The Amazfit Active 2, announced at CES 2025, is making waves as a potential budget-friendly rival to the Apple Watch. Following the impressive T-Rex 3, this “lifestyle smartwatch” promises a compelling blend of style, functionality, and affordability. Our early hands-on experience suggests Amazfit might have a winner on its hands.
A side view of someone wearing the Amazfit Active 2.
Refined Design and Brilliant Display
Unlike the rugged T-Rex 3, the Active 2 adopts a sleeker, more compact design. Trading the square display of its predecessor for a circular one, the Active 2 resembles a traditional wristwatch. The matte aluminum frame, accented by bezel markings, contributes to its premium aesthetic. While lacking a rotating crown, two customizable physical buttons offer convenient shortcuts.
The Amazfit Active 2 on someone
The 1.32-inch AMOLED display shines brightly, reaching 2,000 nits—matching the Apple Watch Series 10. An ambient light sensor ensures optimal visibility in varying lighting conditions. The standard model features regular glass, while the premium variant boasts sapphire glass, adding a touch of luxury. In our testing with the premium model, the sapphire glass felt exceptionally smooth and responsive, complementing the crisp text, vivid colors, and always-on display functionality.
A close-up of the bezel on the Amazfit Active 2.
Comprehensive Health and Fitness Tracking
The Active 2 boasts impressive fitness tracking capabilities. With support for over 160 workout modes and automatic detection for 25, it caters to a wide range of activities. New additions include HYROX Race Mode and a smart Strength Training mode that automatically logs sets, reps, and rest times. Offline map support with turn-by-turn navigation is a particularly welcome feature for runners.
The back of the Amazfit Active 2, showing the heart rate sensor.
Amazfit claims significant improvements in heart rate and sleep tracking accuracy, bringing it on par with the T-Rex 3. The inclusion of a barometer expands tracking capabilities to activities like skiing. Beyond these, the Active 2 offers sleep tracking, blood-oxygen monitoring, cycle tracking, skin temperature measurement, and a daily Readiness score. Zepp Coach provides personalized training and running plans, enhancing the overall fitness experience.
Available workout modes on the Amazfit Active 2.
Activity widget on the Amazfit Active 2.
Battery Life and Availability
Amazfit promises up to 10 days of battery life with typical use, a substantial advantage over competing smartwatches. While real-world performance remains to be seen, even half that figure would be impressive.
The Amazfit Active 2 is available for preorder now, with general availability in February. The standard version, priced at $100, includes a silicone band. The premium version, at $130, adds a vegan leather band and sapphire glass. Both versions are compatible with the Zepp app for iOS and Android, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of smartphones.
Promising First Impressions
Our initial experience with the Amazfit Active 2 has been overwhelmingly positive. The hardware is well-crafted, the display is stunning, the interface is responsive, and the health and fitness features are comprehensive. Further testing will determine its long-term performance, but the Active 2 shows great potential to be a compelling and affordable alternative to more expensive smartwatches.
