AQFiT W6 Smartwatch Review: Affordable Wearable Under Rs. 5,000

The AQFiT W6, a new entry in the budget smartwatch market from an Indian wearable brand, delivers a surprising mix of features and build quality for its price point of Rs. 4,999. Over a three-week testing period, we evaluated its performance across design, display, software, battery life, and fitness tracking capabilities.

Design and Build The AQFiT W6 stands out with a metal frame paired with a plastic back, a combination rarely seen in smartwatches under Rs. 5,000. The weight distribution feels balanced, avoiding bulkiness, though the included strap has a cheap feel that may prompt users to seek third-party alternatives. During testing, minor discoloration appeared on the edges by the third week, and the lack of official display protection could be a concern over time.

Display A 1.69-inch IPS LCD with a resolution of 240 x 280 pixels occupies the front, surrounded by generous bezels. Color saturation is strong for the cost, but brightness levels fall short for outdoor use on bright days. The watch offers over 60 watch faces, including a few live options, and supports custom faces through uploaded photos.

Software and Interface Running on proprietary software, the AQFiT W6’s interface is functional if not speedy. A physical side button complements the unreliable raise-to-wake feature. The bottom of the home screen provides quick toggles for brightness, Do Not Disturb, phone finding, and other settings. Swiping up reveals the main menu where users can switch watch faces, start workouts, and view phone notifications. The watch stores up to five notifications at a time, allowing users to view or delete them. Side swiping displays cards summarizing health metrics, fitness data, weather, and music controls. Spotify integration worked well during testing, enabling playback control and volume adjustment directly from the watch.

Companion App Connectivity relies on the Coolwear app, compatible with Android 5.0 and above and iOS 9.0 and above. The app features a straightforward layout, displaying fitness data, enabling workout initiation, adjusting watch settings, and offering a remote ring function for misplaced devices.

Fitness and Health Tracking Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), and sleep tracking. Sleep tracking proved accurate, categorizing periods into deep and light sleep. Step counting showed occasional overestimation, while heart rate and SpO2 readings generally stayed within realistic ranges. The watch supports ten sports modes, including football, cycling, skipping, and a dedicated swimming mode. However, due to its IP68 rating, swimming use is not advised; a 5ATM-rated device is recommended for pool activities. Although lacking built-in GPS, the Coolwear app can use the phone’s GPS to log workouts, and it includes five additional exercise modes.

Battery Performance A 200mAh battery powers the AQFiT W6, with the manufacturer claiming up to 10 days of normal use. In practice, we achieved an average of five days between charges. The included magnetic-pin charger fully recharges the device in approximately one hour and fifty minutes.

Verdict For users seeking an affordable smartwatch without advanced features, the AQFiT W6 presents a strong value proposition under Rs. 5,000. It combines a durable metal frame, a decent IPS display, and respectable battery life. However, those prioritizing extensive fitness tracking may find alternatives like the Mi Band 6 or Honor Band 6 more suitable due to their superior tracking options, AMOLED displays, and longer battery endurance.