Fitness trackers were once popular among users, but now they are rarely seen on the market. The category has been largely replaced by smartwatches. However, when people realised how poor the quality of many smartwatches, especially those from local Indian brands, was, the market seemed to collapse. I have always wondered how and why people shifted to smartwatches when fitness trackers were already designed to do exactly what users needed: they were lightweight, compact, and focused heavily on fitness and health tracking while also showing the time.
As we continue to wait for fitness trackers to make a comeback, Amazfit is doing something refreshingly different. Its Active 2 is essentially a fitness tracker in the form of a smartwatch, delivering exactly what average users want from a hybrid device, including advanced fitness features and long battery life. After using the Active 2 for a few days, it reminded me of the traditional fitness trackers I missed, but with all the features people now expect from modern smartwatches. Here’s my review.
What: Amazfit Active 2 Square| Price: Rs 12,999
Classic looks and bright screen
All smartwatches more or less look the same. Some have adopted the design template of the Apple Watch, while others have followed the design language of the Motorola Moto 360. The Amazfit Active 2 Square, as the name suggests, features a squircle design, but it doesn’t look like an Apple Watch clone. I think Amazfit has made a real effort to create a distinct-looking smartwatch, and to be honest, it has succeeded. That said, I don’t really think of the Active 2 as a watch. Rather, I see it as a small wrist computer. It doesn’t replace my traditional watches; instead, it complements them.
The Active 2 is lightweight and comfortable to wear. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
In a way, smartwatches are fundamentally different from timepieces. A smartwatch tells the time but then again, so do many things that aren’t watches. It’s a bit personal, and philosophical, so I would rather save that for another time.
The Active 2 has a stainless steel body and looks far more premium than its price would suggest. My review unit also came with a leather strap and a sapphire glass face, which is much harder to scratch. I wasn’t expecting these features from a Rs 12,999 smartwatch. Not at all. The case is slightly smaller but fits perfectly on my wrist.
I know it might seem like I am nitpicking about the size, but let’s be clear: I am exceedingly picky when it comes to watch dimensions. I am glad that Amazfit is making smartwatches that aren’t chunky. It is one of the most comfortable smartwatches I have ever worn. The company lists the case dimensions as 43.32 × 36.90 × 9 mm, and it weighs only 31.4 grams (without the strap). Replacing the bands is easy, as the watch uses a standard pin-buckle mechanism. Water resistance is rated at 5 ATM, which means it can withstand pressure equivalent to a depth of 50 meters.
On a basic level, the Active 2 can monitor different types of activities. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
There are two buttons on the side to control the watch: the Go/Back and Start/Stop buttons. On the back, you get the usual array of heart rate tracking and LED sensors. The display is a 1.32-inch AMOLED touchscreen, which is bright and offers up to 2000 nits of brightness. I can easily see it both indoors and outdoors, even in bright sunlight.
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Plethora of features including extensive health tracking
I wore the Amazfit Active 2 every day for two weeks, giving me ample time to test the smartwatch across all key parameters. The features I appreciate most are the Active 2’s fitness tracking capabilities. Logging activity and exercise helps counteract the sedentary habits that come with being a city person. The watch offers 164 workout modes, which is quite a lot, and some even include advanced features like a strength workout test, making the Active 2 sort of competing with Apple Watch Ultra 2. There’s also smart recognition for 25 types of movement, along with automatic rep tracking and a built-in exercise timer and workout plan generator.
The Active 2 strikes a balance between cost and functionality. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
For runners, there’s a dedicated Track Run mode, smart trajectory correction, and a virtual pacer. The watch includes the standard array of sensors, such as an optical photoplethysmography (PPG) sensor, accelerometer, gyroscope, barometric altimeter, ambient light sensor, and temperature sensor. You also get alerts for high and low heart rates, low blood oxygen levels, and elevated stress, with prompts to perform guided breathing exercises. Cycle tracking on the watch is free.
When it comes to heart rate tracking, the Active 2 is very close to the Apple Watch, with minimal differences between the readings. Although it doesn’t offer ECG readings, I wasn’t expecting that feature from a smartwatch at this price point. However, when it comes to sleep tracking, I found the watch to be less sensitive than the Apple Watch.
The built-in support for maps is a handy feature to have. To use it, open the Zepp app and download the relevant maps to your watch. It took me around eight to nine minutes to download a map. The maps are precise and look absolutely stunning on the watch’s screen. You can zoom in or out, scroll around, and even import running routes. The watch tracks your position using five satellite positioning systems and can even read directions aloud (it supports Bluetooth 5.2 BLE, as well as a microphone and speaker).
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The Active 2 excels in fitness and health tracking. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
The Active 2 works with both Android and iPhone. You can receive call and SMS notifications, get app alerts, control your phone’s music via Bluetooth, and use the Find My Phone feature. These are standard features that all smartwatches have, and the Active 2 includes them as well.
AI coaching and no need to buy subscription plans
I think the Active 2 is very good at what you allow it to do. While it lacks the depth offered by Garmin watches and the slick interface of the Apple Watch, it conveniently provides the information you need. The Active 2’s interface doesn’t come close to the Apple Watch, but it has improved over time. Scrolling through menus and reading messages won’t feel jarring.
The Active 2 offers impressive battery life. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
One major feature that makes the Active 2 even more useful, where the Apple Watch notably falls short (yes, Siri is still bad, and we all know it), is an AI assistant called Zepp Flow. It’s powered by OpenAI, and it actually works. It performs just as advertised. You can assign one of the watch’s buttons for quick access and use your voice to issue simple commands. You can ask questions like “How many steps have I walked today?” and it’s refreshing to see a reliable AI assistant on a smartwatch.
Another highlight of the Active 2 is the way Amazfit is leaning into subscriptions on the smartwatch. I didn’t like Zepp Aura much, as it basically just provided more detailed sleep information. On the other hand, Zepp Coach offers daily suggested workouts and can generate customized training plans. It’s actually useful and free for now. Amazfit’s partnership with Hyrox, the flashy CrossFit competitor, is also integrated into the experience. Ads related to Hyrox occasionally pop up within the app and are tied to top suggested workouts on the tracker.
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The display is bright and clear, ensuring readability in various lighting conditions. (Image credit: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Express)
The battery life is rated at up to 10 days, but with extensive fitness monitoring turned on, it does impact battery performance. I got around 5 days of battery life.
Should you buy the Amazfit Active 2 Square?
After using the Active 2 for several weeks, I was pleasantly surprised. I am still trying to absorb how many features, some of which offer advanced-level tracking, have been packed into a watch that costs only Rs 12,999. I am not saying the Active 2 beats high-end smartwatches from Garmin or Apple, but Amazfit has made a genuine attempt to create a capable fitness-tracking smartwatch at a budget-friendly price. And that deserves recognition. While I don’t need every fitness feature the Active 2 offers, I can definitely see a place for it in my daily life.
