Is Amazfit's most premium smartwatch worth it? I tested it on the golf course, and it paid off
Original reporting by ZDNet
Amazfit, long a player in the accessible smartwatch market, is making a definitive move into premium territory with its new Cheetah 2 Pro. Building on the foundation of the 2024 Cheetah model, this latest iteration presents a significantly more elegant design, crafted from high-quality titanium and sapphire glass. While still primarily aimed at serious runners, its $450 price point signals a direct challenge to established giants like Garmin and Coros, reflecting a sophisticated suite of features and a refined user experience. The watch, capable of tracking over 170 activities, proves its versatility even beyond the track, with notable enhancements in areas like golf performance tracking.
Elevated Experience Beyond its robust build, the Cheetah 2 Pro truly shines in its practical application. Boasting an impressive two-week battery life in typical usage and a brilliant 3,000-nit AMOLED display, it ensures constant readiness. A standout feature is the integrated LED flashlight, which the reviewer extols as an indispensable daily tool, now further enhanced with customizable white and red light modes for safety. Coupled with accurate dual-band GPS, intuitive navigation via four physical buttons and responsive touchscreen, and personalized training insights from Zepp Coach, the watch delivers on its promise. Despite a premium subscription required for some advanced analytics, the Cheetah 2 Pro ultimately earns its place as a top-tier contender and the reviewer's new daily driver, poised to assist in future running endeavors.
The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro unequivocally signals Amazfit's assertive stride into the premium smartwatch segment. By combining a luxurious titanium and sapphire build with a vibrant AMOLED display, comprehensive runner-focused features, and innovative additions like a customizable LED flashlight, it stands as a formidable competitor to established high-end devices from Garmin and Coros. Its extended battery life, precise dual-band GPS, and intuitive offline navigation make it a compelling choice for serious athletes and active users seeking a robust, reliable companion that excels in both performance and everyday utility. While the $450 price point and a subscription requirement for advanced analytics might initially raise eyebrows for a brand traditionally associated with more budget-friendly options, the overall value proposition for such a capable device is becoming increasingly evident within the market.
Shifting Market Dynamics
This release carries significant implications for the broader smartwatch landscape, portending a future of intensified competition and elevated consumer expectations. Amazfit's ability to deliver such a polished, feature-rich device at a price point that, while notably higher for *them*, remains highly competitive against top-tier rivals, underscores a growing trend of feature democratization. Consumers are increasingly demanding flagship capabilities—from advanced materials and multi-band GPS to sophisticated training metrics and adaptive coaching—without the previously prohibitive costs. This development places considerable pressure on legacy brands to either innovate more rapidly or strategically re-evaluate their pricing structures. Furthermore, the integration of convenient, non-fitness features like a versatile flashlight, alongside robust health tracking, hints at smartwatches evolving into indispensable everyday utility tools, transcending their primary health and fitness roles. The growing reliance on optional subscription services for deeper, personalized insights also illustrates a future where hardware profits are increasingly augmented by recurring software revenue, a model likely to proliferate across the industry, shaping future purchasing decisions and long-term user engagement for these sophisticated devices.