Why I recommend this budget smartwatch to most people – especially with these specs

Earlier this year, I tested the $100 Amazfit Active 2 and thought that we had seen the least expensive compelling smartwatch that was possible. It turns out I was wrong, and Amazfit followed that launch with the new Amazfit Bip 6, which is available for just under $80.

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I’ve been walking, running, rowing, sleeping, biking, and living with the Amazfit Bip 6 for the past couple of weeks, and I personally find it a better match for my needs than the smaller and slightly more expensive Active 2.

Given that the Active 2 just launched a couple of months ago, I first compared the Active 2 with the Bip 6 to see what was compromised in the Bip 6 for the $20 lower price. Amazfit is taking an approach similar to Apple and Coros where the same software functions and experiences are provided across the entire spectrum of products and price ranges.

The primary differences in its watches are size and form factor (small, square, rugged) so that customers can choose a model that is a perfect fit for their wrist and planned activities without compromising on the functionality of the watch. The Bip 6 has a larger square display and higher capacity battery than the Active 2 while missing out on the temperature sensor and barometric altimeter. Again, it primarily comes down to fit and style when deciding if you want the Bip 6 instead of the Active 2.

For my larger wrists and desire for longer battery life, I prefer the Bip 6 over the Active 2. I compared the Bip 6 to the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Garmin Fenix 8 to validate the positioning accuracy and heart rate readings. The Bip 6 positioning was spot on, heart rate was accurate for running, and some of the fundamental running dynamics, including cadence and stride length, matched the other watches. 

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Unlike Samsung Galaxy Watch and Google Pixel Watch models, the Bip 6 even supports Bluetooth connectivity to external sensors such as heart rate straps so you can get more accurate heart rate monitoring during workouts with active movements.

Even though the Amazfit Bip 6 has a rather sizable 1.97-inch brilliant AMOLED display and ample 340 mAh battery, it is rather slim at 10.45mm in thickness. It is very comfortable to sleep with when mounted on your wrist. The two buttons on the right can be customized for your preferences, while the taps and swipes on the display are responsive with decent haptic feedback. The Bip 6 is easy to navigate, and there appears to be no compromise on responsiveness despite the low price.

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It is impressive and can be overwhelming to see the broad range of activities that are supported by the Amazfit Bip 6. In addition to the typical common activities like running, walking, cycling, and Hyrox (one of Amazfit’s core sports with sponsored athletes), you will find obscure activities such as artistic swimming, 16 types of dancing, kite flying, and more than 140 total options. You can also customize the data pages and other specific settings after you select and launch each activity on the watch.

ZDNET’s buying advice

Inexpensive Android phones used to be terrible, but have improved to the point where you can pay $300 for a smartphone and trust it will perform well for at least a couple of years. Amazfit continues to impress with its extremely capable smartwatches, and it is still tough for me to accept that the Amazfit Bip 6 is priced at just $80. 

If you have ever considered a smartwatch, but haven’t made the move to try one then you really can’t go wrong spending the $80 for a watch that performs well, looks good, and lasts for nearly two weeks between charges.