Review of Amazfit Verge - pumped sports watch from Xiaomi

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The new version has got a fashionable design, a cool screen and the ability to answer calls.

Table of contents

• Specifications
• Completion and appearance
• Screen
• Localization
• Main functions
• Sports functions
• Mobile app
• Autonomy
• Outcomes

Xiaomi is far from new to sports gadgets. Everyone knows the megapopular Mi Band bracelets, which have sold in millions of copies. The Amazfit Verge sports watch, released by the Xiaomi sub-brand Huami, belongs to a different, more advanced class of devices. They have a wide range of functions, but they also cost much more.

In this review, I will tell you whether it is worth overpaying for a smartwatch or is it better to limit yourself to a regular fitness bracelet.

Specifications

• Name: Huami Amazfit Verge.
• Display: 1.30 inches, AMOLED, 360 × 360 pixels, Corning Gorilla 3 with oleophobic coating.
• CPU: dual-core, 1.2 GHz.
• RAM: 512 MB.
• Built-in memory: 4 GB (1, 9 GB are available to the user).
• Compound: Bluetooth 4.0 Classic + BLE, Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz 802.11b / g.
• Sensors: optical, acceleration sensor, gyroscope, geomagnetic, air pressure, illumination sensor.
• Audio: microphone, speaker.
• Geolocation: GPS + GLONASS.
• Battery: 390 mAh.
• Charging time: 2, 5 hours.
• Working hours: up to 5 days.
• Case material: reinforced plastic.
• Hull protection: IP67 (splash proof).
• Operating system: AMAZFIT OS based on Android.
• Strap: removable, silicone.
• Strap length: 70 + 113 mm.
• Dimensions: 43 × 12.6 mm.
• Weight: 46 g

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Completion and appearance

The watch is delivered in an integral box. The inner part is made of thick white cardboard. The outer shell is black, it shows the watch itself and indicates the technical characteristics.

The package bundle is very modest: only a charger and instructions. A version of the watch for the domestic market came to me, so all the inscriptions in it are only in Chinese.

The watch case is made of reinforced plastic. The dial is protected by Corning Gorilla 3 glass. Its surface has a good oleophobic coating, thanks to which almost no fingerprints remain on the glass. And if even some traces of touch have appeared, then they are very easy to remove.

The watch case has become slightly smaller and thinner in comparison with the previous version. Yes, this is still a smartwatch with a clearly expressed sporty design, but now it looks quite appropriate not only on a strong man's hand, but also on a thin woman's wrist.

The Amazfit Verge case contains only one button, which is highlighted in red. Just below it is the spoken microphone. The speaker slot is located on the opposite side. On the back of the device, we see a heart rate sensor and four contacts required for charging and data transfer.

The soft silicone strap adjusts to fit almost any arm thickness. The mounts are removable, so if you wish, you can change it to another. There are already plenty of straps for this watch in the AliExpress store.

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Screen

The screen is one of the main advantages of the Amazfit Verge. It is made using AMOLED technology, so it has excellent contrast and clarity of lines. The picture is rich in colors and wide viewing angles. The available stock of brightness is enough for comfortable use even in direct sunlight.

At rest, the screen is usually off to save power. However, you can activate the Always On Display mode, in which the monochrome watch hands will be visible on the dial. However, it is usually not necessary: the watch automatically wakes up every time you raise your hand to look at the time. This system works almost perfectly.

I am sure that many are interested in comparing the Amazfit Verge with the previous model, which used a transflective display that reflects incident light. In my opinion, the new watch wins in about the same way as modern smartphones outperform the old Nokia. The screen of Amazfit Verge is pleasant to look at, it responds sensitively to touches, and, as I was convinced later, it consumes almost the same amount of energy.

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Localization

The Chinese stores now have local and international versions of Amazfit Verge. From a hardware point of view, they are no different, but the firmware, of course, is different. The watch, intended for the domestic market, has only Chinese, but there are several additional functions, such as smart home control and payment for transport fares.

The international version of the gadget contains all the most common languages, including Russian. The quality of the translation is quite high: there are practically no funny mistakes and abbreviations. However, if you bought the wrong version by mistake, then you shouldn't be upset. The web already has all the instructions and files for flashing, which turns a Chinese clock into an international one.

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Main functions

The main function of the gadget is to display the time. With this, the Amazfit Verge is doing great. With the help of interchangeable covers, the device can be turned into a beautiful analog clock, a retro version of an electronic clock from the 90s, or even into a gadget from a fantastic future. It all depends on your tastes. In any case, the accuracy remains at its best, since the time readings are constantly synchronized with the smartphone.

In addition, the watch can show the weather, serve as an alarm clock, timer, stopwatch and compass. Music lovers will love the ability to control the music that is played on the smartphone. Amazfit Verge does an excellent job of displaying notifications from any application, you just need to activate this function in the mobile client. You can read messages in instant messengers and chats, but you won't be able to write replies to them, alas.

An important innovation of Amazfit Verge is the ability to answer calls. In the previous version, when there was an incoming call, you could only reject it or turn on the silent mode. Now, when you press the green button, a connection is made with the subscriber. Thanks to the high-quality speaker and microphone, the sound during a conversation is practically not distorted, there were no delays either. It is very convenient when you are driving, your hands are busy or your smartphone is lying around in some unknown place.

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Sports functions

Amazfit Verge can track 12 types of physical activity: running, walking, cycling, treadmill, stationary bike and orbit track, as well as hiking, trail, skiing, tennis, football and rope. Compared to the Amazfit Stratos, water sports have disappeared. This is due to the lack of complete protection against immersion, although it is possible to shower in the watch. In any case, nothing terrible happened to my specimen after light water procedures.

When you select an outdoor activity, GPS is turned on, which allows you to accurately determine the distance traveled, speed and trajectory. All of this data is recorded and then used to calculate calories burned, exercise intensity and recovery time. If you exercise indoors, then only your heart rate and total workout time are measured. If necessary, external sensors working via Bluetooth can be connected to the watch.

The data obtained during training is saved in the watch. They can be viewed in the form of visual graphs and diagrams in order to evaluate its result immediately after the lesson. At the end of each week, the watch displays a summary report, allowing you to take stock and set goals for the future. In addition, the information is synchronized with your cloud account, so even if you change the device, it will not be lost.

The watch is able to monitor the quality of sleep, quite correctly determining its various phases. Steps are constantly counted and reminded of the need to pass the daily quota. If you have a sedentary job, periodic notifications to get up and stretch will come in handy.

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Mobile app

The Amazfit Watch app is used to set up the watch, sync and view data. There are versions for Android and iOS, the functionality of which is almost the same.

The main window of the program is divided into three tabs. The first displays general data about your physical activity: the number of steps taken, the last heart rate measurement and information about sleep. The second tab is dedicated to sports activities. And the latter contains all the available settings of the Amazfit Verge.

Basically, the program displays practically the same data as the clock. But studying them on the big screen is more convenient. In addition, only here you can select applications from which notifications will be displayed on the watch, change the order of widgets and perform several other specific settings. The Amazfit Watch software is perfectly localized and updated quite often.

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Autonomy

The manufacturer claims that the battery life of the Amazfit Verge reaches five days. Such an indicator for a sports watch is an achievement in itself, and if you take into account the bright AMOLED display, it generally looks like a fairy tale. Therefore, I treated him with a great deal of skepticism.

However, the test results showed that the manufacturer was right. Of course, the mode of use, training duration, watch settings, number of calls and messages are of great importance. But with my usual routine with daily morning runs and constant synchronization of notifications, the gadget calmly withstands the stated five days.

It takes about an hour and a half to fully charge the device. As a disadvantage, I want to note the absolutely inconvenient design of the charging cradle. The wiring protruding from the back looks unreliable and will probably break sooner or later.

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Outcomes

Amazfit Verge is an excellent sports watch that is one of the best on the market in terms of price-performance ratio.

Compared to the previous version, they offer a cool bright screen and the ability to answer phone calls. At the same time, the autonomy of the watch remained at the level of the Amazfit Stratos, which is good news.

If we compare the gadget with the Mi Band, then this is a completely different class of devices both in terms of functionality and in terms of usability. Putting the Amazfit Verge on your wrist, you get the ability to answer calls, view notifications, listen to music, check the weather, track sports workouts and perform other activities that a simple fitness bracelet is simply not capable of. So, in my opinion, these watches are worth their money.

At the time of writing the review, the cost of the Amazfit Verge watch is 10 639 rubles.