You are the first guy who reviews the sport activities espacially swimming - I was searching the web for the last few hours and finally found someone who posted a review on that! Thanks a lot man!
*** Note: A couple nice subscribers pointed out that a recent firmware update added auto pause as well as a few other features, but for some reason it’s not on my firmware. And thanks for your patience, folks! I hope you enjoy! Follow on Twitter for updates! 👉 twitter.com/GetDesFit
WOW, I have found a good review channel that seems competent and honest and even test functions in more detail than I have seen on all other channels. I know we all are focused on different things but DesFit really fit my review needs. I'm not athletic but just an ordinary exercise interested guy and being a tech nerd I do like to have gadgets to push me to train better (and more regularly)
Amazing review. Ive had the Stratos for about a month. The HRM was always off, until the recent update. But I use it with the Polar OH1. Compared them and the result was almost identical. For the price, its an amazing watch. And the bluetooth connection with headphones are great. I highly recommend it! And Ive had everything from suunto to garmin.
The recent update talked about HR recording at intervals but I can't see how to set this up. There's still just the one slider to set continuous heart rate. Any ideas?
Nice review desfit. I actually solved the problem with the HR. I have to clean the HR glass (on the bottom of the watch) regularly or at least before I begin and after the exercise so the HR reading would be accurate 😊
I always use the heart rate function while at the gym. And compare it to a portable oximeter. They usually match or are off by 2 beats! I love this watch!!
Thank you for your phenomenal review.. I am happy that you bought the watch so as to make more tests and videos 😆😆. Looking forward to some comparisons with other products.. But most importantly, your " not a review" videos.. Your insight and philosophy is always having my attention and respect..
Wow, thank you so much! That’s very kind of you. Definitely have a lot of videos in the queue that I can actually get to after this rather big review. Thanks again!
Very good. Using it for a month now, and you say all the truth. As you say, I looks to be extremely dependent on the position for the HR to be accurate. For running im using it kind of tight, and that improves the results a lot. But with any leather or fabric straps, it will move while running and you will need to continually reposition it, which is annoying. Running with the original strap and tight, gave me the best results. Thx and keep the good work.
With the newest firmware 2.3.4 they made heart rate much more accurate - I had the same problem like you with very high heart rate . Now is much better.
Miroslaw Kocur I noticed that comparing it with my ex Vivoactive HR HR is about 30 bpm lower. Tried to tighten it, but it doesn't help. Still getting 135 bpm while on Garmin it was about 165.
Great review! I've been using the Amazfit Stratos for a month now, and I like almost everything about the watch for the price point except for the heart rate monitor. Compared to other wrist based HR watches I have used, the HR data was routinely inaccurate on outdoor runs. The HR data was pretty good for indoor runs compared to other wrist-based watches I have. But I have not been able to get accurate HR data for outdoor activities. I have the watch on pretty tightly but it is always wildly off, sometimes by 80 bpm. So if anyone plans to buy this device, then you will most likely want a bluetooth HR strap. The best feature for me is the music storage. Although it doesn't have streaming, I have a lot of DRM free mp3s that I can rip from CDs I own. So I don't really need streaming music. The convenience of having music storage is a big plus for me. Overall, I would say this device is a 7/10 for me. Amazing price, lots of advanced features but a very unreliable wrist-based HR monitor.
Soyuz Shrestha I could be wrong but I found that the recent firmware update improved the HR accuracy and step counter. The update included a number of improved algorithms for different features.
Liked and sub'd thanks Des. I Just got this watch on Friday... I took it on two day hikes this weekend, using the Trail Run profile. A trail hike is basically a slower pace ~3.5 mph trail run. AWESOME GPS Performance!! Love having an altimeter and compass right on my wrist. Very accurate indeed paired up with a old school trail map in my pocket.
Great review, I'm upgrading from the pace watch and being on a limited budget (i.e. the Mrs was making lots of frowny faces when I was looking at Garmin's prices) it looks like the stratos is going to be the perfect fit watch for me, looks good too
the most thorough and well produced review ive ever seen of any smart watch. you really know your stuff. great review. keep it up. looking forward to seeing more.
Also have the stratos.... some issue with heart rate accuracy on cycling. Sent feedback and now it's doing okay. Great for swimming. Counts distance and laps just preset the pool length. Value for money smart watch. Nice review sir!
Great review with highligth the inaccuracy of HR monitoring can be replaced by chest strip. The straps may be replaced by any 22mm one if the original is not good enough. Tennis is monitoring with additional parameters which may not be noticed by most user. This GPS watch gets almost most wanted features at a very good valued price.
External HR monitors (like chest straps) are supported only in some training modes like running or walking. For some reason, there is no option to use them for swimming or multisport
Thanks for your highlight that Bluetooth chest heart rate monitor may not be workable for water sports such as swimming or multisport. As Bluetooth wave cannot penetrate through water, I would say it would be fairly obvious that it does not fit for swimming. In short, thank you.
Most of chest straps (like the ones from Garmin or Polar) store HR data on the device while you swim and synchronize it with your watch/phone after you're done with your workout. So the problem is that stratos software just does not support this feature.
Great review! This is a lot of watch for the money, but I still decided on the Garmin FR645M (got a 25% discount on it), because I did not want to leave the Garmin platform after many years. However, if I was buying my first sports/smartwatch, the Amazfit Stratos would probably have been my choice.
Great balanced review. My heart rate estimates during high intensity running are about 30-50bmp too low (even after the latest firmware update). As you mentioned I still like the watch for the price and will use it with a cheststrap for the first beat stats, hoping that amazfit will continue to improve their algorithm in the future (strange thing is that I did not have this issue with my amazfit Pace).
Thanks! That’s what a lot of people said regarding the original Pace that the HR was actually better on that one. I’ll definitely be keeping this one and seeing how it improves with firmware updates.
Great Review Des and Great watch,. Now has auto pause with latest update! Again as others have said HR is constantly too low compared to HR strap (Road biking) when intensity goes beyond 150 bpm. Great to see the frequent updates. Recommend this watch at the price.
Great video, I picked one up a few days ago after watching this upload. On the last firmware I'd have a resting heart rate in the 40s far to often which was no where near correct. After the update that came out today I'm getting warnings that my heart rate is in the 180s while jogging, which seems to be around 40 beats faster than what I'm counting. Might be worth doing an update to retest it's tracking if you still own the watch. Other than that all the features have been working great for me.
Autopause was implemented in the latest upgrade and maybe useful for some but it does not work for mountainbiking. First of all, here in Vancouver, GPS takes a while to get a lock and even longer fot the altimeter to start registering on the 6field data screen. So making sure waiting for the values to show up is imperative for a decent GPX file. Well, if the auto pause is on, the watch will immediately go into auto pause at Standing Still mode and the search for a good gps lock will be put on hold. Also slow crawling climbs can register as a pause and can give you bad gps track.. anyways, minor thing but I would like to see some kind of a delay implemented into the Auto Pause (20-30 secs of standing still) Apart from all of that, I am happy with the watch and its performance..
As always... your reviews are some of the best on RUclips and love your focus on long term testing. Keep up the great work. Wanted to pass on a funny note I received from Garmin a few months back regarding the Fenix 5 "After reviewing the activities where you mentioned an issue with the OHR accuracy, the engineers determined that your level of fitness exceeds the ability of the OHR to provide valuable and accurate data for the calculation of your vo2 max estimate. The system was not designed to adjust to such a finite and high level of fitness so you would experience a larger discrepancy when introducing erroneous HR data."
Thanks for your review on the amazfit stratos. Especially the part in which you tested the wrist heart rate function. I experienced the same inaccuracy in heart beat measuring during heavy excersises. I ordered a bluetooth heart rate belt strap for more accurate heart rate measuring. For me accurate real time heart rate measuring is necessary during my training and marathon. I am using the Amazfit stratos now for over 2 months. I wear it 24/7 and I'am very satisfied about this price worth sportwatch.
I purchased the Amazfit Stratos from Amazfit a little over a year ago. I have used the Amazfit Stratos on a daily basis since purchase. Then, a week or two before the one year anniversary of my ownership of the watch, the watch malfunctioned and hte HR monitor light stopped working properly. Instead of blinking, the light stayed on. The result: IT BURNED MY ARM. That's right, the HR monitor light malfunctioned and burned me. I emailed Amazfit and raised the issue with them. I responded to all of their inquiries and instead of responding with any suggestions for a reimbursement or a fix, what has happened? I HAVE BEEN IGNORED. That's right, after first asking me a few questions, Amazfit's customer service/support has now been ignoring me for over a week. If they had good customer service, I would not be writing this. If there was no risk of the watch malfunctioning on you and the company doing nothing to make amends, I wouldn't be writing this. However, I would STRONGLY recommend not to purchase anything from this company. They do not take serious customer concerns into account, they ignore you. If this company was Apple or Google or Microsoft, they would have responded immediately. Indeed, when I used FitBit they replaced my watch the first two times it malfunctioned within 1.5 years of ownership. DO NOT BUY, that is all I can say. I truly hope the company sees this comment and does something to make amends with me. It is seriously concerning that Amazfit simply ignores potential risks of serious injuries to its loyal customers.
Aleksander, consider that with manufacturing there can always be faulty units. For instance, the first Amazfit GTR 2e I tested had a faulty HR sensor. The second was just fine. People may have different experiences.
@@AlexMkd1984 to be clear, they replaced the watch . Customer service was great. But the first watch burnt my arm. The next one has been working perfectly since I received it. Unless you have something you are prepared to say to someone’s face I would suggest not frivolously calling someone a liar. Have a great day.
Sure well deserved this is my go to channel now for reviews BTW, I was curious how does this compare to S3 Gear given that I am mainly looking for a fitness tracker not a smart watch
Thank you for the detailed review. I've been looking at the Amazfit Stratos to help me with my triathlon training. Your vid is very helpful for those who are just new to these gadgetry/fitness thing. So if only I can give you a thousand likes, it's RIP likes button. 😀😀
Awesome video! I was waiting for it for some time now. FYI, the last firmware update added an auto pause feature for running which is tunable to a predefined threshold pace or standstill conditions. Keep up the awesome videos!!!
Great review! Hope you'll continue to follow the Amazfit products, the pricing really makes it a great option for those looking for a budget choice or outside the US.
I noticed big difference in HR on Stratos comparing it with Garmin. While running Stratos shows about 30 bpm lower HR than my (ex) Garmin Vivoactive HR.
Yes. Totally agreed, if you gym a lot u should buy an external HR strap, but for the price the GPS and a lot of stuff in this watch are pretty awesome.
The problem though is that it does not even have a basic workout profile (or any gym profiles as a matter of fact). Hopefully it's something they can fix with updates
Turre Tuntematon mimmonen se fitbit versa on? Mimmonen käyttää ? Eikö se ole hölmön näköinen ranteessa ku on sellainen palikka?kyselen vain siksi että olen kahden vaiheilla että ostanko stratoksen vai versan.
I was looking at this watch about two months ago but decided against it because the screen had a chin, which means if you're using an analog style watch face it'll intrude into whatever's on the 6:00 area. So now I've forgotten about the Stratos and also I just ordered a Microwear L5 (well actually it's from Lokmat but I reckon they're the same), and I've been watching an L5 video and the guy in the video said it's basically a clone of the Stratos. Woah didn't realize that. The L5 interface is more basic though, but I got it for just $26. It hasn't arrived yet and I'm planning to give it away. (But who knows, if I like it I just might decide to keep it for myself!! 😄)
This is a great review because it actually gives me an honest and complete overview of what the watch can do and what type of usage it may be best suited for. I think I'm actually going with this even though most of my training is in the gym with cycling to and from it there plus 2-4 cycling tours per month. The watch looks great and considering that most watches with an optical sensor seem to have issues with reading the heart rate, buying this cheaper, albeit still functional and good-looking watch and having a few spare bucks for a heart rate strap that I'd have to buy anyway seems like a very cost-effective solution that also yields good results.
After watching your unboxing and this video I deside to purchase one for myself. I have to say that for me it kind of tix all boxes. Cheap and lots of funktions and great GPS to match Strava segments when riding MTB. I do use the auto pause feature. Thanks for a great review.
Apparently a firmware update added this feature but it was released after this filming and I do not have the watch anymore to confirm this functionality.
I thought it was good watch, especially for the money. The app and workout profiles need to be built out just a bit more, but I think they work for the majority of people.
its a good watch, i have been using it for months, it had good battery life till i got a update that created problems, now i have to keep the watch in airplane mode because the watch keeps trying to connect via WiFi and Bluetooth.. the battery will drain with in hours after taking it off the charger..
no, i have searched on line and found a thread on XDA with people having the same problem, i'm sure it will get fixed in a update, it could also be related that i changed from a Huawei Mate 8 to a Galaxy s9, I didn't have this problem on the old phone, there has been firmware updates since i upgraded my phone, I notice it got bad in the last update. was able to get up to 7 days of battery life before. Its been stable since i put the watch in airplane mode, I only sync the watch a couple times a day.
Bought one, lasted me less than a year before the screen died out of the blue. It was awesome while it lasted but I guess in the end I got what I payed for. Gonna drop some extra cash on a Garmin and hope it holds up better.
I have had my Stratos for two years and I have some issues. The sleep analyser is total crap doesn’t work anymore. The heart rate monitor also doesn’t work and to top things off, Ive now got a screen burn circle that just appeared this week. Up until now I quite liked this watch. I didn’t want to buy an Apple Watch as I have everything else Apple. Desktop, MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad. I wanted to change things up so Apple don’t have the monopoly with me. But.... it looks like long term durability isn’t something Amazefit can offer. Google the burn circles to see what I mean. By the way. This review is very good but long term ownership will prove me right. Cheers
great review! I have this device for 2 weeks and I have to agree with you for the heart rate accuracy, even my amazfit bip does better. however, i can say that its algorithm for heart rate reading has improved since the last firmware update
dgxianxin Did you consider this a good upgrade over the Bip? Did the added functionality and higher quality hardware make it worth the additional money?
Hi guys! I only need this features from a smartwatch: - set countdown timer (on-device) - set alarms (on-device) - count steps - sedentary reminder - minimum splash water resistant Cool to have but not a must: - set intervals workout timer (on-device) - google maps This smartwatch contain this features? If not ..there are better alternatives? Thank you!!
Great review! I've been really eager to buy the upgraded Fenix watch, but at the same time I've been hesitant about the price. The stratos is almost a fifth or sixth of the price of a Fenix plus.
Thanks! Although the new 5 Plus is priced very high, it is a lot more watch too. Not saying it’s totally worth it’s high price tag but it really does have everything. Look for my review if the Plus’ soon! Thanks again!
Allright! Looking forward to it. If I didn't have a history of Garmin and lot's of Garmin data, then I probably would have bought the Stratos. Garmin already has me hooked, and shifting to another watch with another system seems like too big of a step.
Thanks for the review. Really great. I bought one after watching your video. Do you know what the Sport dial in the default Everest watch face is for? The top dial, it says Sport and it has 1.5 at the 30 minute mark. What is that dial for?
nice review, but the lcd angle where it proviceds high contrast sucks, the watch has more height than a conventional mechanical watch, which means it is not too elegant to wear either
Hi With the newest firmware 2.3.4 they made heart rate much more accurate - I had the same problem like you with very high heart rate . Now is much better.
I actually retested against the newest firmware (which is actually the reason I was delayed by a week) to verify results and it *sort of* got better for me but I still experienced some dropouts. Have to agree it’s “better” though 👍
Earlier I had max heart rate around 150 -155 while running but with the newest firmware my watch easily showing me 165+ ;-) so is much better - but real should be around 170-175 ( I have also separate sensor for the chest for test but is very uncomfortable that's why I'm not using it normally )
Thank you for the great review, one which I had been looking forward to! One feature that I'm particularly interested in is music playback. Does it solely rely on an mp3 library or does it integrate with offline playlists on any streaming platforms (particularly Spotify)? And as I'm guessing that the answer is "no": do you think this feature can potentially be added by software updates? I suppose the question is as relevant for high-end watches such as the Fenix 5. Thank you once again!
Thanks! Absolutely could be added but it’s up to Spotify, mostly. I bet we’ll start to see something other than Samsung watches with Spotify within the next 6-12 months, or at least I hope something happens! Thanks again!
Hey, I am amazed by your review man! Keep up the good work. I was comparing this watch with the huawei watch fit since there's a flash deal for both of them. Which one do you suggest?
Have you got your hands on Stratos 3? Is there a considerable upgrade? Not available in India so far, should I be waiting or go with stratos first gen? Appreciate your thoughts.
I really just wish they would add a gym profile. Half of my workouts are in the gym and that seems like it would be a lot more appealing than "soccer" to a wider audience. My other issue is connectivity with other services. They need to allow the data to sync to something like Myfitnesspal so we can track nutrition, etc. They have already come a lot further than Suunto in a shorter period of time, but it's tough to choose this over a Garmin with so many missing "must-haves".
They are still young. It's not bad for how short they have been in the market. If you really need to save money then this is a good option but at the end of the day a Garmin will provide a more robust experience.
Wtf do you mean? Their biggest market is outside of the U.S, and soccer is global. Plus the only reason I am sure I will definitely buy it is because of the soccer feature. Go buy an apple watch 😒😒
Superdavis davis yeah, I'm sure a lot more people play soccer for fitness than work out in the gym. Go buy a Fitbit smartwatch! 😉☺️😉😃😙😁😍😉😅😉😅😉🤗😍😊😄😚😎😉😎😉😄😊😊😄😊🤗🤗😂🤗😘😂😅😅😂😄
I'm curious to see any review against the Ticwatch Pro. It seems like all next gen watches will pack everything, which also will compromise battery life. Good to point that waterproof is still a feature that should be better developed.
Thank you so much for the review! Bought it after your review and endorsement! You got my subscription! Please recommend a heart rate monitor and bike computer to go along??
Hi there @DesFit! Just found your channel and its seems really nice. In regard of smartwatches, I'm really between this one or the new galaxy watch that's coming out this month. Although i appreciate the "budget price" and the autonomy of Stratos, i dont like the bottom "notch" on this one, and the new samsung watch will be cheaper than the current gear s3 (???around 300-350 instead of 400?). My main issue would be the battery life, i really dont want to charge it everyday/2 to 2 days, and samsung is saying the new watch will last from 4-6/7 days (with lots of stuff turned off for sure)? I think i samsung screen is way better, and their rotating well for cycling menus is something awesome, but its still a big investiment. Its coming on a 45mm version and a smaller one (42mm), since i dont have big wrists i was affraid it would look to big (same fear with stratos), but i tried the gear s3 (45mm?) and actually looked good, so i dont mind buying the "bigger version" if that means i would have a significantly better battery life. Plus, Stuff like garming - 700bucks - and on that price range is way overpriced for me, and since its my first smartwatch (mi band wont count eheh) i'm kinda between a cheaper (and probably with better battery life) or a more premium smartwatch for more a few hundred extra bucks with better screen and the "all Mighty well". I think it comes out this month, so i should wait until september to make my decision, but what do you think? P.S: Great review, keep it up!
I’ll be receiving the Galaxy Watch this week so I can let you know how it does for battery life. I actually am getting the smaller version since the larger one isn’t available in black.
Yep, i would rather buy the darker version too (and since its smaller it would probably look better on my wrist), but i become suspicious since they said you would feel the real difference on the bigger version (more battery). Maybe it will get improved anyway because its a smaller screen and the software might boost it a little too, something around 4-5 days without going in "survival mode" would be great (some gps to my runs, dont need to use the LTE stuff, dont need allways on display up, etc). Anyways, i will be looking foward to see your review, and then i'll give my opinion again, cheers ! ;)
Struggling between the Stratos vs Garmin Vivoactive 3 (non+music variant). One thing I'm looking for is open water swim tracking... The other is ability for quick replies via the watch (connected to Android Pixel). Also, Stress level targets during workouts... Need to watch my heart rate for health reasons. Any thoughts??
Awesome review. I'm trying to get my first fitness tracker but still torn between getting this or a refurbished fenix 3 with HRM chest strap which is 70 dollar more expensive.
Hi, can you tell me please if it's possible to set a vibration alarm when you're swimming to advise you when you have swam same distance or time? Thank you!
Hey Des, great video! What are the best HR monitors that can be paired with stratos? I planned to buy a garmin 735 XT because I do a lot running,cycling and swimming and it has pretty good wrist HR,but music storage is reason why i would buy stratos with external hr monitor to cover that bad wrist HR.
You are the first guy who reviews the sport activities espacially swimming - I was searching the web for the last few hours and finally found someone who posted a review on that! Thanks a lot man!
Sure thing! I try to go into tons of detail so welcome to the channel!
Most reviewers are desk divers IMHO. :P Great review!
Thanks!
*** Note: A couple nice subscribers pointed out that a recent firmware update added auto pause as well as a few other features, but for some reason it’s not on my firmware. And thanks for your patience, folks! I hope you enjoy! Follow on Twitter for updates! 👉 twitter.com/GetDesFit
DesFit haven't see or use the autopause, but they do add multisports and I experience better sync with the mobile app.
Not noticed it either. Like you I have had comments saying it’s added, but nothing on mine
Ya very odd. Been checking since last week and for some reason it’s not there. Glad some folks are getting it though!
DesFit Did you check under the settings of each exercise type? That is where you enable / disable it.
Sure did, Paul. I’ll quadruple check (actually i checked like 20 times 😂) but my buddy is borrowing it right now. I’ll see him next week.
WOW, I have found a good review channel that seems competent and honest and even test functions in more detail than I have seen on all other channels. I know we all are focused on different things but DesFit really fit my review needs. I'm not athletic but just an ordinary exercise interested guy and being a tech nerd I do like to have gadgets to push me to train better (and more regularly)
2 years later and still hella useful!!
Yes! Thanks!
Dad gave me his Stratos when we paid him a visit on Christmas. This is the very first smartwatch I have and man I am absolutely happy it!
I have this watch. It's awesome especially the batterylife, waterproofness and the transreflective display 😊
Amazing review. Ive had the Stratos for about a month. The HRM was always off, until the recent update. But I use it with the Polar OH1. Compared them and the result was almost identical. For the price, its an amazing watch. And the bluetooth connection with headphones are great. I highly recommend it! And Ive had everything from suunto to garmin.
Thanks for your additional info! Great to hear you are experiencing improvements!
The recent update talked about HR recording at intervals but I can't see how to set this up. There's still just the one slider to set continuous heart rate. Any ideas?
Nice review desfit. I actually solved the problem with the HR. I have to clean the HR glass (on the bottom of the watch) regularly or at least before I begin and after the exercise so the HR reading would be accurate 😊
I always use the heart rate function while at the gym. And compare it to a portable oximeter. They usually match or are off by 2 beats! I love this watch!!
So. You say they HR is accurate? Was it always accurate or did they fix it with an upgrade?
Thank you for your phenomenal review.. I am happy that you bought the watch so as to make more tests and videos 😆😆. Looking forward to some comparisons with other products.. But most importantly, your " not a review" videos.. Your insight and philosophy is always having my attention and respect..
Wow, thank you so much! That’s very kind of you. Definitely have a lot of videos in the queue that I can actually get to after this rather big review. Thanks again!
Very good. Using it for a month now, and you say all the truth. As you say, I looks to be extremely dependent on the position for the HR to be accurate. For running im using it kind of tight, and that improves the results a lot. But with any leather or fabric straps, it will move while running and you will need to continually reposition it, which is annoying. Running with the original strap and tight, gave me the best results. Thx and keep the good work.
Thanks a lot! Appreciate it!
With the newest firmware 2.3.4 they made heart rate much more accurate - I had the same problem like you with very high heart rate .
Now is much better.
Miroslaw Kocur I noticed that comparing it with my ex Vivoactive HR HR is about 30 bpm lower. Tried to tighten it, but it doesn't help. Still getting 135 bpm while on Garmin it was about 165.
Great review! I've been using the Amazfit Stratos for a month now, and I like almost everything about the watch for the price point except for the heart rate monitor. Compared to other wrist based HR watches I have used, the HR data was routinely inaccurate on outdoor runs. The HR data was pretty good for indoor runs compared to other wrist-based watches I have. But I have not been able to get accurate HR data for outdoor activities. I have the watch on pretty tightly but it is always wildly off, sometimes by 80 bpm. So if anyone plans to buy this device, then you will most likely want a bluetooth HR strap. The best feature for me is the music storage. Although it doesn't have streaming, I have a lot of DRM free mp3s that I can rip from CDs I own. So I don't really need streaming music. The convenience of having music storage is a big plus for me. Overall, I would say this device is a 7/10 for me. Amazing price, lots of advanced features but a very unreliable wrist-based HR monitor.
Ya I definitely tried all sorts of positions but I think it came down to movement. And thanks!
Soyuz Shrestha I could be wrong but I found that the recent firmware update improved the HR accuracy and step counter. The update included a number of improved algorithms for different features.
Liked and sub'd thanks Des. I Just got this watch on Friday... I took it on two day hikes this weekend, using the Trail Run profile. A trail hike is basically a slower pace ~3.5 mph trail run. AWESOME GPS Performance!! Love having an altimeter and compass right on my wrist. Very accurate indeed paired up with a old school trail map in my pocket.
Glad it’s working out for you and thanks for the Like and the Sub!
Great review, I'm upgrading from the pace watch and being on a limited budget (i.e. the Mrs was making lots of frowny faces when I was looking at Garmin's prices) it looks like the stratos is going to be the perfect fit watch for me, looks good too
Thanks! If you’re used to the Pace then this probably will be good for you.
the most thorough and well produced review ive ever seen of any smart watch. you really know your stuff. great review. keep it up. looking forward to seeing more.
Best review so far, the smart watch interface is okay for me.
Thanks! Ya, being a younger company in the fitness realm, I’m sure they will make improvements over time.
Awesome review, I have been actively waiting for this review and I feel more comfortable about purchasing it thanks to you.
Thanks! Hope you enjoy!
Also have the stratos.... some issue with heart rate accuracy on cycling. Sent feedback and now it's doing okay. Great for swimming. Counts distance and laps just preset the pool length. Value for money smart watch.
Nice review sir!
Did you find that the watch measured these swimming stats accurately? Im currently trying to find a watch that can do this when swimming
That’s very clean, detailed explanation about the device features without any advertising purpose. Thanks a lot for the video. It is very helpful 👍🏻
Amazing review man. This is the most detailed review i have ever seen.
Thanks!
Great review with highligth the inaccuracy of HR monitoring can be replaced by chest strip. The straps may be replaced by any 22mm one if the original is not good enough. Tennis is monitoring with additional parameters which may not be noticed by most user. This GPS watch gets almost most wanted features at a very good valued price.
Thanks! Interested to see updates to the device.
External HR monitors (like chest straps) are supported only in some training modes like running or walking. For some reason, there is no option to use them for swimming or multisport
Thanks for your highlight that Bluetooth chest heart rate monitor may not be workable for water sports such as swimming or multisport. As Bluetooth wave cannot penetrate through water, I would say it would be fairly obvious that it does not fit for swimming. In short, thank you.
Most of chest straps (like the ones from Garmin or Polar) store HR data on the device while you swim and synchronize it with your watch/phone after you're done with your workout. So the problem is that stratos software just does not support this feature.
Detailed explanation and thanks again.
Great review! This is a lot of watch for the money, but I still decided on the Garmin FR645M (got a 25% discount on it), because I did not want to leave the Garmin platform after many years. However, if I was buying my first sports/smartwatch, the Amazfit Stratos would probably have been my choice.
Thanks so much for your time/effort to conduct product reviews; well received and appreciated!
Sure thing!
Perfect review 👍👍👍, Pls do a Review on New Amazfit Stratos 3, is it worth to Upgrade? 🙏🙏
It has firstbeat like garmin, suunto among others. And 4 satellite system from Sony. So it might be good. If they implement it good.
@@peterjanbo657 does startos 3 still worth? still confuse to pick this or forerunner 45
Great balanced review. My heart rate estimates during high intensity running are about 30-50bmp too low (even after the latest firmware update). As you mentioned I still like the watch for the price and will use it with a cheststrap for the first beat stats, hoping that amazfit will continue to improve their algorithm in the future (strange thing is that I did not have this issue with my amazfit Pace).
Thanks! That’s what a lot of people said regarding the original Pace that the HR was actually better on that one. I’ll definitely be keeping this one and seeing how it improves with firmware updates.
Great Review Des and Great watch,. Now has auto pause with latest update! Again as others have said HR is constantly too low compared to HR strap (Road biking) when intensity goes beyond 150 bpm. Great to see the frequent updates. Recommend this watch at the price.
One of your best reviews yet. Awesome breakdown and detailing
Thanks, man! Appreciate it!
Great video, I picked one up a few days ago after watching this upload. On the last firmware I'd have a resting heart rate in the 40s far to often which was no where near correct. After the update that came out today I'm getting warnings that my heart rate is in the 180s while jogging, which seems to be around 40 beats faster than what I'm counting. Might be worth doing an update to retest it's tracking if you still own the watch. Other than that all the features have been working great for me.
bought this and sold it three months later and bough fenix 3 no camparison,amazfit battery for HRM belt was deciding factor.fenix 3 awesome watch
Des, your reviews are phenomenal. Thanks for all the effort and time you put into this! Liked as usual :)
Comments like these are EXACTLY what keeps me doing what I do! Thanks so much!
Thank you for well detailed review. Cant wait to arrive mine!
Autopause was implemented in the latest upgrade and maybe useful for some but it does not work for mountainbiking.
First of all, here in Vancouver, GPS takes a while to get a lock and even longer fot the altimeter to start registering on the 6field data screen. So making sure waiting for the values to show up is imperative for a decent GPX file. Well, if the auto pause is on, the watch will immediately go into auto pause at Standing Still mode and the search for a good gps lock will be put on hold. Also slow crawling climbs can register as a pause and can give you bad gps track.. anyways, minor thing but I would like to see some kind of a delay implemented into the Auto Pause (20-30 secs of standing still) Apart from all of that, I am happy with the watch and its performance..
I loved your video, very professional and full of data. Can t find a better review of the Stratos anywhere. Congrats and brgds from Argentina. D
Thanks!
Can’t wait to see u test Stratos 3
As always... your reviews are some of the best on RUclips and love your focus on long term testing. Keep up the great work. Wanted to pass on a funny note I received from Garmin a few months back regarding the Fenix 5 "After reviewing the activities where you mentioned an issue with the OHR accuracy, the engineers determined that your level of fitness exceeds the ability of the OHR to provide valuable and accurate data for the calculation of your vo2 max estimate. The system was not designed to adjust to such a finite and high level of fitness so you would experience a larger discrepancy when introducing erroneous HR data."
They didn’t design it for “beast-mode”? 🤣 You should ask them to be a tester!
Excellent review. Compare to the cheaper Amazfit Pace, what extra feature does it have?
Great review. Thanks. My Ionic broke, while waiting for a replacement, I am trying the Stratos. So far, so good.
Thanks for your review on the amazfit stratos. Especially the part in which you tested the wrist heart rate function. I experienced the same inaccuracy in heart beat measuring during heavy excersises. I ordered a bluetooth heart rate belt strap for more accurate heart rate measuring.
For me accurate real time heart rate measuring is necessary during my training and marathon.
I am using the Amazfit stratos now for over 2 months. I wear it 24/7 and I'am very satisfied about this price worth sportwatch.
Glad it has worked out for you!
I purchased the Amazfit Stratos from Amazfit a little over a year ago. I have used the Amazfit Stratos on a daily basis since purchase. Then, a week or two before the one year anniversary of my ownership of the watch, the watch malfunctioned and hte HR monitor light stopped working properly. Instead of blinking, the light stayed on. The result: IT BURNED MY ARM. That's right, the HR monitor light malfunctioned and burned me. I emailed Amazfit and raised the issue with them. I responded to all of their inquiries and instead of responding with any suggestions for a reimbursement or a fix, what has happened? I HAVE BEEN IGNORED. That's right, after first asking me a few questions, Amazfit's customer service/support has now been ignoring me for over a week. If they had good customer service, I would not be writing this. If there was no risk of the watch malfunctioning on you and the company doing nothing to make amends, I wouldn't be writing this. However, I would STRONGLY recommend not to purchase anything from this company. They do not take serious customer concerns into account, they ignore you. If this company was Apple or Google or Microsoft, they would have responded immediately. Indeed, when I used FitBit they replaced my watch the first two times it malfunctioned within 1.5 years of ownership. DO NOT BUY, that is all I can say. I truly hope the company sees this comment and does something to make amends with me. It is seriously concerning that Amazfit simply ignores potential risks of serious injuries to its loyal customers.
what a liar i have same watch no issues at all
Aleksander, consider that with manufacturing there can always be faulty units. For instance, the first Amazfit GTR 2e I tested had a faulty HR sensor. The second was just fine. People may have different experiences.
@@AlexMkd1984 to be clear, they replaced the watch . Customer service was great. But the first watch burnt my arm. The next one has been working perfectly since I received it. Unless you have something you are prepared to say to someone’s face I would suggest not frivolously calling someone a liar. Have a great day.
Review the amazfit BIP or BIP lite Des. It's cheap but i think it gets the job done with an amazing battery life with a always on screen as well.
Always I love to see your videos, they are very detailed and informative. Thank you.
Wow, thanks! Appreciate it!
We APPRECIATE your time, effort and money to make these kinda videos. You're the best bud.
Thanks Julius!
Best review out there unbiased and professional
Wow thanks!
Sure well deserved this is my go to channel now for reviews
BTW, I was curious how does this compare to S3 Gear given that I am mainly looking for a fitness tracker not a smart watch
Thank you for the detailed review. I've been looking at the Amazfit Stratos to help me with my triathlon training. Your vid is very helpful for those who are just new to these gadgetry/fitness thing. So if only I can give you a thousand likes, it's RIP likes button. 😀😀
Awesome video! I was waiting for it for some time now. FYI, the last firmware update added an auto pause feature for running which is tunable to a predefined threshold pace or standstill conditions. Keep up the awesome videos!!!
Thanks! I actually didn’t notice in the last week but I’ll update my pinned comment with that info. Thanks!
Great review! Hope you'll continue to follow the Amazfit products, the pricing really makes it a great option for those looking for a budget choice or outside the US.
I noticed big difference in HR on Stratos comparing it with Garmin. While running Stratos shows about 30 bpm lower HR than my (ex) Garmin Vivoactive HR.
Absolutely brilliant review. Very helpful. Thank you.
Thanks!
Very good review. The time and effort is well appreciated.
Thanks!! Glad it helped!
Hi, this is a very well organised and detailed review. Lots of work out into it. Great work!
Thanks! That means a lot!
Yes. Totally agreed, if you gym a lot u should buy an external HR strap, but for the price the GPS and a lot of stuff in this watch are pretty awesome.
Ya, hard to ignore that price tag.
The problem though is that it does not even have a basic workout profile (or any gym profiles as a matter of fact). Hopefully it's something they can fix with updates
Or just buy a Fitbit Versa as I did. Good HR accuracy even at gym.
Turre Tuntematon also did that. Waiting for desfit review on it
Turre Tuntematon mimmonen se fitbit versa on? Mimmonen käyttää ? Eikö se ole hölmön näköinen ranteessa ku on sellainen palikka?kyselen vain siksi että olen kahden vaiheilla että ostanko stratoksen vai versan.
Another killer review! I may have to try this puppy out....
Again, that price! Thanks!
Excellent watch at this price point. I had been using amazefit pace and getting 6 days of cosistent battery life.
Sudhansu Sabut with always on display?
Yes. It has always on display
Very thorough video Des. Great job!
Thanks John!
I was looking at this watch about two months ago but decided against it because the screen had a chin, which means if you're using an analog style watch face it'll intrude into whatever's on the 6:00 area. So now I've forgotten about the Stratos and also I just ordered a Microwear L5 (well actually it's from Lokmat but I reckon they're the same), and I've been watching an L5 video and the guy in the video said it's basically a clone of the Stratos. Woah didn't realize that. The L5 interface is more basic though, but I got it for just $26. It hasn't arrived yet and I'm planning to give it away. (But who knows, if I like it I just might decide to keep it for myself!! 😄)
This is a great review because it actually gives me an honest and complete overview of what the watch can do and what type of usage it may be best suited for.
I think I'm actually going with this even though most of my training is in the gym with cycling to and from it there plus 2-4 cycling tours per month. The watch looks great and considering that most watches with an optical sensor seem to have issues with reading the heart rate, buying this cheaper, albeit still functional and good-looking watch and having a few spare bucks for a heart rate strap that I'd have to buy anyway seems like a very cost-effective solution that also yields good results.
After watching your unboxing and this video I deside to purchase one for myself. I have to say that for me it kind of tix all boxes. Cheap and lots of funktions and great GPS to match Strava segments when riding MTB. I do use the auto pause feature. Thanks for a great review.
That’s great that you’re enjoying it. Cheers!
Hey, you mention you use the auto pause feature while the video 5:04 mentions that there is no auto pause feature available ?!
Apparently a firmware update added this feature but it was released after this filming and I do not have the watch anymore to confirm this functionality.
Thanks a lot for your swift reply. I will souble check it. Overall, were you satisfied by it, what did you change it with?
I thought it was good watch, especially for the money. The app and workout profiles need to be built out just a bit more, but I think they work for the majority of people.
its a good watch, i have been using it for months, it had good battery life till i got a update that created problems, now i have to keep the watch in airplane mode because the watch keeps trying to connect via WiFi and Bluetooth.. the battery will drain with in hours after taking it off the charger..
Huh, didn’t have that issue on my end. Have you contacted support?
no, i have searched on line and found a thread on XDA with people having the same problem, i'm sure it will get fixed in a update, it could also be related that i changed from a Huawei Mate 8 to a Galaxy s9, I didn't have this problem on the old phone, there has been firmware updates since i upgraded my phone, I notice it got bad in the last update. was able to get up to 7 days of battery life before. Its been stable since i put the watch in airplane mode, I only sync the watch a couple times a day.
Torn trying to decide between the Fenix 3hr, VivoActive 3 and this. I have so much data in Garmin Connect that I am leaning towards the Vivoactive3...
Ya if you’re already in the Garmin ecosystem I think it would be tough to switch.
What did you get at the end?
Bought one, lasted me less than a year before the screen died out of the blue. It was awesome while it lasted but I guess in the end I got what I payed for. Gonna drop some extra cash on a Garmin and hope it holds up better.
I have had my Stratos for two years and I have some issues. The sleep analyser is total crap doesn’t work anymore. The heart rate monitor also doesn’t work and to top things off, Ive now got a screen burn circle that just appeared this week. Up until now I quite liked this watch. I didn’t want to buy an Apple Watch as I have everything else Apple. Desktop, MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad. I wanted to change things up so Apple don’t have the monopoly with me. But.... it looks like long term durability isn’t something Amazefit can offer. Google the burn circles to see what I mean.
By the way. This review is very good but long term ownership will prove me right. Cheers
thank you for your robust review!
Sure thing!
great review! I have this device for 2 weeks and I have to agree with you for the heart rate accuracy, even my amazfit bip does better. however, i can say that its algorithm for heart rate reading has improved since the last firmware update
dgxianxin there is rom update that improve HR accuracy algorithm
dgxianxin Did you consider this a good upgrade over the Bip? Did the added functionality and higher quality hardware make it worth the additional money?
Can you review the Amazfit Stratos 3 please? 💪
Yes please
damn! great review! i was actually eyeing on fitbit ionic, but now seems like this one gonna be a bang for the buck!
Thanks!
Once again, a great review. Thank you for the time you have spent to do it. 5 stars.
Thanks, Rui!
After second review it is time to subscribe. Great content, and a lot of infos, that others do not gave a damn. Extra value infos...
Thanks
Finally i bought it. And i like it 👌thx to yours review 👍
Great review comprehensive but still succinct, best I've seen so far for this watch.
i will buying this after seeing your video.thanks
I never leave comments but very informative video,
Thanks!
Hi guys!
I only need this features from a smartwatch:
- set countdown timer (on-device)
- set alarms (on-device)
- count steps
- sedentary reminder
- minimum splash water resistant
Cool to have but not a must:
- set intervals workout timer (on-device)
- google maps
This smartwatch contain this features? If not ..there are better alternatives?
Thank you!!
Great review! I've been really eager to buy the upgraded Fenix watch, but at the same time I've been hesitant about the price. The stratos is almost a fifth or sixth of the price of a Fenix plus.
Thanks! Although the new 5 Plus is priced very high, it is a lot more watch too. Not saying it’s totally worth it’s high price tag but it really does have everything. Look for my review if the Plus’ soon! Thanks again!
Allright! Looking forward to it. If I didn't have a history of Garmin and lot's of Garmin data, then I probably would have bought the Stratos. Garmin already has me hooked, and shifting to another watch with another system seems like too big of a step.
Yup, that’s what keeps the customers is the ecosystem.
Very helpful as usual. You do the best reviews in this department, love them! Are you planning on doing one on the new Amazfit GTR?
Thanks! Nope, probably not on the GTR. I’ve got tons on my plate already but appreciate the support!
GTR is a total dud so no great loss with that one
Gee, I bought Amazfit Bip for quite sometime. lovin it.
And your review made me want to upgrade...
If it’s working for you and if you don’t really need to upgrade, don’t. Save your money until you really need it 👍
Arief Fadilla De Mello bip battery life is awesome!! I have 40% battery life left after 30 days! Only downside for me is no swimming with it.
Thanks for the review. Really great. I bought one after watching your video. Do you know what the Sport dial in the default Everest watch face is for? The top dial, it says Sport and it has 1.5 at the 30 minute mark. What is that dial for?
nice review, but the lcd angle where it proviceds high contrast sucks, the watch has more height than a conventional mechanical watch, which means it is not too elegant to wear either
Hi
With the newest firmware 2.3.4 they made heart rate much more accurate - I had the same problem like you with very high heart rate .
Now is much better.
I actually retested against the newest firmware (which is actually the reason I was delayed by a week) to verify results and it *sort of* got better for me but I still experienced some dropouts. Have to agree it’s “better” though 👍
Earlier I had max heart rate around 150 -155 while running but with the newest firmware my watch easily showing me 165+ ;-) so is much better - but real should be around 170-175 ( I have also separate sensor for the chest for test but is very uncomfortable that's why I'm not using it normally )
Thank you for the great review, one which I had been looking forward to! One feature that I'm particularly interested in is music playback. Does it solely rely on an mp3 library or does it integrate with offline playlists on any streaming platforms (particularly Spotify)? And as I'm guessing that the answer is "no": do you think this feature can potentially be added by software updates? I suppose the question is as relevant for high-end watches such as the Fenix 5. Thank you once again!
Thanks! Absolutely could be added but it’s up to Spotify, mostly. I bet we’ll start to see something other than Samsung watches with Spotify within the next 6-12 months, or at least I hope something happens! Thanks again!
Superb review! 👍
Thanks!!
Great review- perfect work Des.
Thanks!
Excellent review! Would you please do a review on Stratos 3 since it is an upgrade to the Stratos 2?
Very in-depth, ultimate review! Thanks!
Sure thing! Glad you enjoyed it!
Thank you for the review, appreciate it so much.
Sure thing! Thanks!
Awesome review. Subscribed !
Thanks!
Is calories burnt accurate?? Also did they fixed the HR accuracy with any upgrade?
Hey, I am amazed by your review man! Keep up the good work. I was comparing this watch with the huawei watch fit since there's a flash deal for both of them. Which one do you suggest?
Have you got your hands on Stratos 3? Is there a considerable upgrade? Not available in India so far, should I be waiting or go with stratos first gen? Appreciate your thoughts.
Great vid as always des!
Thanks so much!
Yes! Formula One! Triple-header hype
💪
I really just wish they would add a gym profile. Half of my workouts are in the gym and that seems like it would be a lot more appealing than "soccer" to a wider audience. My other issue is connectivity with other services. They need to allow the data to sync to something like Myfitnesspal so we can track nutrition, etc. They have already come a lot further than Suunto in a shorter period of time, but it's tough to choose this over a Garmin with so many missing "must-haves".
They are still young. It's not bad for how short they have been in the market. If you really need to save money then this is a good option but at the end of the day a Garmin will provide a more robust experience.
Wtf do you mean? Their biggest market is outside of the U.S, and soccer is global. Plus the only reason I am sure I will definitely buy it is because of the soccer feature. Go buy an apple watch 😒😒
Superdavis davis yeah, I'm sure a lot more people play soccer for fitness than work out in the gym. Go buy a Fitbit smartwatch! 😉☺️😉😃😙😁😍😉😅😉😅😉🤗😍😊😄😚😎😉😎😉😄😊😊😄😊🤗🤗😂🤗😘😂😅😅😂😄
I'm curious to see any review against the Ticwatch Pro. It seems like all next gen watches will pack everything, which also will compromise battery life. Good to point that waterproof is still a feature that should be better developed.
Nice review. Thanks. You should do one on the stratos 3 now.
btw. you can install apk's that enable reply to massages, calendar and agenda, weight lifting etc.
One of the best looking watches on the market
Thank you so much for the review! Bought it after your review and endorsement! You got my subscription! Please recommend a heart rate monitor and bike computer to go along??
Thanks man! Was an awesome review! You just got a new subscriber :)
Thanks! Glad it helped!
Hi there @DesFit!
Just found your channel and its seems really nice.
In regard of smartwatches, I'm really between this one or the new galaxy watch that's coming out this month.
Although i appreciate the "budget price" and the autonomy of Stratos, i dont like the bottom "notch" on this one, and the new samsung watch will be cheaper than the current gear s3 (???around 300-350 instead of 400?).
My main issue would be the battery life, i really dont want to charge it everyday/2 to 2 days, and samsung is saying the new watch will last from 4-6/7 days (with lots of stuff turned off for sure)? I think i samsung screen is way better, and their rotating well for cycling menus is something awesome, but its still a big investiment. Its coming on a 45mm version and a smaller one (42mm), since i dont have big wrists i was affraid it would look to big (same fear with stratos), but i tried the gear s3 (45mm?) and actually looked good, so i dont mind buying the "bigger version" if that means i would have a significantly better battery life. Plus, Stuff like garming - 700bucks - and on that price range is way overpriced for me, and since its my first smartwatch (mi band wont count eheh) i'm kinda between a cheaper (and probably with better battery life) or a more premium smartwatch for more a few hundred extra bucks with better screen and the "all Mighty well". I think it comes out this month, so i should wait until september to make my decision, but what do you think?
P.S: Great review, keep it up!
I’ll be receiving the Galaxy Watch this week so I can let you know how it does for battery life. I actually am getting the smaller version since the larger one isn’t available in black.
Yep, i would rather buy the darker version too (and since its smaller it would probably look better on my wrist), but i become suspicious since they said you would feel the real difference on the bigger version (more battery). Maybe it will get improved anyway because its a smaller screen and the software might boost it a little too, something around 4-5 days without going in "survival mode" would be great (some gps to my runs, dont need to use the LTE stuff, dont need allways on display up, etc).
Anyways, i will be looking foward to see your review, and then i'll give my opinion again, cheers ! ;)
Struggling between the Stratos vs Garmin Vivoactive 3 (non+music variant). One thing I'm looking for is open water swim tracking... The other is ability for quick replies via the watch (connected to Android Pixel). Also, Stress level targets during workouts... Need to watch my heart rate for health reasons. Any thoughts??
Awesome review. I'm trying to get my first fitness tracker but still torn between getting this or a refurbished fenix 3 with HRM chest strap which is 70 dollar more expensive.
Hi, can you tell me please if it's possible to set a vibration alarm when you're swimming to advise you when you have swam same distance or time? Thank you!
Great review. You deserve more views and subscribers!
Thanks!
Hey Des, great video!
What are the best HR monitors that can be paired with stratos?
I planned to buy a garmin 735 XT because I do a lot running,cycling and swimming and it has pretty good wrist HR,but music storage is reason why i would buy stratos with external hr monitor to cover that bad wrist HR.
Thanks! I like the Scosche Rhythm 24 for an arm band and the Wahoo Tickr X for a chest strap.
Amazing Review!
Thanks!