Amazfit T-Rex 3 GPS Watch Review

Bottom Line

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is an affordable, rugged smartwatch that punches well above its weight. It offers accurate GPS tracking, a crisp AMOLED touchscreen, and solid battery life.

It has extensive sports modes for almost every activity, from chess playing to square dancing, paragliding to cross-country skiing. The physical buttons make it easier to use during workouts, and the offline TOPO maps with turn-by-turn navigation are impressive for a watch of this price point. 

Because of its price, the T-Rex comes with some quirks. The heart rate accuracy can be inconsistent, and while GPS routes are supported, syncing with third-party platforms can be clunky and slow. The gesture-based screen wake-up is sluggish, and the mapping interface can be finicky when panning. Additionally, loading GPX routes is cumbersome, and the app as a whole can be fussy and prone to crashing.

Despite these drawbacks, the T-Rex 3 is a fantastic value and why it is one of our best GPS watches of the year. It’s extremely durable, weather-resistant, and has the largest display size of any watch in our lineup. If you want a durable adventure watch with basic smart features and solid fitness tracking, it’s a budget-friendly option with premium features.

How We Tested

We ran, walked, skied, and kicked rocks, visiting mountains, valleys, fields, and forests. All this was done to give you an honest and thorough review of the Amazfit T-Rex 3. We also ran it down to empty to see how its battery life actually performed. In other words, we wore it and wore it down to give you better confidence in your next big purchase.

Accuracy

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 delivers solid GPS accuracy, holding its own against pricier competitors. Whether navigating twisty trails or city streets, the dual-frequency GNSS is reliable, even in trickier environments like mountain valleys and dense forests. The watch must be connected to the app once a week to update satellite information(the accuracy suffers otherwise). The T-Rex also takes longer to connect to satellites than other watches in our lineup, but that did not impact its accuracy.

Heart rate accuracy can be a mixed bag. We found that at times, it was suspiciously consistent or did not match pace and output while running. If precise HR data is crucial to your training, we suggest pairing the T-Rex 3 with an external strap. Overall, the T-Rex 3 nails the essentials for casual adventurers and fitness enthusiasts, but serious athletes might notice the gaps when pushing the limits.

Battery Life

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 has an impressive battery life, making it a great contender for those who don’t want to be restricted by access to a charger. 

In standard smartwatch mode, it’s marketed as lasting upwards of 27 days. We tracked workouts, hikes, and daily activities for nearly two weeks without having to charge. With upwards of 40 hours of tracking in Accurate GPS mode and 180 hours in max GPS mode, the T-Rex 3 can keep tracking during multi-day expeditions​. Compared to pricier competitors, the T-Rex 3’s battery longevity pleasantly surprised us.

Comfort & Wearability

There’s no getting around it, the Amazfit T-Rex 3 is a large and bulky watch. Its 1.5-inch display is the largest in our lineup. It has an extremely large outer case and is noticeably heavy at 67 grams. The watch strap is stiff, and it gets sweaty while exercising. 

When tightened down for the optical heart rate monitor to read accurately, the strap dug into our skin uncomfortably. We don’t like wearing the T-Rex for multiple hours at a time, and it is not the best fit for those with slender wrists. If you prefer large, tactically built, heavy-duty watches, the T-Rex 3 is a good option.

Features

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 comes with a dizzying array of features. With over 170 different activity types ranging from chess to square dancing, a wide variety of options is available to track your stats no matter the sport. 

However, this many different activity types felt like a little too much, so we had to narrow the options to our favorite sports. Its offline maps and a well-designed compass are great for venturing off the beaten track. The T-Rex 3 also tracks a number of different wellness metrics, like sleep, heart rate, and recovery. Music, weather forecasts, and AI coaching are all available by pairing with the app.

Ease of Use

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is not the most user-friendly watch out there. We sometimes get lost in the menus and struggle to remember how to navigate to specific features. With so many different options, it can be overwhelming by the sheer quantity of features available.

Waking up the watch with a gesture works sporadically and often requires exaggerated movements to wake it up. The app is also somewhat finicky to use. Pairing with third-party apps like Strava is laggy, and the app is prone to crashing. The data analytics are hard to understand, and the app as a whole has a confusing, if unique layout.

While the T-Rex 3 comes at a price point perfect for beginners, it requires a person who has a knack for tech to navigate and manipulate. While we don’t recommend this watch to those less tech-savvy, those dedicated to learning its interface will unlock a wide range of features available.

Should You Buy the Amazfit T-Rex 3 GPS Watch?

The Amazfit T-Rex 3 is perfect for those who want a premium watch without the premium price tag. For a watch under $300, it offers impressive features and capabilities. While not a brand many will recognize, it’s sure to shake up the watch market with its incredible battery life and strong backcountry capabilities.

However, it doesn’t come without some drawbacks. It is exceptionally heavy, bulky, and uncomfortable to wear for long periods. Due to its large display and case size, those with thicker wrists will fit this watch better. Its companion app is also glitchy and takes an extended time to get to know. Despite these shortcomings, the T-Rex 3 is a great budget watch that punches far above its price.

What Other Watches Should You Consider?

Here’s a few options that are a little more expensive but you get a better user experience from our guide to the best GPS watches:

Garmin Instinct 2 Solar Review: Similarly robust with a burly outer case, the Insinct 2 Solar is lighter with a smaller screen and a longer battery life.

Coros Apex 2 Pro Review: Also outfitted with offline maps, the Apex 2 Pro is another great option for backcountry trips with long periods between charges.

Coros Pace 3 Review: A slightly less expensive watch with a similar battery life, the Pace 3 is much smaller and more comfortable to wear for long periods of time.