I replaced Garmin with this Amazonfit watch for fitness. It's a choice.

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“ZDNET recommends”: What exactly does that mean? The recommendations of ZDNET are based on hours of tests, searches and comparative purchases. We collect data from the best available sources, including vendor and retail lists, as well as other relevant and independent assessment pages. And we study customer reviews to find out what is important for real people who already own and use the products and services we value. If you click from our website to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may receive affiliate commissions. This contributes to supporting our work, but has no influence on what we cover or how we cover it, and it has no influence on the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author receive compensation for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure that our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers. The ZDNET editor writes for you, our readers. Our aim is to provide the most accurate information and expert advice that is possible to help you make smarter purchase decisions for technical equipment and a wide range of products and services. Our editors thoroughly check each article and check the facts to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If an error has been made or misleading information has been published, we will correct or clarify the article. If you find inaccuracies in our content, please report the error via this form. In 2024 I tested the Amazfit Cheetah, a smartwatch with a strong focus on runners. Two years later, with the Cheetah 2 Pro we see a much more elegant and high-quality watch, which is also aimed at runners. The new watch is $150 more expensive than its predecessor, but competes directly with watches like the Garmin Forerunner 570 and the Coros Apex 4. While the Cheetah 2 Pro is marketed for runners, it can track more than 170 activities. As I have to fight with a hip injury at the moment, I could not run extensively and focused on other activities I could do, including indoor spins, walking, cycling and golf. Offers are selected by the CNET Group trading team and may not be related to this article. On the Green

Amazfit has some selected watches that support golf, and the last Amazfit model I tested for this sport was the Amazfit Balance 2. Amazfit has significantly improved support for golf since 2025, with fast wiping movements to display distances to obstacles, target and pin positioning as well as manual zoom support. The map view fits when you approach the green, and the input of each punch is more intuitive than before. At the beginning of last week I went out and got my best result on a local Par-3-Platz, with the Cheetah 2 Pro giving me the lead I needed to focus on my game. The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro is one of the more expensive watches of Amazfit thanks to its sapphire glass display, titanium construction, integrated LED flashlight, microphone/louver and GPS battery life of up to 31 hours. In my typical use with activities every three days I could pass between the charging of the large 540 mAh battery for two weeks. The Amazfit Balance 2 is similar, but does not have an LED flashlight, while the T-Rex 3 Pro is larger and more robust. Illuminate the night

I praised watchmakers for the special LED flashlight, and it is now such an essential feature that I always wear a watch and use it daily. I used it on the golf course to find a few knocks and a ball marker hidden in my pocket. I used it to help me rebuild a toilet and seal it properly, and I use it at night together with the red light to get my aging dog out, who can't sleep through the night. Amazfit has improved the functionality of the LED flashlight beyond a simple switchover and allows switching between white and red light mode. As with Garmin, you can now adjust the LED flashlight for any type of training in the “Safety Light” setting. In this setting, you can set LED light modes and colors so that they flash at your wrist to alert drivers and others to your presence. Thanks to the four major physical keys and the responsive touchscreen, the clock is easy to navigate. You can also use Zepp Flow's offline voice control to quickly open apps, switch mode, start a training and much more. The Zepp Coach feature is an excellent way to create a personalized running or cardio plan that adapts when the watch measures your daily activity values. Accuracy and adaptation

Runners will appreciate the long battery life, the support of advanced training programs such as TrainingPeaks and Runna, a lively display and the light size of 43 mm, which allows a pleasant wear around the clock. Dual-band multi-frequency GPS has proven to be very accurate and the turn-by-turn offline navigation ensures that you always stay on your route and find the way home. With a smartwatch, I need quick access to the most important data. Some dials indicate several complications which can be implemented by simple anviling. Measurements, activity start and other utilities can easily be started directly over the dial, and that's exactly what I need instead of wiping and scrolling endlessly over the dial. For some features in Zepp Aura a subscription is required that costs $70 per year. (The service is often offered for sale, so it can be worth waiting.) Weekly sleep reports, an assessment of sleep health, an extended performance analysis and premium relaxation content are included in the Zepp Aura Subscription Service. The Zepp smartphone app is very powerful, but can also be overwhelming, with extensive data and customization options to optimize your Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro experience. ZDNET's purchasing consulting

Due to the size, the elegant shape factor and the long battery life, the Amazfit Balance 2 was my favorite Amazfit watch. With a special LED flashlight, longer battery life and high-quality titanium and sapphire glass, the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro is my new everyday user. I'll be back soon and can't wait to see how this new watch can support me in training for my next half marathon.