Why Amazfit GTR 4 Beats Fitbit for Budget Runners

You do not need to spend £400 to get a genuinely capable GPS smartwatch. The premium wearable market would have you believe otherwise, but the Amazfit GTR 4 exists to prove that narrative wrong. We tested the Amazfit GTR 4 for eight weeks across road runs, gym sessions, late-night sleep tracking and daily commutes — and the results are more impressive than the price tag suggests. This Amazfit GTR 4 review covers everything: GPS accuracy, battery life, health tracking, the companion app, and exactly who should (and should not) buy one. No fluff, no sponsored gloss.

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⚡ Last tested: April 2026  |  Independent review — not sponsored

What Is Amazfit GTR 4?

The Amazfit GTR 4 is a feature-rich GPS smartwatch made by Zepp Health (formerly Huami), a Shanghai-based wearables company with over a decade of manufacturing experience and hundreds of millions of devices shipped globally. Zepp Health supplies hardware components to major brands, which gives them genuine technical credibility at a fraction of the retail mark-up you’d pay for a Garmin or Apple Watch.

The GTR 4 is a round-faced smartwatch with a 1.43-inch AMOLED display, aimed squarely at fitness enthusiasts who want serious sports tracking capabilities without crossing the £200 threshold. It tracks over 150 sports modes, includes dual-band GPS (L1 + L5), continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen (SpO2) saturation, stress tracking, and sleep analysis. It also functions as a genuine smartwatch — notifications, music storage, and Alexa built-in are all present.

If you’re comparing wearables across the fitness tracker spectrum, our Fitbit Review: Is the Fitness Tracker Worth It? is a useful companion read to see how the two brands stack up in philosophy and platform depth.

Key Features

Dual-Band GPS (L1 + L5)

This is the headline feature that separates the GTR 4 from cheaper fitness trackers. Dual-band GPS uses two satellite frequencies simultaneously, dramatically improving accuracy in urban environments where buildings cause signal bounce. In our real-world testing through central London and along a suburban 10K route, route mapping was noticeably tighter than a standard single-band GPS watch. Compared to a Garmin Forerunner 55 running alongside it, discrepancies were minor — impressive at this price point.

Battery Life

Amazfit rates the GTR 4 at 14 days in typical smartwatch use and approximately 26 hours in GPS-only mode. In our testing, we achieved 11–12 days with always-on heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking active, and notifications enabled. That is roughly three times longer than a comparable Fitbit Sense 2 or Apple Watch SE. For multi-day hikers or anyone who dislikes nightly charging, this is a genuine competitive advantage.

Health Monitoring Suite

The GTR 4 monitors continuous heart rate, SpO2 (blood oxygen), stress levels (via heart rate variability), skin temperature, and sleep stages including REM. The Zepp app presents these in a clean dashboard with weekly trend graphs. Sleep tracking accuracy was consistent with what we’d expect at this tier — solid for general awareness, though not medical-grade. The stress monitoring feature, while not unique to Amazfit, surfaces useful daily patterns when used over several weeks.

Sports Modes and Connectivity

With 150+ sports modes, the GTR 4 covers everything from open-water swimming (5ATM water resistance) to indoor cycling and yoga. It connects to both Android and iOS, supports Bluetooth 5.0, and includes offline music storage so you can leave your phone at home on runs. Alexa integration works via Wi-Fi for voice queries and smart home control — a feature rarely seen at this price. Third-party integration includes Strava, though live segment tracking requires your phone to be present.

How Amazfit GTR 4 Compares

The GTR 4’s dual-band GPS is a genuine differentiator at this price. The Fitbit Sense 2 costs more yet lacks GPS precision and requires a Fitbit Premium subscription to unlock meaningful health insights. The Garmin Forerunner 55 matches battery life but offers a less vibrant display and no music storage. For the money, the GTR 4 punches well above its weight. If you’re already using Garmin’s ecosystem, our Garmin Connect Review: Is It Worth Using? explains what you’d be giving up by switching platforms.

Pros and Cons

• ✅ Dual-band GPS at a budget price — genuinely uncommon under £160 and noticeably more accurate in cities
• ✅ 14-day battery life — tested and confirmed at 11–12 days with all health tracking active
• ✅ No mandatory subscription — all core features work without paying a monthly fee
• ✅ 150+ sports modes — covers niche activities like indoor rowing, cross-country skiing and open-water swimming
• ✅ Onboard music storage — run without your phone; supports Spotify, Amazon Music and local files via the Zepp app
• ✅ Vivid 1.43-inch AMOLED display — bright, responsive and easily readable in direct sunlight
• ✅ Alexa built-in — functional voice assistant for timers, reminders and smart home control

• ❌ Zepp app is functional but uninspiring — lacks the depth and polish of Garmin Connect or Whoop’s coaching interface
• ❌ Third-party integration is limited — Strava sync works but live tracking, Komoot routing and Training Peaks are absent or restricted
• ❌ No ECG feature — the Fitbit Sense 2 and Apple Watch SE offer ECG; the GTR 4 does not
• ❌ Plastic build on the budget colourways — the aluminium alloy case is solid but the strap and finish feel the price on closer inspection
• ❌ Running dynamics are basic — cadence and pace are tracked but advanced metrics like ground contact time and vertical oscillation require a chest strap

Pricing

The Amazfit GTR 4 is a one-time hardware purchase — there is no subscription required to access its core health and fitness tracking features. At the time of writing, it typically retails between £130 and £160 in the UK depending on the colourway (Superspeed Black, Racetrack Grey and Vintage Brown Leather being the main options). Prices fluctuate across Amazon, Argos, and the official Amazfit store, so it is worth comparing across platforms before purchasing.

When stacked against the competition, the value proposition is strong: the Fitbit Sense 2 typically costs £30–£60 more and then requires a Fitbit Premium subscription (around £7.99/month or £79.99/year) to unlock its most useful health insights. The Garmin Forerunner 55 sits at a similar price but lacks dual-band GPS and music storage. Over 12 months, the GTR 4 could save you over £80 in subscription costs versus the Fitbit ecosystem alone.

For the most up-to-date UK pricing, always check the official Amazfit site directly.

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Who Is Amazfit GTR 4 Best For?

Perfect For:

• Budget-conscious runners — dual-band GPS accuracy at under £160 is genuinely hard to find elsewhere; ideal for 5K to half-marathon training
• Gym-goers who also run outdoors — the blend of 150+ sport modes, heart rate monitoring and GPS suits varied training schedules without needing two devices
• Android users frustrated with Fitbit’s paywall — all core metrics are free, and the Zepp app covers sleep, stress and activity without upselling
• Travellers and outdoor enthusiasts — 14-day battery and 5ATM water resistance mean it handles weekend hikes and international trips without daily charging anxiety
• Casual fitness trackers wanting a stylish daily wear — the round AMOLED face looks far more like a traditional watch than most sports wearables at this price

Not Ideal For:

• Serious marathon or ultra runners — advanced running dynamics, structured training plans and race predictor tools are better served by Garmin’s mid-range or COROS lineup; see our COROS Pace 3 Review: Tested for 8 Weeks on Real Runs
• iPhone power users — Apple Watch integration with iOS is seamless in a way no Android-rooted wearable can fully replicate; if you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem, consider the Apple Watch SE
• Those needing ECG or medical-grade monitoring — the GTR 4 lacks ECG; if heart rhythm alerts are a health priority, the Fitbit Sense 2 or Apple Watch Series is a better fit
• Data obsessives who live in Garmin Connect or Training Peaks — the Zepp platform does not offer the analytical depth that dedicated endurance athletes demand

Our Verdict

The Amazfit GTR 4 is one of the most compelling value-for-money smartwatches available in the UK right now. Dual-band GPS at this price is genuinely exceptional, and the combination of a 14-day battery, subscription-free health tracking, onboard music storage and a crisp AMOLED display makes the competition look either overpriced or underpowered by comparison. The Zepp app is the weakest link — it functions well but lacks the depth and community features that Garmin and even Fitbit offer. If your ecosystem needs are modest and accurate GPS tracking on a budget is the priority, this is an easy recommendation. For elite athletes or deep Apple/Garmin ecosystem users, look elsewhere.

Value for Money	9/10
Features	8/10
Ease of Use	8/10
UK Availability	7/10
Overall	8/10

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Amazfit GTR 4 accurate for GPS tracking?

Yes — the Amazfit GTR 4 uses dual-band GPS (L1 + L5), which is more accurate than the single-band GPS found in most watches at this price. In our real-world testing, route accuracy in urban areas was noticeably better than competitors, with only minor discrepancies compared to a dedicated GPS running watch.

How long does the Amazfit GTR 4 battery last in real use?

Amazfit claims up to 14 days. In our testing with always-on heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking and regular notifications enabled, we consistently achieved 11–12 days between charges. With GPS active for workouts daily, expect closer to 6–8 days — still well ahead of most rivals at this price.

Does the Amazfit GTR 4 work with iPhone?

Yes, the Amazfit GTR 4 is compatible with both Android and iOS via the Zepp app. Core features including health tracking, notifications and GPS workouts all function on iPhone. However, deep iOS integration — such as seamless Apple Health sync and Siri support — is not available, so it works best as a standalone tracker rather than an Apple ecosystem extension.

Does the Amazfit GTR 4 require a monthly subscription?

No. Unlike Fitbit, which gates many of its most useful health insights behind a Fitbit Premium subscription, the Amazfit GTR 4 provides full access to all health and fitness data through the free Zepp app. There are no hidden costs beyond the one-time hardware purchase price.

How does the Amazfit GTR 4 compare to the Garmin Forerunner 55?

The GTR 4 typically costs less, offers a better display, dual-band GPS, onboard music storage and more sports modes. The Garmin Forerunner 55 counters with a more mature training ecosystem, deeper Garmin Connect analytics and better third-party integrations. For casual to intermediate runners, the GTR 4 offers more hardware for less money. For serious athletes, Garmin’s ecosystem depth is worth the premium.