Amazfit GTS vs Amazfit BIP: should you upgrade?

Amazfit BIP is a great smartwatch. Released about two years ago the GPS-enabled device’s claim to fame is the awesome battery life. In our review we found the watch to be pretty darn amazing for the price and loved its lightweight feel.

It’s no wonder many were impatiently waiting for its successor. It was widely rumoured to land this year. And while we did not get a new device in the range we did get other watches from Huami. This includes the Amazfit GTS, which we recently reviewed. Now that the dust has settled on this year’s Amazfit lineup its clear the GTS is in fact BIP 2 in everything but name.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

So how do the Amazfit GTS and BIP stack-up? Should you upgrade? Read on to find out.

Amazfit GTS vs Amazfit BIP: Design and hardware

Amazfit GTS is not too unlike Amazfit BIP. Both feature a squarish, lightweight design that is very reminiscent of the Apple Watch. They might not want to admit it, but its clear where Huami got their inspiration from.

In a sense, GTS comes across as a much more premium version of BIP. Gone is the plasticky feel in favour of an sleek looking, aluminium alloy body.

The highlight of the new watch is its Super Retina-grade screen. Put simply, it is a thing of beauty. Probably one of the best quality displays we’ve seen so far on a smartwatch. Everything is clear to read, both indoors and out.

The screen is larger than on BIP, 1.65″ versus 1.28″ and it has double the pixel-resolution. Corning Gorilla glass generation 3 protection and 2.5D curved glass can be found on both.

Common to GTS and BIP is also the use of the touchscreen and single physical button on the right for navigation. And the one size option. The actual dimensions and thickness of the devices are very similar with GTS coming out a fraction larger. The exact specs can be seen in the table below.

Another improvement of GTS over BIP is waterproofing. Whereas the earlier device is only splash-proof (IP68), you can actually take GTS swimming with you thanks to its 5 ATM rating (down to depths of 50 meteres).

Under the hood there’s not that much that is different. GTS has the same sensors as BIP, only they have been improved. The accelerometer is now 6-axis instead of 3-axis, and the latest device comes with Huami’s new Biotracker PPG for monitoring heart rate. GTS also has NFC support for UnionPay payments.

As mentioned, the incredible battery life is the thing we’ve come to associate with Amazfit BIP. The good news is Huami has made sure GTS is just as good on this count. It can keep going for more than a month with regular use (depending on settings) and 25 hours with GPS switched on. You’ll forget all about charging with either of these two watches.

Here’s an overview of design and hardware differences between Amazfit GTS and BIP.

Amazfit GTS vs Amazfit BIP: Activity tracking and smart features

These are activity tracking devices with some smartwatch features. All the basics are there (steps, calories, heart rate, etc), apart from an altimeter for counting floors climbed. For sleep, you’ll get info on deep sleep, light sleep and awake time. There’s also an overall score which lets you know at a glance how well you’ve slept.

There are, however, a few extras on GTS that are worth a mention. BIP only has four sports modes: walking, cycling, indoor and outdoor running while GTS comes with a total of 12 sports modes. This includes swimming with stroke detection, pace and SWOLF.

The accelerometer is also better on the new device as is the heart rate sensor. The latter enables the watch to send out alerts if it spots anything amiss with your heart.

Both watches have GPS/GLONASS positioning. This ensures the data is accurate when running or cycling.

Amazfit GTS Gadgets & Wearables may get a commission

The smart functionality is pretty similar. You get notifications, music control, weather and more. The watches run on Huami’s proprietary operating system which is simple to use and works well.

Amazfit GTS, however, goes a step further with widgets or complications. Just like on the Apple Watch you can use them to customize the watch face. The choice is quite extensive and includes battery life, steps, temperature, humidity, UV and much more.

Amazfit GTS vs Amazfit BIP: Bottom line

Amazfit BIP is a popular watch. It reminds of Pebble devices which were known for their great battery life and simple design.

Amazfit GTS improves on BIP in a number of ways, most notably in design. The highlight is the gorgeous Super-Retina AMOLED display which has a resolution that surpasses even the one found on the Apple Watch. Along with a metal case, GTS comes across as a much more premium version of BIP.

Under the hood there is not really that much to distinguish the two. The accelerometer and heart rate sensor are improved on GTS and there’s water-proofing now which means you can use the watch to track swimming.

Other than that both timpieces will do a decent job at tracking fitness and have GPS/GLONASS for making sure the data is accurate. The awesome battery life can be found on both.

Amazfit Bip Gadgets & Wearables may get a commission

If you’re in the market for a new watch, out of the two, GTS is clearly the device to go for. If you already own the Amazfit BIP you’ll need to decide whether the premium design and water-proofing is worth the upgrade. The price difference will also play a role as GTS typically sells for around $140, BIP for $80.

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