Amazfit Balance gets BioCharge and Helio Strap workout support

Zepp Health has started rolling out firmware version 3.28.8.1 for the Amazfit Balance, and this is not just a minor stability patch. The update adds the new BioCharge metric, support for using Helio Strap as a workout heart rate monitor, Stryd accessory support and a handful of other stuff.

The update package is listed at 13.18MB, so it is fairly small. But the change log itself is quite broad. It touches recovery, workouts, activity reminders, weather, maps, Zepp Coach and even how the digital crown behaves on the watch face.

We actually knew this update was coming. The company has started publishing a roadmap of upcoming firmware refreshes, and this was scheduled for May.

BioCharge replaces Readiness

The main change for Balance is the long awaited arrival of BioCharge. This replaces the Readiness score and delivers a more accurate body energy evaluation and recovery experience.

The new crop of watches has had this metric for a while. And real-world tests show that is it a bit better than the old metric.

Interestingly, Zepp Health has started rolling an even newer version of this called HybridCharge. Presumably, this will be coming to Balance, as well, considering it is an update to the smartphone app.

Helio Strap gets a more useful role

Another upgrade as part of the new firmware is support for using Helio Strap as a heart rate monitor during workouts. That is interesting wording. It suggests you can pair the Helio Strap to your Balance device, as you would a heart rate chest strap.

A wrist-based watch can struggle during certain sessions. Strength training, cycling and workouts with lots of wrist flexion can all make optical heart rate more messy. A strap worn higher on the arm can often sit more securely and produce cleaner readings.

Stryd support is another running-focused addition

Zepp Health has also added support for the Stryd accessory. This gives runners another way to pull more detailed running data into the Balance experience after connection.

Stryd is already well known among runners who train with running power and extra footpod metrics. Bringing that support to Amazfit Balance makes the watch a little more serious for structured running. It also fits with Zepp Health’s recent push into coaching tools, lactate threshold features and more advanced training guidance.

This does not suddenly turn the Balance into a pure running watch. But it does make the platform feel more open to external sensors, which is exactly where a lot of wearable ecosystems need to go. A watch can do plenty on its own, but serious training often benefits from better sensor placement and more specialised accessories.

Digital crown and smaller fixes

The update also adds a new digital crown interaction for Button Mode on the watch face. Rotating the crown up opens Notifications, while rotating it down opens Control Center.

The rest of the change log focuses on fixes and optimisations. Zepp Health says it has improved activity reminders, fixed abnormal pushes when the app was not initialised and improved scoring for Zepp Coach running training plans. You can see the full change-log below.

The update is rolling out now to Amazfit Balance users. As usual, availability may vary by region and app version, so it may not appear for everyone at the exact same time.

Change-log

[New]

• Added the new BioCharge app to replace the Readiness app, delivering more accurate body energy evaluation and an optimized recovery experience.
• Added digital crown interaction: In Button Mode on the watch face, rotate up for Notifications and down for Control Center.
• Added support for using the Helio Strap as a heart rate monitor during workouts, enabling more accurate training data.
• Added support for the Stryd accessory, providing more comprehensive and accurate data after connection.

[Optimizations]

• Improved Activity reminders and fixed abnormal pushes when the app was not initialized.
• Improved scoring for Zepp Coach running training plans.
• Improved the maximum limit for workout training templates, now supporting the creation of up to 100 training templates.
• Improved the maximum cadence and average cadence calculation features for treadmill running workouts.
• Improved sleep algorithm, fixing known issues in certain scenarios and enhancing accuracy.
• Improved the Weather app interface with added support for displaying nighttime weather conditions.
• Improved weather data sources and update mechanisms for more accurate and timely weather information.
• Improved map-related experiences.
• Fixed issues with abnormal Zepp Coach training plans caused by time zone inconsistencies.
• Fixed other known issues to improve overall system stability and smoothness.

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