The Best Amazfit Watch for Every Personality Type
If you’ve ever searched for a fitness tracker or smartwatch under $400, you’ve likely encountered Amazfit . And you might have been a little confused by the name, which suspiciously resembled Amazon products. Surprise! The two companies are unrelated: Amazfit is a Chinese brand owned by Zepp Health Corporation, formerly known as Huami.
Amazfit is slowly but surely earning a reputation as a budget alternative to big brands like Garmin, Coros, and even Apple. I tested several of their watches (including the Balance 3 and Cheetah 2 Pro ) to find out if Amazfit is truly a worthy competitor to these big names, and my short answer is a cautious “yes.” But I also need to take a broader look at the fitness trackers Amazfit offers and the target audience for each model.
Who is the Amazfit watch best suited for?
Amazfit has now established itself as a brand offering affordable devices for those who want the health tracking and outdoor readiness of Garmin, but don’t want the premium price of a Garmin, and who don’t necessarily need a full-fledged smartphone replacement like the Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch. If you’re looking for deep app integration, access to Google Play or Spotify directly on your wrist, Amazfit will disappoint—Zeppe OS is a closed, minimalist ecosystem. But if you want long battery life, reliable daily health metrics, and the option to choose between a rugged and minimalist option, Amazfit has some excellent offerings.
Amazfit’s Budget Option: Bip
The Bip series (currently the Bip 6 ) is Amazfit’s entry-level device, priced at around $79. I haven’t personally tested the Bip, but its main selling point seems to be simplicity: long battery life, basic health metrics (heart rate, SpO2, sleep, stress), and easy setup. GPS, if present, only works with one band. It seems like a good option for those looking for a basic fitness tracker and easy-to-understand daily reports. Think of it as Amazfit’s equivalent of the Fitbit Inspire .
Amazfit’s everyday wearable: the Active series.
The Active line is Amazfit’s optimal choice for everyday use. Currently, the line includes the original Amazfit Active, the larger Active Max, the Active 2, and the Active 3 Premium. The Active Max, in particular, which retails for around $170 , has been repeatedly praised as the best value in the line. It features dual-band GPS, good battery life, and most of the health tracking features found in more expensive models. If I were asked, “Which Amazfit model should I buy without a second thought?” I’d say the Active Max. It’s not the most premium watch the brand makes, but it offers the most obvious “budget alternative” advantage.
Amazfit’s Hybrid Sporting Goods Line: Balance
If I were making a recommendation based solely on my own experience , I’d recommend the Balance line (including the Balance 2, Balance 3, and Balance Ultra). All of these watches are a cut above the Active models, offering a more robust look and feel. The Balance line also begins to benefit from Amazfit’s partnership with Hyrox , which has resulted in specialized tools for tracking transitions and pacing in hybrid races. If you’re looking for a single watch that’s suitable for everyday wear, strength training, a variety of sports, and running (but isn’t a dedicated running watch), this is the line to consider. In my opinion, it’s the most polished Amazfit model I’ve tested so far.
Amazfit’s Cheetah Running Shoe Line
As a runner, I consider this a weakness for Amazfit. The Cheetah line (now including the Cheetah 2 Pro, which I’ve already reviewed , and the trail-focused Cheetah 2 Ultra, which I’m currently testing) comprises Amazfit’s dedicated running watches, designed to compete with the Garmin Forerunner series and Coros devices. On paper, the specs are excellent: dual-band GPS, running power measurement, lactate threshold estimation, offline maps, a titanium case, and AI-powered coaching via the Zepp Coach feature, which creates training plans tailored to specific races.
Unfortunately, despite the Cheetah being marketed as a runner’s watch “designed for runners,” my experience with it shows that it’s not designed by actual runners. Don’t get me wrong—it’s far from a “bad” watch. It’s just that it has a lot of minor flaws that add up to be problematic. For example, no serious runner needs a watch that labels heart rate zones as “fat burning,” but that’s exactly what Amazfit does. If you’re training for a marathon and value detailed training analytics, I’d recommend an alternative to the Garmin Forerunner , even if it’s a less “premium” option at a similar price.
Amazfit’s T-Rex line of rugged outdoor accessories
The T-Rex series (now T-Rex Ultra 2 and T-Rex 3 Pro ) is Amazfit’s answer to the Garmin Fenix and Instinct lines, with an emphasis on durability, maps, battery life ranging from several weeks to several months, and so on. However, the same compromise applies here as with the Cheetah: the hardware excels for its price point, but the software and mapping capabilities aren’t as polished as those of competitors. Amazfit generally excels in the budget, general-purpose segment, but as the prices of premium models rise, its shortcomings begin to become apparent.
Amazfit’s Screenless Fitness Tracker: Helio Strap
This isn’t a watch at all, but rather Amazfit’s answer to the Whoop fitness tracker. While it’s not a perfect alternative, according to my colleague Beth Skwarecki , the data is still accurate, and no other company offers anything similar at a better price. And best of all, there’s no subscription fee.
There’s also the Helio Ring , which is naturally a budget alternative to the Oura Ring, which costs around $150 and is typically priced between $349 and $499 (not including subscription costs).
Discontinued Amazfit models: GTR and GTS
The GTR (round-faced) and GTS (square-faced) series were two of Amazfit’s more stylish mid-range options, but they’ve since been replaced (or at least eclipsed) by the newer Active and Balance lines.
Result
Amazfit’s main advantages lie in its more versatile, everyday-use options, with sensors, batteries, and hardware that would cost significantly more from Garmin, Apple, or Samsung. The brand’s weaknesses lie in its software and ecosystem depth, particularly in areas most relevant to specialist users—for example, serious runners or mountain cyclists.
That’s why the Amazfit Balance line is my favorite: it’s where the company’s strengths (battery life, sensors, interface) truly shine. If you’re an avid marathon runner seeking maximum accuracy, Garmin or Coros devices are probably a better fit. But for almost everyone else, Amazfit offers some of the best value for money wearables on the market today.