Christoph Hoffmann
Compared to the cheaper Garmin Instinct 3 without maps or the Garmin Fenix 8 (around 720 euros), the T-Rex Ultra 2 positions itself clearly: more map detail than the cheaper Garmin, significantly lower price than the more expensive one – and a larger, higher-resolution display than both.
The diving certification includes 10 ATM and free diving to a depth of 45 meters. This means that the watch is not only splash-proof, but also designed for real underwater use. Operating temperatures range from -30 to +70 degrees Celsius. It is tested against shock, moisture and extreme temperatures according to MIL-STD-810H.
As extras, the T-Rex Ultra 2 offers a camera shutter for the smartphone, NFC payment via the Zepp Pay platform (in Germany only available via the third-party provider Curve) and an integrated microphone and speaker for Bluetooth calls directly via the watch. Voice notes during training can also be recorded.
Facility & app
The setup is done via the Zepp app, which is available for iOS and Android. The first pairing went smoothly in our test. An upcoming firmware update should be installed straight out of the box; After that the system ran stable and without any dropouts.
The Zepp app is comprehensive: it manages watch faces, allows you to download maps, creates training plans via the integrated coach and displays detailed health data. The app ecosystem of the watch itself can be expanded via the integrated App Store – there are games, weather apps, calendars and other tools.
Anyron Copeman / Foundry
The watch supports Wi-Fi at 2.4 GHz, so that updates and maps can be downloaded directly to the device even without a smartphone. This takes a little longer than via Bluetooth, but is practical if the phone is not within reach.
There are plenty of dials. The pre-installed watch faces show heart rate, steps, battery level and other metrics at a glance. There is a wide selection in the Zepp app app store – from sporty and functional to playful. Some are paid, many are free.
Phone notifications, call display and Bluetooth calls work reliably. Notifications from the smartphone – for example for emails, WhatsApp or calls – are clearly displayed on the watch, even if response options are only available to a limited extent. Contacts can be transferred to the watch for dialing directly from the watch via Zepp Flow.
The T-Rex Ultra 2 is only partially suitable as an everyday watch. The weight is certainly noticeable in everyday office life, but without being a permanent nuisance. Its strengths clearly come into play when used outdoors – for example when hiking, climbing or trail running.
When used outdoors, the watch shows what it can do. The maps are detailed enough to recognize turns in the terrain, and the navigation worked reliably in our test even without a mobile network. In the test, the Zepp app showed us the current position directly on the map – including the street name and direction. The ClimbPro-like mode provides information about altitude and gradients along the way.
Christoph Hoffmann
When doing sports, the watch delivers precise heart rate values, as our tests in everyday life and on the cross trainer confirm. The integrated barometer warns of storm fronts and issues altitude warnings – useful functions for everyone who travels depending on the weather.
Battery life is the standout feature. We tested the watch over two weeks, using both GPS-intensive tours and normal everyday use. After 14 days, the watch still showed a good 40 percent remaining charge. The 30 days promised by the manufacturer appear to be achievable in the normal usage profile.
Sleeping with the watch is possible, but it takes getting used to given the weight. The sleep tracking function reliably detects sleep phases and provides a sleep score.
In our test, the values were in the range of 63 points – classified as average, which at least gives users some guidance. The associated sleep analysis showed daily waking times over seven days.
The flashlight has proven to be surprisingly useful in practice – especially when reading maps or labels at night. The green light is subtle and hardly disturbs sleeping companions. The white version is bright enough for emergency use.
Four buttons instead of the touchscreen alone: operation is more intuitive than initially expected. After a few days the key logic was internalized. When doing sports with gloves or wet fingers, the button control is clearly superior to the touchscreen.
Health features
The T-Rex Ultra 2 uses the BioTracker 6.0 PPG sensor, which continuously measures heart rate and blood oxygen. In addition, the watch records heart rate variability (HRV), which allows conclusions to be drawn about recovery and stress levels. In our test, the HRV measurement returned a value of 35 – classified as good.
Christoph Hoffmann
BioCharge is Amazfit’s equivalent of Garmin’s Body Battery feature. The value shows how recovered and resilient the body currently is. In the app you can track the progress over days and weeks. The daily overview screen shows BioCharge, sleep score and effort at a glance.
Sleep tracking detects when you fall asleep and wake up, distinguishes between sleep phases and calculates a sleep score. In our test, the tracker hit a sleep duration of 5 hours and 52 minutes – with the warning level Caution. The assessments are understandable, even if they are not always positive.
Christoph Hoffmann
The biometric anomaly detector is intended to detect unusual body values and warn of overtraining or an impending illness. VO2 max estimates and training load analyzes complement the health picture. In our test, the VO2 max value was 32 – medium according to the Zepp app.
Training programs
Over 180 sports modes are available – from running, cycling and swimming to climbing, skiing and rucking to yoga and strength training. In the gym, changing the machine also requires changing the training mode, which is a bit inconvenient.
When running outdoors, the watch displays live metrics such as pace, heart rate, distance and cadence. Our running test (10.25 km) provided clean GPS tracking and shows the route taken clearly and precisely on the map.
Zepp Coach creates personalized training plans on request. This function is useful for runners who prepare for a goal in a structured manner. The coach takes previous performance data into account and recommends units based on the current condition.
The Zepp app’s medal system rewards regular training with virtual badges – for example for achieving the fat burning time goal or a consistent wake-up time over seven days. This is motivating, even if it is playful in nature. In our test we were able to collect several medals, including the “Time Goal Achieved” badge from April 16th.
The T-Rex Ultra 2 also offers suitable functions for golfers, including course maps, distance measurements to greens and obstacles as well as a digital scorecard. In addition, golf courses near the current location can be displayed, including the address, which makes it easier to find your way around – even if the range of functions does not quite come close to that of specialized golf watches.
Conclusion
The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is the manufacturer’s most powerful outdoor smartwatch to date. The combination of titanium, sapphire crystal, dual-band GPS and offline maps is rare in this price range. Anyone planning longer tours or expeditions gets a serious alternative to Garmin here – at a significantly lower price.
However, the watch does not come without limitations: the 51 millimeter case quickly appears bulky on narrow wrists with a circumference of around 17 centimeters.
NFC payment is also only limited in Germany and can often only be used via detours. In everyday office life, size and weight are not always comfortable for everyone. In addition, the software still has room for improvement: the routing function directly on the watch does not always work reliably, and the Zepp app seems less sophisticated overall compared to Garmin’s Connect ecosystem.
Anyone who takes these points into account and uses the watch specifically for its intended purpose will receive a convincing overall package. For a list price of 549 euros, the T-Rex Ultra 2 is one of the most attractive price-performance offers in the outdoor segment.
Technical data
- Display: 1.5 inch AMOLED, 480 × 480 pixels, 322 ppi, peak brightness 3,000 nits
- Screen protection: sapphire glass
- Case: 51 × 51 × 14.3 mm, grade 5 titanium (bezel, bottom, buttons)
- Weight: 89.2 g (including bracelet)
- Bracelet: 26 mm quick release, silicone (black-orange included)
- Battery: 870 mAh
- Battery life: up to 30 days (typical), up to 50 hours GPS mode
- GPS: Dual-Band GNSS, 6 Satellitensysteme (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, QZSS, NavIC)
- Navigation: pre-installed offline base maps, contour maps, ski area maps, turn-by-turn, POI search, automatic recalculation
- Memory: 64GB
- Operating system: Zepp OS 5
- Sensors: BioTracker 6.0 PPG, barometer, altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, geomagnetic sensor, ambient light sensor, temperature sensor
- Water resistance: 10 ATM, up to 45 m free diving, scuba diving
- Operating temperature: -30°C to +70°C
- Flashlight: two-tone: white and green (night vision capability)
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz, NFC (Zepp Pay)
- Audio: Built-in microphone & speaker, Bluetooth calling
- Sports modes: 180+
- Military standard: MIL-STD-810H
- Compatibility: iOS and Android
(PC-Welt)
