Every New Feature Added To Amazfit Watches In 2026 (So Far)

When you want a health-focused smartwatch that's available at an affordable price, Amazfit is a brand worth considering. The owner of Amazfit is Zepp Health, and it began offering its Amazfit products in 2015. While some tech companies that are known for creating inexpensive products may avoid adding new features to keep costs down, Zepp Health continues to expand the features found with Amazfit watches, aiming to give current and new customers a reason to stick with the brand.

Zepp Health has followed this philosophy throughout 2026, adding several new features to Amazfit watches. Some of these include better data for tracking pickleball workouts, improved ability to map your exercise routes, the ability to mark the time you're at rest during swimming workouts, the ability to view suggestions for next training steps after extremely hard workouts to allow for better recovery, and the ability to apply default settings each time you do a workout (which saves time compared to manually entering the settings every time). These new features might be enough to entice some users to consider an Amazfit alternative to a more expensive smartwatch brand.

These software and firmware updates are available for several different Amazfit models of watches. However, some of the features may be only partially available or not available on certain models. Receiving regular upgrades like this is a vital benefit of these devices. You can expect the length of time an Amazfit smartwatch will get software support to be at least two years.

If you're highly competitive, you might think the only statistics that matter in pickleball are the final score and how many times you've beaten your opponents. While that can be true, many people also want to be sure they're receiving the best possible workout when playing pickleball. This fast-growing sport provides a lot of movement to raise heart rates while enhancing balance and flexibility. The cardio workout can strengthen your heart, burn calories, and make your muscles stronger. 

Some people like using fitness trackers and smartwatches when playing pickleball to track the benefits of the workout. Players could use the data to measure when heart rates are the highest. They'd then use that data to train specifically to avoid lulls in performance.

Amazfit watches already track your heart rate. In 2026, though, Amazfit software updates added features specifically aimed at pickleball players. One software update focuses on measuring the number of swings you take while playing, which can help you figure out why you're sore the next day (and if you were overdoing it). The software update can measure forehand and backhand swings, too, helping you determine whether you're relying too much on one swing type.

If you like to run, hike, or bike in remote areas, following an accurate route is a necessity. You want accurate distance measurements for workout tracking (and to avoid getting lost, of course). Among Amazfit's new features in 2026 is improved route tracking and monitoring, including improved waypoint measurements (an Amazfit waypoint is a distinct location marker on your route).

If your route involves making a lot of back-and-forth movement, new updates for some Amazfit models create more accurate distance measurements during turns. The feature also helps you more accurately follow the route with notifications about upcoming turns. A mid-2026 update added a feature called Advance Up that gives you the option of previewing the upcoming route. It helps you figure out what turns and challenging sections are upcoming on the route so you can plan accordingly. 

One of the software updates focuses primarily on waypoints, allowing you to organize them by type. You can also classify them with particular icons, making it easier to identify them at a glance. If you like to come back to previous routes, you can now save up to 100 different routes.

Tracking swimming workouts traditionally has had challenges because of the wet environment and the need to monotonously count laps in the pool. Using a fitness watch that can handle the water simplifies this process. Most Amazfit watches are already water-resistant and usable for swimming. A few software updates for Amazfit smartwatches in 2026 have focused on taking advantage of this and making the devices more useful for tracking swimming workouts.

One of the biggest upgrades involves being able to signify when you rested for recovery during swimming workouts (you'll have to press a button on the watch to signify when you're entering and exiting a rest period). Separating the workout from rest periods should yield better data and help you determine whether you need to organize your workouts differently. Athletes wanting to work on speed need longer rest periods, while those wanting better stamina and fitness should use shorter rest periods. You can now also sort your swimming workouts by the stroke you're doing. Finally, Amazfit improved its ability to calculate and manage stroke rates, helping you determine if you're maintaining the proper pace.

Amazfit has previously offered a feature called Full Recovery Time that provided advice on the amount of time your body will likely need to prepare for the next workout session. This can be as much as 96 hours when you perform a particularly difficult workout. With some software upgrades in 2026, though, Amazfit has changed the name of this feature and added some helpful processes.

The new feature is called Next Hard Session on certain Amazfit watches. The software measures the data collected during your latest workout and calculates the best way to manage your recovery before the next high-intensity workout. With the more detailed data from the Amazfit watch, you can better balance when to perform difficult and easier workouts. Additionally, if you want to do a low- or medium-intensity workout after an extremely tough session (instead of another high-intensity workout), the Amazfit software can give you a specific amount of time to wait for recovery. Before the software update and when using Full Recovery Time, the time estimates were more of a generic estimate of how long you should wait for recovery.

If you find yourself making the same adjustments to your Amazfit's settings before every workout, it can feel like a waste of time. A new feature released in 2026 (called Athlete Defaults) allows you to enact a collection of recommended settings before each workout by activating one toggle. Athlete Defaults will enable the "do not disturb" setting on the watch, ensure that the GPS feature has maximum sensitivity, and disable alerts related to the workout parameters. Selecting Athlete Defaults lets you begin your workout faster than reconfiguring each setting manually (and eliminates the chance of you potentially forgetting to enact one of them).

If your model of Amazfit supports Athlete Defaults, use the Zepp app and look under the Workout Settings menu (which is available under Device Settings). These settings minimize distractions during your workout. Using Athlete Defaults also ensures that your Amazfit watch is collecting the most useful data for tracking routes and distances. Understand that a potential downside to using Athlete Defaults is that enabling the highest level of precision for the GPS will drain the battery faster.