I got a Balance about a month ago and I love it. I was previously daily driving a Galaxy Watch Active 2 and the battery life I get with the Balance is so much better. Being able to go 8+ days without having to worry about charging it is just amazing.
Finally a test where more mentioned the notification and options. From many testers missing these. Would be great to see how it is handling multiple messages in one group eg from Viber or Telegram.
Boy, this ticks the boxes for me... Think I'm going to have to keep an eye on Amazfit. Probably not replacing my Pixel Watch 2 for a few years, but if they make a sequel or two to this... Methinks that's where I'd land. 🤔
@@SomeGadgetGuy Fingers crossed that they keep it up. 🤞 I probably won't replace the PW2 until it stops getting updates and)/or battery life drops below a day, but I really miss the multi-day battery life I had on my FitBit Versa. And like you said in the video, notifications are key.
Been Amazfit user for years starting Amazfit Pace, which what got me into smartwatch/fitness tracker space. Now waiting for what to replace my Amazfit GTR 3. Either this Amazfit Balance or wait for GTR 5. Though they have come up to price these days leaning closer to Wear OS territory, for what you get it is still bit more affordable and offers that unique selling point of longer battery while enabling most features on. While Wear OS smartwatches will just last you for a day, another gadget to think about charging everyday.
I'm on 15 days with 15% battery like left. Regular use, no GPS use. I still use my Garmin for workouts and this one for regular daily use just so I don't get the band all sweaty. The battery life is incredible.
Have they added any music applets yet (like support for Amazon Music/UA-cam Music/etc.)? Was one of my big wants on my Balance, before I switched to WearOS. They give you 8 GB of storage, but if you want to use it for music, you had to upload mp3 files to the watch, which seems a bit 90's. Other than that, really like Amazfit, both software and hardware, with just a few minor refinements and tweaks, they'll be on par or even superior to WearOS. I've been so very tempted by their Balace/Helio Ring combo deal they have going right now...
I have always loved your channel, followed for years and appreciate your honest takes, even covering devices that many don't touch on. I have an amazfit balance but I'm not sure how to activate the talk-to-text reply feature that you showcased when receiving text messages. How did you do it?
When I open the message, I long-press the crown ( to activate zepp flow ) and I start the reply saying "tell her/him ( based on who's writing ) [message]". It works for me this way :)
I just saw a deal on the TW5 Enduro por 170€ I'm not sure if I should wait for the successor to the Balance or pull the trigger now, I'm already used to charging my old GW daily (the thing I hate the most about it)
I mean, I'm rocking with the TW still, and it JUST got WearOS4 (no google assistant still). Do you want more WearOS features with very good battery, or do you want even LONGER battery life?
@@SomeGadgetGuy OK, I'm pulling the trigger now and I'll be testing the Enduro extensively before the return period is up, thanks as usual Juan. The slightly recessed screen is a really important addition that I consider a must. Adding the sapphire crystal on top of that is just the cherry on top. Battery life is king as you say, the Balance is so close that I've also thought about abandoning WearOS altogether, plus, it is also nice to know that the watch would work with iOS if I ever decide to buy an iPhone. I hate being tied up to a brand or ecosystem.
I finally got back into the smartwatch game a couple weeks back. I had a galaxy gear back in 13 and replaced that with a moto 360 when the gear stopped turning on one day. Haven't worn one in something like 8 years and as a tech guy who has no interest in working out seeing the complete shift to packing 8 billion sensors and a hundred different fitness tracking metrics was kinda like whiplash. I want good notification support and a busy watch face that overloads me with information with stuff like weather and events and so on. Hell I even genuinely took a lot of photos on my galaxy gear watch, I do miss that. I would love to see a watch get the flagship treatment of good performance and support, build and screen, and swap the sensors out for, oh i dunno, a boatload more battery.
@@SomeGadgetGuy it's amazing. Amazfit did good especially with battery life. Got tired having to charge my Samsung everyday. Now I charge once a week to almost 2 weeks with the Amazfit.
Oh I gave up trying to figure it out. I was pitching them a series on advanced phone use and camera tutorials, and no one ever got back to me. I wasn't going to send them my cranky ranting videos, but they weren't interested in my "tech talk" stuff.
I seriously don't understand why act modern SmartWatch can't perform text to speech to respond to a text. Even my dinosaur of a Pebble Time can do that 🤷 🤦
Totally different market. Yes traditional watches will last even for next generation. But it won't have extra function that smartwatch does. I even own traditional watch for occasion and appreciate the craftsmanship, but I would be fool comparing that to any smartwatches. Actually this is why I prefer these lesser known but cheaper smartwatch that is almost as capable as WearOS or Apple Watch with longer battery life, since I know I will have to replace them in few years. Than spending alot of money to WearOS or Apple Watch that only have 2 days battery at most that will quickly degrade in few years and spend huge money again.
I got a Balance about a month ago and I love it. I was previously daily driving a Galaxy Watch Active 2 and the battery life I get with the Balance is so much better. Being able to go 8+ days without having to worry about charging it is just amazing.
It totally changes how you use a gadget, and it frees you from having to "manage" it.
Amazfit has been my daily driver for 3 years now... I love this watch
My mom is done with fitbits dying on her. I think her next might be an Amazfit.
If amazfit only replece this huge ,ugly crown for a button or rotate bezel like samsung🥰
Finally a test where more mentioned the notification and options. From many testers missing these. Would be great to see how it is handling multiple messages in one group eg from Viber or Telegram.
It gets messy when there's a batch of messages all at once, but the general "reply to that comment" usually works.
Boy, this ticks the boxes for me... Think I'm going to have to keep an eye on Amazfit. Probably not replacing my Pixel Watch 2 for a few years, but if they make a sequel or two to this... Methinks that's where I'd land. 🤔
I've liked their hardware a LOT, and the recent improvements to the watch software and companion app are encouraging.
@@SomeGadgetGuy Fingers crossed that they keep it up. 🤞 I probably won't replace the PW2 until it stops getting updates and)/or battery life drops below a day, but I really miss the multi-day battery life I had on my FitBit Versa. And like you said in the video, notifications are key.
A new version of Amazfit GTR/Balance is due out soon. Can't wait to see what comes out.
Hey, do you know when the new version will be released?
When? I'm looking forward what comes up to replace my GTR 3.
Trex 3 with stainless steel and microphone.
@@Cassadin1410 Saw review on TRex3 and it looked and performed very well. Very much worth it's $280 price.
Been Amazfit user for years starting Amazfit Pace, which what got me into smartwatch/fitness tracker space. Now waiting for what to replace my Amazfit GTR 3. Either this Amazfit Balance or wait for GTR 5. Though they have come up to price these days leaning closer to Wear OS territory, for what you get it is still bit more affordable and offers that unique selling point of longer battery while enabling most features on. While Wear OS smartwatches will just last you for a day, another gadget to think about charging everyday.
It would seem like such a small thing, but it's really liberating knowing you can go DAYS of heavy use away from a charger.
I nearly got one. The payment options in the UK were not ideal so I just ordered a OnePlus Watch 2R.
Cant fault that choice. The 2R is a great watch.
I'm on 15 days with 15% battery like left. Regular use, no GPS use. I still use my Garmin for workouts and this one for regular daily use just so I don't get the band all sweaty. The battery life is incredible.
It's SO good.
Is there a Version 2 coming soon ??
Have they added any music applets yet (like support for Amazon Music/UA-cam Music/etc.)? Was one of my big wants on my Balance, before I switched to WearOS. They give you 8 GB of storage, but if you want to use it for music, you had to upload mp3 files to the watch, which seems a bit 90's. Other than that, really like Amazfit, both software and hardware, with just a few minor refinements and tweaks, they'll be on par or even superior to WearOS. I've been so very tempted by their Balace/Helio Ring combo deal they have going right now...
Waiting for Balance version 2
I have always loved your channel, followed for years and appreciate your honest takes, even covering devices that many don't touch on.
I have an amazfit balance but I'm not sure how to activate the talk-to-text reply feature that you showcased when receiving text messages. How did you do it?
When I open the message, I long-press the crown ( to activate zepp flow ) and I start the reply saying "tell her/him ( based on who's writing ) [message]". It works for me this way :)
@@houmer69 thank you! That was my problem, I didn't have long press set to Zepp flow. Once that was changed it worked.
Hey that was cool to see you two chat that out. Thanks Houmer!
Hi,
Can anyone tell if whatsapp works properly? i.e replying to msgs typing, text to speech and voice msgs?
Do emojies, videos and images show?
Thanks
I just saw a deal on the TW5 Enduro por 170€ I'm not sure if I should wait for the successor to the Balance or pull the trigger now, I'm already used to charging my old GW daily (the thing I hate the most about it)
I mean, I'm rocking with the TW still, and it JUST got WearOS4 (no google assistant still). Do you want more WearOS features with very good battery, or do you want even LONGER battery life?
@@SomeGadgetGuy OK, I'm pulling the trigger now and I'll be testing the Enduro extensively before the return period is up, thanks as usual Juan. The slightly recessed screen is a really important addition that I consider a must. Adding the sapphire crystal on top of that is just the cherry on top.
Battery life is king as you say, the Balance is so close that I've also thought about abandoning WearOS altogether, plus, it is also nice to know that the watch would work with iOS if I ever decide to buy an iPhone. I hate being tied up to a brand or ecosystem.
Same. Critical that I can move accessories to other devices if I want to.
I finally got back into the smartwatch game a couple weeks back. I had a galaxy gear back in 13 and replaced that with a moto 360 when the gear stopped turning on one day. Haven't worn one in something like 8 years and as a tech guy who has no interest in working out seeing the complete shift to packing 8 billion sensors and a hundred different fitness tracking metrics was kinda like whiplash. I want good notification support and a busy watch face that overloads me with information with stuff like weather and events and so on. Hell I even genuinely took a lot of photos on my galaxy gear watch, I do miss that. I would love to see a watch get the flagship treatment of good performance and support, build and screen, and swap the sensors out for, oh i dunno, a boatload more battery.
A Pebble would do well in this market.
What I wouldnt give for a new pebble. I LOVED that watch.
@@SomeGadgetGuy I miss how easy it was to create mini apps for the Pebble platform.
Amzfit trex and gtr 4 owner over here
I REALLY need to spend more time with the new TRex. That thing looks AWESOME.
@@SomeGadgetGuy it's amazing. Amazfit did good especially with battery life. Got tired having to charge my Samsung everyday. Now I charge once a week to almost 2 weeks with the Amazfit.
Congrats of getting ZeppOS 3.5 update on your GTR 4. It's coming.
Hi guys, I'm thinking about buying one. How does the screen behave in direct sunlight?
is this a good Pebble replacement? or should I stick with my Ticwatch 3 GPS?
You need to put your content also on The Nebula
😉
They wouldnt have me. I asked.
@@SomeGadgetGuy You're fkn kidding!?!?!
From my end as a Nebula Consumer, you'd fit right in!!!
How weird.
Who do I take it up wth at Nebula???
Oh I gave up trying to figure it out. I was pitching them a series on advanced phone use and camera tutorials, and no one ever got back to me. I wasn't going to send them my cranky ranting videos, but they weren't interested in my "tech talk" stuff.
@@SomeGadgetGuy That's too bad, man.....
I seriously don't understand why act modern SmartWatch can't perform text to speech to respond to a text. Even my dinosaur of a Pebble Time can do that 🤷 🤦
What I wouldn't give for a new Pebble... SIgh...
Balance can do it using Zepp Flow. The AI understands commands to perform on the watch as well as replying to text by you speaking to it.
So, where's the AI aspect? Or is it just another useless naming scheming like the MSI Claw AI?
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Hey ! First ! Lol
Just buy a Seiko Marinemaster 300 and you are done with this plastic digital crap for next 100 years.
Totally different market. Yes traditional watches will last even for next generation. But it won't have extra function that smartwatch does. I even own traditional watch for occasion and appreciate the craftsmanship, but I would be fool comparing that to any smartwatches.
Actually this is why I prefer these lesser known but cheaper smartwatch that is almost as capable as WearOS or Apple Watch with longer battery life, since I know I will have to replace them in few years. Than spending alot of money to WearOS or Apple Watch that only have 2 days battery at most that will quickly degrade in few years and spend huge money again.