discussed in the next section.

Navigation

A distinctive feature of the GTS line is the presence of built-in GPS positioning, which can capture many sports disciplines, climbs and distance traveled. When using navigation on a hike, autonomy is significantly reduced, but easily withstands up to 10 hours of load. In the first screenshot, you can see the total time of the ascent mode at 4 hours 24 minutes, so during this time a little more than 40% of the battery charge was spent.

Therefore, if the question of future positioning is raised during the choice of watch, then Amazfit GTS2 mini will be a good choice. The closest competitors from Amazfit are the Bip line, which can also save routes, but GPS will be pulled from the smartphone.

Conclusion

If you don’t want to overpay for the older generation GTS2, which added some features (built-in speaker, BT, etc.), then the «mini» is an interesting option. Yes, it has the smallest Amoled display of the entire GTS lineup (1.55” vs. 1.65”), but with the right shell, this change is not so striking.
Special attention deserves a metal frame with chamfered, which allows the watch to look more expensive than it is. And the presence of built-in GPS positioning significantly increases the capabilities of the watch. Therefore, I believe that the Amazfit GTS2 mini smart watch turned out to be optimal in terms of price / quality ratio.