QX17 Smartwatch Review: A Budget Powerhouse Packed with Features – But What’s Real?

The budget smartwatch market is fiercely competitive, with devices promising premium features at astonishingly low prices. The QX17 Smartwatch bursts onto this scene with a spec sheet that reads like a flagship wishlist: large HD screen, GPS, Bluetooth calling, comprehensive health monitoring, female health tracking, SOS alerts, voice assistant, and even an IP68 rating. But does it deliver on these promises, or is it a classic case of “too good to be true”? Let’s dissect this feature-packed contender.

First Impressions & Core Experience

• 2.01-inch HD Screen: The large display is immediately noticeable, offering ample space for notifications, watch faces, and menus. “HD” in this context typically means a resolution sufficient for clear viewing at this size (e.g., 240x280px or similar), providing a decent visual experience for the price, though not comparable to premium AMOLEDs.

• Bluetooth Calling: A major selling point. You can make and receive calls directly from the watch (provided it’s connected to your phone via Bluetooth). Microphone and speaker quality are usually functional but basic in this segment – expect clarity in quiet environments, but struggle in noise.

• GPS + Compass: This spec requires careful scrutiny. Many budget watches use Connected GPS, meaning they rely entirely on your phone’s GPS signal for tracking runs/walks. True standalone GPS (where the watch has its own receiver) is rare and power-hungry at this price. The compass is likely a basic digital sensor. Verify the product details carefully to understand which type of GPS is offered.
  
  

• Health Monitoring Suite:

  • Heart Rate (HR): 24/7 monitoring and workout tracking. Accuracy varies significantly on budget sensors, especially during movement. Useful for trends, not medical diagnosis.

  • Blood Oxygen (SpO2): Measures blood oxygen saturation. Readings can be inconsistent on inexpensive devices; best used for spot checks, not continuous monitoring.

  • Sleep Monitoring: Tracks sleep stages (light, deep, REM). Accuracy is generally decent for identifying sleep/wake times, but stage detection is less reliable than medical-grade devices.

  • Blood Pressure Monitoring (BPM): Highly Suspect. Most budget watches use unreliable PPG sensors to estimate BP, often requiring calibration with a real cuff. These readings are NOT medically accurate and should not be used for health decisions. Treat this feature with extreme skepticism.

  • Breathing Exercises: Guided breathing sessions for relaxation.

  • Female Health Tracking: A valuable inclusion for period and ovulation logging, allowing users to record symptoms and predict cycles within the companion app.

• Safety Features:

  • SOS Alert: A crucial function. Typically involves pressing and holding a button to send an emergency alert (with location data if GPS is active) to pre-set contacts via your connected phone.

• Smart Features:

  • Voice Assistant: Allows triggering your phone’s assistant (Siri/Google Assistant) via the watch. Requires a Bluetooth connection.

  • Notifications: Displays calls, messages, and app alerts from your smartphone.

  • Music Control: Play/pause/skip tracks on your connected phone.

  • Camera Control: Remote shutter for your phone’s camera.

  • Find My Phone: Makes your phone ring.

  • Weather: Displays forecast (synced from phone app).

  • Alarm, Stopwatch, Timer: Standard utilities.

• Activity Tracking:

  • Multi-Sport Modes: Tracks various activities (walking, running, cycling, swimming, basketball, football, etc.), recording steps, distance, calories, and heart rate during the session. Accuracy varies by activity.

  • IP68 Water Resistance: Survives splashes, rain, and swimming. Suitable for pool laps and showering (check manufacturer guidance).

• Battery Life: Advertised battery life is often optimistic. Expect 3-7 days of typical use (with calling/GPS impacting it significantly). Charging is usually via magnetic puck.

The Companion App

Functionality hinges entirely on the companion app (e.g., “Da Fit” or similar). This is where you:

• Sync data (steps, sleep, heart rate, workouts).

• View historical health and activity trends.

• Manage female health tracking.

• Set up SOS contacts.

• Customize watch faces.

• Configure notifications.

• Update firmware (if available).

App quality varies but is generally functional, if sometimes clunky.

Who is the QX17 Smartwatch For?

This watch targets users who:

1. Want Maximum Features for Minimum Cost: Prioritize having “everything” (calling, health tracking, GPSish, large screen) over premium build, materials, or sensor accuracy.

2. Desire Bluetooth Calling Convenience: Value taking calls directly on the wrist without pulling out their phone.

3. Appreciate Basic Health & Activity Tracking: Want insights into steps, sleep patterns, heart rate trends, and workout summaries, understanding the limitations.

4. Need Safety Features: Find value in the SOS alert function.

5. Seek Female Health Tracking: Specifically want period/cycle logging.

6. Don’t Demand Medical-Grade Accuracy: Understand that HR, SpO2, and especially BPM readings are estimates.

7. Want a Large Display: Prefer a bigger screen for readability.
   

Critical Considerations & Realistic Expectations

• Sensor Accuracy is Budget-Level: Don’t rely on HR, SpO2, or BPM for medical purposes. Accuracy during exercise is often poor. Blood Pressure Monitoring is highly inaccurate.

• GPS: Phone-Dependent Likely: Confirm if it’s standalone GPS or connected GPS. Performance and battery drain differ drastically.

• Build Quality & Materials: Expect plastic construction. Durability might not match higher-priced watches.

• Software & App: Can be buggy or lack polish. Firmware updates might be infrequent.

• Battery Life: Will be significantly shorter if using calling, GPS, or continuous monitoring heavily.

• “HD” Screen: Brightness and visibility in direct sunlight may be limited.
  

The Verdict: Feature-Rich, But Manage Expectations

The QX17 Smartwatch is an impressive feat of packing a vast array of features into an incredibly affordable package. The large screen, Bluetooth calling, SOS function, female health tracking, and sheer breadth of health/sport modes make it undeniably attractive for the price.

However, the key to satisfaction is managing expectations. This is not an Apple Watch, Garmin, or Samsung Galaxy Watch competitor in terms of build quality, sensor accuracy, software polish, or ecosystem integration. Treat the health metrics (especially BP) as rough estimates, understand the GPS likely needs your phone, and expect a utilitarian rather than luxurious experience.

If you:

• Need basic smart features and notifications

• Want the convenience of wrist-based calling

• Appreciate having numerous health/sport tracking options (understanding their limitations)

• Value safety features like SOS

• Specifically want female health tracking

• Are on a very tight budget

Then the QX17 offers exceptional value and functionality. It punches well above its weight class in terms of features per dollar. Just go in with eyes open about the compromises inherent in the budget segment. It’s a testament to how much technology you can get for very little money, even if perfection isn’t part of the package.