Verdict - Amazfit delivers exceptional value
The Amazfit Active 2 is currently the epitome of value for money, impressing across the board. The AMOLED display is almost 1900 nits bright and is very easy to read. The performance is equally impressive.
The Zepp app offers tons of data and many setting options. In daily use, the Active 2 also stands out, capable of displaying emojis and images in chats while providing many reply options. The voice assistant works well, though it can be a little slow. The smartwatch even offers offline navigation and precise health metrics.
Overall, the watch’s features and capabilities are excellent—especially considering its low price. If you want contactless payments, opt for the premium NFC version.
Pros
Cons
Price and availability
Amazfit lists the standard version of the Active 2 with an RRP of €100. The smartwatch is sold on Amazfit's official online shop and at other retailers such as Amazon. At the time of writing, the Active 2 is in stock and ready to ship
Table of Contents
- Verdict - Amazfit delivers exceptional value
- Case and equipment - Amazfit's circular design
- Setup and operation - The Active 2's quick startup
- Health and fitness - ZeppOS and the readiness score
- Display - Active 2 is exceptionally bright
- Performance and runtime - Active 2 runs very smoothly
- Possible alternatives in comparison
Amazfit offers the Active 2 in two versions. The differences are straightforward: the Active 2 Premium has sapphire instead of mineral glass over the display. It also supports mobile payment with Zepp-Pay (NFC) and comes with a second wristband. The price difference is €30 (~$35).
The color and size of the Active 2 are the same no matter the version. The case is silver and chrome, the wristband is black.
Case and equipment - Amazfit's circular design
The case of the Active 2 is made of stainless steel, but this only applies to the upper part of the watch. The lower part, including the strap holder, is made of plastic. The display is protected by mineral glass.
Weighting 42.4 grams with the straps and 29.4 grams without, the smartwatch is very light. The straps are 20 millimetres wide and can be changed without tools. There are two buttons on the right-hand side of the case. They are firmly seated and have a clear pressure point. Overall, the build quality is very good. We did not scratch the smartwatch during the test period.
A microphone is positioned between the buttons, and a speaker is on the left side, below the metal ring. The glass is not protected by a bezel, extends to the edge and features a printed scale.
Amazfit has various sensors on the underside, as well as metal surfaces for the charging pad. The strap has numerous ventilation openings and is comfortable to wear. The end of the band is designed to be tucked underneath itself.
Sustainability
Amazfit states that the entire packaging of the Active 2 is recyclable. The manufacturer also did away with a built-in cable on the charging pad, adding a USB-C port instead. There is no information on the CO2 footprint. In Germany, the manufacturer offers a 12-month warranty on the smartwatch.
Setup and operation - The Active 2's quick startup
The Zepp app must be installed to set up and operate the Active 2. The software is available for Android and iOS devices, only some functions differ. For our review,, we used a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra with Android 15.
Once the app is installed, you can quickly find and connect the smartwatch by scanning a QR code. You must then grant access permissions, for example, for answering calls. Finally, a short tutorial on the watch's functions is available on your smartphone. The entire setup process is very quick.
During setup, you are required to either create or sign into a Zepp account. This is where personal data, such as your height and weight, is stored, and you can also customize your goals.
The Zepp app is divided into four areas: Start, Training, Aura and Device. "Start" serves as a dashboard and uses tiles to provide an overview of various areas such as stress, calories burned and heart health. Clicking on the tile takes you to the relevant submenu.
The "Start" section also features "Core metrics," which is an overview of health parameters. At the top, you'll find charts for Overview, Readiness, Sleep, and Exertion. If desired, the app can provide a detailed analysis of these values.
The "Training" section chronologically lists your past workouts. "Aura" is a separate section dedicated to sleep, sleep disorders, and relaxation.
Finally, "Device" provides access to the settings of the connected smartwatch. There is a large selection of watch faces, an app store that is also used for updates and various setting options. It is possible to switch individual health measurements on or off. You can also choose which apps are allowed to send messages and how the apps are arranged on the smartwatch.
The Amazfit Active 2 is operated via two buttons and the touchscreen. A short press on the top button opens the app overview, while a long press activates the voice assistant. A short press on the lower button opens the training menu, and a long press brings up the switch-off menu.
From any menu, a press on the top button takes you back to the watch face. These button assignments can be customized in the app, with nearly all of the watch's functions available for selection.
Swiping down from the top brings up the short menu. Swiping up from the bottom opens the notifications. Swiping sideways takes you through tiles that provide information on individual functions. The content and order of these tiles can be customized in the app.
Phone Functions and Notifications - Active 2 shows pictures and a keyboard
The Amazfit Active 2 is equipped with a speaker and a microphone, making it suitable for calls. However, since it lacks its own SIM card, it can only be used when paired with a smartphone. The smartwatch features a dialpad and a list of favorite contacts, which must be created first in the app. You can store up to 50 contacts.
The smartwatch also offers access to a call list, but this did not work in the test. Only individual calls appeared, some of which were longer in the past. The voice connection, on the other hand, was impressive. The built-in speaker is loud enough, and the transmission is clear. The Active 2 can even handle longer conversations, though individual syllables from the wearer's voice were occasionally dropped.
Messages were displayed reliably in the test. You can customize which apps are allowed to send notifications. The Active 2 also displays emojis and even images in chats. Replying is also possible, with a wide range of options available.
These options include pre-written and customizable short answers, emojis, and a dictation function. The watch also features a full QWERTY keyboard that works reliably.
Voice assistant - Zepp Flow with OpenAI integration
The Amazfit Active 2 runs on Zepp OS 4.5, an operating system that the manufacturer markets as "powered by OpenAI." As a result, AI functions are deeply integrated through its own voice assistant "Zepp Flow".
The voice assistant can perform tasks such as changing smartwatch settings and accessing messages. The software can also suggest replies in chats. Some inputs - such as setting a timer - are also possible without a connection to a smartphone.
Voice recognition worked reliably during the test. However, it does take a while for the assistant to be ready to respond.
Health and fitness - ZeppOS and the readiness score
Like the settings, the health functions are operated and read out via the Zepp app. A key value for assessing health and fitness in ZeppOS is "readiness", which is a value between 0 and 100.
Readiness is made up of eight "core metrics": physical recovery, mental recovery, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, sleep duration, deep sleep, exertion load, and training status.The app provides a separate value for each of these metrics, which can be viewed over days or weeks to show long-term trends.
In some cases, the app also offers comparisons with other users in the same age group and provides information on how the score was calculated. The Zepp app can be linked to various third-party apps, such as Google Fit, Strava, Relive, TrainingsPeaks, adidas Running, Komoot and Apple Health.
Activity goals - Tracking Steps and PAI
The Active 2 provides information on steps taken, time spent standing and active time for fat burning. The information is bundled on a tile on the smartwatch and listed separately in the smartphone app.
The information collected is very comprehensive. The steps can be displayed not only for one day, but also for weeks, months or years. The app also converts the steps into a total distance and indicates how much time was needed for this. The calories burned while walking are also displayed.
The watch also features a PAI score, which is designed to provide a more accurate representation of your individual activity than a simple step count. PAI stands for Personal Activity Intelligence and the value can be between 0 and 100. The value is derived from heart rate data, daily activity intensity and physiological data.
The value is based on data from the past seven days and is scientifically backed. The smartwatch also provides information on the stress level. VO2max is only given for training times.
Heart rate, heart rhythm and blood oxygen saturation
The Amazfit Active 2 can measure heart rate and blood oxygen saturation. To better assess its accuracy, we compared its readings with those from a reference device. For heart rate, we used a Polar H10 chest strap as our reference.
The resting heart rate readings from both devices were a match. We also measured our heart rate during a bike ride at three different times. On average, there was a deviation of 3.77%, with the largest deviation being 5 heartbeats per minute. The Active 2's readings were consistently lower than those of the reference device.
The Amazfit Active 2 is also impressive when it comes to blood oxygen saturation. The average deviation over three measurements was just 0.34 percent, and the largest deviation in a single measurement was 2 percent. We have written a separate article about the challenges of measuring these values.
Overall, the measured values of the Amazfit Active 2 are very accurate, especially considering the price.
Sleep tracking - ZeppOS with extensive sleep data
The Amazfit Active 2's sleep tracking is extremely comprehensive. All collected values are bundled into an overall score, a number between 1 and 100. The app also provides a timeline overview of your sleep phases throughout the night.
The watch distinguishes between light, deep, and REM sleep. The Active 2 also reliably detects waking phases in the test. For each phase, the app indicates the time and the proportion of total sleep. The result is also evaluated.
The smartwatch provides additional data on sleep regularity, heart rate variability, sleeping heart rate, breathing rate, and sleep apnea risk, as well as comparisons with other users. As usage increases, weekly and monthly trends are determined. All of this data can be accessed for free and without a subscription.
The "Aura" section offers even more information, as the collected data is analyzed with the help of AI. The section also offers a wellness assistant. In addition to some free sounds to help you fall asleep, the premium version offers music that adapts to your individual heartbeat.
The premium version can be tested for 14 days, after which a subscription fee is required. The subscription costs €9.99 (~$11.6) euros per month or €30 (~$35) per year.
Training recording - Active 2 with integrated training planner
According to the Amazfit, the Active 2 can track over 160 sports. You can set goals for individual sports under the "Training Assistant" menu, with options for a specific distance, a set time, or a particular training effect.
For runners, the smartwatch can automatically recognize laps and display a virtual pacer as a training partner. For some sports, like jogging, there are also training templates and interval training plans available.
The data displayed can be customized for each sport, and the information is very easy to read during a workout. The Active 2 also features automatic workout detection, which worked reliably in most cases. It even records running and walking over short distances. However, the smartwatch records a motorcycle ride as bicycle training. Recognition for individual sports can be activated in the app.
With Zepp Coach, the Zepp app offers the option of creating individual training plans. The function is available for many different sports. The necessary information is requested in a chat dialog with the AI. This was quick and uncomplicated in the test. It asks for your current status, how much time you have, and what your goal is. This feature is free to use.
The Active 2 determines your training load and recommends a recovery time after each workout. Certain sports can also be completed using saved routes.
GPS and navigation - Offline navigation on the Active 2
The Active 2 supports all common satellite systems, but only with single band. While the smartwatch records reliably, our analysis of the tracking data showed that it doesn't always trace the path of curves with perfect precision.
The satellite connection is quickly established during training. In addition, completed routes can be exported as GPX, TCX or FIT files. It is also possible to import these file formats. The Active 2 also offers return route navigation during training and waypoints can be saved.
The smartwatch comes with navigation software as standard. However, a corresponding map section must first be selected and downloaded on the smartphone. Once the maps have been downloaded, navigation is also possible without a smartphone. Voice prompts are possible and there are also maps for ski resorts.
Display - Active 2 is exceptionally bright
The display of the Active 2 is remarkable, especially in this price range. Although the AMOLED panel is rather small with a diagonal of 1.32 inches, it achieves an enormous maximum brightness. We measured a maximum of 1842 cd/m² with the ambient light sensor activated. Without the sensor, 586 nits are still possible.
This means that the Amazfit Active 2 outperforms the comparison devices by a significant margin. The Active 2 thus reaches the level of a Samsung Galaxy Watch7, and the smartwatch is also easy to read in full sunlight.
We noticed a screen flickering with a frequency of 60 Hz. With the Predecessor smartwatch it was 120 Hz. The Active 2 has an always-on display, the style adapts to the selected watch face. The function can be activated permanently, according to a schedule or automatically.
| Amazfit Active 2 | Huawei Watch Fit 3 | Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro | Amazfit Active | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response Times | ||||
| PWM Frequency (Hz) | 60 | 120 | 60 | 120 |
| PWM Amplitude * (%) | 18.33 | |||
| Screen | -60% | -65% | -70% | |
| Brightness middle (cd/m²) | 1842 | 745 -60% | 643 -65% | 546 -70% |
| Black Level * (cd/m²) | ||||
| Total Average (Program / Settings) | -60% /
-60% | -65% /
-65% | -70% /
-70% |
* ... smaller is better
Screen Flickering / PWM (Pulse-Width Modulation)
| Screen flickering / PWM detected | 60 Hz |  | |
The display backlight flickers at 60 Hz (worst case, e.g., utilizing PWM) . The frequency of 60 Hz is very low, so the flickering may cause eyestrain and headaches after extended use. In comparison: 53 % of all tested devices do not use PWM to dim the display. If PWM was detected, an average of 8228 (minimum: 5 - maximum: 343500) Hz was measured. | |||
Performance and runtime - Active 2 runs very smoothly
Amazfit has not provided any information about the specific SiP or memory installed. The size of the memory also not disclosed. Because no browser is installed on the smartwatch, we were unable to run any benchmarks.
In everyday use, the smartwatch impresses with its very smooth operation. Inputs are implemented quickly, transitions between maps and programs run smoothly. We did not notice any stutters or freezes during our testing period.
Battery life - Lasts 3 to 4 days
Amazfit specifies a typical usage time of ten days, and the Active 2 should last five days with intensive use. In the test, we activated all measurements, received all notifications, used the always-on display and wore the smartwatch 24 hours a day. The automatic training recognition function detected several workouts a day.
Under this scenario, the Active 2 lasted three to four days before needing to be recharged. Charging takes place on the supplied charging pad, Qi charging is not supported. The charging pad has a USB-C socket, a cable is not included.
After 10 minutes, the Active 2 is charged from 0 to 26 percent. After 45 minutes, the smartwatch displays 70 percent charge. A full charge took about 90 minutes using an Anker 335 power supply unit.
Possible alternatives in comparison
Image | Model | Price | Size | Weight | Battery Capacity | Display |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1.  | Amazfit Active 2 | Amazon: 1. $89.99 Amazfit Active 2 Sport Smart... 2. $299.99 Amazfit Balance 2 Smart Watc... 3. $15.99 [2 in 1]BEARDDO Metal Case f... List Price: 99€ | 1.32" | 29.5 g | 270 mAh | 1.32" 466x466 353 PPI AMOLED |
2.  | Huawei Watch Fit 3 | List Price: 159€ | 1.82" | 49 g | 400 mAh | 1.82" 480x408 346 PPI AMOLED |
3.  | Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro | Amazon: 1. $79.99 Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro Fitn... 2. $61.90 Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro Smar... 3. $11.98 Chofit Compatible with Xiaom... List Price: 70€ | 1.74" | 37 g | 289 mAh | 1.74" 336x480 336 PPI AMOLED |
4.  | Amazfit Active unknown | Amazon: $84.99 List Price: 130€ | 1.75" | 36 g | 300 mAh | 1.75" 390x450 341 PPI OLED |
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The selection of devices to be reviewed is made by our editorial team. The test sample was given to the author by the manufacturer free of charge for the purposes of review. There was no third-party influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review. We never accept compensation or payment in return for our reviews. As an independent media company, Notebookcheck is not subjected to the authority of manufacturers, retailers or publishers.
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