Compare Garmin Lily 2 vs Amazfit Active 3 Premium

Automatic activity detection was consistently useful for walks and casual movement, with reviewers noting reliable walk detection and Garmin Move IQ, though its automatic detail is limited.

Workout auto-detection is mixed: some sources say it auto-recognizes strength movements and several sports, while one hands-on review says it lacks automatic workout detection.

The Lily 2 is constrained as an app platform: reviewers noted no Connect IQ widgets and no native third-party app installation.

The app ecosystem is useful but bounded: reviewers mention hundreds of apps and Zepp App Store extras, while one notes apps must come from Zepp rather than Apple or Google stores.

Band quality is a clear upgrade, with standard 14mm quick-release bands repeatedly praised for flexibility, comfort, and easy replacement.

Band impressions are generally practical, with standard 20 mm quick-release or non-proprietary bands and an included silicone strap.

Battery life was generally strong for a small wearable, usually landing around four to five days, with a few heavier-use reviews seeing closer to three days.

Battery life is one of the strongest themes, with typical use ranging from about 8-12 days in hands-on reviews and up to 24 hours in GPS mode in launch coverage.

Blood oxygen tracking is present through Pulse Ox or SpO2, but one reviewer warned readings could run low, so confidence is moderate rather than excellent.

Blood oxygen tracking is repeatedly listed among the health features and background sensor options.

Bluetooth-related connectivity is limited: phone pairing and notifications work, but reviewers noted no gym-equipment broadcast, no direct Bluetooth headphone use, and no external HR sensor pairing.

Bluetooth is central to calls, pairing, notifications, peripherals, and map transfer, though reviewers note phone proximity and Bluetooth-only transfer limitations.

Brightness drew mixed reactions: one reviewer found direct-sun visibility excellent, while several others wanted a brighter screen through the patterned lens.

Brightness is widely praised, especially the 3,000-nit screen and outdoor readability.

Build quality improved versus the original Lily, with aluminum, Gorilla Glass, and a more premium feel appearing repeatedly in reviews.

Build quality is consistently described as premium for the price, helped by stainless steel, sapphire glass, and four-button construction.

Button controls are a weak point because the Lily 2 depends on touch and a pseudo-button; reviewers wanted real side buttons or easier pause controls.

Button controls are a clear strength, with four physical buttons praised for workouts, gloves, sweaty hands, and navigation without touch input.

Call handling works best with Android predefined responses, while iPhone users mostly just receive alerts and still need the phone to act.

Call handling is mostly supported through Bluetooth calling and a mic/speaker, though one preview transcript reports a no-speaker limitation.

Calorie tracking was present but not especially trusted, with direct reviewer evidence saying calories were slightly off or generous.

Calorie tracking is mentioned as part of the app ecosystem, but reviewer evidence does not deeply evaluate its accuracy or usefulness.

Charging is functional but not universally convenient: the magnetic or clip-style charger is easy enough, yet proprietary clips and travel cable needs were recurring caveats.

Charging convenience is helped by long battery life and a familiar Amazfit magnetic charger used across several models.

Charging speed was mixed, ranging from roughly an hour to full charge in some tests to slower 30-minute gains versus Apple Watch.

Coaching features are useful but limited, including hydration adaptation, timers, alerts, plans, and VO2 Max mentions, while richer recovery guidance is absent.

Coaching features are a major strength, including Zepp Coach, adaptive plans, training libraries, guided metrics, and beginner-friendly structure.

Comfort is one of the strongest themes, with reviewers repeatedly saying the watch is lightweight, barely noticeable, and suitable for day-and-night wear.

Comfort is consistently positive, with reviewers calling out the light feel, smaller size, and approachable wearability.

Garmin Connect provides deep data and useful dashboards, but app clarity was split between reviewers who found it intuitive and those who called it clunky or unclear.

The Zepp companion app is mostly praised as clear, detailed, easy to set up, and useful, though one German review criticizes weak translations.

Garmin Pay is a useful addition on Classic models, though regional bank support limits how valuable it is for some reviewers.

Contactless payments are supported through NFC/Zepp Pay/Curve in supported regions, but availability is country- and bank-dependent.

Cross-platform compatibility is generally good across Android and iPhone, but Android gets more interactive notification and call-response features.

Cross-platform behavior is mixed: it works with iPhone and Android, but reviewers note less seamless iPhone integration and Android-only response features.

Customization is strong for bands and morning reports, with watch-face and patterned-lens customization more limited.

Customization is strong for training screens, metrics, shortcut buttons, replies, and watch/app settings.

Display quality is intentionally minimalist and readable for many, but several reviewers criticized the basic monochrome LCD and lack of AMOLED vibrancy.

Display quality is a standout, with reviewers praising the AMOLED panel, clarity, color, and premium look, despite one smudging complaint.

Durability looks improved thanks to Gorilla Glass and aluminum construction, though few reviews included long-term abuse testing.

Durability is supported by sapphire glass, scratch resistance, 5 ATM water resistance, and a sturdier build than expected for the price.

ECG functionality is essentially absent, with reviews explicitly noting no ECG recordings or wishing for newer sensor hardware.

ECG functionality is absent according to the review evidence.

Fit was praised for small wrists, snug wear, and a low-profile shape that sits comfortably without bulk.

Fit is generally positive thanks to the light weight, comfortable sizing, and adjustable lugs, though it comes in one case size.

Fitness tracking accuracy was mostly positive for casual use, especially activity and heart-rate basics, but HIIT and unsupported activities produced caveats.

Fitness tracking is generally strong for running metrics and training data, but reviewers note some accuracy caveats for heart rate and GPS in harder conditions.

GPS accuracy depends on the phone because there is no onboard GPS; connected GPS could work well, but carrying a phone is required for maps and reliable distance.

GPS and navigation are strong for the price, with offline maps and route features, but single-band GPS can drift or struggle in dense woods or obstructed areas.

Health tracking accuracy was generally reliable for core metrics like heart rate, steps, sleep, respiration, and wellness trends, with some sleep and SpO2 caveats.

Health tracking is broad and mostly praised, covering HRV, heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, sleep, and BioCharge-type readiness insights.

Heart-rate accuracy was a consistent strength, with several reviewers comparing it favorably to straps, Oura, Apple Watch, or Garmin watches, though intense intervals could wobble.

Heart-rate accuracy is mixed: some tests report good chest-strap agreement, while others saw cadence-like behavior or imperfect interval tracking.

LTE connectivity is not available, so connected features depend on a nearby phone over Bluetooth.

Materials quality improved with aluminum, but one reviewer still viewed aluminum as cheaper and less durable than stainless steel.

Materials quality is a strength, with stainless steel, sapphire glass, and metal accents repeatedly mentioned.

Menu navigation was workable and often easy enough, but some reviewers still described learning curves or extra steps.

Menu navigation is mostly smooth and button-aided, though some workout and map workflows confused reviewers or required leaving an activity.

Music controls are available for controlling a paired phone, but reviewers consistently distinguished that from true onboard music.

Music controls and audio functions are present through phone control, playback widgets, podcasts, and music/podcast storage.

Onboard music storage is missing, and multiple reviewers explicitly called out no music storage or offline listening.

Onboard storage is useful for maps, music, podcasts, and routes, but space is limited compared with higher-end Amazfit models.

The operating system experience is Garmin-centric and lean, optimized for fitness and notifications rather than native Apple or Google app ecosystems.

The Zepp OS experience is familiar and smooth, with reviewers describing it as similar to other Amazfit watches.

Outdoor visibility was mostly good to excellent, especially in DC Rainmaker and DesFit testing, though one reviewer found bright sun harder to read.

Outdoor visibility is a major strength, supported by the bright 3,000-nit AMOLED display and direct-sun readability.

Pairing reliability for connected GPS and phone handoff was much improved, with reviewers reporting quick locks and strong connection maintenance.

Pairing is generally easy, but one iPhone user noticed occasional brief syncing delays.

Recovery insights are a partial win: Body Battery gives readiness-style guidance, but dedicated recovery time and workout benefit features are absent.

Recovery insights are a major part of the product, including recovery time, fatigue, exertion, HRV, sleep quality, and BioCharge/readiness-style data.

Reliability was good in user-level evidence, with reviewers calling tracking reliable and one owner saying it did what they wanted.

Overall reliability is positive in hands-on use, though early heart-rate and map-transfer quirks keep it from being flawless.

Safety features are a real strength for this class, including incident detection, LiveTrack, emergency contacts, and assistance alerts through a phone.

Safety and navigation features are strong for the price, including offline maps, turn-by-turn guidance, rerouting, POIs, and backtrack-style return options.

Size options and wrist fit favor small wrists and compact-wearable shoppers, though the product line itself remains very small and style-focused.

Size options are limited because the watch comes in one case size, although reviewers also liked the smaller, more manageable form factor.

Sleep tracking was mixed: some reviewers found scores and timing aligned, while others saw missed sleep duration and less useful graphs.

Sleep tracking is one of the best-reviewed attributes, with detailed stages, wakeups, HRV, breathing data, and sleep scores.

Smartphone notifications arrive reliably, but control is limited, especially on iPhone and when trying to filter app-specific alerts.

Smartphone notifications are supported, including calls, SMS, app alerts, WhatsApp, and notification viewing, with richer replies on Android.

Smartwatch features are useful but lean, including notifications, weather, calendar, Find My Phone, Morning Report, Garmin Pay on Classic, and music controls.

Smartwatch features are broad for the price, including calls, notifications, stand reminders, Find My Phone, camera control, speaker/mic, and app extras.

Software smoothness improved over the original Lily, especially gesture wake and connected GPS handoff, though some touch controls remained less fluid.

Software smoothness is praised, with reviewers noting little lag, no stutters, and smooth operation.

Step counting was broadly supported and valued, including pool-length and walking evidence, though one user contrasted it with an older inaccurate watch rather than direct lab validation.

Stress tracking was praised as engaging and useful, often linked with Body Battery and daily wellness patterns.

Stress tracking is repeatedly included among the automatic health features and wellness insights.

Style and design were the broadest positive theme, with reviewers repeatedly describing the Lily 2 as elegant, classy, jewelry-like, and more wearable than sporty watches.

Style and design are mostly positive for a premium-looking budget watch, but some reviewers wanted more color and strap choices.

Third-party app support is limited overall, but manually started workouts can sync to outside services like Strava through Garmin Connect.

Third-party support is mixed: key training platforms like Strava, TrainingPeaks, Runna, and Intervals appear, but broader app-store access and some training-app links are limited.

Touchscreen responsiveness was mixed to weak, with several reviewers finding it sluggish, less fluid, or insufficiently refined despite one positive touch-screen comment.

Touchscreen use is functional, but reviewers emphasized the value of physical buttons and did not deeply praise touch responsiveness itself.

The user interface is usable but not polished; reviewers described it as fine, simple, or learnable, while also noting extra steps and learning curves.

The interface is generally beginner-friendly, smooth, and jargon-free.

Value is context-dependent: reviewers liked the style, battery, and feature set, but comparisons to cheaper Fitbits or similarly priced Garmin models limited enthusiasm.

Value for money is the strongest consensus point, with reviewers repeatedly contrasting the price with the premium build, maps, battery, and health features.

Voice assistant support is present through Zepp Flow/AI assistant controls and commands, with generally positive but not deeply tested impressions.

Watch face quality is basic, with a handful of monochrome options and repeated wishes for more color or more choices.

Watch face quality is mixed: there are Zepp App Store watch faces, but one reviewer questioned whether some looked AI-generated.

Water resistance is a strength, with 5ATM or 50-meter swim/shower-safe evidence across multiple reviews.

Water resistance is solid for everyday use and swimming, with multiple reviews mentioning 5 ATM protection.

Wellness insights are a standout, especially Body Battery, stress, hydration, sleep score, and Garmin Connect data that help users understand daily energy.

Wellness insights are broad and digestible, with BioCharge, HRV, sleep, respiratory data, readiness, fatigue, and recovery-style feedback.

Wi-Fi connectivity appears weak or absent for map transfer; one reviewer specifically says map transfer is Bluetooth-only rather than Wi-Fi.

Workout variety is good for casual users with 18 profiles and new dance, HIIT, rowing, and meditation options, but missing indoor cycling and some sports frustrates reviewers.

Workout tracking variety is strong, with more than 170 sport modes and detailed running, hybrid, strength, treadmill, and swimming profiles.