You know that, right? Two outings, the watch is already dying. Cluttered menus, faltering cardio, capricious GPS. In short: we want something reliable, not a shiny gadget. And we don't want to pay a minimum wage for that.

In Brief

• For whom? Regular runner (road/light trail) who wants real autonomy, decent GPS, serious wrist cardio, without being locked into an overpriced ecosystem.
• Why her? Sharp screen, usable crown, music storage, Bluetooth calls, Zepp OS smooth enough. And a battery that holds up.
• Real autonomy : 9–11 days in mixed use; ~30–35 h in continuous GPS; 4–5 days with AOD + heavy notifications. Eco mode: up to “a good month” if you cut almost everything (yes, it happens).
• GPS & sports : single-band multi-constellation (GPS/GLONASS/Galileo/BDS/QZSS); clean tracks in “open” towns and on clear paths; a bit of zig-zag in dense forest. It's still fair at this price.
• The click : you run, she follows, without babysitting. And in the evening, Strava/Apple Health/Google Fit sync via Zepp, period.
• The trap : search for apps “like on an Apple Watch”. That's a bad idea.
• Quick verdict : at the current price, it is the most consistent “autonomy + sport” option in the mid-range.

See the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro price and reviews on Amazon

The “yes” of comfort: your real need

You want a watch that lasts two weeks when you train 3–4 times, with 1 hour outings, monitored sleep, useful notifications. You also want a GPS that doesn't ruin your pace and a credible wrist cardio for endurance (in intervals, it depends: no wrist is perfect). If you're starting out or resuming, read Amazfit or Fitbit for true motivated beginners: it sets the scene.

Autonomy: real figures vs promises

Builder theory : ~12 days “typical”, ~6 days intense use, ~30 days in economy mode, ~35 hours of continuous GPS. In practice, our field scenarios work quite well if we don't leave the screen always on and we don't spam the notifications.

Measured scenarios (mixed use “normal” runner)

• Daily sports use (3 runs/week, 60–75 min, GPS 1 sec, HR 24/7, nocturnal SpO₂, moderate notifications, AOD OFF): 9–11 days.
• Heavy duty (AOD ON, 4–5 outputs, local music 2 × 45 min via BT, notifications + alarms): 4–5 days.
• Continuous GPS (light trail, screen off, minimal guidance): ~30–33 p.m. observed, in line with the promise.
• Eco Fashion (HR disabled, no AOD, few notifications): we flirt with “the month”. Not sexy, but useful when traveling.

Simple translation: autonomy = serenity. Fewer chargers, less mental load. (Yes, it's stupid, but true.)

GPS & sports tracking: the essentials hold up

The GTR 3 Pro features a Single-band GNSS multi-constellations. No dual band here: we accept it. On clear asphalt or open paths, the tracks are clean. In the dense forest, it undulates a little; in urban canyons, a few jumps — nothing dramatic for threshold paces.

Field session : Marcadau Valley → Refuge Wallon-Marcadau (Cauterets, 1,865 m). Loop 16 km / +452 m D+ / –452 m, endurance pace. Distance gap vs IGN: ~+0.3%; pace smoothing stable ; height difference coherent (baro OK). In short: reliable for training, not for meter mapping.

Wrist cardio: good continuously, room for improvement on sharp accelerations (classic). With this profile, reread Choosing a watch according to your real profile to fit your expectations.

See the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro price and reviews on Amazon

Physical ergonomics: crown, haptics, comfort

There rotating crown does the job: fast navigation, clear haptic feedback, useful when fingers are wet. Detail: the rotation does not always validate the action (you touch the screen to “click”). Not prohibitive, just… sometimes frustrating. The second button? Practical, configurable sports shortcut. It exudes seriousness without boasting.

Bracelet 22mm standard, easy to change. The original one: comfortable, but a little “flat” in feeling — we happily replace it with a fabric or FKM if you sweat a lot.

Ecosystem: Zepp OS, apps, connectivity

Zepp OS is fluid, sober. The store remains limited (no native Spotify, no Strava app). But : synchronization with Strava, Apple Health, Google Fit is done via the Zepp app — simple and reliable. You throw, it pushes, finished. If you're on the iPhone side, look at iPhone-compatible connected watches to favor today for the ecosystem.

On the “Pro” side, you have speaker + microphone (Bluetooth calls), ~2.3 GB for the offline musicand a beautiful 1.45" AMOLED screen (readable in direct sunlight). No NFC payment with us: zero tap-to-pay. Frankly, we live without it.

“Pro”: what does it change vs GTR 3 and GTR 2?

Facing the GTR 3 (standard)

• Screen larger (1.45" vs 1.39"), top visibility.
• Audio : the Pro has speaker + microphone → BT calls; the standard no.
• Music : 2.3 GB on Pro (local music), nothing on the standard.
• Autonomy : the GTR 3 “holds” a little more as a pure watch; in sport, it’s kif-kif.

Compared to the GTR 2 (previous generation)

• Sensors : BioTracker 3.0 + Zepp OS more responsive than the old couple (better cardio/sleep consistency).
• GPS : improved stability, especially on open roads.
• Screen : larger, brighter, readable in the middle of summer (and it's pleasant).

Do you want “cheap but solid”? See also our Alternatives to the Apple Watch to really avoid so as not to screw up.

See the Amazfit GTR 3 Pro price and reviews on Amazon

Yes, logical: what really matters on a daily basis

• Readability : sober dials, useful complications, AOD if you want (at the cost of the battery, logically).
• Sports launch : one button, fast GPS lock, clear data pages (customizable). You're leaving, period.
• Recovery : HRV, sleep score correct, trends readable. It's not a lab, but it's enough to self-regulate.
• Synchronization : Zepp → Strava/Health/Fit without hacking. That's what we're asking.

Yes to membership: profiles who will love it

Runner 2–4 sessions/week10 km → semi, who wants a Good GPS, serious cardio endurance, autonomy and no hassle. Do you do a bit of cycling/gravel? It's happening. Do you want music without a phone? It's in there, and it changes long sessions.

Avoid if : you want contactless paymentof the rich apps (Native Spotify, Maps, etc.), or the offline turn-by-turn navigation advanced. There, we switch to other ranges — and other budgets.

Shopping experience

The GTR 3 Pro is often found on sale. Aim for the leather/silicone strap versions depending on your use (sport → silicone, city → leather + an FKM at €15 for training). Check the availability of parts (22 mm bracelets everywhere). If you're on the iPhone side and you're hesitant, check out the iPhone-compatible connected watches to choose today before deciding.

Clear recap

• We love : real autonomy 9–11 days; ~30–35 h of continuous GPS; readable screen; effective crown; simple Strava/Health/Fit sync; local music + BT calls.
• We tolerate : haptic which does not validate everything (screen tap); app-store minimized.
• We know : no NFC, no premium apps. So what? The heart of the need is covered.
• For whom : regular runners, 10 km to marathon, who want the price/performance balance.

Big final “yes”

You wanted to run without monitoring your battery. You wanted a clean track, decent cardio, and no hassle with apps. The GTR 3 Pro ticks all that. Not perfect, but terribly coherent. So yes, this model is attractive – and we understand why.

Credits

Author : David Deteve — field tester, L’Swiss Made Watch.

Test location/ground : Marcadau Valley → Wallon-Marcadau Refuge (Cauterets, Pyrenees — lat 42.820 / long -0.195), plus Toulouse urban exits for the GNSS signal.

Method : 60–75 min outings (road/light trail), 1 s GNSS recording, HR 24/7, nighttime SpO₂, AOD ON/OFF depending on scenarios, comparison of elevation vs IGN. Useful sample, not a clinical study.