Live Science Verdict
With good tracking functioning , lightweight build , multiple health apps and recollective battery life , the Amazfit Balance smartwatch punches way above its low-cost price detail , making it a great option for fitness beginners and people aiming to ameliorate their nap and post - exercise recovery .
Accurate tracking feature
Light and succinct
Long barrage fire life
Great economic value for money
No Gorilla Glass or Sapphire Crystal on the screen
Some additional feature are subscription - only
Why you could desire Live ScienceOur expert reviewers spend hours testing and equate products and services so you could pick out the best one for you . witness out more about how we essay .
The Amazfit Balance is the late add-on to the range of affordable fitness trackers offered by the tight - growing Chinese brand . However , this metre around Amazfit decided to focus on holistic wellness rather than practice performance . According to the troupe , Amazfit Balance is designed to help its users strike the proper balance between strong-arm activity and recovery , mostly due to its all-embracing sleep - tracking feature film and health apps . But can this budget smartwatch deliver on the promise ?
Display : AMOLED 1.5 inch - 480x480 ( Round )
Always - On : Yes
Dimensions : 46x46x10.6 mm
Colors : Sunset Gray , Midnight Black
Finish : Aluminum
GPS : Yes
scope : Yes
Altimeter : Yes
Water resistance : 5 ATM
NFC Payments : Zepp Pay
Sensors : organic structure composition , body temperature , centre rate , marrow charge per unit variability , line of descent atomic number 8 , ventilation rate
Compatibility : Android 7.0 and above , iOS 14.0 and above
Storage : 2.2 GB storage for euphony
Battery life : roughly 14 days
Established in 2015 , Amazfit is still a comparatively young brand , but it does make products that can contend with some of thebest fitness trackerson the market . At Live Science , we know Amazfit ’s smartwatches offer good value for money and the Libra the Balance seems no dissimilar . This sleek - count fitness tracker comes with a lightweight build , knock-down battery , twofold - band GPS pilotage and multiple wellness - tracking features , include for physical structure composition , sopor quality and strain level — all for a fair $ 229.99 .
So is the Amazfit Balance smartwatch worth investing in ? To find out , we put it through its pace in our at - home tests . Read on to see how it go .
Amazfit Balance: How we tested
We spent a calendar month testing the Amazfit Balance smartwatch , looking at its feature , durability , barrage fire sprightliness , connectivity with third - party gadget and ease of use . We don it during the day , while sleeping , and when doing dissimilar cardio and strength workouts . at long last , we checked the accuracy of our Amazfit Balance smartwatch by equate some of its measure with the data we receive using more professional devices , such as a chest - shoulder strap centre rate monitor .
Amazfit Balance: Design
The Amazfit Balance is one of the most compact and unnoticeable smartwatches we have ever test . Most of the time we even bury that we were wearing it . We also liked its simple yet stylish look , easy - to - operate control and prosperous strap .
In the purport of sustainability , the Amazfit Balance smartwatch derive in a little composition board package , alongside a short user guide and pocket - sized charging dock . The setup cognitive process is quick and easy — download the Zepp app , geminate the machine using a QR code displayed on the watch fount , and then follow a abbreviated but detailed tutorial . We like this minimal economic consumption of charge card and a hands - on approach path to learning the controls . However , this also means that the instruction manual — which is the size of it of a pinkie finger , no more — covers only basic information about the twist , and some people may see the bantam leaflet difficult to take .
The Amazfit Balance press only 1.2 apothecaries' ounce ( 35 Hans C. J. Gram ) — for comparing , the Apple Watch Series 8 press 1.48 ounces ( 42.3 GiB ) , and many Garmin models compact more than 1.75 ounces ( 50 guanine ) . The sentinel face is smooth and slender , and comes with two controls positioned on the correct side : a button and a crown . Both control are on the small side , but we happen them antiphonal and easy to operate , and at no point during examination did they catch on wearing apparel or workout equipment .
The Amazfit Balance smartwatch comes in two main color choice : Midnight Black , with a silicone strap and a pin warp , and Sunset Gray , with a pattern nylon bait - and - loop shoulder strap . At the time of writing this recapitulation , Amazfit also offered four ’ special edition ’ options , all with silicone polymer straps in beautiful vulgar coloring material .
Here , we tested the Midnight Black option — and we really liked it . The shoulder strap was buttery soft and comfortable to wear , did not slither or aggravate the skin during sweaty example , and work just as well with our shining gym wear as it did with everyday outfits . It did not seem to attract dirt , either .
Amazfit Balance: Display
The Amazfit Balance smartwatch ingrain us with its snappy 1.5 - inch HD AMOLED display . With a high 480x480 solvent and an anti - glare crank bezel , the cover was burnished , colorful and well-situated to read , even under the artificial light of our local gymnasium . The touch screen was responsive , did not lag during power - intensive tasks , and for the most part , stay detached from fingermark marks and debris .
We also liked how customizable the showing was . There are several pre - loaded watch faces to choose from , and loads more can be purchased in the Zepp storehouse . ikon can be moved around or deleted as needed , and widgets arrange in an monastic order that suit you the most .
We did not notice any scratches or wear - and - binge damage on our Amazfit Balance after a month of examination , but then we did not have the chance to wear it in thought-provoking conditions . We would not look on it faring well , though . Tempered glass is not as perdurable as Gorilla Glass or other sturdy material typically used in more premium fitness tracker . As such , we distrust that the Amazfit Balance smartwatch may not be the best choice for fans of extreme outside sports or those who work with big peter , for example .
Amazfit Balance: Features
The Amazfit Balance bill ticker charge per unit , heart pace variance , external respiration charge per unit , rakehell O , body temperature and body composition , including eubstance fat percentage , muscle mass , off-white mass and hydration levels . base on these information detail , the smartwatch can then assess other metrics , such as how many calories you need , how stressed you are , the quality of your sleep , and your workout carrying into action .
The Amazfit Balance also uses a set of simplified stats to give a more holistic mental picture of your health . For example , when worn at night , the watch will calculate a Readiness Score in the good morning — a measurement of " how mentally and physically recharged you are for the Modern day , " on a scale of 1 to 100 . When that score is broken , or changes over prison term , the Amazfit Balance will level out possible causes and suggest you on how to improve your vigour levels . The Readiness Score may not be very " sciencey , " but we found it surprisingly insightful and practical .
be up to its name , the Amazfit Balance offers batch of mini health apps , most of which are gratuitous of guardianship , including the flagship Zepp Fitness , Breathing Exercises and Meditation apps . Some app features need a subscription , though — Zepp Aura , an AI - power sleep coach service , or the AI - powered chatbot in the Zepp Coach app , for model . have such a digital coach could be helpful for initiate and those who shin with motivation or sleep hygiene . For others , however , opting out of these subscriptions will likely not impact their overall experience with the smartwatch .
The Amazfit Balance can track over 150 sports , including snowboarding , military strength training and pool swimming . It can auto - detect and track 25 unlike types of exercise with metric such as reps , bent and rest times . The Zepp Coach app can produce personalized workout plans and steer you to get the most out of your usage routine — even if it is in the great outdoors . That is because the Amazfit Balance is equip with three-fold - band Global Positioning System tracking that employ signals from six satellite systems , a reach and an altimeter .
This smartwatch also hail with a built - in speaker and microphone , and can be used for make calls , playing music , contactless payments ( but only with the Zepp Pay app ) and many other aspects of everyday liveliness .
Amazfit Balance: Performance
The Amazfit Balance smartwatch impressed us with its long battery life sentence . On down in the mouth to moderate GPS accuracy preferences , a single direction can power up the lookout man for up to two hebdomad . But even with intense daily use , continuous wellness - tracking and gamy GPS accuracy enabled at all times , our Amazfit Balance still wield to last a full calendar week . It is not common to see such a trooper .
The detector in the Amazfit Balance appear surprisingly exact . During one workout , we weary the spotter alongside a thorax - shoulder strap heart rate monitor , and continuously measured the heart rate on both gadget . Our Amazfit Balance accurately identify all blossom and drop cloth in heart charge per unit , albeit intelligibly not with quite the same precision as the chest - strap equipment .
Then , we used a standing bioimpedance machine to screen the truth of its body composition sensors . These giant scales with handgrip are far higher-ranking to tiny watches in depend body fat percentage , muscularity mass and other metric function , so it was quite a surprisal to see a prominent similarity between the reading — the Amazfit Balance underestimate the fat pct by only 1.5 % , for example . The only sensing element that seemed to habitually underrate the time value was body temperature . It did , however , seem to pluck up on trend , such as blue body temperature when sleep .
The sleep trailing feature was generally accurate . For the most part , the Amazfit Balance did a salutary line at identifying clip when we fall asleep , wake up during the Nox or get out of layer in the morning . However , we also found that relaxing with a book or TV show in the even may trick the watch into thinking you are sleeping — but that is something we have seen in more premium fitness trackers , too .
The physical exertion pass over feature film also do relatively well , especially with running play , row and other cardiovascular activities . Amazfit Balance keep up with our steps , strokes and jumps , and was fairly good at estimating our pace and distance . We were , however , slightly discomfited with its strength - preparation feature . The watch struggled to capture movement decently at metre , especially during lower body exercises , and often underrate the number of repetitions .
Amazfit Balance: User reviews
The Amazfit Balance smartwatch mark a hefty 4.3 out of 5 asterisk onAmazon , with 64 % of users giving it a full five stars . Positive reviews praised this sentinel for its thick , stylish design , the accuracy of its tracking characteristic , and farsighted electric battery life . Many users considered the Amazfit Balance smartwatch with child value for money , and a good compromise between function and form .
As one substance abuser gloss , " If you ’re a seaworthiness overzealous I ’d look elsewhere ( Garmin ? Fitbit ? ) . If you ’re a data junky , see Apple Watch or Google Pixel . If you ’re after a fleck of both on ( probably ) the best - looking smartwatch you may buy then I ’d recommend the Balance . "
electronegative review , though few and far between , cited problems with connectivity to wandering devices and hit - and - miss trailing of sets and rep during resistance workouts . One drug user also commented , " ensure you get a silver screen protector as it ’s easy to scratch . "
Should you buy the Amazfit Balance smartwatch?
If you are looking for a high - execute smartwatch at an affordable price , the Amazfit Balance should be on your radio detection and ranging . It boasts a broad range of wellness - trailing feature and stylish looks , all without overloading your wrist joint with overweight machinery or compromise on barrage life . The Amazfit Balance is a great all - rounder for most people , but it can be peculiarly useful for beginners and people place to amend their sleep and post - exercise recovery .
However , if you are face for a smartwatch that can cover severe conditions conditions or hold up falls from great altitude , you may take to find a different , potentially much pricier model . The Amazfit Balance seems perfect for a sweaty spin class or a treadwheel footrace , but it may not be hardy enough to dole out with more challenging outdoor weather .
If this product is not for you
If you are looking for a smartwatch that has standardized functionality to Amazfit Balance , but amount with a sturdier build , check out theGarmin Venu 2 Plus . Its display feature Gorilla Glass , stainless blade and a hardy premature ventricular contraction coating , making it more tolerant to prick and harm .
If you would rather find something more affordable , Amazfit Bip 3 Procould be a near choice . This substance abuser - friendly smartwatch comes with a two - workweek battery life , a large display and a built - in GPS . However , it does sacrifice some of the tracking accuracy .
