AMAZFIT T-Rex Pro

Expect to pay: £139

FOR MOST WALKERS, this review could begin and end here. The T-Rex Pro, which I’ve used for over a year, is tough, chunky, reliable, accurate, and it does exactly what I need it to: tracks me, records my miles (with cumulative stats for weeks, months and year, making it ideal for #walk1000miles), and presents the data very simply on a free app called Zepp. The buttons are simple, and crucially, it’s a fraction of the price of its big-name rivals; in fact it’s the same price as many far more basic trackers. So what are the drawbacks? Firstly, cosmetics: it looks cheap, the watchface options are naff, and its polycarbonate shell feels plasticky compared to the titanium its rivals use (although it’s still very robust, and it’s light too). Secondly it’s from a low-cost Chinese tech company rather than a dedicated outdoor brand, which may impact on aftercare and longevity. Finally, it lacks the motivational banter of Fitbit and Garmin. So this is ‘just’ a tracking watch, rather than a device that learns about you and wants to become part of your life. But in a year of intensive use, the T-Rex Pro has never let me down on speed of location-fixing, accuracy of recording, or battery life. On the latter: OK it can’t compete with the vast battery figures of its rivals, but if fully juiced it will track you on at least six five-mile walks before needing any kind of top-up, which seems fine and fair to me. So if you don’t need all the bells and whistles, the T-Rex Pro is an absolute no-brainer. NB: There’s an updated, slightly tougher version called the T-Rex 2, but it’s pricier (£219) and doesn’t offer much more than this one.

INFO: Weight: 60g Battery life: Up to 18 days Waterproof: Yes App compatibility: Zepp,

Strava, Relive Website: amazfit.com/uk

+ Lightweight, accurate, easy to use, good app and connectivity

– Unsophisticated, looks cheap, poor range of faces

ACCURACY: ★★★★★

TOUGHNESS: ★★★

EASE OF USE: ★★★★★

APP: ★★★★

BUY IT IF: You want a reliable, accurate GPS smartwatch for the price of a simple wristband tracker.