For years, Garmin held a unique stronghold in the rugged smartwatch market with its integrated LED flashlight—a feature outdoor adventurers and daily users like ZDNET contributor Matthew Miller relied on heavily. That monopoly has now been shattered. Amazfit's latest T-Rex 3 Pro smartwatch not only matches Garmin's flashlight functionality but enhances it with customizable safety lighting modes, marking a significant shift in the competitive landscape for durable wearables.

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Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro featuring its signature LED flashlight (Credit: ZDNET)

The T-Rex 3 Pro ($400) arrives in 48mm (available now) and 44mm (coming Q4) variants, catering to different wrist sizes while maintaining core specs:
- Dual-Color LED Flashlight: Offers red or white light at three intensity levels. Unlike Garmin, it includes programmable 'safety light' patterns (long/short flash, gradient) synced to activities.
- Extreme Durability: MIL-STD-810H certification, titanium casing, sapphire glass, and operation down to -30°C.
- Battery Life: Up to 19 days typical use or 29 hours in high-precision GPS mode.
- Activity Tracking: 180+ sport modes including specialized options like dog walking and fishing—the latter logging casts and catches alongside navigation.
- Outdoor Tools: On-device ski resort maps with slope difficulty coding and lift status.
- Smart Features: Speaker/microphone for calls and Zepp Flow voice assistant.

Miller notes the flashlight isn't just a clone: "Amazfit... added customization and optimization for the user," referencing configurable activity-triggered lighting. For winter sports enthusiasts, the ski map integration provides actionable slope data previously reserved for high-end mounts. Anglers also gain dedicated tracking, with the watch recording casting metrics and fish logs during excursions.

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T-Rex 3 Pro's fishing mode in action (Credit: ZDNET)

Trade-offs exist: No support for contactless payments or subscription music services limits its urban utility, and its rugged build (while protective) makes sleep tracking less comfortable. Amazfit mitigates the latter by syncing data with its sleeker Helio Ring or Helio Strap.

This release signals a strategic push by Amazfit to capture Garmin's core adventure market by addressing specific, oft-requested features at a lower price point. As Miller concludes: "The LED flashlight is present... at a reasonable $400 price with flagship materials... in an ecosystem that offers serious competition." For developers, Amazfit's growing feature set—especially its specialized activity APIs—creates new opportunities to build niche fitness and outdoor applications targeting a dedicated user base increasingly open to alternatives.

Source: ZDNET