The Amazfit GTS and the Apple Watch are both proving to be interesting and popular options, albeit for very different reasons. Which makes choosing between the two much easier than some might expect.
The smartwatch market is a complicated one. In spite of many brands and manufactures investing heavily in wearables, they still have yet to take off as well as some other tech product lines. The obvious exception to this is the Apple Watch which seems to dominate sales every quarter. However, there are some devices that are starting to gain traction, even if it is due to how similar they are to the Apple Watch - the Amazfit GTS is one of them.
Amazfit sells a variety of smartwatches and fitness trackers and the one thing they have in common is a cheap price. Previously, that might have come at the expense of features or experience, but the company’s products are evolving and as a result, growing in stature as well. The Apple Watch on the other hand, is a smartwatch that’s typically and always been considered expensive. Those who opt for Apple’s wearable are buying into a premium product, at a premium price.
How Amazfit GTS & Apple Watch Compare
When you look at the two watches, it is clear where Amazfit is drawing inspiration from. The Amazfit GTS looks extremely similar to the Apple Watch and this is likely only adding to its consumer appeal. This inspiration is not just in the design either, with the interface also having come from a similar line of thinking as Apple's. As a result, the two watches feel like one and the same, although that’s also where their first major difference surfaces. Looks can be deceiving, and while they adopt a similar design and interface, the experience overall is not the same, with the higher-priced Apple Watch and its watchOS offering a more premium product in general. Yes, the gap is closing, but it is still wide enough that anyone switching from an Apple Watch to the Amazfit GTS will feel like they’ve downgraded, albeit to a familiar product.
Both watches are feature-packed and while they do differ somewhat in the specs and feature list, neither is lacking. However, these features add up and their sum can impact greatly on battery life - which is one of the often-raised criticisms of a smartwatch. This also happens to be another area where the two massively differ, The Apple Watch 5 (the company’s latest model) claims to offer “all-day battery life” and what the iPhone-maker really means by this is up to 18 hours. Again, highlighting the reality of how limiting smartwatch batteries can be. In contrast, the Amazfit GTS claims to offer a “14-day battery life.” Now, whether or not that’s accurate, even if it’s only a third of the suggested duration, it is still more than five times the battery life of the Apple Watch.
It is these two areas which really sum up the overall difference between the Amazfit GTS and the Apple Watch. While the Apple Watch offers a more premium product and experience, that many will undoubtedly find to be better, the Amazfit GTS is significantly cheaper and yet provides a similar experience. In some cases, features that are better. In terms of which you should buy, if you want to save as much as possible but have an Apple Watch-like product then the Amazfit GTS is a sensible option. However, if you want the absolute best smartwatch and experience, then the Apple Watch is the better choice.