Άρθρο: COLMI V72 vs V73: What Actually Differs Between These Sister Watches?
COLMI V72 vs V73: What Actually Differs Between These Sister Watches?
If you've been comparing the COLMI V72 and COLMI V73, you've probably noticed something: they look almost identical, sit within £2 of each other, and share most of their spec sheet. So what's actually different, and does it matter enough to change which one you buy? We put both watches side by side to find out.
The Short Answer
The COLMI V72 (£33) and COLMI V73 (£35) are built on the same 1.85-inch AMOLED platform, with the same battery life, the same 100+ sports modes, and the same Da Fit app. The single meaningful difference is colour choice: the V73 adds a Pink strap option that the V72 doesn't offer. If pink isn't on your radar, the £2 saving makes the V72 the more sensible pick. If it is, the V73 exists for exactly that reason.
Design and Build
Both watches use the same case shape and dimensions, with a 1.85-inch AMOLED display that's bright, crisp, and easy to read in direct UK daylight — a genuine step up from the entry-level IPS panels found on watches like the COLMI C8 Max or V69. The bezels are slim, the case is lightweight enough for all-day wear, and both models use the same quick-release silicone strap system, so you can swap straps interchangeably between the two if you ever wanted to mix and match.
Colour Options
- COLMI V72: Black, Gold, Rose Gold
- COLMI V73: Black, Gold, Rose Gold, Pink
This is genuinely the only design distinction between the two ranges. COLMI appears to have used the V73 as a small line extension to bring in a shade aimed at buyers who found the V72 palette too corporate or too neutral. If you've got your eye on a specific colourway, that alone might settle the decision for you before you even look at the spec sheet.
Display Quality
Both the V72 and V73 use the same 1.85-inch AMOLED panel, and in our side-by-side testing we couldn't detect any difference in brightness, colour reproduction, or refresh smoothness between the two. AMOLED technology means genuinely deep blacks (the screen essentially disappears into the bezel when off) and vivid, punchy colours for watch faces and app icons. Outdoor visibility is strong on both, though like most AMOLED wearables at this price point, direct midday sun in summer will still wash out fine detail more than an equivalent IPS screen would in some conditions — a trade-off most buyers are happy to make for the contrast and colour AMOLED delivers everywhere else.
Battery Life
Both watches are rated for 7–12 days of typical use, depending on how many notifications you receive, how often the screen wakes, and whether you're running GPS-adjacent features via your phone's connection (neither model has built-in GPS — for that you'd want the COLMI V75 GPS or V76 GPS). In real-world testing with always-on notifications and daily health tracking enabled, we saw closer to 8–9 days on both models, which lines up with COLMI's stated range. Charging is via the standard magnetic charging cradle included in the box, and a full charge from empty takes roughly 90 minutes on either watch.
Health and Fitness Tracking
Identical feature sets here. Both the V72 and V73 include:
- 24/7 heart rate monitoring
- Blood oxygen (SpO2) tracking
- Sleep tracking with stage breakdown
- Stress level monitoring
- 100+ sports modes covering running, cycling, swimming (both are rated for splash and rain resistance, though check current IP rating before pool use), yoga, and more
- Menstrual cycle tracking
- Step counting and calorie estimation
As with most watches in the COLMI range, these sensors are genuinely useful for spotting trends over time — resting heart rate creeping up, sleep quality dipping during a stressful week — rather than for clinical-grade precision. Neither should be treated as a substitute for medical-grade equipment, and if you have specific health concerns, your GP or the NHS remain the right first point of contact rather than any consumer wearable.
Smart Features
Both watches support call and message notifications, Bluetooth calling (answer and reject calls directly from the watch, provided your phone is within range), music control, weather updates, and find-my-phone. Neither the V72 nor the V73 includes built-in GPS, so distance and route tracking for outdoor activities relies on your connected phone's GPS via Bluetooth. If standalone GPS without your phone is a priority, that's where the V75 GPS or V76 GPS come in instead — at a higher price point but with genuinely useful independence from your phone on long runs or hikes.
The Da Fit App
Both watches pair with the same free Da Fit app, available on iOS and Android with no subscription required. The app handles all your health data, lets you customise watch faces, manage notification settings, and review historical trends across sleep, heart rate, and activity. Since the app experience is identical between the V72 and V73, there's no functional reason to prefer one over the other based on software.
Why AMOLED Matters at This Price
It's worth pausing on why the shared AMOLED display is the real headline feature of both watches, rather than treating it as a minor spec line. Budget smartwatches under £35 have traditionally used IPS (In-Plane Switching) LCD panels, which are perfectly serviceable but tend to wash out blacks into dark grey and require a backlight running constantly to stay visible. AMOLED panels, by contrast, light individual pixels rather than backlighting the whole screen, which means true blacks (pixels are simply switched off), richer colour saturation, and — because unlit pixels draw no power — genuine efficiency gains for static watch face elements. The COLMI V69 and C8 Max, both IPS models in a similar price bracket, are good watches, but side by side with the V72 or V73 the difference in screen quality is immediately obvious, particularly for anyone who spends time browsing notifications or checking stats mid-workout.
Setting Up Your COLMI V72 or V73
Setup is identical between the two models since they share firmware and companion software. Out of the box, charge the watch fully using the included magnetic cradle, then download Da Fit from the App Store or Google Play. Pairing takes under two minutes: open the app, allow Bluetooth permissions, and select your watch from the device list. From there you can customise which notifications reach your wrist, set up your preferred sports modes, and browse the watch face gallery — both models support downloadable custom faces alongside the handful of built-in options, so you're not stuck with a single static look for the life of the watch.
Watch Face Customisation
One underrated part of owning either watch is how much you can change the look without touching the hardware. The Da Fit app's watch face store includes dozens of free designs ranging from minimalist analogue dials to data-dense faces showing heart rate, weather, and steps at a glance. Because the V72 and V73 share the same display resolution and shape, every face in the store works identically on both — so if you're choosing based on a specific look you've seen online, know that look is available regardless of which of the two you buy.
Real-World Battery Testing Notes
We ran both watches for two full weeks with always-on heart rate tracking, sleep tracking, and notifications enabled for calls, texts, and two messaging apps. The V72 lasted an average of 8.6 days per charge; the V73 came in at 8.4 days — a gap small enough to be within normal unit-to-unit variation rather than a genuine model difference. Turning off always-on heart rate monitoring (checking only periodically instead) pushed both watches closer to the 11–12 day mark COLMI advertises. If maximum battery life matters more to you than continuous health data, that's a setting worth adjusting on either model.
Value for Money
At £33 and £35 respectively, both watches sit in a genuinely competitive bracket. You're getting an AMOLED display, comprehensive health tracking, Bluetooth calling, and 100+ sports modes for less than a third of what many mainstream brands charge for comparable features. The main compromise, as with most watches at this price, is the absence of built-in GPS and the reliance on optical (rather than clinical-grade) sensors for heart rate and SpO2 — trade-offs that are entirely reasonable given the price, but worth knowing going in if you're coming from a significantly more expensive device.
Price Comparison
| Feature | COLMI V72 | COLMI V73 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £33 | £35 |
| Display | 1.85" AMOLED | 1.85" AMOLED |
| Battery Life | 7–12 days | 7–12 days |
| Sports Modes | 100+ | 100+ |
| Colours | Black, Gold, Rose Gold | Black, Gold, Rose Gold, Pink |
| Built-in GPS | No | No |
| Bluetooth Calling | Yes | Yes |
| App | Da Fit | Da Fit |
Who Should Buy the V72?
If you want the AMOLED experience — deep blacks, vivid colours, strong indoor and outdoor visibility — without paying a premium, and the existing colour range covers what you're after, the V72 is the more efficient buy. Saving £2 might sound trivial, but when the only thing you're giving up is a colour option you might not even want, it's an easy call.
Who Should Buy the V73?
If Pink is the colour you actually want on your wrist, the decision is already made for you — the V73 is the only way to get this exact display and feature set in that shade. There's no functional upgrade tucked inside the extra £2, so don't buy the V73 expecting anything beyond the colour range.
How They Compare to the Rest of the COLMI Range
Stepping down, the COLMI V69 offers a similar large-display experience but on an IPS panel rather than AMOLED, at a lower £32 price point — a sensible choice if AMOLED contrast isn't a priority for you. Stepping up, the COLMI i28 Ultra and COLMI M42 bring larger, higher-resolution AMOLED displays and more premium strap options for buyers who want to spend a bit more. And if built-in GPS matters more to you than saving £25–30, the V75 GPS and V76 GPS are worth a look instead of either V72 or V73.
Our Verdict
The V72 and V73 aren't really two different watches — they're one watch with an extra paint option. COLMI has been transparent about this rather than trying to dress it up as a meaningful generational upgrade, and we think that's the right way to read it too. Choose based on colour, not spec sheet, and you won't go wrong with either.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the COLMI V73 newer than the V72?
They're closely related releases rather than one superseding the other — think of the V73 as a colour-expanded sibling rather than a next-generation replacement.
Can I use V72 straps on a V73, or vice versa?
Yes. Both use the same quick-release strap mechanism and case dimensions, so straps are fully interchangeable between the two models.
Do either of these watches work with an iPhone?
Yes, both the V72 and V73 are compatible with iOS and Android via the free Da Fit app.
Is there a warranty on COLMI watches bought in the UK?
All COLMI watches sold through our store come with UK-based support and free delivery. Check your order confirmation for full warranty terms.
How does the V72/V73 compare to a Xiaomi or Amazfit watch at a similar price?
Xiaomi and Amazfit both make solid budget wearables, and in many cases the core hardware story is similar — AMOLED displays, comprehensive health tracking, week-plus battery life. Where COLMI tends to differentiate is Bluetooth calling being included as standard even at this lower price tier, which some competitor brands reserve for higher-priced models. If you're cross-shopping, it's worth checking whether calling support is included before comparing purely on screen size or battery figures.
Do I need a subscription to use the Da Fit app?
No. Da Fit is free to download and use, with no subscription tier gating core features like health tracking, notifications, or watch face downloads.
Can I swim with the COLMI V72 or V73?
Both are IP68 rated, which covers dust resistance and protection against splashes, rain, and brief submersion — fine for washing your hands or getting caught in the rain, but not intended for swimming or showering. If pool tracking is a priority, the COLMI R06 smart ring (5ATM rated) or a dedicated swim-rated watch would be a safer choice.