ConsFirst / Smartwatches & fitness trackers / Compare
Apple Watch Ultra 4 vs Amazfit Active 3 Premium
Which one has the downsides you can live with?
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The short answer
Apple Watch Ultra 4 ranks higher (#3 vs #4 of 8) and scores better on fitness tracking, smart features, durability. Amazfit Active 3 Premium wins on comfort.
The biggest complaint about the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is huge and uncomfortable for smaller wrists; for the Amazfit Active 3 Premium it's limited smartwatch features. Pick the one whose catch bothers you less.
Side by side
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | Amazfit Active 3 Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Rank in smartwatches & fitness trackers | #3 | #4 |
| Price tier | $$$ | $ |
| Type | Smartwatch | Smartwatch |
| Amazon 1–2★ share | — | 5% |
| Overall score | 4.1 | 3.6 |
| Battery life | 4.0 | 4.0 |
| Fitness tracking | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Smart features | 4.5 | 2.5 |
| Comfort | 2.5 | 4.0 |
| Durability | 5.0 | 3.5 |
Price tiers: $ under $150 · $$ $150–350 · $$$ over $350. Highlighted = clearly better (a score gap of 0.3 or more, or a 1–2★ share at least 3 points lower). Scores are explained, with sources, on each product's page.
Top complaints
Apple Watch Ultra 4
- Huge and uncomfortable for smaller wrists
Wirecutter's tester, with 6-inch wrists, found the 49 mm watch uncomfortable to sleep in and says it slides around during exercise. She suggests the 40 mm SE or 42 mm Series 12 for small wrists.
Source: Wirecutter (Apple Watch guide) - Minor upgrade over the Ultra 3
Wirecutter says it brings no design changes and largely the same health and fitness features, so it will feel stale to Ultra owners. Tom's Guide also says the design and display are basically unchanged.
- Expensive, with some features not ready
Wirecutter says it costs double a 42 mm Series 12, which has the same health features, and the Audio Intelligence features aren't ready to try yet.
Source: Wirecutter (Apple Watch guide)
Amazfit Active 3 Premium
- Limited smartwatch features
Tom's Guide says you don't get the emergency alerts, on-watch calls or third-party apps of Apple and Google watches. Runtesters calls the ecosystem weaker, with a smaller app store, payments not available everywhere, and less polished watch faces and music support.
- Heart rate struggles on hard efforts
Runtesters says heart rate is good overall but falls behind during high-intensity runs. Amazon's summary says customers note accuracy issues, especially with high-intensity heart-rate monitoring. Runtesters also notes it has only single-band GPS.
- Battery short of the 12-day claim
Tom's Guide got just over a week, about eight days, against Amazfit's 12-day claim. Runtesters says GPS battery life seems shorter than advertised and that it needs a proprietary charger.
- Few style options and phone hiccups
Tom's Guide's only listed con is the lack of 'feminine' style options despite being aimed at women; it comes in black, navy and white. Amazon owners report mixed experiences with compatibility.
Who should pick which
Pick the Apple Watch Ultra 4 if
Hikers, triathletes and divers with an iPhone
Going two or more days between charges
People who want a big, rugged screen
Skip it if: You have small wrists or want to sleep in it comfortably; You own an Ultra 3; You don't need endurance or outdoor features
Pick the Amazfit Active 3 Premium if
Budget buyers who want serious fitness tracking
Week-long battery life
People who switch between iPhone and Android
Skip it if: You want fall detection, health alerts or third-party apps; You do high-intensity interval training and need precise heart rate; You want dual-band GPS
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