Mibro GS Explorer watch review: a handy budget watch with plenty of sports modes

First impressions

The sports watch market is saturated with multiple high-end options promising to be the perfect companion for your run, hike or other outdoor activity. Models like Garmin's Fenix 8 deliver super-accurate GPS and scores of insightful health information for prices approaching $1,000 (~£750).

These watches are the best of the best but can leave a serious hole in your wallet. That's where the Mibro GS Explorer comes in. Retailing for only $155 / £123), and often dropping below that in the sales, this affordable model boasts many of the same features as a high-end running watch for a fraction of the price.

It's made from fiber-reinforced polymer with a stretchy silicone strap. The bright, 1.32-inch (3.35cm) AMOLED display is protected by a Corner Gorilla lens, a sturdy, scratch-proof glass that – Mibro say – has passed multiple military tests for durability. The watch itself is big, and while it was fine for me, may feel a little clunky to wearers with smaller wrists.

This rugged watch is designed to suit athletes of all passions, with over 150 different sports modes that track and keep a record of your workouts. These modes offer specialized information following each fitness activity. For example, after a trail run, you can access run-specific stats like your cadence, stride length, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation.

You can also view a wide array of health information, thanks to the Explorer's multiple fitness trackers. These include oxygen, heart rate, and scientific sleep monitors.

All of your health and sport-specific information is mapped onto various charts and graphs in the Mibro app. Here, you can also see detailed GPS round-ups of your activity.

I've worn the Mibro GS Explorer for the past couple of months, putting the GPS watch through its paces and trying out the various sports modes, to see just how good this budget watch really is.

On the trails

Health monitors

The Mibro Explorer GS watch features a decent array of health and fitness trackers, comparable to other watches at its price tag like Garmin's Forerunner 55.

The main trackers measure your heart rate, sleep, stress, blood oxygen saturation, and metabolic energy saturation. Each tracker provides a good level of detail, which is clearly displayed and easily accessible in the Mibro app.

For example, the sleep tracker calculates the amount of time you spend each night in deep sleep, light sleep, REM sleep, and wide awake.

None of this information is in any way groundbreaking, but I found it interesting and was able to put it to good use to improve my sleep and stress levels.

Sports modes and navigation

This watch shines in its 150+ sports modes. During activities, the touchscreen display provides useful, up-to-date information on your levels of activity and progress made.

For example, in the trail running mode, you can swipe through real-time stats detailing your pace, cadence, stride length, and ground contact time, among many others, so you can adjust your efforts mid-run.

The information provided differs per sport, although many share metrics.

After each activity, you can look over a detailed round-up of your performance, which includes multiple charts and graphs that summarise your health data. There's also a handy recovery time calculator, which tells you exactly when you'll be back to full fitness.

Navigation information is also provided in this round-up. After an activity, you can view a detailed map of your movements which illustrates where you were fastest, where you gained the most altitude, and where your heart rate was highest.

This fun little feature is great if you're keen to beat your PB on a particular route, allowing you to identify and target your slowest areas.

Aside from this, the GPS is a little lackluster. Tracking lines, which are designed to keep you on course, repeatedly went off-route and could not be relied upon for longer distances.

Display and construction

The vivid AMOLED display is very impressive and remains crystal clear in the brightest sunshine. It's also customizable, meaning you can change how your watch face looks at any time and even use your own photos as a background.

The military-tested construction is equally impressive. I put the GS Explorer to good use on the trails and didn't notice a single scratch on the rugged Corner Gorilla glass. The rest of the watch, including its silicone strap, was also durable and didn't fray or degrade at any point during my weeks of wear.

Battery life

The Mibro GS Explorer boasts a decent battery life, especially for its price range. This rugged watch claims a battery life of 60 days in standby mode, 20 in daily mode, and 15 hours in GPS mode.

I predominantly used the Explorer in GPS mode and had no battery-related issues. Charging was fast, effective, and pain-free.

Other features

Alongside its standard sport-watch capabilities, the GS Explorer uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone and headphones, alerting you with notifications and controlling music.

While you can't reply to messages, notifications are a handy feature, especially if you don't have your phone on you at all times.

When it worked, the Bluetooth feature was also useful. However, on several occasions, it became stuck on one song or displayed the wrong title, which made song selection a little tricky.

Price

Despite a few flaws, the Mibro GS Explorer watch is good value for money. Its insightful fitness trackers and multiple sports modes are well worth the price tag of $155 (£121).

Some faulty features and unreliable GPS tracking stop this watch from really punching above its price, but it's a great option for athletes keen to learn about their capabilities without splashing the cash.

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