Choosing a smartwatch used to be simple: you either bought an Apple Watch and charged it every night or you bought a Garmin and accepted that you’d look like you’re about to climb the Everest.
After cycling through every premium wearable on the market, I started wondering, do I really need constant connectivity or do I just want a watch that knows me? That curiosity led me to the Amazfit Balance 2. After wearing it for over two weeks, through sweaty HIIT sessions, midnight snack runs and even a few “meetings” that were definitely just naps, I’ve realized that this watch is playing a completely different game. And unlike my Apple Watch, it doesn’t need to be put on a charger.
In this Amazfit Balance 2 review, I’m breaking down whether this “lifestyle-first” smartwatch can actually take on the giants like Garmin or not.
Quick Verdict
After testing the Amazfit Balance 2 daily for everything from gym tracking to notification management, it feels like Amazfit’s most mature smartwatch release yet. It successfully bridges the gap between a basic fitness tracker and a premium sports watch.
It is best for Android users who want 21 days of battery life, people focused on “readiness” and recovery and casual athletes who want Garmin-style data without the Garmin price tag.
It sits right between the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 and the Garmin Venu 3. It’s smarter than the Garmin but lasts way longer than the Samsung.
Specifications
| Specifications | Amazfit Balance 2 |
|---|---|
| Display Size | 1.5 inches |
| Display type | AMOLED (Sapphire Glass) |
| Resolution | 480 x 480 pixels (323 PPI) |
| Brightness | Up to 2,000 nits |
| Case Material | Aluminum Alloy Frame & Polymer Case |
| Weight | 43g (without strap) |
| Water Resistance | 10 ATM (100m) |
| Sensors | BioTracker 6.0 PPG, BIA Sensor, Temperature |
| GNSS Support | Dual-band, 6 Satellite Systems |
| Operating System | Zepp OS 4.0 |
| Storage | 32 GB |
| Battery | 658mAh |
| Compatibility | Android 7.0+ / iOS 15.0+ |
| Price | $299 |
Design and Build Quality
The first thing I noticed when unboxing the Amazfit Balance 2 was the weight. It weighs 43g, which is significantly lighter than most of the smartwatches. It comes with an aluminium alloy frame that has a matte finish that looks professional.
The Amazfit Balance 2 comes with a 22 mm silicone strap, which is breathable.
It features Sapphire Glass, which is a huge win at this price point because sometimes I’ve already accidentally banged it against a granite countertop and there isn’t a single scratch. Plus, with 10 ATM water resistance, it’s actually rated for diving up to 45 meters, which I mostly used it in the shower.
Display and Software
It comes with a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, which has 2,000 nits of brightness, which helps me to read my heart rate clearly during a midday run in bright sunlight. It comes with auto-brightness, so it won’t make me blind when checking the time in a dark movie theater.
Let me clear one thing for you: this is not a Wear OS, which means you won’t find Google Maps or a million apps here. However, the animations are buttery smooth and everything loads instantly.
The star of the show is Zepp Flow, which is an AI assistant powered by LLMs (Large Language Models). Instead of saying “set a timer for 5 minutes,” I could say, “I’m heading into a meeting, silence my watch and set an alarm for an hour.” It actually understood the context. It’s the first time a watch assistant hasn’t made me want to scream at my wrist.
Health & Fitness Tracking
This is where the Amazfit Balance 2 aims to kill the “cheap tracker” reputation. It uses the new BioTracker™ 6.0 sensor and in my testing, it’s a massive step up.
Heart Rate Accuracy
I’ve worn plenty of watches where my heart rate jumps around like a caffeinated squirrel during a workout. The Amazfit Balance 2 health tracking uses the new BioTracker™ 6.0 sensor, which features a 5-diode and 2-LED setup for better light penetration through the skin.
- Resting Heart Rate: It’s spot on. Compared to my medical-grade pulse oximeter, it was rarely off by more than 1 bpm.
- During Workouts: For steady-state cardio like a light jog or cycling, it’s remarkably stable.
- The HIIT Lag: Like almost every wrist-based sensor, there is a 3-5 second “lag” during intense interval training (HIIT). When your heart rate spikes from 110 to 170 in ten seconds, the watch takes a moment to catch up.
- Wrist Movement: If you’re doing heavy kettlebell swings or push-ups, the flexing of your wrist can still interfere slightly with the reading. However, compared to the original Balance, the Amazfit Balance 2 stays much closer to the readings I get from a dedicated chest strap.
HRV & Readiness Score
The watch measures your Heart Rate Variability (HRV) while you sleep, which is a fancy way of seeing how stressed your nervous system is. Every morning, the Zepp App gives you a score. If you see a 60/100, the watch will literally tell you to “Take it easy today.”
I’ve found that on days I felt sluggish, the watch almost always predicted it. It’s a great tool to help you decide whether to hit a new personal record in the gym or just stick to a 20-minute walk.
Sleep Tracking
I’ve always been skeptical of sleep trackers, but the Amazfit Balance 2 review period changed my mind. My wake-up times were detected almost perfectly, even those annoying 3:00 AM moments when the cat decides to run a marathon across my face.
- Nap Detection: This is a killer feature. Most watches ignore that 20-minute Sunday afternoon snooze, but the Balance 2 logs it and updates your BioCharge™ score.
- Stages: It breaks down Light, Deep and REM sleep. While no watch is 100% accurate for stages without a brain-scan, the trends here are consistent, which is what matters for long-term health.
Stress & SpO2 Monitoring
The Amazfit Balance 2 offers 24/7 continuous stress monitoring. It uses the heart rate patterns to tell me if I’m chilled out or about to snap at my barista. When it detects high stress, it nudges you to try a guided breathing exercise. It’s a nice reminder to take a breath when your inbox is exploding.
For Blood Oxygen (SpO2), you can set it to automatic or do a manual one-tap measurement. It takes about 15-30 seconds. In my experience, as long as you keep your arm still, the readings are reliable and consistent with other top-tier wearables.
Sports Modes & GPS Performance
With over 170 sports modes, this watch tracks everything from “Dog Walking” to “Esports”. But for real athletes, the GPS accuracy is what matters.
- Multi-band GNSS: The Balance 2 uses L1 and L5 satellite signals. In my urban testing, surrounded by tall apartment buildings that usually kill GPS, the lock was fast, usually under 10 seconds and the route line didn’t shift through buildings.
- HYROX Mode: For the fitness junkies, Amazfit is the official timekeeper for HYROX. There are dedicated modes to track your transitions and station times, which is something you won’t find on a standard Samsung or Apple watch.
It feels very “Garmin-lite.” While it might not have the 20-year history of Garmin’s mapping algorithms, for 95% of runners and hikers, the Amazfit Balance 2 GPS accuracy is more than enough.
Battery Life and Charging
If you are tired of daily charges, then the Amazfit Balance 2 is the best option for you.
It comes with 658 mAh of battery, which gives a battery life of 21 days. With heavy usage, it gives a battery life of 10 days.
With GPS mode, it gives a battery life of 33 hours and if you turn on power saving mode while using GPS Mode, it gives you a battery life of 67 hours.
Smart Features & Calling
Before we dive in, let’s clarify the expectation: the Amazfit Balance 2 behaves more like a smart fitness watch than a mini smartphone. You won’t be launching full apps like WhatsApp directly from your wrist the way you can on an Apple Watch, but for staying connected without reaching for your phone, which is surprisingly a good thing.
Bluetooth Calling Quality
I tested the calling feature while walking through a semi-crowded park and the results were impressive. The watch features dual built-in speakers, which make a huge difference.
- Speaker Loudness: It’s loud enough to hear clearly even with ambient traffic noise.
- Mic Clarity: My friend on the other end said I sounded “crisp,” though they could tell I was on a speakerphone. It’s perfect for those “Hey, I’m 5 minutes away” calls when your hands are full.
Notifications & Reply Support
The notification experience is where the “Android vs iOS” divide happens.
- Android Users: You get the full experience. You can reply to messages using a full QWERTY keyboard on the screen or use speech-to-text. It even supports emojis.
- iPhone Users: Due to Apple’s ecosystem restrictions, you can view notifications and see emojis, but you cannot reply directly from the watch.
- Zepp Messenger: A cool new addition is the “Zepp Messenger” app, which, if set up with the Beeper app, actually allows some workarounds for replying even on iOS.
Voice Assistants
The watch comes with Amazon Alexa for standard smart home controls, but the real star is Zepp Flow™. This is Amazfit’s AI assistant that understands natural language. Instead of robotic commands, I could just say, “Set an alarm for my afternoon nap,” or “How was my sleep last night?” and it would pull up the data instantly.
Music & Storage
The Amazfit Balance 2 comes with 32GB of internal storage. You can upload MP3s directly to the watch and pair your Bluetooth earbuds for a phone-free run.
Keep in mind, there is no standalone Spotify or YouTube Music app that allows offline downloading. You have to manually transfer files or use the Amazfit Balance 2 as a remote to control the music playing on your phone.
Payments & NFC
The Amazfit Balance 2 supports Zepp Pay, which uses NFC for contactless payments. It’s growing in availability and in many regions, you can link your Mastercard or use the Curve app as a workaround if your specific bank isn’t supported yet.
Double-tapping the side button brings up your card, which is super convenient for a post-run coffee. You can also check out our list of the best smartwatches for payments here!
Price and availability
The Amazfit Balance 2 is priced at $299.99, which can be purchased from the Amazfit official website, Amazon, Walmart and even from Best Buy.
Amazfit Balance 2 vs Garmin Venu 3
Many people ask: Why not just buy a Garmin? Here is the reality check:
| Feature | Amazfit Balance 2 | Garmin Venu 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Display | Larger, brighter AMOLED | Solid AMOLED |
| Battery | Up to 21 Days | Up to 14 Days |
| Health Sensor | BioCharge 6.0 + BIA (Body Comp) | Gen 5 Heart Rate + ECG |
| Ecosystem | Zepp OS | Garmin Connect |
| GPS System | Dual-band (6 Satellite Systems) | All-Systems GNSS (5 Satellites) |
| Water Resistance | 10 ATM (Diving Ready) | 5 ATM (Swimming only) |
| AI Features | Zepp Flow (Natural Voice Control) | Basic Voice Assistant Integration |
| Sleep Tracking | Advanced (Naps + Aura Coaching) | Sleep Coach + Skin Temp |
| Price | $299.99 | $449.99 |
Who Should Buy It
- Fitness-focused Android users who want a watch that looks like a classic timepiece.
- Beginners to intermediate athletes who want clear, easy-to-understand health data.
- Travelers who don’t want to carry another charging cable for a two-week trip.
Who Should Skip It
- iPhone users who need to reply to messages directly from the watch.
- App junkies who can’t live without Google Maps or Uber on their wrist.
- Hardcore marathoners who require advanced professional recovery ecosystems.
- People with very small wrists, as the 47mm frame is quite large.
- Users who need to download offline playlists from Spotify or YouTube Music.
- Anyone who needs an LTE version to make calls without a phone nearby.
Wrap Up
After spending two weeks with the Amazfit Balance 2, I can honestly say it’s the best watch I’ve tested in recent years. It doesn’t disturb me with useless pings and it doesn’t leave me stranded with a dead battery when I’m halfway through a weekend trip.
It gives me health data that I actually want, like my Readiness and Sleep scores and it also looks great with formals and has a battery life that actually respects my time.
It’s a kind of watch that is not trying to replace my smartphone, it’s trying to help me live better without being tethered to a wall outlet. If you want a health-first watch that hits the sweet spot of features and price, this is the one you can go for.
