Amazfit, a smart wearables brand owned by Chinese firm Zepp Health, has launched a dedicated running smartwatch.

The Amazfit Cheetah uses GPS technology that is claimed to deliver unprecedented positioning accuracy. The aim is to empower athletes of all levels to become the runners they aspire to be through AI-generated training plans that are tailored to each user’s characteristics and running goals, and a lightweight design that’s engineered to match what runners need.

While most Amazfit smartwatches are created with a multisport focus, the Cheetah has been conceptualised, developed, crafted and optimised precisely for running.

“By listening to our global community of users, we learned that not only do they really love running for the health and fitness benefits, or the thrill of competition, but running is also a way for a lot of people to connect with each other through in-person running clubs or online communities,” said Jin Dong, director of sports products at Zepp Health. “With the Amazfit Cheetah series, we hope to provide the ultimate experience for every kind of runner, no matter if they’re training to achieve an elite-level result in an upcoming race, or if they’re simply trying to improve their performance and enjoy every moment along the way.”

The brand has levelled-up its proprietary dual-band circularly-polarised GPS antenna for the Cheetah series, with internal testing showing it can provide positioning that is 99.5% as accurate.

Dubbed MaxTrack, due to its ability to pick up the maximum amount of satellite signals (almost 100%, compared with smartwatches with a regular antenna that can only pick up 50%), this aircraft-grade technology reduces multi-path interference caused by environmental factors such as tall buildings, high trees or cloudy skies. As a result, the Cheetah tracks the user’s GPS movement accurately, no matter whether they’re weaving between skyscrapers downtown or pacing through a shaded woodland.

MaxTrack uses L1 and L5 satellite signals for pinpoint dual-band positioning. The Cheetah also supports six satellite systems to keep users covered, wherever they like to run. Users can import a route file and colour offline map of their planned activity area from the Zepp app for precise navigation from the wrist and enhanced sense of direction as they run.

The AI-powered Zepp Coach introduces a dimension specifically for runners. Users can choose to generate targeted running plans aimed at training for various race types. Personalised for each user’s characteristics and ambitions for their upcoming race, the AI-generated running plan will adjust week-to-week based on the user’s performance and condition, just as a personal trainer would continuously optimise a client’s workout regimen.

Users in select countries and regions will also be able to try out the Zepp Coach AI Chat feature in the Zepp app for a short demo period, ahead of this chatbot becoming a subscription-based service. Using generative AI and applied large language model to interact with the user on a Q&A basis, AI Chat recognises the user’s natural language descriptions as input via voice or typed command, and delivers easy-to-understand answers to their sports-related questions.

Each watch has a durable yet lightweight fibre-reinforced polymer frame, with a responsive button and operation crown combination for easy control, even during an intense run. The Cheetah Pro adds a titanium alloy bezel for elite runners who need both an extra degree of durability when on the running track and an added touch of class when off it.

To ensure running data are visible at a glance, even under the glare of bright sunlight, the smartwatches use a crisp, high-resolution HD amoled display that can reach a peak brightness of up to 1000 nits. Launched in 2015, Amazfit has millions of users. Its products are available in more than 90 countries across the Americas, Emea and Apac regions.