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Head to Head

Amazfit Active 3 Premium vs Garmin Forerunner 55

Same analytics tier, same rating, $30 apart. The real difference is philosophy: Active 3 Premium adds a touchscreen and real offline maps, while the Forerunner 55 sticks to buttons and Garmin's trusted training tools.

Amazfit Active 3 PremiumAmazfit

Amazfit Active 3 Premium

4.6
Best Under $200
Garmin Forerunner 55Garmin

Garmin Forerunner 55

4.6
$169
Lower price
MSRP
$199
Full Smartwatch
Watch Type
Bare-Bones GPS
Solid Training Data
Training Data
Solid Training Data
iOS & Android
Phone
iOS & Android
4.6
Rating
4.6
24 hrs
Longer battery
GPS Battery Life
20 hrs
Single-Band
GPS
Single-Band
38g
Weight
37g
Lighter
45mm
Case Size
42mm
Yes
Takes calls
Wrist Calls
No
Yes
Has maps
Offline Maps
No
Local files only
More music options
Offline Music
No
5 ATM
Water Resistance
5 ATM
Best Under $200
Notable For
—
Best For
  • •You want a touchscreen and actual navigable maps at a rock-bottom price
  • •You're open to a newer brand if the value is genuinely there
  • •You want Garmin's trusted race predictor and recovery tools without needing a touchscreen
  • •Simplicity and brand track record matter more to you than maps
The Full Story

Active 3 Premium punches well above its price with actual navigable maps and running power metrics, features usually reserved for watches twice the cost. One of the best values in this entire list.

The Forerunner 55 sticks to buttons and a simple display, but still includes race predictor, suggested daily workouts, and recovery tracking underneath. It's proof that a watch doesn't need AMOLED or a touchscreen to actually coach you.

*Estimated — this model's exact GPS battery life isn't published by the manufacturer. All figures are standard GPS mode, midsize case, no solar boost.

†Estimated — this model launched too recently to have an established customer rating yet.

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