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Amazfit Active 3 Premium: One minute review
Amazfit has been a company I’ve had my eye on since the Bip 3 ‘budget’ smartwatch met all my expectations (and then some), followed by a host of other watches at a range of price points, aiming to undercut Garmin’s popularity – but most notably the $99 / £99 Amazfit’s five-star performance in our five-star review. So when they put the word “Premium” on a product, it piques my curiosity.
Not only does the Amazfit Active 3 Premium have great features that rival some of the big ones in the business, such as sleep tracking and fitness, but it’s also a great-looking smartwatch.
The ‘Premium’ moniker refers to the addition of ultra-durable sapphire glass, as well as the inclusion of an NFC payment feature. This was the difference that Amazfit Active 2 Premium used to distinguish itself from the base Active 2: however, there is no base Active 3, so although this watch uses the ‘Premium’ model classification, it is the only watch in its range.
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Despite this, it is not an expensive purchase. Sure, it’s more expensive than the old Active 2, but it still undercuts the much cheaper Apple and Garmin watches while delivering performance that belies its price. Another great example of a fitness tracker comes from Amazfit, a company that has now proven itself to be a tough contender in the fitness technology space.
Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Specifications
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|
Element |
Amazfit Active 3 Premium |
|
Price |
$169 / £169 / AU$239 |
|
Weight |
54.6g |
|
Case/bezel |
A mixture of metal and plastic |
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Show |
1.32-inch AMOLED display |
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GPS |
Dual-frequency GPS |
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Battery life |
Up to 12 days |
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Communication |
Bluetooth |
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Can it withstand water? |
5 ATMs |
Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Price and Availability
- It starts at $169/£169/AU$239
- It’s not the cheapest Amazfit, but it’s still cheaper than most competitors
- Available in three color options
It’s hard not to look at the Amazfit Active 3 Premium and not feel like something is being held back when it comes to its price, but it really is a sub-$170 / £170 / AU$250 fitness watch with the kind of features and accuracy that would have cost you twice that not too long ago. Our review unit is the Atlas Blue model, but it’s also available in Apex Silver and Aero White.
Amazfit Active 3 Premium Review: Design
- It is heavier than other methods
- AMOLED display
Regardless of your color choice, the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a looker. It has a round metal-colored body, with an undertone color matched with Atlas Blue and Aero White bands (Apex Silver would be my choice, but the rest of the body is silver with a black band).
The band itself is the standard polymer style you’ll hear on almost any other smartwatch, but the fact that the Amazfit Active 3 Premium uses a pin system like a traditional watch adds a touch of class (and a little more). It has a 1.32-inch display, which isn’t huge—but it’s about the size of the Amazfit Active 2. I didn’t feel like I was losing much in terms of screen space compared to other large Amazfit watches, but I was surprised to find that it’s a little heavier than the Coros Nomad I recently reviewed.
For that, I’m not sure I’d consider it a bad thing. I wasn’t ready to throw my review unit down to test its durability, despite its sapphire glass and scratch-resistant coating. It might not be a watch you’ll want to take to an ultramarathon, but it will handle running, riding and gym workouts with ease.
Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Features
- Maps are in full color
- HybridCharge is great
- 170 game modes
Okay, so the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is a looker, but does it have the smarts to back it up? Despite the relatively low price, the answer is a resounding yes. You’ll need to use the Zepp app, and while I’ve tested it before and found it a bit cumbersome, I’m happy to report that (at least while I’m away), it’s pretty fast these days.
You can use it as a dashboard, and there are badges to collect that include step goals, monthly goals, and more.
The Daily Readiness Score of Fitbit Premium has resulted in the charge distilling a bunch of complex metrics into an easy-to-read number that calculates how hard you can push your workout on any given day, and the Amazfit version is called “HybridCharge”.
It takes into account sleep, heart rate, activity, and recovery, as well as specific inputs like stress, health, and more, to help you decide whether today is a workout day or a rest day, and it does very well.
One day during the exam, I had trouble sleeping and started work early, and the app and the clock understood that maybe I needed to rest and recover that day. It’s something you used to need a premium subscription with other manufacturers, but I’m glad to see it’s included in the price of the product here.
PAI is also back, so those who want a quick look to see how their fitness is standing can check it by checking their heart rate zones. The watch supports basic notification features, and of course offers an NFC digital wallet feature for payments for convenience. Barnstorming features full-color maps, offering turn-by-turn navigation. This is a premium feature packed into a value package, offering turn-by-turn navigation during runs, rides and walks.
Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Performance
- AMOLED display
- 12 days of battery life
- Excellent accuracy
Performance is excellent across the board with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium. Fitness tracking offers a deep suite of metrics, including running metrics like distance, touchdowns, and anything else you could ask for as a runner. And, if you’re just learning what all these measurements are, fear not: Everything is defined manually within the Zepp app.
When you’re done, the app also does a great job of showing your fatigue level, which then feeds into the aforementioned HybridCharge metrics.
I rarely check my sleep without Apple’s Sleep Score number, but the Amazfit Active 3 Premium makes me want to dig deeper — and it offers plenty of data to do so. I was surprised how often I woke up in the middle of the night without realizing it, and the Aura section of the Zepp app also includes relaxing music to help you wind down.
Using the battery, Amazfit says you can get up to 12 days on a single charge. In my experience, it’s closer to 10 days, but still very respectable given the amount of data it collects each day. The AMOLED display is very bright in almost everything, even direct sunlight.
The only minor gripe I have with the Amazfit Active 3 Premium is that it doesn’t automatically give you workout tracking when you start walking/running/doing whatever. As someone who still forgets to hit a button before it starts, it’s great when devices like the Apple Watch nudge.
- Performance Score: 4.5 / 5
Amazfit Active 3 Premium: Scorecard
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Section |
Comment |
The result |
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Price |
Just outstanding. |
5/5 |
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Design |
It repeats the proven Active 2. |
4.5/5 |
|
Features |
Multiple modes of sports, tracking and HybridCharge. |
4.5/5 |
|
Working |
Bright screen, responsive battery, accurate metrics. |
4.5/5 |
Amazfit Active 3: Should I buy?
Buy if…
Don’t buy if…
Think again
How I tested the Amazfit Active 3 Premium
I’ve been testing the Amazfit Active 3 Premium while traveling, hitting the gym for weights and cardio (mainly using a cross trainer), and wearing it for almost everything in life.
I tested the GPS in various parts of London and in places as far away as the countryside where I live, and wore it to bed. I tested many of its measurements by pairing it with my Apple Watch Series 11 on another wrist.