I walked 7,500 steps with the Apple Watch SE 3 vs Amazfit Active Max — and there's a clear winner

CLose-up of the Apple Watch SE 3 and Amazfit Active Max smartwatches after a 7,500-step walk test comparison.

I tested the fitness tracking accuracy of the new Amazfit Active Max — announced earlier this month at the CES 2026 — against the Apple Watch SE 3, my favorite wallet-friendly smartwatch right now.

While the SE 3 is positioned as an entry-level, do-it-all device with a starting price of $249 (and one of the best budget smartwatches you can buy), the Active Max is Amazfit’s new entry-level model focused on runners. It starts at $169.