Amazfit Balance 3 Review for HYROX: The Race Mode, the Accuracy and Who Should Buy It

The Amazfit Balance 3 is the watch built most directly for HYROX. It has a dedicated race mode, HYROX training plans and race simulations, and the5krunner calls it “the best and most featured HYROX watch you can buy today.” Here’s what that review found, and where the watch falls short.

This review is based on Amazfit’s published specs and the5krunner’s independent testing, listed under Sources. We haven’t tested the watch ourselves. Our Amazon links are affiliate links; see our affiliate disclosure.

Price and specs

	Amazfit Balance 3
US price	$369.99 stainless steel; $449.99 titanium (listed as coming soon)
On sale	June 2, 2026 (stainless steel)
Display	1.5-inch AMOLED, sapphire glass, up to 3,000 nits
Case	51.4 mm
Battery (claimed)	Up to 21 days typical, up to 41 hours accurate GPS
Battery (reviewer’s estimate)	About 7 to 10 days with brighter screen and regular GPS

Prices, availability and display specs are from Amazfit’s press release; case size and the battery estimate are from the5krunner.

The HYROX features

This is the reason to buy it. the5krunner lists:

• HYROX race mode covering all eight stations and the 1 km runs between them, in Singles, Doubles and Relay formats.
• HYROX PFT benchmark and a 33-workout library.
• Training mode with AMRAP, EMOM and Tabata timers.
• Race simulations and HYROX Virtual Pace.

Amazfit also lists HYROX training plans and post-race analysis of pacing, station performance, rankings and cumulative race time.

Two caveats from the review:

• Auto station detection wasn’t tested. The race mode is described as advancing automatically as it detects changes in movement, but the reviewer’s simulations used manual advancing, and they admit they “forgot to press the button” between stations.
• Station data is thin. SkiErg power, rest pauses and rep counts weren’t in the logged data. Muscular strain needs the separately sold Helio Strap Pro.

How accurate is it?

Test (the5krunner)	Result
HYROX simulation, heart rate	Excellent
100 km ride, heart rate vs chest strap	Near-identical (bias −0.1 bpm)
Tempo run, heart rate	Good, with some dropouts
Trail run, heart rate	Fair (bias −9.4 bpm)
GPS, standard 10-mile route	77%, versus 85% for the Balance 2

The pattern: heart rate is strong in the gym and on the bike, which is what most HYROX training looks like, but less steady on some outdoor runs. GPS is, in the reviewer’s words, “average by 2026 standards.” Since HYROX is indoors, GPS matters less on race day than in training; our best watch for HYROX guide explains why. If you want the most reliable heart rate during stations, pair any watch with a strap; see our chest strap vs wrist guide.

Pros and cons

Pros

• The only watch the5krunner found with official HYROX race modes, PFT benchmarking and a training library
• Strong heart rate accuracy in the gym and on the bike
• Bright screen that’s readable in direct sunlight
• Offline maps, turn-by-turn navigation, Bluetooth calling and a flashlight
• Syncs with Strava, TrainingPeaks, Runna and Intervals.icu

Cons

• Average GPS accuracy
• Heart rate drift and dropouts on some outdoor runs
• A 51.4 mm case that’s too big for small wrists
• About 500 apps, against roughly 4,000 for Garmin
• Muscular strain tracking needs an extra strap

Who should buy it

Buy it if HYROX or hybrid training is your main sport and you want race modes and workouts built in, without setting them up yourself.

Skip it if you have small wrists, care most about GPS accuracy for road racing, or want Garmin’s app ecosystem. If that’s you, compare our Garmin Forerunner 265 vs 970 guide.

Check price on Amazon: Amazfit Balance 3 · Garmin Forerunner 265

Whatever you wear, set it up before race day and practise with it. Our HYROX SkiErg guide and pacing splits give you targets to pace against.