Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro Review: A Garmin Killer That Misses the Mark
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro promises premium fitness tracking features at a fraction of Garmin's price, but fails to deliver on its potential. While boasting impressive specifications including titanium construction, sapphire screen, and 25-day battery life, the watch is plagued by software issues, buggy performance, and unreliable features. From failed route navigation to unresponsive AI assistance, the user experience falls short of expectations, making this ambitious competitor a disappointing alternative to established brands.
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro enters the competitive fitness watch market with bold ambitions, positioning itself as a budget-friendly alternative to premium options like the Garmin Fenix 8. Priced at $400 compared to Garmin's $1,100 flagship, the T-Rex 3 Pro appears to offer incredible value on paper. However, beneath the impressive specifications lies a product struggling with fundamental usability issues that undermine its potential as a serious Garmin competitor.
Premium Hardware, Problematic Software
The T-Rex 3 Pro features a 49-mm titanium bezel and sapphire screen covering a bright AMOLED display that outputs 3,000 nits, making it noticeably brighter than the standard Fenix 8. With up to 25 days of battery life and comprehensive sensor arrays including depth sensors for diving activities, the hardware specifications are genuinely impressive. The watch also includes a microphone, speaker, and LED flashlight—features typically found on much more expensive devices.
User Experience Breakdown
Where the T-Rex 3 Pro falters dramatically is in its software implementation and user interface. Basic navigation becomes a frustrating exercise in patience, with menu items rarely appearing where expected and simple tasks requiring excessive button clicks. The watch frequently forces users to completely end activities rather than simply pausing them to access main menu functions. This fundamental design flaw disrupts workout flow and creates unnecessary complications during exercise sessions.
Feature Implementation Issues
The Zepp Flow AI assistant, while capable of answering a wider range of questions than Garmin's built-in AI, suffers from severe lag issues—sometimes taking up to eight seconds to respond or failing to respond entirely. Offline routing, one of the watch's banner features, proves unreliable with route creation failing approximately 90% of the time according to testing. When it does work, the navigation sometimes suggests dangerous routes, including directing users to run on major highways.
Music and Mapping Limitations
Despite including 26GB of storage for music and maps, the T-Rex 3 Pro lacks support for popular music streaming apps, limiting users to manually loaded MP3 files. Map installation through the companion app is slow and cumbersome, taking five minutes to download just one-third of Los Angeles. This makes the watch impractical for travelers who need quick access to new areas for impromptu workouts or exploration.
Better Alternatives Available
For athletes seeking Garmin-level features without the premium price tag, better options exist in the same price range. The Garmin Instinct 3 series and older Fenix 7 models can be found for $400-$500 and offer reliable performance with features that actually work as intended. While these alternatives may not include every cutting-edge feature, they provide a consistent, frustration-free user experience that the T-Rex 3 Pro fails to deliver.
The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro represents a classic case of specifications overshadowing substance. While the hardware components suggest a capable Garmin competitor, the execution falls short due to software immaturity and user experience flaws. For serious athletes and fitness enthusiasts, reliability and consistency are paramount—qualities that established brands like Garmin have earned through years of refinement. Until Amazfit addresses these fundamental issues, the T-Rex 3 Pro remains an ambitious but ultimately disappointing attempt to challenge the fitness watch establishment.
