Don't spend hundreds — this $79 Black Friday fitness watch deal gives athletes all the essentials

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The Amazfit Active 2 offers impressive value for athletes, and you can snag it for as low as $79, or $99 for the better version.

A photo of the Amazfit Active 2 on a wrist, showing different sports mode button icons.
(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

The usual rule for Black Friday is that you need to spend more to save more. You can save $350 on a Garmin Fenix 8, but you're still spending $850. Sometimes, you need to turn down the flashy hundreds-off watch deals and find a device that was already affordable to begin with, like $80 off the Versa 4. And even that might be too pricey for you, once you add the subscription.

I frequently cover the best cheap Android watches and best fitness watches for this site, and so I'm well-equipped to point out the best under-$100 Black Friday deal for anyone looking for a cheap watch that doesn't skimp too much on quality. My advice? Start with the Amazfit Active 2 at $99 ($30 off) on Amazon.

Amazfit Active 2
Save 20%
Amazfit Active 2: was $99.99 now $79.99 at Amazon

or: Amazfit Active 2 Premium: $129.99 $99.99 at Amazon

Choose the Premium model to get sapphire glass and a second leather strap with the default silicone band. Premium or not, the Active 2 comes with some impressive perks: A 1.32-inch, 2,000-nit display surrounded by stainless steel, GPS tracking, a mic & speaker for calls and commands, 160 sports modes, and some basic map tools.

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✅ Recommended if: You want a budget watch that doesn't feel cheap, with hardware upgrades like an accurate PPG with skin temperature data for sleep analysis, a bright AMOLED display with sapphire glass, and up to 10 days of battery life.

❌ Skip this deal if: You want to save even more with the Bip 6 for only $64.99 — which has similar perks like a 2,000-nit display, mic and speaker for calls, and GPS — or if you're willing to pay extra for a Balance 2, with its premium specs and three weeks of battery life.

Photo of the Amazfit Active 2 Round smartwatch sitting on a shelf, the display showing an Outdoor Running activity start screen with a "GPS locating" icon, HR icon, and large "GO" button.

(Image credit: Michael Hicks / Android Central)

Generally speaking, Amazfit watches have higher-quality hardware than you'd expect for such low prices, but they have steadily risen over time, with models like the T-Rex 3 Pro and Balance 2 falling into Garmin territory, even with Black Friday deals. The Active 2 is the best option at a price range where other brands can't compete.

Otherwise, you can look at cheap alternatives like this $49 Nothing smartwatch with an 11-day battery life and an impressive list of features. But having personally tested the Amazfit Active 2, I'm more confident about its quality level.

If you're willing to spend a little more than $100, however, the Galaxy Watch 7 at $129 ($120 off) is an easy recommendation and an immediate upgrade over the Active 2 — if you have an Android phone and don't care about daily charging.

Michael L Hicks
Michael L Hicks
Senior Editor, Wearables & AR/VR

Michael is Android Central's resident expert on wearables and fitness. Before joining Android Central, he freelanced for years at Techradar, Wareable, Windows Central, and Digital Trends. Channeling his love of running, he established himself as an expert on fitness watches, testing and reviewing models from Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, COROS, Polar, Amazfit, Suunto, and more.

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