Amazfit recently launched its first-ever smart ring, Amazfit Helio. As someone who’s been using Amazfit GTS 4 for a long time, I was quite intrigued to see how the brand-new Helio would compare to my watch.
So, I took off the watch for a while and only wore the Amazfit Helio ring for over a month. And well, even though many think that smartwatches offer way more features and battery than a smart ring ever can, I liked the Amazfit Helio way better than the GTS 4.
Does my verdict surprise you? If yes, then you should definitely read this article till the end and understand why I think Helio is better.
Design & Colors
Amazfit Helio is unlike any other smart ring I have ever seen. While most smart rings out there have a shiny surface that can easily reflect light, the Helio ring has a dotted texture. The ring is titanium in color, only 2.6mm thick and 8mm wide, so it doesn’t look bulky at all. Furthermore, it gives me these Greek mythology vibes that I love. All in all, I truly get to stand out with the Helio ring on my finger.
I can’t say the same about the GTS 4 I’ve used for so long. I have the watch in Rosebud pink with a gold frame, gold side bezel, and gold buckle. It is thinner (9.9mm) than other smartwatches and has a 1.75” AMOLED display.
While all of this sounds really cute, the watch still couldn’t give me any premium feel because of its uncanny resemblance to the Apple Watch. From a distance, you won’t even be able to tell the two apart, and this is something I’ve always had a problem with. As someone who really values her individuality, I haven’t enjoyed roaming around wearing a seemingly unoriginal design like that.
GTS 4 comes in a variety of color options, each just as pretty as the other. If I ever get bored of my Rosebud pink watch case, I can choose something else, such as the dreamy Misty White color variant.
Unlike GTS 4, the Helio doesn’t offer me any color options. Titanium is the only color option currently available. But I don’t mind this at all since I am truly all for it. Even if there are other color options available, I know I’d still choose the current titanium finish.
So, when it comes to design and color, I like the Helio ring better. I wish the Amazfit team had thought a little more creatively while crafting the GTS 4, just as they did while making the Helio ring.
Material, Comfort & Durability
The Amazfit Helio is made of titanium alloy and doesn’t come with a PVD coating like most other smart rings. I guess this is why the ring isn’t as durable and scratch-resistant as other rings.
The other day, I tripped and fell while out on a run in my neighborhood, and well, my Helio ring bore the brunt of it. Upon coming back home, I checked the ring for any scratches with my fingers crossed, but it didn’t work— the ring had abrasions from that fall.
Throwback to all those times I fell in and out of my house with the GTS 4, and it survived them all with no major scratches to speak of. The GTS 4 probably gets this strength from being made of Aluminium alloy and having a high-gloss sprayed PC bottom shell. It makes the GTS 4 watch way more durable than the Helio ring.
But, when it comes to comfort, all points go to Amazfit Helio upfront. It’s not just that I generally find rings to be more comfortable than watches. It’s also that GTS’s silicone straps really irritate me when I am all sweaty after a workout.
I always have to resist the urge to throw off the watch when it starts sticking to my skin because of the sweat, but still end up giving in to the urge a few times.
I haven’t had such urges with the Helio Ring ever. Furthermore, being just around 3-4 grams in weight, the Helio feels incredibly light on my finger. While the 27-gram GTS 4 (without straps) can’t compare to a ring in terms of weight, it is still one of the lightest and most comfortable smartwatches I have worn, which is why I could wear it to bed for sleep tracking all this time, too.
However, if I had to choose between the Helio Ring and GTS 4 based on comfort, I knew I would pick the Helio Ring. It’s so light and comfortable that I can barely feel it! Also, I’d try to be a little more careful with the ring since it’s not as durable. As long as I can be a little graceful, I know my ring will fare just fine.
Specifications
| Specifications | Amazfit Helio Ring | Amazfit GTS 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Titanium Alloy (outer ring), Resin (inner part of the ring) | Aluminum alloy middle frameHigh-gloss sprayed PC Bottom shellFluoroelastomer strap/ Liquid Silicone strap/ Nylon Strap |
| Weight | 3.75 & 3.82 grams | 27 grams |
| Dimensions | Thickness- 2.6mmWidth- 8mm | Watch- 42.7 x 36.5x 9.9mmStrap- 20mm (Width)Display- 1.75”Glass base- 0.4mm |
| Size | 10 &12 | Wrist Dimension- 140mm – 200mm |
| Charger | Wireless Charging Dock | Magnetic charging |
| Battery Life | Up to 4 days | Up to 8 days |
| Charging Time | 1 hr 40 min | Approx. 2 hours |
| Memory | N/A | 2.3GB (For Music) |
| Colors available | Titanium | Infinite Black, Misty White, Autumn Brown, Rosebud Pink |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth | WLAN 2.4GHz24 , Bluetooth 5.0 & BLE |
| Compatible With Other Apps | Yes | Yes |
| Water Resistance | 10 ATM/ 100m | 5 ATM/ 50m |
| Compatibility | Android 7.0 and above,iOS 14.0 and above | Android 7.0 and above,iOS 12.0 and above |
| Warranty | 1-year | 1-year |
| GPS | Yes (Phone’s GPS) | Yes (in-built) |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C | 0°C to 40°C |
| EMF-Safe | No | No |
| Airplane Mode | No | No |
| Sizing kit | No | No |
| FSA/HSA Eligible | No | No |
Battery Life & Charging
| Charging Details | Amazfit Helio Ring | Amazfit GTS 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Official Charging Time | 100 minutes | Approx 2 hours |
| My Charging Time | 100- 120 minutes | 2- 2.5 hours |
| Official Battery Durability | Up to 4 days | Typical usage- Up to 8 days Heavy usage- 4 days Battery saver mode- 16 days Clock mode- 30 days Accuracy GPS Mode- 16 hours Balanced GPS Mode- 28 Hours Power Saving GPS Mode- 33 Hours |
| My Battery’s Durability | 2-3 days | 4-7 days only |
As someone who really wants all her devices to have large battery lives, I am not particularly happy with the battery life of either of the two devices we have here. The Amazfit Helio promises a battery life of up to 4 days, but in actuality, I only get about 2-3 days.
I could get a day or two more of battery life if I turned off features like Auto Emotion Monitoring, but I find the feature really useful! In fact, finding out that the Helio ring could automatically detect changes in my emotions was one of the ring’s selling points for me.
Because it literally means that the ring would detect and help me understand how I was feeling better, and I wouldn’t have to keep going back to the emotion wheel that my therapist shared. So, I make do with the 2-3 days of shoddy battery life that Helio provides me with.
The GTS 4 is better in comparison to the Helio ring in terms of battery life. It usually offers me around 4-7 days of battery life, with the advertised claim being up to 8 days. While I should be thoroughly impressed with GTS’s battery life, I am not. Having used smartwatches with even greater battery life, I think the GTS 4 could have done better still.
Furthermore, GTS 4 lasts this long because I have turned off notifications (I find them distracting), disabled the always-on feature, and used simple watch faces— even though I like the animated ones so much better.
The charging process of the Helio ring is way more straightforward than GTS’s. The Helio ring comes with a charging dock, and all I have to do is place the ring on the dock and connect it to a power source with a USB-C cable. I leave it there for around 2 hours, and my ring is good to go.
GTS 4 comes with a magnetic charger, and I find it annoying. I have to place the base of the watch on top of the base; the connection is magnetic and, therefore, quite secure. A full charge takes 2-2.5 hours, and it pains to wait that long.
While all of this looks uncomplicated on the surface, I find the charger appalling because it’s Type A and quite short in length. I also think that I should probably get a second pair of chargers because I simply can’t bring myself to trust the one single pair I have.
So, while the Helio ring offers me a shorter battery life, I still prefer it over the GTS 4. I’d rather put the Helio ring on charge frequently than deal with the annoying GTS 4 charger.
Sensors
| Sensors | Amazfit Helio Ring | Amazfit GTS 4 |
|---|---|---|
| PPG Sensors |  | |
| Skin temperature Sensor |  |  |
| Photodiodes | | |
| 3D Accelerometer |  | |
| Gyroscope | | |
| Green LEDs | | |
| Red LEDs | | |
| EDA Sensors | | |
| Geomagnetic Sensor | | |
| Barometric Altimeter | | |
| Ambient light sensor | | |
Features
| Features | Amazfit Helio Ring | Amazfit GTS 4 |
|---|---|---|
| HR, HRV & RHR | Yes | Yes |
| Workout Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Swimming Heart Rate | Yes | Yes |
| Blood oxygen levels (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| VO2 Max | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking & Nap detection | Yes | Yes |
| Detailed sleep analysis | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep Coach/ Guidance | Yes (Paid feature) | Yes (Paid feature) |
| Sleep Schedule | No | Yes |
| Weekly & monthly sleep reports | Yes | Yes |
| Respiration Rate | No | No |
| Breathing Quality | Yes | Yes |
| Breathing exercise | No | Yes |
| Average Pace | No | Yes |
| Skin Temperature | Yes | No |
| Steps | Yes | Yes |
| Distance Traveled | Yes | Yes |
| Calories | Yes | Yes |
| Workouts | Yes | Yes |
| Sports Coach | Yes | No |
| Smart sports recognition | No | Yes |
| Achievement Prediction | Yes | No |
| Advanced Running Support | Yes | Yes |
| Average Space | No | Yes |
| Period Prediction | Yes | Yes |
| Fertility & Ovulation Prediction | No | Yes |
| Mood & Energy | No | No |
| Emotional state | Yes | No |
| Automatic emotion detection | Yes | No |
| Morning Updates | No | Yes |
| Set Personalized Goals | Yes | Yes |
| Personalized Wellness Assistance | Yes | Yes |
| PAI health assessment system | Yes | Yes |
| Personal Assistant | No | Yes |
| AI Chatbot | Yes | No |
| Vital alerts | No | Yes |
| Insights Feature | Yes | Yes |
| Data Export | Yes | Yes |
| Route Import | No | Yes |
| Stress | Yes | Yes |
| Breathing exercise | No | Yes |
| Health Reports | Yes | No |
| Meditation | Yes | No |
| Recovery | Yes | Yes |
| Readiness Score | Yes | No |
| Readiness Insights | Yes | No |
| Call/SMS/App Notifications | No | Yes |
| Music Control | No | Yes |
| Event Reminder | No | Yes |
| Find My Phone | No | Yes |
| Alarm clock | No | Yes |
What I particularly liked about the Amazfit GTS 4 is its health reminder feature, which sends alerts when heart rate is abnormally high or low, blood oxygen is low, or stress is high and also prompts breathing exercises as and when needed.
Tracking Accuracy
Activity Tracking
The Helio can only track four activities—walking, running, cycling, and treadmill workouts. In comparison, GTS 4 can track up to 154 activities and smartly recognize up to 8 sports and 25 strength training workouts. While these numbers can easily impress one, my experience with the watch makes me think of them as one big joke.
Four of these 154 activities are the same as what Helio offers. Other activities like swimming, hiking, cross-training, and HIIT look realistic, too. But, in no world does things like Jianzi kicking, Air Walker, Golf Swing, and the like make sense to me. You’d still want to consider GTS as thoughtful. But, don’t.
Even though Helio can only track four activities, it tracks them way more accurately than GTS can. Whenever I have been out on my runs, I have noticed that the GTS 4 has consistently logged a distance lower than what I originally ran. The same goes for steps. I already struggle with completing my 10k step count, and GTS makes things harder for me by under-counting my steps.
I, too, was impressed knowing that the GTS 4 can track the strength training I do since most smart rings out there, including Helio, can’t. But, even here, the GTS would always miscount the reps I performed. As someone always on the lookout for setting up new PRs in the gym, such inaccuracies like these can be massively frustrating.
Yes, I do have the option to edit the recorded workout in case I find it inaccurate, but that beats the purpose of automatic tracking, smart recognition, and whatnot. Doesn’t it?
That’s why I’d trust the little data that Helio provides me with over everything that I can possibly get from GTS 4.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Both the Amazfit Helio and GTS 4 have advanced PPG sensors for heart rate monitoring. And even though my GTS 4 got so many other things wrong, heart rate monitoring is one thing that it was nearly accurate in—provided I kept the distance of an inch between my palm and wrist and didn’t wear the watch too loose.
Similarly, I had to ensure that the Helio ring was positioned correctly, i.e., the vertical mark on it was always facing my palm side so that the readings could be accurate. But the ring would still rotate at times. This is why there were times when the ring wouldn’t record any data for a good five minutes or so.
Furthermore, neither of the devices was accurate when it came to monitoring my heart rate when it was changing rapidly because of exercising or other intense physical activity. Apart from that, the readings of both Amazfit Helio and GTS 4 were mostly accurate.
Sleep Tracking
Both the Amazfit Helio and GTS 4 provide me with similar sleep-tracking capabilities. Both can track the total duration, sleep stages, and naps (provided that the minimum duration is 20 minutes) and offer me a detailed sleep analysis.
However, Helio was again way more accurate than GTS 4. The total duration that Helio shows me has always been right in accordance with what I observed, too. But sometimes, GTS 4 would show me a greater sleep duration. This was mostly during the times I’d wake up but continue lying in bed, scrolling through my phone or reading.
Furthermore, when it comes to nap detection, GTS 4 records way more naps than I take. If the watch finds me motionless, i.e., if I simply lie down on the couch to read, GTS 4 starts to think that I am napping, and that is just unfair.
The Zepp App
Both the Amazfit Helio and GTS 4 use the same companion app, Zepp. And, well, Zepp isn’t one of the most beginner-friendly apps out there. Given that I’d already struggled with navigating my way around the Zepp app while using GTS, I didn’t have that hard of a time when I was wearing Helio.
I greatly benefitted from the data fusion feature that the Zepp app offers. Because of the feature, the data from both the GTS and the Helio could be in sync with each other, which is why I’d see trends better in my health reports.
The problem with the app is that it packs a lot of data in a very small space. All those numbers, charts, and graphs can be a lot to take in for anybody during their initial stage with the app.
However, the app uses different colors to depict different things and offers the option to customize the layout, which makes it slightly better.
Once you understand how the Zepp app works, it becomes easier to use it fully. The screen has tabs like Home, Sleep, Workout, and Profile, which I think are quite self-explanatory.
A quick scroll through the home screen of the Zepp app in the morning gives me enough information about how well I am doing to plan for the rest of the day. However, at times, I have found the app giving me ambiguous advice and tips that don’t make any sense to me.
At the top of the Sleep tab, I get a sleep score that helps me gauge how I have slept. I can scroll down further to have greater insights. Similarly, the Workout tab tells me all about my activity.
All in all, the Zepp app offers a lot of useful data to its users. Because of the app, I gained a lot of insights about my health and was able to manage it better. If the Zepp app worked on its layout and evenly spaced out the data a little more, it would be so much better to use.
Pricing, Subscription & Availability
| Pricing Details | Amazfit Helio | Amazfit GTS 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Official Price | $299.99 USD | $199.99 USD |
| Discounted Price | N/A | $139.99 |
| Subscription | Yes (Optional) | Yes (Optional) |
| Availability | France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, India, Czech Republic, Poland, Japan, Taiwan (China), Argentina | France, Germany, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, India, Czech Republic, Poland, Japan, Taiwan (China), Argentina |
The Amazfit Helio is around $100 more expensive than the GTS 4. It is priced at $299.99 USD, and the watch at $199.99 USD. I could have gotten the ring at a cheaper price by availing Amazfit’s bundle offer, which provides both the watch and the ring for $150 off. But given that I already had a GTS 4 and didn’t really like using it, I didn’t see a point in getting another Amazfit smartwatch.
The companion app Zepp is mostly free to use but also offers in-app paid features like the Zepp Aura and Zepp Fitness that are priced at $69.99 a year and $19.99 for 6 months respectively.
Well, I did choose to pay that amount because having Zepp Aura gives me access to things like detailed sleep health assessments, AI-driven features to provide insights based on my data, and some personalized recommendations that I have found useful in improving my overall health.
Plus, even though the Zepp app claims to be free of advertisements, before getting the subscription, I always found an ad for a subscription to Zepp Aura in the sleep section. It truly felt like Zepp was forcing me to pay for the feature, and I think that’s very rude of them.
Which Wearable You Should Buy?
If you’ve read this far, you may have guessed that I will advise you to get the Amazfit Helio Ring instead of GTS 4. Yes, I agree that the ring is $100 more expensive than the watch, but hey, paying $200 for the latter isn’t going to be worth it anyway. The watch will often show you inaccurate data, defeating the purpose of health and sleep tracking altogether.
So, if you’re looking to invest in your health and have to make a choice between the Amazfit Helio Ring and GTS 4, choose the ring with your eyes closed.
