Amazfit T-Rex 3 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 2: Which Smartwatch Should You Buy?
When choosing between the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Amazfit T-Rex 3, it's essential to consider your individual health and fitness needs and lifestyle preferences. Both smartwatches offer robust health tracking, advanced fitness features, and long battery life, but they cater to different types of users. This comprehensive comparison will help you decide which smartwatch best suits your specific requirements.
1. Design and Display
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Amazfit T-Rex 3 boast rugged designs but differ significantly in materials and display quality.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a 49mm titanium case with an LTPO2 OLED Always-On Retina display, offering up to 3000 nits of brightness. This high nits count ensures visibility in bright sunlight, making it ideal for outdoor activities. The display is highly responsive, sharp, and easily read in any lighting condition. The titanium finish adds durability without sacrificing elegance.
- Amazfit T-Rex 3, on the other hand, features a 1.5-inch AMOLED display with a resolution of 480x480 pixels and a stainless steel bezel. While the brightness isn't specified, it's designed to be readable outdoors and doesn't reach the same brightness levels as the Ultra 2. The Gorilla Glass touchscreen enhances durability. The polymer middle frame and liquid silicone strap offer comfort and ruggedness, making it well-suited for extreme environments.
Verdict: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 wins in display clarity and premium design, but if you prefer a rugged, more affordable watch, the T-Rex 3 holds its own.
2. Battery Life
Battery life is a crucial factor when choosing a smartwatch, especially if you plan to use it for extended outdoor activities.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 offers up to 36 hours of regular use and can extend to 72 hours in Low Power Mode. It also supports fast charging, reaching 80% in about an hour.
- Amazfit T-Rex 3 excels in battery life, providing up to 27 days in typical use and 40 days in Battery Saver Mode. For those who engage in GPS-heavy activities, the T-Rex 3 offers up to 42 hours of continuous GPS usage in accuracy mode, with an impressive 180 hours in its Max Battery Life Mode.
Verdict: If you prioritize battery life, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a clear winner with its extended usage options, especially for outdoor enthusiasts who don't want to recharge frequently.
3. Health and Fitness Tracking
Apple Watch Ultra 2:
- Heart health: This app features an ECG app, high and low heart rate notifications, irregular rhythm notifications, and low cardio fitness notifications.
- Sleep tracking: Monitors sleep stages and offer sleep apnea notifications.
- Temperature sensing: Detects wrist temperature and tracks cycle tracking with retrospective ovulation estimates, a standout feature for women's health.
- Blood Oxygen: Monitors blood oxygen levels and can alert you to abnormal readings.
- Emergency capabilities: Fall Detection, Crash Detection, and Emergency SOS add critical safety functions, especially during outdoor adventures.
- Water sports: Tracks water activities up to 100 meters, supports high-speed water sports, and has a depth gauge and water temperature sensor for scuba diving up to 40 meters.
Amazfit T-Rex 3:
- Heart health: 24-hour heart rate monitoring and manual measurement of blood oxygen levels.
- Sleep tracking: Offers comprehensive sleep tracking, including REM stages and sleep breathing quality.
- Stress monitoring: Tracks stress levels continuously and offers breathing exercises.
- Women's health: Supports cycle tracking, though it doesn't offer retrospective ovulation estimates.
- Blood Oxygen: The BioTracker PPG sensor monitors blood oxygen saturation.
- GPS & navigation: It comes with dual-band GPS and supports offline maps, route import, and turn-by-turn directions, which is ideal for hiking and outdoor navigation.
Verdict: The Apple Watch Ultra 2 provides a more advanced health ecosystem with features like ECG and temperature sensing for cycle tracking. However, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 offers solid health tracking and excels in outdoor fitness and navigation.
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4. Sports and Workouts
Both watches offer a wide range of sports modes and workout features but with different specialties.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 supports a variety of workouts, including running, cycling, swimming, and strength training. It provides detailed data through the Vitals app, including heart rate, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature. It also has dual-frequency GPS, making it highly accurate for outdoor activities.
- Amazfit T-Rex 3 offers 177 sports modes, including niche activities like freediving, kitesurfing, snowboarding, and skydiving. The Zepp Coach offers personalized training suggestions, and PeakBeats provides insights into workout status. The watch supports external workout devices like heart rate belts and cycling power meters.
Verdict: The Amazfit T-Rex 3 offers more variety and customization for extreme sports and advanced metrics. However, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is better for those seeking detailed, health-oriented data during workouts.
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5. Smart Features and Assistant Integration
Smart features, including integration with voice assistants, notifications, and app support, are vital considerations.
- Apple Watch Ultra 2 integrates seamlessly with Siri, allowing users to access health data, set reminders, and control smart home devices. The Ultra 2 also supports cellular connectivity, enabling users to receive texts, calls, and notifications without their phones.
- Amazfit T-Rex 3 supports Bluetooth phone music control, app notifications, and camera control (iOS only). However, compared to the Ultra 2, it lacks the depth of smart assistant integration.
Verdict: If you're already embedded in Apple's ecosystem and rely heavily on smart features, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 provides a more integrated and seamless experience. The T-Rex 3 is better for those prioritizing fitness over smart assistant functions.
6. Eco-Friendly Materials
Both brands have made strides toward using sustainable materials.
- The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features recyclable materials and a focus on reducing carbon emissions during production. It is also water-resistant and designed for long-term durability.
- Amazfit T-Rex 3 uses durable, eco-friendly materials like a stainless steel bezel and polymer frame. While not as sustainability-focused as Apple, it is built to withstand extreme conditions, reducing the need for frequent replacements.
7. Difference in Price - Which is a Better Deal?
The difference between the prices of the Amazfit T-Rex 3 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is substantial, and it may be a deciding factor for many buyers. The Amazfit T-Rex 3, priced at $279.99, stands out as an affordable option for a durable smartwatch with health tracking, GPS navigation, and a long-lasting battery. On the other hand, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799, with the price increasing based on added features and customizations such as bands or extracellular connectivity.
While both smartwatches offer robust capabilities, the price difference is significant. The Amazfit T-Rex 3 provides excellent value for the money, particularly for outdoor enthusiasts or those on a tighter budget who still want premium functionalities like rugged design, 24-hour health monitoring, and extreme battery life. Meanwhile, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 justifies its steeper price tag with high-end features, including advanced health tracking (ECG, blood oxygen monitoring, and temperature sensing), a more premium build, and seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. For users deeply invested in Apple's environment, the Ultra 2 delivers an unmatched experience.
Verdict: Ultimately, the choice between the two comes down to priorities. If you're looking for cutting-edge technology, premium materials, and smooth integration with Apple devices, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the clear winner. However, if you need a powerful, feature-packed smartwatch at a lower price point, especially for outdoor and fitness tracking, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 is an outstanding alternative that offers incredible value without the high price.
Buy Amazfit T-Rex 3 Smartwatch on Amazon
Conclusion: Which Should You Buy?
Choosing between the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the Amazfit T-Rex 3 depends on your priorities:
- If you're looking for advanced health monitoring, seamless smart features, and rugged durability for work and adventure, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the better choice, though it comes at a premium price.
- If you prioritize battery life, extreme outdoor fitness tracking, and affordability, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a standout option with extensive features for adventurers and fitness enthusiasts.
Ultimately, the right choice depends on your budget, fitness goals, and how integrated you want your smartwatch to be with your daily life.
Check out The GearBrain, our product find engine, to see the other smartwatches that work with your smartphone or your Siri (Apple), Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.