Nice Review. One thing to note, the Amazfit Stratos has VERY impressive battery life if you don't use bluetooth music. I lose about 5% per hour, or 20 hour total even with continuous HR on.
Thank you for this review, I've been watching review vids for the Amazfit and other smartwatches for weeks trying to decide since I'm on a budget and this is def helping move the needle.
Hi Donovan. Have some specific queries. 1. Have you done a review of the Stratos 3? If so, or even not and guessing you might just know, does it support ANT+ sensors? I need a good watch for Triathlons and indoor cycling using Bike Trainers.
I really like my stratos, i’ve had it for 2 months now, its battery is much better than apple watch, i only paid $200aud when it was on flash sale, definitely worth the money
Glad you are liking it. I will definitely keep encouraging people to check it out. It's tough to find a watch that competes with the Stratos at this price point.
Donavon Hornbeck i totally agree. I tried apple watch, im sick of charging it everyday. Until i found amazfit stratos, its only $200aud but it does the great job. I just ordered another one for my brother
I am in the same situation - using Apple Watch 2 and want more fitness aspect vs general activity tracking. My concern is the blue tooth connectivity... in general and specifically using the Apple Airpods. Any thoughts?
@@Try_n_2Tri I used mine with Airpods, and connectivity to the Amazfit Stratos was good, but to the Garmin Vivoactive Music the connection wasn't so great. I bought a pair of $30 NewTrent true wireless earbuds that work perfectly with the Vivoactive though.
Great content man! Hopefully i get to win the stratos. I have been watching your content for more than year now. Helping me decide on choosing the best smartwatch for running. Keep it up!
Donavon Hornbeck i do! I got the amazfit pace now and it's great! I have it for about a month now. Gives me the necessary data and more. Got it from your review. Now I'm just eyeing that stratos for the give away. Haha. ✌️ I'm thinking of the Amazfit Bip to give as a gift. So I was really happy with the giveaway. I hope i win. 😀
Great video. Just got my Stratos.. Still getting used to size. Which is strange as had Suunto Observer 44x13, & Sportura at 12mm. Specs shows Suuntos biggest at approx Suunto 9 50x50x17, then Garmins 43x43x13.5~15, then Stratos 46x46x12.7. Ambit 18, Core 14.5. It may haven't worn a watch for a while, but Amazfit could design similar size but lower looking profile.
Good review, i've heard a lot about the stratos stopped working after a few months, do you think this watch could last more than 1 year working apropriately? or have you experience any issue? I would really aprecciate your answer Greettings from Colombia!
Thank you for the great review. I've seen some complaints about the ears of the stratos falling out, the plastic parts covering the connection points of straps. Have you experienced such a think? Do you think it is a serious problem?
I know Im late to the party but which of these watches would you recommend for indoor pool swimming? Accuracy is important to me when measuring laps, distance, strokes/strokes per min, swolf, etc. If not these two watches in particular, which would u recommend?
The Syllable earbuds are only okay. No music controls on the earbuds, and the sound quality is decent (not great though). I got them to review, and they were a quick fix to my problem with the Vivoactive not working with my other headsets. I may spend some money on some higher end earbuds to use with it, but I may just stick with these since I just bought the Jabra Elite Active 65T's last week.
Great vid, as usual... I have Vivoactive HR and looking for an upgrade. I get 6 days battery now with 2 x 5Km, watch is 2yrs+ old. If you don't use Music facility how long do you get out of the both watches? Cheers
Hola! En un inicio me parecía excelente, sobre todo la relación precio-calidad. Pero hoy me metí a una alberca como lo hago normalmente y en seguida empezó a vibrar y se apagó. Lo intente cargar pero se calentaba mucho. Y bueno es el caso que ya no enciende. Puedo intuir que le entró agua al reloj si suena increíble pero eso creo qué pasó y ahora ya no enciende. Es una lástima parecía un muy buen reloj. Stratos 2
how long does the stratos takes to connect the gps. is it as accurate as garmin in distance and speed calculation. i'm a runner , gps accuracy and hr and battery matters a lot.
Sorry it took so long to respond, but I’d definitely say the Stratos is just as accurate as my Garmin (both for the HR and GPS). As for time to connect to GPS, if I run at home it’s about 5 to 10 seconds, but if I run somewhere new it’s about 20 to 30 seconds.
@@serbrider6366, could you be more specific please? I'm thinking to buy a Garmin forrunner 365 or Xiaomi Amazfit... i'n not sure what yet... could you help please? gps? battery?
Hey Ricardo, battery life is fine but the band comes off when pressure put on it. Not sure why, I may just change the band and hopefully that will fix the problem. One of the prongs that hold the watch in tight while charging has fallen off? Why? No idea... Without the little plastic piece the watch won’t charge:( Ill have to super glue it back. I guess you get what you pay for... Everything else with the watch is great, never had a problem with recording as I cycle every day and run every other with out fault:) From time to time the gps can take some time to connect which can be annoying. The after care service from the company is NON existent!! Hope that helps
Charing pins on Garmin are INOX...versus the Amazefit witch is just some metal witch in many cases can be oxidized from your sweet and stop charging...
Unfortunately I never got my hands on the Gear Sport. I did have the Gear Fit 2 Pro, and I wasn't a fan, so I pretty much just decided to pass on the Gear Sport based on that experience.
I have Gear Sport and do not recommend it. It has issue with Auto Pause, screen is not Always On (can be, but battery drains fast even with optimized watchface) and it disconnects bluetooth frequently. I will sell them and upgrade my Pace to Stratos.
Can I use the same watch face that you have on yours and put it on my Vivoactive 3 without the music version? Like the look and ordered mine without the music for $209 on ebay...
So, a year out, do you still feel the same? How about battery life only using GPS and not music. I'm a cyclist so I'm only looking to track miles and stats, not listen to music.
Just the size of the Amazfit alone is a deal breaker for me, the vivoactive is already pretty big on my wrist, so that Amazfit is huge. all though mine is not the music not sure if there is any difference beside that.
The Vivoactive 3 Music has a slightly different design from the regular Vivoactive 3, but it isn't any bigger. I was used to huge Garmin GPS watches from when they first started making them, so any watch feels fine in comparison. Both watches are great though IMO. Also, I need to make an updated video for the Vivoactive 3 Music, because the Bluetooth issue is no longer an issue. They fixed it with updates a couple of months ago.
Have you weight lifted with it? If so, is the hr consistent. If, for example, you get to 125, or higher of a reading, does it stay steady, or does it radically go up and down?
I have two playlists that I use. One has all Christian/worship music, and the other I call "punk goes pop." That playlist has a bunch of metal bands that redid pop songs. I used to be really into metal and hard core music, and still listen to it on occassion.
Both are silicone. The VivoActive has the more comfortable feel overall, but that's mostly because it is a smaller and lighter. The straps themselves are pretty similar in terms of their feel on my wrist (both I have no issue with).
Personally I like the Garmin more. Garmin just knows how to make excellent watches for runners. The Amazfit Stratos is still a great GPS watch for runners though.
The Bluetooth range for the Vivoactive 3 Music was improved with a software update and is just fine now. As for the Stratos, the Bluetooth range has always been good. The Stratos will work with pretty much any headphones that I use with it.
I still use it occasionally, but I’m always reviewing new watches, so I can’t use it all the time. In general the battery life is very good. If you use it heavily (using GPS and music during a workout) you can get about 2 to 3 days of battery life. If you don’t use the GPS or music much, then you can stretch the battery life to 5 or 7 days) depending on usage of course.
@@donavonhornbeck Thanks for a quick reply. I have found all your reviews quite helpful. Furthermore, I found a peculiar problem of battery drain if the watch is not rebooted everyday. Have you faced this problem anytime in the past? Sorry for this question as I fully understand that I'm late to ask this question.
Yes, pace is definitely one of the options that you have available for it to show during your run. You get to pick the data that the watch displays while you run.
@@donavonhornbeck I too just purchased the Vivoactiblve 3 music.. I’ve wanted a watch that supports spotify for a long time now. And they were either too exoensive or simply a fully smart watch Which I didn't like. Now I got the Vivo music 3 as an "open box" for $219.. a pretty good deal. I’ve been using the Forerunner 735XT.. great watch, but hated that I had to take my phone with me for music.
Garmin vivoactive has nicer and better app , lasts longer and is not so chunky ... I got Amazfit for $160 which is cheaper but I'd rather have vivoactive
The Amazfit Stratos has been fixed with a software upgrade (as far as the altitude tracking is concerned). I'm not sure about the Amazfit Pace though, but I would think the fix for the Stratos would also fix it on the Pace.
I have never liked the Amazfit software or how long it takes to get a GPS signal. Ok for the price, but a refurb Garmin is 179 now that's probably what I will switch to.
One of the best comparison reviews I've come across. Planning to buy one. Amazfit looks good + has a better battery life!
Garmin has the better battery life he said
hey, did you get the Amazfit, how is it, is it worth it? Planning to get one in 2019..
Amazfit is less price
Really appreciate the clear review. You really clarify some questions I was pondering about the stratos. Thumbs and subscribed.
Nice Review. One thing to note, the Amazfit Stratos has VERY impressive battery life if you don't use bluetooth music. I lose about 5% per hour, or 20 hour total even with continuous HR on.
Thank you for this review, I've been watching review vids for the Amazfit and other smartwatches for weeks trying to decide since I'm on a budget and this is def helping move the needle.
Glad to help. If you have any specific questions don't hesitate to shoot me an email: thesmartphoneguy77@gmail.com
Donavon Hornbeck I shot you an email :) thank you!
Hi Donovan. Have some specific queries.
1. Have you done a review of the Stratos 3? If so, or even not and guessing you might just know, does it support ANT+ sensors? I need a good watch for Triathlons and indoor cycling using Bike Trainers.
I really like my stratos, i’ve had it for 2 months now, its battery is much better than apple watch, i only paid $200aud when it was on flash sale, definitely worth the money
Glad you are liking it. I will definitely keep encouraging people to check it out. It's tough to find a watch that competes with the Stratos at this price point.
Donavon Hornbeck i totally agree. I tried apple watch, im sick of charging it everyday. Until i found amazfit stratos, its only $200aud but it does the great job. I just ordered another one for my brother
I am in the same situation - using Apple Watch 2 and want more fitness aspect vs general activity tracking. My concern is the blue tooth connectivity... in general and specifically using the Apple Airpods. Any thoughts?
@@Try_n_2Tri I used mine with Airpods, and connectivity to the Amazfit Stratos was good, but to the Garmin Vivoactive Music the connection wasn't so great. I bought a pair of $30 NewTrent true wireless earbuds that work perfectly with the Vivoactive though.
What is the material of the straps? Are they comfortable enough as silicone straps?
Really helpful video, thanks Donavon!
Great content man! Hopefully i get to win the stratos. I have been watching your content for more than year now. Helping me decide on choosing the best smartwatch for running. Keep it up!
Thanks for watching. Do you have a watch you wear for running now?
Donavon Hornbeck i do! I got the amazfit pace now and it's great! I have it for about a month now. Gives me the necessary data and more. Got it from your review. Now I'm just eyeing that stratos for the give away. Haha. ✌️ I'm thinking of the Amazfit Bip to give as a gift. So I was really happy with the giveaway. I hope i win. 😀
Great comparison.
Thanks man.
Donavon Hornbeck i forgot to ask if there's really a difference between Garmin 645 Music and the Vivoactive 3 Music?
Giveaway still available? 😄
va3 music is now 179.00 at best buy . With the HR running full time 11 days between charges .
Great video. Just got my Stratos.. Still getting used to size. Which is strange as had Suunto Observer 44x13, & Sportura at 12mm. Specs shows Suuntos biggest at approx Suunto 9 50x50x17, then Garmins 43x43x13.5~15, then Stratos 46x46x12.7. Ambit 18, Core 14.5. It may haven't worn a watch for a while, but Amazfit could design similar size but lower looking profile.
Yeah, it's a bit big, but I got used to it real fast. The size really only is noticeable to me after wearing a smaller watch for a while.
Samsung Gear S3 46x12.9mm
Great review- Thank you!
Good review, i've heard a lot about the stratos stopped working after a few months, do you think this watch could last more than 1 year working apropriately? or have you experience any issue? I would really aprecciate your answer
Greettings from Colombia!
Thank you for addressing charging time. I think it's something a lot of reviewers fail to mention.
The reason Im interested in the vivoactive music is so I don't have to bring my phone when I workout and can still listen to music
Thank you for the great review. I've seen some complaints about the ears of the stratos falling out, the plastic parts covering the connection points of straps. Have you experienced such a think? Do you think it is a serious problem?
I’ve used the Stratos heavily, and so far there is just minor wear on the strap and on the sides of the watch, but no functional physical damage.
I know Im late to the party but which of these watches would you recommend for indoor pool swimming? Accuracy is important to me when measuring laps, distance, strokes/strokes per min, swolf, etc. If not these two watches in particular, which would u recommend?
Excelente Review Thank You...
Good review. Are those Syllable earphones any good? Can you control the volume from the earphone?
The Syllable earbuds are only okay. No music controls on the earbuds, and the sound quality is decent (not great though). I got them to review, and they were a quick fix to my problem with the Vivoactive not working with my other headsets. I may spend some money on some higher end earbuds to use with it, but I may just stick with these since I just bought the Jabra Elite Active 65T's last week.
Great vid, as usual... I have Vivoactive HR and looking for an upgrade. I get 6 days battery now with 2 x 5Km, watch is 2yrs+ old. If you don't use Music facility how long do you get out of the both watches? Cheers
I want Amaze fit Stratos 🤗🤗🤗
which one did you like better?
Hola! En un inicio me parecía excelente, sobre todo la relación precio-calidad. Pero hoy me metí a una alberca como lo hago normalmente y en seguida empezó a vibrar y se apagó. Lo intente cargar pero se calentaba mucho. Y bueno es el caso que ya no enciende. Puedo intuir que le entró agua al reloj si suena increíble pero eso creo qué pasó y ahora ya no enciende. Es una lástima parecía un muy buen reloj. Stratos 2
Entrou água pelo sensor ...ou também peloa furinhos do microfone
Thank you. Do you have a opinion about the incident detection feature on the Garmin?
how long does the stratos takes to connect the gps. is it as accurate as garmin in distance and speed calculation. i'm a runner , gps accuracy and hr and battery matters a lot.
Sorry it took so long to respond, but I’d definitely say the Stratos is just as accurate as my Garmin (both for the HR and GPS). As for time to connect to GPS, if I run at home it’s about 5 to 10 seconds, but if I run somewhere new it’s about 20 to 30 seconds.
it takes less than fenix 5.. it has great gps!! believe it or not.
Depending where you are, the stratos can take up to a few minutes!
Had mine less than 6 months and it’s starting to break down:(
@@serbrider6366, could you be more specific please? I'm thinking to buy a Garmin forrunner 365 or Xiaomi Amazfit... i'n not sure what yet... could you help please? gps? battery?
Hey Ricardo, battery life is fine but the band comes off when pressure put on it. Not sure why, I may just change the band and hopefully that will fix the problem.
One of the prongs that hold the watch in tight while charging has fallen off? Why? No idea...
Without the little plastic piece the watch won’t charge:(
Ill have to super glue it back. I guess you get what you pay for...
Everything else with the watch is great, never had a problem with recording as I cycle every day and run every other with out fault:)
From time to time the gps can take some time to connect which can be annoying.
The after care service from the company is NON existent!! Hope that helps
Does the stratos and bioactive also upload data to Google fit and Strava? I'm looking at getting the Vivo active for my wife and stratos 3 for myself
Thank you for this review
What's the maximum wrist circumference on the Stratos? I've been trying to find this info everywhere...
For the stratos what profile can I use for yoga or kayaking? Is there something generic where it will log an activity? Does it do auto sleep tracking?
Great comparison. Can you use the stratos to play, stop and skip tracks on Spotify playing on your phone? Thanks!
Yes, you can
Leandro Hoffmann thank you!
@Donavon are you able to get iCal and Outlook or Apple Mail notifications on the Amazfit 2?
What do you think about the gtr in fitness? What make the difference between the stratos and it?
The Stratos is definitely a superior watch as far as fitness is concerned (when compared to the Amazfit GTR).
How will the Garmin react to the airpods? In terms of connection
Which one will support swimming in sea water
Great review! Can't wait for the give away!
Charing pins on Garmin are INOX...versus the Amazefit witch is just some metal witch in many cases can be oxidized from your sweet and stop charging...
ΒΑΣΙΛΗΣ ΠΑΠΑΣ this is actually one of the major let-down of Amazfit. I have the pace and every now and then, I need to clean the charging pins.
@@ernestgenesis9437 that's what's stopping me of buying it...
@@ernestgenesis9437 also i am not a fan of transflective displays and the new watch from Xiaomi the verge looks like a toy...
Thanks for vid.
How do you compare Stratos 2 vs Gear sport? :)
Unfortunately I never got my hands on the Gear Sport. I did have the Gear Fit 2 Pro, and I wasn't a fan, so I pretty much just decided to pass on the Gear Sport based on that experience.
Donavon Hornbeck What was wrong with Gear Fit 2 pro? :)
I have Gear Sport and do not recommend it. It has issue with Auto Pause, screen is not Always On (can be, but battery drains fast even with optimized watchface) and it disconnects bluetooth frequently. I will sell them and upgrade my Pace to Stratos.
Is the vivoactive 3 HR sensor as accurate as the one on the vivoactive 3 music?
Can I use the same watch face that you have on yours and put it on my Vivoactive 3 without the music version? Like the look and ordered mine without the music for $209 on ebay...
So, a year out, do you still feel the same? How about battery life only using GPS and not music. I'm a cyclist so I'm only looking to track miles and stats, not listen to music.
garmin vivoactive 3 music or amazfit stratos is better? which one?
With stratos can you navigate through music during workouts?
Have you tried ocean swimming with stratos?
Both are awesome
Do either watch allow/track INDOOR cycling and running? I don't see them listed in their activity lists...
Lesal8403 yes
Just the size of the Amazfit alone is a deal breaker for me, the vivoactive is already pretty big on my wrist, so that Amazfit is huge. all though mine is not the music not sure if there is any difference beside that.
The Vivoactive 3 Music has a slightly different design from the regular Vivoactive 3, but it isn't any bigger. I was used to huge Garmin GPS watches from when they first started making them, so any watch feels fine in comparison. Both watches are great though IMO. Also, I need to make an updated video for the Vivoactive 3 Music, because the Bluetooth issue is no longer an issue. They fixed it with updates a couple of months ago.
Have you weight lifted with it? If so, is the hr consistent. If, for example, you get to 125, or higher of a reading, does it stay steady, or does it radically go up and down?
What music is on your running playlist?
I have two playlists that I use. One has all Christian/worship music, and the other I call "punk goes pop." That playlist has a bunch of metal bands that redid pop songs. I used to be really into metal and hard core music, and still listen to it on occassion.
That's interesting!!! If I listen to music while I run, it's praise and worship. I love rock, but couldn't make it work with my running
What is the material of the straps? I know the VA are silicone, how do they compare?
Both are silicone. The VivoActive has the more comfortable feel overall, but that's mostly because it is a smaller and lighter. The straps themselves are pretty similar in terms of their feel on my wrist (both I have no issue with).
Does both do swim tracking ?
Yes, both can track swimming indoors and outdoors.
What is the name of the earphones please ?? No link
Does the Strat have a selection of watch faces ?
15 watch faces
Can you add music into the Amazfit directly from your phone?
Yes, but it has to be music downloaded on the phone already as a MP3.
which watch is better?
Personally I like the Garmin more. Garmin just knows how to make excellent watches for runners. The Amazfit Stratos is still a great GPS watch for runners though.
Hi can you control your music on your phone via the stratos?
ed gravestock yes
I have heard that Stratos 3 get's charging problem after sometimes, how true is this? Have anybody faced these problem?
How's the stratos Bluetooth range connection and how good is the notifications? Wish u could respond to text
The Bluetooth range for the Vivoactive 3 Music was improved with a software update and is just fine now. As for the Stratos, the Bluetooth range has always been good. The Stratos will work with pretty much any headphones that I use with it.
Are you still using Amazfit Stratos? If yes, how is the battery life?
I still use it occasionally, but I’m always reviewing new watches, so I can’t use it all the time. In general the battery life is very good. If you use it heavily (using GPS and music during a workout) you can get about 2 to 3 days of battery life. If you don’t use the GPS or music much, then you can stretch the battery life to 5 or 7 days) depending on usage of course.
@@donavonhornbeck Thanks for a quick reply. I have found all your reviews quite helpful. Furthermore, I found a peculiar problem of battery drain if the watch is not rebooted everyday. Have you faced this problem anytime in the past? Sorry for this question as I fully understand that I'm late to ask this question.
Does the Stratos show pace while running?
Yes, pace is definitely one of the options that you have available for it to show during your run. You get to pick the data that the watch displays while you run.
Nothing beats spotify for music.. Now the Vivoactive 3 Music have it.
Yeah, I just posted a video about that.. I instantly switched back to using my Vivoactive 3 Music when that happened.
which you prefers and the accuracy and quality of the gps on Stratos can it compare with Vivoactive 3?
@@donavonhornbeck I too just purchased the Vivoactiblve 3 music..
I’ve wanted a watch that supports spotify for a long time now. And they were either too exoensive or simply a fully smart watch Which I didn't like.
Now I got the Vivo music 3 as an "open box" for $219.. a pretty good deal.
I’ve been using the Forerunner 735XT.. great watch, but hated that I had to take my phone with me for music.
How to turn off gps in stratos?
Did the discount code stop working?
Yes, but Gearbest has great deals on the Amazfit watches right now. Last I checked it was only $159 for the Stratos.
@@donavonhornbeck Ok. Thanks. I'll probably just pay the $20 extra. Gearbest is too slow usually
Yeah, check out the Amazfit sight as well, they often have discount codes if you buy directly from them. They ship from California.
Garmin vivoactive has nicer and better app , lasts longer and is not so chunky ... I got Amazfit for $160 which is cheaper but I'd rather have vivoactive
Can it track naps automatically?
Yes, it is literally tracking your heart rate 24/7, so based on that and the accelerometer it recognizes sleep anytime.
On amazfit pace have altitude problem
The Amazfit Stratos has been fixed with a software upgrade (as far as the altitude tracking is concerned). I'm not sure about the Amazfit Pace though, but I would think the fix for the Stratos would also fix it on the Pace.
Did you test both watches with an iPhone? Is the pairing with the iPhone good?
I have never liked the Amazfit software or how long it takes to get a GPS signal. Ok for the price, but a refurb Garmin is 179 now that's probably what I will switch to.
There is a coupon for the Amazfit that gives 25% off everything, that would make the Stratos $149.
Christopher Schechter what's the coupon and where can we get it?
Steve Wilson right there on the Amazfit website. Everything is 25% off.
stratos can sync to strava?
Yes it can.
Stratos is better
Yeah... I'm also used stratos for 8 months already, and it's awesome! 👍
@@fianhyde In my opinion, up to $250 Stratos is the best sports watch. However, there would be more sport modes. 👍💪
ofc its not better , its good but no better cause of the inaccuracy
Give away!! I'm waiting
code no longer works, bummer
G-shocks are officially obsolete. 😂😂
man I wanna stratos need one
It’s down to $145 on GearBest right now. It requires a coupon code though. If your interested I can send you the code that brings it down to $145.
@@donavonhornbeck thank you, but I got the amazefit bip already so sad should 've wait a bit longer
Hi there, you don’t happen to have that code for GearBest do you? I’m thinking of getting one.
10.00.......Who the hell in this world keeps the walking goal to 20000 steps?
I'm a distance runner, so most days getting 20,000 steps isn't too difficult.
Its better if spotify apps is supported the watches haha
Stratos😍💪👍😏
I want some love from Mr Donovan
I'm your no. 2 fun😏 lol
I have a stratos it has a shitty software
价格完全不是一个档次的产品
When did Americans stop pronouncing the letter T? Who says Bu-ins?? It's Buttons. Damn Playa.