Where Amazfit Active 3 Premium vs Active Max really differ

Amazfit Active 3 Premium has just landed, while the Active Max has been around for a couple of months now. With Active Max, I have had time to live with it properly, and that makes the arrival of the Premium model easier to place.

These two sit under the same name and sell for the same $170 price. The differences are subtle rather than dramatic, but they are still worth unpacking because they point to slightly different design priorities.

View on Zepp Health, Amazon.

Design and physical approach

Looking at these two watches, they do feel closely related, almost like different takes on the same base design. That is probably a fair way to think about them.

Active 3 Premium pulls things in. The 45 mm case is slimmer and more compact, and the stainless steel frame gives it a slightly denser, more deliberate feel without adding bulk. The four button layout matters here. It signals a watch that expects to be used actively during runs, with physical controls that make sense when pace changes or conditions are not ideal.

Active Max goes the other way. The 48.5 mm case is noticeably larger on the wrist, but the aluminium and polymer construction keeps it comfortable despite the size. From living with it, the impression is less about precision interaction and more about ease. The big screen does a lot of the work for you, and the two button setup reinforces that this is a watch you glance at more than constantly manage mid workout.

Strap width also nudges usage. Active 3 Premium sticks to 20 mm, which keeps it compatible with a wide range of lighter bands. Active Max moves to 22 mm, which suits the larger case and battery and helps stabilise it on the wrist, but also places it more firmly in big watch territory.

Screen and readability

Both watches use AMOLED displays and reach the same peak brightness, but they feel quite different once you start using them.

Active Max leans heavily on scale. The 1.5 inch display is large enough that text, charts, and maps rarely feel cramped. Data fields are easy to pick up at a glance, and that matters when you are moving or checking progress mid run. The strengthened glass with an anti fingerprint coating suits this role well, keeping the screen readable without constant wiping.

Active 3 Premium takes a more compact and refined approach. The smaller 1.32 inch panel packs in more pixels, which gives it a crisper look, especially for text and fine details. The sapphire glass adds another layer of confidence for everyday wear, where knocks and scratches are more likely to happen over time.

This is not simply a big screen versus small screen choice. Active Max focuses on quick visibility and low effort reading. Active 3 Premium puts the emphasis on sharpness and long term durability. Which one pulls ahead depends on whether you value scale or long term toughness.

Battery strategy

Battery strategy is where the two watches fully diverge.

Active Max runs on a 658 mAh battery and behaves like it. Typical use stretches up to 25 days, heavy use still clears nearly two weeks, and GPS endurance reaches 64 hours. Even with music playing, it keeps going far longer than most watches in this size class.

Active 3 Premium is more conservative. Twelve days in typical use, seven in heavy use, and 24 hours of GPS. That is still respectable, but clearly not the point of the device. The inclusion of a dedicated power saving GPS mode that stretches to 76 hours shows a different philosophy. It is there for specific scenarios, not everyday reliance.

This is a classic depth versus duration decision. Active Max wants you to stop thinking about charging. Active 3 Premium expects you to plan.

Training and running focus

Both watches run on the same platform and support Zepp Coach and PeakBeats, so the overall training framework feels familiar. The difference shows up once you start using them regularly.

Active 3 Premium leans further into structured running. It adds metrics like lactate threshold and builds more of the training experience directly into the watch through preloaded workouts and plans. It also supports an extra satellite system, which gives it a slightly broader positioning setup on paper.

Active Max pulls that back slightly. You still get guided training and plenty of structure, but some of the deeper metrics are missing. 

During runs, the emphasis is on clear data and steady guidance. I found GPS tracking and heart rate to be reliable and consistent, and the big screen makes pace and distance easy to read without fiddling.

Also worth noting are some navigation differences. Active 3 Premium goes further with tools like auto rerouting and point of navigation, features that have previously lived higher up the range. These are useful when following routes or running somewhere unfamiliar and fit the watch’s more training led personality. But both of these watches have the same 4GB storage space for maps and music.

Peripheral support is also the same. Heart rate belts and cycling sensors connect without issue. The real difference is not what they can pair with, but how much each watch tries to step in and guide the session.

Sensors and positioning

As far as health sensors – there’s no real difference there. Both models use the same BioTracker PPG hardware and offer identical monitoring features day to day. Sleep tracking, BioCharge, stress, SpO2, and skin temperature behave the same way.

Positioning is where a subtle difference appears. As mentioned, Active 3 Premium supports six satellite systems, while Active Max supports five. That extra system may matter in dense environments or structured track sessions, which fits the Premium model’s running focus. But neither of these watches has dual-band GPS. Only single band.

Our takeaway

Both of these watches sell for around 170 dollars, so this is not a price based decision. It is about understanding the family dynamic. Active 3 Premium feels like the more focused sibling of Active Max, built with a different job in mind.

Active Max goes big on stamina and visibility. It suits people who want to forget about charging for weeks, glance at a large screen, and keep training features simple and predictable. It works well as a lifestyle watch that also handles workouts without fuss.

Active 3 Premium pulls things in tighter. It is aimed at runners who want more feedback from each session, more control mid workout, along with a smaller case with tougher materials. You give up some battery life, but you gain detail and structure.

View on Zepp Health, Amazon.

Amazfit Active 3 Premium vs Active Max: Tech specs comparison

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