Amazfit Bip review: One peculiar week with a $99 smartwatch

Enlarge (credit: Valentina Palladino)

I didn't know what to expect from a $99 smartwatch. I certainly didn't expect a GPS or a heart rate monitor. I also didn't expect it to look much different from a traditional fitness tracker, since those devices come in closer to the $99 price point than most smartwatches available today.

Amazfit Bip

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Price: $99.99 at Amazon

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But the Amazfit Bip challenges even the lowest of expectations about what an affordable smartwatch might be. It promises a full smartwatch experience, including features like a heart rate monitor, onboard GPS, a touchscreen, multiple watch faces, full smartphone connectivity, and up to 45 days of battery life-all at the nearly unbeatable price of just $99. Its elevator pitch will be enticing to those searching for a comprehensive wearable that won't set them back hundreds of dollars, like most Android Wear, Tizen, and watchOS devices will.

But after spending a little over a week with the Amazfit Bip, it's clear that this affordable smartwatch doesn't come without compromises. While it does offer a lot wrapped into its $99 price tag, the experience of wearing the Bip day in and day out isn't as polished as that of other popular smartwatches.

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