One of the most durable smartwatches I’ve ever tested should not be this cheap

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Oukitel BT20 is out there now on Amazon for $49.99.
• The battery life is stellar and the assorted factors of information are as correct as watches far dearer.
• It is cumbersome, wake on elevate is a bit janky, and the show is not fairly as interactive as different watches.

My go-to watch is the Pixel Watch 2. I discover it to be the most effective mix of kind and performance, with all of the options I want and a consumer interface that’s equal components magnificence and effectivity. However there’s one challenge I’ve with Google’s smartwatch — battery life. To be honest, battery life is an issue with most smartwatches. I can eke out 24 hours on a cost, however that is about it. On days after I go on lengthy runs, that battery life is shortened much more.

Contemplating how that is just about the usual, we reside with it.

Till we come throughout a watch with shockingly good battery life. 

Meet the Oukitel BT20. After I acquired the watch, I gave it a full cost however then needed to set it apart as a result of I used to be busy reviewing different units. When it got here time to start out testing this $49.99 watch (due to a 29% discount on Amazon right now), I topped off the battery and began utilizing it. I wore the BT20 on my proper wrist with my Pixel Watch 2 on my left. I wished to check the guts price screens and step counters on the respective units.  

View at Amazon

What stunned me probably the most was the BT20 ‘s battery, which simply saved going and going. After per week of utilizing the watch, the battery stage remains to be round 75%.

You learn that proper: 75% after per week of use. Oukitel claims the watch will get a stable 15 days (standby), 10 days (day by day use), and seven days (heavy use) between fees. I am assured these numbers are spot on.

Additionally: The best Android smartwatches you can buy, according to our testing

Earlier than I provide you with my full expertise with the watch, let me record out the specs.

The specs

• U.S.MIL-STD-Licensed
• 1 ATM & IP69K Waterproof
• 1.96″ AMOLED explosion-proof and drop-proof display screen at 410*502 decision
• AI Voice assistant/HIFI Bluetooth name
• 24H well being monitor
• Tons of of sports activities modes
• 2 Pin magnetic charging of the 350mAh pure cobalt battery
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Dimensions – 12.3mm x 50mm x 265mm

My expertise

This is my first impression of the BT20: It is huge. Perceive, I am on the small facet of issues, so it appears and feels monstrous on my wrist. It is also significantly heavier than my Pixel Watch 2, a lot in order that I all the time seen it on my wrist. There have been instances that it even felt uncomfortable. That is a really private factor as a result of I do not have a tendency to love sporting something on my wrists. Given how a lot I kind each day, if a watch is noticeable, it might are inclined to get irritating. That does not imply it would hassle everybody. In case you’re used to sporting heavier watches or cumbersome jewellery, you will not have an issue with this watch.

The following challenge I encountered was that the BT20’s principal watch face is not fairly as interactive as I am accustomed to. With my Pixel Watch 2, I can faucet the guts price bubble and it routinely takes me to the guts price app. With the BT20, the show does not provide that stage of interplay. To get to the assorted apps, it’s important to swipe across the face. The swipes are:

• Proper – favourite apps
• Left – well being knowledge
• Down – notification shade (much like Android)
• Up – message

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When you get used to swiping, all is okay, however I do choose the Google technique of watch interplay.

The final nit I will decide is that the raise-to-wake function does not appear to operate because it ought to. Even with the function enabled (and set to most time), what it takes to get up on motion appears to be a bit random. Typically the watch will wake with the slightest motion and different instances it looks like it’s important to expertise an earthquake to get the watch to wake by way of motion.

Out with the dangerous and in with the great.

Once more — battery life. The battery on this factor is past spectacular. One of many methods they’ve managed to get a lot battery life is the default settings, which restrict the time the show is on. Out of the field, that is set for five seconds, which might be lengthy sufficient for many. However if you wish to see the watch longer than that, know that battery life will not be fairly as distinctive. 

Additionally: My favorite hybrid smartwatch just got smarter, and its battery life is still incredible

Talking of shows, by way of FitCloudPro app, there are a whole bunch of watch faces to select from. I attempted to go with out the app (as a result of I do not a lot look after putting in an app for each single factor I take advantage of) however ultimately gave in. The FitCloudPro app is sort of good. I might go as far as to say Google may be taught a factor or two about the best way to create a watch app right here.

From the app, you’ll be able to customise the settings (a few of which are not obtainable by way of the Settings app on the watch), and use the assorted sensors on the watch to examine blood stress and blood oxygen stage, in addition to set exercise/drink reminders, set the automated well being monitor, and extra. 

The FitCloudPro app needs to be thought of a should should you plan on getting probably the most out of the BT20 watch.

So far as accuracy, I wore each the BT20 and my Pixel Watch 2 and located them to current virtually similar data. Pulse, steps, and numerous exorcise knowledge had been all neck and neck. The one factor I did not check was the sleep data as a result of the BT20 was too cumbersome for me to put on whereas sleeping. I attempted however needed to take away the watch as a result of having it on my wrist wasn’t precisely conducive to sleep.

ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation

Ultimately, I am fairly stunned at how good this sub-$50 watch is. In case you’re on a good price range and nonetheless need to take pleasure in the advantages of a smartwatch, the Oukitel BT20 is an actual winner. Aside from my Pixel Watch (each the 1 and a couple of), I can’t consider a smartwatch that impressed me greater than this one.