Why I Wear This $150 Smartwatch Even After Testing Competing Samsung And Garmin Models

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• The Amazfit Balance smartwatch is disposable now for $150.
• It features a sleek and stylish creation pinch a superb AMOLED display, meticulous GPS, and a database of health-tracking features.
• Just beryllium prepared for nan data-heavy companion app, which will return immoderate clip to familiarize with.

As a wearables reviewer present connected ZDNET, I've been spoiled by nan opportunity to trial retired flagship smartwatches from Apple, Samsung, Garmin, Coros, and galore others. One that fell into my reappraisal table past twelvemonth was the Amazfit Balance Special Edition, which remains 1 of my apical picks for users eyeing a reliable smartwatch that won't break nan bank.

Also: The champion smartwatches 2025: I wore these for weeks and recovered nan cleanable 1 for your wrist

Over nan years, I person tested respective Amazfit watches and person been impressed pinch nan hardware and package acquisition that I've gotten for nan money -- truthful overmuch truthful that I bought myself nan Woodland exemplary of nan Balance series. It's not nan latest exemplary available, but still a viable action for galore people.

After months of use, nan Amazfit Balance remains connected my wrist and continues to meet nan needs of a casual jock for illustration myself. In fact, it moreover thumps retired my Apple Watch successful immoderate ways, for illustration importing interval workouts from my phone. Here's why other nan latest smartwatch is worthy considering.

For fresh and finish, nan Amazfit Balance is only 10.6mm heavy and conscionable complete 40 grams (with a strap), truthful it fits seamlessly connected my wrist and nether my wintertime long-sleeve shirts. Sleeping pinch nan watch hasn't been a problem either, and acknowledgment to nan 5 ATM water-resistant rating, it's handled being worn retired successful nan rainy Pacific Northwest.  

In my testing pinch 2 other, much costly watches, nan wide bosom complaint readings were mostly nan same, though location were moments erstwhile nan Amazfit would way by 5 to 8 thumps per minute. Again, this is simply a $200 wearable competing against ones that costs 2 to 3 times arsenic much. 

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

GPS search was almost nan aforesaid arsenic measured pinch a $1,000 Garmin watch, moreover successful heavy wooded areas pinch peaks and valleys. I besides tested nan slumber search of nan Amazfit Balance while wearing my Oura Ring, and nan changes to slumber stages, bosom rate, respiratory rate, and different metrics were impressively astir nan same. 

Also: These AR aquatics goggles I tested person each nan applicable metrics (and nary subscription)

The information capturing connected nan Amazfit is extensive, arsenic you'll quickly observe successful nan Zepp smartphone application. The Zepp app has evolved complete nan years, but not needfully for nan better, arsenic there's an exhaustive number of taps needed to research each of your data, group up your Amazfit experience, and summation circumstantial insights connected your workouts. I for illustration to tinker pinch each of nan data, but navigating nan personification interface will not beryllium everyone's cup of tea.

For example, to sync your watch to nan app, you must pat into nan floor plan tab, scroll down to find watch settings, and past scroll done different database to find sync options. This level of customization for your individual needs makes nan watch consciousness for illustration a overmuch much costly wearable than it is, but nan acquisition tin besides beryllium daunting. Thankfully, erstwhile you get everything group up nan first time, nan main app acquisition only revolves astir nan home, sleep, and workout tabs.

Also: Why I committedness by this Garmin smartwatch complete competing models (including nan Apple Watch Ultra)

The Amazfit Balance supports Amazon Alexa arsenic a sound assistant, has a speaker and mic for calls connected via Bluetooth to your phone, and tin moreover grounds sound memos while you're moving retired (if you person nan activity to do it). I'll statement that offline euphony is supported, but only if you upload MP3 files. On-device streaming services are not supported.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

This is nan first Amazfit watch powered by Zepp OS 3.0 (though nan package is now up to 5.0). With this type of nan watch software, location are much than 150 downloadable apps successful nan store, you tin link to outer workout devices (power meters and bosom complaint belts), sensor capabilities are enhanced, and developers person much ways to optimize nan watch for users.

Also: The champion sports watches you tin buy: Expert tested

The Zepp acquisition isn't afloat supported successful nan US; you can't usage Zepp Pay for NFC payments. Supplementary subscription-based services for illustration Zepp Aura and Zepp Fitness tin besides make nan wide acquisition somewhat confusing, pinch partial entree to features included for free and precocious functionality only disposable erstwhile you salary for it. For what it's worth, I did not trial immoderate of nan subscription services, and nan watch was still capable for my manner needs.

Lastly, nan Amazfit Balance is advertised to past up to 14 days betwixt charges, pinch a driblet to conscionable 5 days erstwhile nan always-on show is enabled. With my 2 to 3 runs a week and regular usage -- pinch nan always-on show abnormal -- I only needed to complaint nan watch conscionable each 7 to 8 days, which was fantastic.

ZDNET's buying advice

If you are looking for an affordable smartwatch that lasts much than a week pinch dense use, has a superb AMOLED display, is sleek and slim, measures each nan basal wellness and wellness metrics, and moreover lets you woody pinch telephone calls from your wrist, past nan Amazfit Balance is nan 1 to get. The companion app will return immoderate getting utilized to, particularly astatine nan beginning, but everything other astir nan watch much than makes up for it.

One past tip: The watch uses modular 22mm bands, truthful you tin find hundreds of different set options connected Amazon to lucifer your style. 

How it compares

Latest updates

July 28, 2025: Added a comparison floor plan to comparison nan Amazfit Balance pinch nan newer Amazfit Balance 2, which features a larger artillery and health-tracking capabilities. Outdated links were besides replaced.