Amazfit Helio Strap Review – The Affordable Whoop Alternative Without Subscriptions!
The fitness wearable market has exploded in recent years, and while brands like Whoop, Garmin, and Fitbit dominate the headlines, Amazfit is quietly building devices that deliver high-end performance at a fraction of the cost.
One of their most recent releases, the Amazfit Helio Strap, is a perfect example of this — combining precision tracking, long battery life, and a clean minimalist design with zero subscription fees.
In this detailed review, we’ll take a closer look at what makes the Helio Strap such a strong contender, especially against the well-known (and expensive) Whoop Band.
Here you can see my full review on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zVWsu-Kovdg
1. Design and Build Quality
The first impression of the Amazfit Helio Strap is its simplicity.
It’s a slim, lightweight fitness band that fits comfortably on any wrist. Amazfit includes one nylon hook-and-loop strap in the box — soft, breathable, and ideal for both workouts and daily wear.
Even though Amazfit currently doesn’t offer a wide selection of official replacement straps, the Helio Strap uses a universal 22 mm quick-release system.
That means you can easily swap it for any standard watch band – silicone, leather, or even metal – making it flexible for any occasion or personal style.
2. Core Features and Tracking Capabilities
The Helio Strap tracks everything you’d expect from a modern fitness device:
24/7 activity tracking (steps, calories, distance)
Continuous heart rate monitoring
Advanced sleep tracking with REM and deep sleep analysis
27 sport modes, including strength training and HYROX, one of the fastest-growing competitive fitness disciplines
It’s water-resistant, so you can wear it while showering or swimming. The built-in sensors are impressively accurate for a device in this price range and can easily compete with premium wearables.
3. Battery Life and Charging Speed
Battery life is where the Helio Strap truly shines.
To charge it, you’ll need to remove the band from your wrist and place it on the magnetic charging puck.
Amazfit states a full charge takes under 2 hours — but in real-world use, it’s even faster. From 5% to 100% in just about 20 minutes. That’s incredible, and it makes charging something you almost never have to think about.
Battery Life
With up to 10 days of battery life, it easily outperforms most smartwatches that require daily charging.
4. No Subscription Required
One of the biggest frustrations in the fitness tracker world is the growing number of devices that require monthly or yearly subscriptions to unlock key features.
Amazfit takes the opposite approach.
You buy the Helio Strap once, and you get full access — no paywalls, no “premium plans,” no hidden fees.
All features, including advanced sleep analysis and detailed fitness reports, are available through the free Zepp app (available for both Android and iPhone).
This alone makes the Helio Strap one of the most budget-friendly and transparent options for anyone who values data without ongoing costs.
5. Amazfit Helio Strap vs Whoop – The Real Comparison
It’s impossible not to compare the Helio Strap to Whoop, since both target serious fitness users.
But the differences are huge.
Whoop requires a mandatory subscription starting at around 200€ per year, and depending on your plan, it can easily rise to 300–400€ annually.
That’s over 1,000€ in just three years for access to data that isn’t fundamentally different from what Amazfit provides for free.
To make things worse, Whoop originally promised that users who stayed subscribed for at least 12 months would automatically get the newest hardware for free.
That policy has since been quietly removed — meaning you’re paying a premium with no guaranteed upgrades.
Whoop’s main selling point lies in its data algorithms, which interpret your sleep, strain, and recovery. But in reality, they rely on the same base data — heart rate, HRV, and sleep — that Amazfit tracks as well.
It’s hard to justify paying hundreds per year just for an app’s interpretation of that data.
✅ Verdict:
If you want similar tracking capabilities without getting locked into a subscription model, Amazfit Helio Strap is clearly the smarter choice.
6. Everyday Use and Comfort
Because of its lightweight design and comfortable strap, the Helio Strap feels almost invisible on your wrist.
You can wear it all day and night without irritation. The display is clear, bright, and minimal – perfect for quick glances during workouts.
The Zepp app organizes your health data in a clean, easy-to-read interface. Sleep tracking, recovery data, and heart rate trends are all displayed in detail, making it simple to adjust your training routine based on your results.
7. Key Advantages of the Amazfit Helio Strap
No subscription or hidden fees
24/7 tracking (activity, heart rate, sleep)
27 sport modes, including HYROX
10-day battery life + 20-minute fast charging
Universal 22 mm strap compatibility
Lightweight and water-resistant design
Android & iPhone compatible
8. Final Verdict – Worth It?
The Amazfit Helio Strap proves that you don’t need to spend hundreds every year to get accurate, reliable fitness data.
With a one-time purchase, you get access to all the metrics that truly matter — without losing functionality behind a paywall.
It’s the perfect balance between simplicity, accuracy, and value.
Whether you’re a dedicated athlete, a gym regular, or just someone who wants to improve their sleep and health, the Helio Strap is one of the best fitness bands you can buy right now.
⭐ In Short:
The Amazfit Helio Strap is the ultimate Whoop alternative – for a fraction of the cost, without subscriptions, and with real performance where it counts.
🛒 Where to Buy
👉 Official Amazfit Store: https://www.amazfit.com/products/helio-strap
👉 Amazon: https://amzn.to/3KEVrv5