COLMI V69 Smart Watch Review: Is This 1.85-Inch IPS Smartwatch Worth £38?

If you're on the hunt for a reliable smartwatch that doesn't cost a fortune, the COLMI V69 might just be exactly what you've been looking for. Priced at just £38.69, it punches well above its weight with a large 1.85-inch IPS display, solid health tracking, and a battery that'll keep you going for days. But does it actually deliver in real life? We've put it through its paces thoroughly so you don't have to guess.

Budget smartwatches have come a long way in the last few years. What was once a compromised, plasticky experience has evolved into something genuinely capable — and the COLMI V69 is a strong example of where the market is right now. Let's dig into every aspect of this watch so you can make a fully informed decision.

First Impressions: A Big Screen That Means Business

The moment you pick up the COLMI V69, the first thing you'll notice is the screen. At 1.85 inches, it's genuinely large for a budget smartwatch — much bigger than what you'd typically expect at this price point. The IPS panel offers decent colour reproduction and viewing angles, making it easy to glance at notifications, check the time, or scroll through your fitness data without squinting or tilting the watch toward you at an uncomfortable angle.

It comes in two colour options — Silver and Black — and both feel premium enough for everyday wear. The case is solid, the straps are comfortable silicone, and the overall build quality is surprisingly good for the price. When you pick it up and put it on, it doesn't feel like a cheap product. The weight distribution is well-balanced, and the strap doesn't have any of the rough edges or flimsy clasps you sometimes find on budget wearables.

The display resolution of 360×360 pixels means watch faces and text look reasonably sharp — not as crisp as an AMOLED screen, but more than acceptable for everyday use. Brightness is adequate indoors and can be turned up for outdoor use in direct sunlight, though extremely bright sunlight remains a challenge for IPS screens generally.

Key Specifications

Screen: IPS 1.85 inches, 360×360 resolution
Chip: RTL8763EWE-VP
Bluetooth: 5.2
Battery: 710mAh
Waterproof rating: IP68
Flash: RAM 578KB / ROM 128Mb
Compatible with: Android and iOS
Companion app: DaFit

Battery Life: The Standout Feature That Sets This Watch Apart

Let's talk about the elephant in the room — the battery. The COLMI V69 packs a whopping 710mAh battery, which is enormous compared to most smartwatches at this price. To put that in context, many popular smartwatches from major brands use batteries in the 300–400mAh range, and even some pricier options struggle to hit 500mAh. The V69's 710mAh cell is genuinely exceptional.

In real-world use, you can comfortably expect 7–10 days of battery life with normal usage (notifications, continuous heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking active). Push it into a power-saving mode and you're looking at 20+ days — a number that puts even premium budget smartwatches to shame.

What does this mean in practice? It means you can go on a week-long holiday without packing the charging cable. It means you'll stop thinking about charging your watch the same way you think about charging your phone. Battery anxiety, a genuine frustration with many wearables, simply isn't a concern with the V69.

Charging is straightforward via the magnetic charging cable included in the box. The magnetic connection snaps on neatly to the underside of the watch and holds securely during charging. From flat, it takes around 2 hours to reach full charge — perfectly reasonable given the battery size.

Health Tracking: Comprehensive for the Price

For a watch under £40, the V69's health tracking capabilities are genuinely impressive. Here's a full breakdown of what it monitors:

Heart Rate Monitoring

The V69 offers continuous 24/7 heart rate monitoring using its optical sensor on the underside of the case. You can also take on-demand readings whenever you like. During our testing, resting heart rate readings were consistently accurate within 2–3 bpm of a dedicated chest strap — a perfectly acceptable margin for a consumer-grade optical sensor. During high-intensity exercise, the readings became slightly less consistent (as is typical with wrist-based optical sensors during vigorous movement), but for steady-state cardio like walking, cycling, and moderate running, the tracking was reliable.

Blood Oxygen (SpO2) Monitoring

The V69 measures blood oxygen saturation using a combination of red and infrared light sensors. While not a medical-grade pulse oximeter, it provides useful trend data. Normal readings typically fall between 95–100%, and consistent readings below 93% would be worth discussing with a doctor. The watch can take SpO2 readings on demand, and some watch faces display the latest reading directly on the home screen.

Sleep Tracking

Sleep tracking is one of the V69's stronger suits. Wear it to bed and it automatically detects when you fall asleep, then breaks your night into light sleep, deep sleep, and awake periods. The data syncs to the DaFit app the following morning, giving you a visual breakdown of your sleep quality over time. Over a week of testing, the V69 correctly identified sleep and wake times with only minor discrepancies — and the trend data over several nights gave genuinely useful insights about sleep quality.

Stress Monitoring

Using heart rate variability (HRV) data, the V69 estimates your stress levels throughout the day on a scale from relaxed to high stress. This is a useful feature for identifying patterns — many people find they're consistently more stressed at certain times of day or in certain situations without realising it.

Menstrual Cycle Tracking

The V69 includes a menstrual cycle tracking feature accessible through the DaFit app. Users can log cycle data and the app will predict upcoming periods and fertile windows. It's a basic implementation rather than an advanced hormonal tracking system, but it's a useful addition for female users.

Step Counting and Activity Metrics

The built-in accelerometer tracks your daily steps, estimates distance covered, and calculates calories burned throughout the day. In our testing, step counts were accurate within 5% of a dedicated step counter — more than good enough for general fitness tracking purposes.

Sports Modes: Over 100 Activities Covered

The COLMI V69 includes over 100 sports modes, covering an enormous range of activities. Some of the highlights include:

Walking and outdoor running
Cycling (indoor and outdoor)
Swimming (IP68 rated for shallow water activities)
Hiking and trekking
Yoga and pilates
Football, basketball, badminton
Rowing machine
Strength training and HIIT
And many more

Activating a sports mode from the watch face is straightforward — swipe to the exercise menu, select your activity, and tap start. The watch then tracks duration, heart rate, calories burned, and pace (for activities where pace is relevant). At the end of a session, a summary appears on screen and syncs to the app.

One important note: the V69 does not have built-in GPS. For outdoor activities like running and cycling, it relies on your smartphone's GPS when connected (connected GPS). This is a limitation to be aware of if you want to record routes independently of your phone. If built-in GPS is a priority, look at the COLMI V75 GPS or COLMI V76 GPS.

Smart Features: Notifications, Camera Remote, and More

The V69 pairs with your smartphone via the DaFit app, available for both Android and iOS. Once paired, it handles a solid range of smart features:

Notifications

Call alerts vibrate the watch and display the caller's name. Message notifications from SMS, WhatsApp, and most social apps appear on screen. You can dismiss notifications from the watch but cannot type replies — this is standard for most watches at this price point.

Music Control

A dedicated music control screen lets you play, pause, skip tracks, and adjust volume directly from the watch. This is handy during workouts when your phone is in a pocket or bag.

Camera Remote

One of those small but genuinely useful features — you can use the V69 as a remote shutter for your phone's camera. Great for group photos or selfies from a distance.

Find My Phone

Tap the "find phone" option on the watch and your paired smartphone will emit an audible alert. Handy if it's slipped down the back of the sofa again.

Weather Display

The watch syncs weather data from your phone and displays current conditions and forecasts on the watch face or in a dedicated weather screen.

The DaFit App: Your Health Data Hub

All your health data lives in the DaFit app, which provides a clean, well-organised view of your metrics. The main dashboard shows today's steps, heart rate, SpO2, sleep, and calories. Tap any metric to see historical data in chart form — weekly, monthly, or longer-term views help you spot trends over time.

The app also lets you customise watch faces, set health reminders (stand up, drink water, take medication), configure notification settings, and manage which apps send alerts to your watch. The interface is intuitive and easy to navigate even for first-time smartwatch users.

How Does It Compare Within the COLMI Lineup?

Understanding where the V69 sits helps set the right expectations:

COLMI V69 vs V72: The V72 upgrades to an AMOLED display and a thinner case. If visual quality is your priority, the V72 is worth the extra cost. The V69 wins on battery life.
COLMI V69 vs V75 GPS: The V75 adds built-in GPS, which is a significant upgrade for outdoor athletes. If you run, hike, or cycle and want accurate route data, the V75 is the better choice.
COLMI V69 vs P71: The P71 adds Bluetooth voice calling — you can make and receive calls directly from the watch. A big quality-of-life feature if you frequently need hands-free calling.

What We Liked

Exceptional battery life — best in class at this price
Large, easy-to-read 1.85-inch screen
Comprehensive health tracking suite
IP68 waterproof rating for swimming
100+ sports modes
Clean, user-friendly DaFit app
Solid build quality that feels more expensive than it is

What Could Be Better

IPS display lacks the vibrancy of AMOLED screens in pricier models
No built-in GPS — requires phone for route tracking
Heart rate accuracy drops during very high-intensity exercise
Limited watch face selection compared to premium brands

Who Is the COLMI V69 Best For?

The V69 is ideal for:

First-time smartwatch buyers who want a feature-packed device without a big financial commitment
Battery-life prioritisers who are fed up with charging their watch every few days
Older adults who want a large, easy-to-read display
Casual exercisers who want fitness tracking for everyday activities like walking, cycling, and swimming
Anyone wanting a reliable notification device on their wrist without spending a lot

Our Verdict

The COLMI V69 is excellent value for money, full stop. At £38.69, it delivers a large display, comprehensive health tracking, a massive 710mAh battery, and 100+ sports modes. It's not perfect — the IPS screen lacks the visual punch of AMOLED, and the health sensors are functional rather than medical-grade — but for what it costs, it's hard to fault.

If you're looking for a no-fuss, reliable daily smartwatch that delivers on all its promises, lasts the best part of two weeks on a charge, and looks decent on your wrist, the V69 deserves serious consideration. It's a genuinely brilliant budget watch that doesn't feel budget.

👉 Buy the COLMI V69 Smart Watch — £38.69