Amazfit smartwatches get major update with rowing and swimming upgrades

Amazfit has begun rolling out a major software update that expands training capabilities on eight smartwatches, bringing a handful of training and usability upgrades across swimming, indoor cardio and everyday workout controls. Specifically, the rollout targets the Balance Ultra, Balance 3, T-Rex Ultra 2, T-Rex 3 Pro, T-Rex 3, Cheetah 2 Ultra, Cheetah 2 Pro and Active 3 Premium, though exact feature availability differs by device.

One of the key additions is "Manual Rest" for swimming, allowing users athletes to mark their own recovery breaks so that swim and rest intervals are logged as distinct segments rather than blended together in a single continuous record. Runners and gym-goers also get an "Always Lock" touchscreen mode designed to block accidental taps from sweat, rain or gloves, with physical buttons still controlling the workout.

Another significant addition is FTMS rowing-machine support. Compatible Amazfit watches can now connect to supported equipment such as Concept2 rowing machines, allowing workout data such as power and distance to be captured more directly. A new "Athlete Defaults" setting, accessible through the companion Zepp app, automatically applies preferred settings, such as maximum GPS accuracy and muted notifications, before starting a workout, cutting down on manual setup time. This particular feature, however, is only available on the Cheetah 2 Ultra, Cheetah 2 Pro, Balance Ultra and Balance 3.

Smaller tweaks include improved route-map panning and zooming both before and during a workout, a more responsive map-viewing experience overall, and a simplified process for setting alarms. A comprehensive overview can be found here. Overall, the update strengthens support for multisport athletes by adding practical controls and improving connectivity.