Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra: A Budget Smartwatch That Impresses in Style but Falls Short on Functionality

Amid the multitude of budget-friendly smartwatches, Fire-Boltt’s Phoenix Ultra distinguishes itself. This distinction primarily arises from two elements — its pricing and aesthetics. Currently retailing in India for Rs. 2,199, it ranks among the most economical smartwatches that emulate a classic watch aesthetic with a metallic chassis, creating an appearance that’s reminiscent of a traditional watch rather than a smartwatch. I was intrigued to discover how such a device could be offered at this price, but after using it for a couple of weeks, I believe I understand the approach taken.

Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra pricing, design, and specifications

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra is sold in a single variant, officially listed at Rs. 2,999, yet it can be acquired for as low as Rs. 2,199 from various online vendors. Included in the package are a silicon strap, an additional magnetic metal loop strap, and a two-pin magnetic charger.

The watch comes in three different case finishes: steel, black, and gold. Each finish is accompanied by varied strap options in the package. I received the steel model paired with a magnetic blue metal strap and a soft grey silicone strap.

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra features a metal case along with 3D-curved display glass

Upon initial inspection, the steel finish of the 44mm case certainly exudes elegance and closely resembles classic timepieces. Remarkably, for an entry-level smartwatch, the quality of the metal finish appears impressive, free from any jagged or uneven edges. The rear casing is constructed of plastic, housing the sensors at the center, with the metal charging contacts situated nearer to the edge. Weighing in at 55g without the strap, the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra boasts an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance.

With both metal and silicone straps, the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra is quite lightweight and comfortable. The 22mm silicone strap features a quick-release mechanism for easy attachment to the case. The metal loop strap uses a robust magnet to secure the watch securely. During my evaluation, the device remained fastened regardless of which strap I employed.

Fire-Boltt provides an extra magnetic loop strap in the package

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra boasts a basic 1.39-inch LCD display with a resolution of 240 × 240 pixels and a typical 60Hz refresh rate. The display is surrounded by notably large bezels, with my unit’s bottom bezel appearing disproportionately thick compared to the others.

A single button controls the watch, waking the display to show the watch face or turning it off. When in any menu or app, pressing the button redirects you back to the watch face instantly.

Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra software and performance

Its software interface is fairly rudimentary. Lacking support for third-party applications, it even misses essential features. For instance, the display timeout cannot be adjusted, defaulting to five seconds, and there is no calculator app. Additionally, the charging status of the device cannot be viewed without disconnecting it from the charger.

To check the watch face, the charger must be disconnected, as that’s the only interface reflecting battery status. Setting alarms, timers, or stopwatches necessitates navigating through the settings menu, which is an extra step away from the primary menu.

The display alignment issues become apparent on the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra

Simple swipe gestures facilitate navigation through this uncomplicated software interface, rendering the crown’s utility limited to powering the display on or off, as the flick-to-wake feature works effectively.

The companion app mirrors the simplicity of the smartwatch’s UI and is available for both iOS and Android devices. The Da Fit app comprises three key sections: Today, device settings, and My (the user profile). The app setup process on Android was quite user-friendly; however, it necessitates keeping the app active in the phone’s Recent apps to maintain incoming notifications on the watch.

The Da Fit mobile app presents a straightforward interface

The Today page displays data from the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra, including step count, sleep tracking, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and workout history. In the device settings section, users can modify watch faces, notifications, alarms, etc. Hidden deep within is a section labeled Others that allows adjustments for time format, measurement units, do not disturb periods, continuous heart rate setting intervals, and crucially, auto-lock or display sleep settings that are not adjustable on the watch itself.

GPS-enabled activities such as outdoor running or walking can only be conducted via the Da Fit mobile app, as the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra lacks built-in GPS. One peculiar aspect is that the watch will not sync data to the app unless you actively open the mobile app and refresh the Today section.

The watch face gallery comes with a select number of preloaded watch faces (including one featuring Mahendra Singh Dhoni), but accessing the online gallery through the mobile app provides a plethora of interesting downloadable options. However, despite their small size of around 159kb, I encountered difficulties downloading and installing a new watch face during the period of testing, rendering both the smartwatch and app inaccessible, which can be exasperating.

Notifications on the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra lack app identification

Notifications displayed on the smartwatch are truncated and difficult to trace back to their respective sources, as there are no distinct icons to indicate the application. Additionally, setting a timer on the smartphone leads to incessant notifications for every passing second, cluttering the smartwatch’s notification menu.

Health monitoring stands as a significant reason for many opting for smartwatches nowadays. Unfortunately, my experience with the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra in this regard was less than satisfactory. The watch features only two automatic health monitoring capabilities: sleep tracking, which aims to provide in-depth sleep stage data, and continuous heart rate monitoring customized to user-selected intervals.

However, the sleep data accuracy was questionable, as the device tended to misinterpret time spent lying awake as actual sleep, resulting in misleading data. Heart rate measurements were inconsistent and unreliable when compared with those from a standalone oximeter. While SpO2 readings were slightly more dependable, they still lacked consistency.

The Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra encompasses up to 123 fitness tracking modes. I tested the straightforward step tracking function using the Walking mode, where the watch registered 505 steps against an actual count of 500, which seems acceptable given the smartwatch’s pricing. Nonetheless, this is not a device I would prefer for dedicated health and fitness monitoring.

The Bluetooth calling feature performed satisfactorily, and setting it up didn’t require multiple pairings with the Android device. The caller’s voice was clear, and they could not discern that I was on a smartwatch.

The magnetic charger securely fits while powering the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra

Regarding battery life, I found that the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra managed to uphold its promised seven-day endurance. This is largely attributed to the lack of automatic health monitoring features, with most requiring manual activation. Automatic data syncing is also absent. Daily battery consumption was around 15-20 percent, accommodating a brief workout session and sleep tracking. Continuous heart rate monitoring, though it raised alerts, didn’t drastically impact battery performance as long as I set intervals to 30 minutes. Charging the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra does take a considerable amount of time, approximately two hours with a 33W charger.

Conclusion

It is challenging to find a smartwatch that rivals the Fire-Boltt Phoenix Ultra’s visual appeal at this price range; however, that is arguably the only advantage to consider. For other features, superior alternatives exist in the market.

For those seeking reliable health-tracking functionalities in a wearable, a basic fitness band like the Amazfit Band 7 (Review) proves to be a more dependable choice at a lower cost. Those desiring a more sophisticated device or a closer experience to traditional smartwatches, complete with features such as a larger display, Bluetooth calling, and automated health tracking functionalities, will find the new Redmi Watch 3 Active to be a significantly better alternative at Rs. 2,999. Meanwhile, for those in search of a stylish smartwatch, the OnePlus Nord Watch (Review) certainly appears to be a preferable option at Rs. 4,999.

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