I wore the two best Amazfit smartwatches for a month - Is the flagship worth $230 more?

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I tested the Amazfit Balance 2 in 2025 and it served as my preferred smartwatch for months thanks to its vibrant display, long battery life, and support for the sports I play. Over the past few months I have had the opportunity to test out its successor, the Amazfit Balance 3 as well as the flagship Cheetah 2 Ultra . Both are very similar, but the Cheetah 2 Ultra is $230 more. 

I've been running, biking, hiking, rowing, golfing, swimming, and living with both, and there are reasons you may want to think of one over the other so let's try and help you with that decision.

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The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra costs a pricy $600, while the Amazfit Balance 3 is only $370. The Balance Ultra closely matches the Cheetah 2 Ultra with more of a focus on Hyrox and hybrid training activities while the Cheetah 2 Ultra is focused primarily on optimizing experiences for runners.

We'll focus on two of the newest smartwatches from Amazfit with similar features and functionality to see if it makes sense to pay the extra $230 for the flagship.

Specifications

You should buy the Amazfit Balance 3 if...

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1. You want to save money

I'm typically impressed by Amazfit's ability to launch compelling smartwatches at affordable prices, so I was caught off guard by the pricey Cheetah 2 Ultra at $600. The Balance 3 at just $370 is fantastic and beats out the offerings from Garmin, Suunto, and Polar. When you compare the Balance 3 specifications with other sports watches, it's tough to justify the higher price of competitors. 

Also: This Garmin beat my Apple Watch Ultra in almost every way (and it's just as rugged)

While the Amazfit Balance 3 is just $370, it doesn't compromise much with a stainless steel body, sapphire glass display, ample 64GB of storage, vibrant large AMOLED display, and long battery life.

2. You participate in activities on or in the water

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra has a water resistant rating of 5 ATM while the less expensive Balance 3 has a rating of 10 ATM. The Balance 3 also passed a range of tests as part of the MIL-STD-810G certification process so it is built to withstand the elements and tough environments you train in.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

If you spend time swimming, kayaking, skiing, snorkeling, and other activities in the water, the Balance 3 is designed to continue functioning with a water resistance of up to 100 meters deep. Within many of the water-based activities there are also specific workout settings focused on these activities, including water type, navigation options, and more that make tracking water-based activities comprehensive.

3. You want a big watch with a dedicated LED flashlight

Garmin was the first to launch a sports watch with a dedicated LED light and since then Amazfit, Suunto, and Polar have implemented this cool design feature that is now a default for any watch on my wrist. The LED light on the Amazfit Balance 3 shines in white or red and safety light options are available in the settings for many outdoor activities.

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One reason I purchased the original Amazfit Balance was the sleek design and profile. The Balance 3 is a bit of departure from that with a unique case around the watch face with large openings in the frame. There is also quite a bit of metal that extends down over where the bands connect to the watch. If you like big, yet fairly flat watches, then you may love the design of the Balance 3. It is clearly built for those with large wrists and for those of us, it looks good.

You should buy the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra if...

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

1. You want a sleeker and lighter watch

The Balance 3 I tested is the stainless steel model weighing 62 grams, but even the titanium version at 55 grams is heavier than the titanium Cheetah 2 Ultra's 52 grams. When you are mounting something on your wrist, just a few grams can make a big difference in comfort and fit. 

Beyond the weight, the Balance 3 has a lot more case structure around the watch face and build down into the lug area compared to the sleeker Cheetah 2 Ultra. This helps make it a better fit for runners who don't want extra weight or bulk around their smartwatch. The Cheetah 2 Ultra also has four flat buttons while the Balance 3 has a rotating crown that protrudes from the top right of the watch.

Also: I did not expect this Amazfit watch to match my Garmin in functionality - but it delivered

The Cheetah 2 Ultra retail package includes both silicone and fabric watch bands so you can wear what works best for your routine. I'm a huge fan of comfortable fabric bands, but the silicone one also has plenty of openings for sweat and comfort.

2. You enjoy trail running and training plans

The Cheetah series of Amazfit watches focuses on runners, while the Cheetah 2 Ultra targets trail runners. There is a unique trail-running mode on the Cheetah 2 Ultra that applies load factor calculations for gradient, terrain resistance, and vertical gain, with slick, color-coded elevation maps to show severe ascents or challenging descents.

Matthew Miller/ZDNET

Amazfit offers customized training plans that you can set up through the Zepp smartphone app's AI-based Zepp Coach, large default training plan library, custom training templates, or third-party training plans. 

I've enjoyed using the fully customizable Zepp Coach plans, which let you define how much and when you want to train to improve your performance. The plan syncs with the watch, and then customized data pages on the watch help you succeed. 

Writer's choice

I loved the original dark brown Balance that I bought and used for months, so I was surprised when I tested both of these watches and ended up choosing the Cheetah 2 Ultra as my preferred daily watch. It's lighter and has a smaller case around the display so it's much more comfortable. I do miss the rotating digital crown, something the Balance 3 has and the Cheetah does not -- but the Cheetah's lower weight wins out. 

The Amazfit Balance 3 is compelling, however, due to the low $370 price point, LED flashlight, high quality materials, long battery life, and lovely 1.5-inch AMOLED display. Honestly, it's tough to beat at this price.