A Month with Garmin vs Amazfit: Does the $250 Price Difference Actually Matter?

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The Garmin Fenix 8 has long been one of my top-rated sports watches, and even though it’s currently on sale ahead of the Fenix 9 launch, it still carries a hefty price tag. Amazfit has been giving Garmin a run for its money with more budget-friendly options. The brand has recently started rolling out premium models that are priced closer to Garmin’s high-end lineup, yet you can still pocket a few hundred dollars in savings.

Over the last month, I’ve been putting flagship watches from both brands through their paces — running, cycling, hiking, and going about daily life — to find out whether Amazfit’s value proposition truly holds up as the company keeps pumping out new models into 2026.

Also: I tested the best sports watches in 2026: Here are the latest and greatest watches, no matter your budget

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra comes in at $600, while the 47mm Garmin Fenix 8 AMOLED (a comparable size) costs $850. Amazfit also recently unveiled the Balance Ultra at the same $600 price point. Garmin, meanwhile, offers a pricier Fenix 8 Pro variant equipped with LTE and satellite connectivity.

We’ll zero in on two flagship watches with comparable features and capabilities to help you decide whether Amazfit’s pricier offering is a smarter buy than what Garmin brings to the table.

Specifications

You should buy the Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra if…

1. You are a Hyrox athlete

Amazfit serves as the official wearable partner of Hyrox and recently extended the partnership for another three years. Hyrox blends running with functional fitness exercises, so with an Amazfit wearable on your wrist, you can train and compete while the device tracks your performance throughout the event. The watch supports solo, doubles, and team relay formats, covering eight different workout disciplines.

Also: I did not expect this Amazfit watch to match my Garmin in functionality – but it delivered

The Cheetah 2 Ultra delivers impressive battery life and a slim, lightweight design with a large, vivid display so you can monitor your Hyrox stats mid-competition. The box includes both a silicone and a fabric strap, so you can pick whichever suits your routine best. I’m a big fan of the comfortable fabric band, but the silicone option also features plenty of ventilation holes to manage sweat and keep things comfortable.

2. You enjoy trail running and training plans

Amazfit’s Cheetah series is built with runners in mind, and the Cheetah 2 Ultra is specifically geared toward trail runners. It features a dedicated trail-running mode that factors in gradient, terrain resistance, and vertical gain through load factor calculations, along with polished, color-coded elevation maps that highlight steep climbs and tricky descents.

While Garmin offers a handful of well-established training plans, Amazfit goes a step further with personalized training plans you can create through the AI-powered Zepp Coach in the Zepp phone app, a large built-in library of default plans, customizable training templates, or even third-party training plans.

I’ve found the fully customizable Zepp Coach plans particularly enjoyable — they let you set your preferred training volume and schedule to help boost your performance. The plan syncs directly to the watch, and tailored data screens on the watch guide you toward success.

3. You want to save money

Even though the Cheetah 2 Ultra is Amazfit’s most expensive watch right now, it still undercuts both the Garmin Fenix 8 and the Forerunner 970. The lightweight yet durable Cheetah 2 Ultra is crafted from premium materials, including a titanium case, titanium buttons, fiber-reinforced polymer components, and a sapphire glass display. Garmin commands a steep premium for builds like these.

Also: Whoop vs. Fitbit Air: I used both to track my health and fitness for a month – this one’s better

There’s no yearly subscription required to unlock advanced training metrics, Zepp Coach, nutrition and food logging, and other features within the Zepp app. There is an optional low-cost subscription (typically $39.99 per year) that adds advanced sleep analysis and relaxation tools through the Zepp Aura service. I’ve been using Amazfit watches for years, and since I don’t have trouble falling asleep or maintaining good sleep quality, I stick with the free Zepp Aura features.

You should buy the Garmin Fenix 8 if…

1. You are a diver or mountain biker

With vacation season here, many people are heading out to explore the incredible underwater world through diving. The Garmin Fenix 8 provides top-tier water resistance with a 40-meter dive rating, thanks in part to its redesigned button layout. The Fenix 8 also supports both scuba and freediving activities. Plus, with Surfline Sessions compatibility, it’s an excellent companion for surfing as well.

Also: This Garmin beat my Apple Watch Ultra in almost every way (and it’s just as rugged)

The Fenix 8 is also tuned for other demanding outdoor pursuits, featuring Grit and Flow metrics for mountain biking, a dedicated rucking activity profile for carrying a loaded pack, and Garmin Outdoor Maps Plus for those who need more detailed mapping than the free version provides.

2. You live in the Garmin ecosystem

Garmin wearables have been on the market for a long time, and the company has cultivated an outstanding ecosystem. If you prefer poring over all the data your watch collects on a big screen rather than squinting at your phone, you’ll appreciate logging into the Garmin Connect website to track trends, generate reports, and review your performance.

Garmin watches are designed to pair with a wide range of Garmin accessories — including dedicated sensors, bike computers, Oakley Meta smart glasses, Engo augmented-reality eyewear, indoor bike trainers, and much more — so your watch can act as just one piece of a complete fitness setup. For example, you can sync your sleep data using an Index Sleep Monitor, log your weight through an Index Smart Scale, and record blood pressure readings directly inside the Garmin Connect app with an Index Blood Pressure Monitor.

Also: How the Oakley Meta smart glasses outperformed my Ray-Bans on a 5-mile test walk

3. You rely on your watch for music, payments, and apps

Because Garmin is a well-established brand, it has secured partnerships with subscription-based music platforms so you can store and play offline playlists right from your wrist. You can also load a compatible credit card onto the watch and make contactless payments while you’re out and about. 

The selection of third-party apps in the Garmin Connect IQ Store keeps expanding — meaning you can cover your post-run coffee or snack through the Starbucks app, for instance. Google Maps is also available, delivering turn-by-turn directions straight to your watch face as you navigate a city on foot.

Writer’s choice

A built-in LED flashlight used to be a standout feature that would sway my watch-buying decision, but now that Amazfit has added this tool to several of its models, the light is no longer a unique selling point for Garmin. I do enjoy using other devices within the Garmin ecosystem, but at the moment I find the Zepp companion app slightly more handy for pulling up key stats at a quick glance.

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Ultra has managed to run for roughly two weeks on a single charge, even with the always-on display turned on. That kind of endurance means I can leave the charger at home while traveling this summer. The Garmin Fenix 8 does offer longer battery life under continuous GPS tracking, but the Cheetah 2 Ultra delivers twice the battery life during typical everyday use — and that extra stamina tips the scales for me more than any other feature.