Amazfit Active vs GTS 4 vs GTS 4 Mini: how to choose

Amazfit has gained a loyal following over the years with its range of stylish and feature-rich smartwatches. Among its long list of devices are three notable models: the Amazfit Active, GTS 4, and GTS 4 Mini. In name they may be different, but essentially they are part of the same series.

The Amazfit Active, unveiled in October 2023, represents the latest addition to Zepp Health’s portfolio. You can think of this watch as the GTS 5 as the company seems to have moved to a different naming convention. Meanwhile, the Amazfit GTS 4, launched in September 2022, continues the legacy of its predecessors, offering an enhanced user experience with its advanced features​​. The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini, introduced a bit earlier in July 2022, stands out as a compact yet powerful variant within the series​​.

Essential reading: Top fitness trackers and health gadgets

Each of these models embodies Amazfit’s commitment to combining aesthetic appeal with technological innovation, offering users a range of choices to suit their individual lifestyles and preferences. Read on to find out exactly how they compare.

Key takeaways

• Amazfit Active ($149.99): Premium model with AI insights and readiness score, unique temperature sensor, long battery life and extensive smart features including Amazon Alexa and onboard music storage.
• Amazfit GTS 4 ($139.99): Ideal for outdoor adventurers and fitness buffs, offering enhanced GPS with dual-band technology, a barometric altimeter for elevation tracking, and a wide range of sports modes.
• Amazfit GTS 4 Mini ($69.99): Budget-friendly, compact design retaining essential health and fitness features, GPS tracking, and a broad selection of sports modes, making it suitable for everyday use.

Amazon links: (Amazfit Active, Amazfit GTS 4, Amazfit GTS 4 Mini)

Jump to

Hardware
Technical specs
Features
Price
The bottom line

Amazfit Active vs GTS 4 vs GTS 4 Mini: Hardware

Design & display

Starting off with design, the Amazfit Active marries sleek aluminum alloy with either plastic or stainless steel. Its svelte form, measuring 42.36 x 35.9 x 10.75 mm, and feather-like weight of 24 grams sans strap, puts it somewhere in between the other two in terms of bulk. The 1.75-inch AMOLED display, a window to a world of vibrant colors and sharp details at 390 x 450 pixels, is cocooned in tempered glass, topped with an anti-fingerprint veneer. A single, flat physical button adorns its side, offering simplicity in interaction, while it stands resilient against the elements with a 5 ATM water resistance rating.

In contrast, the Amazfit GTS 4 flaunts an aluminum alloy exoskeleton, complemented by a high-gloss sprayed PC bottom shell. This model shares a similar stature to the Active, but tips the scales slightly heavier at 27 grams, hinting at its robust build. The GTS 4 mirrors the Active’s display prowess but introduces a twist – a rotating crown, bringing a tactile delight to navigation and control, in addition to the touch sensitive display.

Meanwhile, the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini boasts a fusion of aluminum alloy and plastic, artfully crafted into a diminutive frame of 41.8 x 36.7 x 9.1mm, weighing in at a mere 19 grams. Its 1.65-inch AMOLED display, slightly smaller than its siblings, offers a resolution of 336 x 384 pixels. The Mini maintains the series’ hallmark 5 ATM water resistance and features a non-rotating crown, a nod to simplicity and functionality.

Under the hood

Diving deeper into the technical heart of these devices, we uncover the core of their capabilities. The Amazfit Active is equipped with the BioTracker PPG 4.0, a sophisticated sensor for monitoring biometrics, alongside an accelerometer and a geomagnetic sensor. It also includes a unique temperature sensor. Its satellite connectivity is powered by a circularly-polarized GPS antenna supporting five satellite positioning systems, ensuring precise location tracking.

The Amazfit GTS 4, on the other hand, elevates its sensor game. It too houses the BioTracker PPG 4.0 but adds a gyroscope and a barometric altimeter to its arsenal, enhancing its functionality for elevation and motion tracking. No temperature sensor, though. The GTS 4 stands out with its dual-band and 6 satellite positioning systems, offering even more accurate and reliable GPS tracking.

Lastly, the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini, though compact, doesn’t skimp on functionality. It features the BioTracker PPG 3.0, a slightly older version of the heart rate sensor but still highly capable. It includes an accelerometer, a geomagnetic sensor, and an ambient light sensor. The Mini relies on five satellite positioning systems for location tracking, maintaining a high standard of accuracy for its size class.

Battery life

As far as battery life, the Amazfit Active leads with a robust 300 mAh battery. This boasts up to 14 days of typical usage, an impressive 30 days in battery saver mode, and 10 days under heavy usage. For the GPS adventurers, it promises 16 hours of continuous usage.

The GTS 4, with the same battery capacity, offers 8 days of typical use, 16 days in battery saver mode, and 4 days of heavy usage, matching the Active’s 16-hour GPS endurance.

The GTS 4 Mini, slightly smaller with a 270mAh battery, impresses with 15 days of typical use, a remarkable 45 days in battery saver mode, and 4 days in heavy usage, surpassing its siblings with 21 hours of continuous GPS usage.

Active vs GTS 4 vs GTS 4 Mini: Technical specs

Here’s a side-by-side comparison of the important technical specs between these three devices.

Amazfit Active vs GTS 4 vs GTS 4 Mini: Features

Health & fitness tracking

All three of these watches have a pretty comprehensive range of health and fitness tracking abilities. However, there are some nuances you should be aware of.

The Amazfit Active, equipped with AI coaching insights and a daily recovery Readiness Score, caters to those who seek a comprehensive overview of their physical well-being. It is the only one of the three that can take a skin temperature reading – this factors into your Readiness score. Furthermore, the device offers an extensive range of 127 sports modes, advanced running support navigation support ensuring users can track a wide array of activities. And you can sync all this to 3rd party fitness apps.

The GTS 4, with its 150 sports modes, takes activity tracking a step further. Its inclusion of a barometric altimeter allows users to track floors climbed, making it ideal for hiking enthusiasts and urban explorers alike. Like Amazfit Active, it comes with the BioTracker PPG 4.0 sensor for tracking heart rate, blood oxygen levels and stress. And let’s not forget the health reminders that come in the form of abnormally high and low heart rate alerts, low blood oxygen, high stress level and more.

Meanwhile, the GTS 4 Mini, although featuring the older BioTracker PPG 3.0 sensor, still offers substantial tracking capabilities with 120 sports modes. However, while tracking most of the same stats – it trails the other two in terms of abilities. For example, its heart rate sensor samples data at around 33% less than the other two.

Smartwatch features

The Amazfit models are equipped with a suite of smart features enhancing their utility beyond fitness tracking. The Amazfit Active and GTS 4, both running on Zepp OS 2, offer advanced functionalities like Amazon Alexa and offline voice assistant, enabling hands-free control and interaction. They include event reminders, to-do lists, and the ability to make, receive, and answer Bluetooth phone calls. Both models also facilitate music and camera control directly from the wrist and provide SMS and app notifications, with quick reply options for Android users. Plus they have on-board storage for music.

The GTS 4 Mini, operating on the original Zepp OS, still delivers a rich smartwatch experience but lacks some features due to the absence of a speaker. This means while it supports notifications and camera control, it cannot handle phone calls beyond notifying you of incoming calls

Amazfit Active vs GTS 4 vs GTS 4 Mini: Price

When considering the financial aspect of these Amazfit models, there’s a clear distinction in their market positioning.

The Amazfit Active, with its sophisticated blend of features and style, is priced at $149.99, reflecting the fact that this is the latest edition in the lineup. In contrast, the Amazfit GTS 4, despite its advanced features and enhanced capabilities, is slightly more affordable at $139.99. It offers a nice balance of functionality and value. The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini, the most budget-friendly of the trio, is available at an attractive price of $69.99.

Amazfit Active vs GTS 4 vs GTS 4 Mini: Verdict

Amazfit’s smartwatch trio – the Active, GTS 4, and GTS 4 Mini – provides options for various preferences and budgets, ensuring there’s an Amazfit watch for every type of user.

The Amazfit Active, is essentially the successor to the GTS series, adopting a different naming convention but continuing the legacy of its predecessors. Typically retailing for $149.99 (check price on Amazon), it includes unique capabilities like a AI coaching insights, temperature sensor and a daily Readiness Score. The device stands out with its combination of comprehensive health monitoring and extensive smartwatch functionalities, including onboard music storage and Amazon Alexa support. In terms of size and bulk, if fits somewhere in between the other two offerings.

The GTS 4, available for $139.99 (check price on Amazon), caters to users seeking enhanced outdoor and fitness tracking. It includes a barometric altimeter for elevation tracking and offers a broad range of 150 sports modes. The rotating crown for navigation and dual-band GPS for precise location tracking are key differentiators.

At $69.99 (check price on Amazon), the GTS 4 Mini is the most budget-friendly of the bunch. It offers core health and fitness tracking features, albeit with the previous generation sensor. Also, it lacks the onboard music storage of the other two. Despite its smaller size and more affordable price, it retains essential functionalities like GPS tracking and a wide range of sports modes.

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