Huami's affordable smartwatch borrows a lot from others, adds little originality. I didn't know what to expect from a $99 smartwatch. I certainly didn't expect a GPS or a heart rate monitor. I also didn't expect it to look much different from a traditional fitness tracker, since those devices come in closer to the $99 price point than most smartwatches available today.

But the Amazfit Bip challenges even the lowest of expectations about what an affordable smartwatch might be. It promises a full smartwatch experience, including features like a heart rate monitor, onboard GPS, a touchscreen, multiple watch faces, full smartphone connectivity, and up to 45 days of battery life—all at the nearly unbeatable price of just $99. Its elevator pitch will be enticing to those searching for a comprehensive wearable that won't set them back hundreds of dollars, like most Android Wear, Tizen, and watchOS devices will.