Top 15 Chinese Watch Brands

Updated: 22.04.2021 16:23:13

Judge: Kristina Davydova

*A review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

Long gone are the days when the phrase «Made in China» meant a low-quality, cheap fake. Today, many brands from China can compete with the oldest European companies. The development of products is carried out by professional watchmakers from different countries, the experience of Swiss masters is taken into account, details are supplied from Japan, and innovative technologies are presented at international competitions. Many brands have been created recently, but have already managed to declare themselves as a serious manufacturer of fashionable and high-quality accessories.

But they should not be confused with the so-called «Chinese fakes» that can be purchased at the station, in the subway passages or in the markets. Good watches today are offered by Internet sites, as well as company stores.

How to choose a Chinese watch

To make the right choice and not make a mistake, you must immediately decide on some parameters.

1. Housing material
   . The durability of Chinese watches depends on this choice. Stainless steel is considered the most wear resistant. Coating of titanium or chromium increases the service life, protects against mechanical stress. Plastic, due to its light weight, is used in the manufacture of sports and children’s models.
2. Glass
   . In budget models, plexiglass or ordinary glass is installed. They are not scratch resistant and will not protect the dial as much as possible from damage. The sapphire glass is durable and impact resistant. Today you can buy bulletproof watches.
3. Mechanism
   . Many Chinese brands install parts and mechanisms made in Switzerland or Japan. Such watches will serve for a long time, they are guaranteed from 1 to 5 years.
4. Straps and bracelets
   . The wear resistance of the product depends not only on the quality of the mechanisms. Good fixation on the wrist creates comfortable wearing. Genuine leather absorbs moisture, allows the skin to «breathe». Stainless steel bracelets do not cause inconvenience, they hold well on the hand. The silicone strap is soft, does not rub, and is used in many sports models.
5. Class
   . Quartz, mechanical or smart watches — the choice depends only on individual preferences. Each class has its own merits. Quartz watches do not need to be wound, they are highly accurate. Mechanical models are classics, they are appropriate in any image. Smart watches are multifunctional devices that make life easier for the owner.
6. Additional functions.
   The final price of the product also depends on this criterion. The more settings, the more expensive the watch. Many models are equipped with second hands, backlight, show the current date, day of the week, month and year.
7. Design.
   The variety of style solutions allows you to choose from Chinese models suitable watches for any occasion. This is a classic, sport, avant-garde. Many manufacturers combine these styles and produce universal accessories for everyday wear, business meetings, training and special occasions.

Our experts have selected really serious Chinese brands in the rating, which do not just copy watches, but produce author’s models with exclusive designs and high performance.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4 NFC

• Display:
  0.95 inch 120*240 AMOLED
• Sensors:
  accelerometer, gyroscope, heart rate monitor
• Battery:
  125 mAh
• Moisture protection:
  IP68

Price: from 2,400 rubles.

Mi Band 4 NFC is a real top seller of the past year. This is the first bracelet from Xiaomi that supports contactless payment in Russian stores. Now, in order to pay for travel in the subway or pay at the supermarket, you do not need to purchase expensive devices.

In order not to confuse the NFC model with the regular Mi Band 4, just look at the distinctive sign that is placed on the touch button of the capsule. In the older version, there is an icon in the form of a horseshoe, and in the younger one, in the form of a circle. The fact that the tracker works with cards of Russian banks is evidenced by the EAC marking on the back of the case.

But the ability to make contactless payments is far from the only advantage of the bracelet. It can be successfully used for its intended purpose — to track sports activity. Right in the bracelet, you can choose one of the workouts, including: running outdoors, swimming and cycling. And this is very convenient, because in order to start training, it is not necessary to get the phone out of your pocket.

The tracker tracks the distance traveled (using a GPS module on a smartphone), counts the number of steps and monitors the state of the heart rate. And protection according to the WR50 standard allows you to safely train in the pool.

The strap of the device is made of hypoallergenic thermoplastic polyurethane, so it does not irritate the skin. Of course, the strap can be replaced with a non-original one, but it should be borne in mind that it can be made from cheaper materials, which in turn can cause an allergic reaction.

Advantages:

• Ability to link up to 6 bank cards at the same time.
• Contactless payment, even if your smartphone is not nearby.
• Great autonomy, especially in comparison with Mi Band 5.
• Paired with a smartphone, the error in measuring the distance traveled is less than 1%.

Flaws:

• There is no function to measure the level of stress.
• Small print on the menu out of the box.

Rating of the best Chinese watches

User voting

What sports watch would you choose or recommend for buying on Aliexpress?

Ezon L008C11

50.00% ( 1 )

NORTH EDGE GAVIA 2

0.00% ( 0 )

SUNROAD PATHFINDER FR934B

0.00% ( 0 )

Spovan SPV 709

0.00% ( 0 )

NORTH EDGE Apache 3

0.00% ( 0 )

NORTH EDGE MARS

0.00% ( 0 )

Xonix with autocalibration

50.00% ( 1 )

Xonix

0.00% ( 0 )

SKMEI 1560

0.00% ( 0 )

SKMEI 1251

0.00% ( 0 )

Huawei Watch GT 2 Sport

0.00% ( 0 )

Amazfit Stratos

0.00% ( 0 )

HUAWEI WATCH GT2 Pro

0.00% ( 0 )

Doolnng

0.00% ( 0 )

Huami Amazfit Bip

0.00% ( 0 )

Nennbo L6

0.00% ( 0 )

Xiaomi Mi Sport Watch

0.00% ( 0 )

Realme Watch 2 Pro

0.00% ( 0 )

Amazfit GTS 2 Mini

0.00% ( 0 )

Best Chinese Quartz Watches

Quartz watches are recognized as the most popular and best-selling model. Appeared more than a century ago, they have been improved year after year, and today they represent the most accurate mechanism. Many buyers choose them for ease of use: they do not need to be started, and the batteries last for quite a long time. Chinese manufacturers pay special attention to models with a quartz movement. We suggest that you familiarize yourself with 5 brands from the Middle Kingdom, whose products will become a stylish attribute for any look.

Geneva

Rating: 4.9

The brand produces men’s and women’s watches in sports, classic and avant-garde designs. Applying Swiss technology, using equipment from the USA and high-quality materials, professional watchmakers create modern accessories that meet international standards and norms. Finished products are tested at least 22 times, on the back cover there is always a hand-engraved signature of the founder of the brand Saedi.

Cases and bracelets are made of stainless or gold-plated steel, there are models in rose gold or silver-plated, there are also lines with genuine leather straps. On rectangular, round, square dials, Arabic, Roman or dot indices of time are marked.

Quartz Swiss movement guarantees the reliability and accuracy of products, as well as their long-term operation. For almost twenty years of history, several exclusive collections have been created that delight fans with a variety of original designs, where everything is harmoniously combined, from the color of the dial to the size of the case.

Entering a new level of production of replica watches

Sometimes Chinese manufacturers of high-end counterfeits can even completely replicate foreign brand movements, as in the case of the Rolex 3135. Although this fake has many flaws, it is not easy to distinguish it from the original, and the movement is just an important milestone in the production of counterfeits. Factories have already moved from simple imitation to complex processing and refinement of watch movements. A few more photos for comparison

Tudor Pelagos — another comparison (original on the right). The differences are in the color of the crown and the nitrogen release valve. The color of the dial is slightly deeper than the original.

Rolex Yachtmaster is the original on the right. The main difference is the date font, the original has a 10x magnifying glass

Therefore, by the way, many companies already make their own fonts for the date of the mechanism — for complete similarity with the originals. To do this, they turn to small workshops. But making fonts for the date and for other purposes is quite an expensive pleasure, so they don’t bother with this for cheap fakes.

Best Chinese Wrist Watch with Spring Movement

Mechanical watches have always been considered a sign of elegance and good taste. Their accuracy depends on many factors. They can lag behind or rush with temperature fluctuations, due to gear wear, spring plant. But this does not detract from their merits at all, and collectors from all over the world prefer watches with a spring mechanism. Manufacturers from China delight fans of stylish and at the same time affordable things, releasing models of excellent quality and design that are not inferior to many European counterparts.

Anicorn

Rating: 4.9

If you want to look stylish, differ from others and at the same time not spend large amounts, then you will like the watches of the Anicorn brand included in the rating. The main difference between products from other brands from the Middle Kingdom is unique trendy designs in an avant-garde style. But they do not have flashy shades or clearly eye-catching details, which is why they will look appropriate in the office, and in a sports club, and at a party.

The round dial is made without the usual hands. Hours and minutes are displayed using rotating scales. Sapphire glass with anti-reflective layer creates additional convenience during operation. The case is made of metal with a coating of chromium or titanium. Straps are made of genuine leather, clasps are made of stainless steel. A bright stripe stands out against the overall dark background to smooth out the laconic design and bring a stylish nuance.

It is worth noting that the brand’s products belong to the middle price category, and all accessories cost from 20,000 rubles and more. But this does not stop fans of the new brand, who prefer stylish watches with bold designs over familiar classic accessories.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 4c

• Display:
  1.08 inch 128*220 TFT
• Sensors:
  accelerometer, heart rate monitor
• Battery:
  130 mAh
• Moisture protection:
  5 ATM

Price: from 1,260 rubles.

The first bracelet that was announced in China under the Redmi brand. Unlike other representatives of the Mi Smart Band line, this one received a fundamentally different design. The device looks new and may appeal to those who are tired of the rounded capsules of the classic Mi Band.

The tracker works with the Xiaomi Wear application, which in terms of functionality is somewhat reminiscent of the classic Mi Fit, but it looks somehow childish. However, to each his own.

In addition to the appearance, the bracelet can offer an even lower price tag. In many stores, the device costs no more than 1,200 rubles. At the same time, its functionality is not much different from the classic Mi Band 4.

Advantages:

• Support for Bluetooth 5.0 wireless module.
• Charger built into the strap.
• The cost is lower than other Xiaomi bracelets.

Flaws:

• A more budgetary TFT-matrix is ​​used.
• Runs less on a single battery charge.

Best Chinese Sports Watches

Sports models are gaining popularity every year not only among lovers of an active lifestyle. Unique designs and high performance have made them a favorite accessory for everyday wear. The main plus is durability and functionality. Made of impact-resistant glass and stainless steel, plastic or rubber, they are reliably protected from damage and water. The most common models with a stopwatch and backlight. The Chinese brands included in the rating do not lag behind the leading watch brands and put on sale original wrist accessories that will become an indispensable attribute for any occasion.

SKMEI

Rating: 4.9

Outdoor enthusiasts, athletes and the entire youth audience have long appreciated the shock-resistant and water-resistant watches from SKMEI. For more than 15 years, the brand has been producing accessories that meet international quality standards, and their diverse designs surprise women and men not only in China, but also in other countries of the world. It is worth noting that the company was founded by scientists from Japan who moved to China and combined the experience of watchmakers from the two countries in their developments.

There are models with electronic or analog display, Roman or Arabic numerals and even without them, the function of indicating the time of several time zones, which is very convenient for travel lovers. The straps are made mainly of silicone, the cases are made of stainless steel or composite plastic.

In sports accessories, not only the day and day of the week, but also the month and year are displayed. The developers paid special attention to people with hearing disabilities. The watch picks up alarms and transmits them through vibration.

HONOR Band 5

• Display:
  0.95 inch 120*240 AMOLED
• Sensors:
  accelerometer, built-in heart rate monitor
• Battery:
  100 mAh
• Moisture protection:
  IP68

Price: from 1,919 rubles.

Budget fitness tracker with the maximum set of functions. Among its competitors, the bracelet boasts a pulse oximeter that measures blood oxygen saturation. It will be useful to know about this indicator not only out of curiosity, but also in order to monitor the state of the respiratory system, for example, during training. But there is one drawback — there is no way to track this indicator in real time. It is also sad that you can find out about the level of oxygen in the blood only in the corresponding item on the tracker — the results are not recorded in the application.

In terms of sports, there’s a pretty decent range of workouts on the wristband, including swimming in the pool, running, elliptical trainer, and stationary bike. There are 10 sport modes in total in the menu. Unfortunately, the gadget does not calculate the number of calories and does not display information about the maximum oxygen consumption during exercise. Yes, and there is no GPS support here, so you won’t be able to see the distance traveled on the map. However, the device calculates distance and pace quite accurately. The discrepancy is several hundred meters per 4 km.

Another highlight of the Honor Band 5 is an improved AMOLED True Color display with an elegant 2.5D bump. The image is clearly visible on the street even on a bright sunny day. But you will have to tinker with the strap, because it is not so fast to fasten it, as in Mi Bands. Instead of a clip, it uses a classic clasp like on a wristwatch. However, there are also positive aspects. So, for charging, the strap does not need to be disconnected from the tracker. Magnetic charging is easily connected to the contacts located on the back of the capsule.

If you forgot your smartphone at home, the tracker will warn you about it. This is possible thanks to the Bluetooth connection disconnection notification function. Another nice little thing is the gadget’s ability to control the shutter release of the phone’s camera. Unfortunately, the Russian version of the tracker did not receive an NFC module.

Advantages:

• Good value for money.
• Decent accuracy of the pedometer and indicators of the level of oxygen in the blood.
• Detailed sleep tracking with recommendations based on scientific publications.
• The most detailed information about training.

Flaws:

• Incorrect measurement of rapid heart rate (over 120).
• The original strap may cause skin irritation.

The best Chinese smartwatches

Smart watches, although quite recently entered our lives, have already conquered many users with their functionality. Chinese brands offer both classic and sporty smart mechanisms. There are various materials to choose from, interchangeable straps, there are models with a heart rate monitor, various training modes, and a pedometer. The quality of goods from China today is not inferior to many European brands and can even compete with some of them. In this category, the top 5 smart watch manufacturers from China are presented, which received the highest ratings from experts and buyers.

Production of fakes is a criminal article

Under PRC criminal law (Section 213), counterfeiting registered trademarks is a crime. Why then would an ordinary factory take the risk of producing such goods? This is because the ordinary factory only produces parts, without the brand logo. This is not illegal. But the production of counterfeit watches is «looped», so that any failure can jeopardize the entire production chain.

Fake Tudor watches with high quality imitation

Huawei Watch Fit

• Display:
  1.64″ 456*280 AMOLED
• Sensors:
  accelerometer, gyroscope, ambient light sensor, built-in heart rate monitor
• Battery:
  180 mAh
• Moisture protection:
  5 ATM

Price: from 6 150 rubles.

Something between a smart bracelet and a smart watch. The elongated display seems frameless, especially if you put the corresponding dial with a black background.

As for a budget smartwatch, the choice of features here is indecently rich. The device can measure the level of oxygen in the blood and heart rate, monitors the quality of sleep and stress levels. There are 96 types of workouts available on the menu, including breathing exercises, laser tag, fishing, taekwondo, darts and swimming. Almost every lesson has an animated trainer that shows you how to properly perform a particular exercise. You can sync your fitness data with the Huawei Health, Google Fit, or MyFitnessPal apps. The clock will not work with other programs.

You can control the clock using a button located on the end of the case. It is worth noting that it is pressed quite tightly. And the microphone built into the watch will not be useful to the Russian user, since the function of calling the voice assistant is not available in the country.

Advantages:

• Original design with a rectangular screen.
• The function of measuring the level of oxygen in the blood.
• The video trainer clearly shows how to do this or that exercise.
• Do not wind up the number of steps.

Flaws:

• Does not display an incoming call from WhatsApp and Viber.
• There is no NFC module for contactless payment.
• Very loud and annoying vibration.

Amazfit Bip

• Display:
  1.28″ 176*176 reflective
• Sensors:
  accelerometer, light sensor, built-in heart rate monitor
• Battery:
  190 mAh
• Moisture protection:
  IP68

Price: from 4,790 rubles.

A smart watch that, despite the price, offers all the basic sports features. They support GPS and GLONASS, have a built-in heart rate monitor and allow you to track many sports activities. There is no swim mode here, even though they are protected from dust and moisture according to the IP68 standard.

Unlike most competitors, the watch never loses connection with the phone. All notifications are received properly, and the data is synchronized with the application.

The device has a reflective display that never turns off. At the same time, the watch works from one charge up to 40-45 days. In some cases, if the device is used less actively, it can work up to 3 months. The image on the screen is very clearly visible on a bright sunny day — a reflective display works wonders.

Advantages:

• Round the clock monitoring of cardiac activity.
• During sports, they are practically not felt on the arm.
• Up to three weeks of battery life in mixed usage.
• The transflective (reflective) display is permanently active.

Flaws:

• The screen is small.
• Blind and boring design.

Xiaomi Amazfit Sports Watch

• Display: 1.34″ 320×300 IPS
• Sensors: heart rate monitor, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer
• Battery: 280mAh
• Moisture protection: IP67

Price: from 6 480 rubles.

If you look at the photo of the device, it seems quite simple — one might say, a toy. But in fact, this is quite a serious watch that many athletes can be satisfied with. The body of the gadget is made of ceramic, and the strap is silicone. These watches are not afraid of water — at least, shower or rain. Another important feature is the presence of a GPS chip that fixes the route of your travels. A heart rate monitor provides information about heartbeats. If the pulse goes off scale, then the smart system will ask you to stop training, interrupting for rest. There is also a built-in memory on which you can store songs. However, there is no speaker here, so you will need some kind of Bluetooth device to output sound.

Advantages

• There are 4 GB of internal memory.
• Built-in microSD card slot.
• It is possible to measure the pulse.
• GPS and GLONASS are supported.
• Good screen protector.
• Synchronization with many smartphones.
• Fast charging (about 40 minutes).

Flaws

• Not the longest battery life on a full charge.
• Cannot control the player on a smartphone.
• Swimming with the watch is not recommended.

Huawei Band 4 Pro

• Display:
  0.95 inch 120*240 AMOLED
• Sensors:
  accelerometer, gyroscope, built-in heart rate monitor
• Battery:
  100 mAh
• Moisture protection:
  5 ATM

Price: from 3,000 rubles.

Another flagship model from Huawei and its price is corresponding. Apparently, the watch is designed for a woman’s or child’s hand, because the strap is small. Beautiful AMOLED-display has rich colors, but the glossy finish adversely affects the readability of the image in sunny weather.

The bracelet is able to perform some functions without a smartphone. For example, it independently records the heart rate and draws the route (using the built-in GPS). And the tracker can measure the user’s body temperature during training. As for the pulse, the tracker must be properly fixed on the hand. Otherwise, the device overestimates the value by about 30 units, instead of just showing an error.

The sleep tracking function deserves special attention. The watch fixes the rest, even if you sleep during the day or several times a day, but only if the dream lasts more than three hours.

Music playback control works with Android smartphones. The function is not supported on iPhone.

The watch is equipped with a 6-axis accelerometer and supports tracking of 11 types of workouts, including, for example, rowing, swimming, running and treadmill. Special attention was paid to walking indoors, which seems especially appropriate, especially now in quarantine. If you select this workout, the GPS will not turn on, which can save a lot of battery power.

There are no physical buttons here, but they are very convenient for controlling the watch, for example, with wet hands during a workout. Another drawback is not very great autonomy. The battery lasts only for a week of work in energy-saving mode. And if the bracelet is discharged to 10%, work with fitness programs is curtailed.

Advantages:

• Clear image even in the sun.
• A small error of the pedometer.
• The function of measuring the level of oxygen in the blood.
• Neat and very attractive design.

Flaws:

• High cost in comparison with analogues.
• Small and narrow screen.
• Relatively short battery life.