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[REVIEW] Extremely cheap Haylou LS01 watches can do a lot

10. May 2020 8 min read 0 comments
8.2
out of 10 points
We recommend buying

Verdict: Haylou LS01

Our editorial rating based on product testing.

Pros
  • Low price
  • Sturdy build
  • 14 days on a single charge
  • IP68 certification
Cons
  • Features more like a fitness band
  • Best suited for less demanding users
  • Average TFT display

In this review, we’ll take a close look at the smart watch that’s sold under the name Haylou LS01.

This brand is also part of Xiaomi’s broad ecosystem, even though its low price and focus directly put these watches in competition with another popular product – the fitness band Xiaomi Mi Band 4. Which of the two is a better choice for you?

You can also buy the Haylou LS01 smartwatch on Geekbuying, a popular e-shop that even offers it from a European warehouse with fast delivery.

Coupons for Haylou LS01 watches

The packaging is modest, but practical

The watches arrive in a nice-looking box of compact size, featuring images of the watch itself and basic technical specifications. The outer paper sleeve slides off, and the included contents are straightforward but practical.

Inside, you’ll find the watch itself with a black silicone strap; one level below that, there’s a simple manual and a specific charging cable.

That cable is short—perfect, for example, for a laptop—and it includes charging pins that match the back side of the watch.

On the other end, the charging cable has the classic USB-A connector. You can plug it in not only to the aforementioned laptop, but also into your smartphone charger.

Considering the price, it’s a modest package—but that’s not a drawback.

Build quality: Great for the price

If you want a well-built watch with good quality and a very low price, this is a solid alternative. The manufacturer went with metal elements, but to the touch they feel more like aesthetically painted plastic parts connected with the silicone strap. It’s a combination that’s ideal for athletes.

Replacing the straps isn’t a problem—they use a standard watch attachment. For the review, we received the watch in a dark black version, but the watch body itself is rather matte gray. We were satisfied with the build quality—given the price, they use suitable materials that hold extremely securely.

A key benefit of these budget watches is also their durability. The manufacturer even provides certification—so these cheap Haylou LS01 watches include IP68 certification, meaning increased resistance to water and dust.

Extra durability shouldn’t be missing

The dimensions of the Haylou LS01 watch are 40,9 x 35,7 x 11,6 mm, and it also has a very pleasant weight of only 34 grams (data without the strap).

So you’ll barely feel it on your wrist, and it won’t be a burden even during sports activities.

On the front, there’s a 1.3″ color LCD display that shows the smartwatch’s intelligent functions. The display has fairly wide bezels and a square shape.

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On the right side, there’s a button to wake the watch. You can also light it up by rotating your wrist.

The other side edges are empty—the top and bottom include the appropriate parts for attaching the strap. A bit more interesting is the back, which has four specific charging pins and sensors for measuring heart rate.

This part protrudes slightly, but it doesn’t press on your wrist. There’s also mandatory product and recycling information here.

They saved on the display

The manufacturer opted for using a 1.3″ touchscreen TFT LCD panel with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. This panel definitely doesn’t rank among the highest-quality options.

Whether it’s the rather low resolution, or the color rendering and viewing angles, it’s a kind of average that we wouldn’t expect in year 2020 anymore. Unfortunately, somewhere they had to cut costs, and in this case the price shows on the display.

The minimum display brightness is fine—you won’t be blinded at night. However, the manufacturer should work on the maximum brightness; the watch was used outdoors and, especially in direct sunlight, it’s very hard to read.

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For comparison, even the Mi Band 4 bracelet with its AMOLED panel handles the situation better. On the other hand, if you’re looking for cheap watches to track fitness functions, the display may not be your top priority.

Meet: Haylou Sport app

The watches connect to your smartphone via Bluetooth technology 4.2. Then you can sync the data using the Haylou Sport app.

You can install it from the Play Store or the Apple App Store. The requirement is to have at least Android 4.4 on your phone, or newer, or iOS 8.0 or newer.

The app controls and the layout of the elements are very similar to Mi Fit or Amazfit apps, which also serve to control products from Xiaomi’s ecosystem.

You won’t miss the basic information on current results, step count, heart-rate measurement, and more. There’s also a choice of sports such as walking, running, cycling, fitness workouts, treadmill running, hiking, climbing, spinning, or yoga.

Of course, there are also detailed statistics with a calendar and individual results that can be synced with your account.

You also get watch settings, including notifications, alarms, and inactivity alerts.

Monitoring functions

When it comes to monitoring, the watches are made for the job. The basic setup includes tracking and analyzing movement, step count, distance traveled, calories burned, heart-rate monitoring with continuous measurement, and sleep tracking.

Monitoring these functions is complemented by the nine sports mentioned above. The watches also feature enhanced water and dust resistance, but the manufacturer does not recommend swimming with the watch on your wrist.

So in this case, we’d recommend looking at other watches—for example, the competing Mi Band 4 handles swimming.

We tested the monitoring and it needs to be admitted that it worked quickly, but not quite reliably. The watch couldn’t recognize a break during running or walking, and after you resumed activity it calculated an average value. In such cases, it’s better to end the activity and start it again.

You also need to keep in mind that the GPS signal is taken from your mobile phone. So during an activity you must have the phone with you.

Good controls, missing GPS

Another big advantage is the simple system, which also comes with very good watch responsiveness. Whether it’s the watch’s menu itself, starting monitoring functions, or how they run—the watches responded really well.

The watches are easy to control. The home screen shows the time, date, and selected statistics. With simple swipe gestures, you can bring up a menu offering app options to control music, weather, settings, and more.

There’s also a small notification center that groups messages, plus a menu of similar statistics for walking or heart-rate measurement.

One of the other negative features of the Haylou LS01 watches is the lack of built-in GPS. This may bother some users. However, given the price, it’s nothing unusual—these devices simply pull the GPS signal through the connected mobile phone. So you can’t leave your smartphone at home on a shelf while running.

Music playback and sports tracking

Nine sports activities are standard in this price range, and sleep monitoring is an excellent extra. You can start sports monitoring not only via the mobile app, but also directly from the watch. Supported sports include walking, running, cycling, strength training, running on a treadmill, hiking, climbing, spinning, and yoga.

Do you like music while working out? No problem. The watch includes music control in the supported software, so you can manage what you’re currently playing through your smartphone. We also tested this function—it worked not only with the standard music player, but for example also with Spotify.

The battery is a pleasant surprise.

The manufacturer equipped these watches with a 210 mAh battery that you can charge using a special connector with four charging pins.

According to the Chinese manufacturer, the watches should last up to 14 days on a single charge. However, with intensive and automatic heart rate monitoring, the stated battery life is at the level of 10 days.

We also verified these figures in our editorial office, and it’s true—we used the watch actively. For notifications, heart rate measurement, step counting, and workouts, too.

In our case, battery life was roughly around 10 – 11 days per charge. For that value, the watch—especially in this price category—has no reason to be ashamed at all.

Final verdict: Watches for the price of a bracelet

If you’re looking for affordable smartwatches with the kind of features a fitness tracker typically offers, you’re exactly the target audience for this product.

XiaomiPlanet deal

Haylou LS01 international version

Haylou LS01 medzinárodná verzia
34,77 €You save 16,08 €
18,69 €
Without a coupon
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Updated 8. 9. 2021 on 07:55
TIPExpress delivery from a European warehouse—no customs duty and VAT.

This product will be delivered to you via express shipment from a local warehouse in Europe. Delivery from EU warehouses usually takes from 2-10 days and is handled by a courier. When it arrives, you won’t pay any additional fees—no customs duty and no VAT.

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You can also find these Haylou LS01 watches among amateur athletes who want to record their activities, but also among users for whom functionality matters more than the quality of the display.

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