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

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The Oukitel BT20 is obtainable now on Amazon for $49.99.
• The battery life is stellar and the varied factors of knowledge are as correct as watches far costlier.
• 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 very best mix of kind and performance, with all of the options I want and a person interface that’s equal elements magnificence and effectivity. However there’s one concern 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 once I go on lengthy runs, that battery life is shortened much more.

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

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

Meet the Oukitel BT20. After I obtained 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 gadgets. When it got here time to start out testing this $49.99 watch (due to a 29% low cost on Amazon proper 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 displays and step counters on the respective gadgets.  

View at Amazon

What shocked me essentially the most was the BT20 ‘s battery, which simply saved going and going. After per week of utilizing the watch, the battery degree continues to be round 75%.

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

Additionally: The most effective Android smartwatches you should buy, in line with our testing

Earlier than I offer you my full expertise with the watch, let me listing 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
• A whole bunch 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

Here is my first impression of the BT20: It is huge. Perceive, I am on the small aspect 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 at all times seen it on my wrist. There have been occasions 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 every single day, if a watch is noticeable, it may well are inclined to get irritating. That does not imply it’s going to hassle everybody. When you’re used to sporting heavier watches or cumbersome jewellery, you will not have an issue with this watch.

The following concern 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 would not supply that degree of interplay. To get to the varied apps, it’s important to swipe across the face. The swipes are:

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

Additionally: The most effective blood stress watches you should buy, in line with medical analysis

When you get used to swiping, all is ok, however I do desire the Google methodology of watch interplay.

The final nit I am going to choose is that the raise-to-wake function would 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. Generally the watch will wake with the slightest motion and different occasions it seems 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 favourite hybrid smartwatch simply bought smarter, and its battery life continues to be unbelievable

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 take care of putting in an app for each single factor I exploit) however finally gave in. The FitCloudPro app is kind of good. I would go as far as to say Google may be taught a factor or two about find out how to create a watch app right here.

From the app, you possibly can customise the settings (a few of which are not out there by way of the Settings app on the watch), and use the varied sensors on the watch to examine blood stress and blood oxygen degree, in addition to set exercise/drink reminders, set the automated well being monitor, and extra. 

The FitCloudPro app must be thought of a should if you happen to plan on getting essentially 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 equivalent info. Pulse, steps, and varied exorcise information have been all neck and neck. The one factor I did not take a look at was the sleep info 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 shocked at how good this sub-$50 watch is. When you’re on a good funds and nonetheless wish to get pleasure from the advantages of a smartwatch, the Oukitel BT20 is an actual winner. Aside from my Pixel Watch (each the 1 and a pair of), I can’t consider a smartwatch that impressed me greater than this one.