Not because I desperately needed one. But because I wanted to see if it would actually improve my daily routine or just end up as another gadget I forget to wear after a week.
So, I went for the Itel Smart Watch Storm Ultra after seeing a viral post on X (Twitter). And yes I’m part of the people that think Itel needs to run her a cheque ASAP.
Anyway, I went ahead to search for it on Jumia and it really caught my eye. Affordable, packed with health and fitness tracking features, and, most importantly, simple. I unboxed it yesterday, wore it for a full day, and now I’m sharing my first impressions.
Nothing too deep. Just an honest take on what it’s like to use this watch as a regular person who cares about health and tech.
My First Impressions: Lightweight, Comfortable, and Minimalist
The moment I picked it up, I noticed something. It was incredibly light.
Some smartwatches feel like you’re carrying a mini rock on your wrist. This one? Nahhh. I actually forgot I was wearing it at some point.
The silicone strap is soft, flexible, and didn’t irritate my skin (a huge plus because I hate watches that make my wrist sweaty and uncomfortable). The watch face is sleek and simple. No flashy or tacky designs, just a clean, modern look. If you like a minimalist style, you’ll appreciate this.
But here’s one thing though. The screen brightness. Indoors, it looks great, clear and easy to read. Step outside under direct sunlight? You might need to tilt your wrist a bit for better visibility. Not a dealbreaker, but it’s something to note.
The Setup: Quick and Easy
If there’s one thing I dislike, it’s spending half an hour setting up a new gadget. Luckily, this wasn’t one of those frustrating experiences.
All I had to do was:
- Download the iPulse app from my App Store.
- Scan the QR code on the watch.
- Pair it with my phone via Bluetooth.
That was it. No unnecessary steps or complicated process. In less than five minutes, I was good to go.
Health Tracking Features: What Works and What I’m Still Testing
This is where things get interesting. One of the reasons I got this watch was to see how well it tracks health and fitness.
Here’s everything I’ve noticed so far:
Step Counter
I love the idea of tracking my steps. It makes me aware of how active (or lazy) I’ve been during the day.
I took a short walk around my room, then checked the step count. Seemed pretty accurate. Of course, I didn’t count every single step manually, but the numbers made sense.
I also like that it gives me a daily goal – 4,000 steps. Not bad for a start and also a gentle push to keep moving, which is great because, let’s be honest, we all sit too much these days.
Heart Rate Monitor
I tried this a few times throughout the day. Just placed my wrist still for a few seconds, and the watch displayed my heart rate.
To check its accuracy, I compared it my mother’s blood pressure monitor. The numbers were very close. Now, is it as precise as a medical-grade device? Probably not. But for general health awareness, it does the job.
Sleep Tracker
This is a feature I’m very curious about. I’ve not tested it yet though. Apparently, it tracks your sleep patterns, measuring how much deep sleep and light sleep you get.
If it’s accurate, then it’s going to be really useful. Sleep is one of those things we don’t pay enough attention to, yet it affects everything. Our mood, energy levels, even weight.
I’ll have to wear the watch overnight to see how accurate it is. If it tells me I slept for five hours when I know I was awake scrolling on my phone at 2 a.m., we’ll have a problem.
Other Features I’ve Noticed
There are a couple of extra things the watch does that I wasn’t even thinking about when I got it.
Synced Notifications
The watch syncs with my phone and shows notifications.
I can’t reply to messages directly from it, but that’s fine. At least I can quickly see if a message is important without reaching for my phone. I can also place a call with it, how cool is that?
Different Exercise Modes
I expected basic step counting, but this watch actually has multiple workout modes. So far, I’ve seen options for:
- Walking
- Running
- Cycling
- Skipping
- Badminton
- Basketball
- Football
- Swimming
- Climbing
- Yoga & so on (quite a number of them actually).
Each mode helps track your activity more accurately instead of just counting steps for everything. If I choose running, for example, it focuses on distance, speed, and calories burned differently than if I were just walking.
I also like that it records my workout time, so if I ever decide to time my skipping (which I will, eventually), I won’t have to use my phone’s stopwatch.
It makes the watch feel more useful for fitness, not just a fancy step tracker. I’ll have to try a few of these workout modes properly and see how well they work.
Battery Life – So Far, So Good
I charged it to 100% yesterday, and after a full day of use, the battery is still going strong.
Now, some smartwatches need to be charged every single day, which is annoying. But from what I’ve read, this one should last a few days on a single charge. We’ll see how it holds up after a week.
What I Wish Was Better (So Far)
No gadget is perfect, and this watch is no exception.
- The screen brightness outdoors – Like I mentioned earlier, it could be better under direct sunlight.
- No built-in GPS. Not a huge deal for me, but if you’re a runner or someone who likes detailed route tracking, you’ll need your phone’s GPS for that.
- Limited watch faces – I like customization, and while the available watch faces aren’t bad, I wish there were more options.
So, is the Itel smartwatch worth getting?
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly smartwatch that does the basics well. Step tracking, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and notifications, then yes, I’d say it’s worth considering.
It’s comfortable, easy to use, and gives you useful health insights without being complicated. I wouldn’t call it a medical device, but for everyday awareness of your fitness and well-being, it’s a nice addition to your routine.
I’ll keep using it and see how it holds up after a few weeks. If anything changes, I might just come back with an update.
For now, though, I like it.
Simple, functional, and a good way to stay on top of my health.
If you enjoyed reading this review, please don’t forget to clap. Also, let me know in the comments if you will consider getting one.