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Amazfit BIP 5 Review

Surprising performance for budget smartwatch, but not comparable to the most premium offerings
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Amazfit BIP 5 Review
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Price:  $90 List
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Manufacturer:   Amazfit
By Benjamin Hickok ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Nov 5, 2024
50
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#10 of 10
  • Smart Function - 40% 4.6
  • Health - 30% 5.9
  • Battery Life - 20% 4.5
  • Display - 10% 4.8

Our Verdict

The budget-friendly Amazfit BIP 5 is a good first foray into the world of smartwatches, and is a compelling choice for those who want a functional smartwatch for making phone calls and to do basic health monitoring. It doesn't have the same user experience or expansive ecosystem of larger brands, but it does have third-party app options in addition to the intuitive Zepp OS with subscription options for more premium apps and features. The display is adequate, and battery life sufficient for normal use, but both could be a bit better, although they understandably fit into the modest price point.
REASONS TO BUY
Cheap
Great phone connectivity
Lightweight
REASONS TO AVOID
Underwhelming display
Marginally accurate sensors
No reputable app store

Compare to Similar Products

 
amazfit bip 5
This Product
Amazfit BIP 5
Awards Best Buy Award
Best Buy Under $100
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Apple Smartwatch
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Android Smartwatch
Best Buy Award
Best Buy in Smartwatches
 
Price $90 List
$69.99 at Amazon
$429 List
$409.93 at Amazon
$330 List
$209.99 at Amazon
$279 List
$219.00 at Amazon
$350 List
$179.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
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77
Star Rating
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Bottom Line If you have reasonable expectations, you won't be disappointed by this affordable modelThe only thing this model is missing is support for Android phonesThis capable and beautiful model will please most, and is great for Android phone usersThe most affordable model in Apple's lineup, but compromises very littleA performance upgrade for first generation users
Rating Categories Amazfit BIP 5 Apple Watch Series 9 Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Apple Watch SE Google Pixel Watch 2
Smart Function (40%)
4.6
9.4
8.8
9.3
8.0
Health (30%)
5.9
8.3
8.3
8.6
8.7
Battery Life (20%)
4.5
7.3
7.2
5.7
6.2
Display (10%)
4.8
7.9
8.8
7.7
6.9
Specs Amazfit BIP 5 Apple Watch Series 9 Samsung Galaxy Watch6 Apple Watch SE Google Pixel Watch 2
Charge Time 110 min 61 min 83 min 125 min 71 min
Battery Life - Regular Use 33.3 hr 55.6 hr 62.5 hr 27.8 hr 34.5 hr
Battery Life - GPS 6.3 hr 11.1 hr 9.1 hr 12.5 hr 10.0 hr
Measured Weight 0.93 oz 1.36 oz 1.17 oz 1.18 oz 1.10 oz
Measured Dimensions 1.81" x 1.50" x 0.50" 1.78" x 1.50" x 0.52" 1.69" x 1.75" x 0.51" 1.75" x 1.50" x 0.52" 1.61" x 1.61" 0.56"
Measured Display Hardness 6.5 7.5 8.5 7.5 7
Model Tested 46 mm 45 mm 46 mm 44 mm 41 mm
Sensors - BioTrackerâ„¢ PPG biometric sensor
  • 3-axis acceleration sensor
  • Satellite positioning systems
- Electrical heart sensor and ECG app
  • Third-generation optical heart sensor
  • High and low heart rate notifications
  • Irregular rhythm notifications
  • Sleep stages
  • Temperature sensing
  • Compass with waypoints and backtrack
  • Always-on altimeter
  • High-g accelerometer
  • Ambient light sensor
-Accelerometer
-Barometer
-Gyro Sensor
-Light Sensor
-Optical Heart Rate Sensor
- High and low heart rate notifications
  • Irregular rhythm notifications
- Compass
  • Altimeter
  • Red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring 7
  • Multipurpose electrical sensors compatible with ECG app
  • Multi-path optical heart rate sensor
  • 3-axis accelerometer
  • Gyroscope
  • Ambient light sensor
  • Electrical sensor to measure skin conductance (cEDA) for body response tracking
  • Skin temperature sensor
  • Barometer
  • Magnetometer
Battery Size 125 mAh 308 mAh 425 mAh 296 mAh 294 mAh
NFC None Apple Pay Samsung Wallet None Google Wallet
Splash, Dust, and Water - Water resistance 1.5m (splash/snow proof)
  • IP68
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
  • Dust resistance IP6X
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
  • Dust resistance (Not specified)
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
  • Dust resistance IP6X
- Water resistance 50m (swim proof)
  • Dust resistance (Not specified)
  • IP68
Safety Features None - Emergency SOS
  • International emergency calling
  • Crash Detection
  • Fall Detection
Fall Detection - Emergency SOS - Safety Check
  • Emergency Sharing
  • Medical Information
  • Fall Detection

Our Analysis and Test Results

Performance Comparison


amazfit bip 5 - a decent watch for the money, but not as spectacular as the best...
A decent watch for the money, but not as spectacular as the best watches we tested.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Smart Function


Our Gear Lab team evaluated and scored the smart capabilities of the Amazfit BIP 5 in our primary test metric, smart function. We assigned scores based on its proprietary and third-party apps and app stores, communication capabilities, and on-watch GPS displays, and assigned it a weight of forty percent of the overall score for each smartwatch. Standalone, the Amazfit BIP 5 offers satisfactory smart functionality, but is a less robust option when compared to top models.


The Amazfit BIP 5 runs a Zepp operating system meant for watches and managing other apps and customizations. The app is similar to Garmin's Connect app, is intuitive and easy to use. A premium version of apps are included with a paid service, and includes Zepp Aura and Fitness apps, which allow for more customization of watch faces, and greater detail and access to workout and fitness data.

You can access and download third party apps, but the variety, and quality of the apps and the ecosystem is nowhere near the level and quality of the Apple and Google app stores, and side by side, it feels significantly behind.

This ultra-affordable model offers a surprisingly refined interface.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

With regard to call making, the Amazfit BIP 5 offers a comparable experience to top models, which is impressive considering its modest price. We occasionally experienced slightly muffled audio, but the call quality was surprising for a budget option. Our team did have minor issues connecting the watch to a phone, but after updating the watch, the issues were resolved.

The texting experience is more limited than what you will experience with more premium smartwatches. The Amazfit BIP 5 has no keyboard, and no voice to text, but does have automated responses.

The GPS is also incredibly slow to connect, and the standard Zepp OS has no native GPS mapping, although it is possible to get directions as notifications as a weak workaround.

amazfit bip 5 - a surprisingly capable watch, and impressive considering its price.
A surprisingly capable watch, and impressive considering its price.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Health


Almost every smartwatch on the market incorporates health monitoring or fitness tracking functionalities. While there isn't anything terribly bad about the health and fitness monitoring abilities of the Amazfit BIP 5 there isn't anything too exceptional either. Considering the widespread adoption of smartwatches for health and fitness tracking, our second test metric, health, accounts for thirty percent of each model's overall score. The Amazfit BIP 5 offered surprising performance for a lesser known budget offering, even outperforming the FitBits in our test lineup.


While the step counter offered good accuracy, and the workout selections were numerous and high quality, other sensors weren't as accurate when compared to our control equipment. Heart rate data was off by about 3 percent, and the GPS by a margin of about 10 percent. The GPS radio also repeatedly took a long time to get established before it could be used.

Ofcourse, a subscription to the premium version of the Zepp Aura and Fitness app adds to the cost of ownership, but does provide a greater level of data and metrics for workouts, although it doesn't solve the accuracy and GPS issues experienced by our team.

amazfit bip 5 - some health monitoring sensors are more accurate and quicker than...
Some health monitoring sensors are more accurate and quicker than others.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Battery Life


Our third test metric measured the battery life of the Amazfit BIP 5's rather dainty 125 mAh battery under different conditions, and also evaluated charging rates. The small battery in this model could not keep up with the batteries that are three to five times bigger in more expensive offerings.


The Amazfit BIP 5's battery didn't exhibit the most outstanding results. In fact, it has a really unimpressive GPS energy consumption. With the GPS activated, the watch was only able to last 6.3 hours. It did make an improvement in run time, up to 33.3 hours with the GPS disabled, but that is still significantly less battery life than the majority of models we tested.

The recharging rates aren't exactly anything to write home about either, requiring 35 minutes to achieve a half charge, and 110 minutes to achieve a complete charge. While the actual time it takes to recharge doesn't seem bad, it is not great as a ratio to run time.

Overall, the Amazfit BIP 5 offered the lowest scores for battery life out of the large range of smartwatches our team tested, and there may be a correlation to the incredibly affordable price.

amazfit bip 5 - we tested every models battery life, discharging rate and recharging...
We tested every models battery life, discharging rate and recharging rate. This model wasn't that exceptional.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Display


As an extremely budget friendly model, our expectations weren't particularly high for the Amazfit BIP 5, yet it managed to offer a satisfactory and usable experience. The evaluation of the quality of the display on each smartwatch is our primary focus in our fourth test metric, and attributes ten percent of each model's final score. While this model has a large display, it is not the premium display you will find on an Apple or Samsung device.


The Amazfit BIP 5's 1.91 inch display is a simple LCD display protected by tempered glass. It is large enough that it is easy to see and operate, but the 260 pixel per inch resolution is significantly less dense than the higher pixel densities of the most crisp and brilliant displays. However, at a third to a tenth of the price of those models, you get a surprisingly good display.

The tempered glass is not as scratch resistant as smartwatch models utilizing more premium Ion-X, Corning Gorrila Glass , or crystal sapphire, and earned a Mohs hardness rating of 6.5 in our in-house testing. The large screen also lacks the brightness to maintain strong contrast when outdoor viewing in a bright environment, and the tempered glass tends to glare quite a bit.

We tested every watch, including the waterproof or resistance ratings.
Credit: Natalie Kafader

Should you buy the Google Pixel Watch 2?


If you don't want to invest too much money on your first foray into smartwatches, then the Amazfit BIP 5 is a great option. It isn't going to offer the premium watch experience or ecosystem like larger brands with huge app marketplaces, and even bigger third-party app availability. It also can't compete with the impressive OLED and Super AMOLED displays from more premium manufacturers, but it's LCD display, protected by tempered glass, is still bright enough to use even in a sunny environment, although it does glare a bit. Overall, at the incredibly modest price point, about ten percent the cost of the most premium watches we tested, the Amazfit BIP 5 is a great value and you would be hard-pressed to find a better smartwatch in this price range.

What other Smartwatches should you consider?


The Amazfit BIP 5 is a good smartwatch considering its extremely budget-friendly price tag, and will suffice for a lot of people, but the majority of other options our team tested easily outshone this model. In the more affordable but exceptional price range of smartwatches, you'll really need to consider a model like the Apple Watch SE gen 2, or the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 for Android users. If you are more interested in taking your fitness tracking to the next level, you'll need to take a look at the Garmin Venu 3, while you would be remiss if you wanted the most premium smartwatch on the market and didn't consider splurging on the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Benjamin Hickok