A closer look at ZeppOS 5 and what’s coming next
ZeppOS 5 is live, but it only runs on one device at the moment, the Amazfit Balance 2. The new software made its first appearance last week on the China-only version of the watch.
So what exactly does the latest operating system bring? I’ve gathered all the available info so far, from a variety of different sources including social media posts and support staff replies.
Let’s dive in.
Some tweaks that could make daily use a bit easier
There’s a zoom-in mode now. You double tap the lower physical button and it pulls up a magnifier on screen. From there, you can slide it around to enlarge parts of the display. It might help if you’re out in bright sunlight, or just want to check your heart rate graph without squinting.
ZeppOS 5 also includes glove mode. As you’ve probably guessed, it lets you operate the touchscreen if you’re wearing gloves with more ease. Not a big deal if you’re indoors, but it should come in handy during winter workouts.
Then there are also some general UI updates. The OS still has the same structure, so you won’t be relearning anything. But there are tweaks sprinkled throughout.
New apps and extended file support
Another new addition is something called Time Difference Manager. This is an app built for travel, especially for handling jet lag. It gives you a rough guide for adjusting to a new time zone and helps track how far along you are in adapting. Not everyone will need it, but for those who travel a lot, it might be a helpful tool. Other companies, such as Garmin, have similar tools.
On the media side, there’s a hint of support for FLAC file transfers. Until now, the system only supported MP3s. FLAC support means higher quality playback for those who store music directly on the device. This seems to be work in progress at the moment.
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The update also adds the ability to highlight interesting points directly on the map. Which should help to add some helpful context when using location-based features on the watch.
More features are in the works, but timing is unclear
According to the Zepp Health support team, this is only the first wave of updates for ZeppOS 5. They’re rolling out features gradually because of the development workload. One feature already in testing is adjustable font sizes. That should be useful for anyone who finds the current text a little small or too spaced out.
As for Zepp Pay, there’s still no clear launch window for the US. Zepp Health has confirmed that they’d like to make it happen, but bringing mobile payments to new regions means dealing with certifications and third-party agreements. Visa is one of the partners they’d need to work with. So far, there’s no specific timeline.
At the moment, the only device with ZeppOS 5 is the Amazfit Balance 2. That watch runs on a newer chipset and launched in China earlier this month. The company has not said yet when it will be making it across the border. Guesstimates range from late June to early September.
Other watches, like the Amazfit Bip 6 and Amazfit Active 2, are currently running version 4.5. Since both of those launched in 2025, it’s a safe assumption they’ll be updated. The T-Rex 3 is on ZeppOS 4.0 but uses the same chip as Balance 2. That makes it another likely candidate.
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