Amazfit Balance vs Garmin Venu 2
The Verdict
Amazfit Balance offers impressive value at $199, delivering a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, 14-day battery life, and solid health tracking including SpO2 and skin temperature monitoring. Garmin Venu 2 costs double at $399 but adds NFC for contactless payments, slightly better build quality with stainless steel bezel, and Garmin's renowned sports tracking ecosystem. Battery life favors Amazfit at 14 days versus 11 days, while Venu 2's GPS-only endurance drops to 8 hours with music. Both feature 5ATM water resistance and sleep tracking. Choose Amazfit Balance if budget matters and you want maximum battery life; select Venu 2 if you need NFC payments and prefer Garmin's superior sports analytics and app ecosystem.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Amazfit Balance if…
- →14-day battery life is excellent for a full-featured smartwatch
- →AI-powered Readiness Score helps optimize training and recovery
- →Lightweight at 35 g — barely noticeable on the wrist
Buy the Garmin Venu 2 if…
- →Stunning AMOLED display with always-on option
- →11-day battery life outperforms most AMOLED smartwatches
- →Comprehensive fitness tracking with 25+ sport profiles
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Amazfit Balance
Pros
- 14-day battery life is excellent for a full-featured smartwatch
- AI-powered Readiness Score helps optimize training and recovery
- Lightweight at 35 g — barely noticeable on the wrist
- Skin temperature and SpO2 monitoring at $199
- 150+ sport modes with GPS tracking
Cons
- No ECG monitoring
- Zepp OS has limited third-party app ecosystem
- No NFC for contactless payments
- No cellular connectivity — phone required for notifications
Garmin Venu 2
Pros
- Stunning AMOLED display with always-on option
- 11-day battery life outperforms most AMOLED smartwatches
- Comprehensive fitness tracking with 25+ sport profiles
- Health Snapshot for quick 2-minute wellness checks
- Garmin Pay for contactless payments via NFC
Cons
- No ECG or blood pressure monitoring
- No cellular option — requires phone for notifications
- Limited smart features compared to Apple Watch or Wear OS
- Third-party app ecosystem is limited
- $399 is expensive for a non-cellular watch
Full Specifications
| Spec | Amazfit Balance | Garmin Venu 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Software | Zepp OS 4 | Garmin proprietary OS |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 35 g (without strap) | 49 g |
| Case material | Aluminum alloy | Stainless steel bezel, fiber-reinforced polymer case |
| Water resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Health & Sensors | ||
| ECG | ||
| SpO₂ | ||
| Skin temperature | ||
| Heart rate | ||
| Sleep tracking | ||
| Battery | ||
| Battery life | Up to 14 days (typical usage) | Up to 11 days (smartwatch), 8 hrs GPS with music |
| Display | ||
| Size | 46 mm (1.5 inches) | 45mm |
| Type | AMOLED | AMOLED Always-On |
| Always-on display | ||
| Resolution | 480 x 480 | 416 x 416 |
| Processor | ||
| RAM | 32 MB | — |
| Chipset | Huami proprietary | Garmin custom SoC |
| Connectivity | ||
| GPS | ||
| NFC | ||
| Wi-Fi | ||
| Cellular | ||
| Bluetooth | 5.2 | 5.1 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
Explore more in smartwatches, see all Amazfit products or all Garmin products. View full details for the Amazfit Balance or the Garmin Venu 2.