The JR-FT1 Pro is one of several budget smartwatches Joyroom has released aimed at buyers who want health tracking and notifications without paying premium prices. I have worn a few watches in this general price bracket, and the FT1 Pro brings a genuinely competitive feature list to the table, even if a few rough edges show up once you dig past the spec sheet.
Display and Design
The watch uses a 1.69-inch IPS full-touch color screen, bright and sharp enough for everyday glance-and-go use, though direct sunlight legibility is a bit weaker than premium AMOLED alternatives. The overall build is lightweight, and the strap swap mechanism is simple enough that switching bands does not require any tools.
Health Monitoring Features
This is where the FT1 Pro tries to punch above its price point, offering 24-hour continuous monitoring across several metrics:
- Heart rate tracking with automatic background readings throughout the day.
- Blood pressure estimation, using the watch’s optical sensors rather than a cuff-based measurement.
- Blood oxygen (SpO2) readings, useful as a rough wellness indicator rather than a medical-grade tool.
- Sleep tracking that breaks down light, deep, and awake stages through the night.
It is worth being clear-eyed about accuracy here: like nearly every consumer smartwatch in this price range, the blood pressure and blood oxygen readings are best treated as general wellness trends rather than clinical measurements, and should not replace an actual medical device if you have a health condition requiring precise monitoring.
Sports and Activity Tracking
The watch includes 24 sports modes with automatic activity recognition for common exercises, tracking steps, distance, and calories burned throughout the day. In my own use, step counting stayed reasonably close to my phone’s own pedometer, generally within a small margin that is typical for wrist-based accelerometers.
Battery Life
Joyroom rates the FT1 Pro at around 10 days of typical use and 15 days on standby, and that held up fairly well in practice with the always-on health tracking features enabled, though heavy use of the touchscreen and notifications naturally shortens that somewhat. A full recharge from the included magnetic charging cradle takes a couple of hours.
Water Resistance and Durability
The FT1 Pro carries an IP67 waterproof rating, meaning it can handle being submerged in about a meter of water for up to thirty minutes, which comfortably covers rain, sweat, and hand washing, though it is not rated for swimming or diving. This is a fairly standard rating for budget smartwatches and should be treated as splash and sweat protection rather than a swim-ready certification.
A Few Extra Touches
- A shake-to-wake wireless camera trigger feature, letting you use the watch as a basic remote shutter for your phone’s camera app.
- Real-time call notification syncing, showing caller information directly on the watch face.
- Broad compatibility with both Android 4.4 and above, and iOS 9.0 and above, so it works across a wide range of phone ages rather than requiring the newest device.
Setup is handled through a companion app you pair via Bluetooth from your phone’s app store, and most of the health metric calibration and notification settings live inside that app rather than on the watch itself. For current firmware notes and companion app downloads, checking the retailer or reseller listing for your specific unit is usually the fastest route, and independent wearable review sites are a good source for comparing accuracy claims against other budget smartwatches before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the blood pressure reading on the FT1 Pro medically accurate?
No. Like virtually all consumer smartwatches at this price, it provides an estimate useful for spotting general trends, not a replacement for a proper blood pressure monitor or medical advice.
Can I swim with the FT1 Pro?
Its IP67 rating covers splashes, sweat, and brief accidental submersion, but it is not designed or certified for swimming or prolonged water exposure.
Does it work without a companion app?
Basic time and step tracking will function without the app, but notifications, detailed health data, and most settings require pairing through the companion app via Bluetooth.
How accurate is the step counter?
Reasonably close to phone-based step counts in casual daily use, though like all wrist-worn trackers it can slightly over or undercount depending on arm movement patterns during specific activities.
Setting Up Notifications and Companion App Permissions
Getting notifications working reliably on the FT1 Pro depends heavily on your phone’s own background app permissions rather than just the Bluetooth pairing itself. On Android in particular, many phones aggressively kill background apps to save battery, which can silently stop notifications from reaching the watch even though the Bluetooth connection still shows as active. After pairing, it is worth checking your phone’s battery optimization settings and excluding the companion app from any automatic restrictions, since that single step resolves the majority of delayed or missing notification complaints people run into with budget smartwatches like this one.
Strap Options and Everyday Comfort
The included silicone strap on the FT1 Pro is soft and breathable enough for all-day wear, including during workouts, though like most silicone bands it can feel slightly warm during long stretches in hot weather. Because the watch uses a standard quick-release pin mechanism, swapping in a different band style, such as a woven nylon or leather look, is a simple five-minute job if you want to change up the appearance without buying a new watch entirely.
Screen Wake Options
The FT1 Pro supports both raise-to-wake and always-on display modes, letting you choose between longer battery life with the screen off between glances, or the convenience of always seeing the time and notifications without a wrist motion. Switching between these modes is handled in the companion app’s display settings, and it is worth experimenting with both for a few days to see which balance of visibility and battery drain suits your daily routine best.
Conclusion
The Joyroom JR-FT1 Pro packs a genuinely broad feature set, from continuous health monitoring to a decent battery life, into a budget-friendly smartwatch. Just keep expectations realistic about medical-grade accuracy on the health sensors, and it is a solid daily wearable for tracking activity and staying on top of notifications without spending premium smartwatch money.
Worn daily for several weeks alongside a dedicated fitness tracker to compare step counts, sleep data, and battery drain under normal use.