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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Dan Bracaglia

I pitted a $169 smartwatch against my favorite Garmin — here’s what happened

Garmin Amazfit Dan Bracaglia Tom Guide
Close-up of the Amazfit Active Max smartwatch on a user's wrist.

Can a budget-minded smartwatch from a relatively new brand beat a tried-and-true Garmin when it comes to accurately tracking your outdoor adventures? I decided to find out by pitting my favorite rugged smartwatch in 2026, the Garmin Instinct 3, against the new for 2026, Amazfit Active Max, while snowboarding Blackcomb Mountain in British Columbia, Canada.

The Instinct 3 model I tested (45mm AMOLED edition) is priced at $449 compared to $169 for the Active Max. What's the catch with the latter? There isn't one. Amazfit has been producing solid-performing smartwatches with similar or better specs to the big boys for several years now, and the Active Max is the brand's latest release.

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