Amazfit Verge 2 officially launches, rivalling Apple Watch with ECG and eSIM support

Huami has pulled back the curtain on the Amazfit Verge 2 - and it comes packing some of the high-end smartwatch features we've only seen from Apple.

Unveiled as part of parent company Xiaomi's special event in Beijing where the Mi Band 4 was also shown off, the device comes with support for real-time ECG readings, as well as eSIM technology. That means it can work without being connected to a smartphone.

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The addition of the ECG monitor is significant, as it propels the Verge 2 into the very select group of watches - including the Apple Watch Series 4 and Withings Move ECG - to offer the feature. It's facilitated by Huami's Huanghan No.1 always-on AI chip - something that features a cardiac biometrics engine that allows for more accurate heart rate monitoring.

Screening can take place for heart arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation, with the smartwatch able to store up to an hour of ECG data locally for seven days.

As we say, though, that's not all. The eSIM support means that the Verge 2 is compatible with all of China's major carriers, allowing it to make and take calls independent of a phone.

In terms of specs, the new smartwatches offers a 1.39-inch, 454 x 454 AMOLED display, an IP68 water and dust rating, Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi support, an NFC chip for contactless payments, a microphone and a Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 2500 chip powering it all. There's also 4GB of internal storage, while the 420mAh battery should, the company say, give you a day of use on a single charge.

Much like the original, the Verge 2 feature set will have an emphasis on tracking. There's automatic tracking for 10 activities, such as indoor, outdoor and trail running, elliptical, trekking, skipping and more.

And, again, like the predecessor, the new smartwatch will retain its budget price tag. The standard edition will cost roughly 999 RMB (roughly ), while the ECG version 1299 RMB (roughly ).

Like with the Xiaomi Mi Band 4, the Amazfit Verge 2 will only initially be available in the company's home territory of China, though expect it to launch to the US and Europe before the end of the year.