Active 2 Square vs Active 3 Premium: Shape or Controls?
Automated research by Top10Scout editorial team · Not hands-on tested · Last verified 2026-10-05
Published · Updated
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Choose Active 2 Square for the rectangular display and included leather-and-sport-strap package. Choose Active 3 Premium if you prefer a round watch with more physical buttons and the higher typical-use battery rating. Both have sapphire glass. Do not pay specifically for on-watch route creation until its current firmware workflow is confirmed: the official page gives conflicting navigation instructions.
What does the extra money change?
The differences that affect the choice
| Decision point | Active 2 Square | Active 3 Premium |
|---|---|---|
| US listed hardware price | $149.99 | $169.99 |
| Screen diagonal | 1.75" | 1.32" |
| Lens | Sapphire glass | Sapphire glass |
| Weight without strap | 31.4g | 38g |
| Physical buttons | 2 | 4 |
| Typical-use rating | Up to 10 days | Up to 12 days |
The checked US manufacturer prices are $149.99 for Active 2 Square and $169.99 for Active 3 Premium. That is a $20.00 difference in listed hardware prices; tax treatment and delivery costs still depend on checkout. At that gap, the newer watch is tempting, but it only wins if its changes suit your routine.
Both list sapphire glass, so do not treat the word Premium as proof that the older Square has an inferior cover. Square also includes an additional red silicone sport strap alongside its standard leather strap. That package makes sense if you change the watch from a work accessory into a workout accessory. Someone who wears silicone all week should give the extra strap less weight.
Which screen shape is easier to live with?
Square has a 1.75" screen in a 43.32x36.9x9mm case. Active 3 Premium uses a 1.32" round display and a 45 x 45 x 11mm case. Those case dimensions exclude the sensor base. A rectangle can offer a broad view of text without requiring the same width as a round face; a diagonal is not an apples-to-apples measure of visible screen area.
Square is also lighter in the manufacturer figures without straps: 31.4g against 38g. We have not worn them side by side. Check the complete package on your wrist, including its strap, because bare-watch weight does not tell you how either sits against a pillow or under a cuff.
Can you rely on the advertised route upgrade?
Amazfit’s main feature section advertises on-watch round-trip planning, nearby-place search and automatic rerouting. Yet the same page’s navigation footnote still says a route file must be imported. We cannot settle that conflict from the page. If creating a route on the watch is why you would buy it, confirm that exact workflow on the current firmware before paying.
Square already supports downloadable maps and imported routes. Its instructions require a route file and say you cannot select a point on the offline map for navigation. It is a sensible choice when you plan at home and follow the prepared route outside. Active 3 also advertises routes planned in the app, so basic offline maps alone are not a reason to replace Square.
Will controls and battery change your week?
Active 3 lists 4 buttons, compared with 2 on Square. That gives it a different physical layout to inspect if you prefer button-led workout operation. We have not tested either with gloves, and button count alone does not prove every operation is quicker.
The typical-use ratings are Up to 12 days and Up to 10 days respectively. Both describe free core Zepp tracking, so an app membership saving does not decide this pair. For a new buyer, the round case, controls and typical-use rating can justify Active 3 without relying on the unresolved route-creation claim. For a satisfied Square owner, replacing the whole watch is a larger expense than the difference between shelf prices; keep it if your existing navigation routine works.
You plan workouts before leaving
Choose Square for its rectangular screen and narrower footprint if imported-route navigation already does the job. Its sapphire lens and supplied strap choices are tangible benefits you can use every day. Keeping a familiar navigation routine is a sound reason to retain a watch that suits you.
You prefer the round case and extra controls
Choose Active 3 Premium if its round display, physical-button layout and typical-use battery rating fit your routine better. A Square owner should weigh those changes against buying a whole replacement. If on-watch route creation is the deciding feature, wait until its current firmware workflow is confirmed.
Frequently asked questions
Is Active 3 Premium a sapphire upgrade over Square?
No. Both manufacturer pages list sapphire glass. The supported buying differences here include shape, physical controls and rated endurance. Sapphire alone is not a reason to replace Square, while the advertised route-creation workflow needs confirmation because the page gives conflicting instructions.
Can Active 2 Square follow a downloaded route?
Yes. Its offline-map instructions describe importing a route file for navigation. The limitation is choosing a new point directly on the offline map, so prepare the route before leaving when you want guidance.
Which is the smaller watch?
Square is narrower and lighter in the published bare-watch specifications. Active 3 is round and has different dimensions, so there is no single size number that expresses fit. Check the footprint and strap on your wrist.
Should a Square owner upgrade now?
We would keep a satisfactory Square unless the round display or physical controls solve a repeated inconvenience. If route creation drives the upgrade, first confirm the current firmware workflow: Active 3 advertises it but retains an imported-route requirement in its navigation footnote.
Official sources
Amazfit Active 2 Square: checked exact-model source and conditions — checked 2026-10-05
Amazfit Active 3 Premium: checked exact-model source and conditions — checked 2026-10-05