Amazfit Active 2 vs Garmin Forerunner 955 GPS and heart rate test
Recently unveiled at CES in Las Vegas, the Amazfit Active 2 enters the market with an intriguing mix of features and affordability. With a reputation for offering solid value, it naturally invites comparison with higher-end sports watches like the Garmin Forerunner 955. To see how it holds up, I tested both devices in a head-to-head run tracking comparison.
GPS does the job in tricky conditions
I ran in central London, surrounded by tall buildings that can easily mess with GPS tracking. Both the Amazfit Active 2 and Garmin Forerunner 955 locked onto a GPS signal in just 10 seconds. That’s quick, and it’s not something you always get at this price point. So no difference there.
Over a 7.7 km run, the Forerunner 955 was spot on, tracking the distance perfectly. The Amazfit Active 2, meanwhile, recorded 7.6 km—a mere 100-meter difference. That’s really solid accuracy for a smartwatch, even in a tough urban setting. So I would give the Amazfit a solid pass as far as GPS.
To check heart rate accuracy, I paired the Garmin Forerunner 955 with a Scosche Rhythm heart rate band for reference. During the run, the Forerunner 955 clocked an average heart rate of 140 bpm and a max of 162 bpm. The Amazfit Active 2? Almost identical, with an average of 139 bpm and a max of 160 bpm.
Not bad at all. To remind, this is a $100 watch!
For something that costs a fraction of the price, the Amazfit Active 2 proves it can keep up with Garmin on heart rate accuracy, even during exercise. I actually tested the two on three different runs – and each and every time the metrics captured were very close.
Garmin offers more data, but Amazfit is closing the gap
When you dive into the data, though, Garmin still has the upper hand. Its app offers advanced insights, from training effects to gradient distribution and power metrics. That said, the Amazfit Active 2 isn’t slacking. Its app includes plenty of stats for most runners, like cadence, VO2 max, and detailed heart rate zones. The screenshots above show the full range od data the watch collects.
For many runners, the Amazfit Active 2 might feel less overwhelming, focusing on the essentials while still throwing in a few extras. I actually see a not too far distant future, where the Amazfit and Garmin are on par as far as the wealth of sports data. Zepp Health has been catching up in recent years.
What else do you get with Amazfit Active 2?
Other than that, the Amazfit Active 2 stands out with features like offline maps and turn-by-turn navigation, rare for a smartwatch at this price. Its 1.32-inch display is ridiculously bright at 2,000 nits, which makes it great in sunny conditions. However, the screen’s smaller size compared to the Forerunner 955 can be a bit tricky to read mid-run, especially if you wear glasses.
Battery life is solid at 10 days. And with 160 sports modes (including skiing, golf, and strength training), the Amazfit Active 2 gives you a lot of variety for your workouts.
Keep an eye out for my full review in the next week or so. In the meantime, you can check out the Amazfit Active 2 on the Zepp Health website and Amazon.
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