Español The Amazfit Stratos 3 is one of the latest models that have reached the Huami watch range that, in the last year, is growing totally exaggerated. Amazfit now has a lot of watches like the GTS, GTR, Verge... but the Stratos range continues to be the model for sports practice.
The Stratos 3 is the direct renewal of the Stratos (or Stratos 2, depending on the market), a model that has already stood out in the past for its good price/performance ratio, something that has attracted the attention of hundreds of users.
The recipe remains the same. The Stratos 3 is very similar to the previous model and offers features like barometric altimeter, Firstbeat metrics, music playback, etc., but now it has changed the optical heart rate sensor to a new and more capable one in addition to renewing the user interface.
I spent a few weeks using the Amazfit Stratos 3 on a regular basis. This time I borrowed the watch from one of the readers of the page (thank you very much Aaron!) , which will return to its rightful owner as soon as I finish the test and review and click on the post button.
Remember that if you want to help the site by making these reviews possible, you can do so by purchasing through the links I provide. It won't cost you any more than you normally would pay, but the seller will allocate a small percentage, which is what pays for the work I do.
I'm going to do a quick review of the watch telling you what's going on like in the Stratos 2 and what has changed, and I will go directly to see how sensors behave now, which was my main criticism of the previous model.
Content
Amazfit Stratos 3
Overall operation - 8
Training possibilities - 8
Platform and applications - 6.5
Autonomy - 9
Finish and comfort - 7.5
Price/performance ratio - 9
8
TOTAL
Externally, it may seem that the renewal of the Amazfit Stratos 3 has been subtle, more in terms of aesthetics than in terms of features themselves. However, the main news are those we find in the inside, improving what didn't work in the previous model.
The good
- Internal sensors working well
- Low price
- Newer and better UI
The bad
- Despite the renewal in the interface, it still has some somewhat chaotic submenu
- Training tracking platform somewhat limited
- Some translations needs a review
- NFC not working outside China
A quick view of the Amazfit Stratos 3
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Amazfit Stratos 3
At first glance there are not many differences with the Amazfit Stratos that I reviewed in 2018. The watch bezel has a different design, but what is most remarkable is that we go from the three buttons in the previous model to a 2+2, in which between the two main buttons we can find a double button to move up and down on the screens and menus.
Huami has preferred such a design to save costs, moving away from a somewhat more complicated design such as a crown similar to that of Apple Watch or COROS APEX Pro.
The watch case is still made of polycarbonate with carbon fiber look, something I did not like from the previous model and still disliking in the new one. The silicone strap is better to the touch and more comfortable than the previous model.
The quality of construction is good and highlights the use of quality materials despite the watch price. Ceramic bezel, steel buttons, glass lens... touching it gives the feeling of being a quality product, perhaps not like a Fenix 6 or an Apple Watch, but it is of higher quality than its low price can make us suppose at first.
The screen is touch enabled and allows you to handle the user interface in the same way as the buttons. An interface that has been redesigned and is now easier to use, taking advantage of the touch screen perfectly.
Sliding from left to right we access the phone notifications and from right to left the "applications" menu of the watch. The same menu can also be accessed by pressing the lower button.
They are not applications as such, nor does the watch allow you to install new applications. These are simply functions that we have that, instead of being displayed by a series of menus and submenus, they are sorted in the form of icons.
Sliding from top to bottom we find widgets, small information screens with details such as barometric pressure and altitude, sleep status, training status, etc.
It is add or remove widgets, as well as enable or disable them, all from the mobile app settings.
Regarding this, the Stratos 3 significantly improves the previous model, whose menu was somewhat more chaotic in terms of its displacement.
Where there are not many changes is in the sports performance or in the settings of the sports profile. On the latter there are two adjustments that we need to take into account. One of them is in the sports profile options on the watch, where you need to select how many data you want on each screen, from three to five (in Stratos 2 we could reach up to six).
This selection will apply to all data screens, which means that if you select three, all screens will have three. You can't have one with four, one with five, etc. What you can do is have three data screens on cycling and four data for running, for example.
The second configuration we need to make is to select which data we are interested in viewing on the screen. We can access the full list and select which one will be active or not (right column) and the order in which they will appear (left column).
Here you need to count data fields and remember the selection you made on the watch, so that you order them in the position that interests you. So you might have to add some data to take an empty space if you want your other data shown in an exact spot.
The data field number to be displayed are not the only settings that have to be configured on the watch, there are other settings that can be configured within each sport profile and independently for each of them. These are the same settings we had in Stratos 2:
- Autolap (pretty obvious)
- Alerts:Lap warning, heart rate warning (by zone or by number) or pace
- Real-time metrics:The Heart Rate Monitor adds an additional display where it only shows a heart rate or pace indicator along with a graph (only if the display is unlocked)
- 3D data:For training or races where you will encounter a steep incline and horizontal movement is not "standard". Moving at a certain speed on a 20% slope does not cover the same distance as on the flat, so the watch will adjust the speed to provide a more accurate data, taking into account the hills. However, only use it in situations where you will actually have a significant drops
- Background color:black or white
From the app we can also create full intervals. It is not difficult to create them, although it needs a period of adaptation because it is not explained too clearly and the translations do not help either.
You can configure different intervals by distance or time, and also free interval until you press the lap button, adding a rest period and making that repeat as many times as you want. Within each interval we can select pace or heart rate.
It is also possible to alternate different intervals, for example a 4×400 with rests and then a 4×800. Simply add items to the list and mark them to repeat them.
In this mode the data screens are specific (not customizable) and do not present much information, although actually receiving the warnings if we are outside the desired range is more than enough.
Amazfit Stratos 3 features the same algorithms licensed from Firstbeat than Stratos 2. Huami has not taken the opportunity to incorporate any of the latest developments of Firstbeat or to expand with previously created algorithms.
It stands out the custom training plans. These workouts are available in the running profile, and allows us to choose between the recommended training for the day (which varies depending on the training load) or to select some other training target.
The Stratos 2 already had this. It is a similar concept to that of some Suunto, but not as advanced as the Polar proposal in the Ignite and Vantage. My criticism remains the same as in the past, it is an option that is buried in the settings menu of the sport profile rather than being part of the main functions of the watch.
Everything is based in TE (Training Effect) and depends on other variables, such as the estimated Running VO2Max , the recovery timefrom your past training history. That is, it is not a pre-determined plan but rather one that adapts as it learns from your training habits.
What has changed is the optical heart rate sensor. Huami has left behind the sensor of the Mi Band 3 (really bad) and replaced it with another one that just at first glance already looks rather better.
The sensor on the left is the new one on Stratos 3, the one on the right is the old one on Stratos.
Later I will go into detail into the operation of the optical sensor.
The training summary is the same as before, with an overwhelming amount of data. Numbers, charts, bar diagrams, etc.
Which is pretty much the same as the app shows after syncing the activity.
The amount of data displayed by the application is correct, and the platform provides basic information such as cumulative training load (in EPOC values) and an estimate of VO2max. It is not too much, but it will be more than enough for the vast majority of users.
Huami still does not make it easy to access the worktout file from the app or share it to another party beyond Strava. You have to scroll to the end of the activity summary and click on the export option.
After doing so, it will be visible in the memory of the watch (because otherwise, it would not be visible).
The app only lets you sync with Strava, but I didn't get it to work properly. As much as I linked my account through the Amazfit app, I've never seen a file sent to my Strava account. And I set it up with a different account than usual, to make sure there was no strange incident.
I won't get tired of demanding that the manufacturers give us easy access to the workout file. These are our trainings and workouts, we must be the owners of these files and we must be able to do with them what we deem appropriate. That file is necessary because maybe we will want to use it for for training platforms such as TrainingPeaks or Golden Cheetah, create a route, share it with a coach... whatever, but it must be within the user's reach.
I can think of a thousand simpler ways to be able to access that file instead of the one that's implemented in the Amazfit Stratos 3. But well, at least we have a chance to do it.
I also do not like that the platform does not save very old workouts. Without going further, I don't have available the old workouts I did in the past with Stratos 2, they don't appear in my account.
Route navigation has not undergone any changes. The watch supports GPX files, which you can download from Wikiloc or create with any compatible tool. Once uploaded to the watch's memory, you can access it from the sports profile options.
Route tracking options are very simple, there is no turn alert or route exit warning. On screen we will simply have the breadcrumb route that we must follow.
I also miss a screen with a route profile to check altimetry, something that is already being included in many models.
At least the watch has a magnetic compass that allows us to rotate at a standstill and allow the map to rotate with us. As for the zoom it allows a scale between 50m and 5km. Enough for a sporadic route navigation, but if you are going to frequent the mountain it will fall short of features.
Finally there is music playback, something for which there are no changes. We still have 4GB available for our MP3 files, but there is no support for downloading playlists from Spotify, Google Play Music or similar. I mean, very 20th century style.
It's simple and with few options, but at least it's there, which is a pretty important detail for a watch of the price of the Amazfit Stratos 3.
Optical heart rate sensor
The most significant change I've found in Stratos 3 is the new optical heart rate sensor. And I say it's significant because the previous one was really bad. Not that the current one is stellar, but at least it is more in line with the rest of the models on the market, which is of paramount importance to the Firstbeat algorithms I have talked about earlier.
Before I show you comparisons of different sensors, I would like to remind you of some basic aspects of optical sensors.
Keep in mind that a wrist heart rate monitor does not work the same way on all bodies. We're all different, and if we put things in the equation like skin tone, tattoos, body hair... the difference from person to person can be quite big.
In my tests it is not that the spectrum of users is very broad: it is me, myself and I. So what works well for me might not do it for someone else, or it might be better.
But the most important thing to keep in mind is that you have to follow some guidelines to wear the sensor. It should be tight (but not cut off your circulation), enough to keep the watch from moving freely on your wrist, leaving a separation of approximately one finger from the wrist bone. By following these details you will ensure that you get the best results that your conditions can offer.
During the several weeks I have been testing the Amazfit Stratos 3 I have had the opportunity to record many workouts, from which I have selected these that you will see below.
Let's start with something easy, a workout that although it was on hills, it's constant in intensity. There are no major changes and the only notable changes have been to stop waiting to cross some street.
For this test, accompanying the Stratos 3 I had the COROS APEX Pro , Suunto 7, Garmin Forerunner 945 with HRM-Tri sensor and the Polar OH1 + recording autonomously.
At first glance you can see that there is almost total unanimity between the five graphs, but I have pointed out two areas that I want to zoom over.
The first of these is this intensity drop that occurs when I finish climbing one of the hills and start a small descent that ends in a pedestrian crossing, so I'm loosening the pace.
You can see how in the intensity decrease the chest strap is the first to descend (because it is measuring and not estimating). Suunto 7 is closely followed and with a few seconds behind the others come.
Therefore Stratos 3 is around the average, with a very similar behavior to COROS APEX Pro.
This second part, which I pointed out at the beginning, has drawn my attention to the irregularities that have generally been presented by all sensors. It's the only part of the workout that I have no explanation for.
It is a point I reach after running through a flat area and then descending, and then climbing a slope of 12% approximately. Intuition tells me that what altered the optical sensors was the variation in cadence. However, they are not huge differences either, it is simply that you can see how at this point there are things that do not fit together.
Let's go with another similar workout, although this is a flat fartlek, doing some sections faster than others. In the comparison there are the same members as before, except in this case it is the Garmin FR935 the one that is paired to the Garmin sensor and the COROS has dropped.
The start has been very complicated for the Suunto 7, requiring almost 10 minutes to find the right pulse. It is common for the onset of activity to be erratic (in fact Stratos 3 also suffers it), but it does not usually last that long. But once it found the right heart rate, it haven't abandoned it for the rest of the workout.
Again I have pointed out two decreases in intensity, which is the point where optical pulse sensors are always going to have the most complications.
And again the behavior is repeated with respect to what we have seen in the first example, with the Suunto 7 showing almost the same immediacy of response as the chest strap, while both Polar OH1+ and Stratos 3 have needed a second in both the rise and the decrease in intensity.
Now let's go with the most complicated workout that we can put on an optical sensor: short and intense intervals. In this workout the intervals are so short that the sensors hardly have time to increase or decrease the intensity and the cadence changes are very pronounced.
Honestly, I don't expect any optical sensor to be able to track them correctly. Technology is not at that point yet.
There are four blocks of intervals made, I will expand each of them to better appreciate the differences.
The first thing that catches my eye is the bizarre graph in the Suunto 7 grapch. It is a problem of exporting to GPX file and it is not a watch problem, but some platform error. I have already encountered these kinds of errors before when performing Suunto watches reviews.
However, in the app the representation is correct because it has less definition.
Regardless of the irregular nature of the file and what Suunto 7 does, we can pretty much see where it went even though it appears so strangely represented.
In the first block the Stratos 3 does the first two intervals correctly, but in the third it already begins to lose its composure, and does not recover until the complete block is finished. The Suunto 7 on the other hand, leaving aside the wrong points in the GPX file, behaves reasonably well. It does not have too much lag in either the rise or the decrease in intensity.
In the second block the situation is very similar, although here the Stratos 3 does not work in any of the intervals. The Suunto 7 more or less, although it is difficult to assess because of the difficulties presented by the graph.
Third and fourth block is more of the same. In this type of interval the Amazfit Stratos 3 is not at all comfortable but as I said before, it is normal. The technology isn't there yet.
As for cycling there is no surprise, it is mandatory to have an external heart rate sensor if we want to have good heart rate data, there is no other option.
To sum this up, it doesn't have stellar performance, but it's miles away from what the previous model offered. The change of optical sensor is noticeable and now it can be compared with the rest of sports watches.
It's not the best, but not the worst either. There are times when the behavior is perfectly good (constant intensity training or slight changes in pace), and others when we will still need a chest strap (short intervals, cycling); but it is a very similar situation to that we have with any model of Garmin, Polar or Suunto.
GPS Performance
Like the optical sensor tests we have just seen, GPS comparisons are made in the same way: with watches accompanying me in my usual workouts. Carrying both the Amazfit and other models, and checking where the problems appear.
I don't have a defined path to establish a score for the simple reason that there are other external factors that we should never forget. Things like clouds, leaves on the trees or simply the position of the satellite can alter the GPS results from one day to the next.
This is why I prefer to make this type of comparison instead of having a predefined route and assess it from this one.
Let's start with this workout where I compare the result of the Stratos 3 with the tacks of the other two watches I was wearing that day: the Garmin Forerunner 935 and the Suunto 7.
Bird's eye view doesn't seem to show a lot of discrepancies... but we're going to zoom in to see the details better.
In this area I have already passed the first two or three minutes of training and it is totally open, so things should be shown correctly. In general all three watches behave well, with some discrepancy of centimeters up or down, but a good result for all three even in the semi roundabout I pointed out at the most right point.
However, I made another mark on the Suunto 7 track. Until then everything had gone correctly, but at that point there is a small detour of the route. I wouldn't have given it any greater importance if it weren't for what I could see next.
It is something that it repeats again on more occasions. As I say above it is a fully open area (I'm running next to the highway), so there is nothing that can affect the signal. In the meantime, the Stratos 3 -red track- and FR935 -in blue- make a perfectly straight line.
Here things start to get complicated because I enter Puerto Banus and start running between buildings or even below them.
In the first area marked on the left is the Suunto 7 the one that nailed the route, while Stratos 3 changes sidewalk. Here we are already talking about several meters of error, although in general the track is positive because there are no major deviations. That positioning error can be seen in the track, but it won't affect us in terms of total distance or the pace that the watch is showing.
After crossing the roundabout, I make another mark. At that point I pass under trees and balconies of the building so the signal reception is very complicated, especially for the Amazfit Stratos 3 which is the one I carry on my right wrist. At that point it is the Garmin that shows more doubts, while Suunto 7 and Stratos 3 make a rather straight graph.
At the bottom of that picture is the way back I've made on the route. Usually it's always a complicated point, because of the signal that bounces from buildings and running under a row of trees. The three watches behave correctly this time, although you can see a slight shift to the right by the Stratos 3 and to the left by the Suunto 7. The Garmin, which is the one in the center, is the one that shows the correct path.
Let's keep going down the road. At the point I make the turn, bordering a block, the Suunto 7 shows some doubts, but it's worse when crossing the bridge again where it makes a rather strange turn.
The pattern that follows is very similar to the one I pointed out at the beginning when passing through the highway area. Meanwhile the Stratos 3 is very well entrenched on the route.
One of the points that I use the most in the comparisons is this small turn that you can see in the following image. It is a very fast change of direction, as if it were a "chicane", where the road to travel is very narrow and you can quickly see which watch is more successful.
On this occasion it is the Suunto 7 that nailed the turn. The Stratos 3 draws it earlier while the FR935 is late to the party. However, despite how well it was going up to that point, the Suunto 7 deviates slightly further.
Second zone that I like very much for the comparisons is this next one, because of the accused turns and how easy it is to appreciate if there are errors by any of the watches I'm wearing that day.
In the right turn to the entrance to the bridge, I have to save a fence next to the road. To do this, I have to move to the right about two meters and then make a 180 degree turn. It is a twist that both the Garmin and the Stratos 3 have made correctly, but that in the case of the Suunto 7 it has opened too much.
The next conflicting point is the turn ahead (on the left side of the image), where the FR935 shamelessly cropped. For its part, the Stratos 3 cuts a bit of the corner and the Suunto 7 adds an extra meter.
Let's go with a different workout. This time instead of the FR935 is the FR945, and I add the COROS APEX Pro to the equation. The Suunto 7 remains on one of the wrists, because this way I take the opportunity to take data for its own review.
This is the same highway area where the Suunto 7 had behaved strangely in the previous training. However, this time it is not repeated again, so it remains in something testimonial of a single workout.
On the other hand, the Stratos 3 is quite solid, both in the previous graphs and in this one that we have now.
However with turns problems begin. At this point the Stratos 3 arrives quite dislocated and cuts the corner, but because it has already been far behind with the incidence (track in yellow color). Suunto 7 and COROS APEX Pro behave quite well, while the Garmin FR945 is quite lost, something that will be repeated throughout the workout on more than one occasion...
At this point I finish climbing up the hill that I started to ascend in the previous turn. It is a narrow street with trees on both sides of the road. The COROS APEX Pro draws a downright good path, the Suunto 7 cuts the corner slightly but without being too exaggerated.
The ones that do make an exaggerated cut are the Stratos 3 (which then goes long in the next turn) and of course the Garmin FR945, which hasn't heard too much of what the story is about yet.
And yet at this point it is the Suunto 7 which is completely separated from the other three watches. It may seem that its track is the worst among them, but truth told is that it is the only one of the four that hits the right side of the road, because I'm running down the sidewalk on the right.
Despite the fact that both COROS and Stratos 3 are displaced several meters to the left of the actual route, the graph they draw is correct; not like the FR945, which in addition to being even more displaced, has quite a bit of hesitation.
We're going to a very conflicting point with a very sharp turn. It is also a rise to 15% so the speed is very slow, something that does not help with GPS data because the points are very little separated from each other.
In general all four watches do bad at this point (as I say because of the low speed), although at least the Suunto 7 is the only one that understands the turn well.
Here I am already accelerating the pace, something that is perfectly noticeable in all the tracks (except for the FR945 that is quite lost again... I think I will have to make a full reset because it has some problems...).
In this zone of fast turns the behavior is positive on everyone's part. You can see a separation between the four because I have two watches on one side of the body and the other two on the other. That's why Suunto 7 and Garmin FR945 are shown on one side while COROS and Stratos are on the other.
All this about GPS, but I also want to show some detail of the barometric altimeter, something that in my Stratos 2 also did not work correctly.
However, it seems that it has already been solved in the Amazfit Stratos 3, so like the optical sensor, the barometer is another internal sensor that finally works as it should.
The graphs don't match because I didn't do an initial calibration. There is a strange situation in which the Suunto 7 and the Garmin FR945 start from the same point, break apart and soon after rejoin, but they are only a few meters apart.
But all the graphs are practically parallel, something I never saw in the previous model.
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Amazfit Stratos 3
Amazfit Stratos 3 opinion
Stratos 3 is a fairly continuist model with respect to the original Stratos, but improved in aspects that did not work in that model. Beginning with the change of optical heart rate sensor that was very needed, the one that Amazfit had used in the first model was totally unworthy of a watch with minimal sporting intent.
The problems I encountered with the barometric altimeter have also been solved, it is another thing that works as it should.
And the rest of the recipe... it remains untroubled. However, the price is slightly higher, but it is well worth paying that extra (right now about 50€) for having a watch that works as it should and does not have very low quality sensors.
It is a watch that will not satisfy all users, especially those most committed to sport. The customization options are limited, the navigation is very basic, the platform does not provide advanced information, it is very limited when it comes to incorporating external sensors... but what percentage of users demand this? There are many other things that will make this model a best seller, such as music playback, a "good looking" aesthetic, good autonomy, FirstBeat algorithms (the same used by Garmin) and a basic general performance.
A word of warning for the most common manufacturers? Careful, because now there are serious threats. Both Amazfit on the low end and COROS on the top end are starting to knock on the door, and increasingly insistently.
The Stratos 3 is still one step below the big ones, which does not mean that they cannot meet the needs of many users. But the distance that separates them is getting smaller and smaller, which is very good news for users as the battle escalates and forces all manufacturers to improve their product.
And with that... thanks for reading!
Very good analysis, the time and dedication is appreciated.
One question, in the list of sports to measure, is snowboarding or skiing?
I practice mtb, snowboarding, hiking and eventually kayaking.
Any watch suggestions for these sports, I'm between the stratos 3 or a Garmin vivoactive 3/4.
Greetings from Chile.
Yes, skiing is present although without specific functions. Rowing is not available.
For those sports the Garmin is a better choice, because it does have specific profiles where it will separate parts (uphill or downhill skiing) or count kayak paddles.
Excellent, thanks for the information.
As a last question, in your analysis you mention that you can follow GPX routes, can you follow the route and at the same time save your own path, I don't know if I'm making myself clear. Example would be to download a .gpx file from strava and follow it to not get lost on mountain trails, but I would like to save my own route in parallel.
Yes, you have no problem doing that. Following a route is one thing, and whenever you are recording an activity it will be a new file.
Great analysis, the best I found on the internet.
I'm thinking of buying this watch, what I do most is swimming and running in the mountains and know new routes downloaded from wikiloc.
What worries me is that you just put:
"As for the zoom it allows a scale between 50m and 5km. Enough for sporadic route navigation, but if you're going to frequent the mountains it's going to be very short on features."
Do you know if it is possible to install more accurate downloaded maps, or can only use the default preinstalled map?
Would you poder recommend another watch in a similar price range to this one, with which to poder swim and that is somewhat better when it comes to getting lost in the mountains?
Thank you very much for all the info, I will use your links to buy it.
No, the watch does not support maps of any kind, nor does it have a map.
You can take a look at the Suunto 9, but the economic version does not have a barometric altimeter. That said, for hiking it is a much better choice than the Amazfit.
Great analysis, like all of them. Thank you very much. I bought it a month or a month and a bit ago (in fact, before it went on sale here) and for me, who started running a short time ago and didn't want to spend a lot of money on a more advanced watch until I see if I go ahead or not, I'm quite happy with it. In fact, I was looking forward to your article, to compare with my feelings about the watch. It is true that the amount of information it offers is quite important, with all kinds of data and graphs; sometimes it takes a little longer than desirable to synchronize with the GPS signal, but it is not serious (in fact, I do not know how long it takes the top of the range to do so); and it is true that the GPS sometimes deviates a little, but overall it is quite reliable. As for the heart rate monitor readings, they also seem correct to me, with no strange deviations. I say, in general, for an average user, I think it can be a very good option. And, by the way, it has a great autonomy, something to take into account. Best regards and thanks again for these great reviews.
Thank you, Miguel.
Hi I would like you could recommend me whether to buy the amazfit stratos 3 or the samsung active 2? Thanks
They are somewhat differentiated, it mainly depends on what you are looking for from the watch. The Samsung is more smartwatch with sports features, while the Amazfit is a sports watch with light smart features.
If I use it for sports, I trust the Amazfit more, because its algorithms come from Firstbeat while Samsung's are "in-house".
Hello, good morning.
Between the amazfit stratos 3 that you analyze here, and the suunto 9 that is now oferton, with which would you stay for a use of triathlon and mountain running? Could you tell me if you can control spotify from any of them? (with control I mean to pass songs and manage volume)
For sports I consider the Suunto 9 to be more interesting, especially for the fact that it has a much more developed sports platform.
As for Spotify, with the Amazfit yes it 1TP10Could be done, but not with the Suunto.
Hi! First of all thank you for the tremendous work you have done on this as on all the reviews. Using the purchase link is the least 1TP10We can do.
I wanted to ask you... Amazfit Stratos 3 or Polar Vantage M?
I am essentially a runner, although sometimes I like to ride my bike, more as an excursion than as a training, as well as swimming.
From the Amazfit I like the poder to combine in one watch the sports part and the mobile notifications.
I've been using the Polar M400 for years and I can't be happier with it and with the change I'm worried about a couple of things. The connectivity with Strava when exporting sessions (In the M400 is automatic when you put it to load) and how complicated it seems to create workouts by laps.
What do you think?
Best regards and thank you very much once again.
If you want it mainly for sports and you come from a Polar, without a doubt I'll take the Vantage M. The Stratos 3 is not a bad watch, in fact it improves on many points to the model it replaces, but the platform has nothing to do in either model. The Polar is much more complete and valid for sports use.
Very good analysis, the best I've found on the net ... also I know the area well, as I live in San Pedro. I have the amazfit stratos 2, I use it for MTB routes and the truth is that I don't even look at the heart rate and what annoys me the most is the issue of the cumulative elevation gain, it doesn't get it right. My question is, what about the measurements on the stratos 3 on the cumulative elevation gain? Is it real?
Thank you very much in advance
Thank you, Juan.
Indeed, both pulse sensor and barometric altimeter are two of the things that have been fixed with respect to the original model. If you see the Stratos test you will see that I found those problems.
Within how a barometric altimeter worksthe data you provide are correct.
Hey,
thanks for the comprehensive review! However, I can't find anywhere (and I mean on the internet) how is the battery life with external heart rate monitor. I've been using Stratos 2 and it's not very good, the battery drains fast and lasts only about 3 hours with my Sigma R1 with Bluetooth Smart technology. I wonder if you have any experinces with that with Stratos 3
Thank you in advance,
Jan
Thanks Jan.
I haven't done any kind of tests involving the external sensor, but it should be longer than using the optical heart rate sensor, and much longer than those 3 hours you are getting.
I would reset the watch to defaults and check how is the battery life after doing it. If it keeps being the same, then your battery is faulty.
Hello
I have stratos 3 and with bt HR sensor - 20% per hour. It seems that bt connection with sensor is a hard job for the watch.
Hi Eduardo, great job. I wonder if when evaluating the GPS you have activated the Stratos 3 feature of combining two signals (e.g. gps+galileo). It seems to gain a lot of accuracy in general. Did you test it this way or only with gps?
Greetings!
Thank you Salvador. Yes, the tests are made with GPS+GLONASS.
Wouldn't it have been better with Galileo?
By the way, the link to amazon .es is broken...
Thank you!
Not necessarily, it depends on different variables and the difference is not excessive. Here you have all the information about GLONASS and Galileo.
Thanks for the warning, corrected and added some more.
Between the Stratos 3 and the Suunto Spartan Trainer which is already over 200 euros, what would be the most reliable/interesting option to buy? The sporting use I would give it would be mainly running. Thanks and best regards!
A better option is the Stratos 3. The Spartan Trainer has a screen that is too small compared to the Amazfit.
Hello, very good, at the end of the exercise with other watches it measures the pulse recovery in 1 or 2 minutes. Stratos does not have it?
Thank you
No, the Stratos does not have this
I have been using your site for many hours now and I am very pleased with the quality of your reviews.
I wanted to take the opportunity to ask you a question! I know that wrist HR measurements are generally bad, so I'm looking for a watch to go with a heart rate strap (Polar H10 so far). But I caught a couple of reviews on reddit that say it lasts 4-5 hours connected to a strap, which for randone (which is what I mainly want it for) doesn't do me much good, since I go out for minimum 6-7 hours. What do you consider to be the best smartwatches to pair with a treadmill?
Greetings!
Thank you Ignacio
I had to Google randoné, the truth is that I didn't know it.
In general, if you need a lot of autonomy, you should stay away from smartwatches. Both the latest Polar and Garmin will have more than enough autonomy for what you are looking for, both with the optical sensor and with external sensors.
Hello, I would need to know if the Stratos 3 has an alarm clock and vibrates when it rings. Thank you very much in advance.
Yes, you can set an alarm clock.
It also vibrates when the alarm sounds, doesn't it? Thank you.
Yes
Hi Eduardo, great review, very detailed. One question, do you see much difference with the Coros Apex? I would use it mainly for mountaineering and trail training and I do not know if it is worth raising the budget to what costs the Apex.
Thanks for the review.
Alfonso
In the basic aspect both are similar, of course. Where there is some difference is in navigation. The Coros is slightly better, although neither of the two stand out in that respect. In terms of materials and appearance, the Coros has a better feel.
Hi, Eduardo,
First of all, thank you for the work and effort you do and the interesting information you give us.
Have no doubt that I will use your links in my purchases 😉
I wanted to know (I didn't seem to see it in the review) if it is possible to start a route from a point and then poder retrace your steps following it (backtrack).
If it is not possible with this model, can you recommend me some other (or others) that does allow it, basically I need to start walking at one point (e.g. where I leave the car) and then after hours poder come back.
A salute.
Thank you Carlos, your support is appreciated.
I don't recall the Stratos 3 having the option to "retrace" a route.
With that possibility, 1TP10You could have the Forerunner 245 (which also allows you to create complete routes), or any model of Suunto. The Vantage M also has return to start, but it shows it with a direction arrow and not a route.
Hey, Carlos,
In Stratos 2 it is possible to make backtrack, so I suppose that in Stratos 3 this option will also be available.
Hi, Eduardo,
Clearly the best review I have seen. Do you know if the wrist sensor measures heart rate during swimming without the need for a chest strap?
Thanks in advance.
Unless there has been some recent change that I am not aware of, the Amazfit does not activate the optical pulse sensor during swimming.
Hi, Eduardo,
Thanks for the information, for people who do not know much it is a joy to find a page like yours with such good explanations.
I wanted to ask you a question. I have had a Stratos 2, well actually 2, both of them have been ruined by the optical sensor. I basically use it for swimming, pool and open water. A little running and cycling. Does the Stratos 3 improve the swim module at all or is it the same as the 2? The open water data is more reliable if the GPS has improved?
I am between several watches of a similar price, I want them for basically swimming and running, cycling and mountain hiking. My doubt is between Suunto Spartan Trainer, Polar Ignite, Garmin Vivo active 3, Suunto 5 and Polar Vamtage M.
In your opinion, which one best suits my needs?
Thank you very much!
Greetings
I did not get to test it in open water (I did the test in February...), but I have no record that it has improved in that aspect. For swimming, the truth is that I would opt for another option.
Take a look at the shopping guideI would opt for the Polar Vantage M of the ones you propose.
Thank you, Eduardo.
Greetings,
Thank you Eduardo. You have a very well worked page and very useful for those of us who do sports and are looking to renew technology. I am writing to ask you about what I consider a blunder in the stratos 3. It is so blunderous and so unbecoming of an international brand that I have doubts if it is something I am doing wrong and I am going over the hills of Ubeda. That is why I am asking you, as a last option before returning the watch I bought 3 days ago. It is the following: when you activate the chrono in any activity the watch vibrates instantly. It would seem that this vibration coincides with the start of the time, but it does not. The chrono activates 2 to 3 seconds later. I have checked this with multiple sports set up on the watch, whether they have GPS or not, and I find that the delay is maintained. In some cases the delay is even longer. On the other hand, I have configured the display for poder to see the time of each lap (lap) for example, in the sport "Running". Well, when I see that the lap time is about to reach 10 seconds, I start another lap. Then the screen gives you a summary of the finished lap and tells you, hold on, that the lap lasted 13 seconds. If you repeat laps, it always adds 3 more seconds to the time at which you pressed the button. When I finish the activity and consult the lap times, indeed, the ones it shows are those that have 3 seconds more. I reiterate: this seems so strong to me, that is, that a watch fails in the most important thing (the time measurement) that I think I must be doing something wrong. Hence my query. Thank you for your efforts. I reiterate, your page is very valuable. Cheer up.
Thank you Juan Antonio.
Well, I can't tell you anything about it, because I don't have any watch right now where poder review it....
Thank you.
Hello Juan Antonio,
I would like to know if the with the stratos 3 watch, you can link some cadence and speed sensor for my bike, as I have roller and it would be very useful, if so if you know any that is compatible I would appreciate it if you tell me,
A very interesting article,
Thank you very much.
The Stratos 3 can only be connected to external pulse sensors.
Hello Eduardo! Your website has enchanted me and I have read several reviews of some sports watches, even the buying guide, the truth that I have not found a website as complete as this not even the youtube videos help as much as your website, my sincere congratulations and a great work of each watch. My question is the following, looking at several watches, I moved between garmin vivoactive3/4, fr245 and amazfit stratos 3, the latter is the one I bought through your links, competitive price. The thing is that when I put intervals in the activity run 2000+1000 or 8×300, when I make the first break between series, the watch gets dark, I can not see anything and you can only be guided by the vibrations when it starts or ends a series, if I give the button it lights up but the screen remains with the numbering of when I have given the button, and do not follow the minutes counting (although still vibrating with the series), I do not know if I have explained. And as much as I look in the options, I can not remove it, because there was an option to turn on, but does not perform, in continuous running never turns off, it works great. So I'm half happy with the clock, I do not know if you did series with the clock and the same thing happened to you or you know how to prevent it from going dark. Best regards
Thank you very much for your words and for supporting the website!
Well, I seem to remember that I did some training, and I don't remember anything strange... are you on the latest firmware version?
Hi, great review, it seems to me possibly one of the most complete of the internet, keep it up. Regarding this, I have a question, I was looking at watches of this type and I got this Stratos 3 as a good option, but I am told that for training the theme of information may fall a little short, is there much difference from other watches from other brands? the other options are the Polar Vantage M, Polar ignite, Garmin Vivoactive 3 or COROS PACE. Thanks and best regards.
Good afternoon Eduardo. You talk a lot about the superiority of sunto, polar and Garmin in terms of offering information in their apps. No 1TP10Could you make a post about this? I am very interested in the stratos 3, it collects almost all the information and has almost all the functions, including firstbeat (which supposedly helps to plan and report progress, rest...) Why do you often comment that in that the stratos 3 is below polar or Garmin? In many occasions you recommend watches of those brands that bring integrated less functions. It is not your case, but I have even seen pages where they recommended sunto without pulse measurement before the stratos 3. If your sensors are not bad, measures almost everything, brings firstbeat, option to follow tracks.... Why are other watches of "better" brands recommended with worse functions and features???? As the polar app or Garmin has more info if the hardware/software of the watch does not provide it? I hope I have explained. Thank you very much and the site is awesome, I have already told you more times
Good afternoon,
The serratos 3 allows to know the speed at which you go in real time, for example like the speedometer of the bike or the car?
Or is there a smartwatch that does it?
Thank you
Yes, it is a basic data field in any GPS watch.
They say it can be used for swimming in open water (sea), do you think it will withstand this continuous use?
Yes, the watch is resistant to immersion so it makes no difference whether it is in fresh or salt water. However, it is advisable to rinse it with water when you finish in the sea to remove all the salt (under the shower is enough).
Hi, Eduardo.
Excellent review, I have not found anything even close to the depth and quality of your analysis.
I'm getting back into triathlon after 6 years and I'm looking for something good, nice and cheap, since 6 years later neither the technology (nor the body) is the same.
I really like this amazfit, but I've seen you speak quite highly of the COROS brand in their high end.
Could you advise me which would be the equivalent COROS to this amazfit?
Thank you very much in advance.
Greetings
Diego
Thank you, Diego.
You would have the COROS PACE 2, which is starting to come back into stock. You can see all the details here: https://www.correrunamaraton.com/en/coros-pace-2-specs-info-opinion/
Hello Eduardo, first congratulate you for the articles, very complete for those of us who are looking for a watch.
This watch fits me quite well for what I'm looking for and in the price range, but something I need to have is warning to emergencies or contact in case of detecting an accident (I usually go out alone in mtb), I know that some other model of amazfit carries it, but this particular one I can't find anything about it. I also square the coros apex 2 but I'm in the same doubtand of course if you had any other recommendation would be welcome.
Greetings and thank you.
Thanks Miguel (and for the VIP subscription too).
I am not aware of Amazfit's having incident alerts, beyond the latest Bip but that is a health (and not sport) feature. COROS doesn't have it either.
Where you do podr find this feature is in the Garmin. With your budget and similar to the Amazfit, you can take a look at the Vivoactive 4, which are now on offer
good first to tell you that I think it is a very good analysis and thank you for your work.
a question with this watch you can put that warns you between a maximum and minimum pace in a distance. for EX. a distance of 1km and that warns you if you leave an interval x x say of pace 4.00 to 4.20 ?
greetings, thank you
Thank you Jose
No, that would be interval programming with a target, something the Amazfit Stratos 3 doesn't have. You'd have to go to models from other brands.
Great analysis. Thank you very much
I will make my next purchase through your link 😉.
Thank you, Roberto.
Hello,
Great article, the best I have found on the internet.
I don't know if podrás can help me in recommending which watch is best for me since I would basically use it for sailing (windsurfing) and what interests me most is that it has a good GPS and that it measures speeds correctly.
Also, that I can wear it on a daily basis (not too extravagant) and that it has other functions since I do other sports occasionally.
Thank you very much!
I would recommend one that has a specific profile for your intended use (windsurfing). The COROS APEX Profor example, has received this mode.
Thank you for your information and effort, an excellent article.
I practice several sports (nothing professional) at amateur level (mtb,road cycling,swimming,hiking,running,paddle) and I would like you to advise me some smartwach, I have seen the huawei gt2 sport.
Thank you
Thank you.
You can take a look at the Honor Watch GS Pro.
Hello, how about the possibility to test Xiaomi mi watch, Samsung Galaxy watch, oppo watch, best regards!
Hello, my polar vantage v is giving me problems in swimming in the pool, I am thinking of one to replace either smartwatch style and for while it is fixed or if in the end I change it and seen what I do not want to spend much, a priori I do not want to spend more than 300 €, which is worth to swim in pool, sea, triathlon and does not weigh much, greetings.
Good, thank you very much x all the information, I would like to know if for triathlon if podría use this watch, I'm starting in that sport and other brands I go out of budget, any suggestions????
Thank you very much again...
Yes, the Stratos has a triathlon profile, but it would not be the watch I would choose for this type of sport.
With the offers ending today (you can see them here: https://www.correrunamaraton.com/ofertas-amazon-garmin-polar-suunto-junio-2021/), I would recommend the Polar Vantage M
Hi, first of all thanks for your work. I am very interested in the altimeter, it seems worth to calculate the elevation gain but it was not clear to me if it has a good accuracy in static as well (I guess so but better if you clarify me) thanks!
Static depends on the atmospheric pressure. Here you can see how the barometric altimeter works..
Good evening, I am totally unable to get to see the km you are traveling during the day. It only keeps me the km of when I train or I put it in activity mode and choose sport.
Can you help me?
Very good analysis.
In daily activity mode it records steps, but does not talk about distances. It only records distances when using GPS.
Hi. After reading you, I decided to buy it from your link a few weeks ago. I have not written before to really see the performance in my daily activities if they were as you mention. I have to say that it has surprised me a lot for the better. I come from Polar and then Garmin already quite a few years ago, very good both, but for me, I find them a bit expensive. Therefore, I was looking for a watch with a heart rate monitor and that would allow me to put it and follow tracks easily at a more affordable price and with acceptable quality. Amazfit Stratos 3 has everything I need, it is excellent for price (your link 109€), battery durability (amazing), features very similar to Polar and Garmin up to 400€, total ease of use, linking with the app and to tell the truth, what makes me happiest is to see with total clarity the data reading on the screen running and without glasses because of my age, day or night. I remain to you tremendously grateful for your truthful information, best regards.
Thank you very much.
Good morning, I am undecided between buying the Amazfit gtr 47mm or the Amazfit Stratos 3 Smartwatch, what can you tell me about these two models, is there any advantage to buy the GTR or is the Stratos 3 better without a doubt?
Depending on your comments I will buy one or the other. Is there any link that you can advise me when buying it in case there is any offer or discount.
Thank you very much, let me know what you think.
A very well elaborated page, with very detailed information, I have already passed it on to all my contacts.
If you want it for sports, the Stratos is more focused on that use, mainly because of its screen that looks better outdoors. The Amazfit GTR, although very similar in features, is more of a smartwatch with sports functions. But don't think there are big differences between the two beyond the screen technology.
As for the purchase, no doubt directly on the official website is where you are going to find them cheaper now, both the Amazfit Stratos like the Amazfit GTR 47mm.
Thank you very much Eduardo for your reply. Just one more question.
What do you mean the GTR, is it more of a smart watch?
What would be those smart features that the GTR would have that the Stratos would not?
Thank you very much for your clarifications, they are very helpful.
Greetings
I mean in terms of watch design, buttons and screen usage. I haven't tried the GTR, but both software and app are going to be all very similar.
Thank you very much Eduardo for your reply. Just one more question.
What do you mean the GTR, is it more of a smart watch?
What would be those smart features that the GTR would have that the Stratos would not?
Thank you very much for your clarifications, they are very helpful.
Greetings
I bought it in November 2019 , to help me prepare and do two marathons 2 half marathons , pandemic included and great , very happy , although the last half marathon bcn2022 being at 80% , I made a threat to tell save and restarted and shutdown...... currently after 30 months of purchase the battery is off and costs more to repair than buying a new one
resument 186€ (I have invoice that is original) has lasted me 30 months.