Amazfit is back with another smartwatch, and this one feels like a direct response to people who are tired of short battery life and tiny screens. The new Active Max is not trying to be flashy or futuristic. It is trying to be practical, which is honestly refreshing in a category that often forgets how people actually use these things.
The most noticeable change is the display. Active Max moves up to a 1.5 inch AMOLED panel that is easy to see at a glance. It gets bright enough to hold up outdoors, even in direct sunlight. That matters more than spec sheets suggest, especially if you actually exercise outside instead of just logging steps indoors.
Battery life is where this watch really earns its name. Amazfit says Active Max can last up to 25 days on a single charge. Real world use will obviously cut into that, but even a fraction of that number still beats most mainstream smartwatches. Charging once every couple of weeks instead of every night changes how you think about wearing a watch.
Storage is another nice upgrade. With 4GB onboard, Active Max lets you load podcasts and music directly onto the watch. Amazfit claims up to 100 hours of podcast playback depending on audio quality. Offline maps are also supported, including downloadable maps for outdoor routes and detailed coverage of thousands of ski resorts.
Fitness tracking remains broad and familiar. There are more than 170 sport modes, covering everything from running and cycling to strength training. The strength training mode can automatically detect reps, sets, and rest periods across a couple dozen exercises. It is convenient, though like all automated tracking, it works best as a guide rather than a perfect record.
Health tracking runs in the background all day and night. Heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, and sleep are monitored continuously. Amazfit also leans on its BioCharge readiness score, which tries to summarize recovery based on activity and stress. It can be helpful for spotting trends, but it is not something most people should blindly follow.
Smart features are present without taking over the experience. Active Max supports Bluetooth calls, speech to text replies on Android phones, and voice commands through the Zepp app. It does enough to stay connected while still feeling like a fitness watch instead of a phone strapped to your wrist.
At $169.99, Active Max sits well below many big name smartwatches while offering a large screen and long battery life. It is not chasing luxury or status. It is aiming for usefulness, which may be exactly why it works.
Available now on Amazon.
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