DT Watch has already got us used to some smartwatches that are good and affordable — ideal for those who don’t want to spend much or want a tough everyday watch.
The new DT G9 is one such example: an affordable sports watch that stands out for its solid GPS accuracy.
Read our opinion and review of this smartwatch.
We tested the DT G9: A GPS watch for those who don’t want to spend much to track their routes
Affordable smartwatches have come a long way in recent years, and finding a watch with built-in GPS, an AMOLED display, and comprehensive health monitoring for under €50 was unthinkable not long ago.
The DTNO.1 DT G9 attempts to prove it is possible — but with expectations well calibrated for the price range.
The DT G9 is a smartwatch with a 1.3-inch AMOLED display at 466×466 pixels, standalone GPS independent of the smartphone, MIL-STD-810H military certification, and IP68 and 3ATM water resistance.
It includes continuous heart rate monitoring, SpO2, sleep, mood and stress tracking, over 100 watch faces, internal storage for music and photos, call answering, a voice recorder, a decibel metre, built-in games, and remote control of the smartphone camera.
The companion app is WearJoy, available for Android and iOS.
The DT G9 is available for €49.
Design and build quality
The DT G9 has a classic sports design with a round dial that echoes traditional sports watches, but in a modern and compact form.
The build is mostly plastic, with an aluminium bezel that elevates the watch’s appearance slightly.
Overall it has an honest budget feel that is fair for the €49 asking price, without trying to be something it isn’t. The side buttons have a satisfying click quality, above what you’d expect at this price, as does the aluminium bezel carrying the MIL-STD-810H military certification.
The strap is silicone — comfortable for extended wear, suitable for physical activity, and resistant to perspiration.
The IP68 and 3ATM ratings make it suitable for use in adverse conditions, although the manufacturer does not recommend wearing it in the shower or in spa environments.
Thanks to its light weight, it is easy to forget you are wearing it — something that does not always hold true for more robust watches in this category.
Display
The DT G9 features an AMOLED display — a good choice for a device this affordable.
That said, it is important not to expect the level of detail found in more expensive models. This is a display with good resolution, excellent colours and responsiveness, but it is clearly a step below other more complete models — even within DT’s own range, such as the DT Watch X.
It supports always-on display if the user wishes, and outdoor legibility is reasonable, making good use of the 1,000-nit brightness.
Setup and configuration
Getting started with the DT G9 is very straightforward. Simply install the WearJoy app on your smartphone, go to the devices tab, and add the watch.
From there, browse the app’s menus and choose which options you want to enable or disable.
Once everything is set up, the watch is ready for daily use.
WearJoy app
The WearJoy app is functional and easy to navigate, with access to all health data, exercise logs, and watch customisation options.
The first tab gives access to the full health records history, including sleep, heart rate, SpO2, and more.
The exercise tab gives access to the workout history, with all recorded metrics and the GPS route displayed on a map.
Finally, there is a device tab with connection and battery information for the watch. It also lets you manage which types of notifications and alerts are sent to the watch, transfer photos or audio files, customise the alarm, or set whether continuous heart rate monitoring is active.
The main weakness is the overly monochromatic design, which makes reading data less pleasant than it should be.
Translation gaps are also noticeable and are expected to be addressed in future updates.
GPS and sports modes
The built-in GPS works well in practice for recording routes with good accuracy, and is one of the watch’s strongest points for the price. The sports modes function correctly and GPS tracking during activities is reliable.
The downside is the offline maps feature. Despite the app indicating that the Portugal map download to the watch completed successfully, the maps never became available on the watch.
The issue was reproduced across two attempts with the same result, making this feature unusable in practice.
Health monitoring
The DT G9 is well equipped in terms of health monitoring for its price range.
It includes continuous heart rate measurement, SpO2, sleep monitoring, mood and stress logging, and menstrual cycle tracking, covering the needs of most users.
Calls and notifications
The DT G9 allows you to answer and reject calls directly from the watch. Sound quality is not exceptional but the maximum volume is loud enough for outdoor use. The microphone quality is reasonable — you can hear and be heard without major difficulty.
Notifications work well but have a character limit, which can leave messages cut off. For a quick glance at who sent a message and the beginning of its content, it does the job.
Extra features
Beyond the standard smartwatch functions, the DT G9 surprises with a set of unexpected extras for €49.
It includes built-in games, remote control of the smartphone camera, local storage for music and photos to use without a phone, a voice recorder, and a decibel metre.
These are features that would rarely justify a purchase on their own, but they add genuine value to the overall package.
Battery life and charging
Real-world battery life falls short of the 10 to 15 days the brand claims when the watch is used with all features active.
With notifications and health monitoring always on, the 460mAh battery lasts 2 to 3 days. With more basic use — disabling some continuous measurements — it is possible to reach 4 to 5 days.
Charging is done via the magnetic cable included in the box and takes just over an hour.
Who is the DT G9 for?
The DT G9 is for those who want a smartwatch with built-in GPS and comprehensive health monitoring for under €50.
It is the right choice for anyone who does casual outdoor sports and wants to track routes without investing in a Garmin or an Apple Watch, or for those who want a sturdy everyday watch without worrying about damaging it.
It is also well suited to those exploring the world of smartwatches for the first time without a significant investment, or to those wanting a second watch for more demanding activities such as trail running, cycling, or light water sports.
It is not the best choice for those who rely on offline maps on their watch during outdoor activities, given that this feature did not work in practice. Those with high demands on health sensor accuracy or who want a polished, fully localised software experience will also be better served by alternatives from more established brands.
Our verdict on the DT G9
The DT G9 delivers good performance for the €49 asking price. The GPS works well, the AMOLED display is good quality for the price range, the build is honest, and the set of extras — voice recorder, decibel metre, and built-in games — is genuinely surprising at this price point.
The 2 to 3 days of battery life under heavy use is the biggest weakness compared to the brand’s claimed 10 to 15 days. The gap between the advertised figure and reality is too large to go unmentioned, although the 4 to 5 days achievable with basic use is more acceptable.
The offline maps issue is frustrating because it is an advertised feature that simply did not work. In a price range where every feature counts, having one that does not function is a negative point that cannot be overlooked.
The WearJoy app does its job but needs work on the design and translations to reach the level of apps from more established brands.
Overall, the DT G9 is an honest proposition for those with expectations calibrated to the €49 price. It is a watch that does the essentials well, surprises in some areas, and disappoints in others — which is exactly what you would expect at this price point.
Techbit thanks DT Watch for providing the DT G9 for review.
- Built-in GPS with good accuracy for €49
- Light and comfortable for extended wear
- Real battery life of 2 to 3 days, well below the promised 10 to 15 days
- Offline maps did not work on the watch
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