The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a rugged smartwatch that boldly claims to provide the rugged style of premium wearables like the Apple Watch Ultra 2 or Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra, but without the hefty price tag. It boasts a chunky, tough exterior, but can it truly compete with its well-known, higher-priced competitors in terms of software and functionality? Or is there a reason it’s significantly cheaper? I spent time wearing the T-Rex 3 to uncover its strengths and weaknesses, and here’s what I discovered.
Design: A G-Shock-Inspired Rugged Look
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 embraces a hardcore, amplified version of the Apple Watch Series 9, while Samsung opted for a more controversial (but, in my opinion, successful) design for the Galaxy Watch Ultra. For the T-Rex 3, Amazfit sought inspiration from the king of tough watches, the Casio G-Shock, for its third-generation rugged smartwatch. The T-Rex 3 blends its circular screen with an octagonal stainless steel bezel, instantly evoking memories of the immensely popular G-Shock GA-2100 series. Similar to many G-Shock watches, the T-Rex 3 also features a set of four buttons with a grippy texture on the polymer case at the 10, 2, 4, and 8 o’clock positions. However, what sets it apart is the unique “bridge” at 3 o’clock. This metal bridge, stamped with the Amazfit name, adds a distinctive design touch, though it can potentially dig into your hand when your wrist is bent.
The smartwatch is secured to your wrist with a flexible silicone strap, fastened with a plastic buckle and held in place by two keepers. On the underside, a pair of edge guards help to keep the body centered on your wrist, another design element borrowed from many G-Shock watches. It feels comfortable to wear and weighs only 68 grams, but it can get a bit sweaty under the silicone strap. The large 48mm case is wide and quite thick at nearly 14mm.
Built for Toughness: Outdoor Credentials
When it comes to durability and outdoor performance, the T-Rex 3 holds its own. The case is crafted from polymer plastic, while the bezel, buttons, and bridge are made from 316L stainless steel. The screen is protected by Gorilla Glass, and the smartwatch boasts 10ATM water resistance, along with certification for free diving to a depth of 45 meters. It’s designed to withstand temperatures ranging from -22 degrees Fahrenheit to 158 degrees Fahrenheit, which is likely more than your own body can handle.
Internally, it features a robust selection of sensors, including a barometer, a geomagnetic sensor, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and a temperature sensor. The 1.5-inch AMOLED screen boasts a peak brightness of 2000 nits and includes a special glove mode, ensuring it can still recognize inputs even when you’re wearing 2mm thick gloves. Additionally, it incorporates dual-band GPS for enhanced accuracy without relying on your phone.
The buttons are easily identifiable and responsive to press, with their functions clearly marked on the bezel. However, I found the button layout a little awkward, as I prefer the Back button to be where the Down button is positioned, since it’s more comfortable for me wearing the watch on my left wrist. It will likely suit anyone wearing the watch on their right wrist. The Amazfit T-Rex 3’s polymer case might not have the same prestige as titanium, but it’s remarkably lightweight, and the overall design and materials used suggest it should be durable enough for most outdoor activities.
Software and Battery Life: Amazfit’s Ecosystem
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 utilizes Amazfit’s proprietary software instead of Google’s Wear OS and connects with the Zepp app, available for both Android and iOS devices. I tested the watch with Zepp installed on the Google Pixel 9 Pro. Despite being a beta app, it proved to be reliable, and once I granted the app security permissions, it received notifications consistently.
You can navigate the menu system on the watch using the buttons or the touchscreen, which is sufficiently fast and responsive. The app and watch are brimming with health and fitness features. These include heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, sleep tracking with heart rate variability (HRV), 170 workout modes, data points such as V02 Max, training load, and recovery time, plus a Readiness score when you wear your watch to track sleep. There’s even an element of AI, with the Zepp Flow feature incorporating ChatGPT-4o for voice control.
Amazfit claims the battery can last for 13 days with “heavy” use, which we interpret to mean the always-on screen and all health-tracking features enabled. If you disable these features, the battery life might extend to 27 days before needing a recharge. Using GPS continuously at its most accurate setting will result in 42 hours of use, or up to 180 hours in its extended GPS mode.
I’ve worn the T-Rex 3 for three days with the ambient screen and health tracking enabled, and while I haven’t tracked sleep with it, I’ve recorded a couple of workouts. The battery is currently at 88%, suggesting it will meet Amazfit’s estimated usage time. The tracked workouts provided results I anticipated and aligned with what I’ve observed from other wearables. The data is presented in a clear and organized manner within the app.
A Genuine Ultra Watch Alternative?
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 truly embodies the rugged aesthetic. Like a G-Shock, it commands attention on your wrist. While I appreciate the feel of premium materials, the lightweight body is still appealing, just in a different way. The screen is easily visible in sunlight, the software isn’t difficult to learn, and the physical buttons mean you’re not limited to using only the touchscreen or a rotating crown.
While it may have borrowed somewhat shamelessly from a G-Shock, it has at least borrowed the best aspects. It offers a vast array of sports abilities and features, and it doesn’t get carried away by adding so-called “Ultra” features that only a select few would ever utilize, simply to appeal to marketing trends.
Active individuals who enjoy a variety of sports will find its diverse modes helpful, and the Zepp app is reminiscent of Samsung Health in its layout and design. If you’ve questioned the need for an emergency siren, LTE connectivity, and a $600-plus price tag, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 should be appealing. It’s priced at $299, less than half the price of its Ultra competitors, and in line with the cost of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Apple Watch Series 9.
While Amazfit aims for it to be a legitimate Ultra smartwatch alternative, I believe it fits somewhere in between the standard and Ultra models, and that’s a very good position to be in. If Ultra watches are too expensive and generally too feature-packed for you, but you still desire more than a basic smartwatch, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 seems to be an excellent middle ground.
