In the world of fitness trackers and smartwatches, the name Amazfit has been making waves, particularly among those seeking budget-friendly alternatives to more established brands. As a tech enthusiast and avid runner, I've had the opportunity to test several Amazfit watches, and I'm here to share my insights and opinions on what makes these devices stand out (or fall short).
The Budget-Friendly Option: Bip
Amazfit's Bip series, currently the Bip 6, is an entry-level device priced around $79. While I haven't personally tested it, the Bip's selling point seems to be simplicity. It offers solid battery life, core health metrics like heart rate, SpO2, sleep, and stress tracking, and an easy setup. If you're looking for a basic activity tracker with straightforward daily summaries, the Bip could be the right choice. Think of it as Amazfit's version of a Fitbit Inspire - a no-frills, no-fuss approach to fitness tracking.
The Everyday Sweet Spot: Active Line
Amazfit's Active line is where the brand truly shines for general use. The Active Max, priced at around $170, has been praised as the best all-around value in the lineup. It boasts dual-band GPS, solid battery life, and most of the health-tracking depth of pricier models. If I were to recommend an Amazfit watch without overthinking it, the Active Max would be my go-to choice. It strikes a perfect balance between features and affordability, making it an excellent option for those seeking a reliable, everyday fitness tracker.
The Hybrid Athlete Line: Balance
From my personal testing experience, the Balance line, including the Balance 2, Balance 3, and Balance Ultra, is where I'd point most people. These watches offer a feature-rich step above the Actives, with a more rugged look and feel. The Balance line is also where Amazfit's partnership with Hyrox becomes evident, providing dedicated transition and pacing tools for hybrid-style competitions. If you're looking for a watch that handles daily wear, strength training, various sports, and running without being a dedicated running watch, the Balance line is the way to go. It feels like the most polished offering I've tested from Amazfit so far.
The Runner Line: Cheetah
As a runner, I find Amazfit's Cheetah line to be its weak spot. The Cheetah 2 Pro and the trail-oriented Cheetah 2 Ultra are marketed as dedicated running watches, but my experience has been that they don't feel designed by real runners. While they are far from bad, there are little quirks that add up. For instance, the heart rate zones are labeled with 'fat burning' language, which might not appeal to serious runners. If you're training for a marathon and care about in-depth workout analytics, I'd recommend opting for a Garmin Forerunner alternative, even if it's a less premium option at a similar price point.
The Rugged-Outdoors Line: T-Rex
The T-Rex series, now at the T-Rex Ultra 2 and T-Rex 3 Pro, is Amazfit's answer to Garmin's Fenix or Instinct lines. It focuses on durability, maps, and multi-week to multi-month battery life. However, the trade-off is that the software and mapping experience isn't as polished as the competition. As a general rule, Amazfit excels in general-use budget options, but as its models creep up into more premium prices, the flaws start to show.
Amazfit's Screenless Tracker: Helio Strap
Not a watch at all, the Helio Strap is Amazfit's answer to Whoop bands. While it's not a perfect alternative, the data is accurate, and no other company offers this at a better price. Best of all, there's no subscription fee. Additionally, the Helio Ring is a $150 budget alternative to the Oura Ring, typically priced between $349 to $499 (excluding subscription costs).
Discontinued Amazfits: GTR and GTS
The GTR (round face) and GTS (square face) series were fashion-forward mid-budget options, but they have since been overshadowed by the newer Active and Balance lines.
The Bottom Line
Amazfit's main strengths lie in its general-use, daily-wear value options, where its sensors, batteries, and hardware would cost noticeably more from brands like Garmin, Apple, or Samsung. However, where the brand falls short is in its software and ecosystem depth, especially for specialist users like serious runners or cyclists. That's why the Amazfit Balance line is my top pick - it's where the company's strengths truly shine. While dedicated marathoners might still prefer Garmin or Coros devices for accuracy, for almost everyone else, Amazfit offers some of the best all-around value options in the wearables market today.
