An unofficial Android app called OpenStrap now makes the Amazfit Helio Strap vibrate for incoming calls and phone notifications, something Zepp’s own app does not do.
- OpenStrap version 2.0.0, released on 24 October 2026, added strap vibrations for calls and notifications with a choice of vibration pattern.
- The app replaces the Zepp app and syncs sleep, heart rate, HRV, SpO2, stress and workouts, keeping the data on the phone with CSV export and Android Health Connect support.
- Workouts started from the phone show live heart rate zones and a GPS map, and the strap vibrates when heart rate drifts out of the target zone.
- The first pairing still requires the Zepp app and a Zepp account (email and password) to obtain the strap’s authentication key.
- OpenStrap runs only on Android 9 or newer, and the developer says it has been used with one strap on one Android 16 phone, with other phones and firmware untested.
- Version 2.1.0, released on 25 October 2026, adds home screen widgets for recovery, sleep, steps and starting a workout.
What it means for athletes
Amazfit describes Helio Strap on its product page as focused on data collection and training insights rather than notifications. With OpenStrap, Android owners can feel calls and messages on the strap and get a buzz when they drift out of their heart rate zone during a run, without wearing a watch.
The app is a one-person project built by reverse engineering the Zepp app. Recovery and sleep scores come from the developer’s own model and will not match Zepp’s numbers. OpenStrap is not an Amazfit product. Battery life with frequent notification vibrations is not documented.
Quick answers
Can the Amazfit Helio Strap vibrate for phone notifications?
Not with Zepp’s own app. The unofficial Android app OpenStrap (version 2.0.0 and later) makes the strap vibrate for incoming calls and phone notifications.
Does OpenStrap work on iPhone?
No. OpenStrap is Android-only, requires Android 9 or newer, and the first pairing still needs the Zepp app.
Related: Helio Strap review, Helio Strap Pro vs Helio Strap, CIRQA vs WHOOP vs LOOP vs Fitbit Air vs Helio Strap Pro, Garmin CIRQA 4.20 adds vibrating notifications and the Amazfit hub.
Source and original research by: the5krunner and Gadgets & Wearables
Last Updated on 26 October 2026 by tfk the5krunner
Small things I always use
- Garmin 90-degree charging adapter: Charges your Garmin from any USB-C cable. Essential when travelling. I use one.
- Body Glide: The blue anti-chafe stick swimmers and runners carry. I use it.
- Speedo earplugs: Fewer ear infections and no cold-water dizziness. I use them.
- Dryrobe Advance: My winter changing robe for open-water swims. I use one. A cheaper option is the AONYIYI changing robe.
- Maurten: Race fuel that stays easy on the stomach. I use them.
- Beet It Sport nitrate shots: Beetroot shots I take in the days before a race. I use them.
- Garmin charging puck: The quickest way to top up before a session. I use one.
- Injinji: Toe socks that stop rubbing, so you run more. I use them.
- Ultimate toe protectors: Stop black toenails on long runs. They work. I use them.
- Compressport R2 v2 calf sleeves: My calf sleeves of choice. I use them.
- Cellucor C4: My pre-workout before hard sessions.
- TPU tubes: Schwalbe Aerothan, Tubolito and Pirelli SmarTube. Light, tiny spares. I use all three.
- G8 insoles: Adjustable insoles that are good. I use them.
- Cycplus Cube: A 97g electric pump that gets a road tyre rideable in two minutes. I carry one. 5% off with code THE5KRUNNER.
Watches and sensors
- Polar H10: My daily driver for waking HRV.
- Polar Verity Sense: My backup arm-worn HR sensor.
- Nomad bedside charger: Charges my iPhone and Apple Watch overnight. I use it, and many of their bands.
- Train.Red: The best muscle oxygen sensor I’ve used.
- Tymewear: Accurate heart rate and reliable ventilatory zones. I use it to pace endurance rides over an hour.
- Garmin Forerunner 970: A pro-grade triathlon watch. I use this.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: My daily smartwatch. No phone needed on rides.
- Garmin Fenix 9 Pro: I’ve just bought one.
On the bike
- Continental GP5000 for everyday riding, and Aero 111 on the front for special occasions.
- Helmets: Specialized S-Works Evade 3 for road riding, and Rudy Project Wing for TT-style races. I use both.
- Ravemen FR300: A front light that mounts under your Garmin or Wahoo. I use one.
- Wahoo TRACKR Radar: I use it on one bike and Varia on the other. They perform the same.
- Garmin Varia RTL515: Radar that warns you of cars from behind. I use this model.
- Wahoo ELEMNT Roam 3: The bike computer that’s easy to use. I use mine on most rides.
- Favero Assioma Pro RS2: Accurate power pedals that swap easily between bikes. I use this model.
Home and indoor training
- NPE Runn: Makes my basic treadmill smart, sending more accurate speed and distance to my watch and Zwift. I use it.
- Google Wifi: Keeps Zwift connected in my pain cave. I use it.
- Apple TV 4K: Zwift on the big screen. I use two.
- Google Nest Doorbell (wired, 2nd gen): My video doorbell, running in both Google Home and Apple Home. I use it.
Health, recovery and sleep
- FreeStyle Libre 3 Plus: Shows how my blood sugar responds to diet.
- hDrop: Measures my sweat loss in summer and indoors.
- Fourth Frontier Zone: Checks my heart under load in hard sessions.
- Oura Ring 5: My partner’s recovery tracker of choice.
- Eight Sleep: A cooling mattress cover my partner and I use nightly.
Reader-Powered Content
This content is not sponsored. It’s mostly me behind the labour of love, which is this site, and I appreciate everyone who supports it.
Support the site: Follow (free, fewer ads) · Subscribe (paid, ad-free) · Buy Me A Coffee
Written by real people, with AI assistance. Fact-checked and verified for originality. See the Editorial Policy. FTC: Affiliate Disclosure — some links pay commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
tfk is the founder and author of the5krunner, an independent endurance sports technology publication. With 20 years of hands-on testing of GPS watches and wearables, and competing in triathlons at an international age-group level, tfk provides in-depth expert analysis of fitness technology for serious athletes and endurance sport competitors. See the gear tfk uses. ID
