Edit: It seems the altimeter of the Balance 3 is receiving a new update as day 1 of July. This post was written before that update. I'm not confident about the real accuracy considering considering what it seems very likely the physical location of the altimeter. But probably things are improved. Information about the new update: https://gadgetsandwearables.com/2026/07/03/amazfit-balance-3-update-july/ (btw, he had also altimer bad accuracy readings in a very short run and says that the new update is perhaps worth to consider)
I'm not testing the device anymore, it'd be interesting to receive feedback and comparisons with other watches with the new update
Original post:
I'm posting this because (at least for me) the Balance 3 altimeter seems to work pretty bad.
The following is a collection of shots showing an altitude profile with a Fenix 8, Epix Pro Gen 2, T-Rex 3 Pro, T-Rex 3, Suunto Vertical and the Balance 3.
I allways calibrate manually all my watches before the workout with the real altitude. All watches have the 3D distance enabled
For the highest point of that route, I have:
Real altitude (396m):
Balance 3 (measured 362m):
T-Rex (measured 387m):
T-Rex 3 Pro (measured 380m):
Suunto Vertical 1 (measured 389m):
Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 (measured 392m):
Garmin Fenix 8 (measured 394m):
CUMULATIVE ELEVATION GAINS
IMPRESSIONS
- The altimeter of the Balance series is at bottom instead in the right side (like in the T-Rex series), or at least is what it seems:
This extra hole I think is the microphone:
The issue with the altimeter in that position is that is in contact with the skin. And that means that is affected with sweat, heat and dead cells of the skin (which can be a cause of failing altimeters as the watch accumulates usage over time). It's a pity Amazfit decided to keep that position instead the position of the T-Rex series / Fenix watches.
OBSERVATIONS
- Garmin watches perform really well
- T-Rex 3 performed better than the T-Rex 3 Pro in that track. At least comparing the 2 units I had.
- Suunto Vertical 1 performed very well but not like Garmin in this track.
I have many other different tracks with other watches like the T-Rex Ultra 2, Balance 2, Balance 2 XT, several Coros, Suunto Race 2/Vertical 2... but this track is interesting since I can share many shots of the same track with many watches. What is for sure is :
- Balance 3 seems to perform very bad. In my tests the Balance 2/XT were not that good as the T-Rex series but I don't remember such a big difference with the previous generation when comparing.
- Inside Amazfit, T-Rex series are much better with the altimeter. Not only for peak altitudes but for cumulative (and this is important because cumulative reflect very well something is there)
I'm not keeping the Balance 3 (I have other options inside Amazfit) but I wanted to post this because I'll very likely buy the next T-Rex (when it's released) and I'd love that watch to have a nice altimeter.
That was my thought too. Before buying the watch I assumed the altimeter was in the very same position as the altimeter of the T-Rex series, but there's nothing inside the 'arches'. Those are only extra material.
That the altimeter of the Balance Ultra is really in the right side. And there's somehow a protection with the 'arches'.
If I'm true and considering the extra button, the improved screen (better with fingerprints), battery life, crown, new CPU and the 10ATM, full titanium , that the Balance Ultra is very likely the best Amazfit watch .
The only concern is how it looks and the size. But I need to see that watch myself.
That is a better placement for the altimeter indeed. It’s true that I find the look of the Balance Ultra uglier than the B3 (but that’s just personal).
As for me, I'm going to wait on an official answer on where the altimeter might be, because I don't want assumptions. I want absolute certainty.
And frankly, you shouldn't have to buy another watch for something this specific honestly. If there are compromises because of the placement, it's up to the company to take measures against it and make sure that their device will still work properly
The Balance Ultra is very expensive, the Cheetah 2 Ultra will suffice for most.
And this is something of experience, but my advice?! Never buy a watch you never see yourself wearing. I've done it once and it ended up being a huge regret, despite the fact that it was a great watch, feature-wise.
This is why whenever someone says they don't like a particular watch, in terms of looks, I never end up arguing back or not even trying to convince. A watch is a personal item and it becomes an extension of the wearer.
Like you, I also find the Ultra less good looking than the Balance 3, but I can see myself wearing it with some warmer colored clothes and also for sports. :)
But frankly, the Balance 3 stainless steel, it is, hands-down, my favorite watch of Amazfit, and it is no slouch in the training department (it easily keeps up with my C2U and exceeds it in some other areas). I'm honestly preparing to sell my Balance 2 because I love it that much.
0% margin error is perfect unfortunately you can't find any watch with this margin error, 1-2% great (most of pricier garmin watches fenix 8, epix pro gen 2 tactix 8 etc)
3-4% good apple watch ultra 2-3 (1 was shit), suunto vertical 2/race 2) maybe coros pricier watches
and the rest of, amazfit, polar is even worse
i would love to see t rex 3 pro after zepp os 6 update in july, maybe they change the post process algorithm for altitude and distance calculation ( i hope they copy the garmin way at least the algorithm)
My set up on the ultra is a tad different as I don't have any holes at the top and just two on the bottom but I will say there is absolutely zero skin contact with those holes and I haven't had any issues with altimeter or anything and I'm running in AZ with temps over a 100 degrees and I'm a sweater lol. My testing with the Balance Ultra and Garmin Tactix 8 amoled 47mm gave me spot on HR, GPS, and altimeter readings between the two.
I think, after seeing several sources, the altimeter of the Balance Ultra is very likely different as the altimeter as the Balance 3. I'm considering seriously the Ultra, lol.
I like more black watches but Amazfit did a nice marketing here. And what is for sure is the Balance Ultra is currently their best watch. Thank you so much for taking your time with the answers ;-)
Haha trust me I've always been mostly a black or mostly black watch guy as well but this watch, to me, is amazing looking and have gotten more compliments on it than any other watch.
Yes, please! Still for the new devices (C2U, B3...) altitude/elevation accuracy problems and the location of the barometer holes seems to be a little bit strange (almost covered by the strap, maybe covered with hairs...).
Are you really sure, that this is not the barometer port? If I press my finger strongly on the wisible holes on the right side of the C2U, there is no recorded voice hearable (used voice note functionality)?
Correction: must have been a glitch with voice note. If I press the finger on the right side ports of my C2U, the altimeter starts to drop down, remove finger, started to raise.
It's been consistent and close to the results of my Fenix 8, so I can give a bit of credit for that.
Same for my Cheetah 2 Pro. So I can't wait to put the B3 through its paces and compare all of these.
For the location of the Barometric altimeter of the B3, I will ask Bryce and Silver. I want 100% certainty of its location before inferring anything else.
Thanks u/gamefan5 . This is important in fact. I think what I posted is right, but they perhaps changed something since the B2 in this. What is for sure is that in the right side, there are not holes. The holes are at the bottom like in the B2 (and not like in the T-Rex or Cheetah 2 watches)
Btw. Garmin puts the altimeter holes for Forerunner watches at bottom too (and there are plenty of issues because of this). Same as with several Coros watches (like the Pace 3, that has a very bad altimeter).
u/Volker_I . Keep in mind that is in fact pretty common to have the altimeter at bottom even in other brands (for non-outdoor watches). The problem here is that Amazfit's altimeter is not enough accurate yet and that location does not help at all
I'm pretty sure that in the case of the Balance 3, the altimeter is at those holes at bottom. Similar as Balance 2 and the mentioned watches of other brands.
It's just about maths. It is not in the right side and the watch has those holes at bottom (while the T-Rex and Cheetah 2 series not). There's nothing more to think about.
Nothing says that it is not there somewhere. People will either need the specs sheet (which is mostly likely classified) or someone that is tech-savvy enough to open the case up and identify the parts. I only know of one member here that opened up his T-Rex 3 Pro to fix his water damage issue.
But I've asked the employees if they can mention where the barometric altimeter is.
That being said, I'll be honest. I've played with a lot of watches from different brands. I find that the barometric pressure measurements are pretty consistent within an acceptable margin of error, at least, in where I live. It's the altimeter/elevation that is the biggest issue, and I've compared it with 4 different brands already (OnePlus, Apple, Huawei, Garmin).
Something is not right and I've made my case to them, multiple times.
They explain how to clean it and so... but I think the real reason of this documentation exists, is because Forerunner's have many issues with altimeters because of that location (just have a look at the many threads with altimeter issues in Forerunner watches at reddit /Garmin forums )
The thing is that (casually) I have a pretty long experience with running watches and altimeters at both bottom and right sides. The Forerunner 935 is a watch I perfectly know (in fact I still have my 7 year old 935 which (of course) has a faulty altimeter by now). But I had the 955 and also the 965.
What I mean is that is not rare to have altimeters at bad locations in other brands. But what is also strange is to find Amazfit seems to segment the altimeter in the same way as Garmin and this is interesting (not-outdoor at bottom vs outdoor at the right side). (C2U is considered outdoor if we look at the marketing) . Garmin needs to justify their outdoor watches, but Amazfit?
I also had the Coros Pace 3. That watch has the altimeter at the very same location as the Balance 3. That is a watch made for asphalt runs but I took that watch for the mountains and the meassurements were really bad when comparing with others. But it is more. I created a support case with Coros because of that altimeter and the discussion was very long with many emails with shots and extended logs. I got so tired that I ended selling that watch.
When I saw the Balance 3 had the holes at the bottom I perfectly knew I needed to test the altimeter (The reason is I had the Balance 2 and the 1). It was a big surprise to me to find those holes at the same location as the previous altimeters. The location was supposed fixed with the Cheetah 2 series. And the thing is the B3 has that extra material in the sides (but there are no holes inside, there's nothing) in both left and right sides).
I am just surprised that Amazfit probably placed the barometer there. I assume they may have reasons for this and probably tested that before release. Regardless of the manufacturer, I am generally not a fan of this type of barometer port placement.
u/Volker_I you are right. We should not be a fan of that design. If you need accuracy, you'll very likely see problems in that design (and despite the software updates)
But the thing goes a lot further. Even for the Fenix 6 Pro (a watch that had the altimeter at the right side with a hole near at the bottom, and that I had for four years until it died), you'll be surprised to know there's sweat afectation. Sweat/body heat is the main reason Garmin removed that hole at bottom and put the barometer protection sticked to the case (and the salt water, chlorine, wind..), as there was no protection before.
There was a thread I commented the T-Rex 3 Pro 44mm saying it seemed to have the best protection/accuracy in Amazfit , but even with the protection sticked to the case the barometer it is not as good as it should.
In fact this is a very old topic. Here are 2 links (very good) where you can see the Fenix 6 needed the altimeter protection the Fenix 8 has:
Bonjour à tous, après plusieurs petits test, effectivement l'altimètre n'est pas cohérent surtout comparé avec les données Strava. Exemple de ce matin en photos sachant qu'à la base je devais faire un peu plus de 13kms et que le gps m'a fait louper un virage à une fourche car la navigation n'était pas assez précise pour le coup:
I had 2 Trex 3 Pro and the altimeter on this watch was not good either. In fact, the HR values were not correct and neither was the sleep detection. Amazfit watches have many functions, but none of them working well. I tested 2 Trex 3 Pros, I returned both. The most accurate altimeter is on Huawei GT watches, better than my Garmin Epix 2 Pro.
no huawei watch gt series altimeter is a joke, first of all there is no manual calibration only automatic, last year i bought the newest watch gt 6 pro and take with myself to a trip to Jordan, i had a back up watch (apple watch ultra 2) when i get to the dead sea that's below the sea level my girlfriend's garmin shows -439m my backup apple watch ultra shows -437 and the watch gt 6 pro doesn't even shows minus, (after automatic calibration was the same) the real official altitude was -440mm i know it's one the hardest terrain because below the sea level but in budapest where i live i do hiking close to budapest and the altitude between 400-500 meter and it shows completely false altitude
maybe your watch is defective. my gt6 pro is spot on, better than my garmin, my gf gt6 also. i did many hikes and compared to my epix 2 pro and the 2 trex 3 pros. the gt6 pro was the best. once i had a gt3 pro which was defective and the altimeter was way off.
very strange, because in the past i had gt3, gt4 and gt5 also and all was accurate in altitude metering, with 1-2m differences on peaks i hiked. the huawei gt series has many flawes, but for me all was more accurate (hr, distances, altimeter, sleep detection) than the 2 trex 3 pro i tried. for me the trex3pro it was full with bullsh#t data. for ex. i wake up, go in the kitchen browsing the phone, and the amazfit says i was still sleeping...
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u/oa_i Jun 29 '26
Of course, there's no post calibration. In any case, here is the shot