Technophiles love to talk about top-of-the-line smartwatches and smartwatches with all the bells and whistles. And brands love to flood your feed with commercials of the most expensive smartwatches. But what about folks who want affordable, cheap smartwatches they can grab for themselves even if they don’t have a lot of cash?
Like most consumers, I used to think that the only worthwhile smartwatches were the opposite of budget friendly. After all, you have to spend a lot of cash to get a great gadget. Right?
Wrong. It turns out that there are lots of great cheap smartwatches available, probably because the smartwatch market has expanded since the first devices were strapped to well-to-do wrists. These days, many of the best affordable smartwatches also come from some of the best brands or lines – for instance, there’s a Fitbit Versa Lite that has many of the same advantages and features as its more expensive counterpart, while still being affordable.
You know me. I love reviewing smartwatches. So I figured I’d also check out the best cheap smartwatches on the market just in case you need a last-minute gift for a family member (or yourself!) and don’t want to break the bank in the process. Let’s dive in!
Contents
- Top 10 Cheap Smartwatches – At a Glance
-
Best Cheap Smartwatches of 2020
- 1. TicWatch E2 – Best Overall Cheap Smartwatch
- 2. Fitbit Versa Lite – Best Cheap Smartwatch for Features
- 3. Amazfit Bip – Best Battery Life Cheap Smartwatch
- 4. Fitbit Versa 2 – Best Health and Sleep Tracking Cheap Smartwatch
- 5. Amazfit Bip Lite – Cheapest Smartwatch
- 6. Fossil Sport – Best Cheap Wear OS Smartwatch
- 7. Garmin Vivoactive 3 – Best Cheap Smartwatch for the Apps
- 8. Huawei Watch GT2e – Best Cheap Smartwatch for Custom Workouts
- 9. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – Best Cheap Android Smartwatch
- 10. Apple Watch Series 3 – Best Cheap iPhone Smartwatch
- Methodology
- Buyer’s Guide
- Final Verdict
- FAQs
Top 10 Cheap Smartwatches – At a Glance
- Best Overall Cheap Smartwatch – TicWatch E2
- Best Cheap Smartwatch for Features – Fitbit Versa Lite
- Cheap Smartwatch with the Best Battery Life – Amazfit Bip
- Best Health and Sleep Tracking Cheap Smartwatch – Fitbit Versa 2
- Cheapest Smartwatch – Amazfit Bip Lite
- Best Cheap Wear OS Smartwatch – Fossil Sport
- Best Cheap Smartwatch for the Apps – Garmin Vivoactive 3
- Best Cheap Smartwatch for Custom Workouts – Huawei Watch GT2e
- Best Cheap Android Smartwatch – Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
- Best Cheap iPhone Smartwatch – Apple Watch Series 3
Last update on 2021-02-02 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Best Cheap Smartwatches of 2020
1. TicWatch E2 – Best Overall Cheap Smartwatch
The TicWatch E2 is a sterling example of both quality and budget friendliness. While it’s far from the most expensive smartwatch on the market, it still has a variety of excellent features that make it well worth your consideration.
For example, the TicWatch E2 can provide all of the main smartwatch functions you would expect from a pricier competitor, such as phone support, excellent GPS tracking, and even a heart rate monitor. All of this is even better because it runs on the Wear OS from Google, so it’s slick and intuitive to operate no matter whether you’re used to using smartwatches or this is your first one.
The 24-hour heart rate monitor and built-in GPS work in conjunction with one another to offer a variety of fitness-focused features, so you can easily track your exercises and monitor your workout goals. Google Fit and TicMotion (a proprietary app from the manufacturer) are both included as well, and can help you stay motivated thanks to digital coaching.
Plus, this waterproof smartwatch is ready for swimming since it’s designed to be totally water-resistant down to about 50 meters.
But even beyond the fitness-tracker aspects, this includes lots of grin-worthy features, such as the built-in Google Assistant. Using this feature, you’ll be able to control all of the other wireless stuff in your house, provided they’re tied into the same network.
Still, I’m focusing on budget-friendly watches this time. To this end, the TicWatch E2 is a good choice, since it comes with a phenomenal warranty policy. You get a 30-day money-back guarantee no matter what, plus a 12-month warranty for any quality-related issues. All this goes to show that you’ll get your money’s worth, even if you get a dud from the factory.
All in all, the TicWatch E2 easily balances budget friendliness and excellent functionality. While it’s not the most customizable smartwatch on the market, that’s a small overall downside given its effectiveness and sheer fun.
- Can control all other wireless stuff in your home through Google Assistant
- Interface is slick and easy to enjoy
- Very good for fitness-focused uses and activities
- Call and GPS quality is pretty good across the board
- Decent battery life as well
- Not very customizable as it only comes in two colors for the band and exterior face
2. Fitbit Versa Lite – Best Cheap Smartwatch for Features
Fitbit’s line of smartwatches is one of the most popular on the market, and for good reason. But lots of people want a Fitbit without having to totally empty their wallets. For some folks, the solution will be the Fitbit Versa Lite, which is incredibly affordable in comparison to many of the other smartwatches from its line.
Even with the low asking price, you’ll enjoy a whopping four-day battery life; this is easily higher than many more expensive smartwatches on the market. The downside, however, is that it only comes in a single color: purple.
Guys looking for a smartwatch for men, specifically, might want to look elsewhere to find a device that better suits their fashion and aesthetics. It also only comes in a single size, though this is pretty flexible and should work for most folks’ wrists.
It comes with everything you’d expect from a top-of-the-line smartwatch. It features the trademark square screen of the brand, plus the ability to signal apps and notifications when connected to your smartphone. 24/7 heart rate tracking and sleep tracking are included by default, and the smartwatch is water-resistant down to 50 m. So you can easily rely on it in the swimming pool or keep it on in the shower.
Although the band itself is not very customizable, the main clock face and dashboard are both modifiable in terms of color and layout. This makes it a great “toy” smartwatch for fiddling around with or tailoring to your unique needs.
It may also be one of the best budget smartwatches for women thanks to its additional fitness and wellness apps. For instance, you can benefit from menstrual health tracking or guided breathing sessions depending on what you need.
Regardless, the Versa Lite is exceptionally easy to use since it has a single button design. I found this to be good in some cases and limiting in others, but most people will undoubtedly like it for its apparent ease of use and simplicity.
- Very easy to use, almost to a fault, since it only has a single button to control most of its features
- The clock face and dashboard are both heavily customizable
- Has some female-focused health tracking and fitness features
- Pretty durable for such an affordable smartwatch
- Relatively lightweight and minimalist
- Only comes in a single color and size, so it may not work for some folks’ wrists or aesthetics
3. Amazfit Bip – Best Battery Life Cheap Smartwatch
Amazon has recently gotten into the smartwatch market for itself (along with practically every other market, it seems). The Amazfit Bip series is known for its affordability and reliability, and the main Bip offering is a perfect example of balancing budget and functionality.
All in all, the watch comes with over 60 different sports modes, allowing it to track basic stats like your BPM or kcal as you do your favorite sports or other activities. Since it can track a variety of different sports, you’ll get customized stats and analyses instead of having to rely on basic stats that really only work for running or swimming.
Speaking of swimming, this smartwatch is very water-resistant, and it can monitor both your heart rate and your sleep cycles for better wellness across the board. Everything can be viewed from the surprisingly vibrant HD display, which is fairly customizable.
However, where this smartwatch really shines is its battery life. It can last for up to nine days in total on average thanks to its power-optimized components. This means you’ll only rarely need to recharge the smartwatch, even if you use power-intensive features like its GPS tracking.
It’s also one of the lightest and most comfortable smartwatches you can find on the market, as it only weighs 31 g and uses a slim band that comes in a wide variety of colors. Additional features, such as feminine health tracking, blood oxygen level monitoring, and even stress level monitoring round out the Amazfit Bip and mark it as a solid smartwatch overall, while also being extremely budget-friendly.
In fact, I’d specifically recommend it for newcomers to smartwatches, as it’s easy to get used to and won’t cost you too much if you end up discovering that smartwatches are more of a curiosity to you than a necessity.
- Has arguably the best battery life in the industry for any smartwatch
- Very lightweight and comfortable
- Has good sensors for monitoring your health metrics and fitness goals
- Offers customized stats for different exercises
- Long-term durability may be questionable – given the low asking price, however, this isn’t such a big deal
4. Fitbit Versa 2 – Best Health and Sleep Tracking Cheap Smartwatch
The Fitbit Versa line returns once again in my search for the most budget-friendly smartwatches. However, this one is a little more robust than the last, and it comes in a much wider array of colors and wristband sizes. This makes it more appropriate for a greater range of people, so I’d definitely recommend checking it out if you liked the earlier Fitbit Lite but want something a bit more “you.”
There’s a lot to like here, including Amazon Alexa built-in by default. This makes it easy for the smartwatch to act as your personal assistant, offering you quick news and information like the weather or the ability to control any of your smart home devices all through your voice commands.
Of course, this also means the watch can work for phone calls, and it’s great for receiving or sending text messages and keeping track of your smartphone app notifications.
But it’s also a good smartwatch overall for fitness, as it’s capable of tracking over 20 different goal-based exercises with distinct modes. These can help you to meet your fitness goals and objectives, maintain excellent condition, and stick to a workout schedule. It’s also waterproof, so feel free to take it swimming if your exercise is more aquatic than average.
However, the real focus here is with its health and sleep tracking functions. You’ll be able to track the quality of your sleep, your heart rate, oxygen level intake, stress levels, and more all from the same device. Even better, the watch comes with apps that can give you advice about how to improve these metrics, even down to specific techniques or exercises.
I’d be remiss not to mention all the ancillary entertainment functions the watch can provide, despite its focus being on fitness. Spotify linking is a breeze, and you can also take advantage of the proprietary Fitbit Pay app to make payments wirelessly without having to bring your wallet everywhere. The watch is, of course, guarded by cybersecurity features to defend your personal information against identity theft.
All in all, it’s a well-rounded smartwatch. It’s a great choice for folks who want to use their smartwatch as a fitness tracker and to meet activity goals, while also fulfilling some of the other main functions of smartwatches. Plus, it’s affordable!
- Comes in a wide variety of colors and sizes
- Has excellent health tracking apps and sensors for heart rate, sleeping, etc.
- Can allow you to pay on the go, or receive calls and texts
- Good battery life overall, especially for its size
- Has Amazon Alexa built in
- The face and systems aren’t terribly customizable, and the Lite OS is a bit simplistic for some people’s tastes
5. Amazfit Bip Lite – Cheapest Smartwatch
I’ve found some of the best inexpensive smartwatches on the market from a few major lines. This is definitely true with the Amazfit Bip Lite, which is easily the cheapest smartwatch you can find – bar none – making it the go-to pick if you just want the most affordable device available, period.
However, despite this low asking price, the Bip Lite is a pretty good watch overall. For instance, it features an “always-on” touchscreen, making it pretty responsive and easy to use. It also offers decent swim resistance down to 30 m, which isn’t the best on the market but is still good enough for most swimming activities or showering.
Additionally, it features many of the same excellent sensors for your health metrics as its main Bip predecessor. For example, it uses PPG sensors to monitor your heart rate 24/7 and provide you some insight as to your sleep patterns and quality.
Plus, it comes with built-in daily fitness tracking availability, and the ability to remind you if you are being too sedentary. Four distinct sports modes are available – while this limits its use for more niche sports activities, it’s not too bad given the extremely low asking price.
As with the main Bip, the Bip Lite also impresses due to its extraordinary battery life. You can use this smartwatch for up to 45 days after charging it for just 2.5 hours. That blows many of the most expensive smartwatches out of the water entirely.
Ultimately, I’d recommend this particular smartwatch for those who want something super affordable and super long lasting. While it’s not the most robust in terms of features or functions, it comes with all the basics you’d want from a fitness smartwatch, such as sensors and exercise-assistant apps. Just don’t plan on relying on it for calls or other more advanced features and you won’t be disappointed.
- Very, very affordable – probably the cheapest smartwatch you’ll find anywhere you look
- Has a spread of staple fitness features and functions like sedentary reminders, sports modes, and daily fitness tracking
- Uses good sensors to track your heart rate and sleep patterns
- Has a reflective display that does a good job of remaining vibrant, even in bright daylight
- Comes with several colors for the wristband
- Only comes with a single wristband size
- The clock face and app are very simplistic and can’t be customized very much
- Doesn’t have some of the more advanced smartwatch features like calls
6. Fossil Sport – Best Cheap Wear OS Smartwatch
Fossil makes some of the best smartwatches in the industry, but that doesn’t mean they’re always expensive. Indeed, I managed to find the basic Fossil Sport as a great cross between budget friendliness and excellent features, though the watch face is stuck at either 43 mm or 38 mm, which may be a little large for folks with thinner-than-average wrists.
However, it does come in a wide variety of colors, and features a minimalist display that many people will like. It isn’t necessarily as “sporty” as some of the other fitness-focused smartwatches with square screens. Nevertheless, this smartwatch is an excellent fitness tracker with many health-focused features, such as heart rate tracking and sleep tracking, plus a plethora of bonus abilities.
What exactly are those? In brief, this smartwatch can work as:
- an alarm clock
- a calendar
- your email center
- a place for you to participate in social media
- a text receiver
- and more
Plus, once you link it through Bluetooth, it allows you to control your music without having to go back to your phone. The watch relies on Wear OS, so you know that your experience will be intuitive and relatively smooth without having to worry about a janky interface.
The presence of Wear OS also means that you can use Google Pay and other proprietary Google apps. The dial and watch face are both heavily customizable so you can further refine the watch until it suits your aesthetic tastes.
The only real thing you can’t do is make phone calls, but that’s an overall minor downside when you consider the excellent features it does include. All in all, it includes sensors for speed, altitude, ambient light level, a gyroscope, and even untethered GPS so it can track your location and make it easier for emergency services to find you in an emergency.
It’s ultimately such a fantastic watch through and through that I can’t believe you can get it for a really affordable price. Even better, since it’s a Fossil watch, you can even swap out the wristband for a different one from the same manufacturer, provided it’s the appropriate size. This gives you even greater customization.
With Wear OS and its excellent hardware and customization offerings, the Fossil Sport is a great all-around choice I’d recommend to anyone.
- Very easy to customize, both in terms of the watch face and wristband
- Uses Wear OS to ensure a smooth navigational experience
- Includes Google Pay and other excellent apps and functions
- Has a variety of good sensors for fitness and tracking reasons
- Comes in a few different colors
- 50-minute charging time
- Short battery life of about a day
7. Garmin Vivoactive 3 – Best Cheap Smartwatch for the Apps
Some smartwatches are defined by their hardware or aesthetics. Others are defined by the apps they bring to the table. The latter is definitely the case with the Garmin Vivoactive 3, which comes with some of the best smartwatch apps on the market at an affordable price.
Let’s start with Garmin Pay, the watch’s contactless payment solution. This feature is so convenient that many people consider it a must-have. You can use your watch to securely pay for purchases thanks to the digital security included with the watch’s software, which prevents your personal details from being scooped as you use it.
Beyond that, the watch also comes with 15 preloaded indoor and outdoor sports apps. You’ll be able to monitor your fitness routines, results, and health metrics for things like yoga, swimming, running, and much more. It even comes with excellent GPS tracking so you’ll be able to monitor your steps and how far you run, or plot out new routes using the map you can bring up right on the watch screen.
It’s really good for measuring your fitness level overall thanks to the exercise and stat apps, such as VO2 Max. Stress tracking is included as well, which can be a good choice if you have a stress-filled lifestyle due to your exercise or your work.
Another great feature is the way it connects with your smartphone to provide you with notifications and automatically upload data to Garmin Connect. Garmin Connect is a proprietary app that allows you to connect with a thriving online community, similar to Strava or MapMyRun, which could be good if you want some extra support in starting a new exercise routine or keeping progress up when the going gets tough.
Live Track is another great app that carefully tracks your daily activity levels and allows you to set custom goals.
This watch is also great in terms of customization. You can use the Garmin Connect IQ store to download hundreds of different watch faces and widgets. This allows you to personalize the watch specifically to your needs.
The downside is that the exterior is not nearly as customizable as other smartwatches on the market; bands only come in white or black. Watch face colors for the exterior are limited as well. Still, there’s a lot to like about this budget-friendly smartwatch. It’s a good pick for folks who need something affordable but worthwhile in terms of software and app functionality.
- Excellent battery life
- Each watch face is made with stainless steel, so it’s durable
- Great for connecting to your phone to stay in-synch with communications or app notifications
- Great apps across the board, such as Live Track, Garmin Connect, and lots of fitness apps tailored for particular sports or activities
- You can personalize the watch with thousands of free watch faces, widgets, and apps
- Exterior colors and style aren’t very customizable
8. Huawei Watch GT2e – Best Cheap Smartwatch for Custom Workouts
Sometimes, relying on a basic workout routine that someone else pre-programmed into your smartwatch just won’t cut it. This is especially true if you’re looking to push your limits and really become fit.
In that case, the Huawei Watch GT2e is an excellent budget-friendly choice that allows you to use custom workout modes to really tailor your smartwatch experience to your needs. Indeed, I found that the watch has 85 custom workout modes in total, each of which can be tweaked here and there to better fit different sports or exercise activities.
You’ll be able to use these custom workout modes to gather accurate data about your progress as you become more fit, or use those modes to help motivate you and keep you on track throughout a long-term workout plan (of, say, several months).
However, the watch also comes with 15 professional workout modes you’ll be able to use if you want to stick with pre-made and proven routines. I like that you can switch between both at the touch of a button, plus the fact that the watch comes with a 14-day battery life. This way, you don’t need to worry about running out of juice in the middle of your workout session.
Plus, it’s designed with special sensors that collect accurate readings as you work out. These include blood oxygen saturation monitoring, heart rate tracking, sleep monitoring, and more. GPS tracking is included as well, and this makes it a great watch for running or for hiking around in unfamiliar territory.
While you’re working out, you can sync the watch to your phone and play music at the touch of a button. This is a lot easier than having to reach for your phone every time. Thanks to its excellent Bluetooth connectivity, the Huawei Watch GT2e doesn’t usually disconnect from your phone, even if it’s in your pocket or some meters away.
It also has some neat additional features thanks to its 3.53 cms AMOLED display. For instance, it can help you set up remote phone pictures once linked. This makes it a great watch overall for taking off-road or for capturing some favorite moments with you and your significant other or friends. It’s one of the few smartwatches that can help to control your camera from afar; most don’t even bother with this feature.
It doesn’t have a ton of color options, and you’re stuck with a basic-but-sporty aesthetic. Still, I think this is a particularly good choice for outdoor enthusiasts who need something to help them meet their exercise goals even if their workouts don’t adhere to normal routines or activities.
- Great for creating custom workout programs or tracking your exercise results through a wide variety of activities
- Has good sensors and GPS tracking
- You can control your camera from the phone, allowing for remote shutter control
- Pretty durable overall thanks to its waterproofing and excellent materials
- Good battery life and is easy to recharge thanks to the magnetic recharging thimble
- Color choices are limited, and each watch looks basically the same except for the color
- No speaker or microphone whatsoever
9. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – Best Cheap Android Smartwatch
While most smartwatches can work with both iOS and Android devices relatively interchangeably, some benefit from being paired with specific smartphone brands. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is both affordable and a great choice if you prefer Samsung or other Android devices.
You get a few bonus abilities if you do so. For instance, while this smartwatch’s battery can go for five days by default, you can use your Samsung device to add additional power for a quick boost if it’s about to run out of juice. That functionality is totally missing if you try to use this with an iPhone device.
Beyond that, this Samsung watch is a good pick overall. Though there are only three color choices, the watch is light and comfortable, and you’ll be able to choose either aluminum or stainless steel faces depending on your durability preferences. You can also heavily customize the watch face, which is pretty minimalist at first but can be heavily altered to be more complex depending on your likes.
It’s also great for tracking various fitness and health metrics. For instance, it’s good at detecting low and high heart rates, plus offering insights about your sleep quality and stress levels. The built-in calming app is a great choice for folks who need their smartwatch to assist them with lowering their stress levels throughout the day.
Whereas some other smartwatches force you to manually engage fitness tracking, this watch automatically does so. It can even detect which exercise routine or activity you‘re engaging in (usually – sometimes it messes up, as I saw). Thus, it’s a pretty good “set and forget” smartwatch.
Furthermore, it comes with some of the best voice functionality on the market despite its low asking price. The Bixby voice function can read your texts to you, make calls clearly, or even control other aspects of the smartwatch such as increasing your music volume. Even better, you can link the smartwatch to other remote devices in your home and control everything with a few voice commands.
All in all, it’s a great example of what Android smartwatches can do, both in terms of fitness tracking and general control. I’d recommend it easily for those who want a cheap Android smartwatch beyond all else, especially if they already have a Samsung phone to pair it with.
- Offers additional features if you pair it with a Samsung phone
- Very lightweight and comfortable on average
- Has a good battery life and can get extra battery under certain circumstances
- Has good fitness and health tracking/stress calming apps
- Excellent microphone and voice functionality, both for phone calls and for taking orders
- Not the best for iPhone devices
- Only three main color choices for the exterior
10. Apple Watch Series 3 – Best Cheap iPhone Smartwatch
As with the Android smartwatch above, I also found a great cheap iPhone smartwatch – as you might expect, it’s made by Apple. I specifically chose the Apple Watch Series 3 since this blends many of the excellent features inherent in the Apple Watch line while also being relatively affordable compared to its more recent and higher-priced counterparts.
It’s a pretty small and comfortable smartwatch by default, with a face size of only 38 mm. The face is also made with aluminum and a lightweight black sport band. The outside isn’t very customizable so you’re stuck with the block Apple aesthetic. This will be hit or miss depending on whether you like this style already.
Fortunately, the actual watch face is much more customizable. Plus, you can add additional apps to the home screen or tweak things like brightness and color saturation.
But this is also a great watch thanks to its excellent features. It has GPS tracking on by default, but you can turn this off to increase its battery life. This swimproof smartwatch includes an optical heart sensor to help you meet your fitness goals and alert you to abnormally high or low heartbeats. An additional elevation sensor might make this a great choice for hikers or those who get their exercise from spending time in the mountains.
As it runs on the watchOS from Apple, it also includes lots of activity data, such as your daily calorie burning, exercise trends, and more. The Apple App Store is built into the watch by default, so you can easily download additional apps and widgets to really cement this as your watch, not just one you got from a store that’s like all the others.
I found the emergency SOS function particularly interesting, as this makes it a great watch for explorers or people who may need to be bailed out of a bad situation in the future. However, be advised that you do need the GPS feature to be on for this to work. Unfortunately, the battery life is usually only around 18 hours or so, which is a pretty big downside compared to other watches.
Beyond that, it allows you to store your music, podcasts, and audiobooks – again, since this is an Apple watch, downloading that content is pretty quick and easy. All in all, it’s an affordable choice that’s pretty versatile in terms of what it offers. While it isn’t the best fitness-focused smartwatch, it may be one of the best cheap smartwatches for media and for general, everyday use.
- Very easy to download lots of media content, like music and books, from iTunes and similar stores
- Easy to download apps from the App Store
- Very lightweight and comfortable on average
- Comes with emergency SOS features in case you get stuck
- The watch is pretty basic in aesthetics and there are only two color choices
Methodology
Long-time readers already know how I write what I do, but for those not in the know, here’s the breakdown:
- When I do a smartwatch review, I check them all out personally
- I fiddle with them for a bit before writing down notes
- In the event that I don’t buy the smartwatches, I’ll read more user reviews since those represent real, firsthand experiences with the products in question
- Combined, all this gives me enough information to write an effective smartwatch review
It was the same process as I tried to figure out which was the best overall cheap smartwatch from the bunch, plus figure out my own personal favorite. Fortunately, I work with a lot of tech heads who usually get new smartwatches or other devices when they can afford them.
Since none of us are millionaires, many of them also had relatively affordable or budget-friendly smartwatches that were also conveniently the same ones I was trying to review.
In the end, I got plenty of hands-on experience and read through dozens of other reviews to come to my conclusions. I think that, if you do end up buying any of the smartwatches above, you’ll find that your experience is pretty close or identical to what I talk about.
Buyer’s Guide
Look, my opinion about which cheap smartwatches are really the best is one thing, but it’s another to take a deep look yourself and make some decisions. Want to know how to figure out which cheap smartwatch is really worth your time and money? Let’s do some digging.
Why Buy a Cheap Smartwatch, Anyway?
First and foremost, it’s a good idea to figure out if a cheap smartwatch will be a good investment. “Cheap” is relative, especially when it comes to these gadgets. Even the most affordable smartwatches will usually run you around $50 at minimum (though you can sometimes find cheaper devices, especially if you look for certain deals or sales).
This means that folks on really tight budgets may still need to consider whether a smartwatch is a device they really need or want before pulling the proverbial trigger.
Cheap smartwatches, despite not having as many features or extra widgets as their more expensive competitors, are still great devices that will, on average, be able to:
- work as a regular watch, of course
- monitor your heart rate and sleep activity or cycles
- monitor certain exercise activities, such as steps walked or distance run
- connect to a smartphone or another mobile device to bring you text notifications
- play music
- track your location using GPS
- and more
All of these “staple” features should still be present with even the most inexpensive smartwatches, since they’re considered to be industry standards. However, cheap smartwatches will often forgo certain more advanced features, like:
- phone calling or voice commands
- advanced apps and tracking stats
- LTE connectivity (i.e. can make calls without using Bluetooth to link to your phone)
This isn’t to say that cheap smartwatches won’t have these specs or features, but some or all of them may be missing depending on the model in question.
To this end, I think you should consider why you want a smartwatch in the first place and figure out whether getting a budget smartwatch is worth the cost or if you’d be better off saving up for a more expensive but more robust model instead.
It’s all up to you. In my book, cheap smartwatches can be great gifts, particularly for friends or family who aren’t super device savvy, as they might be happy with a basic gizmo instead of the latest, top-of-the-line offering. Cheap smartwatches also serve as good gifts for kids or teenagers who may not need all of the more advanced apps or features given their lifestyles and interests.
What to Look for in a Budget Smartwatch?
If you do decide to go after a budget smartwatch, it’s important to compare their different features and aspects so you’ll know if a given watch is right for you.
Smartwatch OS
The operating system for a smartwatch is pretty crucial. Some of the best use Wear OS by Google, which is prized across the industry since it’s the only operating system designed specifically for smartwatches. This means that it’s built for smaller screens and many of the apps or functions common to these devices, rather than being an OS derived from software made for regular computers, such as Android OS or iOS.
Wear OS isn’t the only worthwhile option, however. Apple has its own smartwatch OS, and Android usually works pretty well given that the OS was designed for modular or small devices from the get-go. You might prefer one operating system or the other based on which tablets or smartphones you use. For example, Android smartwatches operate pretty similarly to Android phones.
One similar thing to check is which phones or devices a given smartwatch is compatible with (I noted this aspect in each of my reviews). The vast majority of cheap smartwatches will be compatible with both iOS and Android phones, but some may be limited to one or the other. Just double-check before purchasing so you don’t accidentally buy a smartwatch that doesn’t connect to your phone.
Features and Specs
I’d also recommend that you check out the features and specifications of a smartwatch. Smartwatch specs include things like:
- how big the watch face is
- the size and color of the band
- the materials used to make the smartwatch
- how long the battery life is
In other words, smartwatch specs are its physical attributes and aspects. These matter since they determine how well a smartwatch works with your aesthetics or wrist size, among other things.
Smartwatch features are the widgets, apps, and functions that it brings to the table. It’s everything the smartwatch allows you to do or that it does for you. These include things like:
- fitness and sleep tracking
- monitors for your biometrics, like your heart rate or stress levels
- apps and widgets, such as calendar apps, texting apps, and more
- fitness apps and digital coaches
The more features a smartwatch has, the better overall value it usually offers since you’ll just be able to do more with it. Of course, budget-friendly smartwatches usually have fewer features than their pricier counterparts, though this isn’t always true.
Be sure to investigate all of the features a smartwatch has so you don’t buy a smartwatch expecting one thing, only to be disappointed when it doesn’t have something necessary for your enjoyment.
Customization
Some cheap smartwatches are way more customizable than others. Personalization for smartwatches applies in two areas: the exterior wristband or watch face and the screen or interface.
Many cheap smartwatches only have a few different color options or band choices – this is probably related to their low prices. Beggars can’t always be choosers, right?
However, some may have as many as five or more different band color or material choices for you to pick between. Consider these aspects carefully since certain smartwatches are better for sporty or fitness clothes while others can be worn even to formal occasions without looking out of place.
Similarly, personalization of screen details might matter a lot to you if you like to tinker with and personalize all of your device’s details. However, simple smartwatches may only have limited customization features since their purpose is to provide basic functions, not to necessarily be a super decorative trinket.
Battery Life
Lastly, be sure to look at the battery life for any cheap smartwatch. Battery lives can range from as little as one day while running normally to up to several weeks or months depending on the watch in question.
I really tend to prefer smartwatches with long battery lives since these only need to be recharged once in a while instead of every night like your phone. However, remember that battery life values are averages and usually don’t take into account running the GPS function.
GPS drains a lot of battery and no smartwatch will last for longer than a day or so while using this feature. However, in my book, excellent smartwatches should run for at least several days before needing to recharge.
This is doubly true if you plan to use your smartwatch as a camping or traveling accessory since you may not be able to recharge it as often as you could if you were at home.
Final Verdict
In the end, I personally found the Fossil Sport to be the best cheap smartwatch overall, even though I think most people will think of the TicWatch E2 as their personal favorites.
The reasoning is pretty simple – the Fossil Sport comes with Wear OS, which really enhances the experience and makes the most of the cheap watch’s features. But it’s also one of the best watches overall since it comes packed full of fantastic features, including the ability to work with Google Pay and Assistant.
Basically, it’s a one-size-fits-all, versatile smartwatch you can get for a relatively low price even if it doesn’t take calls. Then again, most of the time I use my phone for calls, so this functionality isn’t exactly a big downside for me.
However, it’s up to you to figure out which affordable smartwatch is your favorite. You might prioritize different things compared to me – I like functional and aesthetically pleasing devices that I’ll actually get a lot of use out of instead of things with tons of bells and whistles.
But it’s all subjective! Hopefully, the guide above can help you narrow down your options until you’re totally satisfied.
FAQs
Q: Is Bluetooth my only choice for cheap smartwatch connectivity?
A: In general, yes. Other smartwatches might offer LTE connectivity versions, but this usually isn’t worthwhile in my book. For starters, LTE smartwatches still have to be hooked up to a phone plan to work, and some providers have difficulty making this work properly (looking at you, Verizon). For another, LTE calls on your smartwatches drain the battery really quickly, negating one of the big plus sides of many smartwatch devices.
Bluetooth smartwatches are flatly better 99% of the time, especially since most of us have our phones in our pockets all the time anyway.
Q: Are cheap smartwatches good choices for kids?
A: I think so. Cheap smartwatches for kids have many of the same staple features as their more expensive alternatives but they cost much less. Thus, they’re less risky investments if you aren’t sure whether your kid or teenager will really appreciate a smartwatch or use it as intended.
Think of it as an experimental gadget gift you can get them instead of a tablet or a much more expensive new smartphone. If they don’t like it, at least you didn’t spend too much money!
Q: Do cheap smartwatches last for a long time?
A: Some of them can. Some of the best cheap smartwatches are made with aluminum or stainless steel materials, both of which are pretty durable and lightweight. The latter is usually better in terms of raw durability since it resists corrosive damage, while the former is a little lighter in weight and may be more comfortable.
However, the wristbands for many cheap smartwatches aren’t always very long-lasting. Ultimately, your smartwatch will last for at least a year or so if you take care of it.
Q: Which cheap smartwatch is the best?
A: I personally think the Fossil Sport is the best cheap smartwatch you can find these days, even though there are a few more affordable alternatives. But the TicWatch E2 is also extremely popular and does most of what the Fossil Sport does for a lower price.
Q: Are cheap smartwatches really worth it?
A: It all depends on what you’re looking for and what your budget range is. In my book, cheap smartwatches fill a valuable niche and allow anyone with around 50 bucks to enjoy these fun, functional devices without totally breaking the bank.Sure, you don’t get everything that more expensive smartwatches can offer, but you get the gist of what these devices are about. Some people always choose affordable gadgets no matter what, too, and these are perfect fits for them.
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