Amazfit Active 2 Review: A Triumph For Inexpensive Wearables

TechRadar

While not perfect, for $99 the Amazfit Active 2 is an unbelievable smartwatch with an extensive feature-set, accurate health tracking, and a brilliant classic design.

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00:00I can't believe this watch, which we rated five stars, is just $99. This is the Amazfit Active 2.

00:11For just $99, this little fitness watch far outstrips its price tag. It's got a big battery

00:16life, a stainless steel exterior, a nice AMOLED screen, and loads of sports tracking capabilities.

00:23If you're looking for a cheaper Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch alternative,

00:27this little watch is the one to get. We'll break down everything you need to know in this video,

00:33including price, design, features, and details about the watch's performance during our testing.

00:38Is the Active 2 really too good to be true at this price?

00:45The Active 2 costs $99 in the US and £99 in the UK. A premium version with extra features is

00:53available for another $30 or pounds, and at this price, why not? Considering its smorgasbord of

01:00fitness features, it favorably compares to similarly priced trackers from the likes of Fitbit and

01:05Nothing, and even more expensive ones like the Apple Watch SE. The main thing to consider is whether

01:11you'd prefer an unobtrusive fitness band at this price, like the Fitbit Charge 6, rather than a full

01:18round smartwatch. The Amazfit Active 2 is packing a stainless steel bezel with plastic backing, a 1.32

01:28inch AMOLED screen, and a silicon strap. The premium version includes an additional leather strap, more

01:34durable sapphire glass, and NFC for contactless payments instantly. This round design separates it from the

01:41likes of the Apple Watch's Squircle, giving it a very unique look. A pair of buttons on the right hand

01:47side of the watch are used for navigating the watch's UI, along with starting slash stopping workouts.

01:52The watch is 5ATM water resistant, the same as most Apple Watches, and on the back you get your usual

01:58array of heart rate tracking paraphernalia, along with LED sensors. The Active 2 is extremely light.

02:05Our model tested here weighs less than 30 grams, even with the stainless steel bezel.

02:10Given the overall quality of the design, we think it's a fantastic price and a real value for money

02:16pick. We also have no reservations recommending the more premium model of the bunch. 5 stars.

02:26The Active 2's feature set is impressive for a smartwatch of any price tag, let alone one that

02:32costs less than $100. There's workout tracking for 164 sports modes. Most of these are the same,

02:39but there are a couple of unique advanced features, such as running and strength training.

02:43If you're training for strength, there's smart recognition of 25 movements, such as bench press,

02:49automatic rep tracking, and a built-in exercise timer slash workout plan generator you can follow,

02:55to varying degrees of success. Runners will find a track run mode, smart trajectory correction,

03:01and even a virtual pacer. There's also Zapp Coach, an AI-powered workout companion that can help you

03:07generate and customize training plans. Health-wise, you'll find a daily readiness score, just like

03:12Fitbit Premium, and insights for monitoring heart rate, as well as blood oxygen, stress, temperature,

03:19sleep heart rate variability, sleep stages and schedule, sleep scores, and more. It's pretty comprehensive.

03:26You don't find features like ECG scans, which can be used to determine heart health, at this price

03:31point in the smartwatch market, and there are always going to be limitations in a $99 smartwatch.

03:37It's not going to be perfect. Still, at this price, you'll struggle to find a more extensive set of

03:42features in a smartwatch, and the lack of NFC isn't enough to merit deducting any points when you can add it

03:49for just $30. All of these features don't mean much if a smartwatch can't perform as described,

03:57but I'm happy to report that the Amazfit Active 2 has excelled in our testing. Scrolling menus,

04:03changing settings, reading messages, and more are all very responsive and seamless. There's obviously

04:09no digital crown here, but I'm happy with the way the touchscreen operates when scrolling up and down.

04:14During a run, the Active 2 pinged 1km intervals at exactly the same time as our litmus test,

04:19the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and its heart rate monitor is actually more responsive, delivering more

04:25frequent reading updates than Apple's more expensive watch, always within 1 or 2 BPM of the Ultra 2.

04:31The Ultra 2 is my litmus test of a smartwatch's sports performance, and the Active 2 is killing it

04:36here. Its purported up to 10-day battery life in our tests lasted for about a week, which is expected

04:42with multiple GPS workouts. You won't find a better smartwatch at this price, or one with this many

04:50features. The Active 2 won't keep up with Garmin's industry-leading fitness tracking, for example,

04:56and there are more capable pure fitness watches out there, like the Ultra 2. However, they also cost a

05:02lot more. This is absolutely the best cheap smartwatch out there right now, and a great find at $99.

05:08Have you tried it? What do you think? Let us know in the comments below,

05:12and we'll see you next time. Or you can check out our full review of the Active 2 on tepradar.com. See you there.

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