Amazfit GTR 4/GTS 4 Review

In the crowded wearables market, finding the sweet spot between premium features and a palatable price tag can feel like a quest for a mythical creature. Yet, Amazfit consistently delivers compelling contenders, and its GTR 4 and GTS 4 models are arguably its most ambitious effort yet. These watches don’t just aim to be good for the price; they aim to be genuinely great, packing flagship-grade GPS technology and robust health tracking into a package that seriously undercuts the competition. They represent a maturation of the brand, moving from a budget alternative to a legitimate rival.

First impressions are strong. Both the GTR 4 (classic round face) and GTS 4 (sleek square face) feature a premium-feeling aluminum alloy middle frame, paired with a high-gloss sprayed PC bottom shell. The GTR 4, with its etched bezel and prominent, red-accented navigation crown, leans into a more traditional, almost automotive aesthetic. The GTS 4, conversely, is a minimalist, feather-light device that will feel immediately familiar to fans of the Apple Watch form factor. Both are comfortable for all-day wear and feature gorgeous, bright, and responsive AMOLED displays. Viewing angles are excellent, and outdoor visibility is a non-issue, making them fantastic for at-a-glance stat checks during a sunny run. While they may not have the sapphire crystal of ultra-premium models, the tempered glass holds up well to daily use.

At the heart of the experience is Zepp OS 2.0, a lightweight and efficient operating system. Navigation is fluid, with minimal lag or stutter when swiping through widgets or launching applications. The BioTracker 4.0 PPG optical sensor is the hardware star, providing more accurate data for heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), and stress monitoring. The software synthesizes this data into a digestible PAI (Personal Activity Intelligence) score, which is a genuinely useful metric for gauging your overall weekly activity. However, the “smartwatch” side of the equation is where you’ll find the compromise. While you get Alexa built-in, Bluetooth calling, and a small but growing library of mini-apps, the ecosystem is a walled garden. Notifications are for viewing, with replies limited to pre-canned responses, and there’s no support for third-party music apps like Spotify for offline playback, a notable omission for many.

Where these watches truly shine is in fitness tracking, and the headline feature is the dual-band, circularly polarized GPS. This is technology previously reserved for much more expensive Garmin and Coros watches. In practice, it delivers a remarkably fast GPS lock and impressively accurate tracking, even in challenging environments like dense cityscapes or tree-covered trails. For runners, cyclists, and hikers, this feature alone is a massive selling point. Amazfit also includes over 150 sports modes, with impressive auto-detection for several activities. A new, ambitious feature is the automatic rep counting for strength training. While it’s a fantastic idea and works reasonably well for common upper-body exercises, it can be inconsistent with more complex movements or lower-body workouts, reminding you that this software is still evolving.