Amazfit Bip S smartwatch review: Price and battery life will smoke the competition
Features: Real-time heart rate monitor, 5ATM water resistance, Sleep Tracking, Sports Tracking, Step Counter, Call and App Notification alerts, Idle Alert, Phone Finder, Weather Forecast, Music Control, and World Clock• 3125rem;color: 222;display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;padding:0. For example, the dial button can be programmed as a shortcut to start workouts, which is convenient. Amazfit Bip S: Smartwatch features The Bip S works with Android phones and iPhones and will give you notifications, music controls, weather forecasts, alarms and a world clock setting. I wish I could have tested the GPS accuracy in more challenging conditions, but the current situation here in India prevented me from going much further than my own neighborhood Battery life for days The biggest advantage of the Amazfit Bip S is its battery life. One useful sensor you do miss out on is an altimeter, which means you're not able to track elevation — a useful piece of data for climbing stairs or if you're planning to take it for a hilly walk. Once you complete a workout, you can view helpful graphs on the Amazfit app reflecting the changes in your heart rate in relation to the speed and intensity of your activity. This is despite an active Bluetooth connection. Budget tracker: The promise of weeks and potentially a month of battery life is another reason not to dismiss this. The first few times I took it out, I forgot to confirm and it didn't log my run. From the watch, you've got a dedicated screen to access steps, distance, calories burned and times you've spent too long sitting down. When it does light up or brighten though, it's clear to see in broad daylight. Below are the screenshots of the Zepp app for Android, which should give you a better idea of the Bip S Lite's settings. The case is still the same polycarbonate material used on the other Bip models and the same silicone straps. Based on our testing, those numbers seem to ring true. And do note that using a custom watchface reduces the battery life. Amazfit and Xiaomi have become my favorites, and I look forward to more capabilities and additional features as they continue to improve their product lines. After confirmation, your watch will connect to your phone immediately and it will update Repository, Firmware, and AGPS automatically. You'll get a sleep score and some additional insights here too. 5D Gorilla Glass 3• It took roughly the same time to lock onto a GPS signal as the Forerunner 745 we tested it against. One that shows you can make a good watch that doesn't have to be draped in metal and crammed with features. Enough to knock you into another heart rate zone. Weather forecast shows additional details now Battery life The Amazfit Bip S Lite packs a 200 mAh battery, which is the same size as the cell that ships with the regular Bip S, so most of you may expect it to offer the same endurance as the non-Lite version, which was around 10-11 days in my testing. The Amazfit Bip S Lite comes with 14 sports modes, which include Outdoor Running, Treadmill, Cycling, Indoor Cycling, Freestyle, Walking, Elliptical Trainer, Yoga, Jump Rope, Badminton, Ping-Pong, Cricket, Basketball, and Rowing Machine. And I agree with , who said he might even consider going back to it when he travels to save losing yet another cable to the hotel room power outlet. 2s ease-out;transition:background-color 0. HR tracking compared: Amazfit Bip S left and centre and Garmin fitness tracker right The Bip S can also continuously monitor heart rate, which must be enabled in the app. This process may take several minutes to complete. To dig deeper into your data, you'll need to head to the Zepp formerly Amazfit app where you can see a breakdown of the activities that contributed to your daily totals. Notifications appear as they arrive on your phone. That means it's safe to be submerged in water up to 50 meters deep. Compared to the that I was using before, the seemingly endless battery life was a huge relief. When it comes to , the Amazfit Bip S is capable of continuous 24-hour monitoring. These are made of TPU or silicone, depending on what color variant you have. The raw data seemed to be far more reliable than the Garmin fitness tracker we pitted it against in terms of recognising sleep duration, as well the time we fell asleep and woke up in the morning. Amazfit promises a total of 150 custom watch faces, but at the time of writing this, only 100 are available on Android. Compared to the 2018 model, the only major difference here is the addition of swim tracking. 28 inch transflective LCD display is now brighter and even easier to read under sunlight. 4s opacity;background:rgba 0,0,0,0. You can even monitor your changing heart rate in real-time on the watch when you start one of the preloaded workouts. But on the upside, you do get app alerts during an ongoing workout and when the smartwatch is charging. 4mm and lightweight at 31g including straps. For heart rate monitoring, the Amazfit Bip S Lite uses a PPG Bio-Tracking Optical Sensor, which is the same that's used on the Bip S. In this aspect, the Amazfit Bip S is a huge improvement over the more expensive that I last reviewed. This makes the app quite a mess and difficult to use at times. You can't act on them, but they are at least well optimised to the screen. Sometimes, these updates take a long time, rendering the app and the watch useless for the duration. We made most use of the notification support and music controls. Pairing the Amazfit Bip S to the phone during the setup process was also a pain. Sports Modes: Outdoor Running, Treadmill, Cycling, Indoor Cycling, Freestyle, Walking, Elliptical Trainer, Yoga, Jump Rope, Badminton, Ping-Pong, Cricket, Basketball, and Rowing Machine• So does the Bip S deserve a place on your wrist? The Amazfit Bip S is more in line with the Fitbit Charge, a dumb sidekick that tracks your sleep and activity levels and occasionally lets you know when someone is trying to reach you. Technically it's compatible with iOS and Android, but when I tried to use it with my iPhone , the connection was unreliable. This makes it very comfortable wear all day long. Update: The , with improved screen and even stronger health and fitness features. We found it was generally in the ballpark of the overall step count we recorded on a Garmin fitness tracker. There's built-in GPS with Glonass satellite support too. In its own ecosystem, the Bip S sits between the and the original Bip, which is still available in the US for a reduced price of. Or 10 days if you're firing on all cylinders, like myself max screen brightness and GPS workouts on a regular basis, for example. It can now log up to 10 different activities including yoga, weights and swimming. Having it actually motivated me to keep going throughout the week. Swim tracking compared: Amazfit Bip S left and centre and Form Swim Goggles right It's also a pretty solid performer in the pool. Display: 1. Data like distance covered and average strokes per minute were in line with the Form Swim Goggles we tested it against. pagination-numerical-list-item. The Bip S is available in 4 colors; red-orange, carbon black, white rock and warm pink. Amazfit Bip S: Sports tracking When you're ready to step things up, it's time to head to the Workout screen where you'll find tracking profiles for the likes of outdoor running, treadmill running, cycling outdoor and indoor , walking, open and pool swimming, yoga, indoor rowing, cricket and table tennis. This makes the Bip S Lite ideal for those who workout a lot outdoors since they don't have to turn on the backlight to view the contents on the screen, resulting in power savings. Whether it actually helps me feel more rested during the day is TBD. You can see your daily steps on the smartwatch and check your weekly, monthly, and yearly stats on the Zepp app. Feature-wise, you're now getting Huami's Biotracker optical heart rate sensor and new heart-rate based PAI scores, which have rolled out on other Amazfit watches like the GTS. View notifications and music controls• Unlike other Apple Watch-aping watches, this embraces that 42mm polycarbonate body in a way that reminds us a lot of the Pebble Time. Post activity, there was a theme that it posted noticeably higher maximum readings. 99 It feels as if Amazfit is rolling out more smartwatches than any other company these days, but the Bip still feels like an important member of that Amazfit family. Amazfit Bip S: Fitness tracking All of Amazfit's watches have a big focus on how they promise to track your health and fitness and that's no different with the Bip. Like its predecessor, the Bip S has continuous heart-rate monitoring. The insights aren't groundbreaking, but they do at least go beyond simply laying out the data and not offering something actionable behind them. We certainly haven't had any issues with it and it uses a watch-style buckle to make sure it stays put. However, it does buzz and provides you with alerts. The Bip S is a smartwatch that showcases once again why Amazfit is a force to be reckoned with. Indoor rowing compared: Amazfit Bip S left and centre and Garmin Forerunner 745 right We also tested out the indoor rowing mode and again found it largely matched up to what we saw on the Forerunner 745 for stroke count. But we'll see about that once "traveling" becomes a thing again. The display perhaps isn't the easiest to see in the water, but metrics were largely reliable. It's also worth mentioning that unlike the Bip S, the Lite model doesn't come with an built-in GPS and relies on the GPS of the connected smartphone for workout route tracking. Notifications The Bip S will also keep you connected to all that matters to you. However, the weather forecast feature is updated and now shows additional information, including sunrise and sunset times, and humidity. Because it doesn't have a microphone, dictation is also out of the question and you can't program quick replies like other smartwatches. Custom watch faces available on Amazfit's official app which is now called Zepp Other than displaying the time, date, day and weather, the Bip S Lite also displays app notifications and alerts you of incoming calls. Aside from these, you also get a stopwatch, countdown timer, world clock, alarm clock, event reminder, phone finder, weather forecast, and music control. It has most key sensors on board, including an accelerometer to track steps, indoor activities and pool swimming. In a 3km brisk walking session, the watch managed to trace my path perfectly. Though we're not massively surprised they don't make the cut. The smartwatch features are basic, but they work well. Amazfit Bip S Features• Huami says it can go up to 40 days on a charge if you're doing the bare-bone functions, although realistically I'd expect about 15 days worth of battery life. vanilla-image-block img,article figure p. 07 ;-webkit-transform:translateY -84px ;-ms-transform:translateY -84px ;transform:translateY -84px ;-webkit-transition:-webkit-transform 0;-webkit-transition:transform 0;transition:transform 0;z-index:500;-webkit-transform:translateY 0 ;-ms-transform:translateY 0 ;transform:translateY 0 ;-webkit-transition:-webkit-transform 400ms cubic-bezier 0. You can also find your phone with the Bip S. I'd stop receiving phone notifications on the watch, and I'd have to re-pair the app with the phone a few times. You still have shortcuts for the same functions at multiple locations, and the ones that aren't supported by the device aren't hidden but grayed out. 5ATM water resistance Cons• Amazfit uses transflective display technology, which is something Garmin uses to help preserve battery life and improve visibility in bright light. Its 5ATM water resistance makes it safe for both pool and open-water swims, and its built-in GPS means you can leave your phone on dry land while you're in the water or out on a run. Dimensions: 42 x 35. On that case you'll find just one button which does have the appearance of a watch crown, and it even twists like one as well. When that happens, it will flash up a message suggesting you get yourself moving. What I also liked was that I could see a very clear satellite map of my route on the Amazfit app, with the ability to zoom into the exact start and finish points. The data fields are in easy view, despite the small nature of the display, and overall we found its sports tracking prowess one of the most surprising and impressive aspects of the Bip S. You can set it up to measure your heart rate every minute, or every 30 minutes. With all this and more, does the Amazfit Bip S manage to bury the ghosts of its predecessors? Accurate step and GPS tracking After an evening walk around the block, my Amazfit Bip S recorded 3,914 steps. The former worked well and lets you mute or reject an incoming call, while the latter worked in the same way as it did on the regular Bip S - not all app icons are displayed on the smartwatch, you can't delete a new notification when it pops up on the screen, and for bulk deleting you have to scroll down to the bottom in the Notification Center and tap on the delete button. But for running or other outdoor workouts I still have to press the screen to confirm GPS connection before actually registering the run. In that case you're better off getting an Apple Watch Series 3 or Galaxy Watch Active 2. You can see the workout route along with other data of the sports modes by heading to the Exercise record section in the Zepp app. 5D Corning Gorilla Glass Anti-fingerprint coating Sensors BioTracker PPG optical heart rate sensor 3-axis acceleration sensor 3-axis geomagnetic sensor Battery 200mAh Connectivity Bluetooth 5. The Bip S has better fitness features and a slightly better screen than its predecessor, but it hasn't changed much in the last two years. It features 10 preloaded sport modes which include swimming allowing you to choose your preferred workout mode. 28", 176x176 pixel color transflective screen, Always-On Display, 64 RBG color gamut, 2. , calling it one of the best low-key smartwatches around. The path corrects itself later as I entered the garden area of my complex. As a mother of two small children, I know my sleep habits have room for improvement, so I was shocked to find that I've been averaging about a 90 out of 100 every night. In contrast, the original Bip could withstand a maximum depth of 1. We had the strap on pretty tight and any tighter would've made the watch uncomfortable to wear. While it doesn't offer exceptional resolution, it did deliver in areas that ensured it wasn't entirely unusable. And by that, I mean it looks like a plastic Apple Watch, with a much thicker bezel and lighter frame. Software The Amazfit Bip S Lite is compatible with both Android and iOS devices and you need to download the Zepp app from their respective app stores to set up the smartwatch and tinker with its settings. The Bip S gave me a sleep score in the morning based on a number of different factors, like sleep duration, bedtime and quality of sleep compared to other users. But despite being water-resistant up to 50 meters, the smartwatch doesn't track your swimming performance, which is a bummer. After you have created and signed into your user account, the app will ask you input your details like your gender, height, and weight. Just wish I could get another one in the white rock color. The Bip S includes a few more watch faces than its predecessors, as well as the ability to customize some of the existing ones. Positioning: GPS to GPS connected through phone• 28-inch TFT color display 64 RGB color gamut 176 x 176 resolution 2. The rest of the features mentioned at the beginning of this section - including Idle Alert - are self-explanatory and worked the same way as they did on the Bip S. The Bip S' improved fitness tracking The original Amazfit Bip covered the basics when it came to fitness tracking, but the Bip S takes it a step further by adding more workouts and better metrics. Whenever I started recording my walks on the watch, I had to whip out my phone to change the tracks. However, connectivity is unreliable, to say the least. It did the basic smartwatch tasks for much less than competitors, and it lasted up to 45 days on a single charge. In comparison, the Mi Band 4 registered 3,900 steps, while the Apple Health app on my phone counted 3,956 steps. Built-in GPS and optical heart rate monitor• But for some, that's all they really need. Bip S' long battery life makes sleep tracking a breeze Even with its spotty connectivity and mediocre smart features, this watch keeps going long after its competitors give up. I wore it for almost 10 days straight without having to charge it once, and that's a lot more than I can say for its pricier competitors. 1s ease-out;transition:color 0. Since testing the Amazfit Bip S, I've been able to track my stats accurately when I remember to do it properly. Heart rate monitoring on Amazfit Bip S Lite Sleep tracking on the Amazfit Bip S Lite is mostly accurate and it's broken into three phases - Deep sleep, Light sleep, and Awake. The smartwatch is water-resistant up to 50 meters. Waterproof up to 50 meters• The Bip S is a cheap option, but it won't replace your phone If you're looking for a smartwatch to free you from your phone once in a while, this is not it. All in all, besides a few basic apps for the weather and music control which is a step up from the original Bip , the watch basically mirrors your phone and doesn't have many standalone functions. Created by Chinese company Huami in 2018, the original Bip was a fan favorite from the get-go. It's thicker too, bulking up from a 9. Even when the Amazfit displayed my notifications properly, I couldn't do much with them. Sensors: PPG Bio-Tracking Optical Heart Rate Sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis geomagnetic sensor• But it's definitely the longest-running one. The Amazfit Bip S is the cheapest smartwatch in the company's ever-expanding collection, and there's a lot to like about it. We hope Amazfit fixes this with a future software update. The Bip S packs a 200mAh battery that's capable of delivering 40 days with basic usage, 15 days in typical usage, 90 days in standby mode and 22 hours when using GPS. The Sony chip takes a minute or two to lock on, but works just fine for tracking runs and walks. You get a bunch preloaded, with a few that can be customised to edit the data they display. After this review, I'm probably going to retire the Bip S for a smarter alternative. The Android and iOS-friendly smartwatch that can dish out notifications and includes a heart rate monitor and a built-in GPS to give it cheap running watch vibes. What we found during exercise is that the sensor seems to take a while to get going and can on occasions take a few minutes to display real-time heart rate data. What we found was that it wasn't really up to scratch. You'd be hard pressed to find a watch at this price than can offer what the Bip S does. Still, the problem did persist. Tap the check mark to confirm for pairing. While that screen might not be the prettiest, these features work absolutely fine. Run tracking compared: Amazfit Bip S left and centre and Garmin Forerunner 745 right For outdoor running, it fared pretty well for us. Amazfit Bip S left with Amazfit Bip S Lite right The main module of the Bip S Lite is made of polycarbonate, while the 20mm wide detachable straps have an adjustable length of 85-110mm. image-widthsetter,article figure. Amazfit's Android app needs some decluttering That said, the Bip S Lite runs Amazfit OS, which is quite responsive and comes with a simple UI. We've been living with it to find out. If you don't like the ones that come pre-loaded with the Bip S Lite, you have the option to download the custom watchfaces from the Amazfit app, which is now called Zepp. You don't have a power-hungry display and if you switched off features like continuous heart rate monitoring, you're more likely to get closer to those battery claims. 5 hours of indoor walking on each charge, but you will likely get different results depending on your usage and smartwatch settings. What you get for those sports tracking profiles as far as metrics varies. Scan the watch QR code, hen you will receive a pairing request on your watch. Like the Bip S, the Bip S Lite also displays the date, day, time and new notifications when charging, but not the exact charge level, which isn't ideal since you have to turn off the charging and open the Zepp app on the connected smartphone to check the battery percentage. You'll find a breakdown of your sleep, though it does lack REM stages. We aren't sports fanatics but need to keep track of heart rate. All the data is presented in a graphical form in the Zepp app, and you also get a sleep score and a few suggestions from Amazfit's sleep assistant to improve the quality of your sleep. If you're into watch faces, you can switch things up here. These include outdoor , treadmill, , walking, and swimming. 4mm thick plastic case is a paired up silicone and TPU mix that Amazfit declares is 'skin friendly'. When this is achieved, the risk of developing chronic illnesses like heart disease, hypertension and diabetes lowers, according to Huami. Beyond the convenience of not having to charge it at the end of each day, having it on 24-7 meant I tracked my sleep a lot more regularly than I did with other smartwatches. The fact that I didn't have to sideline it to a charger at the end of the day meant it never left my wrist. It does bring a bunch of activity tracking features to the table. Sleep data Next up is sports tracking. It's not perfect, but what it does it does well and it's a truly budget smartwatch we can recommend. Water Resistance Rating The Bip S is rated which makes it waterproof up to 50 meters. With continuous GPS tracking, Huami has stated 22 hours which is very much impressive and makes it a great choice for tracking extreme workout activities. PPG Bio-Tracking Optical Heart Rate Sensor on Amazfit Bip S Lite The heart rate can be measured manually on the Bip S Lite, but you also have the option to have it measured automatically at an interval of 1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, or 30 minutes. Read on for our full Amazfit Bip S review. It's high time Amazfit decluttered its official app to provide a better experience. Colors: Oxford Blue, Sakura Pink, and Charcoal Black• It's always on, which is a nice perk, but it's not quite as sharp, bright or responsive as a phone screen. Let's try to answer that with this review. Moreover, the Bip S will also track your steps, calories, sleep and continuous heart rate monitoring. Amazfit Bip S Lite specifications• 28-inch, 176 x 176 resolution always-on display with Corning's Gorilla Glass 3 adding an extra layer of protection. Painful app connectivity Each time you fire up the app, it takes a good few minutes to sync and reflect the latest data from the watch. 28" always-on transflective color display, having a resolution of 176x176 pixels, and the protection of 2. What you don't get is payments, a smart assistant, built-in music or any sort of apps at your disposal. However, it's best not used as a basis for diagnosis and treatment. I had to swipe or tap the screen a few times to get it to respond. The situation worsened for me when my phone restarted, in which case the Bluetooth connection was dropped for a bit. It's definitely not the most attractive smartwatch I've laid my eyes on, but it's practical and more comfortable to wear than some of the more premium, heavier watches that are bulkier.。 。
2
