Discover the Affordable Smartwatch Champion: Amazfit Active 2 Steals the Crown
Amazfit Active 2: A Budget Smartwatch That Packs a Punch
Amazfit may not be a household name, but the company has been making waves in the budget smartwatch space for a while now. And at CES 2025, they’re looking to outdo themselves with the $99 Amazfit Active 2.
I was a big fan of the company’s GTR 4 watch, which packed an incredible amount of value for $200. It wasn’t a looker, but it was a powerhouse. And now, the Active 2 takes that formula and amplifies it, offering even more features for half the price.
What’s New and Improved
The Active 2 boasts a bright 2,000 nit OLED display, upgraded health sensors, revamped heart rate and sleep algorithms, and the Zepp Flow AI assistant. You’ll also get a smarter strength training mode that can auto-detect sets, reps, and rest, offline maps with turn-by-turn directions, and personalized training plans via the Zepp Coach integration.
For women, there’s a special mini app that delivers diet and exercise recommendations based on hormonal and menstrual cycles throughout a person’s life. And, the watch works seamlessly with the company’s recently launched Helio smart ring, similar to how the Samsung Galaxy Ring optimizes sensor accuracy with its Galaxy Watches.
European Users, Rejoice!
European users will also get contactless payments via Zepp Pay, a feature that was missing from the GTR 4.
A Display That Shines
The display gets up to 2,000 nits of brightness, making it easy to read even in the brightest of environments.
A Feature Set That’s Hard to Beat
You almost never find this kind of feature set for under $250. It’s bonkers that you can get it for $100.
Design and Build
The Active 2 switches from the original Active’s square, Apple Watch-esque design to a more classic 44mm round watchface. The standard model comes with a tempered glass screen, stainless steel case, and a 20mm silicone sport band. The premium model costs $129 and upgrades the screen to a more durable sapphire glass and includes an additional leather strap.
Battery Life
Battery life isn’t quite as good as the original Active, dropping to 10 days with normal use compared to 14 days. However, 10 days is still impressive compared to the competition.
My Thoughts
I’ve been wearing the premium Active 2 for the last few days, and it’s quite nice. Performance has been zippy, it’s lightweight on the wrist, and I’ve already gotten several compliments from coworkers. Sometimes budget devices can look chintzy, but the Active 2 doesn’t look or feel as cheap as a $100–$150 smartwatch could. I’m still testing out the health and fitness features, but so far, it’s held up well on a handful of treadmill runs, and in the last three days, I’ve only used about 25 percent battery. I wish the touchscreen were a bit more responsive, but it’s nothing too egregious thus far. It’s too early for me to make a definitive call on the Active 2, but so far, it’s looking like it could be a compelling option for folks who want a simpler smartwatch without breaking the bank.
