The TOZO S5 is the fifth generation of smartwatches from the American brand. However, the S5 is the first to feature a classic round design instead of the rectangular, “Apple-like” shape. Visually, I believe this change benefits the wrist gadget, giving it a more solid and appealing look. Now, let’s find out what features the device offers, what it can do, and who might find it appealing in this review..
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TOZO S5 specifications
- Display: 1.43″, AMOLED, 466×466, 326 ppi, touchscreen
- Wireless module: Bluetooth 5.3
- RAM: 4 GB
- Flash memory: 64 GB
- Sensors: pedometer, heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter
- Battery: 300 mAh
- Battery life: up to 10 days with moderate use, up to 30 days in standby mode
- Case materials: metal, plastic
- Strap: removable silicone, width 22 mm
- Dimensions: 48.4×48.4×11.5 mm
- Weight: 61 g (with strap)
- Additional features: IP68, over 80 workout modes, Bluetooth call reception
TOZO S5 price
At the time of writing this review, the TOZO S5 can be purchased for $60 or €55 on the brand’s official website or through their AliExpress store. Don’t forget about potential discounts (for instance, there is currently a $10 off coupon available on the official website), so you might be able to get it at an even lower price.
Package contents
The TOZO S5 arrived in quite an interesting packaging — the box is extremely flat, yet it contains everything you need. Inside, you’ll find the smartwatch, a separate silicone strap with a standard mount, a USB-A cable with a magnetic connector for charging, and, of course, the accompanying documentation.
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TOZO S5 features
Like most relatively affordable wrist devices, the TOZO S5 offers both basic functionality and some additional features. Of course, it includes everything you’d expect to see in a modern smartwatch:
- tracking daily physical activity (steps, calories, and distance)
- Reminders to stretch or drink a glass of water
- sleep monitoring
- measurements of heart rate and blood oxygen level
- display notifications (read only, no reply)
- tracking activity during exercise, etc.
It’s worth noting that the TOZO S5 supports over 80 types of workouts, including popular options like aerobic and strength training, karate, boxing, as well as activities like dancing, crossfit, squash, and even darts and billiards. This is in addition to outdoor activities such as running, hiking, and cycling. However, if you need to track distance in detail, you’ll also need a smartphone, as the watch lacks its own GPS module and relies on the one in your phone. Another point to consider is that the smartwatch does not support water sports, despite its claimed IP68 protection level. So, it’s likely designed more for everyday water exposure, like getting caught in the rain or washing hands, but it’s not meant for swimming. If you’re specifically looking for a smartwatch for swimming, I’d recommend looking at a different gadget in another price range.
The TOZO S5 also comes with features like an alarm, weather updates, a timer, a stopwatch, and music control for your smartphone. You can adjust the volume or skip tracks, but unfortunately, the screen does not display the artist or song title. Additionally, the TOZO S5 allows you to take calls when connected to your smartphone via Bluetooth. It has a microphone and speaker, which handle voice calls quite well. This means you don’t always need your smartphone to answer calls, which is especially handy if your hands are full or wet. You can also add favorite contacts and make calls directly from the watch (provided it’s connected to your smartphone).
Design and materials
The TOZO S5 features a design that resembles a classic round watch, which I believe is a more versatile and appealing choice. Personally, I prefer the look of a traditional round watch over square devices, though that’s just a matter of personal taste. The device has a diameter of 46 mm, which might not be universally appealing. Although the trend towards oversized accessories isn’t limited to clothing, such a size might feel too large for people with slimmer wrists, regardless of gender. However, the watch’s weight is quite pleasing—only 61 grams with the strap, making it almost unnoticeable on the wrist.
The watch case incorporates both plastic elements and a metal frame, which not only enhances the durability of the structure but also gives it a more premium appearance. It’s worth mentioning that the device claims to have dust and water resistance rated at IP68, but it’s probably not suitable for swimming. However, you can rest easy about its durability when washing your hands or getting caught in the rain.
Now, back to the aesthetics. The screen lacks any raised bezel or surrounding frame (there’s only a neat decorative rim with notches), allowing the display to seamlessly flow into the case. It looks quite elegant.
On the right side, there are two buttons: an upper one styled as a dial and a standard flat button below it. Unfortunately, while the dial button does rotate, it doesn’t allow for scrolling through the menu. It’s not a dealbreaker, but having this additional functionality would have been a nice touch. After all, even some budget models offer this feature.
Below the buttons, on the plastic part of the case, there’s a hole for the microphone. Opposite it is the speaker grille. By the way, I’d recommend turning off or lowering the notification sound right away, as by default, every alert can make the watch jump a bit.
On the back of the device, you’ll find a window with the main sensors. Around the edge, there’s technical marking, and at the top, you’ll see the charging contacts.
The included strap is made of flexible and pleasant-to-touch silicone, with a metal buckle and a silicone keeper for excess bracelet length. There are plenty of holes for adjusting the fit, so it can easily accommodate any wrist size. Additionally, the strap has a standard attachment, making it simple to replace with another if desired.
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TOZO S5 display
The TOZO S5 features a high-quality display that would fit well in more expensive models. It boasts a round 1.43-inch AMOLED touchscreen with a resolution of 466×466 pixels and a pixel density of 326 ppi.
The TOZO S5’s display features deep contrast and vibrant color reproduction, with wide viewing angles and five brightness levels. Thanks to its large diagonal and high pixel density, text on the screen is very clear and fits well. The display is also quite responsive and has excellent “swipeability,” making gestures smooth and precise. I consider the screen quality to be one of the standout features of the TOZO S5, adding significant appeal for users.
Interface and control
Managing the TOZO S5 is straightforward, with a fairly logical interface, though it’s not perfect. Starting with the home screen, you’ll find the watch face, with plenty of options available through the app. There are numerous pre-made designs, ranging from creative to more formal and informative, and you can also create your own custom watch faces. Next is the heart rate monitoring screen. This function can be set to either manual or continuous measurement, which will significantly impact battery life.
Next, you have the weather, sleep monitoring, and physical activity “rings” (or rather, half-rings). As usual, the main menu is circular and scrolls in both directions. However, it’s unfortunate that you can’t rearrange, add, or remove screens. For example, I’d prefer to swap the sleep monitoring screen (since I don’t use that feature) with the music control screen, but that option isn’t available.
Moving on, swiping down brings down the “shade,” similar to a smartphone. Here, you can enable “Do Not Disturb” and “Silent” modes, adjust screen brightness, activate the wrist raise to wake function, and quickly access settings. It also displays the battery level, connection status, and date.
Swiping up from the bottom opens the notification menu. Unfortunately, you can only read or clear notifications—there are no preset responses available.
Let’s check out the physical buttons, starting with the lower one. Like many smartwatch models, it provides quick access to workout modes. By the way, you can add, remove, or rearrange workouts in the app. Unfortunately, you can’t do the same with the menu.
The upper button opens the full menu, which you can customize. Besides the main screens, this menu includes workout statistics, blood oxygen level measurement, music control, call list and dialer, stopwatch, timer, alarm, flashlight, and smartphone finder.
Overall, the layout of features in the TOZO S5 is quite intuitive, and you’ll get used to it quickly. However, the lack of options for changing home screens, support for the Ukrainian language, and scrolling functionality with the wheel are noticeable drawbacks.
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TOZO Wear app
The TOZO Wear app, available on both Google Play and the App Store, expands the functionality of the TOZO S5. Let’s take a look at what it offers.
The first section, “Health,” like in most companion apps for wearable devices, gathers the user’s basic metrics. Here, you can view your daily physical activity and check statistics, as well as track data on heart rate, oxygen levels, sleep, workouts, and weight. All the tiles can be customized to suit your needs by removing unnecessary ones or adding the ones you require.
The “Exercises” tab is useful if you plan to do outdoor workouts and want to track distance. Interestingly, below this section, the manufacturer has included a store where you can expand your TOZO device collection by purchasing speakers, headphones, watches, or chargers.
In the “Device” category, you’ll find a plethora of settings for the smartwatch. Here, you can install or create watch faces, adjust screen brightness, configure sound settings, set up weather and sports modes displayed on the device, manage notifications and reminders, choose the heart rate monitor mode (continuous or not), and select the interface language.
The last tab is all about the user. Here, you can view or adjust your data, set daily goals (by distance, steps, or calories burned), choose the measurement system, and access technical support, FAQs, and even order tracking. Overall, the app is functional, but adding more languages and improving the quality of automatic translations would be beneficial.
Battery life
The TOZO S5 has a 300 mAh battery. According to the manufacturer, a single charge can last up to 30 days in watch mode (standby) or up to 10 days with moderate daily use. On average, I used about 8-13% of the charge per day (without continuous heart rate monitoring), so you can expect around 7 to 10 days of battery life.
Conclusions and competitors
What makes the TOZO S5 stand out? Its design is definitely worth noting— it looks more expensive than it actually is. It features a really impressive AMOLED screen, good water resistance (though it’s not intended for swimming), a detachable strap, great battery life, and useful functionality. It will be a reliable companion in daily life and workouts, allowing you to take important calls, monitor your overall health, and keep track of your hydration and physical activity.
However, there are a few things I feel are missing in the TOZO S5. First, the ability to organize the “carousel” menu and add or remove screens. Second, the option to scroll through the menu using the button wheel. Third, support for the Ukrainian language in the interface, though this could be addressed in future updates.
In any case, the smartwatch segment around $60, with great screens and call-answering capabilities, is quite broad, so the competition for the TOZO S5 is significant. For instance, I would consider the Amazfit Pop 3R. It is very similar to the S5 both visually and functionally, but it offers a lower price (starting at $45 or €40), along with features like menstrual cycle tracking and stress level measurement.
The Black Shark S1 Classic offers similar functionality to the Amazfit Pop 3R, but it also includes a noise-canceling microphone. However, it comes at a slightly higher price, starting at $70 (€65).
If you prefer rectangular models, there’s also the CMF Watch Pro. It features a 1.96-inch display and built-in GPS, with a price comparable to that of the TOZO S5.
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