Amazfit Helio Strap Pro: Fitness tech brand Amazfit took advantage of the massive crowds gathered for the HYROX World Championship in Stockholm to unveil its newest wearable: the Helio Strap Pro.
Coming in at $199.99, the new Pro variant costs exactly double the original $99.99 Helio Strap (which, for those looking to buy the entry-level model, is currently out of stock). On the surface, the two look almost identical. However, Amazfit is banking on a dual-sensor ecosystem to solve one of the biggest headaches in endurance and hybrid training: accurately measuring how heavy weights drain your muscles.
What Stays the Same? The Core Hardware
If you were hoping for a complete redesign of the actual optical tracker, you might be a little disappointed. Amazfit kept the exact same compact footprint for the primary arm and wrist module.
Under the hood, the foundation remains unchanged:
- The Sensor: It relies on the same BioTracker 6.0 system, using a setup of 5 photodiodes and 2 LEDs to read your biometrics.
- Battery Life: You get a solid 232 mAh battery inside the main unit, which gives you up to 11 days of juice if you wear it on your arm.
- The Basics: Charging takes just under two hours using a magnetic puck. The unit is rated for 5 ATM water resistance, connects via Bluetooth 5.2, and includes a built-in vibration motor for haptic alerts.
The Upgrade: Helio Strap vs. Amazfit Helio Strap Pro
So, where is your extra $100 actually going? The price bump comes down to a beefed-up internal chip in the main tracker and a brand-new secondary sensor included in the box.
1. Better Tracking on Your Arm
Amazfit swapped out the standard 6-axis movement tracker from the original version and replaced it with a 9-axis setup. By adding a geomagnetic sensor, the Pro can much better understand your body’s orientation in space. They have also added a skin temperature sensor to this upgraded module.
2. A Dedicated Waist Sensor (Helio Core Motion)
This is the real star of the $199.99 bundle. The Pro package includes a completely separate, clip-on tracker meant to be worn right at the center of your waist. Because its job is highly specific, its battery lasts an impressive 44 days.
When you pair the arm band, the waist clip, and a compatible smartwatch together, they build a real-time “motion signature” of your workout.
Because HYROX rules dictate exactly how heavy the sleds and kettlebells are, Amazfit’s Zepp software can fill in the blanks that other fitness trackers miss. By monitoring your speed, acceleration, and how much your torso sways, the system figures out your exact mechanical work. Instead of just giving you a generic cardio score, it explicitly breaks down your strain into cardiovascular load versus actual muscular fatigue. It can even tell you if your form is slipping—like flagging that your leg drive dropped by 20% on the final sled push.
The Catch: Strict Limitations at Launch
Before you rush to pre-order, there are two major ecosystem locks you need to know about.
The Software Lock
At launch, the advanced waist clip only works if you are actively running a HYROX Race or HYROX Simulation workout. If you are doing a standard weightlifting session, a CrossFit WOD, or a general gym routine, the waist tracker literally does nothing. Amazfit has promised to expand this to regular workout modes later, but for now, it is an exclusive club.
The Hardware Lock
To actually use all three devices together (Watch + Arm Tracker + Waist Clip), you need to own one of Amazfit’s newest high-end watches: either the Amazfit Balance 3 or the Amazfit Balance Ultra. Support for older models is planned, but it will arrive via a future software update.
Quick Breakdown
| Feature | Original Helio Strap | New Helio Strap Pro |
| Price | $99.99 | $199.99 |
| Tracking Axes | 6-Axis | 9-Axis (More precise) |
| Waist Tracking | No | Yes (Included in box) |
| Skin Temperature | No | Yes |
| Subscription Fee | None | None |
The Verdict: Who is This For?
The choice here comes down entirely to how you train:
- Go for it if: You are a dedicated HYROX competitor. The ability to automatically track how different exercise stations crush your muscles—without needing to manually log weights in an app—fills a massive gap in fitness tech. Plus, Amazfit doesn’t hide any of this data behind a monthly subscription; metrics like LifeLoad and HybridCharge are completely free.
- Skip it for now if: You are a general gym-goer or hybrid athlete. Until Amazfit pushes out the updates that let the waist sensor track normal gym movements, you are paying a $100 premium for a feature you can’t fully use yet.
Pre-orders are officially open today, with the first units scheduled to ship out on June 25, 2026.