Huami has stripped out some features from the recently released Amazfit GTR 2 and GTS 2 smartwatches, and launched the Amazfit GTR 2e and GTS 2e, complete with a lower price. Announced at CES 2021, the GTR 2e and GTS 2e cost $140, which is $40 less than the GTR 2 and GTS 2, but what exactly will you lose if you decide to save some money?
Both the GTS 2e and GTR 2e share the same technical specifications, but differ in design. The GTR 2e has a circular aluminum body with a 1.65-inch AMOLED screen, while the GTS 2e has a square aluminum case and a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen. Both watches have scratch-resistant 2.5D glass, come in a choice of colors, and sport a strap that’s attached using quick release pins.
One of the primary differences between the new 2e models from the GTR 2 and GTS 2 is the removal of Wi-Fi,which leaves the smartwatches dependent on a Bluetooth connection. This may affect speed of data transfer and notification delivery. The lack of a speaker on the 2e watches means they will not support phone calls, but there is a microphone for the built-in voice assistant.
The other major difference is the removal of all internal storage. The GTR 2 and GTS 2 have 3GB of internal storage space, but there’s zero on the 2e models. This means there’s no room for storing your own music on the new smartwatches, which makes them less tempting for anyone who wants to exercise with music but without their phone.
The GTR 2e and GTS 2e have the same heart rate sensor on the back, can track 90 different workouts, as well as monitor sleep and stress, and have an always-on ambient display so the face always shows the time. These aren’t Wear OS smartwatches, and instead use Huami’s own software, which does still show notifications from your phone. The watches are also water resistant to 50 meters, so you can wear one while swimming.
An advantage of removing Wi-Fi is an improvement in battery life. The GTR 2e and GTS 2e should now last up to 45 days on a single charge if used as a basic watch, and 24 days when used with most features active. The GTR 2 and GTS 2 were rated for about 14 days when used regularly. If you value battery life over storage space and Wi-Fi, then saving some money and buying the GTR 2e and GTS 2e will make sense.
However, as the price difference isn’t that large, the increased functionality and still very good battery life of the existing GTR 2 and GTS 2 makes them excellent purchases. We liked the Amazfit GTR 2 enough to put it on our list of the best smartwatches for Android phones you can buy, and the GTR 2e and GTS 2e feature on our roundup of the best wearable tech at CES 2021 too.
The Amazfit GTR 2e and GTS 2e will be available from January 12 for $140 through Amazon and Amazfit’s own online store. In the U.K., the GTS 2e will be available on the same day for 120 British pounds ($163 U.S.), and the GTR 2e will follow in the near future.
