Watch out, Garmin: Amazfit T-Rex Pro makes one of the best GPS watches even better

Watch out, Garmin: Amazfit T-Rex Pro makes one of the best GPS watches even better

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is a new $180 wearable that seeks to make one of the best GPS watches even better. It ups the specs and features of the Amazfit T-Rex released last year, making the company's ultra-rugged smartwatch even tougher. [Compared to the baseline T-Rex ($140), the T-Rex Pro offers more health sensors and sports modes, and is more military certified for durability and deeper water resistance. It still looks like a G-Shock, but with a few aesthetic upgrades, such as metallic decorations.

The only spec that takes a hit is the battery life, which drops from 20 days for the standard T-Rex to 18 days for the Amazfit T-Rex Pro. Still, more than two weeks is a pretty impressive stamina estimate for a low-cost smartwatch. Of course, as with any sports watch, the use of GPS for activity and location tracking reduces that time.

When we tested the original T-Rex, we thought its GPS was good but could be better; the T-Rex Pro uses quad GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) instead of dual GNSS, which should provide even greater accuracy.

Amazfit has a steady reputation for making the best inexpensive smartwatches, launching alternatives to every popular model from the Apple Watch Series 6 to the Fitbit Sense. While they don't match all the features of their more expensive competitors, and their proprietary OS could be better, customers get a competent wearable at a lower price.

The T-Rex Pro seems to be an affordable version of the best Garmin watch designed for the outdoors, given its design and GPS capabilities; at $799, it comes right after the Garmin Enduro, which can last up to a year (yes, 365 days) in battery-saver mode. The T- Rex Pro is more competitive against the Garmin Instinct, which costs $299 and lasts 14 days on a charge; the T-Rex Pro also comes in color options similar to the Instinct.

We won't know how Amazfit's T-Rex Pro improves on the original model until we try it out. We have high hopes given the price and the company's steady line of launches since we reviewed the first version. Also, since this model is coming out just in time for the warmer months, many will be looking for a new partner for their upcoming outdoor adventures.

The Amazfit T-Rex Pro is priced at $179 and is available now.

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