Amazfit Active Edge Review

After our extensive testing, we are pleasantly surprised by the function and design of the Amazfit Active Edge. The model is comfortable and affordable while offering daily health and GPS tracking. This model makes itself more affordable by offering fewer sensors than the competition, such as altimeters, barometers, and compasses. There are also less detailed health metrics, but it still has most of the important stuff like sleep, stress, and daily HR. The biggest downside is the lack of an always-on display. So, if you like the idea of the watch face being visible 24/7, you should opt for a different model. The watch's build feels slightly less premium than other models, but it's hard to complain about the Active Edge, especially at this price point.

Performance Comparison

Accuracy

To determine accuracy, we tested the GPS chipset and heart rate sensor of each watch. For the GPS evaluation, we took each watch on course and compared the actual 2.8-mile distance to the watch readings. For heart rate testing, we wore a watch on each wrist while running a 0.5-mile distance, then compared the data to that from a Polar H10 chest strap, known for its scientifically validated accuracy. The average of the results from both tests provided the overall accuracy score. To avoid inconsistencies from varied weather conditions, we tested all watches on the same day. For heart rate testing, all watches were tightened equally to maintain a standardized fit. We then exported the data and matched timestamps to ensure an accurate comparison between the chest strap monitor and the GPS watch.

The Active Edge did surprisingly well in our HR testing, being +/- 0.88 BPM. The GPS faired worse, being quite a bit off on our steep terrain test. The watch gave +2.00 miles over our 2.8-mile course. When we tested it on trails and open roads, it performed much better. If you plan on getting off the beaten path, we'd opt for a watch with a better GPS sensor.

Activity Use

The biggest downside of Active Edge is the lack of an always-on display. This means you have to rotate your wrist to see the time, which isn't always ideal. Otherwise, the TLT digital display is easy to use and is a good size for 4-6 data items such as pace, mileage, and time. It's nice to have both dedicated buttons and a touchscreen in such an affordable model. One benefit over other models similarly priced in our lineup is breadcrumb mapping; this makes an easy-to-follow track that can be adjusted and uploaded in the Zepp app.

Everyday Use

The Zepp app is a great way to view your daily data for sleep tracking, heart rate, and stress. By pairing your device, you can adjust the watch settings. This pairing also gives you access to items like notifications and media controls (no stored music). Another impressive feature is the training metrics that analyze your HR data to give you insights into your recovery and fitness. All of these items are viewable within their widget cards, which provide graphs and easy access to settings. We've found this model to closely mimic the design of the Garmin products, so if you've used a watch of theirs in the past, the UI should feel largely similar.

Extra Features

There aren't a ton of extra features found on the Active Edge. Some standouts are their membership card payments, but these are only for select retailers. Inside the Zepp app, training workouts can be made, and interval training can be customized. Various watch faces are available, which can change the style of the device. There is 3rd party support for syncing to Strava, and all of your metrics can be imported to Apple Health, which is nice if you don't plan on wearing your watch all day. One of our unique favorites is Bluetooth camera controls.

Wearability

Design and wearability are where the Active Edge's price is most noticeable. The straps are less comfortable and stiffer than the competition. The unit is almost entirely made out of plastic, which is like others in our lineup, but it doesn't have quite a premium feel. However, if we keep in mind the price, it's really hard to complain, and the fact that this model has both a touchscreen and dedicated buttons is a huge plus. One downside of this model was the slow raise-to-wake function, this was often a huge pain while running. It would take many times to flick the watch to wake up, and the overall motion felt excessive in getting the watch to wake up. This is also a serious-looking watch, and the lack of an always-on display function prevents the cool watch face from showing when your wrist is tilted away.

Battery Life

In our continuous GPS battery test, the unit lasted 18 hours with the screen set to default. Our normal daily usage lasted roughly 15 days. This should be plenty for users who don't need a ton of GPS recording. Keep in mind that during activities, it's nice to put the display always on; having to twist your wrist and wait for it to wake up can be annoying when running. If you are doing slower activities like walking and hiking, this probably won't be an issue. This battery life for the cost is one of the best in our lineup.

Should You Buy the Amazefit Active Edge?

While there are other models we'd recommend over the Active Edge, there is no doubt that it could be a perfect watch for you. The watch is simple and offers a lot of value while looking rugged and cool. If you want a GPS watch to do some easy tracking of GPS and health metrics, then consider this model. We'd recommend jumping up in price if you're an athlete.

What Other GPS Watches Should You Consider?

If you're looking for a great watch on a tight budget, the Coros Pace 3 or Garmin Forerunner 165 are great options. Both of these watches will provide better activity performance and offer more navigation and sensor capabilities. For the basics, we'd recommend the Fitbit Charge 6.