Amazfit c​heetah 2 ultra review: premium trail‑running smartwatch under $600

At a glance:

• Cheetah 2 Ultra priced just under $600, targeting trail runners
• Offers dual‑band GPS, 3,000‑nit AMOLED display and up to 33 hours battery in ultra‑trail mode
• Competes with Garmin Fenix 8 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra 3 but adds cost vs cheaper Amazfit T‑Rex 3

What the watch offers

Amazfit’s Cheetah 2 Ultra is the brand’s most expensive model to date, retailing at $599 (just shy of $600). It is built around a grade‑5 titanium case, sapphire‑glass‑protected AMOLED screen, and comes with both silicone and nylon straps. The display can reach a peak brightness of 3,000 nits, matching the Apple Watch Ultra 3, and includes a top‑mounted flashlight with adjustable brightness and a red‑light mode for night use.

The watch runs Zepp OS, Zepp Health’s proprietary software layer. While the UI is packed with sport‑specific data screens—trail‑running, mountain biking, golf, open‑water swim, and more—the OS still feels busier than Apple’s or Garmin’s polished ecosystems. Notably, the Cheetah 2 Ultra lacks LTE, satellite connectivity, and native streaming‑service music playback (e.g., Spotify).

Real‑world testing on Snowdon

The reviewer spent a day on Snowdon in North Wales, tackling climbs that range from 3,400 m to 9,200 m of elevation gain, mirroring sections of the UTMB Snowdonia race. A Garmin Fenix 8 Pro was worn on the opposite wrist for direct comparison. Both watches locked onto GPS quickly, and basic metrics such as total distance matched closely.

The Cheetah 2 Ultra’s multi‑band (dual‑band) GPS performed reliably in dense forest and rocky terrain, though the reviewer notes that not all dual‑band implementations are equal. Navigation worked smoothly after maps were pre‑downloaded in the Zepp Health app; route deviations triggered a loud beep and on‑screen prompts, similar to Garmin’s alerts.

Battery life and power‑saving modes

In ultra‑trail‑running mode the watch delivers up to 33 hours of runtime, enough for most ultra‑marathon events. By disabling multi‑band GPS, reducing sampling frequency to once per minute, dimming the screen, and turning off the always‑on display, the battery can stretch to a theoretical 228 hours. In practice, the reviewer observed a 13 % drop after three hours, equating to roughly 25 hours, which is still better than the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro’s 16‑hour claim in the same mode.

The battery drain is heavily influenced by screen brightness; operating at the maximum 3,000‑nit level shortens endurance noticeably. The watch also supports a standard 80‑hour battery figure when GPS is off, making it versatile for non‑running days.

Software ecosystem and limitations

Zepp OS has improved over the years but still lags behind Apple’s watchOS and Garmin’s UI in terms of fluidity and third‑party support. The built‑in music player cannot stream services such as Spotify, and the Zepp Health app storefront offers a limited selection of third‑party apps. Users looking for a seamless smart‑watch experience outside of workouts may find the ecosystem under‑featured.

Additionally, the Cheetah 2 Ultra does not include LTE or the newest satellite‑messaging capabilities found on rival premium watches. For many trail athletes, these omissions are acceptable, but they keep the device from being a true all‑in‑one companion.

How it stacks up against rivals

Compared with the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro (≈ $1,200) and Apple Watch Ultra 3 (≈ $799), the Cheetah 2 Ultra offers similar GPS accuracy, a comparable brightness level, and a more streamlined, road‑running‑oriented aesthetic. It undercuts Garmin and Apple on price by roughly $600, yet it sits $200 above Amazfit’s own T‑Rex 3, which provides solid GPS, decent mapping, and sufficient battery life for most ultra events.

The T‑Rex 3’s rugged look and lower price point may appeal to budget‑conscious trail runners, while the Cheetah 2 Ultra targets users who want premium materials (titanium, sapphire) and the brightest screen on the market. The reviewer concludes that the Cheetah 2 Ultra is not a “must‑have” addition to the lineup, but it does hold its own against higher‑priced competitors.

Verdict

Amazfit’s Cheetah 2 Ultra demonstrates that a sub‑$600 smartwatch can deliver flagship‑level hardware—dual‑band GPS, a 3,000‑nit display, and a titanium case—while still offering respectable battery life for ultra‑trail events. Its software, however, remains a step behind the polished ecosystems of Apple and Garmin, and the existence of the cheaper T‑Rex 3 creates internal cannibalisation. For serious trail runners who value premium build quality and are willing to trade off some smart features, the Cheetah 2 Ultra is a compelling, though not essential, upgrade.