Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro vs Apple Watch Ultra 3: Which Wins?

Overview

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro targets serious recreational runners who want premium materials at a price below Garmin and Polar flagships. The Apple Watch Ultra 3 targets athletes who also want a full smartwatch ecosystem, and are willing to pay for it. These two watches share a premium tier positioning but serve different priorities: one is a focused running tool, the other is a do-everything device that also handles sport well.

Specs at a glance

GPS: Cheetah 2 Pro: multi-band GNSS (chipset unconfirmed); Ultra 3: multi-band, multi-constellation L1/L5 GNSS
Battery (GPS mode): Cheetah 2 Pro: unconfirmed; Ultra 3: approximately 36 hours
Heart rate: Both use wrist-based PPG optical sensors measuring blood volume via LED light
HRV: Both support HRV derived from PPG beat-to-beat intervals
SpO2: Both include optical blood oxygen sensors
Skin temperature: Ultra 3: yes; Cheetah 2 Pro: unconfirmed
Case material: Both titanium with sapphire crystal
Water resistance: Cheetah 2 Pro: swim-capable; Ultra 3: 100m WR, EN13319 dive standard
Weight: Ultra 3: approximately 61g; Cheetah 2 Pro: unconfirmed

GPS and tracking accuracy

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has documented GPS performance. In multi-watch satellite testing it outperformed the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro in open-sky and urban conditions, which is a strong result. On a 10-mile London road course it held up well. The weakness is track mode: in controlled testing it failed to handle the geometry of a running track correctly, which matters for athletes who do structured track sessions.

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro was tested against Garmin, Polar, and Stryd references across running, cycling, and swimming by The5kRunner, but specific accuracy figures are not available in the sourced material. Without numbers, no meaningful comparison can be made. The Ultra 3 wins this category by default, with the caveat about track mode.

Battery life

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 delivers approximately 36 hours in standard GPS mode. For most marathons, long sportive rides, and weekend trail runs that is sufficient. For 50-mile ultras or full Ironman events with GPS running continuously, it becomes a constraint. Low-power modes extend runtime but reduce data quality.

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro's battery life in GPS mode is not confirmed in available sources. Amazfit's Cheetah Pro predecessor offered competitive battery figures in the 40-60 hour range for GPS use, and the titanium flagship positioning suggests the Cheetah 2 Pro should match or exceed the Ultra 3 here, but that cannot be stated as fact without confirmed data.

For athletes: who wins?

Running (road): Ultra 3, based on documented GPS accuracy. Cheetah 2 Pro may compete but lacks published data.
Track training: Neither. The Ultra 3's track mode failed in testing. The Cheetah 2 Pro has no confirmed track mode performance. Both are risky choices for structured track sessions.
Trail and ultra running: Pending Cheetah 2 Pro battery confirmation, this is open. The Ultra 3's 36-hour GPS ceiling is a real limitation for long efforts. If the Cheetah 2 Pro delivers 50-plus hours, it wins here.
Triathlon and open-water swimming: Ultra 3. Its 100m water resistance and EN13319 dive standard exceed what is confirmed for the Cheetah 2 Pro, and its multi-sport ecosystem is mature.
Smartwatch and daily use: Ultra 3 by a wide margin. Apple's ecosystem, notifications, payments, and app library are unmatched in wearables.

Verdict

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is the safer choice for most athletes right now. It has a documented 7.5/10 sports score, verified GPS performance in most real-world conditions, mature multi-sport tracking, and an unbeatable smartwatch experience. The 36-hour GPS battery is a genuine limitation for ultra-endurance events, and track mode is broken.

The Amazfit Cheetah 2 Pro scores 6.5/10 and presents a problem: too many core specs are unconfirmed to recommend it confidently at a premium price point. Titanium and sapphire are nice, but without verified GPS accuracy, battery life, or weight data, it is difficult to justify over the Ultra 3 for a buyer spending serious money.

Buy the Apple Watch Ultra 3 if you want a proven premium sports watch that doubles as a full smartwatch. Wait for the Cheetah 2 Pro if you are specifically a runner who prioritises battery life and wants to avoid Apple's ecosystem, but only after full review data is available.