What shipped
Amazfit's Active Max is now available for $170, positioning itself as a budget alternative to Garmin's entry-level GPS watches. The device claims up to 25 days of battery life - a significant departure from the one-day norm of mainstream Android wearables.
Key specs: 1.5-inch AMOLED display (3,000 nits), offline maps, 170+ workout modes, standard GPS tracking. The watch runs Amazfit's custom OS, not Wear OS, which explains the battery endurance.
The real-world test
ZDNet's Matthew Miller flew to CES with 100% charge, tracked multiple runs and rowing sessions, and returned home with 24% remaining after weeks of use. Charging happens via magnetic puck and USB-C - when you need it once a month.
This aligns with YouTube reviews showing budget Android models achieving "class-leading" multi-week battery versus premium rivals' single-day performance. One reviewer scored a similar model 9.4/10 for health metrics, though noted exercise tracking complexity.
The trade-offs
No small size option. No LTE connectivity. Third-party app support is limited compared to Wear OS devices. Advanced health reports require a subscription - Amazfit's revenue play after the low hardware margin.
Offline maps matter for enterprise use cases: field service, outdoor teams, government workers in remote areas. Garmin charges $250-400 for comparable GPS mapping features.
What this means
For corporate wellness programs evaluating wearables: the Android ecosystem now offers genuine battery alternatives to daily charging. The Active Max delivers advanced metrics (sleep tracking, workout data) without iOS dependency.
History suggests treating "25 days" as best-case scenario under light use. Real-world with GPS tracking: likely 7-10 days, still 5x better than most Android watches.
The fine print matters here: this isn't replacing a Garmin Fenix for serious athletes. It's capturing the budget-conscious segment that values battery over ecosystem depth. At $170, Amazfit is betting that trade-off works for most users.
Worth noting: YouTube comments reveal brand loyalty runs deep - one viewer claims "nothing beats Apple Watch" even for Android phones. The battery vs. ecosystem debate continues.