Looking for a budget smartwatch that goes beyond the basics? The Amazfit Active 2 delivers an impressive mix of premium features for the price — including a mic and speaker, an altimeter, offline maps, and even a sapphire lens option.
In this Amazfit Active 2 Review, I’ll share how it performs in real life — where it shines, and where it still needs a little polish.
You’ll get the full picture on GPS accuracy, heart rate tracking, smartwatch tools, and fitness performance.
So, can a $129 smartwatch really rival models that cost twice as much? The Amazfit Active 2 certainly makes a strong case — and after testing it, I have to say, I’m genuinely impressed.
Amazfit Active 2 Versions and Pricing
There are two models of the Amazfit Active 2. Both share the same core smartwatch features, but the pricier one adds durability and extras.
- Premium at $129: sapphire lens, two bands, and EU-only payments
- Standard at $99: tempered glass lens and a single band
That premium model is a simple upgrade choice if you want more durability. Sapphire will shrug off bumps and scrapes better than tempered glass, and the extra strap is a nice touch.
Premium version highlights:
- Sapphire lens
- Extra strap (faux leather strap plus silicone strap)
- EU contactless payments via NFC
Standard version highlights:
- Tempered glass lens
- Single strap
Check the latest verified price on Amazon — it’s often discounted, and stock moves fast: -View Amazfit Active 2 on Amazon
Design and Comfort
The Active 2 looks and feels well above its price. It has clean lines, a stainless steel style bezel with tick marks, and a compact case that wears small on the wrist.
It simply looks better than what most budget smartwatches offer.
- Case size: 44mm
- Thickness: under 10 mm
- Weight: about 30 g
Those dimensions matter. The thin and light build means it disappears on your wrist during the day and stays comfortable at night. It also helps during workouts because it does not bounce or shift.
If you want a watch that looks and feels tidy with a dressy or casual watch face, this fits the bill.
Key comfort points:
- 30 g weight feels featherlight
- Low profile makes sleep comfortable
- Middle-size case works for many wrists
It simply looks and feels like it costs more. For a fitness watch in this price range, the build quality is solid.
Explore the full Amazfit Active 2 lineup on Amazon → See All Models & Colors
Display and Navigation
Screen Quality
The 1.32 inch touchscreen is bright and easy to read outdoors. The stated peak of 2,000 nit helps in direct sun, and colours and contrast pop even at steep angles.
There is an ambient light sensor, but it does not always adjust quickly indoors or outside, so expect to tweak brightness at times.
If you are used to an AMOLED display on higher-end wearables, the vibrant look here will feel familiar.
Fans of other AMOLED screens will not feel shortchanged by brightness or clarity.
Controls and Interface Quirks
You get two physical controls plus touch input. The touch response is fast, sometimes too fast when scrolling long lists. The buttons help, but there are a few quirks during workouts.
- Upper button: opens the app list and acts as a back key
- Lower button: opens the workout menu
During workouts, if the screen is off or dimmed, a single press often only wakes the display. You have to press again to pause or mark a lap.
That double press behavior can slow you down if you need to react quickly. It is manageable once you expect it, but it is still a quirk.
Good:
- Fast scrolling
- Clean menus
Needs polish:
- Oversensitive swipes
- Double-press to pause when the display is asleep
Smart Features
Notifications and Responses
Notifications for calls, texts, and apps arrive reliably on both iPhone and Android. What you can do with them depends on your phone.
iPhone:
- Receive texts and app alerts
- No replies from the watch due to Apple restrictions
Android:
- Quick replies and an on-screen keyboard
- Emojis and smart replies that make sense
- Voice dictation that works well
If you are switching from Apple Watch or Apple Watch Se, expect limits on iPhone replies. That is the same with most non-Apple smartwatches.
Calls and Voice Features
There is a built-in mic and speaker for taking calls when your phone is nearby. Audio sounds better than expected for a budget device.
The speaker is also used for workout cues and quick summaries after you end a session, which is handy when you are moving.
- Post-workout summary speaks aloud.
- Zepp Flow lets you start timers or workouts with voice, but your phone must be in range.
- No onboard music storage, but you can control your phone’s playback.
The Active 2 also supports Bluetooth calling with both iOS and Android. There is no LTE, so keep your phone nearby.
Battery Life and Charging
Battery claims are 10 days with light to everyday use and 5 days with heavy use. In real use with the always-on display, frequent GPS tracking, and lots of testing, it landed between 4 and 6 days. That lines up with the claim and is solid for this size.
Charging uses a magnetic puck that connects to a USB-C lead. The USB-C cable is not included, which is fine if you already have one.
It is not the same charger used by the Amazfit T-Rex 3, so keep track of your puck if you switch between watches.
Great for a week without daily charges, ideal if you want better battery life on a budget. Pick this if you wish for long battery life without fuss.
Tip: Amazon often runs flash discounts on this model — check today’s price before it’s gone:
Check Live Deal on Amazon
Health and Activity Tracking Basics
The Active 2 covers the basics well. You get a heart rate sensor, steps, calories, floors climbed, blood oxygen spot checks, and skin temperature while you sleep. The baseline numbers, like resting HR and HRV, are consistent.
Sleep tracking includes bedtime and wake times, plus sleep stages and a nightly score. It usually nails sleep and wake detection, though there was one morning when wake time was off by a couple of hours. Scores tended to cluster in the 80s, even when real-world recovery felt different.
There is also a readiness score each morning.
It mixes sleep quality, HRV, health metrics, SpO2, and respiration. Scores often stayed high, even after hard training days or poor rest, and some insights conflicted with the underlying numbers.
The raw data looks fine, but the algorithms that interpret it could use refinement to match how you actually feel.
Readiness and sleep score factors:
- Sleep quality
- HRV
- Blood oxygen
- Respiration rate
You can find everything inside the Zepp app, which organizes the data and summaries. It is a capable third-party companion for daily health tracking and fitness tracking.
Fitness Features and Profiles
Activity Options
There are tons of workout modes and sport modes. You get running, cycling, pool, and open water swimming, triathlon, strength training, and outdoor profiles like ski and snowboard.
There are even dance modes and a hula hoop option. Profiles are not just labels. Many supply sport-specific data.
- Running: cadence, stride length, running power
- Strength: auto rep counting, movement recognition, per-set weight entry
- Ski: automatic run detection using the barometric altimeter
Specialized Accuracy
Running power trends match what you might see from Garmin, but the numbers change less quickly. Peaks and dips are muted, so rapid efforts look flatter.
Rep counting is strong. It is often exact or off by one. Exercise recognition is better than most at this price, though it missed bicep curls a few times.
Training load scores run higher than other platforms, but the overall trend, day to day, still helps guide personal fitness decisions.
Examples:
- Running: Cadence and power tracked, with steady power trends that mirror effort.
- Strength: Rep counting and auto detection that work better than expected in a budget fitness tracker.
- Outdoor profiles: Altimeter-driven auto segments where elevation matters.
GPS, Maps, and Altimeter
Offline Maps and Navigation
This is the most surprising feature for the money. You can load offline maps right on the watch, complete with trail and street labels, and full navigation with a route. It mirrors the excellent mapping from the Amazfit t-rex 3, which costs more.
Although storage is a little tight, the ZeppOS 5 update introduced Touchscreen Control for maps, allowing users to drag and pan with ease, making the feature intuitive and genuinely helpful in the field.
Map downloads are split into chunks, so loading regions is quick. Storage is tight, so you cannot keep an extensive library on the watch.
If your storage fills up, you may need to delete activities or maps to install firmware updates.
GPS Performance
As a GPS watch, the Amazfit Active 2 smart watch locks a signal in about 5 to 10 seconds. GPS tracking is reliable for the total distance on both runs and rides. Run tracks look clean and line up well with comparison devices.
On cycling, straight sections look great, but fast corners tend to overshoot a bit. It did not skew total distance, but the track line can drift wide on quick turns.
Strengths:
- Quick lock and solid distance totals
- Accurate run tracks
Weak spots:
- High-speed cycling corners can overshoot the path
It supports standard satellite positioning systems, so lock times and stability feel snappy for the price.
Altimeter Insights
Elevation gain from the barometric altimeter lined up with other devices and with corrected Strava figures.
There was one wild outlier with absurd elevation stats. That happened when an altitude auto-calibration toggle was on. Turn it off if you rely on the barometer for clean elevation.
- Disable altitude calibration to avoid crazy data.
Heart Rate and Sensor Accuracy
Resting and Easy Activities
At rest, the heart rate readings and HRV look great. During indoor cycling, the Active 2 tracks steady rides and intervals closely with only brief blips.
For most easy-to-moderate sessions, it keeps pace with dedicated heart rate monitor straps.
Running and Outdoor Challenges
On steady runs, heart rate tracking nearly matches external sensors. Interval runs track the ups and downs quickly, which is impressive. Outdoor cycling is more challenging.
Some rides showed spikes or drift, and one ride went haywire near the end. Speed, vibration, and hand position can throw off wrist readings.
Tough Workouts
HIIT and strength are the hardest for wrist sensors. During SkiErg intervals, the Active 2 missed the first interval and then trended better later in the set.
The Apple Watch on the other wrist also struggled there, which shows how tricky these workouts are for optical sensors. In strength sessions, wrist flexion and gripping make readings inconsistent.
Recommendation:
If you train hard:
- Pair an external heart rate strap for HIIT, outdoor cycling, and lifting
- The Active 2 supports both chest and arm straps over Bluetooth
Quick summary of accuracy by activity:
- Indoor cycling: mostly good with minor blips
- Running: impressive for steady and interval sessions
- Outdoor cycling, HIIT, and weights: use an external monitor
Advanced Sensor Support
This price range rarely supports external accessories, but the Active 2 does. You can pair external sensor devices like heart straps and cycling power meters.
Power data now syncs to Strava, which is a welcome software update compared to the original behavior on the Amazfit T-Rex 3—running power also syncs.
There are a couple of caveats. Power figures do not always match between the Zepp app and Strava, and cycling cadence from a power meter is not shown in the app or passed through. Still, having power support in a budget watch is a big win.
- Power meter sync is a budget win; future updates are needed for cadence.
- For a related rugged option with similar mapping, see the Amazfit T-Rex 3 review.
The Software Success Story: Feature Parity Achieved
In the highly competitive world of wearables, sustained software support is paramount for a device’s longevity.
Amazfit warrants commendation for not merely acknowledging user feedback but for executing significant, long-term improvements via firmware updates throughout October 2025, which have substantially refined the Active 2 experience.
Elimination of the Workout UI Double-Press Quirk
One of the most frustrating issues reported at launch—the necessity of a clumsy double-press on the physical buttons to pause a workout when the screen was inactive—has been permanently resolved.
Recent updates ensure the buttons now respond instantly, regardless of the screen’s state, thereby providing users with reliable, immediate control during high-intensity activities such as running or cycling.
Massive Improvement: Advanced Running Metrics
A recent firmware Update v6.3.10.4 took the Amazfit Active 2 to the next level by adding Advanced Running Metrics.
You now get detailed stats like Vertical Oscillation and Ground Contact Time, the kind of data usually found on high-end running watches.
This upgrade turns the Active 2 from a basic fitness tracker into a powerful training companion for runners who want to dig deeper into their performance and fine-tune their running form.
Essential Foundational Bugs Resolved
Several foundational stability issues that were observed in early models have been systematically addressed.
These include early problems such as the unreliable saving of Strength Training workout data and slight inaccuracies in Step Counting.
Specific “under-the-hood” firmware patches have rectified these concerns, ensuring reliable and accurate day-to-day data collection for users.
Comparison Notes
If you are coming from Garmin, expect cleaner training load and recovery insights there, but not at this price. Compared to Fitbit or entry-level smart watch models, the Active 2’s maps and sensor pairing stand out.
If you use an Apple Watch se or Apple Watch se 2, you will miss iPhone replies, which is normal for non-Apple devices.
Fans of Apple Watch Ultra durability may like the sapphire glass option here for daily wear, though this is not a rugged device.
If you also follow discussions on Reddit, you will notice many users highlight the value-per-dollar and frequent updates through the Zepp platform.
Just remember that algorithms for readiness still need fine-tuning. Features like Zepp Flow and optional tools like Zepp Coach sit in the ecosystem, though this review focuses on the watch’s core features.
Specs Snapshot
Here is a quick look at the two models and what sets them apart.
| Model | Lens | Included Straps | Payments | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active 2 Standard | Tempered glass | 1 × Silicone | No | $99 |
| Active 2 Premium | Sapphire | 1 × Faux leather, 1 × Silicone | EU-only via NFC | $129 |
Final Verdict: Is Amazfit Active 2 Worth It?
This in-depth review found a lot to like. The Amazfit Active 2 offers strong hardware, offline maps, reliable GPS, and good comfort. Battery life hits 4 to 6 days with heavy use.
The speaker and mic add real value for calls and workout cues. For watch features at this price, it punches well above its weight.
Software needs a tune-up. Sleep and readiness scores feel capped, insights can be inconsistent, and the UI double-press during workouts is clunky.
Storage is tight for maps and activity history. GPS tracking is great for running and fine for cycling, except in fast corners.
If you want an everyday sports watch that handles real training, this is one of the best values available.
Even at double the price, many competitors lack these fitness features. Pair it with a strap-based monitor for tougher sessions, and you will have a flexible setup that outperforms most budget options.
Pros:
- Value: maps, mic/speaker, and features at $99 to $129
- Comfort: thin, light, and easy to wear to bed
- GPS: solid distance and quick lock
- Hardware: speaker cues, altimeter, and sapphire option
Cons:
- Heart rate in HIIT and strength needs an external strap
- Readiness and sleep scoring need better algorithms
- Small storage can block updates if full
If you want accessory ideas, consider a reliable chest strap or arm strap for challenging workouts: Chest HR Strap, Arm HR Strap.
Thanks for reading. Got questions about the Amazfit Active 2 smart watch or the Active 2 features we covered here?
Please drop a comment and share how you plan to use it for your health and fitness goals. This watch hits far above its class, and with a few software tweaks, it could be well above its weight for a long time.
If you’ve read this far and you’re ready to act — Grab the Amazfit Active 2 on Amazon now
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