Reflex Active Corrus
Reflex Active
First Impressions: A Smartwatch Built Around One Big Idea
Most watches at this price point ask you to choose between "looks nice" and "does stuff." The Reflex Active Corrus Black Strap Calling Smart Watch tries to close that gap by putting phone calls, fitness tracking, and everyday notifications on a wrist-sized display without the price tag that usually comes attached to those features. It's aimed squarely at people who want a genuinely useful daily companion — not a fashion statement, not a serious multi-sport GPS computer, just a smartwatch that handles the basics well and doesn't ask you to remortgage your house to get it.
Whether that trade-off works in your favour depends on what you actually want from a smartwatch, and that's exactly what this review is here to help you figure out.
Design, Build Quality, and How It Feels on the Wrist
The Corrus uses a polymer case, which is a fancy way of saying lightweight, impact-resistant plastic rather than metal. That decision does two things: it keeps the watch genuinely light on the wrist for all-day wear, and it keeps manufacturing costs — and therefore the retail price — down. At roughly 45mm tall, 30mm wide, and 12mm thick, and weighing about 34 grams, it sits closer to a fitness tracker than a chunky sports watch in terms of how much presence it has on your arm.
The black silicone strap is the more practical, gym-and-commute-friendly option in the range (Reflex Active also sells this same watch with a pink strap), and because the strap is removable and interchangeable, you're not permanently locked into that look. The single-size band is designed to fit wrists between roughly 150mm and 220mm in circumference, which covers the large majority of adult wrist sizes, though anyone at the very small or very large end of that range should be aware there's no half-size or extra-large version to swap to.
The Display and Watch Faces
The touchscreen is a 1.57-inch TFT panel — TFT being the more affordable display technology compared with the AMOLED screens found on pricier smartwatches. In practical terms, that means colours and contrast won't be quite as punchy or the blacks quite as deep as you'd get on a premium device, and outdoor visibility in bright sunlight will take more of a hit. What you do get is a screen that's perfectly legible for glancing at notifications, tracking a workout, or checking the time, and one that supports a genuinely nice personalisation feature: interchangeable watch faces, including the ability to upload your own photo as a dial. It's a small touch, but it's the kind of thing that makes a budget device feel less generic on your wrist.
Hands-Free Calling: The Feature That Defines This Watch
The headline feature — and the one baked right into the product's name — is hands-free calling. Once paired with your phone over Bluetooth 5.2, the Corrus lets you answer and make calls directly from your wrist using its built-in microphone and speaker, without pulling your phone out of your pocket or bag.
This is genuinely useful in specific situations: cooking with messy hands, walking the dog, exercising, or anytime your phone is charging across the room. It's worth setting expectations correctly, though — call quality on wrist-mounted speakers in this price bracket is functional rather than crystal-clear, and it's best suited to quick "I'm running five minutes late" conversations rather than long catch-ups with your gran. Bluetooth 5.2 itself is a genuinely current connectivity standard, offering more stable pairing and better power efficiency than the older Bluetooth versions still found on some cheaper competitors.
Health and Fitness Tracking: What You Actually Get
The Corrus casts a wide net on the health-tracking front, and the feature list reads more like something from a mid-range fitness watch than a budget calling watch. Here's how it breaks down:
| Tracking Feature | What It Actually Measures | Real-World Value |
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate monitor | Continuous or on-demand pulse readings via the wrist sensor | Useful for spotting resting heart rate trends and effort levels during exercise |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Estimated oxygen saturation in the blood | A general wellness indicator; not a substitute for medical-grade pulse oximetry |
| Sleep tracking | Duration and pattern of overnight rest | Helps you notice whether you're consistently under-sleeping, rather than giving clinical-grade sleep staging |
| Sports modes | Multiple activity profiles for logging workouts and calories burned | Covers everyday exercise like walking, running, and cycling rather than niche sport-specific metrics |
| Menstrual cycle tracking | Logs cycle dates for pattern awareness | A convenience feature for those who want a lightweight, on-wrist log |
| Step counting | Daily step totals | Standard activity-tracking baseline most people expect from any wearable today |
None of these sensors are going to rival a dedicated Garmin or a premium Apple Watch for clinical accuracy — budget wrist-based optical sensors rarely do — but for someone who wants a general sense of their activity, effort, and rest patterns without spending serious money, this is a genuinely comprehensive set of tools.
Smart Features That Make Daily Life Easier
Beyond fitness, the Corrus pulls double duty as a lightweight extension of your phone. It displays local weather, gives you playback controls for whatever music app you're running on your phone, and pushes through notifications from your messaging and social apps so you can glance at your wrist instead of patting down your pockets. It also uses connected GPS, meaning it borrows your phone's GPS chip over Bluetooth to map outdoor activity rather than housing its own standalone GPS module — a completely normal and sensible trade-off at this price, though it does mean you'll need your phone nearby to get location-based tracking during a run or walk.
The watch pairs with both Android and iOS through the Reflex Active companion app, so household compatibility isn't a concern regardless of which ecosystem you and your family are on.
Battery Life: How Often Will You Actually Be Charging This?
The Corrus is built around a 200mAh battery, and Reflex Active quotes up to four days of typical use and up to ten days if you dial back features like the always-visible notifications and heavy screen use. In practice, that "typical use" figure is the one to plan around if you're actually using the calling and notification features regularly — think of the four-day figure as roughly "charge it on a Sunday and a Wednesday" for most weeks, while the ten-day figure applies more if you're using it mainly as a basic step-and-time tracker with notifications switched off.
A full charge takes about three hours from the included magnetic charging cable, which is quick enough to top up during a lunch break or overnight without much thought. It's not the multi-week battery life you'd get from a screen-free fitness band, but it comfortably beats a lot of full-featured smartwatches that need daily charging.
Water and Dust Resistance: What "Splash-Proof" Actually Means Here
Reflex Active builds the Corrus to a water and dust resistant standard, confirmed by the manufacturer to IP67 — meaning it's rated to handle dust ingress completely and to survive brief, accidental submersion in water up to about a metre deep. In everyday terms: rain, sweat, hand-washing splashes, and the odd accidental dunk in the sink are all fine. What this rating does not cover is sustained submersion — so swimming laps or showering with it daily isn't something the manufacturer's own rating supports, even though the watch will tolerate the occasional splash or drizzle without drama. If swim tracking or shower-proof daily wear is a priority for you, this isn't the watch built for that job.
Who This Watch Is For
- Someone buying their first smartwatch who wants to try the format without a big financial commitment
- Anyone who values hands-free calling for hands-busy moments — parents, commuters, gym-goers, and dog walkers
- People who want broad wellness tracking (heart rate, sleep, SpO2, cycle tracking) without paying for a premium sensor suite
- Gift buyers looking for something that feels thoughtful and feature-rich without a steep price tag
- Anyone who prioritises all-day comfort and light weight over a large, statement-piece watch face
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Serious athletes who need precise, sports-science-grade heart rate and GPS accuracy for training
- Swimmers or anyone wanting a watch they can wear in the pool or shower daily
- Buyers who want a vivid AMOLED display for movie-quality colour and always-on brightness
- Anyone who wants a watch that works fully independently of a paired phone for extended stretches
- People who've had reliability frustrations with budget wearables before and want a longer track record of rock-solid Bluetooth pairing, since some owners of this watch have reported occasional connection drops that needed a re-pair to resolve
How the Corrus Compares to the Alternatives
Budget calling smartwatches occupy a distinct middle ground: pricier than a basic screen-free fitness band, but far cheaper than a mainstream branded smartwatch. Here's roughly where the Corrus sits relative to its nearest rivals in that landscape:
| Category | Basic Fitness Band (no calling) | Reflex Active Corrus | Mid-Range AMOLED Calling Watch | Premium Smartwatch (Apple Watch SE-tier) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Typical price tier | Lowest | Entry-level / budget | Mid-range | High |
| Display type | Small monochrome or basic colour strip | 1.57" TFT touchscreen | AMOLED touchscreen | High-resolution AMOLED/OLED |
| Hands-free calling | Rarely included | Included | Included | Included |
| Standalone GPS | Rare | Connected GPS only (via phone) | Sometimes standalone | Standalone |
| Battery life | Very long (weeks) | Days | Days | 1–2 days typically |
| Build materials | Plastic/silicone | Polymer case, silicone strap | Metal/polymer mix | Metal, sapphire glass options |
| Water resistance | Varies | IP67 (splash/rain resistant) | Often higher-rated for swimming | Often swim-rated |
The takeaway: if calling and a colourful screen matter more to you than budget, a mid-range AMOLED option will feel noticeably nicer to look at and use daily — at a meaningfully higher price. If you're comparing against a basic fitness band, the Corrus adds calling, a full-colour touchscreen, and a broader health suite for a modest step up in cost. It sits precisely in that gap: more capable than the cheapest trackers, more affordable than the watches that try to compete with Apple and Samsung.
Honest Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths
The clearest strength here is value density — the sheer number of genuinely useful features Reflex Active has packed into the Corrus for the price it's sold at is hard to match. Hands-free calling alone is a feature you'd expect to pay considerably more for elsewhere, and pairing it with a broad health-tracking suite, customisable watch faces, and a lightweight, comfortable case makes this feel like a watch that punches above its price bracket rather than one that's simply cheap because it's stripped-down.
Weaknesses
The trade-offs are equally honest ones, though. The TFT display, while perfectly usable, won't wow anyone used to a modern smartphone screen, and it will wash out more in direct sunlight than an AMOLED panel would. Battery life, while solid for a full-featured smartwatch, still means regular charging rather than the "forget about it for weeks" experience of simpler trackers. And while most owners report smooth day-to-day use, a subset of user feedback points to occasional Bluetooth reconnection hiccups — the kind of thing that's usually fixed by a quick re-pair but is worth knowing about going in, especially if a rock-solid, zero-fuss connection is non-negotiable for you. Water resistance is genuinely good for everyday knocks and splashes, but buyers hoping to wear this in the shower or pool every day should manage their expectations against the IP67 rating rather than assume unlimited water tolerance.
Final Verdict
The Reflex Active Corrus Black Strap Calling Smart Watch does exactly what it sets out to do: it brings genuinely useful smartwatch features — hands-free calling, broad health tracking, smartphone notifications, and a customisable touchscreen — down to a price point that makes trying the format low-risk. It won't replace a premium sports watch for serious training, and it isn't built for swimmers or anyone chasing flagship display quality, but for first-time smartwatch buyers, budget-conscious upgraders, or anyone who simply wants to leave their phone in their bag more often, it's a genuinely sensible, well-rounded choice. If your priorities are hands-free calling, comfortable all-day wear, and a wide net of wellness tracking without a big outlay, this watch earns its place on your wrist.
What People Say
45 commentsA Great Fitness Companion
I've been using this Reflex Active Smartwatch for a couple of weeks now, and I must say, I’m impressed by its performance and features.
The watch has a sleek, modern design that fits comfortably on the wrist. Although the display is quite small it is bright, clear and colourfull and holds enough information without it looking lost/over loaded. The build feels sturdy and durable, which is perfect for someone like me who’s always on the move. I would say the strap is made for a larger wrist as its quite long and only has one keeper.
This watch certainly has some comprehensive capabilities. (Way more than my Versa 3) Its packed with different items, it tracks steps, heart rate,Blood oxygen levels, calories burned, and even sleep patterns with impressive accuracy. It tracks all the main sports modes, running,cycling etc but also covers others like Golf,Skipping, Badminton, Boxing,Table tennis, Yoga to name a few(which my old watches didnt) It also has weather, Calendar, stopwatch, timers etc the list goes on.
The battery life is solid, lasting about 4-5 days on a single charge, even with regular use. This is a big plus for me since I don’t have to charge it every day. It takes just over the hour to charge and has an easy to use usb to magnetic charging lead.
It works well with my Android phone offering notifications for calls and messages. The App was simple to download and navigate. The touch screen is very responsive, almost a little too much at times but this is something that you get used to. I like how easy it is to navigate through the menus.
Overall, the Reflex Active Smartwatch is a great option for anyone looking to track their fitness progress while staying connected, I highly recommend giving it a try.
Functional and affordable.
This watch has loads of functions. Lightweight and really easy to use. One thing I will say though is if you value form over function, then this probably isn’t for you. It’s not gimmicky and the watch faces are pretty basic. The display is decent, clear and bright. But its not fancy. What it is though is very informative and it works well. Watch is touch screen with a single button. The charge cable is magnetic type and extremely easy to use. The app works well too. Paired easily enough. Notifications come on the watch fine. My only gripe I guess that the vibration is a bit weak, but that problem is with all watches really. You can set it to actually ring when you get a phone call and you can pick up the call via the watch and speak/listen through it. I turned this feature off though, as I prefer not to talk into my watch or have it ring aloud if I get a call. But you can still hang up/silence a call through the watch. Notifications are good. Lots of apps to choose from to turn on/off. There is a also a “other notifications” switch as a catch-all so you watch can notify you of any other notification type from any other app not on the list. It can do heart, steps etc... all that stuff. Accuracy I don’t really know or care so much about it to be honest. All in all, a very affordable smart watch that is functional and has lots of features. No need to get a watch worth hundreds (more than my phone). On the app you can create a totally custom watch face (not just an image) but actually what info and where it is on the face. It’s not the prettiest, but I love it because it shows what I want. Can find phone via watch, and fine watch via phone app. Great value.
Amazing & Stylish Smartwatch
I recently purchased the Reflex Active Black Strap Calling Smart Watch, and I couldn’t be happier with my choice! The watch looks sleek and stylish with its black strap, making it perfect for both casual and professional wear.
The calling feature is a game-changer—I can make and receive calls directly from my wrist, which is super convenient when I’m on the go. The battery life is impressive, lasting several days on a single charge. Plus, the fitness tracking features (step count, heart rate monitor, and sleep tracking) are accurate and really help me stay on top of my health.
The touchscreen is responsive, the display is clear, and the Bluetooth connectivity is seamless. Setup was quick and easy, and the watch pairs effortlessly with my phone. For the price, this smartwatch offers premium features at a fraction of the cost of high-end brands.
Highly recommend to anyone looking for a reliable, stylish, and feature-packed smartwatch!
Not bad for the price
I have owned an Apple watch and a fit bit so I was looking forward to testing this smart watch out, which comes in at a fraction of the price of Apple. It has similar features such as choice of watch faces, heart monitor, steps monitor, calories monitor, notifications when paired with a smart phone, sleep analysis, all the kinds of things you find on a watch costing ten times more. It's amazing how they can offer so much for such a small price. I haven't had any issues so far, the battery seems to need charging more than i'm used to, small issue given the massive saving. I'd definitely be happy to recommend this watch to anyone who was looking to have a smart watch with some smart features but who wants to pay a much smaller price.
Stylish and Functional
The Reflex Active Series 49 watch is a budget-friendly option for anyone wanting to own a smart watch.
Its oversized case and comfy silicone strap look sharp and feel great all day. The calling feature is a nice, clear enough for quick calls.
The fitness tracking is good, with steps, heart rate, and sleep monitoring syncing smoothly to the Reflex Active app.
The battery has been lasting new between 4-5 days which is good.
For a casual user, it’s a great pick at a fair price. Not a high-end rival, but it doesn’t pretend to be. I’d recommend it for everyday basics with a modern edge.
A good value watch
This watch has a good range of sizes on the wristband. The watch face can be changed to your own personal picture. Your heart rate is monitored well. The screen is a good size for reading messages. It is comfortable to wear. You can talk to someone through the watch but it does sound a bit tinny. It picks up well on the microphone with normal volumes.
The battery life is good for approximately 3 days for a moderate to active person before recharging.
Water trapped underneath the wrist strap can cause irritation. I had trouble getting the voice assistance to work.
Overall review
I bought this watch a few weeks ago and it is a good product, especially for a tenner. Does everything you need, tracks your steps and I would say its very accurate but the calorie counting will be a bit over exaggerated but there is a good amount of features, you can control your music in your headphones but also from the watch which is good for listening to music undercover at work. Good range of exercises already on the device which times them from when you started and counts calories burnt but it does over exaggera.
Data lost and battery doesn't last
I bought this watch 20 days ago, the smalkest I could find. Out of 15 days in use it has registered sleep data only 4 days, ramdomly. Although I have set reminders to nag me every hour to stand up, they are not working and it has been only 6-7 times in total the watch has vibrated and shown a little animation. I have to turn off all other reminders, the phone, messages and wellbeing markers as they consume all the battery (it last 24 hours max). It has far too many functions (that don't work but consume battery).
Left burn marks on the skin.
Started well!! The watch overall is ok, the heart rate and oxygen level monitors aren’t accurate after testing it against another system, battery runs down quickly. The most alarming part is the watch after wearing for a few days left me a itching patch of skin on my wrist that became sore , I thought it was just me until my wife whom I also bought one was left with actual small burn marks on her wrist. I will be writing to the manufacturer with pics of the burn marks for further investigation.. Buy with caution
Excellent alternative to expensive big brands
This Smart Watch was an alternative to some of the big brands that I've personally found to be quite restrictive to syncing with only their brands easily. I paired this with an android device, Samsung to be precise, and it was easy. It records different sports, controls music, has different watch faces, tracks calories, controls your camera on your phone, apparently does women's health, but I can't vouch for that. It generally does everything that the expensive smart watches do, but at a fraction of the price.
Stylish easy to use
I was reluctant to get rhis watch after having a fitbit previous but i was so surprised how well all the features worked tracking your steps and distance recive your text messages link your bank and store cards and more all features work well for the cost its all round very good value for money scraps the need for spending ridiculous amounts and still stylish and up with the technology definitely recommend i will be getting them for all my children
Outstanding use
When I first got the watch it was already charged to 75% so you could really just put the watch on straight away if you needed to go somewhere. The watch also has comfy wrist straps so you don't have any problems with rubbing. Another great thing is that the watch tracks your heart rate, steps and even your mood. The connectivity with your phone is really powerful and can stay connected all day with disconnecting like other watches.
Smart little watch
Bought as a temp watch due to old galaxy active dying after years of use. I was really surprised but how well the watch stacks up to more premium counter parts. It looks good and does everything I need it to in terms of tracking physical activity only downside being lack of water proofing for recording swims. That’s being said it’s a great wee watch for the price and gets the job done.
Great value smart watch
Great value smart watch, the Reflex Active comes with a usb wire but no plug. It has clear instructions of how to set it up, you just scan the code and it gives you step by step instructions so very easy to set up. You download the app you all the results of steps, heart rate, sleep will be on the app. It has a nice soft strap and it is waterproof.
Better than expected
I only wanted something to count my daily steps, but being able to take phone calls and make phone calls, see the weather and set alarms and more were all very nice bonuses !!!
Also been swimming in the pool with it on and still works perfectly fine
Spot on
Cheap little watch, does what you need for the price and slimmer than most in width so ideal for daughter who has small wrists but wants to count steps. Good price, easy to set up using the app. Same functionality as other more expensive ones.
Recommended smart watch
Smart watch works well. Step counter isn't entirely accurate, as brushing teeth with it on counts as a jog! Pleased with it though, blood pressure and stress monitoring work well. Also connects with phone for calls and notifications.
Great Quality and Perfect Gift
Excellent smartwatch. My father is thrilled with it — stylish, accurate, and easy to use. Highly recommend! Bought this smartwatch as a leaving gift for my father after his summer visit — perfect fit, great features, and he loves it.
Easy to use
Bought as a present for my wife, easy to set up and use, did drop out of counting the steps for a couple of days but it's settled down now and seems really good. She particularly likes the fact it links to her phone for messages etc
Great value, wide range of features, phone link
Very happy with this, smart looking, has a wide range of settings, links in with my Samsung phone to access messages, e mails, Whats Apps, plus has usual step count, weather, calendar etc features, seems amazing for the price.