COLMI i28 Ultra Smart Watch Review: AMOLED Display, 6 Colour Options, and Real Value
If you're looking for a smartwatch that combines style, health tracking, and real value for money, the COLMI i28 Ultra is one of the most compelling options in the sub-£50 category right now. With its sharp AMOLED display, comprehensive health monitoring suite, six colour variants, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, it represents a significant upgrade over basic entry-level wearables — without the eye-watering price tag of premium brands.
In this review, we go deep on everything the COLMI i28 Ultra has to offer: its design, display quality, health tracking accuracy, battery performance, companion app experience, and how it compares against rivals at a similar price point. Whether you're buying your first smartwatch or upgrading from an older model, this guide will help you decide if the i28 Ultra is right for you.
Design and Build Quality
The COLMI i28 Ultra is a well-designed watch that strikes a balance between sporty and sophisticated. The case has a slim profile that sits comfortably on the wrist without feeling bulky, and the overall build quality is impressive for the price. You won't find any creaking plastics or loose seams — this feels like a product that has been properly engineered.
Available in six colours — Rose Gold, Silver, Black, Rose Gold with Magnetic Strap, Silver with Magnetic Strap, and Black with Magnetic Strap — there's a variant to suit virtually every taste. The magnetic strap options are particularly well-received by users who want a premium feel, as the magnetic clasp is secure and far more satisfying to use than a standard pin-and-hole buckle. The silicone straps on the non-magnetic variants are soft and skin-friendly, with no reported irritation even after extended wear.
The watch is rated IP68 water resistant, meaning it can handle splashes, sweaty workouts, and accidental immersion up to 1.5 metres for 30 minutes. This is reassuring for active users, though we'd advise against deliberately swimming with it for extended periods.
Display: AMOLED 1.43 Inches at 466×466 Resolution
The standout feature of the i28 Ultra is its 1.43-inch AMOLED display running at a 466×466 pixel resolution. AMOLED technology produces deep blacks, vivid colours, and excellent contrast ratios — a significant step up from the IPS LCD panels found on most budget smartwatches. Text is crisp and easy to read, watch faces look stunning, and the display performs admirably even in moderately bright sunlight.
Brightness levels are adjustable, and the always-on display option is available if you want to check the time without raising your wrist. That said, enabling AOD will noticeably impact battery life, so most users choose to leave it disabled for day-to-day use.
The touchscreen response is smooth and accurate. Navigating between menus, swiping through notifications, and interacting with health data all feel natural. There's no noticeable lag, which is often a problem on cheaper smartwatches that cut corners on the processor side.
Health and Fitness Tracking
The COLMI i28 Ultra comes packed with health monitoring features that go well beyond basic step counting. Here's a breakdown of what's included:
Heart Rate Monitoring
Continuous heart rate monitoring is available 24/7, with the watch sampling your pulse at regular intervals throughout the day and night. The optical heart rate sensor uses green LED technology, which performs well for resting heart rate and moderate exercise. During high-intensity activities, accuracy can vary slightly compared to chest-strap monitors, but for the vast majority of everyday users, the readings are entirely adequate and useful.
Blood Oxygen (SpO2) Monitoring
SpO2 measurement is accessible on demand or set to monitor automatically at intervals. The sensor uses red and infrared light to estimate blood oxygen saturation levels. While not medical-grade, it provides a useful ballpark reading — most users see results within 1-2% of clinical devices under normal conditions. This feature is particularly useful for people who exercise at altitude or want to monitor respiratory wellness during sleep.
Sleep Tracking
The sleep tracking function analyses your sleep stages — light, deep, and REM — and provides a sleep score each morning. The companion app presents this data clearly, showing you how long you spent in each stage and flagging any interruptions. Over time, the data helps you identify patterns and make adjustments to improve your sleep quality. Users report that the sleep tracking is reasonably accurate compared to dedicated sleep devices, though it occasionally misidentifies late-night reading as sleep.
Stress Monitoring and Menstrual Cycle Tracking
A built-in stress monitoring feature uses heart rate variability (HRV) analysis to estimate your stress levels throughout the day, rating them on a simple scale. This can be a useful prompt to take a break or practise mindfulness, even if the readings shouldn't be taken as clinical measures. The watch also includes a menstrual cycle tracker, making it a solid choice for women who want a holistic health picture from their wearable.
Sports Modes
The i28 Ultra supports over 100 sports modes, covering everything from running and cycling to yoga, swimming, and elliptical training. Each mode adjusts the tracking parameters to better suit the activity in question. GPS tracking is handled via your connected smartphone rather than built-in GPS, which is a standard approach at this price point and works well as long as you have your phone nearby during outdoor activities.
Technical Specifications
For those who want to know exactly what's under the hood, here are the core specs of the COLMI i28 Ultra:
- CPU: JL7013A6S
- RAM/Storage: 640KB RAM, 256MB ROM
- Bluetooth: 5.3
- Screen: 1.43-inch AMOLED, 466×466 pixels
- Battery: 260mAh
- Water Resistance: IP68
- Strap Options: Standard silicone and magnetic
- Compatibility: iOS and Android
Battery Life
With a 260mAh battery, the i28 Ultra is designed for efficiency rather than sheer capacity. In practice, most users report 7–10 days of battery life under normal use conditions — that means the watch face on, notifications enabled, and health monitoring running but with AOD disabled. Heavy users who run frequent workouts with GPS tracking via phone, or those who enable always-on display, should expect closer to 4–5 days.
Charging is via a magnetic clip-on cable, which snaps securely onto the back of the watch. A full charge from flat takes roughly 1.5 to 2 hours. This is a reasonable charge time given the watch's capacity.
Connectivity and Smart Features
Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a stable and efficient connection to your smartphone, with improved range and lower power consumption compared to older Bluetooth standards. Pairing is quick and straightforward via the Da Fit or GloryFit app (depending on the variant).
Smart features include:
- Notification mirroring — calls, SMS, WhatsApp, and other app alerts appear on your wrist
- Call alert with caller ID — see who's calling without reaching for your phone
- Music control — pause, skip, and adjust volume on your connected device
- Find my phone — triggers an alert on your phone when you've misplaced it
- Weather forecast — pulls current conditions and forecasts via your phone's connection
- Alarm and stopwatch — useful standalone tools that don't require the phone to function
- Sedentary reminders — nudges you to move if you've been stationary too long
Companion App Experience
The COLMI i28 Ultra pairs with the Da Fit app, available for both iOS and Android. The app is well-organised and easy to navigate, presenting your health data in clear charts and graphs. You can set goals, review historical data, customise watch faces (a selection of downloadable faces is available), and adjust notification settings.
One area where the app could improve is the depth of data analysis — compared to apps from Fitbit or Garmin, the insights are relatively basic. However, for the price point, the app provides more than enough functionality for most casual users.
How Does It Compare to Rivals?
At around £42–£44 depending on the strap option, the COLMI i28 Ultra competes primarily against the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro, the Amazfit Bip 5, and other budget AMOLED smartwatches. Here's how they stack up:
- vs Xiaomi Band 9 Pro: The i28 Ultra offers a larger screen and more colour options. The Xiaomi band has a stronger brand reputation but comparable health tracking features.
- vs Amazfit Bip 5: The Bip 5 has built-in GPS and a larger display, but costs significantly more. For those who don't need standalone GPS, the i28 Ultra offers better value.
- vs COLMI V89: Both watches share the same core hardware, but the V89 has slightly different design aesthetics. The i28 Ultra's magnetic strap option gives it an edge for users who prioritise a premium feel.
Who Is the COLMI i28 Ultra Best For?
The i28 Ultra is an excellent choice for:
- First-time smartwatch buyers who want full features without premium prices
- People who want a stylish wearable for everyday use and light fitness tracking
- Anyone looking for a gift that looks and feels more expensive than it is
- Users on Android or iPhone who want seamless notification mirroring
- Those who prefer a magnetic strap for ease of use
It may not be the right choice for serious athletes who need built-in GPS, or for users who want deep health data analytics. But for the vast majority of everyday smartwatch users, it delivers outstanding value.
Verdict
The COLMI i28 Ultra Smart Watch punches well above its price class. The AMOLED display is genuinely impressive, the health tracking suite is comprehensive, the build quality is solid, and the six colour options make it one of the most versatile budget smartwatches available today. If you're looking for a capable, stylish everyday wearable at under £45, this watch belongs at the top of your shortlist.
Rating: 4.4 / 5 — Outstanding value for money, held back only by the absence of built-in GPS and depth of the companion app.