Admittedly, I made a snap judgment about the Amazfit Bip 6 based on its affordable price. I didn’t think it would compete with more expensive smartwatch rivals, much less hold its own at $80. I can tell, however, that it’s more than simply a terrific deal after a couple days of testing.
The Bip 6 is unique in a time when the majority of smartwatches cost hundreds of dollars since it does more than just the basics. During my testing of the Amazfit Bip 6, I discovered that the battery life lasted more than a week on a single charge, the fitness monitoring was reliable, and the advanced health indicators were accurate. One of the few smartwatches under $100 that is truly worth your time is this one, especially when you consider that it is compatible with both Android and iPhone.
Amazfit Bip 6
Good Stuff
- unbeatable price
- works on Android and iOS
- very good battery life
- accurate fitness tracking
- good health monitoring
Bad Stuff
- unreliable voice assistant
- short Bluetooth range
- UI and app needs some work
It’s hardly the most sophisticated timepiece available. Compared to more expensive models, the Amazfit Bip 6’s design and navigation feel clumsy, but overall, it seems like a minor price to pay for everything else it offers.
The watch isn’t the most sophisticated one available. Comparing the Amazfit Bip 6 to more expensive models, the design and navigation feel clumsy, but this seems like a minor price to pay for all the other features it offers.
For those who prioritize functionality above style, the Amazfit Bip 6 offers a simple and cost-effective way to get started with smartwatches. It’s perfect for first-time smartwatch purchasers who want to experiment with fitness and health tracking without breaking the bank. iPhone users who are interested in smartwatches but aren’t ready to commit to an Apple Watch will find it especially enticing.
Design
Although it feels light, the 44mm watch looks bulky on my medium-sized wrist (6.5 inches), and it doesn’t come in any other size. The Amazfit Bip 6’s design is straightforward and practical; it has the boxy, flat appearance of an old Pebble Watch, with a slight curve to the screen and a metal trim that gives it a bit of polish. The 1.97-inch AMOLED display (390×450 pixels) looks bright and crisp indoors, but I have trouble seeing what’s on screen in direct sunlight.
All of the bands tend toward the sporty side of the design spectrum, and unless you choose an alternate band from Amazon, there isn’t really any way to dress it up. The black sport band that came with my review device is also available in charcoal, stone, and red (which I might have preferred).
Software and UI
The Amazfit Bip 6 doesn’t provide the most seamless onboarding experience right out of the box, and I had to do some tweaking to get the watch configured the way I wanted it. There isn’t a real always-on display, so I changed the watch face that came with it, changed the battery settings to keep the screen on when working out, and changed which fitness metrics I wanted to see while running. Determining the true functions of the physical button and other swiping movements also required some trial and error.
Although it’s not as user-friendly as other smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Galaxy, you should be able to figure it out if you delve deeply enough into the settings.
It’s not as user-friendly as other smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Galaxy, but if you dig deep enough into the settings, you should be able to figure it out. The Amazfit Bip 6 doesn’t offer the most seamless onboarding experience right out of the box, and I had to do some tweaking to get the watch configured the way I wanted it. There isn’t a real always-on display, so I changed the watch face that came with it, changed the battery settings to keep the screen on while working out, and changed which fitness metrics I wanted to see while running.
Thankfully, Android phone users can respond to texts using a keypad or voice recognition, but iPhone consumers are stuck without a remedy unless they use a third-party app. The fact that Flow functionality is dependent on the phone and that the Bluetooth range is excruciatingly limited (at least with an iPhone) doesn’t help either. When my phone was only a room away, I frequently lost connectivity. If you rely on Find My Phone as a lifeline to find your phone, this renders the feature essentially worthless.
Amazfit Bip 6
Battery life
One of the best things about the Amazfit Bip 6 is undoubtedly its battery life. I tested it with several GPS workouts, heart rate monitoring, and running with the always-on display, and it still lasted more than a week—eight days, to be precise—between charges.
The manufacturer claims a two-week guarantee, which I probably would have achieved if I had been more cautious with the settings. After a day and a half, more expensive competitors like the Apple Watch, Galaxy Watch, and Pixel Watch require charging. The battery life of even the more costly Apple Watch Ultras with bigger batteries is only three days.
However, there isn’t a fast-charging option that I’m aware of, and it will take roughly two hours to go from zero to full when you eventually need to return for a charge. I’d rather leave it charging overnight once a week than have to find a time throughout the day to recharge it again, even though I’ll pick longer lasting battery life over faster charging any day.
Additionally, as the box only comes with a magnetic charging puck that must be plugged in, you will need to provide your own USB-C charging cable (and brick). The charging brick is no longer included with the majority of modern watches, such as the Apple Watch and Pixel Watch, although the charging cable is still included.
Fitness features
It would be an understatement to claim that the watch covers the fundamentals of fitness tracking. Along with detailed analytics for runners and other popular sports, it offers every workout you could possibly need. Since running is my major method of exercise, I primarily tested the running exercises.
At first, using the Amazfit Bip 6 to track a run feels unsteady because it takes around ten seconds to lock onto a GPS signal, which can be a deal-breaker when you’re ready to go. It’s off to the races after it locks in, though. Even without my phone, the GPS functioned consistently across several runs. Surprisingly, heart rate monitoring, including zone breakdowns, held up well. I utilized the Polar chest strap HR monitor, the industry standard for consumer heart rate tracking, to test smartwatches, and the results was comparable.
Amazfit Bip 6
It monitors strength training during indoor exercises and even makes an effort to determine which muscle groups are being used. Accuracy is still unknown because I didn’t perform a conventional strength training session, but during a Pilates practice that I had designated as strength training for testing purposes, it accurately identified arm muscles.
Health and wellness
Amazfit Bip 6 awarded me around an hour’s worth of sleep “bonus credit” on weekend nights when I was fully awake since it had trouble detecting the difference between when I was sleeping and when I was watching White Lotus. Notably, the Apple Watch has previously made the same error, which raises doubts about my level of consciousness at the end of the day while I’m dozing off on the couch.
However, the actual measurements are quite useful because they monitor breathing quality, sleep stages, and changes in temperature and heart rate. Like the vitals check on other wearables like the Apple Watch and Oura ring, this might help indicate the onset of diseases.
Zepp Aura add-on, which includes sophisticated sleep analysis, AI-powered coaching, and tools to help identify issues like sleep apnea and insomnia, is also available if you really want to go into your health and sleep data. It generally costs $150 a year, but right now it’s only $60.
Additionally, I had some issues turning off notifications while I slept, and I had to manually configure the “do not disturb” option because it didn’t match what I had configured on my phone.
Zepp App for Amazfit Bip 6
All of this health data has the flaw of having little to no context. There is no instruction on what the statistics imply, what is deemed normal, or how to act based on them, whether you’re looking at the watch’s instant results or the Zepp app’s long-term health trends. I didn’t test the Aura premium option for this evaluation, but perhaps it helps make sense of everything.
Amazfit’s own Zepp OS powers the watch, and the Zepp app on your phone controls all of your data and settings. It manages the app and watch face stores in addition to system settings and health metrics. The Zepp app’s layout is confusing and has multiple tabs, so good luck locating what you need.
The data itself is frequently difficult to grasp, even if you are able to locate the necessary tab. I consider myself well-versed in fitness jargon, having reviewed smartwatches and fitness trackers for over ten years, yet even I had doubts about the meaning of several of these numbers.
An AI-powered food journal that automatically enters nutritional data and calories from a barcode or photo is an additional bonus function. I used a homemade cheese sandwich to test it, and I was surprised by how accurately it calculated the number of calories. I then compared the results with the real nutritional data for each ingredient. I can see this as a useful tool for those who prefer to monitor their intake in order to manage their weight, but have not kept long-term logs for a thorough examination of this feature.
Amazfit Bip 6
Although it won’t impress you right away, the Amazfit Bip 6 is a powerful, discreet tracker that constantly goes above and beyond where it matters most. Easily the greatest option we’ve tested in its price category, it’s the kind of uncommon find you don’t expect to find in the world of smartwatches under $100.
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Luiza Mosneagu is Reviews Editor at Droid Tools. A psychologist by training and tech writer by passion, she has tested over 60 Android devices since 2020 - always for a minimum of two weeks before writing a word. Her focus is camera quality, everyday usability, and cutting through marketing claims to tell you what a device is actually like to live with.
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