Amazfit Active 2 Review: The top smartwatch you can get for $100

      Amazfit Active 2

      MSRP $100.00

      “Overlook a few features that don't perform as well as claimed, and you’ll find a stylish smartwatch with impressive battery life and reliable fitness tracking, all at an affordable price.”

      Pros

      - Extensive feature set at a low cost

      - Appears more expensive than it is

      - Impressive battery longevity

      - Strong basic fitness tracking capabilities

      - Zepp Flow AI proves to be beneficial

      - Robust vibration motor

      Cons

      - Voice commands can be clumsy

      - Many features are restricted when not connected to a phone

      - Unable to edit saved workouts

      - Limited options for watch face customization

      - Some delays with notifications and GPS connectivity

      While the Apple Watch reigns as the best-selling smartwatch today, many prefer alternative options. While some may choose the Galaxy Watch 7 or Pixel Watch 3, these come with relatively high starting prices, and not everyone desires a smartwatch from a major brand.

      What if there existed a budget-friendly smartwatch that still offered many features? There is. What if it provided more than just basic fitness tracking and utilized AI in innovative ways? It does. And what if all of this were available for just $99? It does. The best part? It has a more premium appearance than its price suggests and stands out as one of the best budget smartwatches you can purchase.

      Undoubtedly, there are drawbacks, and given the price, some aspects of the Amazfit Active 2 don’t perform as well as advertised. However, the low cost often makes you overlook many of these. Here’s an overview of whether the Amazfit Active 2 is worth your purchase.

      Design: affordable yet stylish

      One of the main attractions of the Amazfit Active 2 is its round display. The watch is available in two versions; the standard model is priced at $99, while the premium version, which includes an additional leather strap and a more durable sapphire crystal lens, costs $30 more.

      I have been using the premium version, and I frequently forget how stylish this smartwatch is. I’ve owned several inexpensive smartwatches that performed basic functions but lacked style, and I would gladly wear this in place of my Apple Watch Series 10. It is slim, lightweight, and adopts a watch-first design that I prefer compared to competitors.

      The Amazfit Active 2 stands as the most fashionable affordable smartwatch, and I am still surprised that it’s priced at only $100.

      While it may not earn accolades for its design, Amazfit prioritized a simple style that allows it to complement any outfit or be suitable for any occasion. The included leather strap is sturdy, although I noticed it can shrink slightly during showers. It's easy to adjust and feels significantly more high-end than its price would suggest.

      I sometimes find leather straps lack breathability, but I haven’t experienced any issues with the Amazfit Active 2. The leather strap on the premium model doesn’t show a typical patina, but it’s the type of watch that budget-conscious individuals can proudly wear. The strap can quickly display stretch marks from being fed through the clasp, though you only see this if you’re specifically looking for it.

      Whenever I spot something that could be improved, I’m reminded that this is a $100 smartwatch, and the Amazfit Active 2 truly is the most elegant budget smartwatch ever.

      A competent fitness tracker with AI features

      The main purpose of any smartwatch or fitness tracker is to help you track your health, and the Amazfit Active 2 performs reasonably well in this regard. It may not impress those who seek detailed insights provided by Garmin or Fitbit or the sophistication of the Pixel Watch or Apple Watch, but it gets the job done.

      The Zepp app, which is the companion app for the Amazfit Active 2, is user-friendly, and the watch makes it straightforward to access recent data directly. You’ll receive a Daily Readiness and Daily Sleep Insight score each day, aimed at quantifying your sleep quality and overall well-being.

      I appreciate the option to delve into your physical and mental recovery in greater detail. Each aspect has its own score with historical tracking and comes with comprehensive explanations of the metrics, what influences them, and ways to enhance them over time. For those new to smartwatches, the Amazfit Active 2 simplifies the management of basic health.

      Naturally, AI is also a focus area, and I found the Zepp Flow AI Assistant to be much more capable than expected. Instead of offering basic functions like Siri on the Apple Watch, Zepp Flow can handle a wide array of watch functions via simple voice commands. It utilizes ChatGPT’s Portal, resulting in a very impressive experience.

      However, there’s a downside: for Zepp Flow to operate — including performing basic on-device tasks — you must be connected to your phone. This limits its utility as a standalone feature, but I am again reminded that this product only costs $