What the Amazfit Balance 3 Is and Who It’s For
The Amazfit Balance 3 is a mid-to-high-end fitness-focused smartwatch that combines a bright 1.5-inch AMOLED display, stainless steel construction, dual-band GPS, and up to 21 days of battery life to appeal to users who want detailed training insights and long endurance without daily charging. Positioned as the base model to the Balance Ultra, it aims to sit between mainstream wearables and premium sports watches, offering 10ATM water resistance, a large 51.4mm case, and sturdy materials like sapphire glass over the AMOLED smartwatch display. Priced at USD 369.99 (approx. RM1,740), it targets runners, hybrid athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts who want a dual-band GPS watch with advanced health tracking but do not need full-blown “pro” pricing. The question is whether its feature mix and build justify that asking price against established mid-to-high-end competitors.
Design, Display and New Button Layout
The Balance 3 leans hard on hardware to earn its premium label. The 51.4mm stainless steel case measures 14.6mm thick and weighs 62g in this initial version, with a lighter titanium option promised later. The circular 1.5-inch AMOLED smartwatch display is covered by scratch-resistant sapphire crystal glass and can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, which should keep maps and workout screens readable in bright sun. According to Gizmochina, the watch also carries a 10ATM water resistance rating, making it suitable for swimming and recreational diving. Amazfit has updated the button layout compared with earlier Balance models, giving the watch a more tool-like look that aligns it with outdoor and performance-focused rivals. Combined with the built-in flashlight (with red and white modes), the overall design language clearly aims at users who train outside in varied conditions.
Battery Life and Dual-Band GPS Performance
Amazfit equips the Balance 3 with a 658mAh battery, and the company rates typical battery life at up to 21 days per charge. That figure drops to around seven days when the always-on display is enabled, still competitive for a battery life smartwatch with a large AMOLED panel. The watch includes independent onboard GPS and, in this generation, dual-band positioning for more reliable tracking in dense urban areas or forests. It supports offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation and automatic rerouting, pushing it toward the territory of specialist outdoor watches. For endurance athletes, the claim that the Balance 3 can combine a bright AMOLED display, dual-band GPS and multi-week standby on a single charge is central to its appeal, especially when many OLED-based competitors struggle to last more than a few days with similar features enabled.
Health Tracking, Hybrid Training System and Everyday Features
On the health side, the Balance 3 offers 24/7 monitoring of heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), skin temperature and stress, with alerts for abnormal high or low heart rate and low blood oxygen levels. It also tracks sleep and female menstrual cycles and supports more than 180 exercise modes, including dedicated tools for HYROX-style hybrid racing such as training plans and pace simulations. Amazfit’s HybridCharge Energy Intelligence system focuses on balancing workouts and recovery by analyzing training load, daily stress and sleep patterns to recommend when to push or rest. Everyday features include a built-in speaker and microphone for Bluetooth calls, NFC for digital cards, and a flashlight. Compared with typical mid-range devices, the breadth of biometric data and training guidance helps the Amazfit Balance 3 look more like a serious fitness companion than a notification-focused smartwatch.
Value Proposition in the Mid-to-High-End Segment
At USD 369.99 (approx. RM1,740), the Amazfit Balance 3 is clearly positioned as an upper mid-range smartwatch. The value case rests on combining a 3,000-nit AMOLED display, stainless steel build with sapphire glass, dual-band GPS and up to 21 days of battery life in one package. In that context, it undercuts many traditional premium sports watches while offering more advanced health tracking and a brighter screen than many mid-range options. Its Hybrid Training System and HYROX-focused tools also give it a niche among hybrid athletes who want structured guidance without moving to a more expensive pro line. The trade-offs are its fairly large 51.4mm footprint and weight, which may not suit smaller wrists. For users who prioritize endurance, outdoor visibility and training insights over ultra-light design, the Amazfit Balance 3 presents a strong price-to-specs balance.
