Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 Review: Is This Rugged Smartwatch Worth $549.99?

A good smartwatch should do more than tell you how many steps you have taken or show your latest notifications. When you head out for a long hike or spend hours exploring a new trail, you need something that can keep up with you without constantly asking for a recharge. That’s where rugged outdoor watches come into the picture.

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is Amazfit’s latest attempt to make a smartwatch that can handle these demands. But with a $549.99 price tag, I think there is more to consider than just its rugged looks. Does it offer enough to make everyday adventures easier or is it simply another smartwatch with big promises? Let’s take a closer look.

Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2: An Overview#

From the first time I unpacked my Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2, I was instantly struck by its big 51mm body size. Due to its large form factor, it makes it obvious that this smartwatch aims at premium adventure enthusiasts. With a price tag of $549.99, it is certainly not an economical purchase. But the good news is that you definitely receive what you pay for in terms of hardware. First of all, it comes with Grade 5 titanium construction and a breathtaking 1.5-inch AMOLED screen. Besides the robust build quality, Amazfit has thrown in some offline color maps and dual-band GPS to help you find the way. Moreover, it has a claimed battery life of up to 30 days. So, Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is explicitly aimed at hikers, trail runners and endurance athletes who require much more than just a simple smartwatch with alerts. Regardless of how outstanding its specs were, I was curious how it would perform in the real world.

Specifications#

Design and Comfort: How Does the T-Rex Ultra 2 Feel?#

Now, let us discuss the feel of the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 on your wrist. This particular smartwatch is a beast. In its 51mm case size, it dominates. Being a man with regular wrists, I can tell you that it is quite noticeable. Moreover, the watch is 89.2 grams in weight without the strap attached to it. Hence, in everyday use, it can be a bit hefty and bulky. But, in case you need a sleek and lightweight smartwatch that will slide right under your dress shirt unnoticed, this particular smartwatch is a perfect one to avoid at all costs. But, when it comes to outdoors and rugged environment, this is exactly what you want. With its titanium grade 5 bezel and back cover, it will withstand everything.

As far as the screen goes, Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 has a 1.5-inch AMOLED display that is surrounded by sapphire crystal. Hence, there is no way for the screen to get any scratches. In regard to this particular smartwatch feature I can tell you that its display brightness is impeccable. The thing is that it has an impressive peak brightness of 3,000 nits and thanks to that, the screen is always readable in case of harsh sunlight. Thus, reading maps or checking heart rate was not a problem when using the device in the field. Another important detail is that the touchscreen is very sensitive, however, Amazfit has thoughtfully equipped it with 4 physical buttons. The matter is that I could have sweaty or muddy hands and the latter helped me out many times. Finally, Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is rated as 10 ATM water resistant.

Health and Fitness Tracking: What Can the T-Rex Ultra 2 Monitor?#

Monitoring the health is essential and I was impressed by the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2’s vast range of health monitoring tools. The results were quite revealing, but I must always bear in mind that any information obtained through my wrist is only estimated and not medically proven. For more on how Amazfit handles health data, check out our Amazfit Balance 2 Review.

BioTracker 6.0 sensor technology#

The key element of the health monitoring feature in the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 device is the latest version of BioTracker 6.0 PPG biometric sensor. The reason why this sensor is very effective is that it is located close to the skin and, thus, collects vital information 24/7.

Heart rate monitoring#

Heart rate tracking is crucial for all athletes. Using this smartwatch, I can say that the accuracy of this function is as follows: the readings during the steady state cardio activity were absolutely precise. Nevertheless, while working out with high intensity interval training, I could see a very small delay in tracking fast increases in heart rate. Because wrist based measurements are ultimately just estimates, this minor lag is fairly common, but it is something to keep in mind. 

Blood oxygen monitoring#

Since hiking involves high altitudes, it means that the SpO2 measurement feature is a perfect feature for it. Thus, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 can automatically and manually measure your oxygen level. Since the smartwatch has this feature, then it means that they will assist you in determining how well you are adjusting to thin air.

Heart rate variability (HRV)#

Variability of heart rate is an excellent marker for physical exhaustion. Since the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 monitors HRV during sleep, it gives an exact assessment of the state of the nervous system. Consequently, you know exactly when to work hard and when to have a day off.

Sleep tracking#

It is important to admit that putting on this gigantic 51mm watch to bed is not very comfortable. Nevertheless, it is quite surprising how well the sleep tracker works in this watch. As this tracker takes into account sleep stages and breathing quality, one gets an overall sleep score in the morning.

Stress monitoring#

This watch also provides 24/7 stress management. Being that it calculates your stress level based on heart rate data, it would suggest you practice breathing techniques in case of excessively high stress levels. In other words, it would be a useful device to cope with everyday stress.

Recovery insights#

Everyone wants to avoid getting injured through overtraining. For this reason, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 has recovery recommendations. Since the watch monitors the last exercises, it tells you how many hours you need to rest prior to your next intense workout session.

VO2 max estimates#

For athletes, VO2 max is the primary way to assess their cardiovascular health. The fact that the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 monitors both your speed and heart rate during outdoor runs means that your VO2 max score will be relatively accurate.

BioCharge energy monitoring#

My most favorite new feature is BioCharge Energy Monitoring. It can be considered as an energy level indicator for your body. The reason behind it is that as it includes your sleep, activities and stress levels, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 provides you with your readiness score daily. The presence of this technology in the watch means that they will determine whether you can run ten miles or not.

Sports Tracking and Training Features#

As an active guy, I expect a premium watch to support a wide variety of activities. Fortunately, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 sports tracking capabilities are extensive.

Supported sports modes#

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is equipped with an awesome 187 sports modes. Since there are so many, you will be able to log everything, even the more uncommon ones like kite surfing and hunting.

Hiking and trail-running profiles#

As this is an open-air watch, the hiking and running trail features are what take center stage. As this Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 monitor records 3D distance and elevations flawlessly, your trail data becomes very accurate. It is even capable of smart trajectory correction during track runs.

Running metrics#

If you want to get your strides in shape, then the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 has the advanced metrics for that. Thanks to support for external devices such as heart rate monitors and running power meters, you get access to very technical information. This means that there are plenty of numbers to analyze.

Workout tracking#

For everyday gym-goers, the workout tracking is solid. Because the watch features smart recognition for 25 different strength training movements, it can automatically log your reps and sets. However, I did find myself needing to manually correct a few exercises occasionally.

Training load analysis#

As mentioned earlier, the training load analysis helps you balance your efforts. Because the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 syncs this data smoothly, you get a clear graph of your weekly exertion levels. Therefore, you can avoid hitting a fitness plateau.

Zepp Coach#

If you need guidance, the Zepp Coach acts as an AI-driven personal trainer. Because it uses your historical data, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 generates custom workout templates directly on your wrist. As a result, you do not have to guess what you should be doing at the gym today.

Recovery recommendations#

The watch does not just tell you to work out, it also tells you when to stop. Because the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 recovery recommendations are dynamically updated, you get personalized advice based on how hard you pushed during your last session.

Performance insights#

During a run, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 provides real-time performance insights. Because it broadcasts your sports data live on the screen, you can easily check if you are hitting your target pace without fumbling through menus.

Outdoor activity tracking#

Ultimately, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 truly excels at general outdoor activity tracking. Because of the built-in flashlight and robust weather resistance, tracking a multi-day camping trip feels incredibly natural and secure.

GPS and Navigation: Can You Rely on It During Outdoor Adventures?#

For someone who love trekking, having reliable navigation becomes a top priority. Due to such necessity, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is made to have dual-band GPS and 6-satellite positioning systems. But maybe there is some misunderstanding regarding dual-band. It is nothing but that the watch uses two satellite frequency bands at once called L1 and L5. So, due to such a technical advancement, the watch is able to connect its signal even through very dense tree canopies and rocky canyons where other old-fashioned watches are not able to navigate. Such technology is widely advertised by Amazfit company and being an explorer myself who spends a lot of time in forest, I wanted to see if this watch is really good in this respect. In terms of using this smartwatch feature, I can tell that this watch maps my hiking path exactly how it was in reality without any strange zig-zags at the end. Moreover, due to the usage of 6 global positioning systems such as standard GPS, GLONASS and Galileo simultaneously, the watch quickly finds your location in any part of the world.

Apart from helping you determine your position, the watch is equipped with full-color pre-loaded base maps. This is because of its large storage capacity of 64GB that enables downloading of huge, highly detailed topographic maps in offline mode via Wi-Fi. You will always be aware of your exact environment, regardless of whether your phone lacks cellular service. While on my trail runs, the navigation tools gave me superb turn by turn directions. It became quite easy for me to find my way back with the help of the track-back feature.

Nevertheless, I have noticed one real disadvantage while using the screen. In particular, while zooming into or from the offline maps, there is a slight lag in rendering, which only takes milliseconds. Due to the fact that the processor works a little worse with map graphics, you will definitely see a stuttering effect while scrolling through it. If you are an impulsive user who needs superfast loading of maps, it is better not to choose this smartwatch as it has inferior performance in comparison with the more expensive Garmin watches, especially when it comes to map scrolling. Despite the fact that there is a problem with screen lags, the GPS accuracy of this model is absolutely fantastic. Also, GPS power consumption of the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is excellent. Thanks to the highly efficient multi-band GPS chip, you can use this device even during long weekend hiking trips without carrying power banks in your backpack.

Battery Life: Can It Really Last 30 Days?#

Battery anxiety is something that we all face with the current level of advancement in technology, but the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2’s battery is an entirely new experience. This is because Amazfit managed to stuff an 870 mAh battery into this wearable. To be more precise, Amazfit claims that this watch offers up to 30 days of battery life under normal conditions. From my own experience wearing it, it seems that weeks passed before I even considered charging it.

As for the GPS tracking capabilities, those numbers are equally striking. Being accustomed to the fact that continuous navigation drains the battery, I found it hard to believe. Nevertheless, Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 offers up to 50 hours of precise GPS usage. Trying out this particular smartwatch, I received the following results: tracking an exhausting hike that lasted about six hours did not even drain the battery percentage to any considerable extent. Indeed, in case you turn on the maximum battery life GPS usage, it will last for an absolutely insane amount of 177 hours. This means that comparing to recharging a common smartwatch every night, the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 is definitely worth considering.

Software and Smartwatch Features: What Does Zepp OS Offer?#

Hardware is just one piece of the puzzle, the software matters just as much. The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 features Zepp OS software for this reason. Due to the clean layout and logical structure of the interface, moving between different menu options becomes an easy task. Additionally, the Zepp App will help you monitor all of your health metrics via your phone. As a result, syncing data and reviewing workout summaries is very intuitive. 

As far as features of the smartwatch, Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 also takes care of notifications from smartphones pretty well. Due to its support for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2 technologies, the connection with my smartphone was quite solid. Moreover, basic personalization of the smartwatch and the capability to connect it to third-party services, such as Strava and Apple Health, are available as well. However, there is one negative thing to mention in regards to this smartwatch. Due to the fact that Zepp software stack is still quite young and fresh, the number of supported smartwatch applications is relatively low. Should you seek for the maximum amount of third-party applications on your smartwatch, then choosing this one in favor of Apple and Google will be much better. To learn more about this smartwatch software performance compared to others, see our Amazfit vs Garmin Ecosystem comparison.

Who Should Buy Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2?#

You should buy Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 if:

• You do regular hiking, trekking and/or trail running.
• You require offline maps and route planning on the watch.
• You want an AMOLED screen for better visibility.
• You have a requirement for long-lasting GPS battery life.
• You like high-end material and sapphire glass.
• You enjoy various sports and fitness exercises.
• You need environment features and a flashlight.

Who Should Avoid Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2?#

You should avoid Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 if:

• You favor slim and light smartwatches.
• You want a more customizable experience for your music application.
• You need independently verified GPS and heart rate tracking.
• You require a well-established outdoor training platform.
• You are unwilling to pay $549.99 before you know its real capabilities.

Wrap Up#

The Amazfit T-Rex Ultra 2 has a lot to offer if you enjoy outdoor adventures and want a smartwatch that can keep up with your activities. I like its rugged design, bright display and range of fitness features, but its large size and software limitations are worth considering. At $549.99, it isn’t an easy purchase, but if Amazfit’s outdoor features match what you need, the T-Rex Ultra 2 could be a watch worth considering.