As a long-term owner of Amazfit watches (currently wearing a GTR4 that I got at Christmas, also have a GTR2, Ares, and Pace) I can confirm that HR really isn't Amazfit's strong suit. I wouldn't have bought my current watch if not for the ability to connect an external HR monitor. The GTR4 is really the way to go if you want an Amazfit watch, though, since it has almost all the features of the Falcon at half the price, and at that much lower price the dodgy HR is almost forgivable. It's also got the same dual band GPS that the Falcon does, and I can confirm it's really good - it matches almost exactly with my bike computer on every single ride. Amazfit's elevation algorithm is dodgy, though, as you noticed - I have the same issue with the GTR4 as well.

I've rocked a ton of watches between early 2020 and now. Including Amazfit, Polar, Samsung and many more. Finally got a great deal on Fenix 6X Pro for the hubby and 7SS for myself and we are happy. It's exactly as you put it, you can get some of the main features on paper in the Amazfit, but just the ecosystem aspect and the depth of the features is on another level in high-end Garmin watches. I did love my Polar watches a ton, but now that the purchase of FirstBeat is starting to show in Garmin's feature set, they really have stepped onto the next level.

Interesting review. I’ve never tried this brand but have had Pebble and a couple Garmin watches, currently have an Epix Gen 2. One thing I can say about Garmin is their support is without peer. I have an old Vivoactive HR that broke a lug long after the warranty expired (years) and Garmin replaced it free of charge. That kind of support engenders customer loyalty.

Up Des! Great to watch your videos even when I'm not interested about that certain product.

I was waiting for this review! :D

I loved the amazfit after using 1 year. It is much better than Suunto and Garmin. ❤❤❤

I'm 65 and am aware I'm not up to the same activity as a youngster, but want to stay in the game a bit. I went from Garmin 5x to Amazfit T-Rex 2. Garmin had way more features than I needed. I loved the look and it worked. A bit dated though. T-Rex is fine for someone like me and the price point was great, however that heart hate monitor is just inconsistent and itooks cheap because well it is. I've since gone on to Falcon. Everything you say is true. The only down side is the heart monitor. Most of my workouts are stationary bikes or rower with bluetooth so I wear a Garmin chest strap. The heart rate is identical on the watch as the equipment. If it didn't have the ability to pair a chest strap I'd be disappointed. I was considering Garmin 7x but it just way too much for my basic needs and twice the price. So far so good.

Great review as always Thanks

I have been owning an Amazfit GTR 3 PRO for almost a year now. It is an almost perfect watch with amazing features that always work flawlessly. The only let-down is its crappy HR sensors. I get the same HR inconsistencies as Des. Just today I went for a ride on my cycle and for a whole 15min or so, I was getting HR readings as low as 49bpm even while climbing a steep uphill. And when the HR readings are off, all the ensuing metrics are worthless. My next buy will probably be a Garmin.

Nice video! Im really into sport/smart watches, have seen 100+ tests of all flagships of Garmin/Amazfit/Apple, and the more video I watch the more im leaning towards to Garmin Epix pro or Tactix 7. But actually i like the look of this Falcon more, and also like the AWU non laggy screen. I want a watch with the Falcon look, with the Epix pro knowledge, and the AWU screen., with 1 month battery life, lol.......maybe in 10 years. Btw im in love with KL, my fav city so far, been twice already.

One of the problems seems to be the lack of Garmin Connect or at least easy use with Connect without exporting and juggling files around. I like Connect for monitoring everything and for some of the social/group aspects. So Garmin has me locked into the ecosystem.

Some things just don’t change with Amazfit. I really like the Stratos back in 2018 but the heart rate issues were the worst thing about it. That and the GPS chip no longer working about a year and a half later.

The full metal body is what I would choose it over garmin on! I'd so much like a garmin epix, but with the solar feature that the fenix 7 has, but then in a full metal body

This looked interesting when I first heard about it but if the main HR tracking hardware is giving such weird results, Amazfit needs to really up their game when compared with Garmin, Polar and Coros. Great review Des!

Software limitations and hr sensor is a non-starter for a lot of ppl prob, but that display looks incredible. Garmin feels like it's getting boxed in from aw ultra and amazfit.

Thanks for the review. I'm really not considering to change brands, but it is always nice to see, what the competition offers. However, they often disappoint, and unfortunately, this is not an exception. What was the last apple/polar/coros/garmin watch that produced such HR readings? I'm sure we have to go back several years. Having such a huge lag in this price range is... strange. But I'm sure, that the target audience is not us, but current amazfit users who want a premium watch. Another (kind of unrelated) thought: some brands seem to strongly rely on Strava, instead of building their own ecosystem. That i understandable, as it costs a lot. Now that SHTF there with their pricing. I know it is not going to happen, but a thought experiment: what do you think, if Strava were to shut down, which brands would still be standing with an acceptable ecosystem on their own?

Thanks for this comprehensive review! Without maps thats not an option for me....

Great review! Can the physical buttons be used to control music playback on your connected smartwatch? This is a must-have feature for me (as I look to replace my Pebble).

Go Des!

Des, I would be very interested to see a "Gear I use" type video from you. With all the watches you review what is your "go to" in January '23? Thanks!

i laughed at that board game pause :D

Compared to T-Rex 2, incredible it's twice the price. Could not see much advantage buying this, I bought T-Rex 2. It's also possible having external heart strap with it. After they had a update 😃 Larger battery also.

Its a nice watch but i decided to go with the Amazfit t rex 2.

Bonito reloj Amazfit. 🤩🤩⌚️⌚️⌚️⌚️

Can you do another review for AmazfitFalcon Heart rate performance since they had multiple Software updates

I had the OG Amazfit flagship, the Stratos. Within six months, it wasn't able to accurately create a GPS of a basic track workout. As in, I would do a 5km workout on the track and it would show something like 3km. I'm not surprised that Amazfit still has sensor issues.

I remember when this brand was a substantially cheaper option

Eh, kind of surprised amazfit still struggles with heart rate. Made me switch from the mi band 2 back then just because of it guessing my heartrate most of the time. I noticed the workout icons look almost the same as garmin's, did they copy them or are they using the same analysis/tracking suite?

I'm convinced Amazon has shares in Garmin.

I like the look and feature set of this watch, but for a buying decision, I'd like to know if any firmware updates have improved gps accuracy. Not worried about the HR, as I prefer to use a chest strap. I know reviewing such a lot of tech takes a long time, but if you could do a very quick update on firmware, that would be great.

Intresting as both this watch and Apex Coris 2 have multi band GPS but not as accurate as Garmin Epic 2 or Garmin 7 Sapphire watches, yes it is cheaper and has a nice screen.

Now I am even more confused than before. Wearing Fenix 6 Sapphire at this moment and thinking of changing to coros Vertix 2, apex 2 pro or Amazfit falcon. Really not easy to make a choice. What ist the best option to pick from these 3?

great review … too bad they didn’t put a good HR sensor in it

Board games tracking is a neat idea. Chess players will know how a competitive game really drains you. Snakes and ladders maybe not so much…

Hello Des Which is one best Amazfit Falcon or Coros Apex 2 pro? 🙏🙏🙏

Always the same problem with Amazfit, that hr sensor sucks even for light running.

Thanks

whats the point to pay extra for premium materials if the internals don't work correctly.

Hi . Im a mechanic and ive been hunting for a watch that can take some abuse. Would recommend this or the trex pro?

The Falcon can’t do in watch mapping. However the new Trex Ultra can. That’s the one that can take down the Fenix and Epix. Especially when you consider it’s 1/3 the price of the Epix.

To my knowledge It sports the old BioTracker v.3 HR sensor. Even the Amazfit GTR4, at half the price, has the newest Biotracker v.4 . So what's going on Amazfit?

I didn't get it, in the end, are the metrics accurate if you use an accurate external sensor, is the only thing wrong the HR sensor itself, or is it the algorithm on those metrics not in par with the competition? Best case scenario even if it works well with an external sensor, you still have to use the terrible wrist HRM for tracking sleep, and sleep impacts heavily some of these metrics. That being said, I wouldn't consider it a viable option until it has a more competitive HRM.

Hows the battery when connected to hr strap? I have amazfit stratos and when connected to polar h10 battery lasts for about 3-4 hours max

Please let me know about data field. Is available Lap Pace and Lap HR like Garmin devices?

Can u review tr-ex 2 amazfit?

That is a nice and rugged looking watch if that is your priority. However, if you want a dedicated sports watch you would be much better off spending a bit more and getting a Fenix 7 or an Epix, or accept lower grade build materials and go for an equally priced Front Runner.

And does it come with the ability to pay, or listen to music from it? If we don't take materials into compressing garmin forerunner 945 will have more features (like garmin pay), much better battery life and sport specific stuff for the same price as Amazfit.

Do the Garmin chargers fit the falcon? Look very similar.

Can you advise me whether to buy it or not?

I'm itching for a new Garmin. I wished there was a Fenix Or Enduro with the clip on charger instead of the plug in. It's gotta have the Flashlight though. I use it every morning when i get up instead of turning on the lights at 4 a.m. I would of gotten a Marq 2 Series if any of them had a flashlight.

👍

I had to quit trying with Apple Watch because of the touch screen and only two buttons. Adding another button on the AW Ultra May improve it but then they removed the sleek, minimalist look. So screw them, I’m with Garmin.

hello, can you pay at the store with the amazfit falcon watch?

Do u know if Amazfit has a standalone pc or mac software for their new watch? I looked online but couldn't find anything. thank you.

Would it be bad heart rate sensor or bad software? Got one coming Thursday. I have a Garmin 6 sapphire but couldn't justify Garmin's prices this time.

Wow PJ!!! Watchu duin there bruh

Do you still have this watch, I can’t find it anywhere

Great Job, Des. Amazfit should invest in a better OHR

After 4 month I can't find it in the local stores. But it is pricey. GT3 pro has titanium, sapphire, better sensors and it's cheaper.

It’s lighter than a Garmin Epix Gen 2 and significantly thinner . I bought both to compare. I think the case is much better made and a steal at that price .. However the software just isn’t there yet so I kept the Epix

if I go to take out the trash and I don't have my phone with me when I come back, the watch doesn't connect automatically

Can u compare to the cheaper gtr4 amazfit?

I'm trying out the T Rex Ultra, and i watched this review to see if maybe i wanted to step up to the Falcon... But i think not. Apparently it uses the same sensors & GPS. And the Ultra gets 20 days on the battery (less with more power drain is course). BTW, i understand that you want to stay in good standing with the MFGR so they'll send you free stuff to evaluate... But you should be better informed. Your comments about depth for usage in water are way off. My Ultra is rated for 10 ATM, which is equivalent to 100 m, which is around 300 feet of depth. That''s the limit for normal SCUBA certification, so it's just fine for most SCUBA diving. If in fact the Falcon is rated for 20 ATM as you stated, then it's perfectly fine for any SCUBA, even special air mixtures for increased depth. After that, you need a pressure suit & helmet. There were a few other technical details where you're out of your element. Just be orepared, so you can actually know what you're talking about. And by the way (again), i think the problem with a lot of these bio sensors is actually the stupid rubber strap that comes on these things. It allows too much movement during activity unless its "tournequet-tight." I get it, most people will put their favorite strap on, so why pay for a strap you don't want? Which is why i don't understand Amazfit's logic with regard to using proprietary screws on the strap! They say it's "non-removable." Well, by golly, I'll swap the stupid rubber strap out for a titanium one (so it doesn't interfere with compass & RF functions), and I'll bet I'll get the same accuracy as with my Garmin Instinct has done for years! (Garmin really does have their sensors, maps & GPS dialed in, but i can't justify >= $1000 for a silly watch! Yeah, for a pro athlete, maybe...but I'm not.)

6 years ago, my dad bought me an Amazfit Pace as my birthday gift. I’m so happy, until they announce the next generation watch. After the announcement they just completed abandoned the old one. So I’m very disappointed in them, and never trust them again.

What is the orange vest on this running clips? Looks like water bag.

Wow $500 ????? There shud be a very serious reason for me buying a watch above $300..

Very interesting... So it seems to me that they are copying Garmin with many of the features. Seeing how I got my Fenix 7 Solar for $530 on Black Friday, I would say that I got an awesome deal... :)

Wow, you were in Malaysia last month?

I'd buy one... if it came with a transflective display like a Fenix. LCD/Amoled displayes got no place for outdoor watches.

how do I download the Romanian language for the watch?

I succeeded, it doesn't want to create an account with yahoo mail, it wants with gmail, then it updates itself for 1 hour, on the phone the application is in Romanian and on the watch in English

Does falcon support nfc?

Is that watch produced by Garmin? It definitely looks too familiar and even has Garmin logo on it.

Des thanks for reviewing brands like Amazfit. It really puts perspective on the Garmin, Polar, Suunto, and Coros offerings. Considering this is Amazfit's first *high-end* offering to adventure watches.... I would say with their consistent updates to both T-Rex 2 and Falcon are striking very close to Garmin. If you compare previous gen Fenix 6 and Instinct series the Amazfit is solid. Resting somewhere between an Epix 2 and Instinct software wise. Also Amazfit has a public slack channel and their dev and eng team responds routinely to customers. Amazfit is listening too; because recently they added external HR support to the T-Rex 2 from customer requests. In 2-5 years whether it is a Garmin or an Amazfit their value is greatly diminished for resale (Amazfit obviously more-so). But, if you are a recreational competitor do you really need more than what Amazfit is offering at much less $$$? For me no and I no longer have Garmin products because their updates are just too buggy. Garmin fixes one thing and then something minor breaks elsewhere. Then on Garmin forums support just denies until complaints start to rack up. Garmin products are too expensive for their "stable" software releases to behave like beta. For now I will use my Apple watch with low power mode and wait to see what Amazfit delivers in the spring to their T-Rex series.

What about altimeter?

Why do you say it’s not good for scuba diving? Advanced recreational divers should only go as deep as 30m

altimeter? yes or not

sorry amazfit. heartrate accuracy is at least as important as gps accuracy, i think.

Ya quisiera ver dos años mas de evolución para este Falcon... por ahora tengo el T-Rex² y estoy muy contento... Puedes disfrutar funciones en este reloj sin fijar metas deportivas, calcular el sueño, medir O²Sangre, Indice de Masa Corporal, antender llamadas etc etc... TIENE FUNCIONES SON GENIALES... 🤛🏼⌚️💨 En mi caso, le doy un uso diferente y quizas sea un tema para otro tipo de video... * Lo Utilizo el modo CONDUCCIÓN cuando voy en mi carro y aunque no hago deportes, la app me divierte para ver el mapa y/o convertirlas en archivos de rutas, ver distancias recorridas para calcular el consumo de combustible y puedo marcar sitios en el GPS. * Veo el clima, viento, humedad, temperatura, rayos UV, la luna actual. *Se anticipa 15min el amanecer/atardecer, si estoy en un sitio despejado podría disfrutarlo. * En algún edificio cuando, subo/bajo escaleras o voy por el ascensor, veo las diferentes alturas. * Con la brújula puedo curiosear hacia donde están orientados las estructuras, estatuas, puentes, etc. * Uso la calculadora, el calendario de cumpleaños, el conversor de kilos/libras-metros/pulgadas. * El crononetro/cuenta regresiva me es util en segundo plano, cuando estoy cocinado o haciendo parrilla sin temerle al calor intenso. * Algún dia desearía hacer snorkeling y este reloj estara listo para eso; Ah! por temor a perderlo no le cambiaría la correa para que resista el uso extremo... Lo que quiero decir es que en tu dia a dia tendras acceso a los datos curiosos en este tipo de reloj y descubrir mas cosas utiles en las apps...

I cant understand why the Zepp App doesnt show the fatburing minutes and standing up hours on the application. This is sooooo stupid.

No payments so any other feature is irrelevant for me.

That HR tracking ruins it for me.

No have romanian language,no work registration for Romanian country

Looks like a Garmin (Epix) knock-off, including the UI... 🤦‍♂

Altimeter is one of the most important things in outdoor watches so this thing is useless 😔

Save your money, just get a true Smart watch. These are just basic functions.

Two Words... Oh Dear !!, bells and whistles, nothing else... Shame Garmin needs competition

That design is rough. It's a poor copy. Like someone described a Garmin Fenix to someone over the phone.