Comparing T-Rex and Vivoactive 3
Amazfit T-Rex and Garmin Vivoactive 3 are two popular wearable devices in the market, known for their advanced features and stylish designs. Choosing the right watch is essential for meeting your fitness, health, and daily life requirements.
Launched in 2019, the Amazfit T-Rex is a rugged fitness watch designed for outdoor enthusiasts. Amazfit, a sub-brand of Huami, has emerged as a reputable name in the smartwatch industry with its diverse range of feature-packed watches. On the other hand, Garmin Vivoactive 3, released in 2017, comes from a well-established brand, Garmin, which is highly renowned for its GPS technology and navigation products. This versatile GPS smartwatch offers many features targeted towards an active lifestyle.
In this article, we will delve deep into the comparative analysis of the Amazfit T-Rex and Garmin Vivoactive 3 in terms of design, features, user experience, price, and overall value for money.
Design and Build
Amazfit T-Rex
The Amazfit T-Rex has a rugged build, featuring a mix of materials such as high-strength polymer and stainless-steel buttons. It weighs 58 grams and has a 1.3-inch color AMOLED display with a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels. The screen offers excellent visibility even under direct sunlight, thanks to its anti-fingerprint coating and adaptive brightness.
Garmin Vivoactive 3
Garmin Vivoactive 3 comes in a sleek and compact design. Its circular frame is made from a combination of stainless steel and fiber-reinforced polymer, weighing around 43 grams. The 1.2-inch color MIP display has a 240 x 240 pixels resolution and offers good readability in various lighting conditions.
Comparison of Design and Build Quality
The most notable difference between the two devices is their design aspects: the T-Rex’s robust, military-inspired construction contrasts with Vivoactive 3's elegant and minimalist appearance. Both devices share some similarities, such as 5 ATM water resistance which means they are suitable for swimming and can withstand water pressure up to 50 meters. However, given the T-Rex’s bigger body and heavier weight, some individuals may find the Vivoactive 3 a more comfortable wearable option.
Features and Functionality
Amazfit T-Rex
Amazfit T-Rex runs on a proprietary operating system and offers a wide range of activity tracking features, like steps, distance, heart rate, sleep, swimming, and cycling. The battery life extends for an impressive 20 days, providing you ample time between recharges. Its other notable features include GPS, Bluetooth, and a robust set of sensors such as accelerometer and barometer.
Garmin Vivoactive 3
Garmin Vivoactive 3 boasts a powerful set of features suitable for various fitness and daily life activities. You can keep track of steps, distance, heart rate, sleep, cycling, and swimming, among others. The device supports Garmin Connect and offers a battery life of upto 7 days. It comes equipped with GPS, Bluetooth, customizable widgets, and access to the Connect IQ store for downloading apps.
Comparison of Features and Performance
Both devices share several similarities, like their abilities to track various fitness metrics and compatibility with Android and iOS smartphones. However, the most significant difference between the two is their battery life: the Amazfit T-Rex offers an impressive 20-day battery life compared to the 7-day life of the Garmin Vivoactive 3. Overall, choosing between the two boils down to an individual user’s preferences and specific requirements.
User Interface and User Experience
Amazfit T-Rex
The Amazfit T-Rex features a touchscreen display for smooth navigation and offers limited customization options. It can display notifications for calls, texts, and emails from your connected smartphone, but it does not support any additional apps or third-party integrations.
Garmin Vivoactive 3
Garmin Vivoactive 3 comes with excellent navigation through its responsive touch display and side swipe control. It allows for a high degree of personalization, letting you change watch faces, widgets, and download additional apps from Connect IQ. It also supports notifications for calls, texts, and emails.
Comparison of User Interface and User Experience
While both T-Rex and Vivoactive 3 feature touchscreen displays and support smartphone notifications, Garmin Vivoactive 3 has a slight edge in terms of customization and additional features. The availability of Connect IQ apps and extensive customization options makes Vivoactive 3 a more versatile watch in terms of user experience.
Price and Value
Amazfit T-Rex
Amazfit T-Rex is priced at $140, offering a solid list of features like fitness tracking, notifications, and an outstanding battery life. This makes it excellent value for money, especially for those on a budget or looking for a rugged, outdoor-centric watch.
Garmin Vivoactive 3
Garmin Vivoactive 3 is available at $299, making it almost double the price of the Amazfit T-Rex. However, the additional features, Connect IQ support, and reputation of the Garmin brand justify the higher price for those seeking a versatile and customizable smartwatch.
Comparison of Price and Value
Both devices offer their unique set of advantages, with T-Rex providing excellent value for money, exceptional battery life, and rugged design at a lower price. In contrast, Vivoactive 3 brings a more elegant design, additional features, and customization options but at a higher cost.
Conclusion
The choice between Amazfit T-Rex and Garmin Vivoactive 3 depends on the user’s priorities and budget. If you seek a rugged, outdoor watch with a long battery life and essential features at an affordable price, Amazfit T-Rex is the way to go. However, if you value customization, additional features, and an elegant design while not minding paying a higher price, Garmin Vivoactive 3 is an ideal choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which device has a longer battery life?
Amazfit T-Rex has a longer battery life, lasting up to 20 days, while Garmin Vivoactive 3 has a battery life of up to 7 days.
Do both devices support notifications for calls, texts, and emails?
Yes, both Amazfit T-Rex and Garmin Vivoactive 3 can display notifications for calls, texts, and emails when connected to your smartphone.
Are both watches compatible with Android and iOS smartphones?
Yes, both Amazfit T-Rex and Garmin Vivoactive 3 are compatible with Android and iOS devices.
Can I swim with Amazfit T-Rex and Garmin Vivoactive 3?
Yes, both devices have a water resistance rating of 5 ATM, which means they can withstand water pressure up to 50 meters and are suitable for swimming.
Do both watches offer GPS functionality?
Yes, both Amazfit T-Rex and Garmin Vivoactive 3 come equipped with GPS for precise tracking of your activities.
