The Amazfit Active 2 is another excellent, rather affordable smartwatch filled with loads of features, available either for $99 in its Standard variant or for $129 in its Premium flavor.
Great for fitness tracking, and health monitoring, with a beautiful, bright AMOLED screen, GPS functionality, and a sapphire lens on the Premium model to further boost durability.
It does lack internal music storage and multisport tracking, but it makes up for those deficiencies with its stunning battery life of up to 10 days, along with a waterproof design and the option for offline maps.
For those on a budget, fitness enthusiasts, casual wearers, and outdoor lovers, it is an ideal gadget that gives great value for money, though for advanced athletes and audiophiles, there might be better choices.
The Evolution of the Amazfit Active Line
The Amazfit Active 2 is the successor to the original Amazfit Active. While the original model was praised for its affordability, it came with compromises that left room for improvement.
Amazfit also released the Active Edge, a rugged version aimed at outdoor enthusiasts. This second-generation Active addresses many shortcomings of the original, refining the experience while maintaining affordability.
Amazfit Active 2 Review
| Category | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Design | Stainless steel bezel, 5 ATM water resistance, 2 buttons |
| Display | 1.32″ AMOLED, 466×466 resolution, Sapphire/Tempered glass |
| Battery | 270 mAh, 10-day typical use, 19-day saver mode |
| Health | BioTracker™ 6.0, 24H heart rate, SpO2, stress monitoring |
| Sports | 164 modes, GPS, Zepp Coach™, Strava sync |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.2, Android 7.0+, iOS 14.0+ |
| Other | Mic, Speaker, Zepp App support |
Build Quality, Straps, and Box Contents
The unboxing experience of the Active 2 depends on the version you purchase. The Premium version includes two straps: a silicone rubber band and a vegan leather strap.
This adds versatility, allowing you to swap between casual and more formal looks. The Standard version includes just the rubber band.
Build quality is impressive for the price. The stainless steel case feels durable, and the Premium model’s sapphire lens is a standout feature, offering excellent scratch resistance.
According to Amazfit’s official documentation, the sapphire lens offers superior durability.
The watch’s lightweight and slim design makes it comfortable for all-day wear.
Design and Comfort
The Active 2 keeps things simple yet refined. Its 44mm case size and rounded edges make it suitable for most wrist sizes.
Thanks to its slim 10mm profile and lightweight build (31g for the Premium model), it’s comfortable to wear all day and even while sleeping.
Compared to competitors like the Apple Watch Series 10 or the Amazfit T-Rex 3, this watch looks sleek without feeling bulky.
If you’re after a watch that balances style with functionality, this one’s an excellent choice.
1.32-inch AMOLED: A Bright Spot for Fitness Enthusiasts
The Amazfit Active 2 features a durable stainless steel body and a 1.32-inch round AMOLED display with a resolution of 353 PPI.
With a peak brightness of 2,000 nits, the screen stays clear and easy to read, even in bright sunlight, showing your exercise data and maps effortlessly.
During testing, sunlight posed no issue for readability, even during outdoor runs.
One of the main advantages of the Premium model is the sapphire lens, which is far more durable than the tempered glass found in the Standard version.
This makes the upgrade well worth the additional $30 if scratch resistance matters to you.
Comparing Standard vs. Premium
A key selling point of the Amazfit Active 2 is its affordability.
| Feature | Standard ($99) | Premium ($129) |
|---|
| Lens Type | Tempered Glass | Sapphire Crystal |
| Strap Options | Silicone Rubber Only | Rubber + Vegan Leather |
| Weight | Lighter (30g) | Heavier (31g) |
For just $30 more, the Premium version includes perks like a sapphire lens—an excellent choice for those who need extra durability in their wearables, a feature typically found in high-end devices like Garmin’s premium watches.
Water Resistance and Durability
With a 5 ATM water resistance rating, the watch is ready for swimming, whether in the pool or open water. It can handle your workouts without breaking a sweat—literally.
Battery Life: How Does the Amazfit Active 2 Hold Up?
A 270mAh battery powers this watch, offering 10 days of typical use under default settings. However, enabling features like continuous heart rate monitoring and stress tracking reduces usage to around 5 days.
For those needing extended battery life, a power-saving mode stretches usage to 19 days.
GPS usage stands at around 21 hours, making it suitable for marathons or mid-length outdoor treks, though it may not last long enough for ultra-endurance events.
Buttons and Bands
The watch has a two-button layout:
- The top button (with a red accent) selects and launches activities.
- The bottom button navigates back to the previous screens.
Changing straps is easy. The quick-release mechanism is compatible with standard third-party bands, giving you plenty of customization options.
Charging System
The device uses a magnetic charging puck that securely attaches to the back. Though the charging puck is included, keep in mind that no USB-C cable comes with the watch.
The design allows you to use any USB-C cable you already own.
User Interface: Smooth and Familiar
The Amazfit Active 2 inherits the same interface seen in other Amazfit models. It’s responsive, intuitive, and easy to navigate.
Swiping up lets you view notifications (which include app icons for quick identification) while swiping down reveals quick settings.
Widgets provide at-a-glance information on Readiness scores, sleep tracking, weather, steps, and more.
Watch faces can be customized and downloaded via the Zep app, which offers a massive library of options.
Health and Wellness Features
This watch doesn’t cut corners on health metrics. It tracks:
- Heart rate.
- Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2).
- Wrist temperature.
- Sleep stages (light, deep, REM).
- Readiness score based on activity and sleep.
While the Readiness score is a nice touch, it tends to be overly optimistic. Nights with poor rest or sickness still resulted in high scores—something Amazfit could refine in future updates.
Advanced Activity Tracking
From common activities like running and cycling to niche sports like badminton, the Amazfit Active 2 supports 164 activity profiles.
While it lacks multisport functionality, its ability to track specific sports makes it versatile for most users.
Activity metrics like duration, distance, and heart rate can be customized. Completed workouts sync with third-party platforms like Strava, Google Fit, and Apple Health.
Sensor and Connectivity Features
This watch is packed with sensors:
- GPS.
- SpO2.
- Heart rate.
- Accelerometer.
- Gyroscope.
- Barometer.
- Ambient light sensor.
Beyond built-in sensors, the Amazfit Active 2 supports external Bluetooth sensors. You can pair it with heart rate monitors, cycling power meters, and more.
The watch can even broadcast your heart rate to nearby devices, adding extra value for training.
Mapping and Navigation
Affordable smartwatches rarely feature navigation, but the Amazfit Active 2 bucks that trend. Free offline maps and GPX route support make it suitable for hiking and trail running.
While the maps aren’t routable like Garmin’s, the inclusion of labeled trails and streets is a helpful touch. A built-in course creation tool in the Zep app would be a welcome addition in the future.
Speaker and Microphone
The Active 2 includes a speaker and microphone, features not found in many watches within this price range.
This allows for phone calls directly from your wrist, voice memos, and compatibility with iPhone and Android.
Eventually, the watch will support Zep Flow, an AI assistant powered by ChatGPT, adding even more functionality.
Music Controls
Unlike some Amazfit models, the Active 2 lacks internal music storage. Instead, it offers controls for your phone, allowing you to adjust volume, skip tracks, and play or pause music.
While internal music storage could’ve been a nice addition, the reality is that most people rely on streaming services, making this feature less critical.
Heart Rate and GPS Accuracy
Initial tests show mixed results for heart rate accuracy. The silicone rubber strap yielded more reliable data than the vegan leather band, which couldn’t achieve a snug fit.
For GPS, the results were solid but not flawless. During my 5km outdoor run, the GPS showed minor deviations but was accurate within a 10-meter margin.
However, distance tracking matched well against high-end watches, which was a pleasant surprise.
Training Tools
The Amazfit Active 2 provides a 7-day training load analysis, a recovery timer, and an estimated VO2 Max.
While the VO2 Max estimation is lower than lab results, these tools are rare on a $100 smartwatch and add meaningful value.
Strengths
- Sapphire lens on Premium models.
- Lightweight and comfortable design.
- Excellent battery life for general use.
- Support for free offline maps.
- It is packed with fitness and health features.
Limitations
- Overestimates certain health metrics like Readiness and Sleep scores.
- There is no internal music storage.
- Mapping features aren’t routable.
- Lacks multisport activity tracking.
Who Is It For?
The Amazfit Active 2 is one such smartwatch that can be put to versatile use by different kinds of people. A breakdown of who can get the most out of this affordable yet feature-packed device follows.
1. Budget-Conscious Fitness Enthusiasts
The Amazfit Active 2 is perfect if you’re on a budget and want to track your workouts and monitor health metrics like heart rate, SpO2, and sleep stages.
Why Buy It? It boasts an impressive feature of support for 164 sports modes and includes a few must-have training tools usually reserved for series flagship models, including VO2 Max estimation and recovery timers.
Ideal For: Joggers, gym-goers, cyclists, and casual runners.
2. Casual Wearers Who Want Comfortable Stylish Wear
This smartwatch fuses a sleek design with practical comfort, making it an ideal accessory for everyday wear. Its lightweight build and customizable straps make it adaptable for work, fitness, and even formal occasions.
Why Buy It? The Premium model adds class to this very same model with a sapphire lens and vegan leather strap without sacrificing affordability.
3. Outdoor and Adventure Lovers
Apart from being quite reasonably priced, it boasts some amazing features, which are as follows: 5 ATM water resistance, free offline maps, and GPS route tracking are its appeal factors for the economically savvy outdoor enthusiast.
Why Choose It? The durable design, combined with 21 hours of GPS battery life and the ability to connect external Bluetooth sensors, make this device very practical for trail running, hiking, or swimming.
4. Value Seekers Looking for Premium Features
For those who want premium features like a sapphire lens, fitness tracking, and navigation but can’t quite justify spending more than $300 on high-end models, the Amazfit Active 2 bridges the gap.
Why Choose It? For only $99–$129, you get features visible on competitors costing up to double or even triple this price.
5. Tech-Savvy Users Who Value Battery Life
The 10-day battery life in standard mode and 19 days in power-saving mode will impress users who don’t like to charge the device very often.
Why Choose It? Excellent battery optimization, which is good for long trips or busy people.
Who Might Want to Look Elsewhere?
Multisport athletes, this watch is possibly not for you, as true multisport tracking is not available on it for triathletes or simply those who need to transition easily between sports.
Audiophiles: Lacking onboard music storage, it’s less suited for users wanting offline playlists.
Advanced Outdoor Navigators: It supports offline maps, but it doesn’t offer routable mapping or course creation tools like Garmin watches.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a super-affordable smartwatch that’s full of features, then the Amazfit Active 2 is a great value with fitness tracking, health monitoring, GPS, and even a sapphire lens in the Premium model, all for a price way lower than many competitors.
Don’t miss the outlook of this versatile device, which brings premium features within reach. Ready to upgrade your wristwear? Check it out now on Amazon!
If you’re considering more premium features like sapphire lenses, check out our guide to Best Smartwatches under $100
Does the Amazfit Active 2 support music storage?
No, the Amazfit Active 2 does not support internal music storage. Instead, it offers music controls for your phone. You can adjust the volume, skip tracks, or play/pause music directly from the watch, but the ability to store music files internally, like on some other models, is absent.
However, if offline music storage is an essential feature for you, the Amazfit Active 2 might not be the best fit.
Is the sapphire lens worth it for daily use?
The sapphire lens on the Amazfit Active 2 Premium is a great choice for daily use. It’s more scratch-resistant than regular glass, so it’s better for sports and everyday wear. For just an extra $30, it helps keep your watch looking new and durable longer.
