Zepp's newest smartwatch is the Amazfit GTS 2 New Version, but what makes it different from the Amazfit GTS 2 released in 2020? Zepp has been announcing “New Versions” of its existing smartwatches that offer little to no changes to the “Standard" version. For instance, the difference between the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini New Version and the original is the former's lack of a barometric altimeter. What is astonishing is that both versions sell for the same price.
Amazfit smartwatches don't run Wear OS but a proprietary operating system and the company announced Zepp OS last year as a replacement for the previous Amazfit OS. The newer operating system version is lighter, faster, and comes with several new features including support for apps, albeit not at the scale that's offered with Wear OS.
The Amazfit GTS 2 New Version has the same look as the original but there are some design changes. According to Zepp, while the standard version has 3D glass and a glossy plastic bottom shell, the new version swaps it for 2.5D glass and a matte plastic bottom shell, respectively. It also lacks the diamond-like carbon coating (oDLC) of the 2020 version which adds protection against scratches and wear. Furthermore, the New Version is not only slightly wider and thicker by a few millimeters, but it's also a few grams heavier. Zepp has released the new version in two new colors—Space Black and Petal Pink— with a dotted strap, different from the smooth strap of the standard version.
Refined Design, Same Amazfit Specs
Save for these changes in the design, the specs are unchanged. The Amazfit GTS 2 New Version has a 1.65-inch AMOLED display housed in an aluminum alloy case. The watch is operated by touch and by the single button on the side. There are several customizable watch faces to choose from, with most having an Always-on Display version. Thanks to the BioTracker 2 PPG sensor, the smartwatch is capable of all-day heart rate and blood oxygen-level monitoring. There is also sleep tracking and stress detection.
Like the standard version, it has support for 90 sports modes with automatic detection for outdoor running, swimming, elliptical, and outdoor cycling. The watch itself is rated 5 ATM for water-resistance. It also has 3GB of built-in storage, a microphone and speaker for Bluetooth calling, built-in Alexa, a password protected lock screen, and the ability to rotate the UI so that it can be used by both right- and left-handed users. In addition, it has Bluetooth 5.0, GPS + GLONASS, 2.4GHz Wi-Fi, compass, barometer, and an ambient light sensor.
While not as great as the Amazfit GTR 3 in terms of battery life, the Amazfit GTS 2 New Version's 246mAh battery allows it to provide up to 6 days of typical usage and 3 days of heavy usage. This surpasses what is available on WearOS smartwatches such as the Galaxy Watch 4. Zepp has begun selling the smartwatch in the US for $179.99, the same price as the standard version, and it is compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Source: Amazfit