Haylou Solar Plus Smartwatch Review: Budget GPS Fitness on Your Wrist

Haylou Solar Plus has 60,000+ reviews on JD.com with a 4.2/5 rating at ¥159 ($22). Users appreciate the built-in GPS tracking at an incredibly low price, the large 1.28-inch LCD display with good outdoor visibility, and the 20-day battery life that reduces charging frequency. The main complaints are the GPS taking 30-60 seconds to lock signal, the heart rate monitor being unreliable during workouts, and the user interface feeling sluggish when navigating menus. Conclusion: ✅ Worth Buying — the most affordable GPS-enabled smartwatch that actually works for basic fitness tracking.

Introduction

Haylou, a Xiaomi-ecosystem brand, has built a reputation for offering absurd value in the budget wearable space. The Solar Plus continues this tradition by packing GPS tracking into a ¥159 ($22) watch — a feature typically reserved for watches costing 3-5x more.

The budget fitness watch market in China is hyper-competitive, with brands like Haylou, Dizo, and Realme fighting for the ¥100-¥200 segment. The Solar Plus differentiates itself with built-in GPS (no phone needed for tracking) and long battery life.

Specifications

Feature	Haylou Solar Plus	Haylou Watch 5	Amazfit Bip 6	Xiaomi Band 9 Pro
Price (JD)	¥159 ($22)	¥199 ($28)	¥399 ($55)	¥279 ($39)
Display	1.28” LCD (240×240)	1.96” AMOLED	1.63” AMOLED	1.74” AMOLED
GPS	Yes (single-band)	Yes (single-band)	Yes (dual-band)	Yes (single-band)
Heart Rate	PPG (2 LED)	PPG (2 LED)	PPG (4 LED)	PPG (4 LED)
Battery Life	20 days typical	10 days typical	14 days typical	9 days typical
Water Resistance	5 ATM	5 ATM	5 ATM	5 ATM
Sports Modes	12	100+	100+	50+
Weight	38g	32g	36g	22g
OS	Haylou OS	Haylou OS	Zepp OS	Xiaomi HyperOS
Bluetooth	5.0	5.2	5.2	5.2
NFC	No	No	No	Yes (CN only)
JD Rating	4.2/5	4.2/5	4.3/5	4.3/5
JD Reviews	60,000+	40,000+	50,000+	100,000+

Design and Build Quality

The Solar Plus has a classic round watch design with a zinc alloy case and a matte finish. The 1.28-inch LCD display has thick bezels — the actual screen is smaller than the watch diameter suggests. The LCD is readable outdoors thanks to a transmissive panel, though colors look washed out compared to AMOLED alternatives.

Two physical buttons on the right side provide navigation without touch interference when sweaty or wet. The silicone strap is comfortable for daily wear. At 38g, it’s light enough for sleep tracking.

The water resistance rating is 5 ATM — suitable for swimming, though the lack of a swim tracking mode limits practical swimming use. The charging is via a proprietary pogo-pin cradle, a common compromise at this price.

“For ¥159 the GPS is a steal. I take it running without my phone and it tracks distance and route well enough. The GPS takes a frustratingly long time to lock — sometimes a minute before I can start. Heart rate during running is okay for steady pace but shows weird spikes.” — JD.com verified buyer

Performance

The GPS is the Solar Plus’s defining feature and its most inconsistent. In open sky conditions, GPS lock takes 20-40 seconds. In areas with buildings or tree cover, it can take 60+ seconds or fail entirely. Tracked routes show minor drift in urban environments but are generally usable for distance and pace estimation.

Heart rate monitoring uses a basic 2-LED PPG sensor. Resting heart rate and daily step counts are reasonably accurate. During exercise, accuracy degrades significantly — brief 2-3 minute outdoor runs may be okay but longer sessions show gaps.

The LCD display is always-on without a battery penalty (no backlight needed in daylight), contributing to the 20-day battery life. The trade-off is a basic-looking display compared to AMOLED competitors.

“I bought this as a cheap GPS watch for cycling and it does the job. Routes are trackable, distance is within 5% of my cycling computer. The display is visible in sunlight which is great. The UI is slow — pressing buttons to scroll through menus has a noticeable delay. You get what you pay for at ¥159.” — JD.com verified buyer

User Reviews by Theme

GPS Value

“¥159 for a watch with GPS is incredible. My previous watch needed phone tethering for GPS. The Solar Plus works independently. Yes, the GPS lock is slow and routes aren’t as clean as my friend’s Garmin, but for the price it’s amazing.” — JD.com verified buyer

💡 Summary: Built-in GPS at this price point is unmatched value. Performance is basic but functional.

Display Quality

“The LCD screen is fine for outdoor use. It’s not as pretty as an AMOLED but it’s perfectly readable in sunlight and doesn’t need to ‘wake up’ — it’s always visible. Indoors it looks basic. The thick bezels make the screen look smaller.” — JD.com verified buyer

💡 Summary: LCD display is practical for outdoor use but looks dated indoors. Best for function over form.

Heart Rate Accuracy

“Heart rate monitor is unreliable during exercise. Shows random high readings. For daily resting heart rate tracking it’s fine. For workout monitoring it’s not trustworthy. I use a separate chest strap for training.” — JD.com verified buyer

💡 Summary: HR sensor is entry-level. Sufficient for resting/daytime tracking but not reliable during exercise.

Battery Life

“20-day battery is real. I charge every 2-3 weeks with GPS runs twice a week. The LCD display helps a lot. My friend’s Xiaomi Band 9 needs charging every 8-9 days. Battery is the Solar Plus’s strongest feature.” — JD.com verified buyer

💡 Summary: Battery life is excellent. The LCD display’s always-on visibility without power drain is a key advantage.

Purchase Recommendations

✅ Worth Buying (¥159)

Best for budget-conscious runners, cyclists, and fitness beginners who want GPS tracking without spending ¥300+. Ideal for casual fitness tracking where absolute accuracy isn’t critical.

💰 Premium Pick

For ¥399, the Amazfit Bip 6 offers AMOLED display, dual-band GPS, better HR accuracy, and smoother UI. Recommended for users who want more reliable fitness tracking.

⚠️ Budget Warning

At ¥279, the Xiaomi Band 9 Pro offers better display, more accurate sensors, and a smoother experience despite lacking built-in GPS (uses connected GPS from phone).

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros	❌ Cons
Built-in GPS at ¥159 price point	GPS lock time slow (30-60s)
20-day battery life — excellent endurance	Heart rate inaccurate during exercise
Lightweight (38g) — comfortable for sleep	LCD display looks basic indoors
5 ATM water resistance	Thick bezels reduce effective screen area
Always-on display without battery drain	UI feels laggy during navigation
Good outdoor readability	Proprietary charging cradle (not USB-C)

FAQ

Q: Haylou Solar Plus vs Haylou Watch 5 — which is better? A: The Watch 5 has a larger 1.96” AMOLED (better display), more sports modes, and a sleeker design. The Solar Plus has better battery life (20 vs 10 days) and same GPS capability. Choose Solar Plus for battery, Watch 5 for display.

Q: Does the Solar Plus have NFC for payment? A: No, NFC payment is not supported. This is a common omission at this price point. NFC is available on Xiaomi Band 9 Pro at ¥279.

Q: Can the Solar Plus track swimming? A: It’s water-resistant to 5 ATM but lacks dedicated swim tracking features. It can record time and general activity in water but won’t track laps, strokes, or SWOLF.

Q: Does the Haylou app work with iPhone? A: Yes, the Haylou Fun app works on both Android and iOS. Notification support is good. Call notifications work. Reply to messages is not supported on iOS.

Q: Can I use the Solar Plus without a phone? A: Yes, for GPS tracking and timekeeping. The onboard storage records GPS data that syncs to the app when your phone is nearby. Music control, notifications, and weather require phone connection.