Amazfit is now unstoppable, and for years it has been offering smartwatches of different types, many of which are real must buy. The company tries to propose something new, looking to the past. Amazfit Neo (for sale at 30 euros), useless to go around it, seems to be a modern reinterpretation of the classic Casio. It doesn't have a color display like the GTS 2 or GTR 2, but it still remains a hybrid fitness tracker.
The watch, as already mentioned, looks like the most classic of Casio watches, with a retro design. It is available in black and red colors, and offers a rectangular-shaped dial, strictly in 40 mm plastic, very light with its 32 grams of weight . It is paired with a 20mm polyurethane strap, which is comfortable to wear, but not removable.
The watch features four physical buttons, which allow you to control all functions of the 1.2-inch black and white STN display. In particular, with the two buttons on the left it will be possible to select the functions offered by the clock, while with the one at the top left it allows to modify the selected function, or to switch off the clock if pressed. The button at the bottom left, if pressed, turns on the backlight.
The display is basically divided into three large sections. The bottom one provides time data, the top one shows the date and the selected function, such as steps or heart rate, while a third circular section shows the function running on the watch, via a small icon.
The display is therefore very simple, but not ineffective for this. Indeed, it is well structured for the type of watch, and provides essential information in a clear and fast way. The backlight is very bright, and turns on automatically when you raise your wrist; being very strong, it is always easy to see the time, in any external light condition, even under direct sun.
Amazfit Neo certainly has far fewer features than its color counterparts. In addition to the time, it shows the steps taken , the PAI , the heart rate, the clocks in the world, the distance traveled, the calories burned , the weather , in addition to offering the stopwatch function, and the sleep monitoring .
There is also no shortage of notifications, complete with support for native and third-party apps. Obviously, the watch does not allow you to read the text of incoming notifications in any way, but offers an acoustic notification for the arrival of a message, as well as showing a small icon in the circular section, which informs the user that he has received a message on the smartphone.
The information provided by the watch is basic, and even in the application there is not much to intervene on. Obviously, watchfaces cannot be changed, so as to be non-customizable. Neo is a basic watch, which returns the most immediate information, as well as being a watch with a great retro spirit. There is also a 5ATM certification, which allows you to wear the watch when swimming in the pool.
In addition, it supports Huami's PAI , a system that uses an algorithm to review your weekly activity and return a single score: the closer you get to 100, the fitter you are.
The watch also allows you to monitor your sleep, and in this the very light weight makes it suitable for wearing it even in bed. In this sense, the watch will keep track of the stages of deep and light sleep and the time you are awake.
You can also see your heart rate during sleep via the app, even if REM sleep is not recorded , so it's not a detailed tracking, like Fitbit's GTS / R watches or Amazfit. In each case, the user will get a sleep score and a breakdown of sleep stages as a percentage.
The app is always Zepp, and groups all the data recorded by the watch
Amazfit Neo, therefore, provides basic information, but the degree of precision with which it does so is absolutely commendable. From the point of view of accuracy, the watch does a fairly reliable job.
During our tests, it gave absolutely plausible results, both in terms of steps and distance traveled, and in terms of heart rate. Sleep tracking was also accurate, with very similar, if not identical, data to other reference trackers.
The only clarification to make concerns the beats. It is true that the heart rate at rest is recorded correctly, precisely and on time, but when you are in physical activity, the readings seem to lose a little of punctuality and precision. The watch therefore seems to suffer from excessive movements.
Another applause, of course, is to be given to autonomy . Without a color screen, and other sensors that constantly weigh on the battery, it is possible to practically reach a month of autonomy. Fortunately, since the charging system with non-magnetic base is not extremely convenient.
Conclusions
Amazfit Neo is not the most featured smartwatch on the market. Indeed, quite the opposite. It is an absolutely basic watch, which however manages to provide numerous relative data, combining them in a really interesting and well-made retro interface.
It may not be your best training companion, but if you are a Casio fanatic, it is a practically obligatory purchase, because it combines the charm of a bygone era with the typical functions of a modern fitness watch. The price, then, makes it really attractive. At less than 30 euros it is the perfect gift for everyone.
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Price and availability
Amazfit Neo can be purchased at this address in the red, green and black variants, for about 30 euros.
