Haylou is a manufacturer that we immediately associate with the Xiaomi ecosystem. This is still a partner of the Chinese manufacturer, and has just launched two smartwatches that promise to be successful in 2022, and we had the opportunity to test and compare: the Haylou RS4 (LS12) and the Haylou RT2 (LS10).
These two products came to us directly from Youpin Laboratory, and they have very different aspects. On the one hand we have the Haylou RS4, more square, with a design reminiscent of the Apple Watch. On the other, the Haylou RT2, with a classic rounded design, similar to products like the Mi Watch.
Experience of unpacking satisfactory
Haylou shows his growth since unpacking. On the front of both boxes we find an attractive image of smart watches, and on the back we find their main characteristics.
Opening the boxes, the content is simple. We found the Haylou RS4 or RT2 and a USB-A cable to magnetically charge your new smartwatch. In both cases we also find the instruction manual in Brazilian Portuguese.
The main features of the Haylou RS4:
The main features of Haylou RT2:
Haylou RS4 is the star of the company
Among the two products, it was the Haylou RS4 that caught my attention the most. And that’s the one I’ll pay more attention to. Its square design is very attractive, with a finish that combines aluminum, plastic and glass on the screen. The side switch is only used to turn the display on and off, or the clock itself.
This is clearly an ideal smartwatch for small wrists, as is my case. It has an expressive 1.78-inch screen, but the unique 20mm strap makes comfort never an issue. The rubber strap of the set has an aluminum handle, and is easily interchangeable with any other of this size that you buy online.
A screen that you will love
The fact that this Haylou RS4 has an AMOLED panel is what convinces the most. And in both brightness and 368 by 448 pixel resolution, you are sure to be impressed by its performance indoors or outdoors.
It is through this screen that you have contact with the functions of the smartwatch, since the button only serves to turn it on. On the home screen, you can, like me, choose to view key information such as time, date, current heart rate, battery, weather, and fitness goals.
By sliding the screen down, we find information. Of these, it is good to highlight the functionality of finding your smartphone, changing the brightness, activating or deactivating the “do not disturb” mode and accessing the settings.
With a swipe left or right, you will get more details on the fitness and health functions. There you can view details about heart rate, SpO2, sleep, weather or activate the breathing mode for a specified period. Returning to the main screen, a longer touch allows you to switch between screens.
With a swipe up, you have access to the full-featured main menu. Namely: status, heart rate, SpO2, training modes, training records, weather, sleep, notifications, music control, stopwatch, timer, smartphone search, breathing exercises, brightness and settings.
The performance of the transition between menus is quite satisfactory. It’s not the smoothest you’ll find, but it’s fast enough that you never feel like it’s a “cheap” product.
Proficient in sports and health monitoring.
Regarding training monitoring, the 12 sports activities that we have described above are included. These are enough for what I normally do: running, cycling and training freely. But for the most demanding users it is advisable to look for something more professional.
For measuring steps or heart rate, this is a product that is in line with other competitors. Enjoy numbers that appear to be minimally accurate. Notably, it also monitors blood oxygen levels, but in any case, these are numbers that should not be considered for a medical device.
Sleep measurement also appears to be quite effective. The days that I tried it, it seemed to me that I followed with little margin of error the time that I slept and woke up without problems.
The Haylou Fun app
To accompany both your new Haylou RS4 and your Haylou RT2, you have the Haylou Fun app for Android and iOS. Helps you complete the initial setup of your computer in minutes and enrich your experience with it.
On the home page we find the main data for the day, related to steps, calories burned, heart rate or sleep. From the “sport” page you can start a workout directly from the app, and also have the information immediately on the smartwatch.
By clicking on “my device”, you can adjust various settings of your smartwatch there. It has dozens of dials, allows you to activate very high or low heart rate alerts, or customize notifications and activate call alerts.
Autonomy is competent
It’s good to say that Haylou RS4 advertises a 10 day runtime in everyday use. As always, these numbers are for reference only. Based on my tests, we have a week’s battery life if you’re not too picky about training.
Not all can be perfect
It is important to note that when you receive a call, it cannot be answered on either the Haylou RS4 or the Haylou RT2. And the same happens with notifications or messages that you can only consult.
Also, both the Haylou RS4 and Haylou RT2 do not have built-in GPS. Which means that if you are going to be running or cycling away from home, it is imperative to bring your smartphone for location work.
Where the Haylou RT2 stands out less and less
In essence, both smartwatches have very similar characteristics. But the Haylou RT2 will definitely appeal to those who prefer a more classic rounded design.
This one stands out in a negative way in a fundamental aspect: it has a TFT screen and not AMOLED, like RS4. This makes it difficult for you to view the content when you are abroad. However, it is far from being a problem.
Where it can stand out positively for some users is the fact that it has two buttons on the side. The upper part is only for turning the screen on and off. The bottom button can be used to directly access the training menu. Unfortunately I couldn’t find a way to customize it for another function in the app.
Another difference between the two products is the organization of the menu. If in Haylou RS4 this is done in a grid and using only images, in Haylou RT2 we have a list that combines image and text. In both cases it cannot be changed, so the flavor will speak louder.
conclusion
The choice between both products will be made between wanting a device with a square AMOLED panel (Haylou RS4) and one with a round TFT panel (Haylou RT2). This is because the price difference between them is marginal and their characteristics are similar.
We found the Haylou RS4 LS12 for sale on AliExpress by € 50.87 (or 46.34 with discount) at the time of writing this article. The Haylou RT2 LS10 is on the same page as € 49.75 (or 47.03 with discount). You can find all the details about these and other Haylou products in the Youpin Laboratory.