Amazfit Balance 2 gets Zepp OS 6 but misses one big feature

Amazfit Balance 2 is finally receiving Zepp OS 6 through firmware version 6.2.208.7. It is a packed upgrade with new training, mapping and health tools, although one very visible part of the new interface is missing.

The update has started appearing on watches in Germany and should expand to other regions gradually. It weighs 23.33MB, so this is not an especially large download despite the lengthy changelog.

Zepp OS 6 arrives with plenty of extras

Zepp Health describes the update as an upgrade to Zepp OS 6 with a new sport-inspired interface, smoother operation and improved visual feedback. Early recipients say scrolling feels better and screens flow together more naturally, but the underlying layout remains familiar.

That is because the new Zepp OS 6 launcher found on the Balance 3 and Balance Ultra is not included. Several owners who have installed the update have confirmed its absence, so Balance 2 is getting Zepp OS 6 without the full Motion UI treatment.

This is a slightly odd compromise. When I tested Motion UI on the Balance 3, the biggest change was the rearranged launcher, with exercise shortcuts on one side, apps on the other and daily stats moved into a vertical card system. Balance 2 owners appear to keep the older launcher while receiving other Zepp OS 6 components underneath.

Whether that is temporary remains unclear. Zepp Health may add the launcher later, but the current changelog makes no such promise.

Training and maps get most of the attention

There is still quite a lot here to unpack. Pool swimming gains manual pauses, with the watch separating active swimming from rest periods inside the workout summary.

Runners get new Equivalent Pace per-lap data fields for outdoor running and trail running. Zepp Health has also tweaked its running lactate threshold algorithm, which should improve the accuracy of threshold estimates over time.

Rowing machine support takes a useful step forward as well. Balance 2 can now connect to third-party machines that use the FTMS standard, including the Concept2 RowErg, and display data such as power and distance.

The watch also gains a Training Calendar app for viewing plans created in Zepp. A new Training Library provides access to additional guided workouts, while completed activities can now be linked to equipment such as running shoes.

Mapping should feel more organised after the update. The new download manager allows users to pause, resume, update and delete map downloads, while the number of routes stored on the watch increases to 100.

Route previews now show the course shape and name before a workout begins. Zepp Health has also improved turn alerts, destination screens, map controls and the general workout layout.

A few smaller changes

Voice memos can now be recorded during a workout and played back later through the activity details in the Zepp app. That could be handy for noting pain, terrain, equipment changes or anything else that may explain an unusual session.

Morning Updates have also become Daily Updates. The watch can now provide information in both the morning and evening, giving users a quick start-of-day briefing and a look back at how the day went.

Apple users gain HRV syncing with Apple Health, which closes another gap between Zepp and the wider iOS health ecosystem. Some workout modes will also require holding the crown to pause rather than pressing it once, reducing accidental pauses.

Balance 2 was already getting close to the newer Balance 3 through previous firmware releases. This update narrows the software gap further, but the missing launcher leaves Zepp OS 6 feeling slightly incomplete for now.