Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active vs. Amazfit GTS 4 Mini vs. Amazfit Bip 5 – What are the differences?

If you are thinking of buying a cheap smartwatch but with which to optimize the technological functionalities to the maximum, this review interests you! In it, we compare the characteristics of three very affordable smart watches, but with which you can carry out exhaustive control of your physical activity. We are talking about the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active, Amazfit GTS 4 Mini and Amazfit Bip 5. 

As we have mentioned, they are three affordable range smartwatches, so don’t expect to find the highest features in them. In fact, some, like the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active, do not have GPS, so it may not be the best option for monitoring routes or keeping track of the route in outdoor sports. However, all three have health and sports monitoring sensors that can be used a lot. This is the case of the heart rate sensor, blood oxygen saturation or some such as the stress level and menstrual cycle sensor, only available on the Amazfit.

From a sporting point of view, all of them have more than 100 sports modes. In the case of Xiaomi, 10 of them are professionals; and, in the Amazfit, the smartwatch intelligently recognizes a total of 7. Therefore, you can do basic training in most sports, both indoor and outdoor. In this sense, it is also worth looking at the degree of resistance to dust and water. We already told you that, here, the Amazfit Bip 5 is a little behind.

But, so that you can see for yourself which of the three cheap smartwatches is best for you, we analyze all their differences and similarities. This way, it will be easier for you to decide which one best suits what you are looking for or which one has the best quality-price ratio. Let’s go there!

Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active vs Amazfit GTS 4 Mini vs Amazfit Bip 5 – Comparative table

Next, we include in this table the main characteristics of the three smartwatches that we have chosen. Thus, you will be able to quickly see which are the most important differentiating aspects:

(Swipe the table to see all the content)

Design: different size and colors

Surely, the first thing you will have noticed is the aesthetics of the three watches, so it is the first aspect that we want to explain in our comparison. As its name suggests, the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini is the smallest of all and, even so, it is not the lightest. However, it is the one with the smallest diameter on the strap, so it can be a good option for people with rather thin wrists. It is also the one that is available in a wider variety of colors.

For its part, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active is the largest in terms of dimensions, but not in terms of the diameter of the strap. In this case, the victory goes to the Amazfit Bip 5. In fact, we find it very curious that, despite its large size and having the widest strap, it is the lightest of all. This is one of the reasons that leads us to think that it is a great option for those who practice more extreme sports, who are looking, above all, for comfort.

Three very different screens

At first glance, they may not seem so different, because they are seen to have a rectangular shape in all cases. However, as they say, appearances can be deceiving, and you will see why. The Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active has an LCD screen with a size of 1.83″, and it is the one with the lowest resolution of all. It is followed by the Amazfit Bip 5, whose screen is TFT, but, as it is larger, it improves the resolution.

And finally, there is the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini, which has the best screen. Not only because it has the best resolution, but because it is AMOLED, and that improves the brightness a lot. And, be careful, because it is the smallest screen, but, really, it doesn’t need more size.

Let’s analyze the battery life

Knowing how long we can use smartwatches for is important to choose which model we choose. The first thing we want to highlight is that the three batteries have approximately the same capacity, because the differences are not significant. However, that does not mean that all of them have the same autonomy.

In fact, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active is the only one of the three that does not have a power saving mode, something that does happen in the other two watches. What’s more, in power saving mode, the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini can last up to 45 days, which is reduced to 26 on the Amazfit Bip 5. In reality, in practice it is always somewhat less, but, still, the difference is abysmal.

If we look at the autonomy that watches have in standard use, it is more similar between them, and ranges between 10 and 15 days. The same happens with intensive mode use, with which smartwatches last between 5 and 8 days. Likewise, regarding the loading time, it should be noted that it is quite similar in all three cases. Therefore, the main difference in terms of battery lies in the versatility that Amazfit offers thanks to the low consumption mode.

Do they have the same sports functionalities?

There are fewer differences between sports features than between health monitoring options, as you will see below. In the physical activity section, you should know that the three smartwatches have more than 100 sports modes integrated into the watch. Of them, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active has 10 professional modes. In the case of the two Amazfits, they can automatically recognize 7 of the more than 100 modes they include. Basically, with any of the three you can carry out activity control if you do almost any type of sport. Special mention deserves water sports, which, as you know, require greater water resistance.

In this case, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active and the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini have a resistance of 5 ATM, which indicates that they can be submerged up to 50 meters. The Amazfit Bip 5, on the other hand, has the IP68 level, which certifies that it is waterproof, but not enough to be submerged in a pool with it. Therefore, if you are going to practice water sports, either of the two smartwatches that have 5 ATM resistance is preferable.

Health features: the Xiaomi, the most basic

Now, we focus on the sensors they have to monitor health, and here, the conclusion is clear: the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active is the most basic of all. In fact, the sleep analysis options are perhaps too simple for what we are used to, today, in almost any smart watch. Furthermore, although it allows you to track your menstrual cycle, it is less precise than Amazfit watches.

On the other hand, Amazfit smartwatches not only offer a more detailed analysis at the health level, but also have sensors capable of measuring the level of stress (the Xiaomi lacks them) and breathing exercises. In general, we find the health report offered by Amazfit to be more complete. Of course, to be fair, all of them are capable of measuring heart rate or blood oxygen saturation level, for example.

Technology and connectivity: Xiaomi or Amazfit?

Before finishing, we want to talk to you about another of the big differences between the three smartwatches that we have chosen in this review. Actually, it is a difference between Xiaomi and Amazfit. The Xiaomi smartwatch does not have GPS, unlike the two Amazfit ones. This, without a doubt, limits the first more when it comes to route monitoring, and leaves the Amazfit as a better alternative for practicing outdoor sports.

On the other hand, the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini is the only one that does not have a speaker included, which means that, although we can give orders to the voice assistant, it will not respond to us . In terms of compatibility with other devices, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active has a slight advantage. First, because it supports a more updated Bluetooth version. And, also, because it is compatible with Android 6.0 or higher devices, while Amazfit devices are compatible with Android 7.0 or higher. In the case of iOS, all three require version 12.0 or later. Finally, it should be noted that none of them allow contactless payments.

Which cheap smartwatch pays the most?

To decide which of the three smartwatches to choose, you must take into account the context. You are not going to spend a very large amount of money on any of them, and all three have a fairly equitable price, so our advice is that you focus on analyzing which one has the features that you consider most interesting.

A key aspect, for example, could be to assess whether you need the smartwatch to have GPS because you want to use it to measure your hiking training. In that case, the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active would be ruled out.

On the other hand, if you usually practice swimming sports, it is probably worth opting for the Xiaomi or the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini. Another factor that can help you decide is autonomy, if you tend to travel frequently and prefer to opt for a watch with which you do not have to worry so much about the battery.

As you can see, it is important to reflect on what your needs are to choose the one that best satisfies them. In any case, all of them are a good alternative if you are looking for an affordable smartwatch but with basic and efficient functionalities. Do not hesitate!