entry level first choice juntuofly smart running watch review
As a well-known domestic outdoor sports watch, JTOUR's every product is highly popular. Recently, JTOUR released the JTOUR FreeOne sports watch, and I was fortunate to get the opportunity to review it.
The JTOUR FreeOne sports watch features optical heart rate GPS Beidou positioning and tracking navigation. The screen size is 1.2 inches, but it is very lightweight at only 45g. Wearing it on the wrist, it doesn't feel intrusive.The FreeOne comes in three colors: fluorescent green, classic black, and tomato red. I received the fluorescent green version, which is quite eye-catching.
Here is a promotional image of the FreeOne watch to give everyone a direct impression.
Unboxing
The first impression upon receiving the package was that it was very thoughtfully packed, with multiple layers of protection.
This is the front of the watch packaging before unboxing. Initially, I thought it was designed this way on purpose, but later I realized it was because the contents inside weren't packed tightly, causing one side to sink.
Lei Diansheng, known as China's first hiker, endorses JTOUR products. In 2010, Lei Diansheng broke the world record set by an Argentine and was certified by Guinness World Records for the 'longest distance traveled on foot,' with a total journey of 81,000 kilometers.
The packaging also lists several features of the FreeOne: dual-mode satellite positioning (BDS+GPS), low-power standby (60 days without screen off), swimming-grade waterproof (50 meters), military-standard time, and dynamic optical heart rate.
The FreeOne running watch is born for running.
After opening the package, inside there is a watch, two paper boxes, and a transparent plastic bag.
Opening the paper boxes reveals: the watch, a charging data cable, a manual, two tempered glass films, a film application manual, and a special paper for applying the film.
This manual is not just for show; it has over 70 pages and clearly explains all the operational aspects of the watch.
Although it uses Corning Gorilla Glass, the manufacturer still applied a film, showing their attention to detail.
The heart rate testing module on the back also has a protective film.
The strap features a two-tone design, looking stylish and cool. The strap is detachable silicone, making it very soft and comfortable to wear.
The FreeOne's buckle design is very distinctive, using a double buckle design, making it very secure to wear. There's no need to worry about the buckle coming off during running.
The watch uses a clip-on charging method, which is very secure once clipped on. When charging after unboxing, it showed 100% battery. The manual states that it takes about 2 hours to charge from empty to full.
The watch offers many themes to choose from. You need to download them to the app first, then transfer them to the watch via Bluetooth. You can preview them, which is very convenient.
Comparison between FreeOne and Garmin 235
I have been wearing the Garmin 235, so I decided to compare these two watches.
The dial sizes of both watches are similar, and both use a five-button structure. The button functions are also the same, but the distribution is different, which made it a bit uncomfortable for me, being used to the Garmin.
The FreeOne uses a left-three-right-two button design. The top left is the backlight button, the bottom left is the return button (press for 3 seconds to power on or 10 seconds to restart), and the middle left is the OK button. In standby mode, a short press brings up the settings menu, and a long press on the first standby screen can add or remove functions like maximum oxygen uptake and lactate threshold. In other screens, a short press enters or confirms.
The two buttons on the right side are symmetrically arranged. The top right is the UP button, a short press scrolls up, and a long press brings up the sports function. In stopwatch mode, a short press counts laps. The bottom right is the DOWN button, a short press scrolls down, and a long press brings up the monitoring tools. In stopwatch mode, a short press counts laps.
As shown in the picture above, the thickness of the FreeOne and Garmin 235 bodies is almost the same, and the strap thickness is also similar. Personally, I feel the FreeOne's strap is slightly thicker.
The strap lengths of both watches are basically the same.
A closer look reveals that the optical heart rate modules of the two watches are slightly different. The FreeOne uses the Valencell wrist optical heart rate module. The back of the FreeOne has FCC and CE certifications, and the central heart rate sensing area is slightly raised, but it doesn't feel pressing when worn. It uses the JTOUR SPORTS algorithm for real-time data monitoring.
To test the FreeOne's performance, I wore one watch on each wrist and ran twice: a 2km*4 set mixed aerobic run and a 20km aerobic LSD.
App installation and data upload
Installing the FreeOne app is very simple. Just scan the QR code on the manual. After installation, turn on Bluetooth on both the phone and the watch, and they pair successfully in one go.
After opening the app, register and log in with your phone number. The process is very smooth, so I won't elaborate here.
The screenshots above show the main pages of the app. They are quite standard, except for the social page where the title appears garbled. This issue hasn't been resolved for three days. I'm not sure if it's a display problem with my phone or if the app backend editors haven't noticed.
Options like heart rate alerts, pace reminders, and distance reminders can all be set through the app and then synced to the phone.
This is my aerobic LSD on August 26. The left side is Garmin's Connect, and the right side is JTOUR's FreeOne.
The Garmin 235 shows 20 kilometers, while the FreeOne shows 19.21 kilometers. Looking at the track, both watches are basically consistent, with the FreeOne being more regular.
This is my 2km*4 set mixed aerobic run on August 25. The left side is Garmin's Connect, and the right side is JTOUR's FreeOne.
The Garmin shows 8 kilometers, while the FreeOne shows 8.01 kilometers. Looking at the track, both watches are basically consistent.
In both runs, the FreeOne's positioning time was relatively fast, within 20 seconds, slightly slower than the Garmin 235 but acceptable.
The above picture shows the real-time heart rate during running. The data is not much different from the Garmin.
Summary
Advantages
1. The 60-day battery life makes it more convenient to use. (Garmin 235 watch mode lasts 9 days)
2. The 50-meter waterproof feature makes the FreeOne suitable for swimming and triathlon events. Compared to Garmin watches with similar functions, it has a high cost-performance ratio.
3. The dual-mode Beidou+GPS positioning makes the exercise track more accurate, especially in China.
4. It has various running modes, daily activity detection, call reminders, WeChat, SMS, and QQ message push notifications, all the necessary functions.
5. The customizable tools are very rich, including raise-to-wake, do not disturb, and checking phone functions, which are very distinctive.
Disadvantages
1. Since it uses Corning Gorilla Glass with a DLC diamond-like carbon coating, providing two sets of protective films seems unnecessary. It would be better if, like the Garmin 235, it included an extra strap and removal tools in the standard accessories.
2. Compared to the Garmin 235, the operation for testing heart rate at any time is relatively cumbersome.