I just got my hands on the new Amazfit Active 2 smartwatch during CES 2025 and I'm impressed. This sleek and classy-looking fitness-focused smartwatch is jam-packed with high-end workout tracking features, along with impressive holistic tools.
More importantly, it starts at just $99 and boasts a screen on par with the best smartwatches available, ten days of battery life, an all-metal-build, and more workout-tracking profiles than you can shake a stick at. Read on for my full first impressions and a quick tour of the key components that make this new wearable worth a call home.
Amazfit Active 2 hands-on: design and wearability
Photos really don't do the Active 2 justice. The all-metal case is sleek and easy-wearing. The bezel with faux tachymeter markings around the 1.32-inch AMOLED touchscreen is reminiscent of a classic chronograph, like the Omega Speedmaster. It's a subtle design choice but one I feel is well-implemented and is also a cool nod to the device's all-mechanical forefathers.
There are two versions of the Active 2, the standard edition, which has an aluminum case, glass screen and comes on a silicone strap, and the premium edition which boasts a brushed stainless case, tougher sapphire crystal screen and comes with two straps, one leather and one silicone.
It's difficult to tell the case materials apart but the aluminum ones are a little shinier to the eye, while the stainless steel version is a bit more matte.
The watch wears incredibly comfortable on my bony 6.5-inch wrists. At just 9.9mm thick and with a weight of roughly 30 g, it's anything but clunky. For reference, it's lighter than an Apple Watch 10 and about 0.02mm thicker.
Amazfit Active 2 hands-on: Screen and feature upgrades
Max screen brightness on the Active 2 is 2,000 nits, the same as far pricier smartwatches including the Apple Watch 10, Pixel Watch 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, and a serious improvement over the device's predecessor, the original Amazfit Active.
In my short time testing the watch under hideous artificial Las Vegas conference room lighting, the improved display impressed me. However, I look forward to getting it under the shining desert sun to test daylight viewability. Stay tuned
Another notable improvement comes in the form of downloadable maps for offline navigation, something rarely found on a smartwatch under $250, let alone one for $99.99. Users can opt for either audio turn-by-turn directions or screen-based ones. Again, as an avid hiker, I can't wait to test this feature out.
Amazfit Active 2 hands-on: Fitness and wellness improvements
The Active 2 additional features a handful of notable improvements to its fitness-tracking and wellness-monitoring chops.
The health sensor array has been updated to Amazfit's latest, and the addition of a gyroscope, accelerometer and barometer should result in considerably more precise outdoor workout tracking data, as well as sleep tracking insights.
Several new sports profiles have been added, bringing the total number to over 160. Users can now track skiing, snowboarding and HYROX racing.
The Active 2 also benefits from updated heart rate and sleep tracking algorithms.
Amazfit Active 2 hands-on: Should you get one?
The Amazfit Active 2 is officially available for preorder from January 6, 2025, with units expected to ship in February. The standard version is $99.99 while the premium model, which I admittedly prefer, is $129.99 (with two straps, the tougher screen and nicer case material).
I'm going to withhold my recommendation of the Amazfit Active 2 until we've had a chance to fully and properly put it through its paces, both against other devices and its siblings.
That said, I've got a good feeling about this sleek little smartwatch. And if its features live up to their billing, then I could see this being a go-to recommendation for budget-minded, fitness-oriented shoppers.
More from Tom's Guide:
