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2026 comparison
Updated Jan 16, 2026
|Sources: Amazon, ManufacturerAmazfit Balance vs Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
If you are torn between Amazfit Balance and Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED), this breakdown is for you. We compare specs, pros, and cons so you can decide confidently.
Ratings: 4.4★ vs 4.6★
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Amazfit Balance
★4.4
(1,543)•Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 and above; iOS 14.0 and above
Operating System:Zepp OS 4
Case Size:46mm (1.81 x 1.81 x 0.42 inches; without heart rate base)
Case Material:Aluminum alloy middle frame; fiber-reinforced polymer bottom shell
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Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
★4.6
(1,856)•Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required)
Operating System:Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:47mm x 47mm x 13.8mm
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover; Bezel: Titanium or Stainless Steel; Lens: Sapphire Crystal or Corning Gorilla Glass
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Comparison: Amazfit Balance vs Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Amazfit Balance
★4.4(1,543)Amazon
Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
★4.6(1,856)Amazon
| Criterion | Amazfit Balance | Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★4.4(1,543)Amazon | ★4.6(1,856)Amazon |
Compatibility | Android 7.0 and above; iOS 14.0 and above | iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required) |
Operating System | Zepp OS 4 | Garmin OS (Proprietary) |
Case Size | 46mm (1.81 x 1.81 x 0.42 inches; without heart rate base) | 47mm x 47mm x 13.8mm |
Case Material | Aluminum alloy middle frame; fiber-reinforced polymer bottom shell | Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover; Bezel: Titanium or Stainless Steel; Lens: Sapphire Crystal or Corning Gorilla Glass |
Display Type | AMOLED (tempered glass; anti-glare bezel; anti-fingerprint coating) | AMOLED; Always-On Mode available; 1000 nits peak brightness |
Display Size | 1.5" | 1.4 in (35.56 mm) diameter |
Resolution | 480 x 480 (323 ppi) | 454 x 454 pixels |
Always On Display | Yes (AOD mode supported) | Yes (optional) |
Water Resistance | 5 ATM (up to 164 feet) | 10 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 100 meters); Dive rated (EN13319) to 40 meters |
Durability | Tempered glass with anti-glare bezel; aluminum alloy frame | MIL-STD-810H thermal/shock/water tested; Leakproof inductive buttons; Metal sensor guard |
GPS | Circularly-polarized GPS antenna; dual-band positioning; 6 satellite positioning systems | Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou |
Connectivity | WLAN 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi |
NFC Payments | Zepp Pay (supported in select regions and banks only) | Garmin Pay |
Sensors | BioTracker 5.0 PPG biometric sensor (8PD + 2LED); BIA bioelectric impedance sensor; 3-axis acceleration sensor; Gyroscope sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Air pressure sensor; Ambient light sensor; Temperature sensor | Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor; Depth sensor (up to 40m) |
Health Features | Readiness score; 24/7 heart rate, SpO2, and stress monitoring; sleep tracking (incl. breathing quality); one-tap health measurement; body composition measurement (BIA) | Body Battery energy monitoring; Sleep Score and advanced sleep monitoring; HDR (High Dynamic Range) Heart Rate; HRV Status; Pulse Ox; Nap detection; Jet Lag Adviser; Health Snapshot |
Workout Modes | 156 sports modes; Zepp Coach; offline maps and navigation; training templates + interval training; supports external peripherals (HR belt, cycling power meter) | Advanced Strength Training (sport-specific); Recreational Scuba Diving (Single Gas); Apnea Diving; HIIT; Trail Run; Ultra Run; Triathlon; Skiing; Surfing; Golf (43,000+ courses); and 100+ others |
Storage | Music storage (approx. 2.2GB available) | 32GB |
Speaker Mic | Microphone: supported; speaker: supported | Built-in Speaker; Built-in Microphone (Voice Assistant & Voice Notes) |
Calls | Yes (Bluetooth phone calls) | Yes (Make and take calls via Bluetooth connection to smartphone) |
Battery | 475 mAh; up to 14 days typical use; up to 25 days battery saver; up to 5 days AOD; up to 26 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); up to 52 hours (Power Saving GPS mode) | Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days (7 days always-on); GPS Only: Up to 47 hours (37 hours always-on); Expedition GPS: Up to 14 days |
Charging | Magnetic charging; approx. 2 hours | Garmin proprietary plug charger (clip-on data cable) |
Weight | 1.23 oz (without strap) | Stainless Steel: 80g (Case only: 59g); Titanium: 73g (Case only: 52g) |
Band Sizes | 22mm width; silicone fits wrists 5.51–8.46 inches; nylon fits wrists 5.51–8.27 inches | Fits wrists 125–208mm (Silicone); QuickFit 22mm compatible |
Extras | Zepp Flow AI voice assistant; Amazon Alexa integrated; offline voice assistant; mini apps ecosystem; quick reply on Android (supported apps vary) | Built-in LED Flashlight (Red/White strobes); Dynamic Round-Trip Routing; Garmin Messenger app; Outdoor Maps+ (subscription optional); SkiView Maps |
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Amazfit Balance
Rating:★4.4(1,543)Amazon
Compatibility:Android 7.0 and above; iOS 14.0 and above
Operating System:Zepp OS 4
Case Size:46mm (1.81 x 1.81 x 0.42 inches; without heart rate base)
Case Material:Aluminum alloy middle frame; fiber-reinforced polymer bottom shell
Display Type:AMOLED (tempered glass; anti-glare bezel; anti-fingerprint coating)
Display Size:1.5"
Resolution:480 x 480 (323 ppi)
Always On Display:Yes (AOD mode supported)
Water Resistance:5 ATM (up to 164 feet)
Durability:Tempered glass with anti-glare bezel; aluminum alloy frame
GPS:Circularly-polarized GPS antenna; dual-band positioning; 6 satellite positioning systems
Connectivity:WLAN 2.4GHz; Bluetooth 5.3
NFC Payments:Zepp Pay (supported in select regions and banks only)
Sensors:BioTracker 5.0 PPG biometric sensor (8PD + 2LED); BIA bioelectric impedance sensor; 3-axis acceleration sensor; Gyroscope sensor; Geomagnetic sensor; Air pressure sensor; Ambient light sensor; Temperature sensor
Health Features:Readiness score; 24/7 heart rate, SpO2, and stress monitoring; sleep tracking (incl. breathing quality); one-tap health measurement; body composition measurement (BIA)
Workout Modes:156 sports modes; Zepp Coach; offline maps and navigation; training templates + interval training; supports external peripherals (HR belt, cycling power meter)
Storage:Music storage (approx. 2.2GB available)
Speaker Mic:Microphone: supported; speaker: supported
Calls:Yes (Bluetooth phone calls)
Battery:475 mAh; up to 14 days typical use; up to 25 days battery saver; up to 5 days AOD; up to 26 hours (Accuracy GPS mode); up to 52 hours (Power Saving GPS mode)
Charging:Magnetic charging; approx. 2 hours
Weight:1.23 oz (without strap)
Band Sizes:22mm width; silicone fits wrists 5.51–8.46 inches; nylon fits wrists 5.51–8.27 inches
Extras:Zepp Flow AI voice assistant; Amazon Alexa integrated; offline voice assistant; mini apps ecosystem; quick reply on Android (supported apps vary)
✓ Pros:
- • Extremely lightweight design (1.23 oz) for its 46mm size
- • Advanced wellness toolkit including Readiness score and Body Composition analysis
- • Highly accurate dual-band circularly-polarized GPS system
- • Bluetooth calling and local music storage (2.2GB) for phone-free workouts
- • Efficient battery life managing up to 2 weeks on a single charge
✗ Cons:
- • Zepp Pay ecosystem is limited compared to Apple or Google Pay
- • Significant battery impact when Always-On Display is enabled (drops to 5 days)
- • No LTE/Cellular connectivity option available
- • Limited third-party app ecosystem compared to WearOS or watchOS
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED)
Rating:★4.6(1,856)Amazon
Compatibility:iPhone, Android (Garmin Connect app required)
Operating System:Garmin OS (Proprietary)
Case Size:47mm x 47mm x 13.8mm
Case Material:Fiber-reinforced polymer with metal rear cover; Bezel: Titanium or Stainless Steel; Lens: Sapphire Crystal or Corning Gorilla Glass
Display Type:AMOLED; Always-On Mode available; 1000 nits peak brightness
Display Size:1.4 in (35.56 mm) diameter
Resolution:454 x 454 pixels
Always On Display:Yes (optional)
Water Resistance:10 ATM (water pressure equivalent to 100 meters); Dive rated (EN13319) to 40 meters
Durability:MIL-STD-810H thermal/shock/water tested; Leakproof inductive buttons; Metal sensor guard
GPS:Multi-band GNSS with SatIQ technology; GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, BeiDou
Connectivity:Bluetooth; ANT+; Wi-Fi
NFC Payments:Garmin Pay
Sensors:Elevate Gen 5 optical heart rate sensor; Pulse Ox blood oxygen saturation monitor; Barometric altimeter; Compass; Gyroscope; Accelerometer; Thermometer; Ambient light sensor; Depth sensor (up to 40m)
Health Features:Body Battery energy monitoring; Sleep Score and advanced sleep monitoring; HDR (High Dynamic Range) Heart Rate; HRV Status; Pulse Ox; Nap detection; Jet Lag Adviser; Health Snapshot
Workout Modes:Advanced Strength Training (sport-specific); Recreational Scuba Diving (Single Gas); Apnea Diving; HIIT; Trail Run; Ultra Run; Triathlon; Skiing; Surfing; Golf (43,000+ courses); and 100+ others
Storage:32GB
Speaker Mic:Built-in Speaker; Built-in Microphone (Voice Assistant & Voice Notes)
Calls:Yes (Make and take calls via Bluetooth connection to smartphone)
Battery:Smartwatch mode: Up to 16 days (7 days always-on); GPS Only: Up to 47 hours (37 hours always-on); Expedition GPS: Up to 14 days
Charging:Garmin proprietary plug charger (clip-on data cable)
Weight:Stainless Steel: 80g (Case only: 59g); Titanium: 73g (Case only: 52g)
Band Sizes:Fits wrists 125–208mm (Silicone); QuickFit 22mm compatible
Extras:Built-in LED Flashlight (Red/White strobes); Dynamic Round-Trip Routing; Garmin Messenger app; Outdoor Maps+ (subscription optional); SkiView Maps
✓ Pros:
- • Stunning 1.4" AMOLED display with efficient 16-day battery life
- • Legitimate dive computer features (rated to 40m) with leakproof buttons
- • Built-in LED flashlight and speaker/mic add massive daily utility
- • Comprehensive offline mapping and best-in-class GPS accuracy
- • Advanced strength training plans tailored to specific sports
✗ Cons:
- • High price point compared to previous generations and competitors
- • No LTE/Cellular option for standalone calls (requires phone nearby)
- • Titanium models with Sapphire glass command a significant premium
- • Proprietary charging cable (not wireless/Qi standard)
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Check Price on Amazon→
Which one is better?
Looking at user satisfaction (Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED): 4.4★ vs Amazfit Balance: 4.6★), Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) pulls ahead. The gap is small—choose based on the priorities below.
Who should buy each?
For performance and polish: Amazfit Balance (Extremely lightweight design (1.23 oz) for its 46mm size, Advanced wellness toolkit including Readiness score and Body Composition analysis)
For value or versatility: Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) (Stunning 1.4" AMOLED display with efficient 16-day battery life, Legitimate dive computer features (rated to 40m) with leakproof buttons)
Conclusion
We hope this comparison helps you buy with confidence. Both products are dependable; the right one depends on how you will use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
+Which has better value?
Amazfit Balance excels if you value extremely lightweight design (1.23 oz) for its 46mm size. Garmin fēnix 8 (47mm AMOLED) is better if you prioritize stunning 1.4" amoled display with efficient 16-day battery life. Pick based on your budget and daily use.
+Is this an independent review?
Yes. We use affiliate links for monetization, but recommendations are research-driven and unbiased.
+Do newer models exist?
Check release timelines from the manufacturers and compare pricing before you buy. We refresh this page when major updates land.
Affiliate disclosure
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