Amazfit Launches $649 T-Rex Dual Solar Watch With 2 Solar Panels as Battery Gains Stay Minimal
Updated
Updated · DC Rainmaker · Sep 22
Amazfit Launches $649 T-Rex Dual Solar Watch With 2 Solar Panels as Battery Gains Stay Minimal
3 articles · Updated · DC Rainmaker · Sep 22
Summary
Amazfit’s new $649 T-Rex Dual Solar pairs a 1.3-inch AMOLED display with front and rear solar panels, becoming a rare attempt to deliver the AMOLED-plus-solar combination larger rivals had avoided.
Real-world testing showed the solar payoff was small: all-day sun exposure added only about 2% to 3% battery in smartwatch mode, while a 2-hour 12-minute ride delivered no recorded solar gain at all.
The rear panel can generate roughly 2x the front panel’s power and even revive a dead watch, but Solar Boost often overheated within 10 minutes in 27-32C conditions, cutting charging short.
The design also trades off battery and screen size versus the T-Rex Ultra 2—660mAh instead of 870mAh and 1.3 inches instead of 1.5—while costing $100 more.
Amazfit’s clearest win may be software: its solar widget breaks out front and rear input, shows 1-day, 7-day and 30-day trends, and estimates battery gains by mode even as the hardware economics remain weak.