Garmin Forerunner 245 Music Black
Score: 85/100
Amazfit Active Max
Score: 88/100Rankings
The Amazfit Active Max is a mid-range smartwatch with an ultra-bright 3,000-nit AMOLED display and a remarkable 25-day battery life. Its large square case, limited color choice, and region-locked NFC are notable compromises. Best suited for fitness enthusiasts who need long endurance, ample storage, and GPS, especially users in the EMEA region.
The Forerunner 245 Music is a lightweight GPS running smartwatch with a vivid color display, onboard music streaming, and deep training analytics. It misses a barometric altimeter and its music UI can be cumbersome, which may frustrate some runners. Ideal for serious runners who want music without a phone and detailed performance data.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
168 hours | 600 hoursbest | |
30.48 mm | 38.1 mmbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 36.3 gbest | 55.86 g |
— | 170best | |
— | 4 GBbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Build & Design(1) | ||
Weight (g) | 36.3 g | 55.86 g |
Battery & Power(1) | ||
Battery Life (hours) | 168 hours | 600 hours |
Display(2) | ||
Display Size (mm) | 30.48 mm | 38.1 mm |
Display Resolution | 240x240 | 480 x 480 pixels |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consider the Forerunner 245 Music a top pick for runners, highlighting its vibrant display, solid battery life, seamless music integration, and deep training analytics.
Everyday users love the long battery, reliable tracking, and easy music access, often mentioning the convenience of streaming without a phone. Common complaints revolve around clunky playlist navigation, faster battery drain when using music heavily, and occasional audio dropouts.
“one of the best running watches around”
“incredibly tough and practical”
“"the best budget smartwatch of 2026?"”
Professional reviewers commend the Active Max for its standout battery longevity, ultra-bright display, generous storage, and accurate GPS/HR tracking, positioning it as the best budget smartwatch of 2026. However, they point out its relatively large case, less premium aluminum build, and region-locked NFC as notable drawbacks.
Everyday users consistently praise the watch's outdoor-readable screen, long-lasting battery, lightweight comfort, and ample storage for media and maps. Recurring complaints focus on the chunky size, limited color choice, and NFC being unavailable outside EMEA.
