A decent smartwatch doesn’t have to slow you down. There are many options for tighter budgets. Whether you’re looking for basic smartwatch features, fitness tracking, or even high-end health sensors, there’s an inexpensive option for every need. To cut it down, we rounded up the best cheap smartwatches.
“wp-image-126037 size-large” title=”Apple Watch SE Fitbit Versa 3″ src=”https://www.tipsclear.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Apple-Watch-SE-another-look-1024×576.jpg” alt=”Apple Watch SE Fitbit Versa 3″ width=”640″ height=”360″ /> Apple Watch SE Fitbit Versa 3Eric Zeman / Android Authority
See also: Best Cheap Fitness Trackers
Buying the best budget smartwatch for your needs
The landscape of smart watches continues to expand. These days, there is a worthwhile device for every budget. Want to put on a basic smartphone companion or track your progress while you sweat? Regardless of what your smartwatch needs, you can find something that ticks the right boxes without breaking the bank.
A budget Apple Watch offers tons of app compatibility. Our choice of Mobvoi offers a hopeful future. Meanwhile, a Fitbit option strikes the perfect balance between price and features. Can You Live Without Advanced Health Sensors But Do You Need Built-in GPS? Maybe fitness tracking isn’t a priority, but you’re interested in Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant support. Deciding what you can and can’t live without is the best way to save money without sacrificing too many essentials.
With large screens, apps, and notifications, smartwatches tend to be more expensive than activity trackers. The devices below break the mold with many smartwatch features and much more palatable price tags. Now you just have to figure out which is the best option for you.
Best cheap smartwatches
- Apple Watch SE – This is the best overall budget smartwatch and hands down the best choice for iOS users. The Apple Watch SE has most of Apple’s core features at an affordable price.
- Mobvoi TicWatch E3 – This is the best option for Wear OS users with a promising update ahead. This is the only inexpensive wearable currently eligible for Wear OS 3 in 2022.
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – Samsung’s Fitness Watch 2019 is the best Wear OS alternative for Android users. Still running Samsung’s platform, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a one-of-a-kind choice for Tizen loyalists.
- Fitbit Versa 3: This is Fitbit’s smartwatch with the best value for money. The Fitbit Versa 3 goes for some advanced features for a very solid Fitbit device at a great price.
- Garmin Venu Sq: The best cheap smartwatch for Garmin enthusiasts, the Venu Sq brings back most of what made the original Venu such a great wearable.
- Xiaomi Mi Watch: Xiaomi’s Mi Watch is the best budget smartwatch for even tighter budgets. At a price of $ 100, this device offers the basics and does it well.
Apple Watch SE: Apple’s Best Cheap Smartwatch
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
To stay affordable, the Apple Watch SE bypasses the always-on display, ECG, and pulse oximeter from other models. These are features that most users can live without, especially to keep some money in their pockets. Like all Apple watches, the SE also has unpleasantly insufficient battery life.
Apple Watch SE
The Apple Watch most people should buy
The Apple Watch SE is affordable and has a strong feature set, making it the right Apple Watch for most people.
Pros
- High quality hardware
- Brilliant display
- Numerous functions
- Accessible
Cons
- Short battery life
- Sin ECG
- Limited sleep tracking
- Limited color selection
Check out our full review to learn more about the Apple Watch SE.
Mobvoi TicWatch E3: the best choice for Wear OS users
Eric Zeman / Android Authority
More importantly, the TicWatch E3 is scheduled to receive the Wear OS 3 update sometime in 2022, so it’s a worthwhile investment. Until now, no other budget option has included the list of devices eligible for the latest software.
Mobvoi TicWatch E3
The Mobvoi TicWatch E3 marks a generational upgrade over its predecessor thanks to the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 platform. It also features an updated design and improved performance.
Pros
- Well-built hardware
- Good display
- Decent battery life
- IP68 rating
- NFC y Google Pay
Cons
- Iffy Automatic Activity Tracking
- Inconsistent sleep tracking
- Stuck in Wear OS 2 until 2022
- Cheap strap
Check out our full review to learn more about the Mobvoi TicWatch E3.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2: Best Cheap Tizen Smartwatch
In our review, we ran into some health and fitness tracking issues, so we wouldn’t suggest this option for someone especially interested in a training tool. The heart rate monitor and GPS were especially inconsistent and can be a hindrance for athletes looking for detailed statistics.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 features a circular display with a touch bezel. It also keeps track of your activities such as biking, running, swimming, and more. It even has Samsung Pay, which you can use with regular and NFC-enabled card readers.
Pros
- Elegant and premium design
- Sharp AMOLED display
- Touch bezel for fast navigation
- Bluetooth + LTE variants for greater flexibility
- ~ 2 days of battery life
- Fantastic sleep tracking
Cons
- No MST payments with Samsung Pay
- Tizen app ecosystem still lacking compared to Wear OS
- The heart rate sensor, GPS and altimeter may not work
- The setup process still needs work
Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.
Fitbit Versa 3: the best cheap Fitbit smartwatch
Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Certainly there are cheaper options when it comes to the stable Fitbit, but compared to the Fitbit Sense, the Fitbit Versa 3 is the option with a phenomenal value. Similar to the Apple Watch SE, the Versa 3 has pretty much all the necessary features of its higher-priced sibling. Users can expect accurate health tracking, sleep tracking, SpO2 monitoring, built-in GPS, assistant assistance, and more. Plus, you can usually find the Versa 3 around the $ 200 mark.
If that still feels a bit out of reach, the Fitbit Versa 2 is still a strong contender. However, with Versa 2, users will miss out on some of the Versa 3 advanced health tracking, as well as Assistant support.
Fitbit Versa 3
One of the best smartwatches for most Android users.
If you’re looking for the best all-around smartwatch at a pretty good price, you’re probably looking for the Fitbit Versa 3. Fitbit’s cheapest flagship smartwatch has independent GPS, an accurate heart rate sensor, and lots of nice smartwatch features.
Pros
- Decent battery life
- Pretty accurate health tracking
- built-in GPS
- Google Assistant and Alexa support
- Good price
Cons
- Very small application library
- Music on board limited to two services
- Capacitive button is not ideal
- Patented charging cable
Check out our full review to learn more about the Fitbit Versa 3.
Garmin Venu Sq: the best cheap Garmin smartwatch
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
Garmin Venu Sq
The Garmin Venu Sq is the $ 200 version of Garmin’s top smartwatch, the Venu 2. As shown above, it swaps out the Venu’s OLED display for a square LCD and features a lightweight plastic case. Inside, it’s a multisport smartwatch with independent GPS, an optical heart rate sensor, a pulse oximeter, Body Battery, training modes, and much more. For the outdoor enthusiast, it’s a home run.
However, if you are configured for music support, you will need to choose Venu Sq Music Edition. The price jump is not insignificant, but we know that for some brokers, music can be a deal breaker.
Garmin Venu Sq
Garmin Venu, but make it cheap
Grab the Garmin Venu, swap your OLED screen for a rectangular LCD, remove some sensors, and you’ve got the Garmin Venu Sq. This is Garmin’s first “affordable” smartwatch in some time, priced at $ 200- $ 250 depending on your musical preferences.
Pros
- Entry-level price point
- Long duration battery
- Garmin Pay compatibility on all models
- Accurate fitness and health tracking
- Useful and accurate sleep tracking
Cons
- Music Edition costs $ 50 more
- Small screens can be difficult to use
- GPS accuracy might need work
Check out our full review to learn more about the Garmin Venu Sq.
Xiaomi Mi Watch: the best budget-tight smartwatch
Jimmy Westenberg / Android Authority
We would not count on finding a better option than the Xiaomi Mi Watch for less than € 100. It’s a no-frills device with a variety of sports tracking features, including over 100 sports profiles, built-in GPS, an optical heart rate sensor, an SpO2 sensor, and sleep tracking. You won’t find an app store, but the preloaded apps offer basic smartwatch features in addition to support for Amazon Alexa.
Meanwhile, for even tighter budgets, the Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite is another ultra-cheap smartwatch from the Chinese brand that is priced at just € 50. To say that this smartwatch option is basic is to say it well, but it is a good fitness tracker and a good option for the price.
Xiaomi Mi watch
As cheap as they come
The Xiaomi Mi Watch is a basic smartwatch with limited smart features. It has built-in GPS, an optical heart rate sensor, SpO2 tracking, and basic smartwatch functionality. Just don’t expect too many extras like third-party apps or customizable watch faces.
Pros
- Cheap
- Big, bright screen
- Simple and elegant design
- Large amount of fitness data and sports profiles
- Training analytics powered by Firstbeat
- Fantastic battery life
- Amazon Alexa support
Cons
- Limited smartwatch functions
- The SpO2 sensor is nothing more than a flex on the spec sheet
- Poor heart rate control
- The Xiaomi Wear app needs a lot of work
Check out our full review to learn more about the Xiaomi Mi Watch.
Honorable mentions
That’s it for our list of the best cheap smartwatches you can buy, but it’s only a fraction of what’s out there. We also want to give an honorable mention to the following products:
- Amazfit Bip U ($ 60): For around $ 60, with a 1.43-inch screen, SpO2 sensors, heart rate monitoring, and more than 60 sports modes, the Amazfit Bip U is well worth its price.
- Amazfit Bip U Pro ($ 70): For just $ 10 more, the Amazfit Bip U Pro offers built-in GPS. It is also supported by Amazon Alexa, but the results are mixed.
- Amazfit GTR 2e ($ 100): Huami’s $ 100-priced device, the Amazfit GTR 2e, is another solid entry-level smartwatch with a focus on fitness. In addition to deep sleep tracking, limited notifications, and music playback, it also has 90 sport modes, so you can likely keep track of any physical interests you might have.
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