If you’re in the market for a budget-friendly fitness tracker or smartwatch, chances are you’ve come across Amazfit. But have you ever wondered if this Chinese brand, owned by Zepp Health Corporation, is a viable alternative to bigger names like Garmin, Coros, or Apple? In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Amazfit watches, exploring the brand’s strengths and weaknesses, and identifying the best options for various types of users.
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Who Amazfit Watches Are Best For
Amazfit’s current reputation is as a value brand for individuals who want the health-tracking and outdoor-readiness of a Garmin without breaking the bank. If you’re looking for a watch that offers solid everyday health metrics, long battery life, and the option to go as rugged or as minimalist as you like, Amazfit has some great options. However, if you’re seeking deep app integration, Google Play access, or Spotify running natively on your wrist, Amazfit’s closed ecosystem may disappoint you.
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Amazfit’s Budget Option: Bip
The Bip series, currently the Bip 6, is Amazfit’s entry-level device, priced around $79. This watch is designed for simplicity, offering solid battery life, core health metrics (heart rate, SpO2, sleep, stress), and an easy setup. While it may not have dual-band GPS, it’s perfect for someone who wants a basic activity tracker and straightforward daily summaries.
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Amazfit’s ‘Everyday’ Option: The Active Line
The Active line is Amazfit’s sweet spot for general use, with options like the Active Max, priced at around $170. This watch has dual-band GPS, solid battery life, and most of the health-tracking depth of pricier models. If you’re looking for an all-around value option, the Active Max is an excellent choice.
Amazfit’s Hybrid Athlete Line: Balance
The Balance line, including the Balance 2, Balance 3, and Balance Ultra, is where Amazfit shines. These watches offer a feature-rich experience, with a more rugged look and feel. If you’re a hybrid athlete who wants a watch that handles daily wear, strength training, tons of sports, and running, this is the line to consider.
Amazfit’s Runner Line: Cheetah
As a runner, Amazfit’s Cheetah line may be a bit of a disappointment. While it offers excellent specs like dual-band GPS, running power, lactate threshold estimates, and offline maps, the watch doesn’t feel designed by real runners. If you’re a serious runner, you may want to consider a Garmin or Coros device instead.
Amazfit’s Rugged-Outdoors Line: T-Rex
The T-Rex series, including the T-Rex Ultra 2 and T-Rex 3 Pro, is Amazfit’s answer to Garmin’s Fenix or Instinct lines. While it offers durability, maps, and multi-week to multi-month battery life, the software and mapping experience aren’t as polished as the competition.
Amazfit’s Screenless Tracker: The Helio Strap
The Helio Strap is not a watch, but rather a screenless tracker that offers accurate data without a subscription fee. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly alternative to Whoop bands, this might be the way to go.
Discontinued Amazfits: GTR and GTS
The GTR and GTS series were two more fashion-forward mid-budget options from Amazfit, but they’ve since been replaced by newer models like the Active and Balance lines.
The Bottom Line
Amazfit’s strengths lie in its more general-use, daily-wear value options, with sensors, batteries, and hardware that would cost noticeably more coming from Garmin, Apple, or Samsung. While the brand comes up short in its software and ecosystem, the Amazfit Balance line is still a great option for most users.
