Top 7 Chinese Smartwatches of 2020: What Was Actually Worth Buying?

The 2020 list is useful as a historical snapshot, not as a current shopping guide. It named seven inexpensive watches—Amazfit models, Zeblaze Muscle HR, NO.1 F6, NO.1 D5, K88H and NEWWEAR Q8—with prices from $31.01 to $109.99 at the time. Those prices, Gearbest links, app support and battery claims should not be treated as current. For a buyer today, a supported Amazfit, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO or Haylou model is generally safer than an obscure old-stock watch.

The original roundup was modified on July 14, 2020: Techniblogic’s source article. This guide reconstructs what each watch offered, separates manufacturer or retailer claims from verified specifications, and explains what to check before buying an old Chinese smartwatch.

#	Preview	Product	Price
1		chinese smartwatch	$1.29	Buy on Amazon
2		chinese smartwatch	$1.29	Buy on Amazon

What “Chinese smartwatch” means

The phrase can describe several different products:

• A Chinese-owned brand such as Amazfit, Huawei, Xiaomi, OPPO or Haylou.
• A watch manufactured in China but sold globally under another brand.
• A generic or white-label watch sold under several names.
• A China-market regional model with different language, NFC, cellular bands, payment services or companion apps.

The 2020 article used the term broadly and did not apply one consistent definition. In this article, “Chinese smartwatch” means a Chinese brand or a model primarily sold through the Chinese electronics ecosystem. That does not guarantee Chinese-market software will work fully in another country.

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Quick verdict on the original seven

The original seven, examined

1. Xiaomi Huami Amazfit

The name is not a precise model designation. “Huami Amazfit” covered multiple watches with different GPS, display, battery and water-resistance specifications. The source listed built-in GPS, sleep and calorie tracking, notifications, a ceramic bezel, IP67 resistance and a 2020 price of $109.99, but it did not identify the exact model.

That ambiguity matters. Do not repeat the GPS claim or infer swimming suitability until the model number and manufacturer specification are known. IP67 indicates dust protection and temporary immersion under test conditions; it does not automatically make a watch suitable for swimming. A current buyer should prefer a clearly identified Amazfit model with a live Zepp app, firmware downloads and regional warranty.

2. Amazfit Bip Lite

The Bip Lite was presented with heart-rate and sleep monitoring, four sports modes, a 32 g weight and “up to 45 days” of battery life for $81.23. The 45-day number is a maximum estimate under restricted use, not a normal smartwatch expectation. Confirm whether a listing means the Bip Lite itself or another Bip revision, and do not assume built-in GPS; the Lite version commonly relies on a connected phone for location.

It suited buyers who wanted a light, inexpensive tracker with infrequent charging. Today, the deciding questions are whether the Zepp app still installs in your country, whether pairing works with your phone’s current operating system and whether the battery has degraded in storage.

3. Zeblaze Muscle HR

The source described heart-rate, sleep and pedometer tracking, Android 4.4+/iOS 8+ compatibility, the JYOU app, a 160 mAh battery and 20–25 days of runtime at $37.74. This is a fitness tracker rather than a full smartwatch: expect basic metrics and notifications, not app installation, maps, cellular service or a broad software ecosystem.

The JYOU app is the product’s practical dependency. Before buying, check that it remains listed in your regional Android or iOS store, permits account creation, synchronizes data and has a privacy policy. A cheap watch without a working app is usually unusable.

4. NO.1 F6

The NO.1 F6 was listed with step, distance, heart-rate and sleep tracking, Fundo Pro support, Android 4.4+/iOS 9+ compatibility and “up to 120 days” of battery life for $39.27. No usage mode was supplied for that 120-day figure. It should be read as a low-power watch-mode or standby estimate, not as 120 days of continuous heart-rate tracking, notifications and exercise recording.

It made sense in 2020 only for someone prioritizing infrequent charging over software sophistication. For a current purchase, verify Fundo Pro availability, Bluetooth pairing on your phone and the seller’s return window before paying.

5. NO.1 D5

The D5 was the most genuinely smartwatch-like entry: the source advertised Wi-Fi, GPS, heart-rate tracking, a leather strap, an aluminum case, a 450 mAh battery and Android 4.3+/iOS 7+ support at $103.75. Its Android-based design could run more standalone functions than a simple tracker.

That capability is now a liability. The old Android platform, discontinued services, obsolete app compatibility and uncertain firmware servers make it difficult to recommend. GPS, Wi-Fi and a large battery do not compensate for a watch that cannot reliably pair, update or download required services.

6. K88H

The K88H was advertised with heart-rate, sleep and sports tracking, a replaceable 22 mm strap, Fundo Wear, Android 4.4+/iOS 7+ support and a $46.78 price. The original wording called its heart-rate measurement accurate without presenting a test method. That is an unsupported marketing claim, not independent validation.

Its replaceable strap is useful, but only if the case, charger and app still function. Treat heart-rate, sleep and calorie readings as wellness estimates and buy only from a seller offering a practical return.

7. NEWWEAR Q8

The Q8 was the cheapest listing at $31.01 and claimed step, sleep, heart-rate, blood-pressure, blood-oxygen and calorie monitoring through the Hey Band app, with up to 150 days of battery life. Neither the extreme battery figure nor the blood-pressure and blood-oxygen functions came with clinical validation or usage conditions.

Those sensors should not guide medical decisions. At best, they may show rough trends; an abnormal reading needs a validated medical device or professional evaluation. The Q8 is therefore the weakest recommendation for a health-focused buyer, and its long battery claim should be treated as a restricted-use maximum.

What the 2020 list missed

• Prices were retailer prices from 2020, not stable or current values.
• The first Amazfit entry was not an identifiable model.
• No ranking methodology or independent testing was supplied.
• “Accurate” health claims were not supported by measurements or validation.
• Fitness trackers, full Android watches and fitness-oriented smartwatches were mixed together.
• App availability, privacy, firmware updates, replacement chargers and regional support were not assessed.
• IP67 was treated too broadly as evidence for swimming.

Stronger contemporary alternatives

Huawei Watch GT 2e: the sports-focused benchmark

Huawei’s official specification lists a 1.39-inch AMOLED display at 454 × 454 pixels, built-in GPS, 4 GB of memory, Bluetooth 5.1, Android 4.4+/iOS 9.0+ compatibility, up to 14 days of typical battery life and 5 ATM water resistance: official GT 2e specifications.

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Huawei describes 5 ATM as suitable for shallow-water activities such as swimming, while warning against diving, high-speed water and deeper immersion. It is not an app-rich Apple Watch or Wear OS replacement. TechRadar notes limited software functionality, no third-party apps and reduced iPhone functionality: TechRadar’s GT 2e review. Tests also found broadly similar workout data to comparison devices but differences in calorie estimates and some workout-sync problems.

Amazfit GTR: long endurance and a round design

Contemporary coverage reported AMOLED displays, GPS, activity tracking and up to 24 days of normal use or 74 days in basic watch mode. Read those as separate operating modes, not interchangeable battery promises. Confirm that a listing is the original GTR rather than a later GTR 2 or GTR 2e: 2020 comparison coverage.

Amazfit GTS: square fitness watch

The original GTS was reported with GPS, NFC, heart-rate monitoring, music controls, up to 12 activity profiles, 50-meter water resistance and up to 14 days of regular use or 46 days in basic watch mode. It is best understood as a fitness-oriented watch with notifications, not a full app-store smartwatch.

Xiaomi Watch Color: regional round-watch option

2020 coverage listed GPS/GLONASS, NFC, heart-rate and sleep tracking and about two weeks of normal battery life. The Chinese-market XiaoAI assistant could be of little use outside China, and language, NFC, app and availability differences are central risks.

Mi Watch: capable, but region dependent

The Mi Watch was reported with eSIM, 4G, Snapdragon Wear 3100, MIUI for Watch, app downloads, NFC and roughly two days of battery life. Chinese LTE bands, eSIM activation and payment services may not work with a US carrier or outside the launch region.

OPPO Watch: richer software, shorter endurance

The 2020 46 mm OPPO Watch was reported with a 1.91-inch AMOLED display, eSIM/cellular connectivity and app support through ColorOS Watch. Contemporary coverage gave it approximately 40 hours in smart mode, far below its power-saving rating. It suits buyers seeking a conventional app-capable watch only where OPPO officially supports the required network and software.

Haylou Solar: ultra-budget basics

Contemporary reporting described a 1.28-inch TFT display, metal frame, 12 activity modes, 24-hour heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, notifications and an estimated 30-day basic-mode battery life or two weeks with continuous heart-rate monitoring. It was positioned as a low-cost tracker, not a premium smartwatch. The same coverage noted that some specifications were based on a pre-release product rather than completed testing.

How to evaluate an old or obscure Chinese smartwatch

1. Identify the exact model

Reject listings using vague names such as “Xiaomi Huami Amazfit.” Match the model number on the case, box and companion app to an official specification page.

2. Confirm GPS type

• Built-in GPS: records a route without carrying a phone.
• Connected GPS: uses the phone’s location service.
• No meaningful GPS: estimates distance from steps.

3. Check the companion app before purchase

1. Find the app in your country’s Google Play or Apple App Store.
2. Confirm account creation, language and privacy information.
3. Check recent reviews for pairing and synchronization failures.
4. Verify that watch faces and firmware downloads still work.

The 2020 models named JYOU, Fundo Pro, Fundo Wear and Hey Band, but the source did not establish continuing support.

4. Interpret battery claims by mode

Look for the condition attached to every number: typical use, heavy use, GPS-active use, continuous heart-rate monitoring, standby or basic watch mode. The 45-, 120- and 150-day claims in the original list lack those conditions and cannot be compared directly with a normal smartwatch rating. For context, contemporary reporting separated ordinary and basic modes for the GTR and GTS.

5. Treat health sensors as wellness features

Heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, blood pressure and calorie figures can help reveal personal trends, but they are not automatically medical measurements. Never use an unvalidated watch to diagnose a condition or change treatment.

6. Read the water-resistance standard

“Waterproof” is too broad. IP67 should not be converted into a swimming recommendation. A 5 ATM rating can permit shallow-water swimming when the manufacturer says so, but seals age and salt water, hot tubs, soap and high-pressure water can damage them.

7. Check phone and regional compatibility

• Minimum Android and iOS versions.
• Bluetooth version and notification permissions.
• Background-app restrictions on your phone.
• Call, message-reply, music, NFC and voice-assistant support.
• Whether features require a same-brand phone or China-region account.
• LTE bands and eSIM support for your carrier.

8. Calculate the real cost

Add shipping, import tax, replacement straps, proprietary chargers, warranty limits and return postage. A $30 watch that needs an unavailable charger or unsupported app is not necessarily cheaper than a supported $70–$100 model.

Red flags in marketplace listings

• Generic product photos used for several model names.
• Battery claims such as “150 days” without a mode or test condition.
• Blood-pressure or blood-oxygen language without validation.
• No official app link or firmware-update history.
• Retailer-only specifications copied between listings.
• “Waterproof” without an IP or ATM rating and restrictions.
• No identifiable manufacturer, warranty address or replacement charger.
• China-only NFC, assistant, language or cellular features omitted from the description.

Who should buy which type?

Bottom line

The seven-watch article remains useful for understanding what budget Chinese wearables looked like in 2020, but it is not a safe current buying list. The original Amazfit model is unidentified, extreme battery figures lack operating conditions, and the NO.1, K88H and NEWWEAR products carry substantial software and support risk. For a purchase today, choose a precisely identified model from a brand with an active app, firmware channel, regional warranty and clear water-resistance instructions. Treat every health number as a wellness estimate and verify GPS, phone, LTE, NFC and app compatibility before paying.

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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.