Amazfit Zepp E Overall Score - 7.5/10
Design Score - 8.0/10
Ease of Usability Score - 7.5/10
Use of Information Score - 7.5/10
Value for Money Score - 7.0/10
Advantages:
- Gorgeous in appearance,
- AMOLED display
- Monitoring of SpO2 levels and stress
- Two very different fashions
- A rather long battery life
Disadvantages:
- There is no GPS receiver built in.
- Heart rate variability while exercising
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The Huami Zepp E smartwatch became officially available not too long ago. It has a bezel-less design and has a good collection of fitness and health tracking sensors, making it an ideal timepiece for fashionistas. Additionally, it comes in two unique styles.
The item is the result of Zepp and Huami’s first joint effort in the field of product development. To refresh your memory, the Chinese technology giant purchased the primary properties of Zepp just a little over two years ago. This is an effort on Huami’s part to strengthen its position in the luxury sports products industry in the United States.
The company Zepp is quite well known. In recent years, the company, which has its headquarters in California, has produced a plethora of innovative goods for various sports, including golf, tennis, and soccer, among others. A good number of these are endorsed by athletes who compete professionally. However, a smartwatch was never included in any of its product lines at any point in time. Since Zepp E was released, everything has been turned upside down.
I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it. After putting it to use for a little over a week, these are my thoughts.
Zepp ‘E Review: Design
Huami has a great deal of experience in the production of smartwatches, and it is clear that the company has applied all of this knowledge to the design of Zepp E. The smartwatch has a strikingly gorgeous design and comes with a 3D curved glass face that is pitch black and has smooth contours all the way around the sides.
You have the option of choosing between two different iterations. The first one is circular and has a diameter of 42.2 millimeters, while the second one is square and measures 43.3 millimeters by 35.7 millimeters. Both of them weigh only a little more than 30 grams, making them extremely lightweight.
The two individuals are virtually identical in all respects, with the exception of their shapes. The circular edition is in my possession.
Because of its compact and lightweight design, Zepp E is an excellent choice for use by either gender. At least in terms of its physical appearance. It does not at all give the impression of being a sports watch. Rather, it is intended for people who want something on their wrist that they would be pleased to wear on a night out or in an office situation, and it has been developed specifically for those people.
The thickness of the clock, just 9 millimeters, makes it extremely tiny. I believe that because of this, it is more suited for people who have smaller wrists, such as women. For individuals who have larger wrists, there should really be an option for a little more substantial bracelet. However, this serves as evidence of how far technological advancement has progressed. A number of years ago, we wore cumbersome and unattractive devices on our wrists. Zepp E is the antithesis of that in every possible way.
The construction is made of stainless steel, and you may choose between fluoroelastomer and leather bands. The entirety of this is branded with a water-resistance certification of 5 ATMs, making the device suitable for use in both the rain and the shine. Even though the fluoroelastomer band on my watch is a little stiffer than the silicone bands that usually come with sports watches, it is surprisingly comfortable to wear.
The pin system that keeps the band in place is very user-friendly and allows for quick and painless removal of the band. You have the option of exchanging the Polar Night Black, Moon Grey, and Deep Sea Blue (all three of which are leather) for the Metallic Black Special Edition, Onyx Black, and Pebble Grey in the square edition (the last two are fluoroelastomers). For the round iteration, there is a Champagne Gold Special Edition as well as Onyx Black and Ice Blue for fluoroelastomer, as well as the colors Polar Night Black and Moon Grey for leather.
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The version I was testing came with a 1.28-inch AMOLED screen that has a resolution of 416 by 416 pixels and 326 pixels per inch. You have a decent selection of watch faces to choose from, some of which are displayed on the watch itself, while others can be installed on your smartphone using the companion app. Further customization is even possible for some of the faces. It is a lot of fun to experiment with the many watch faces because the display is of such high quality that it makes some of them look really excellent.
The screen is turned off by default, but you can turn it on by tapping the physical button on the right or by raising your wrist. There is an always-on mode that can be selected, and with it, the watch face can alternate between showing the complete face and only the time. When you turn this on, a warning will appear informing you that doing so will significantly reduce the amount of time the battery will last. In the settings menu, you can also adjust the amount of time that the primary display remains active when the primary watch face is displayed. This can be anywhere between 5 and 30 seconds.
The timepiece is a bezel-less beauty if you will pardon the pun. The display does not quite reach all the way to the edge of the device, but it comes quite close. Aside from its sleek and lightweight appearance, the screen on this watch is without a doubt my top pick for the best feature of this timepiece.
The colors truly jump out, everything is quite brilliant, and it is simple to read both inside and outside of the building. Also, the touch sensitivity is very good, which makes it easy to move between the different panels.
In spite of the fact that the device is extremely tiny, the manufacturer was able to cram a significant amount of functionality into its interior. In addition to the other sensors that usually come with activity trackers, there is an optical sensor for biological tracking, an accelerometer, and a geomagnetic sensor.
The one feature that should be present but isn’t is a built-in GPS. Therefore, despite the fact that Zepp is a sports brand, the device is more appropriately classified as a fitness watch than a sports watch.
As far as battery life goes, the Zepp E’s 188 mAh battery allows it to function normally for approximately one week’s worth of time. When compared to the breathtaking AMOLED display, this is a rather respectable result. It takes around two hours to fully charge the battery from empty to full capacity.
There is additionally an option for fundamental functioning. In this mode, the device is able to continue functioning for the whole 15 days, but it will only record the number of steps taken and the amount of time spent sleeping. It seems unlikely that the watch would have a battery life of more than two to three days when the always-on option is enabled, but this is still marginally better than what you would get on an Apple Watch.
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Features Discussed in the Zepp E Review
Tracking One’s Fitness Level
There is a lot to enjoy concerning one’s overall health as well as their level of activity. Because of the sensors, it is able to track a variety of standard metrics, including steps, activity, distance traveled, and more. It is effective in all of these areas.
The vast majority of these statistics can be examined directly on Zepp E. You can navigate between the different pages on the screen by swiping in any of the four directions: left, right, up, or down. When you press the button, a comprehensive menu appearing in the form of a list will pop up.
Utilizing the Zepp app is the second method available for viewing statistics. Once more, this app is the same one that is used by Huami’s Amazfit array of fitness trackers. It is intriguing that the firm has opted to change the name of the app from Amazfit to Zepp instead of using that moniker. A choice in marketing, most certainly.
The application is functional, but it takes a little bit of practice to figure out where everything is stashed away inside of it.
The statistics on sleep, in particular, are rather comprehensive and contain information on light sleep, deep sleep, REM sleep, as well as waking time. The device that the user wears on their wrist will also keep track of any naps that they take during the day, in addition to providing a daily slumber and respiratory quality score.
In addition to this, Zepp E monitors your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) and your stress level by analyzing your heart rate variability (HRV). These identical measures can also be seen in the Amazfit Band 5, which was only recently under the spotlight in my review. Since the SpO2 only works when it is requested, it does not operate automatically while the patient is sleeping.
You do have the option to choose between automated and on-demand stress relief when it comes to stress. I went with the one that allows these readings to be taken care of manually in the background. It has a negative impact on battery life, but it does provide a great graphic showing how your anxiety levels change during the day.
The numbers for stress and SpO2 are consistent with the results of a number of other instruments, which I reviewed. Because of this, I can put my faith in them. Sleep is beneficial as well, despite the fact that there is a higher potential for discrepancies, as is the situation with all smartwatches. The steps and the rest of it are all good.
The Personal Activity Intelligence (PAI) Index is another important metric that ought to be mentioned. Huami is making considerable use of it across all of its devices, and Zepp is doing the same thing. It is important that you keep this number higher than 100. According to a number of studies, making this a regular part of your routine can cut your chance of developing cardiovascular problems by as much as one-fourth. If you are curious to learn more about the advantages of PAI in greater depth, the mobile application for your phone gives a wealth of reading material on this topic.
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Keeping a Score in Sports
The device not only monitors the wearer’s activity and quality of sleep but also eleven different types of sports. This covers activities like jogging or walking outside, riding a bicycle outside, walking or running on a treadmill, cycling indoors, swimming pools, climbing, trail running, skiing, and free training. The metrics that you’ll acquire for each activity are different from one another.
You will not get a built-in GPS, but you will be able to use your smartphone to connect to satellite signals, which will allow for more precise monitoring of activities that take place outside. This, however, is the most problematic aspect of the apparatus. It is acceptable that it does not come with a built-in GPS, but considering that it sells for $250, it should.
During a few runs, I compared the performance of the watch to that of a Garmin Forerunner that was attached to the other wrist. By launching the Zepp app on your smartphone, you may check to see if the Zepp is linked to the GPS signal on your device before you begin your journey. The process of securing the connection typically takes no more than a few seconds. After that, you won’t need your phone anymore because you’ll be able to do everything else from your watch.
An educational experiment was attempting to bring an end to the activity. In most cases, you only need to press and maintain pressure on the physical button. However, if you do this with Zepp E, you will be brought back to the main menu. Instead, you are required to make a single press on the physical button, followed by a swipe to the left, in order to be presented with the choice to finish the run.
The Connected GPS functioned as intended, and after the run, you will receive a pleasant little map not just on the watch but also in the Zepp app for smartphones. On the other hand, we can’t say the same thing about the heart rate monitor. It worked properly most of the time, but other times it didn’t.
I have a sneaking suspicion that the form-factor of the watch, which is quite small, makes it very hard for the detector to sit flat against the body. That’s something that’s required in order to obtain precise readings on a consistent basis. When it comes to location, I don’t know if doing more tests will help me find the best place or not.
Having said that, although it is not required, a sports watch is a worthwhile investment for anyone who takes their jogging seriously. Ideally, one that already has a GPS receiver built in. However, Zepp E is adequate for the vast majority of people.
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Intelligent Capabilities
Intelligent functionality is the final piece of the puzzle. It is included in the formula for Zepp E in very small amounts.
Everything is powered by Huami’s in-house developed operating system, which is identical to the one that is utilized by all Amazfit-branded Smartwatch. Since this is a closed system, there is no way to install programs made by other companies.
You are able to view the alerts on your smartphone, but you are unable to engage with them. App alerts are displayed as well, despite the fact that they are grouped together. In addition, there is a compass, a timer, alarms, and a few other ancillary features. The information on the weather map is updated whenever your smartphone is nearby.
I experimented with the functioning of the music. You won’t be able to download any songs, but you will have control over the audio that is already running on your phone. This feature is fully functional. This also enables the ability to manage the level, pause the song, skip tracks, and go backward in the playlist. You are not given the option to select albums, playlists, or anything else of the sort.
Zepp E Review: Concluding Thoughts
The first watch to bear the Zepp brand comes from Huami, and it’s a good one. Its standout features are undeniably its stylish design and high-quality construction, which are characteristics that are not typically associated with sports brands.
Due to the timepiece’s basic design aspect, it is ideally suited for those who have smaller wrists, such as women. The AMOLED display has a lot of vivid colors and is quite colorful overall. It is without a doubt one of the most aesthetically pleasing watches that I have tried, which is a clear indication of how far technology has advanced in recent years.
The watch performs well in terms of tracking both general and current activity levels. The statistics for monitoring sleep are very specific, and they also monitor blood oxygen levels and stress levels. Both the watch and the app show this information in a way that is very pleasing to the eye.
This is more of a fashionable fitness watch than an actual sports watch because it does not have a built-in GPS and only provides sporadic readings of your heart rate when you work out. If you are looking for a sports watch, you should look for one that has a built-in GPS.
The Zepp E costs a little bit more to purchase than other gadgets that offer comparable capabilities. The design is included in the premium pricing of $250 that is listed on Zepp’s website (check the price on Amazon). Those who are seeking a gorgeous fitness watch should consider making the investment in this watch if they have the financial means to do so (or if they have the opportunity to do so at a reduced price).
