Amazfit Active 2 review: A budget-friendly smartwatch that punches above its weight

Chinese wearable cobbler Amazfit has built itself a solid reputation over the past few years - largely for its feature-packed smartwatches that don’t break the bank. The firm’s latest offering, the Active 2, is yet more proof of that.

Launched at CES earlier this year, the all-new model crams in plenty of features for the price, the most noteworthy being AI-powered voice commands, GPS tracking, offline maps and a sleek AMOLED display— all into a package costing less than £100. On paper, that’s an impressive set of specs for such a budget-friendly device.

Designed for fitness enthusiasts who want a capable wearable without the hefty price tag, the Active 2 sports 160 sports modes, NFC payments (in some regions), and up to 10 days of battery life.

But, as most of us have probably experienced at some time or another, affordability often brings compromise. Can the Active 2 truly compete with the market’s biggest fitness trackers such as Fitbit and Garmin, or does it fall short in key areas like health tracking and software experience (which you’d kind of expect at this price point)? I’ve spent a few weeks using the budget smartwatch to find out.

Amazfit Active 2 review: Price and availability

The Amazfit Active 2 will be available to buy globally from Amazfit’s official webstore “soon” (rumour has it this will be sometime in February globally) in two different versions.

The base model costs £80/$99.99/AU$160 and comes with a silicone strap. Then, there’s a premium version (that I’m using for this review) that boasts a leather strap, sapphire glass screen and NFC payments (for Europe only), priced at £105/$129.99/AU$208.

It doesn’t seem to be available from other retailers for the time being, either but it’s likely to hit online shops like Amazon soon enough, although I doubt - at such a low RRP - that it will see any further discounts, not for the time being anyway.

At this price point, the Amazfit Active 2 competes directly with budget-friendly fitness trackers like the Fitbit Charge 6 and entry-level Garmin devices, making it a great option to consider for those who want a decent all-round smartwatch without splurging.

Amazfit Active 2 review: Specs

• Screen: 1.32-inch AMOLED, 2,000 nits
• Case Material: Stainless steel
• Water Resistance: 5ATM (50m)
• Battery Life: Up to 10 days (realistically 5-6 days)
• Sports Modes: 160+
• Smart Features: AI Voice Assistant, NFC (premium version), offline maps
• Price: From £80 / $99.99

Amazfit Active 2 review: Design

While Amazfit has done a good job making the Active 2 look and feel far more premium than its price suggests, it still doesn’t scream top-end smartwatch. The casing, while made from a stainless steel that looks sleek for the most part, doesn’t feel sturdy or robust. Sure, it’s lightweight at just 53g, which adds to comfort levels, but this does make it feel cheap. Also, the leather strap isn’t as soft as you’d find on more premium alternatives. Still, at under £100, it’s hard to be too picky and, overall, it’s an impressive bit of kit for the price.

As for the display, the Active 2 features a 1.32-inch AMOLED screen, which has to be the main draw in terms of design. Touting an impressive 2,000 nits of peak brightness, it’s bright enough to be seen in direct sunlight, and its Gorilla Glass protection is reassuringly durable. There’s also an always-on display mode is a welcome addition that many budget watches skip. I found the screen to be generally sharp, vibrant and responsive to touch, making interactions feel natural and fluid.

Navigation is handled by two physical buttons on the right side of the case. These feel well-placed but lack the tactile feedback you might find on more premium smartwatches. Still, combined with the smooth touchscreen, they make interacting with the watch easy and intuitive, for the most part.

Those who have purchased the premium version of this watch might find that the leather strap, while stylish, isn’t ideal for high-intensity activities as sweat and moisture can cause wear over time. Thankfully, Amazfit has included a silicon strap (as you’d find on the base version) in the box for workouts, which is much softer and comfortable to wear for exercise. It’s also worth noting that the watch supports standard 22mm quick-release straps, so swapping it out is always an option, whichever version you go for.

From a pure aesthetics standpoint, the Amazfit Active 2 is a pleasant-looking smartwatch that could pass off as a more spenny wearable at first glance. It certainly does boast a blend of sporty and stylish elements. Upon closer inspection, however, you might find it doesn’t feel quite as high-end as its pricier counterparts. Saying that, if you want a budget smartwatch that punches above its weight in terms of looks and build quality, the Active 2 is definitely worth considering.

Amazfit Active 2 review: Features and performance

When it comes to features, the Amazfit Active 2 goes far beyond what you’d expect from an £80 smartwatch. It’s actually quite impressive just how much it offers. With 160 sports modes, it covers everything from running and cycling to more niche activities like Hyrox training. While it’s great to have such an extensive list, be aware that many of these modes don’t actually track unique data and simply act as labels for general workout tracking.

That said, core activities like running, cycling and swimming track reliably, with built-in GPS providing decent accuracy. However, I did notice occasional GPS drift in denser areas, like city centres, which made tracking routes slightly inconsistent.

The Zepp Flow AI assistant is the standout feature here. It allows for voice commands to control settings, check the weather, or even reply to messages. Unfortunately, though, I found it wasn’t the most polished assistant. While it responds well to basic commands, more complex requests often make it a bit confused, which might leave you screaming at it. The built-in speaker is also quite weak and tinny sounding, making it hard to hear responses - especially in noisy environments.

On the health tracking side of things, the Active 2 covers most of the basics, offering heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, stress measurement and even blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring, which you’d normally find on pricier wearables. It also lets you check these health measurements with one touch, taking about 45 seconds. It’s a cool addition, but I found the results a little inconsistent compared to more established brands, like Garmin. What’s more, heart rate tracking was generally reliable during steady-state activities, but I noticed it could sometimes struggle with rapid fluctuations, especially during interval workouts.

On the plus side, I was Amaz-ed to find that Amazfit has included offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation in the Active 2 as it’s a rare find in a device with this price point. However, it’s not without flaws. Maps can be slow to load, and accuracy is sometimes hit-or-miss, as I mentioned earlier, this happens particularly in high-rise areas. It’s a fantastic feature in theory, but not quite as dependable as Garmin’s mapping systems, for instance. That being said, it’s hard to be too critical of the Active 2. Despite its lack of refinement in places, it certainly offers way more in terms of tech than any smartwatch I’ve ever seen at this price point.

As for battery life, Amazfit claims you can expect ten days of juice on a single charge, although I found that with general use, for example, a one-hour workout a day with GPS and general smartwatch use such as phone notifications, you’ll likely get closer to six days. That’s a pretty big difference, but still not bad by smartwatch standards (especially if you’re an Apple Watch user, wink wink).

Amazfit Active 2 review: App experience

Amafit’s Zepp app is where all your smartwatch data is stored, and while it looks clean, it’s not the most intuitive companion app I’ve ever used. The home screen layout is customisable and gives you quick access to key stats, which is great, but navigation can feel a little cluttered, especially when trying to find specific metrics. But the biggest annoyance is the constant upselling. You get way too many nudges to subscribe to premium features, which can get frustrating, fast.

I found that syncing data can also be a little slow, sometimes taking longer than expected to pull in workout stats or update health metrics. And, while it supports basic integrations with fitness platforms like Strava, it is still petty limited compared to those you’ll find on Fitbit or Garmin.

Amazfit Active 2 review: Verdict

The Amazfit Active 2 is a budget smartwatch that looks and feels more premium than its price tag would suggest. It offers a bright and crisp AMOLED screen, AI voice controls, decent fitness tracking and offline maps, all for under £100. If you want a feature-packed wearable without breaking the bank, I think this is one of the best affordable smartwatches you can buy right now.

However, be aware it’s not without flaws. Health tracking lacks precision, the AI assistant is still a bit clunky, and the Zepp app experience isn’t the most user-friendly. GPS tracking is solid, but navigation accuracy can be hit or miss.

Despite these quirks, for the price, the Amazfit Active 2 represents impressive value. It’s stylish (despite feeling cheap in parts) and packed with features, so a great option for fitness enthusiasts who need a budget-friendly fitness watch over pinpoint accuracy. If you can live with these inconsistencies, you’ll be onto a winner.