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| The Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro is a high-end wearable. |
In the competitive world of smart wearables, Garmin has long been the benchmark for rugged, feature-packed devices. However, 2025 has marked a turning point, with Zepp Health and its Amazfit brand emerging not just as a budget-friendly alternative, but as a formidable challenger going squarely on the offensive. While Garmin refines its legacy, Amazfit is aggressively innovating across price segments and form factors, signaling a dynamic shift in the market.
The Premium Offensive: T-Rex 3 Pro Takes on Fenix
The clearest signal of Amazfit’s ambitions came with the T-Rex 3 Pro. This isn't just another durable watch; it’s a direct competitor to Garmin’s Fenix line, armed with a killer feature: full offline map navigation on the device itself. We’ve tested the subsequent enhanced navigation update, and it solidifies the T-Rex 3 Pro as a serious tool for adventurers. Coupled with a blindingly bright AMOLED display (up to 3,000 nits) and a signature rugged build, it offers a Fenix-like experience at a significantly more accessible price point. This move demonstrates Zepp Health's strategy to capture the high-end user by undercutting the establishment on price while matching core functionality.
Dominating the Value Segment: The "Price-Performance King"
While attacking the high end, Zepp Health hasn’t forgotten its roots. 2025 saw a flurry of activity in the budget segment with releases like the Amazfit Active 2, Balance 2, and Bip 6. The Active 2, in particular, is a standout. Dubbed the "Price-Performance King" in our review last May, it encapsulates a major market trend: premium features trickling down to affordable models. For under $100, users get offline navigation, a brilliant display, and even a partially stainless steel build—specs that were unthinkable at this price point just a few years ago. This approach continues to squeeze competitors and redefine what consumers expect from a budget wearable.
Pioneering New Wearable Forms: Beyond the Wristwatch
2025 also confirmed that the wearable race is no longer just about watches. Following the smart ring boom of 2024, this year was about purpose-built, display-less devices. Garmin entered with its Index Sleep Monitor, focusing purely on sleep analytics. Not to be outdone, Zepp Health launched the Amazfit Helio Strap, a discrete sports tracking system designed for athletes who want data without a screen on their wrist. This expansion into new form factors shows both companies are betting on a fragmented future where users employ multiple specialized devices.
Software: Steady Improvements Amidst Familiar Criticisms
On the software front, Zepp Health’s year was one of tangible progress mixed with ongoing user concerns. The company has been spared major scandals, but as discussions on platforms like Reddit highlight, users consistently point to the relatively short two-year official software support window and sometimes uneven update rollouts as key drawbacks.
However, 2025 brought significant, free feature upgrades that enriched the entire ecosystem. The introduction of BioCharge (a recovery metric), the Jet Lag Manager, and deeper third-party service integration for training control were welcome additions. Perhaps most notably for runners, Amazfit devices now can estimate advanced running efficiency metrics, closing another gap with high-end competitors. This commitment to improving existing devices through software is a positive sign for current owners.
The Road Ahead: Growth, Gaps, and Unknowns
Financially, Zepp Health appears to be on a stable path. A recent analysis of their Q3 2025 earnings indicates a journey toward breakeven alongside revenue growth, suggesting their aggressive product strategy is gaining market traction.
As the year closed, Amazfit unveiled the Active Max, boasting exceptional battery life and rounding out the 2025 portfolio. Yet, looking to 2026, the roadmap is unclear. The most glaring gap in Amazfit's lineup remains the lack of integrated LTE or satellite connectivity—a feature domain where Apple and Garmin currently play alone. Bridging this gap will be crucial for Amazfit to be seen as a true all-situations companion.
Final Verdict: A Formidable Challenger Has Arrived
Zepp Health’s 2025 can be summarized as a year of confident, multi-pronged growth. By pressuring Garmin at the high end with the T-Rex 3 Pro, owning the budget segment with devices like the Active 2, and experimenting with new form factors like the Helio Strap, Amazfit has proven it’s more than a value brand—it’s an innovator.
While potential buyers should weigh the mixed user reviews regarding long-term support on sites like Trustpilot, the value proposition and feature set are undeniable. If Zepp Health can extend software support and crack the connectivity puzzle in 2026, Garmin may need to look over its shoulder more often. The wearable wars have just gotten a lot more interesting.
What do you think? Is Amazfit’s value proposition enough to sway you from more established brands, or is long-term software support a dealbreaker? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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| The Active 2 impressed in our review with its strong price-performance ratio. |