Technologies

The Amazfit Active Max Is Built For the Long Run (Literally)

It’s listed at half the price of an Apple Watch or Garmin, with a battery that can last almost a month. So, what’s the trade-off?

Amazfit is supercharging its sports watch lineup with the Active Max, a new smartwatch that promises nearly a month of battery life and sports-watch level fitness chops. Launched ahead of CES 2026 as part of the wave of Consumer Electronics Show announcements, the Active Max builds on Amazfit’s existing Active line with a larger, brighter display and a bigger battery along with training and recovery tools typically reserved for far more expensive watches.

At $169, it’s at least $100 cheaper than comparable sport watches from Apple, Google, Samsung and Garmin, though it doesn’t quite match the steal-level value of the $80 Amazfit Bip 6, our favorite budget smartwatch of 2025.

Amazfit has built a reputation for making competitive smartwatches with many of the same core health and fitness features as big-name flagships but at a fraction of the price. Because Amazfit runs its own Zepp OS, pairing isn’t as seamless as watches tied to their phones’ operating systems, but the payoff is cross-platform compatibility with both Android and iPhone.

Bright screen and big battery

The Active Max has a 1.5-inch AMOLED display with up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness. It’s framed in an aluminum-and-plastic case, weighs 35.3 grams, and is water-resistant up to 5 ATM.

But its standout feature is its 658 mAh battery, which Amazfit says can last up to 25 days on a charge, or up to 10 days with the always-on display enabled. If those estimates hold up in real-world testing, the Active Max would outlast most mainstream smartwatches, competing at the dedicated sport watch level (some of which don’t even have a touchscreen).

Health and fitness features

The other major focus is fitness. The Active Max has more than 160 different workout options to choose from, including automatic strength training detection that can help you count reps, and even has its own AI-powered coach in the Zepp app.

It also debuted a new metric called BioCharge, which tracks energy levels based on output and recovery. It continuously updates based on activity, workouts and stress levels throughout the day to help you optimize training time, similar to Fitbit’s Readiness score and Garmin’s Body Battery.

The watch includes continuous background health tracking, measuring heart rate, sleep quality, blood oxygen levels and stress, with alerts for abnormally high or low readings. The watch supports Bluetooth calling, onboard music storage, offline maps and route navigation, including maps for more than 2,000 ski resorts.

How does it stack up?

At $169, the Active Max isn’t exactly budget smartwatch territory, but it’s a strong value in the sport watch category. It’s a worthy option for anyone prioritizing battery life and cross-platform compatibility without having to spend flagship-level money.

As with most CES-season announcements, real-world testing will ultimately determine how well it delivers on its promises, but on paper the Active Max continues Amazfit’s push to offer feature-rich wearables at lower prices than its big-name rivals. Amazfit says the Active Max will be available starting December 30.

For more announcements ahead of CES 2026, check out CNET’s full CES coverage.

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Technologies

Episode 3 of the VERUM AI Mini-Series Is Now Available

Verum Messenger has released the third episode of its AI mini-series, SHADOWS, created using Verum AI.

The new episode, titled «Ghost Money,» continues the story of the conflict between a team of heroes and the Omega corporation, which seeks to take control of digital communications. This time, the focus shifts to anonymous payments and financial freedom, revealing how privacy can extend beyond messaging.

Like the previous episodes, the new release not only advances the storyline but also showcases the capabilities of the Verum ecosystem, highlighting technologies designed for secure communication and digital privacy.

The mini-series consists of seven episodes, released gradually across Verum Messenger’s social media channels.

Episode 3 is now available. Stay tuned for the next chapter.

Watch on Instagram
Watch on YouTube

Technologies

Verum Finance Now Available for Mac, Expanding the Verum Ecosystem on Desktop

Verum has officially released Verum Finance for macOS, bringing its financial platform to the Mac and expanding access to the Verum ecosystem across Apple’s devices. The launch allows users to manage their finances from desktop while enjoying the same secure and seamless experience available on iPhone and iPad.

The new Mac version includes the full range of Verum Finance features, including balance management, instant transfers to other Verum users, debit card management, Apple Pay support, asset exchange, and transaction history — all optimized for the macOS experience.

Verum Finance can be used as a standalone application or alongside Verum Messenger. Users who sign in with their Verum Messenger account automatically synchronize their balances, settings, and account data across devices, ensuring a consistent experience throughout the Verum ecosystem.

The macOS release further strengthens Verum’s vision of creating an integrated digital platform where communication and financial services work together. Verum Messenger, which is also available for Mac, complements the ecosystem with encrypted messaging, voice and video calls, VPN, eSIM, anonymous email, AI-powered tools, offline communication capabilities, and cryptocurrency features.

With both Verum Messenger and Verum Finance now available across iPhone, iPad, and Mac, users can access secure communication and financial services wherever they work.

Verum Finance for Mac is available now through the Mac App Store.

Verum Finance for macOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/verum-finance/id6774245148
Verum Finance: https://finance.verum.im
Verum Messenger: https://verum.im

Technologies

Why Travelers Are Switching to Verum E-SIM This Summer

Summer Travel, Freedom, and Seamless Connectivity: Why Verum E-SIM Is Becoming the New Standard for Travelers

Summer is the peak season for vacations, long-distance trips, and new experiences. Millions of people travel abroad, explore new countries, plan adventures, and try to stay connected with family, work, and social media. And in the middle of all this comes a familiar question: how do you stay online without expensive roaming or the hassle of buying local SIM cards?

The answer is already here — eSIM.

Why eSIM Is So Convenient

eSIM (embedded SIM) is a built-in digital SIM card that lets you activate mobile internet without a physical card. All you need is an app — choose a plan and connect in just a couple of minutes.

No more:

* searching for local SIM cards at airports
* paying expensive roaming fees
* swapping physical SIMs every time you travel

Now your internet travels with you.

Internet in 150+ Countries

Modern eSIM solutions provide coverage in 150+ countries worldwide, helping tourists, freelancers, and business travelers stay connected almost anywhere on the planet.

Among the services offering these capabilities:

Verum E-SIM — https://esim.verum.im
World E-SIM — https://worldesim.me
USA E-SIM — https://usa.esim.verum.im
Euro E-SIM — https://euro.esim.verum.im
Canada E-SIM — https://canada.esim.verum.im
Balkan E-SIM — https://balkan.esim.verum.im
Ukraine E-SIM — https://ukraine.esim.verum.im
London E-SIM — https://london.esim.verum.im
E-SIM Africa — https://africa.esim.verum.im