COLMI P71 Smart Watch Review: Voice Calling Smartwatch Under 30 Pounds
The COLMI P71 Smart Watch is a standout entry in the budget smartwatch category for one compelling reason: it supports Bluetooth phone calls — allowing you to make and receive calls directly from your wrist, without needing to pick up your phone. At under £30, this feature alone sets it apart from most competitors at this price point. But how does it perform across the board? Here's our complete review.
Why Voice Calling Matters at This Price
Bluetooth calling is a feature typically found on mid-range and premium smartwatches costing £100 or more. The COLMI P71 brings this capability to the sub-£30 market, making it genuinely exceptional value. Whether you're driving, exercising, cooking, or simply don't want to pull your phone out of your pocket, being able to take calls from your wrist is a game-changer for daily convenience.
The P71 uses a built-in microphone and speaker for calls. Audio quality is clear enough for typical calls in quiet environments, though background noise can be challenging — as with any wrist-based calling device. For indoor use, office environments, and quieter outdoor settings, the calling experience is excellent.
Design and Build Quality
The P71 has a confident, sporty design with a large rectangular display and a comfortable silicone strap. It's available in multiple colour options including Black, Silver, and Rose Gold variants, making it suitable for both men and women. The case feels solid in hand with no flex or creaking, and the strap is smooth and skin-friendly — comfortable for all-day and overnight wear.
The side crown/button gives the watch a more premium appearance and is used for navigation alongside the touchscreen. IP68 water resistance means the P71 can handle sweat, rain, and accidental splashes without any concern, making it fully practical for active lifestyles.
Display
The P71 features a bright, clear touchscreen display with good colour reproduction. At this price point, an IPS LCD panel is standard rather than AMOLED, but the display is perfectly adequate for everyday use — reading notifications, checking the time, navigating health data, and monitoring call controls. The screen is large enough to display text clearly and the touchscreen response is accurate and responsive.
Multiple watch faces are available through the companion app, allowing you to personalise the look of your P71. The display brightness is adjustable and performs well indoors and in moderate outdoor lighting.
Health and Fitness Features
Beyond calling, the P71 includes a solid health monitoring suite:
Heart Rate Monitoring
Continuous 24/7 optical heart rate monitoring provides real-time readings throughout the day and night. The sensor tracks your resting heart rate, exercise heart rate, and provides alerts if readings go outside configurable thresholds. Accuracy is good for general wellness monitoring and light-to-moderate exercise tracking.
Blood Oxygen (SpO2)
On-demand SpO2 measurements are available from the health menu. Blood oxygen saturation readings take around 30 seconds and provide a useful wellness indicator for everyday health awareness. Historical data is stored in the companion app for trend tracking over time.
Sleep Tracking
The P71 automatically detects sleep and tracks light and deep sleep stages throughout the night. A morning sleep summary is generated in the app, helping you understand your rest patterns. The sleep tracking is accurate enough to identify poor nights and gradual improvements as you adjust your sleep habits.
Stress Monitoring
HRV-based stress level monitoring provides an ongoing estimate of your mental load throughout the day. Stress scores are displayed on the watch and tracked historically in the app, allowing you to correlate stress patterns with lifestyle factors like sleep quality or activity levels.
Step Counting and Activity Tracking
Daily steps, estimated calorie burn, and active distance are tracked automatically. Step goal reminders and sedentary alerts encourage regular movement throughout the day. Activity data is synced to the companion app where you can review weekly and monthly trends.
Multiple Sports Modes
The P71 supports multiple sports modes covering the most common fitness activities including running, walking, cycling, swimming, and more. Each mode adapts the tracking parameters to better match the activity being performed.
Battery Life
The P71 delivers strong battery performance for its class. Under typical conditions with health monitoring active, notifications enabled, and occasional Bluetooth calls, most users report 7–10 days of battery life. Heavy users who make multiple calls per day or track workouts frequently should expect the lower end of this range. Either way, the battery life is substantially better than most premium calling smartwatches.
Charging is quick via the magnetic cable — a flat battery is fully charged in approximately 1.5 to 2 hours.
Smart Features Beyond Calling
Beyond Bluetooth calls, the P71 includes a full set of smart features:
- Message notifications — read previews from SMS, WhatsApp, email, and social apps
- Music playback control — pause, skip, and adjust volume from your wrist
- Weather forecast synced from your phone
- Find my phone function
- Alarm with vibration — gentle wrist wake-up ideal for light sleepers
- Remote camera shutter for hands-free photography
- Sedentary reminders to encourage regular movement
Companion App
The P71 pairs with the Da Fit app (iOS and Android) via Bluetooth. The app is free, well-designed, and easy to navigate. It displays your daily health data at a glance and stores historical trends. You can configure notification preferences, download watch faces, and manage call contacts directly through the app. No subscription is required.
COLMI P71 vs P80: What Are You Gaining by Upgrading?
Both the P71 and P80 are COLMI P-series models, but they serve slightly different audiences. The P71 is all about Bluetooth calling at the lowest possible price. The P80 steps up with 100+ sports modes, a more premium design including a stainless steel strap option, and a slightly larger display. If calling is your priority, the P71 is the clear winner on value. If you want comprehensive sports tracking or a more versatile design, the P80 or P81 are better choices.
Who Should Buy the COLMI P71?
- People who want hands-free calling from their wrist without spending £100+
- Drivers or cyclists who want to take calls safely
- Those who frequently miss calls when their phone is in another room
- Budget-conscious buyers who want a feature-packed watch under £30
- Users who want essential health tracking alongside smart calling features
Verdict
The COLMI P71 is a remarkable achievement for under £30. Bluetooth calling at this price is genuinely rare, and the P71 pulls it off while also delivering solid health tracking, good battery life, and a comfortable, stylish design. If you want a calling smartwatch without the premium price tag, the P71 is the best option in this price bracket.
Rating: 4.3 / 5 — The best sub-£30 calling smartwatch available. Outstanding value for money.