TicWatch GTX Review
Overall Verdict
The TicWatch GTX is a basic smartwatch that executes its features very well.
| PROS | CONS |
| ✅ Covers all the Essentials | ❌ Lacks a lot of features found on other budget smartwatches |
| ✅ Decent Build | ❌ Screen does not get very bright |
| ✅ Overall great value smartwatch ✅ Good battery life |
❌ Basic health tracking features |
Mobvoi TicWatch Brand Overview
The TicWatch brand is mostly known for its innovative Wear OS watches.
The TicWatch Pro, for instance, introduced the dual-layer display that greatly saves battery life and adds additional functionality to the watch. However, the price tag of these watches may be out of reach for some consumers.
Mobvoi has addressed the budget consumers by releasing the more affordable TicWatch S2 or E2.
You can check out our full reviews to learn more about them. TicWatch S2 Review | TicWatch E2 Review
But now, Mobvoi has released the TicWatch GTX, which is even more affordable than the S2 and E2. Of course, it is no longer using the Wear OS platform.
Instead, this watch is using a more basic operating system similar to Huawei and Amazfit’s offerings.
In this review, we will find out how well Mobvoi has designed the GTX given their budget constraints. Does it have enough features for it to be a usable smartwatch? Keep on scrolling to find out.
Please note, we purchased the TicWatch GTX was bought directly from mobvoi.com on 03/04/2021, click here to check their current prices.
Mobvoi Information Technology Company Limited is a tech company based in Beijing, China. They were founded in 2012 by Google AI experts, Nokia employees, and researchers from top universities such as Harvard and Cambridge. The primary goal of this company is the integration and advancement of voice AI communication.
Some of their revolutionary products include voice search engines featured on WeChat. Mobvoi has also developed its own voice search app engine called Chumenwenwen.
It was in 2014 when Mobvoi started venturing into the consumer electronics market. They developed an Android-based smartwatch operating system called TicWear OS. And soon after, they worked together with Frog Design to release the TicWatch.
The TicWatch brand differentiated itself from other smartwatches by having a strong integration with their AI technology. Its launch was very successful and only trails behind the Apple Watch in the domestic Chinese market.
Today, Mobvoi continues to bring its expertise to the smartwatch market with the newer versions of the TicWatch. And with each new iteration, TicWatch gets one step closer to fulfilling its dream of ushering in the next generation of human and computer interaction.
Learn more about Mobvoi in our full TicWatch Brand Review.
Packaging & Accessories
The packaging of the TicWatch GTX is very surprising. Normally, brands would try to save costs and would rather spend the extra money on making the actual product better. However, TicWatch did not sacrifice the quality of the box.
The TicWatch GTX’s box resembles the higher-priced TicWatch E2 and S2 smartwatches.
Of course, you don’t get quite as many accessories and paperwork. The internal packaging is also a lot simpler.
However, the presentation is well thought out and is unmistakably from Mobvoi. And despite not adding any value to the GTX, we appreciate Mobvoi’s packaging design.
🏆 #1 Best Overall
- Heart Rate and Sleep Monitoring: The Fitness Tracker monitors your heart rate automatically all day, and you can select manual mode through the App. The fitness Watch also monitors your sleep at night, providing a detailed analysis of your sleep quality (deep sleep, light sleep, awake time). It is a health advisor for women men in daily life.
- Multi Sport Modes with Activity Tracking: The fitness tracker features 9 sport modes like running, walking and more. Additionally, the activity tracker records daily steps, calories burned, walking distance and active time throughout the day. You can also set a daily steps goals through the App to track your progress.
- Smart Notification Reminder: You can get SMS messages, and SNS notifications directly on your wrist including Facebook, Twitter, Gmail ect. You won't miss any important calls and message and stay updated. Please note: the smart watch can not make calls or text.
- Long Battery Life and IP68 Waterproof: This smart watch only requires 2 hours of charging and can be used for 5-7 days continuously, IP68 waterproof rating can withstand daily sweat, washing hands and rainy day, allowing you to fully enjoy your workouts.
- More Functions & Compatibility: Fitness watch comes with multiple smart functions such as stopwatch, alarm clock, breathing guide and sedentary alert, enhancing convenience to your daily routine. The tracker is compatible with iPhone Android Phones which run on iOS 8.0 or Android OS 4.0 & Bluetooth 4.0 or above. Please note that it is not compatible with tablets or computers.
Design and Build Quality
The TicWatch GTX has a very impressive design despite its budget price.
The TicWatch GTX is surprisingly well designed for a very affordable smartwatch. And in our opinion, it even edges out the TicWatch E2 and S2 in several areas.
In terms of its design, the GTX aims to be a stylish and fashion-focused smartwatch. It bears a striking resemblance to Huawei’s premium Watch GT 2. We even mistook the GTX for GT 2 when we first placed them side by side.
The watch face even has some engravings on it, which adds more flair and visual appeal to the watch. And while the interior engravings found on the screen look a bit fake, we still appreciate the effort put into designing the GTX.
In terms of the GTX’s body material, Mobvoi claims that the watch is made of metal. However, we think that the casing is made with a combination of metal and plastic. Also, the materials do not feel as sturdy as higher-priced budget watches such as the Huawei Watch GT 2e.
Surprisingly, the TicWatch GTX has two side buttons. Most budget watches, including the Amazfit GTS, only contain one button. And while the GTX doesn’t fully utilize the two-button setup, we still appreciate its inclusion. The buttons are tactical, but the feel and click that they produce isn’t on par with the likes of the TicWatch E2 or S2.
As for the GTX’s strap, it does the job but is certainly not the best strap that I have tried. It has a plasticky feel and sort of throws off the premium vibe that the watch is going for.
But in terms of feel, it did not cause any irritations with my skin, and I had no issue using it for the whole day. The TicWatch GTX’s strep is easily replaceable in case you want to pair it with a better feeling strap.
Display
Rank #2
- Personalized Watch Faces with Practical Tools: The fitness watch for women comes with theme dials and you can personalize the watch face to your liking and customize the display content. Brightness adjustment make you an optiomal experience based on environment change. The smartwatch features practical tools such as stopwatch, timer, music control, breathing training, night mode, alarm clock and wrist up awake, giving more convenience and fun to your life.
- Healthy Monitor on Your Wrist: The smartwatch monitors your heart rate in real time and you can view recorded data on the watch or App. Our watch also allows for manual detection of blood oxygen. Besides, the fitness watch tracks your sleep status automatically, including light sleep, deep sleep and awake time, helping you develop healthy sleep habits and improve sleep quality.
- Multiple Sport Modes with Waterproof: Our fitness watch is equipped with 10 different sports modes suan as yoga, walking, running, ect, tracking automatically your steps, distance, calorie burn, and activity time. The smartwatch also can track your outdoor workout route if connected with your smartphone's GPS. The sport watch features IP68 waterproof rating, ensuring that it can withstand sweat, hand washing, or rain in daily life, and is also suitable for swimming and diving.
- Get Notified on Smartwatches: The smart watch receives incoming call and notifications from SMS, Facebook, Instagram, Whatsapp etc, This helps you stay up-to-date and avoid missing important information. (The watch can not make calls or text back). The watch also has a sedentary reminder function and you can create reminders for drinking water, meetings, dinners, appointments and more in the alarm settings, enjoying a healthier lifestyle and a well-planned schedule.
- Long-lasting battery and Extensive Compatibility: The smart watch will take 2 hours to charge and last for up to 7 days of continuous use or 30 days standby time. The watch is compatible with smartphones that run on iOS 10.0 or Android OS 5.0 and have Bluetooth 4.0 or higher. Please note that it is not compatible with tablets or computers.
The GTX’s display is good enough but is surely not the best smartwatch screen.
Given its price point, the TicWatch GTX’s display isn’t as good as the higher-end TicWatch models. However, it still does a respectable job.
The TicWatch GTX is equipped with a TFT LCD Display that has a resolution of 240 x 240. It isn’t the brightest and most vibrant display, but it does the job.
However, you may encounter issues when using the TicWatch GTX outdoors. The brightness only has four brightness settings. And I personally do not find the brightest settings to be bright enough indoors.
The TicWatch GTX’s display is also not the biggest, even with the budget category. This isn’t immediately noticeable, but you will notice it once you turn on the display.
But overall, there are no deal breakers here. The display is pretty solid for a budget smartwatch.
Features
The TicWatch GTX nails all the right features in a budget smartwatch.
Rank #3
Fitness Tracker with Heart Rate/Blood Oxygen/Sleep Monitor, 20+ Sports Modes Smart Watches for Women/Men, Activity & Step Tracker Smart Watch for Android/iOS Phones (Black)
- 【24/7 Heart Rate Monitor 】This blood pressure watch supports real-time dynamic heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure ,Sleep Tracking,temperature monitoring so you can know more about your physical condition.
- 【Sleep Tracking 】The Smart watches monitors your sleep and analyzes your sleep quality through Deep Sleep, Light Sleep, Awake stage, gives you a nightly sleep score in the app, leading a healthy lifestyle.
- 【25 Sport Modes Activity Tracker】you can select any number of sports modes in the app as your exclusive sports mode to record your sports data.can record all daily health data such as steps, distance, and calorie consumption in the App "Keep Health"
- 【1.10 inch AMOLED HD Touchscreen】 The durable stainless steel frame of C60 pairs flawlessly with the Skin-friendly fitness straps, while its 1.10 inch AMOLED HD Touch Color Screen design and multitude of invigorating watch faces blow you away any moment
- 【Smart Functions】An easy-to-use activity fitness tracker with various intelligent features. Including Call & Message Reminder,Remote Photograph, Drink Water Reminder, Sedentary Reminder, Female Health,Family Health, Alarm Clock, Stopwatch, Find Device, etc
Unlike its higher-end siblings, the TicWatch GTX isn’t the most feature-packed smartwatch. It only covers the basics and acts pretty similar to a fitness tracker. But fortunately, the TicWatch GTX executes its small feature set pretty well.
The TicWatch GTX has pretty basic notification support. It only gives you notifications but does not give you any options to respond to them. This is pretty normal with these kinds of watches, so that doesn’t come as a surprise.
One minor complaint that I have with notifications is they arrive a bit late. My phone often rang first before my watch. This is slightly annoying but surely not a deal-breaker.
The GTX’s vibration motors are decent and are easily noticeable. However, do not expect them to be as strong as Mobvoi’s higher-end models.
The GTX also has basic features such as a stopwatch, timer, weather, flashlight, and find my phone. It also has music control which is nice to have but a feature that I often do not find useful. It has no internal storage and cannot connect to Bluetooth headphones.
We do have to note that the find my phone feature is quite buggy. Sometimes, the feature will only work once you have unlocked your smartphone. This completely defeats the purpose and can be a big problem if you lost your smartphone in public.
Overall, the feature set is decent, but not all features are implemented very well.
Health and Fitness Tracking
The Fitness and health tracking options in the TicWatch GTX are pretty basic. In terms of its sensors, it has a heart rate tracker as well as an accelerometer. But again, do not expect these to give the most accurate results.
In terms of its fitness activities, the GTX only has 14 workout modes. It covers most of the essential activities such as running and cycling activities. However, more serious users or athletes will surely find the activity selection to be lacking.
Additionally, since the TicWatch GTX does not feature a built-in GPS, tracking running activities won’t be very accurate. This is a bit of a letdown, given that other budget fitness trackers offer way more activities than the TicWatch GTX. However, we still think that these should be enough for more casual users.
One surprising inclusion is sleep tracking. It isn’t the most accurate sleep tracker but is still a very good addition to a budget smartwatch. Even Mobvoi’s higher-end watches do not have this feature.
TicWatch GTX Software Performance
The software performance is, surprisingly, the best feature of the TicWatch GTX.
Rank #4
KEEPONFIT Smart Watches for Women Android/iPhone, IP68 Waterproof Fitness Tracker with Bluetooth Calls(Answer&Make), Activity Pedometer/Heart Rate/SpO2 Monitor/100+ Sports Model
- Multi-Functional Sports Tracking & 100+ Sport Modes:The fitness watch is equipped with more than 100 sports modes, such as walking, running, swimming, hiking, cycling, mountaineering, yoga, etc. Accurately record all-day activities, this fitness tracker for men and women is waterproof with an IP68 rating, you can safely wear it for swimming, washing hands and showering. However, it is not recommended to use it in hot water (sauna) or sea water (diving).
- All Day Health Monitoring:This smartwatch for Android and Iphone (Please note: it requires iOS 9.0 and above and Android 6.0 operating system) is equipped with advanced sensors that provide insights to help you better understand your health and adjust your lifestyle. It not only can monitors your health indicators (heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep), but also records women's menstrual period. It can also automatically monitor your sleep status and provide a comprehensive sleep quality analysis to help you have a better sleep.
- Smart Notifications & Bluetooth Calling:Make and receive calls directly from your smartwatch with SMS and calling features through the built-in microphone. Stay connected to SMS and app messages (text, Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, etc.) and never miss anything important. The AI Voice feature on this smartwatch lets you free your hands to control music playback, check the weather, set alarms, timers, and more by just speaking into your watch (message replies are not supported).
- Variety of Watch Faces & Customization Options:This multifunctional smartwatch is equipped with a 1.27-inch round full touch screen, which brings you a refined visual experience and a better appearance experience. You can upload your favorite pictures as the watch face. It contains many daily practical functions that you can choose by yourself, such as message reminders, weather forecasts, music control, stress monitoring, alarm settings, stopwatch, timer, sedentary reminders, breathing guidance, raise to wake, find phone, adjustable brightness, etc.
- Worry-free after-sales services:KEEPONFIT smartwatch supports SMS and call functions, and is seamlessly compatible with most iOS 9.0 and above and Android 6.0 and above smartphones (only for smartphones, not for PC, laptop or iPad), plz make sure download the VeryFit App and turn the bluetooth on before you connect it to your phone.Making it a great gift for boyfriends and girlfriends! We are committed to providing you with the best service, if you have any questions, please feel free to let us know, our professional technical team will serve you within 24 hours!
Given that the TicWatch GTX is not running Wear OS, I was initially not very interested. But to my surprise, the software performance happened to be the best aspect of the TicWatch GTX.
Mobvoi has chosen a minimalistic software experience. However, they drew some inspiration with the elements of their Wear OS smartwatches which helps give the GTX’s software a bit more flair.
Navigating the GTX felt very similar to Huawei’s Light OS. Swiping down reveals quick settings such as the settings. It also reveals information such as the watch’s battery level.
Swiping left and right gives you quick access to your health stats, weather, timer, heart rate tracker, sleep tracker, and more. Swiping up reveals the notifications.
And surprisingly, the software was very stable. I did not even encounter slowdowns or frame drops. And if we are simply talking about performance, it is even more impressive than the more expensive TicWatch S2 and E2.
The only downside with the TicWatch GTX is that the menus are not customizable. And while the menu is pretty efficient and easy to navigate, Wear OS has spoiled us too much in terms of customizing the menu to our liking.
But overall, we do not have complaints about how well the TicWatch GTX’s software performs.
TicWatch Smartphone App
Since the TicWatch GTX isn’t utilizing Wear OS, Mobvoi has developed a separate companion app. The app is well designed and does the basics but has some pretty odd inclusions.
Like most companion apps, you can set various settings such as the watch face. You can also configure various settings such as the temperature unit, system language, 24-hour clock, etc.
Additionally, you can directly access the Mobvoi community forums and the TicWatch store directly on the app. I did not find this to be useful, but this may come in handy for those who are unfamiliar with Mobovoi’s product lineup or for users who need to troubleshoot something.
Watch Face Selection
The TicWatch GTX’s watch face selection is decent but very limited. I found some watch faces that I liked, but the overall quality and the number of watch faces are far behind competing brands. Additionally, accessing the watch face menu in the TicWatch app was very slow.
This was odd because the smartphone was doing the processing and not the smartwatch. Additionally, loading up the watch faces in the watch was also very slow. I immediately settled with a watch face because I did not want to deal with the very slow syncing process.
Overall, watch face selection is decent, but I consider this to be one of the weakest aspects of the GTX due to the limited options and slow syncing.
Battery Life
Unlike Mobvoi’s Wear OS watches, the TicWatch GTX actually manages to last for more than two days. And in fact, it manages to last up to a week. This is very impressive for a budget smartwatch, and I am glad that Mobvoi did not compromise in this area.
💰 Best Value
- 【Superb Visual Experience & Effortless Operation】Diving into the latest 1.58'' ultra high resolution display technology, every interaction on the fitness watch is a visual delight with vibrant colors and crisp clarity. Its always on display clock makes the time conveniently visible. Experience convenience like never before with the intuitive full touch controls and the side button, switch between apps, and customize settings with seamless precision.
- 【Comprehensive 24/7 Health Monitoring】The fitness watches for women and men packs 24/7 heart rate, 24/7 blood pressure and blood oxygen monitors. You could check those real-time health metrics anytime, anywhere on your wrist and view the data record in the App. The heart rate monitor watch also tracks different sleep stages for light and deep sleep,and the time when you wake up, helps you to get a better understanding of your sleep quality.
- 【120+ exercise modes & All-Day Activity Tracking】There are more than 120 exercise modes available in the activity trackers and smartwatches, covering almost all daily sports activities you can imagine, gives you new ways to train and advanced metrics for more information about your workout performance. The all-day activity tracking feature monitors your steps, distance, and calories burned all the day, so you can see how much progress you've made towards your fitness goals.
- 【Messages & Incoming Calls Notification】With this smart watch fitness trackers for iPhone and android phones, you can receive notifications for incoming calls and read messages directly from your wrist without taking out your phone. Never miss a beat, stay in touch with loved ones, and stay informed of important updates wherever you are.
- 【Essential Assistant for Daily Life】The fitness watches for women and men provide you with more features including drinking water and sedentary reminder, women's menstrual period reminder, breath training, real-time weather display, remote camera shooting, music control,timer, stopwatch, finding phone, alarm clock, making it a considerate life assistant. With the GPS connectivity, you could get a map of your workout route in the app for outdoor activity by connecting to your phone GPS.
Verdict
Mobvoi deserves credit for creating a great value smartwatch. Sure, it lacks a lot of features that are essential to smartwatches. But at this price point, it has everything that we need to navigate our daily lives.
If you have a very tight budget, then the TicWatch GTX is definitely worth considering. Read Amazon Reviews here of the GTX – See our list of best cheap smartwatches.
Specifications
| Mobvoi TicWatch GTX | |
| Brand | Mobvoi |
| Model | TicWatch GTX |
| Screen Size | 1.28” TFT LCD |
| Screen Protection | No Official Protection |
| Screen Resolution | 240 x 240 pixel |
| Input Type | 2 Physical Buttons |
| Watch Dimensions | 48.7 x 48.7 x 11mm |
| Weight | 57.6 grams |
| Watch Case Material | Metal |
| Bezel Material | Metal |
| Watch Design | Circular, Curved |
| Strap Size | 20 mm |
| Watch Colors | Black |
| Water Resistance | IP68 |
| Swim-proof | Not recommended |
| NFC | Not Supported |
| GPS | No(Connected GPS) |
| CONNECTIVITY Wi-fi |
No |
| Bluetooth | Yes |
| SENSORS Accelerometer |
Yes |
| Heart Rate | Yes |
| Compass | No |
| Gyroscope | No |
| Altimeter | No |
| SPO2 | No |
| Elevation | No |
| Ambient Light | No |
| Barometer | No |
| FITNESS TRACKING Sleep tracking |
Yes |
| Steps | Yes |
| Floors Climbed | No |
| Heart Rate Monitoring | Yes |
| Calories | Yes |
| Distance | Yes |
| Stress | No |
| VO2 Max | – |
| Blood Oxygen | No |
| Blood Pressure | No |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | No |
| Swim tracking | No |
| Underwater heart rate tracking |
No |
| On-screen workout modes | No |
| Triathlon mode | No |
| ECG tracking | No |
| Preloaded sport modes | Yes |
| Safety tracking | No |
| Battery Life | Regular: up to 7 days Battery Saver Mode: 10 days |
| Battery Technology | Li-Ion |
| Charging Time | About 1-2 Hours |
| Charging Type | USB based charging dock |
| Compatible OS | Android iOS |
| NOTIFICATIONS Email Alert |
Yes |
| SMS Alert | Yes |
| Calls Alert | Yes |
| Event Reminder | Yes |
| Weather | Yes |
| Third-party Apps | Yes |
| MEDIA Audio |
No |
| Music Streaming | No |
| Bluetooth Music | No |
| Radio | No |
| Loud Speaker | No |
| Microphone | No |
| CLOCK FEATURES Time/Date |
Yes |
| Stopwatch | Yes |
| Alarm | Yes |
| OTHER FUNCTIONS Control camera | No |
| Music Control | Yes |
| Find Phone | Yes |
| Text Response | No |
| Answer Call | No |
| MISC Payment System |
No |
| Companion App | Mobvoi App |
| Customizable watch face | Yes |
| Interchangeable band | Yes |
| Voice command | No |
| Internal Storage | 16 MB |
| Operating system | Proprietary OS |