After quite some time of using Amazfit 2 as sportstracker mostly for running, I would like to share my experiences and comment on issues I have found. I have bought Amazfit 2 as a cheap replacement for garmin forerunner 220 I have used in the past. My feelings are quite mixed in the end. One of the highlights of amazfit is its build. It is build to last, looks nicely and fells durable in comparison with low to mid class garmin devices. However, there is lot of issues that in my opinion render it unusable for serious sport tracking:
GPS recording - There is discrepancy between mileage showed on watches (and in Amazfit app) vs mileage actually written in GPX file. So when your activity gets uploaded into Strava (or you then export it to Endomondo etc.), there is major difference (up to 2 %) in total mileage and thus also in pace etc. This is critical flaw.
Pace - One of the most important features of running sport tester is its ability to indicate current tempo. However, Amazfit readings fluctuate wildly, so it is really of not much use. For example, when jogging at constant pace, it quickly jumps between 4:00-5:30 min per km. In garmin devices, this get averaged and probably even anticipates hand movement, so you get quite good impression of how fast are you running at the moment. This is another major drawback of amazfit.
Altitude - I have noticed that for running, amazfit uses altitude from GPS only. Therefore, it is very inaccurate and completely useless - serves more like a random number generator. If you use "trail run" acitivity, altitude is measured through barometric sensor only, which is also less accurate. On garmin devices with barometer, altitude is measeured through combination of both sensors and measurements are very accurate (I got this impression after using Strava's correct elevation functionality).
Heart rate - For me, heart rate measurement during activity provides very poor readings. Even though i am having watches tightened fairly strong. For my regular runs at 150-160 bpm (measured through chest strap), typical stratos reading is around 120. Only sporadically, it gets closer to real values for certain period of workout. But in general, it is useless. It works same for my friend who also bought Amazfit for running. It seems to perform better when cycling (maybe because there is not that much hand movement - I dunno). However at this price tag, it is not realistic to expect any kind of accuracy from optical sensor. It is probably something very basic, it can be compared with garmin devices, which provide kind of realistic measurements. Downside of stratos is also the fact that it does not support ANT+ protocol, so most quality chest straps are not supported.
First beat features - These are in theory very nice. However as they are mostly based on HR readings, which are totaly offshot in Amazfit, they are not of much use.
However, this is something you might expect, as amazfit costs fraction of most other comparable devices, that can actually be used as sports tracker. In general, I would say, for a price it is still good buy for a nice looking smartwatch. For usage as sport tester, it has very nice hardware, however lacks proper software, which is probably not going to get changed.
Abandonned my Stratos because steps count are totaly wrong. Works if you start a fitness exercice with continuous walk or run but unusable as daily tracker. Steps are at minimum 2 time below real steps. I have real steps with a Fitbit One wich count only steps and not arm movement. Stratos daily steps also totally wrong compared to : Apple Watch, Gear Watch, Fitbit Watch, Garmin Watch.
Other thing is the current temp. Works sometime but often no data and display only min/max of the forecast for the day so unusable to have a forecast and not current temps. When we have a feature it must works or deleted
Notifications truncated but works on Android phone but ramdomly on IOS phone.
Not ready for prime time, just as prototype for tester.
thanks great review
Poborak said:
After quite some time of using Amazfit 2 as sportstracker mostly for running, I would like to share my experiences and comment on issues I have found. I have bought Amazfit 2 as a cheap replacement for garmin forerunner 220 I have used in the past. My feelings are quite mixed in the end. One of the highlights of amazfit is its build. It is build to last, looks nicely and fells durable in comparison with low to mid class garmin devices. However, there is lot of issues that in my opinion render it unusable for serious sport tracking:
GPS recording - There is discrepancy between mileage showed on watches (and in Amazfit app) vs mileage actually written in GPX file. So when your activity gets uploaded into Strava (or you then export it to Endomondo etc.), there is major difference (up to 2 %) in total mileage and thus also in pace etc. This is critical flaw.
Pace - One of the most important features of running sport tester is its ability to indicate current tempo. However, Amazfit readings fluctuate wildly, so it is really of not much use. For example, when jogging at constant pace, it quickly jumps between 4:00-5:30 min per km. In garmin devices, this get averaged and probably even anticipates hand movement, so you get quite good impression of how fast are you running at the moment. This is another major drawback of amazfit.
Altitude - I have noticed that for running, amazfit uses altitude from GPS only. Therefore, it is very inaccurate and completely useless - serves more like a random number generator. If you use "trail run" acitivity, altitude is measured through barometric sensor only, which is also less accurate. On garmin devices with barometer, altitude is measeured through combination of both sensors and measurements are very accurate (I got this impression after using Strava's correct elevation functionality).
Heart rate - For me, heart rate measurement during activity provides very poor readings. Even though i am having watches tightened fairly strong. For my regular runs at 150-160 bpm (measured through chest strap), typical stratos reading is around 120. Only sporadically, it gets closer to real values for certain period of workout. But in general, it is useless. It works same for my friend who also bought Amazfit for running. It seems to perform better when cycling (maybe because there is not that much hand movement - I dunno). However at this price tag, it is not realistic to expect any kind of accuracy from optical sensor. It is probably something very basic, it can be compared with garmin devices, which provide kind of realistic measurements. Downside of stratos is also the fact that it does not support ANT+ protocol, so most quality chest straps are not supported.
First beat features - These are in theory very nice. However as they are mostly based on HR readings, which are totaly offshot in Amazfit, they are not of much use.
However, this is something you might expect, as amazfit costs fraction of most other comparable devices, that can actually be used as sports tracker. In general, I would say, for a price it is still good buy for a nice looking smartwatch. For usage as sport tester, it has very nice hardware, however lacks proper software, which is probably not going to get changed.
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Its great to have a review from sport tracker point of view . After watching many youtube reviews I was in impression that this watch is a steal but now I think they have compromised on GPS , Optical heart sensor and software . I think now I will stick to my TomTom Spark as its fairly accurate in both department and wait for AmazeFit 3. Thanks for the great review :good:
I love my Stratos 2S...
I am not a professional athlete and for my use it is more than ideal! A great price for what it offers, without mentioning the battery life.
Guto ViP said:
I love my Stratos 2S...
I am not a professional athlete and for my use it is more than ideal! A great price for what it offers, without mentioning the battery life.
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These are my thoughts exactly. I recently ordered the Stratos and saw this thread thinking "Oh no, should I cancel my order?" but reading the details, the concerns raised by OP are likely not of concern for anyone that is not particularly "serious" about their athletics. In other-words, it's exactly what it looks like - an lower cost alternative to professional sports tracking devices. 2% inaccuracies in the distance traveled is actually ideal for my purposes - I may run about 5 miles at a time, so if it indicates I ran 4.9 or 5.1 miles (~2% is 0.1 miles), I would have no problems there since I likely set my stop point based on Google maps to begin with!
All the other metrics such as altitude, pace, and HR, I would treat as relative to my initial readings. Eg, if I started a run at 100 ft elevation and 70BPM, I would simply look at how much of a difference from that I varied and only care if I saw absurdly huge variances.
I appreciate the insights, and the details provided by OP, but I think it actually sends a different message to some users - instead of saying "it's quite useless", it's really just quite useless for OP and serious (or professional) athletic tracking. For every day, average joe/casual users, we're mostly glad to hear there's only a 2% variance.
Thanks for the details analysis! Looking forward to receiving my watch.
Individuals have different expectation. For its price, I will never think it can be as good as Garmin or much more expensive trackers. Serious athletes should never consider this Stratos watch unless you can accept certain flaws for its much lower price tag. It's quite unfair to compare it with those trackers and come with the conclusion that it's useless while many others are happy with it.
I will never think it can be as good as Garmin or much more expensive trackers
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Bingo. There's a reason a Garmin costs 2, 3 times as much. It's not that the Amazfits are bad they just may lack some of the refinement/accuracy of more expensive devices.
On a value-for-money count, they score high.
Poborak said:
After quite some time of using Amazfit 2 [...].
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I agree to all points. I have each experience the same after few weeks and several activities with this watch already performed.
I can only wish that firmware updates will improve most of weaknesses.
I have compared vivoactive 3/gamin fenix 5/polar m430/amazfit stratos and I will keep only the stratos, I explain shortly my decision:
Calories burned in all the day and training in gym (I'm bodybuilder) with a chest strap are the same (+/- 50) than the garmin.
Y use elpitical profile to track the gym activity and problem solved.
Amazing product for this price, the app is very good. 130 Euros VS..... no VS.
cons
nice watches, though i will get rid of tomtom spark 3 cardio, but Stratos showing wrong hr even with hr belt, instead of 48 showing high 70... even with belt the optical diode is still flashing. looks like bugged evo model to me...
Poborak said:
GPS recording - There is discrepancy between mileage showed on watches (and in Amazfit app) vs mileage actually written in GPX file. So when your activity gets uploaded into Strava (or you then export it to Endomondo etc.), there is major difference (up to 2 %) in total mileage and thus also in pace etc. This is critical flaw.
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Click to collapse
For GPS is pretty accurate. I have a track that I use for years now. Ran it with different watches (Vivoactive, Fitbit Ionic, TomTom etc). All of them had different mileage. And the Stratos is in the range of the others. Same for Strava: As far as I know Strava is automaticly correcting the length of the run based on their own algorithms.
I had an Garmin Vivoactive 3 before which costs twice as Stratos and was returned and refunded because of 2 hardware defects. I can only compare my Stratos to the VA3.
Distance: Same on both devices but little difference to Strava (both).
Pace: Same on both devices but Vivoactive 3 is updating move frequently and giving more pace alerts.
Altitude: Good to OK for Stratos, totally off for VA3. Strava corrects it anyway so I do not mind. For accurate altitude one needs to have a Suunto or Polar watch.
Step count: Only fine in walking activities on Stratos. For whole day it is counting much less than VA3. Amazfit should use a different algorithm for all day steps as others do. But I do not care about steps that much and VA3 is also not counting baby stroller steps.
Intensity minutes: The only reliable measurement on the VA3 but not available at Stratos.
Floor count: Garmin VA3 was OK but omitting some. Stratos stopped to count my floors since now the threshold seems to be much higher than 3 m.
Activities: Stratos missing important activity types as cardio or yoga. I am using elliptical for that which has almost same calorie count.
Heart rate sensor: Garmin has one of the best (it not the best) and because Vivoactive 3 is small and light it is the best watch at Garmin for recording. But still one needs to use a chest strap for high intensity activities or intervals. Stratos sensor is really bad but OK for resting heart rate and if one puts it higher on the arm and makes it tight than good enough for running or cycling.
Usage: Garmins VA3 has a crappy touch interface with a lot of annoyances and no mood to fix it. Stratos is more easy to operate but to slow and sometimes buggy.
App: Garmins Connect app is not really an app but just a web view. It holds a lot of data which is sometimes confusing but only works while having an active internet connection. Without internet is is not possible so sync activities to the smartphone nor checking data on the smartphone app. Stratos app is functional without internet but can only sync to Strava.
Verdict: I would be totally happy with the Stratos if the bugs are fixed and it had cardio and yoga activity types. I also like the Firstbeat features like recovery time and training effect. Garmins Vivoactive 3 is doing OK as an expensive activity tracker but has no training features and an annoying user interface and also some bugs like wrong altitude.
battery life with HR belt
guys whats your battery life with HR belt? I get -38% of battery after 2hr run with HR belt + GPS /optical switched off/, no backlight.
any hints?
my tomtom spark 3 runs for 8h15m with gps and HR belt, 7hr when skitouring /sub 0`C temp/
Hr measurements are completely off i take jabbra sport earbud for this and they connect to the stratos so ok
What annoys me the more is the altitude completely off hope they will introduce a manual input for this ... and sometimes it freeze ?
Great review of real runner, thank you!
Jabbra sport earbud
pbxl said:
Hr measurements are completely off i take jabbra sport earbud for this and they connect to the stratos so ok
What annoys me the more is the altitude completely off hope they will introduce a manual input for this ... and sometimes it freeze
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Hi could you share the exact model, would like to get the same earbuds for heart rate measurements.
Thanks
Thank you guys fir your support
Go for it your are sports nerd
Go for it your are sports nerd
The active running screen can't be consider good. there's no current lap pace. you'll be blind
Reported to its price it is good, three main characteristics make it a good product:
- 5 days on single charge
- always on screen
- good price
- as an alternative you can buy garmin vivomove hr, it's a little bit more expensive and don't have so much activities as stratos, but the application on smartphone is better.
No big cons
I had Amazfit Pace for 1.5 years, then I replaced it with Amazfit Stratos, and although it was pricier, I wouldn't go back to the Pace.
There was 2-3 minor hiccups during the 3+ months, but nothing dealbreaker.
Stratos has 3 buttons, so it's more convenient to start/stop your activity this way, but the one button of the Pace was just sufficient for me.
If you have more money, buy the Stratos (around $150 on GearBest), if you have less, buy the Pace (if you're lucky, you can get it for around $90 on GB).
So what are the cons? If you don't like 'flat tyre' displays, you won't like Amazfit's display - both has this 'effect'.
If you want crystal clear, bright and colorful display, buy an Apple Watch or a Samsung Gear 2/3... with AMOLED display - the Amazfit has transflective display, so it's quite dim and pale indoors, but more than perfect outdoors without consuming more energy than indoors (it's the opposite).
The Stratos is bigger and bulkier than the Pace, but only by a little. Most Garmin and Suunto watches are bigger, bulkier, heavier and a lot pricier than even the Stratos without providing better battery life. I know, the high-end Garmins provide more precise GPS data, but only for 10 to 15 hours, while you can constantly use your GPS on the Pace or on the Stratos for 30+ hours on a full charge.
The Pace has IP67, the Stratos has IP68 rating. Believe me, you will like any of them.
...
I read in other post that the build quality is questionable, the connectors gets rusty because of sweat!!?? So what are your thoughts? Thanks
The problem appears on Pace, but only if you swim or shower with it. No such a problem for Stratos.
I have a pace and don't find any reason besides the Waterproof to upgrate to the pricier stratos. I run and trail bike, why won't you go back to pace?
I have a pace, everything is ok in it.
I had a problem with water a month ago, that I think it was my mistake. I used it under water.
by removing mic the problem is solved and I have 6 day battery now.
and if you want to by pace because it is cheaper, or take it away from water, or seal up its mic hole with glue, and yu be safe and ok with a very nice watch.
Guys, does it make sense to upgrade from PACE to Stratos or wait for Verge?
I'm so close to buying Suunto 9 or Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, but I have a feeling that Stratos or Verge will be just as good for simple sports and mainly smartphone notifications.
What's your view on this?
kufor said:
Guys, does it make sense to upgrade from PACE to Stratos or wait for Verge?
I'm so close to buying Suunto 9 or Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, but I have a feeling that Stratos or Verge will be just as good for simple sports and mainly smartphone notifications.
What's your view on this?
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Pace, Stratos are very good smartwatches, altmost as good as garmin, the only problem is that you cannot respond to messages for official rom (it is possible if you install a custom rom or watch droid). Why to buy a garmin, much more expensive if you have Pace or Stratos?
tiberiu20 said:
Pace, Stratos are very good smartwatches, altmost as good as garmin, the only problem is that you cannot respond to messages for official rom (it is possible if you install a custom rom or watch droid). Why to buy a garmin, much more expensive if you have Pace or Stratos?
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For running it's not as good as Garmin because you can have information about a lap (lap time / lap distance / lap pace) for example. It's a basic feature for runner.
The only thing you can have is related to previous lap...
kufor said:
Guys, does it make sense to upgrade from PACE to Stratos or wait for Verge?
I'm so close to buying Suunto 9 or Garmin Fenix 5 Plus, but I have a feeling that Stratos or Verge will be just as good for simple sports and mainly smartphone notifications.
What's your view on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't consider upgrading from Pace to Verge because of the amoled screen. When I'm running or biking I need to take a fast look at the screen and would be dificult to press a button to show info. Also amoled screens ins't the best for reading on sunlight.
To me the Verge is more an urban user smartwatch with sports features.
I think I will wait for more one year for a pace/stratos real update with LCD and the new heart rate sensor.
I recently switched to Stratos and it's huge in comparison to Pace. Thicker and bigger in diameter but with the same screen size and the same hw specs. Buttons are also big, probably intentionally, to easily press during workout, in gloves, etc. For some workouts, like weight lifting, with smaller wrist, buttons may be a problem.
Overall watch looks more premium but charger is opposite, looks way cheaper than one for Pace. Pace charger is not compatible with Stratos. Also, cable cannot be removed. Plus is that watch is waterproof.
Stratos GUI is a bit different, features are the same plus two about workout efficiency and VO2.
Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk
Zeljko1234 said:
I recently switched to Stratos and it's huge in comparison to Pace. Thicker and bigger in diameter but with the same screen size and the same hw specs. Buttons are also big, probably intentionally, to easily press during workout, in gloves, etc. For some workouts, like weight lifting, with smaller wrist, buttons may be a problem.
Overall watch looks more premium but charger is opposite, looks way cheaper than one for Pace. Pace charger is not compatible with Stratos. Also, cable cannot be removed. Plus is that watch is waterproof.
Stratos GUI is a bit different, features are the same plus two about workout efficiency and VO2.
Sent from my XT1635-02 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
I bought a few cheap Stratos charging docks from GearBest a few months ago, these have a micro USB port instead of the damned built-in cable, so I can use it with and micro USB cable I just want.
I liked the Pace, I love the Stratos, and I only had two minor hiccups needing a restart, other than that everything's smooth and fine.
BTW, before the Pace I had a Polar M400, which was fine, but after a while I hated to connect my watch to my PC each time to upload the data to the cloud, and I hated the 5-6 hours GPS time - the Amazfit Pace was a miracle compared to that, and although the Stratos is mostly a Pace on steroids, I like it even more.
So a Garmin or Suunto watch has more functionality, but since I walk a lot instead of doing multiple sports, the 3 to 4 times higher price wouldn't worth the added extra I wouldn't even use.
Yeah, I've ordered charger with micro USB. It's mainly to have spare one. Let's how will work.
---------- Post added at 06:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:58 PM ----------
Forgot to add, Stratos has half of the faces available for Pace. And none of them are really good. Also, because watch is bigger and heavier, mid vibration is hardly noticeable. Especially as waking up alarm. So I had to set to high which drains battery more. With my usage, Stratos batter lasts about 4 days. At least one day less than Pace.
Hi there,
i've the pace watch but sometimes have bad readings on running mode. It cuts 1K in 5K wich it's to much. Already tried everything but the dam problem persists.
I might updtate for the stratos or verge but whould like your oppinons wich one it's better for sports. When i mean better i want to say the best sensors for sports.
If it was you to want keep the best tracking on your running progresse wich one whould you choose?
Regards
stratos
I would say stratos because to be capable of actually seeing the screen at sunlight its the biggest pro, but i see always a lot of people with problems about it: functions buttons or the back hr glass falling.
Pace would be perfect if water resistant and vo2 calculation.
iscao said:
Hi there,
i've the pace watch but sometimes have bad readings on running mode. It cuts 1K in 5K wich it's to much. Already tried everything but the dam problem persists.
I might updtate for the stratos or verge but whould like your oppinons wich one it's better for sports. When i mean better i want to say the best sensors for sports.
If it was you to want keep the best tracking on your running progresse wich one whould you choose?
Regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well i bought Verge. I read about Stratos (included + version), but Verge i liked much more. First at all Stratos have bigger price. Difference is almost 100 euro, but differences in specifications almost there is no. So why to spend almost 100 euro more for: possibility to swim with watch, oxygen tracking and if for you is important, Stratos is premium class watch. Yes, i agree Stratos looks great, but that cost for you much more. Stratos have better water protection and one of sport mode is swimming. Coz i don't like to swim, i don't care this protection so much, even when Verge have not bad water protection too (IP68). And as i mentioned Stratos have VO2max, that's mean that you can track maximum rate of oxygen consumption measured during incremental exercise. Why price is bigger i don't know. But that was one of reason why i bought Verge. Second reason was microphone/soundspeaker. I had before smart band with possibility to call/answer a call over band, so that was important to me. Sometime is useful - believe me. Of course to talk in public maybe is not smarter idea, but when yours hands is busy (for example you playing games, working at home and ect) it's really good helper. Also Verge is newest, that was reason too why i choice Verge. Why so important? Most newest devices have better, great features. Verge is not exception. I don't know very well have Stratos voice assistant or not, coz i saw in specifications only about it, but in it wasn't posted possibility to talk over it, so i guest Stratos havn't voice assistant. Voice asistant had my previous wearable device, it's cool thing sometime to joke, make funnies things and ect. I did not used a lot, but i wanted to have it again. As i mentioned sometime when yours hands is busy to talk with yours watch (for example weather information, to call somebody and ect.) is great idea, of course only not in public
Stratos as i mentioned saw in paper only, in shop i saw how it look, but that's all, i went then to buy Verge, so more about Stratos in reality i did not checked. In paper is written what Verge have better: display (OLED), when Stratos have only LCD. So in sunlight to see display will be better in OLED display as in LCD. Verge have voice assitant, as i mentioned, but at this moment this feature is availbale only in US and China markets. But i hope soon will be availabel in Europe too included all rest world. Verge have NFC for payment, but as i know it working only in China right now (payments in shops, public transport and ect.), but as i know Huami/Amazfit working on this right now and must be available in others market too soon, probably again maybe first will be in US, later i hope in all rest wold. Stratos as i know that not have. Resolution of Verge is better too, Stratos have only 320x300 px and a little bit bigger screen, when Verge have 360x360. Stratos have 1.34, Verge 1.3 screen. Water protection of Stratos is 5 ATM, Verge as i mentioned have IP68. What a differences? With 5 ATM you can swim to 50 meters water depth, when with Verge you can be sure protection from rain and something like this. But usually IP68 means 30 meters water depth too, so if you drop watch to similar water pool and quickly throw it, i think will not big problem. One guy russian in youtube i saw swam with Verge too, just he siad is important to do not push HOME key over water. Watch after swim worked in video fine. By the way it's not recommend by Amazfit/Huami with Verge. So all responsibility is yours if you ever will buy Verge and will be test like this guy. What else? Battery, processors, memory and ect.? If say honest these both models is good, Verge and Stratos by specifications is very similar, most differences i posted, you can check more in https://us.amazfit.com/shop/stratos?variant=373265 and here https://us.amazfit.com/shop/verge?variant=451600. All others is almost the same. By the way, coz i have Verge, i can say more. One minus is that Verge is plastic, but is not cheap plastic. But i have to say that band is very bracelet lubricate. I have this watch from 2019 February and already is some spots which impossible to clean. But keep in mind band is changeable, so it's not very big problem. You can buy new band and change it in any moment. You asked about sports? Well Verge have 12 sport modes (Stratos is written 12+, maybe it's mean more), but most modes is the same from: running to soccer or tennis, so i recommend to buy Verge if price for you is important, you like to talk over watch, voice assistant and ect. By the way with both models you can sport and listen music without phone, so as i mentioned both models is good, but Verge have much more features, price is lower and looks greta too. Like real sport watch Both models have Reddot and IF awards if this important too for you
xdauser2019 said:
Well i bought Verge. I read about Stratos (included + version), but Verge i liked much more. First at all Stratos have bigger price. Difference is almost 100 euro, but differences in specifications almost there is no. So why to spend almost 100 euro more for: possibility to swim with watch, oxygen tracking and if for you is important, Stratos is premium class watch. Yes, i agree Stratos looks great, but that cost for you much more. Stratos have better water protection and one of sport mode is swimming. Coz i don't like to swim, i don't care this protection so much, even when Verge have not bad water protection too (IP68). And as i mentioned Stratos have VO2max, that's mean that you can track maximum rate of oxygen consumption measured during incremental exercise. Why price is bigger i don't know. But that was one of reason why i bought Verge. Second reason was microphone/soundspeaker. I had before smart band with possibility to call/answer a call over band, so that was important to me. Sometime is useful - believe me. Of course to talk in public maybe is not smarter idea, but when yours hands is busy (for example you playing games, working at home and ect) it's really good helper. Also Verge is newest, that was reason too why i choice Verge. Why so important? Most newest devices have better, great features. Verge is not exception. I don't know very well have Stratos voice assistant or not, coz i saw in specifications only about it, but in it wasn't posted possibility to talk over it, so i guest Stratos havn't voice assistant. Voice asistant had my previous wearable device, it's cool thing sometime to joke, make funnies things and ect. I did not used a lot, but i wanted to have it again. As i mentioned sometime when yours hands is busy to talk with yours watch (for example weather information, to call somebody and ect.) is great idea, of course only not in public
Stratos as i mentioned saw in paper only, in shop i saw how it look, but that's all, i went then to buy Verge, so more about Stratos in reality i did not checked. In paper is written what Verge have better: display (OLED), when Stratos have only LCD. So in sunlight to see display will be better in OLED display as in LCD. Verge have voice assitant, as i mentioned, but at this moment this feature is availbale only in US and China markets. But i hope soon will be availabel in Europe too included all rest world. Verge have NFC for payment, but as i know it working only in China right now (payments in shops, public transport and ect.), but as i know Huami/Amazfit working on this right now and must be available in others market too soon, probably again maybe first will be in US, later i hope in all rest wold. Stratos as i know that not have. Resolution of Verge is better too, Stratos have only 320x300 px and a little bit bigger screen, when Verge have 360x360. Stratos have 1.34, Verge 1.3 screen. Water protection of Stratos is 5 ATM, Verge as i mentioned have IP68. What a differences? With 5 ATM you can swim to 50 meters water depth, when with Verge you can be sure protection from rain and something like this. But usually IP68 means 30 meters water depth too, so if you drop watch to similar water pool and quickly throw it, i think will not big problem. One guy russian in youtube i saw swam with Verge too, just he siad is important to do not push HOME key over water. Watch after swim worked in video fine. By the way it's not recommend by Amazfit/Huami with Verge. So all responsibility is yours if you ever will buy Verge and will be test like this guy. What else? Battery, processors, memory and ect.? If say honest these both models is good, Verge and Stratos by specifications is very similar, most differences i posted, you can check more in https://us.amazfit.com/shop/stratos?variant=373265 and here https://us.amazfit.com/shop/verge?variant=451600. All others is almost the same. By the way, coz i have Verge, i can say more. One minus is that Verge is plastic, but is not cheap plastic. But i have to say that band is very bracelet lubricate. I have this watch from 2019 February and already is some spots which impossible to clean. But keep in mind band is changeable, so it's not very big problem. You can buy new band and change it in any moment. You asked about sports? Well Verge have 12 sport modes (Stratos is written 12+, maybe it's mean more), but most modes is the same from: running to soccer or tennis, so i recommend to buy Verge if price for you is important, you like to talk over watch, voice assistant and ect. By the way with both models you can sport and listen music without phone, so as i mentioned both models is good, but Verge have much more features, price is lower and looks greta too. Like real sport watch Both models have Reddot and IF awards if this important too for you
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I just want to correct you if i got it right. Stratos has LCD but it is transreflective so it is better for direct sunlight than the Amoled display of the Verge. The more the light the more visible display you get with transreflective LCD.
Other than that great post with a lot of info
PsychoTribe said:
I just want to correct you if i got it right. Stratos has LCD but it is transreflective so it is better for direct sunlight than the Amoled display of the Verge. The more the light the more visible display you get with transreflective LCD.
Other than that great post with a lot of info
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Well how i can see review about Samsung's smartphones with Super AMOLED, most siad there is no problem to see in sunlight smartphone screen, but probably i forgot that Super AMOLED and AMOLED is two different display. Samsung's Super AMOLED technology addresses this issue by reducing the size of gaps between layers of the screen. So sorry for my mistake, a little bit i forgot that Verge got just AMOLED, there is no word "super" here. So yes you are right, AMOLED displays may be difficult to view in direct sunlight compared with LCDs because of their reduced maximum brightness, but AMOLED anyways is better display as LCD, much more brightness, colours are very beautiful and ect. There is no just middle in life, all good things have minus, like minus have plus too. There is no in life PERFECT things, yet As i mentioned Verge is better watch in most things, display still is one of best thing in this watch. Sunlight? Well i will say honest, when i using watch face with mechanic/analog clock is a little bit hard to see time rarly, but when i using digital clock watch face, there is no any problem at all. And if will be honest to the end it was just one time from February. Most time i don't have this problem at all. So yes i still recommend to buy Verge, this watch is just amazing for low price. Stratos? It's almost the same watch with bigger price, just mentioned some things is different, but Verge have much more features and ect
For me, as i said before, be able to look at the watch at sunlight and see it without any problem is a key feature, transrreflective creen, maybe uglier but more usefull for a sport watch
Csmrcc said:
For me, as i said before, be able to look at the watch at sunlight and see it without any problem is a key feature, transrreflective creen, maybe uglier but more usefull for a sport watch
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Spend almost 100 euros just for that i don't think it's smart idea As i mentioned Verge is better and this is not my one opinion By the way Verge is not bad choice for sunlight too, i everything wrote, but again 100 more just for better see in sunlight, when Verge have much more and better display??? Really?
LCD better for sport? Can you proof that by some test and ect? Or this is just yours opinion? Coz i did not found any test about better display for sport, can you post link? Not opinion?
You distort the facts and present them as a serious argument, proven scientifically. It's just your opinion, as I have it. But I also write that it is my opinion, be good not to distort the facts, because it is misleading to the person who is obviously unclear what model to buy, you have to choose bags with distortions.
xdauser2019 said:
Spend almost 100 euros just for that i don't think it's smart idea As i mentioned Verge is better and this is not my one opinion By the way Verge is not bad choice for sunlight too, i everything wrote, but again 100 more just for better see in sunlight, when Verge have much more and better display??? Really?
LCD better for sport? Can you proof that by some test and ect? Or this is just yours opinion? Coz i did not found any test about better display for sport, can you post link? Not opinion?
You distort the facts and present them as a serious argument, proven scientifically. It's just your opinion, as I have it. But I also write that it is my opinion, be good not to distort the facts, because it is misleading to the person who is obviously unclear what model to buy, you have to choose bags with distortions.
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As i and the others point out and is a key to that is the "transflective" LCD check out the internet how it functions. It is type of lcd display that uses reflected ambient light to let you see the image on the display, same as the older digital monochrome display of the watches but with added colors. The stronger the light the better the visibility of the display. That is the reason most of the users consider it better for sport activity as most are done outside. And yes it can be better than amoled or super amoled. Top brands making fitness oriented smart watches as Garmin and Suunto even on the high end price tags use this type of screens. Also this is more energy efficient type of display and letting the manufacturer to make more long lasting battery life or enable the watch to use the energy for other features and keep the battery life to the 3-5 day mark.
Edit: By better than Amoled i mean readability, not colors and contrast. The readability is very important for someone that want to track his activity in the process.
xdauser2019 said:
Spend almost 100 euros just for that i don't think it's smart idea As i mentioned Verge is better and this is not my one opinion By the way Verge is not bad choice for sunlight too, i everything wrote, but again 100 more just for better see in sunlight, when Verge have much more and better display??? Really?
LCD better for sport? Can you proof that by some test and ect? Or this is just yours opinion? Coz i did not found any test about better display for sport, can you post link? Not opinion?
You distort the facts and present them as a serious argument, proven scientifically. It's just your opinion, as I have it. But I also write that it is my opinion, be good not to distort the facts, because it is misleading to the person who is obviously unclear what model to buy, you have to choose bags with distortions.
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Well, i´m not gonna argue here, we dont have that need.
That the transreflective screen is better for outdoor sports its not my opinion, you really have to see it, its just a fact that is more readable than any other kind of scrren at sunlight, i had other lcd smartwatches its not a fanboy opinion. And for me this is the key for a sportwatch.
Also, i have a pace, i think it is better on a price/features relation considering i dont swim with it. So no, i dont spend 100 euros more for anything (stratos).
Like +/- 100 € for a pace smartwatch with gps, good screen at sunlight, good materials, wifi and bluetooth, musicplayer, etc its the best deal i think, unless you swim with it. But this is my opinion yes.
PsychoTribe said:
As i and the others point out and is a key to that is the "transflective" LCD check out the internet how it functions. It is type of lcd display that uses reflected ambient light to let you see the image on the display, same as the older digital monochrome display of the watches but with added colors. The stronger the light the better the visibility of the display. That is the reason most of the users consider it better for sport activity as most are done outside. And yes it can be better than amoled or super amoled. Top brands making fitness oriented smart watches as Garmin and Suunto even on the high end price tags use this type of screens. Also this is more energy efficient type of display and letting the manufacturer to make more long lasting battery life or enable the watch to use the energy for other features and keep the battery life to the 3-5 day mark.
Edit: By better than Amoled i mean readability, not colors and contrast. The readability is very important for someone that want to track his activity in the process.
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Click to collapse
Suunto 5 White - https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/suunto-5/suunto-5-white/ LED Display
Suunto 9 Baro - https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/suunto-9-baro/suunto-9-baro-titanium/ LED Display
Suunto 9 White - https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/suunto-9/suunto-9-white/ LED Display
Suunto 3 Fitness - https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/suunto-3-fitness/suunto-3-fitness-copper/ LED Display
Suunto 9 Bravo Titanum - https://www.suunto.com/Products/spo...aro-titanium-red-bull-x-alps-limited-edition/ LED Display
Suunto Spartan Sport - https://www.suunto.com/Products/spo...aro/suunto-spartan-sport-wrist-hr-baro-amber/ LED Display
Suunto Spartan Trainer - https://www.suunto.com/Products/spo...ist-hr/suunto-spartan-trainer-wrist-hr-steel/ LED Display
Suunto Spartan Sport - https://www.suunto.com/Products/spo...t-hr/Suunto-Spartan-Sport-Wrist-HR-All-Black/ LED Display
... and others models.
What's the different? Answer https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/led-vs-lcd-tvs/
How about others?
Huawei - https://consumer.huawei.com/en/wearables/ 5 AMOLED, others OLED or PMOLED
Apple - https://www.apple.com/lae/watch/compare/ OLED Retina
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G - https://www.samsung.com/uk/wearables/galaxy-watch/ Super AMOLED
Samsung Gear Sport - https://www.samsung.com/uk/wearables/gear-sport-r600/SM-R600NZBABTU/ Super AMOLED
Samsung Fit2 PRO - https://www.samsung.com/uk/wearables/gear-fit2-pro-r365/SM-R365NZKABTU/ Curved Super AMOLED
Sony Watch 3 - https://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/smart-products/smartwatch-3-swr50/specifications/#tabs (there is no newest model, just this old) LCD
Garmin Forerunner 945 - https://buy.garmin.com/en-IE/GB/p/621922#specs Transflective MIP Display
Garmin Marq Collection - https://buy.garmin.com/en-IE/GB/p/608665#specs Transflective MIP Display
Garmin D2 Delta S - https://buy.garmin.com/en-IE/GB/p/633685#specs Transflective MIP Display
... and ect.
As you can see most biggest "players" using AMOLED display, some of them Transflective (but not simple LCD) display and ect. So which display is better Stratos or Verge?
About battery, Stratos and Verge can be without charge with general settings 5 days
---------- Post added at 07:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:20 PM ----------
Csmrcc said:
Well, i´m not gonna argue here, we dont have that need.
That the transreflective screen is better for outdoor sports its not my opinion, you really have to see it, its just a fact that is more readable than any other kind of scrren at sunlight, i had other lcd smartwatches its not a fanboy opinion. And for me this is the key for a sportwatch.
Also, i have a pace, i think it is better on a price/features relation considering i dont swim with it. So no, i dont spend 100 euros more for anything (stratos).
Like +/- 100 € for a pace smartwatch with gps, good screen at sunlight, good materials, wifi and bluetooth, musicplayer, etc its the best deal i think, unless you swim with it. But this is my opinion yes.
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I stopped read your post after text:"...than any other kind of scrren at sunlight..." - i agree that maybe AMOLED is not the best display, but as you can see most expensive smart watches have only this display, some of them have own, super display, yes i mean Garmin. I disagree with yours argument that this display is better for sport, proof it. How did you teste and ect. This is yours opinion, coz display don't effect in yours sport result at all. Yes i agree someone loves LCD, someone LED, which almost the same, but have dome differences, someone AMOLED, but there is no any test which proof it effect to sport of display quality. You writing stupid things, sorry. You trying to say that display is better to see screen in sunlight, but writing about things like effect to sport. How can display effect my sport result???
As i wrote Verge is better smartwatch as Startos with better displkay. You compare old LCD with updated LED or Transflective MIP Display, which is different as LCD. It's the same that to say that Super AMOLED is the same as AMOLED
FINALLY detailed compare:
https://www.dansgadgets.com/amazfit-verge-vs-amazfit-stratos-ultimate-comparison/#specs As you can see both models have plus and minus (looks like Verge is premium class too, i was wrong if this information is correct, coz somewhere i read that verge is not flagship, oh well...)
P.S. Keep in mind compare is not 100% correct, coz both models can be without charger the same time with general settings. Verge have "always on display" mode.
xdauser2019 said:
Suunto 5 White - https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/suunto-5/suunto-5-white/ LED Display
Suunto 9 Baro - https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/suunto-9-baro/suunto-9-baro-titanium/ LED Display
Suunto 9 White - https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/suunto-9/suunto-9-white/ LED Display
Suunto 3 Fitness - https://www.suunto.com/Products/sports-watches/suunto-3-fitness/suunto-3-fitness-copper/ LED Display
Suunto 9 Bravo Titanum - https://www.suunto.com/Products/spo...aro-titanium-red-bull-x-alps-limited-edition/ LED Display
Suunto Spartan Sport - https://www.suunto.com/Products/spo...aro/suunto-spartan-sport-wrist-hr-baro-amber/ LED Display
Suunto Spartan Trainer - https://www.suunto.com/Products/spo...ist-hr/suunto-spartan-trainer-wrist-hr-steel/ LED Display
Suunto Spartan Sport - https://www.suunto.com/Products/spo...t-hr/Suunto-Spartan-Sport-Wrist-HR-All-Black/ LED Display
... and others models.
What's the different? Answer https://www.digitaltrends.com/home-theater/led-vs-lcd-tvs/
How about others?
Huawei - https://consumer.huawei.com/en/wearables/ 5 AMOLED, others OLED or PMOLED
Apple - https://www.apple.com/lae/watch/compare/ OLED Retina
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4G - https://www.samsung.com/uk/wearables/galaxy-watch/ Super AMOLED
Samsung Gear Sport - https://www.samsung.com/uk/wearables/gear-sport-r600/SM-R600NZBABTU/ Super AMOLED
Samsung Fit2 PRO - https://www.samsung.com/uk/wearables/gear-fit2-pro-r365/SM-R365NZKABTU/ Curved Super AMOLED
Sony Watch 3 - https://www.sonymobile.com/global-en/products/smart-products/smartwatch-3-swr50/specifications/#tabs (there is no newest model, just this old) LCD
Garmin Forerunner 945 - https://buy.garmin.com/en-IE/GB/p/621922#specs Transflective MIP Display
Garmin Marq Collection - https://buy.garmin.com/en-IE/GB/p/608665#specs Transflective MIP Display
Garmin D2 Delta S - https://buy.garmin.com/en-IE/GB/p/633685#specs Transflective MIP Display
... and ect.
As you can see most biggest "players" using AMOLED display, some of them Transflective (but not simple LCD) display and ect. So which display is better Stratos or Verge?
About battery, Stratos and Verge can be without charge with general settings 5 days
---------- Post added at 07:27 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:20 PM ----------
I stopped read your post after text:"...than any other kind of scrren at sunlight..." - i agree that maybe AMOLED is not the best display, but as you can see most expensive smart watches have only this display, some of them have own, super display, yes i mean Garmin. I disagree with yours argument that this display is better for sport, proof it. How did you teste and ect. This is yours opinion, coz display don't effect in yours sport result at all. Yes i agree someone loves LCD, someone LED, which almost the same, but have dome differences, someone AMOLED, but there is no any test which proof it effect to sport of display quality. You writing stupid things, sorry. You trying to say that display is better to see screen in sunlight, but writing about things like effect to sport. How can display effect my sport result???
As i wrote Verge is better smartwatch as Startos with better displkay. You compare old LCD with updated LED or Transflective MIP Display, which is different as LCD. It's the same that to say that Super AMOLED is the same as AMOLED
FINALLY detailed compare:
https://www.dansgadgets.com/amazfit-verge-vs-amazfit-stratos-ultimate-comparison/#specs As you can see both models have plus and minus (looks like Verge is premium class too, i was wrong if this information is correct, coz somewhere i read that verge is not flagship, oh well...)
P.S. Keep in mind compare is not 100% correct, coz both models can be without charger the same time with general settings. Verge have "always on display" mode.
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All the suuntos you pointed out use transflective lcd displays with LED backlight as the Stratos. This doesn't make the display LED.
And no one said the that it effect the results. I said that it effects the visibility of the results on the go when using it outside.
I own Verge and i know the benefits of the amoled display. The opinion about the transflective displays been better for outdoor activity is not only mine it is the opinion on the majority of people using these devices for sport.
But this is causa perduta. I am not gonna continue this.
I've had Stratos (The HR pane has been removed) and now I have Verge - during the day and during training Stratos is much better, especially the display in the sun. Verge is a plastic toy with an amoled display just for fun. Stratos is unfortunately much more flawed. In my opinion of course
I'am a woman and I have a slim hand, but Stratos was better suited to my hand. Stratos has broken down and that's why I exchanged for Verge, but I'm not happy with this exchange.
marglcia said:
I'am a woman and I have a slim hand, but Stratos was better suited to my hand. Stratos has broken down and that's why I exchanged for Verge, but I'm not happy with this exchange.
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Band/bracelet is possible to change as i know in all or most Amazfit watches. You could buy Stratos again, why you bought Verge? Ok, i guest for you was interesting what is a model is Verge. You did not liked it, but you can sell it on eBay and ect. now, and to buy Stratos, why don't you doing like this?
xdauser2019 said:
Band/bracelet is possible to change as i know in all or most Amazfit watches. You could buy Stratos again, why you bought Verge? Ok, i guest for you was interesting what is a model is Verge. You did not liked it, but you can sell it on eBay and ect. now, and to buy Stratos, why don't you doing like this?
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Because I'am waiting for a new stratos release or I will buy a garmin - I do not know what I will do yet....
marglcia said:
Because I'am waiting for a new stratos release or I will buy a garmin - I do not know what I will do yet....
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As i know Verge lite released in China https://cn.amazfit.com/verge-lite.html and Bip lite https://cn.amazfit.com/bip-lite.html. I'm not sure Stratos is in the plan right now. But i hope i'm wrong Anyway good luck to get wishful device
UPDATED: Just some minutes ago i found this article about Verge 2 - https://www.techradar.com/news/amazfit-verge-2-is-coming-soon-and-will-work-without-your-smartphone, as i mentioned Verge is very good smartwatch and better as Stratos, so probably that's why is plans to release Verge 2
xdauser2019 said:
As i know Verge lite released in China https://cn.amazfit.com/verge-lite.html and Bip lite https://cn.amazfit.com/bip-lite.html. I'm not sure Stratos is in the plan right now. But i hope i'm wrong Anyway good luck to get wishful device
UPDATED: Just some minutes ago i found this article about Verge 2 - https://www.techradar.com/news/amazfit-verge-2-is-coming-soon-and-will-work-without-your-smartphone, as i mentioned Verge is very good smartwatch and better as Stratos, so probably that's why is plans to release Verge 2
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I will repeat it again: I've had Stratos and now I have Verge and I know that Stratos is much better, according to my opinion. The fact that at the moment there is a new Verge2 does not mean that there will be no new Stratos edition. It's nice that you like your Verge so much but that does not mean that others have to like him too, because they have to.
Because I do not base my feelings on data from the specifications but on what suits my hand better (I'm not talking about the watch strap), because there is wonderful visibility in the sun without waking up the watch because I can swim with Stratos and because it is nicer for me and Verge it's a plastic toy for me. And that's all according to my opinion and not the specification being read.
Thanks you all for your contribution
It simple my mind.
I order the verge at the end, more recent with funccions i would use more than stratos
Regards
iscao said:
Thanks you all for your contribution
It simple my mind.
I order the verge at the end, more recent with funccions i would use more than stratos
Regards
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Good choice. Congratulation. I hope you will like it very much as i do. It's really good smart watch