Amazfit makes the GTR 3 and 3 Pro official

Today, Zepp Health's popular health-focused wearables brand Amazfit has introduced the successor to the GTR 2 smartwatch. This new generation is now confirmed as one of the first devices to launch with a first-party OS, not to mention an in-house chipset (the Huangshan 2s) to run it on, although they still connect to a user's smartphone via the same Zepp app.

Amazfit emphasized once again that both were developed to be as light on battery in its third-gen smartwatches as possible. To this end, it integrates "mini-apps", built on a proprietary framework and App Development Kits that advances this goal. The brand has made this template open-source, so that individuals and companies can build their own, so long as they meet the power-efficiency requirements mentioned. 

On that note, this has enabled the GTR 3 series to debut with their own calculators, not to mention some third-party apps from companies such as HomeConnect, with others from the likes of GoPro to follow. The smartwatches can also integrate with platforms such as Strava and Google Fit if necessary.

The GTR 3 will display this interface via a 1.39-inch AMOLED screen with 70.6% screen-to-body ratio. It can also be set to display one of over 100 watch faces, 15 of which are animated, with an always-on mode to boot. It has a "3D Design Surface" design, which means it has a curved display with most of the actual curve hidden in the "precision-milled" aluminum casing rated for 5ATM depth-resistance.

However, the most interesting aspect of the new watch body might be its new "classic navigation crown": the top-most of 2 hardware buttons with a spiral-knurled accent that can be twisted so as to interact with the UI. This active crown can perform functions such as setting time in alarms, and so on.

Amazfit has packed the latest generation of its health-tracking features into the GTR 3. They include a third-gen BioTracker PPG heart-rate sensor and second-gen RealBeats algorithm, which is now rated for continuous monitoring and abnormal event alerts. The newest form of OxygenBeats for SpO2 measurements is rated for an enhanced accuracy rate of 98%, and is rated to take readings in as little as 15 seconds, or twice as fast as that of the GTR 2.

The 3 also features the latest version of SomnusCare, now rated to assess breathing quality and heart rate during sleep as well as sleep stages, naps and overall sleep quality. Zepp OS for third-gen Amazfit devices also supports over 150 sports modes, compared to ~70 in the Apple Watch. They include tracking for e-sports, which involves monitoring for calories burned, heart rate and stress levels.

The GTR 3 also has upgraded quintuple position-tracking (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou and QZSS), which might increase accuracy during activity by ~40% and sensitivity by 100% compared to previous generations. The smartwatch supports Amazon Alexa, even without internet connectivity, for hands-free use and reminders. It is rated for up to 21 days of use between charges.

The Amazfit GTR 3 is available in Thunder Black or Moonlight Gray, with matching straps, for US$179.99. Its inaugural Pro variant has all of its new features, internal specs, although its estimated battery life drops to  12 days in this case. This may be because its 1000-nit-bright display expands to 1.65 inches, with a 480x480 resolution and a pixel density of 331 ppi.

It is presented in either Infinite Black, with a patterned fluoroelastomer band, or in gray with a brown leather strap. The GTR 3 Pro is equipped with a speaker for voice calls over Bluetooth and storage enough for "up to 470" tracks of independent music playback. It, like its vanilla counterpart, is available to order in some markets like the US for US$229.99.

Finally, some health-tech enthusiasts may be wondering what happened to Amazfit's long-touted blood pressure sensor in all this. The PumpBeats technology does indeed exist, and has been developed to detect systolic and diastolic readings with a sensitivity of <5.3mmHg. However, the brand did note it is still pending regulatory approval, and will arrive on compatible wearables as soon as possible thereafter.