Just like the shift to offer more affordable smartphones to consumers who are tied to stricter budgets, it\u2019s now possible to pick up a fully featured smartwatch that costs just a fraction of what the flagship models cost. With more options than ever, the best cheap smartwatches have plenty to offer, but to save you from upgrading to a watch that doesn\u2019t suit your needs, our guide can help you out.<\/p>\n
It wasn\u2019t that long ago that if you wanted a digital wearable at an affordable price, you would have to check out the best fitness trackers<\/a> by default. These low cost options, as you might imagine, place a greater focus on tracking your workouts as opposed to offering app support, but now the market has expanded so you can get genuine smartwatches from big name brands like Apple and Samsung that don\u2019t cost a fortune.<\/p>\n The only thing that you have to bear in mind ahead of time are the typical considerations when buying a full priced smartwatch, namely compatibility. Apple Watches of all kinds simply do not work with Android phones, and in the last few years, Wear OS watches have followed suit in their own way, with any watch utilising Wear OS 3 or above being incompatible with iPhones.<\/p>\n Still, regardless of which ecosystem it pertains to, we put every smartwatch through the same rigorous testing process to see if they actually hold up under scrutiny. This involves taking detailed notes on the battery life and charging speeds, monitoring any digital hiccups in day-to-day use, and comparing heart rate data with dedicated chest-worn heart rate straps. <\/p>\n All of this builds a comprehensive view of each wearable so that you can make an informed buying decision.<\/p>\n Keep on reading to see which cheap smartwatches most impressed our team of tech experts or, if you\u2019re curious to see what a higher budget can get you, check out our breakdown of the best smartwatches<\/a> overall. We also have guides that are broken down by brand, so if you know precisely which type of smartwatch you want then you may be better off heading straight to the lists for the best Apple Watch<\/a>, best Samsung Galaxy Watch<\/a> or the best Garmin watch<\/a>.<\/p>\n \n Advertisement <\/p>\n SQUIRREL_ANCHOR_LIST<\/p>\n Pros<\/p>\n Petite design Cons<\/p>\n Lacks deep software integration Pros<\/p>\n Improved design with side button return Cons<\/p>\n GPS performance is very poor Pros<\/p>\n Incredible value Cons<\/p>\n Bluetooth connection issues Pros<\/p>\n Certain models made from recycled aluminium Cons<\/p>\n Design remains the same Pros<\/p>\n Slim, classy design Cons<\/p>\n No apps or payments Pros<\/p>\n Friendly, unisex design Cons<\/p>\n Mixed HR accuracy Pros<\/p>\n Wear OS at its finest Cons<\/p>\n Still a lot of features yet to come Pros<\/p>\n Great price Cons<\/p>\n Sleep tracking not the best Pros<\/p>\n Bold design and software styling Cons<\/p>\n Battery life is good but not incredible Petite design <\/p>\n Customisable watch faces <\/p>\n Great battery life <\/p>\n Lacks deep software integration <\/p>\n Not the most advanced sensors <\/p>\n Tracking metrics are a little basic for fitness fans <\/p>\n The Redmi Watch 5<\/a> is fronted by a beautiful 2.07-inch AMOLED display, which isn\u2019t just easy to read outdoors when getting in a quick run, it also does justice to the great selection of watch faces included as part of Xiaomi\u2019s HyperOS.<\/p>\n Speaking of which, Xiaomi\u2019s UI is wonderfully intuitive, with a clean layout that makes it easy to understand after just a short time of use, and it\u2019s complemented by the fact that it all runs incredibly well. In our testing, we never came across any moments of performance lag that would otherwise compromise the experience.<\/p>\n Most surprisingly is that, even with the aforementioned AMOLED display in tow, the Redmi Watch 5 is still able to achieve something otherworldly when it comes to battery life. Under the right circumstances, you can get this thing to last for up to 24-days on a single charge, which even outdoes some of the best Garmin watches<\/a> which almost all go for a much higher price tag.<\/p>\n Bear in mind however that if you\u2019re an iPhone user, you won\u2019t be able to enjoy the music playback controls (it\u2019s been reserved for the Android crowd only). Heart rate tracking also leaves a lot to be desired, but this might be less of an issue if you\u2019re not too fussed on diving into the details of every workout you take on.<\/p>\n Improved design with side button return <\/p>\n Google services are welcome additions <\/p>\n Sleep and health tracking both shine <\/p>\n GPS performance is very poor <\/p>\n Sports tracking is basic <\/p>\n Some features locked behind Fitbit Premium <\/p>\n I know that some of you may decry the Fitbit Charge 6 as being more of a fitness tracker than a smartwatch, and while there\u2019s some weight to that argument, there\u2019s no denying that the Charge 6 does so much right that it\u2019s simply an easy wearable to recommend to most people.<\/p>\n While Fitbit has some stiff competition from the likes of Apple and Samsung at the upper end of the smartwatch market, the same can\u2019t be said about the budget market, where it sometimes feels like Fitbit stands in a class of its own.<\/p>\n As such, the Charge 6 is the go-to option in the budget market for those who want accurate daily tracking, rock-solid sleep monitoring and advanced health features without paying hundreds. It sports an updated design with the return of the handy side button compared to the Charge 5, with a plethora of new Google services like Wallet, Maps and YouTube Music now also available on the wearable.<\/p>\n Fitbit has also worked hard to improve the reliability of its tracker with a new AI-based heart rate algorithm that should improve the accuracy of HR readings. However, our reviewer found that the GPS performance is still pretty poor. Hey, the budget nature had to shine through somehow.<\/p>\n It also retains key bits of smartwatch functionality such as incoming notifications, alarms, timers and \u2018find my phone\u2019, but the real meat here is in Fitbit\u2019s operating system and accompanying app. There\u2019s no shortage here of workouts to track, and Fitbit\u2019s week-on-week style metrics are a lot easier for beginners to get into than the standard \u2018reach this goal today\u2019 method. The catch is that some features and metrics lay behind a Fitbit Premium paywall.<\/p>\n Incredible value <\/p>\n Large, bright screen <\/p>\n Impressive automatic workout tracking <\/p>\n Great battery life <\/p>\n Bluetooth connection issues <\/p>\n Sleep tracking is all over the place <\/p>\n No built-in GPS <\/p>\n In 2025, there\u2019s no shortage of smartwatches that fall below the \u00a3100 mark but for our money, the Oppo Band 2 is a great go-to in this category. The device might appear unassuming but for its \u00a359.99 price tag, it still manages to pack in tons of helpful features.<\/p>\n One of the best things the Oppo Band 2 has going for it is its battery life, which Oppo claims is up to 14-days on a single charge (although we found this to be closer to 12-days after testing). Still, that\u2019s more than enough battery to get you through the week and it easily puts some pricier smartwatches to shame.<\/p>\n To our surprise, the Band 2 also features one of the best watch face libraries out there, being close in quality to what you\u2019ll find from the likes of Apple and Samsung. You can even use AI to make a new watch face that\u2019ll blend with the colours of your outfit on any given day. It\u2019s all quite impressive and just not what one would expect for the price.<\/p>\n The workout tracking also does a good job, and you can view your metrics clearly on the device\u2019s bright 1.57-inch display. There\u2019s unfortunately no GPS to speak of here and the sleep tracking is a bit of a mess, so if those are key concerns for you then you might want to check out the Fitbit Charge 5 instead.<\/p>\n Certain models made from recycled aluminium <\/p>\n Faster Siri <\/p>\n Accurate tracking <\/p>\n Very bright screen <\/p>\n Design remains the same <\/p>\n Health data needs to be shown better <\/p>\n Even though the Apple Watch Series 9<\/a> is a great device, and the super tough Apple Watch Ultra 2<\/a> is a solid pick for runners, the humble Apple Watch SE 2<\/a> is easily the best pick for most people. The reason for this is that, in spite of its more affordable price point, the Watch SE still packs the vast majority of features that you\u2019d want from an Apple Watch.<\/p>\n The only major features that aren\u2019t available on the device are ECG and blood oxygen readings, as well as the lack of an always-on display. Aside from that however, you\u2019re still getting access to key functions like iMessage, Maps and Apple Wallet on your wrist, as well as plenty of third party apps.<\/p>\n The Apple Watch SE is also particularly good at fitness tracking, with almost every type of workout you could think of being catered to here. Sure, there are other watches like the Huawei Watch GT 4<\/a> that do a better job of breaking down statistics into actionable advice, but Apple\u2019s fitness rings do let you know at a glance whether or not you\u2019ve met your goals for the day or if there\u2019s still some work to do.<\/p>\n Even though it retails with a starting price of \u00a3219\/$249, we\u2019ve regularly seen the Apple Watch SE fall to around the \u00a3199\/$199 mark, making it an absolute bargain for iPhone users.<\/p>\n Slim, classy design <\/p>\n Accurate HR and GPS <\/p>\n Superb value <\/p>\n No apps or payments <\/p>\n Limited unique health insights <\/p>\n Battery life still unchanged <\/p>\n Even though the Huawei Watch GT 5 slightly pushes the barrier for what could be considered an \u2018affordable\u2019 price tag with a starting rate of \u00a3229.99, there\u2019s no getting around the fact that if you want a stylish wearable that doesn\u2019t break the bank then the GT 5 really is your best option.<\/p>\n Huawei adopted its \u2018fashion forward\u2019 with the Watch GT 4<\/a>, wherein the design held the biggest prominence in manufacturing and other features were built around it, and that approach has continued here in the GT 5.<\/p>\n Compared to most other smartwatches, you have an abundance of style options in the GT 5, ranging from the traditional brown leather look that goes with most items of clothing, to the black silicone strap pick that\u2019s far better suited for the gym.<\/p>\n Speaking of fitness, the GT 5 boasts a suite of workout tracking capabilities and in our testing, it performed admirably where heart rate and GPS tracking are concerned. There\u2019s also detailed advice on how to improve the quality of your sleep, making it a great option for those looking to be more active.<\/p>\n The obvious downside is that with this being a Huawei watch, you don\u2019t have access to key third-party apps in the way that you would via Android\u2019s Wear OS or Apple\u2019s watchOS, so bear this in mind before making a final decision.<\/p>\n Friendly, unisex design <\/p>\n Excellent battery life <\/p>\n Accurate GPS tracking <\/p>\n Mixed HR accuracy <\/p>\n Mi Fitness lags behind rivals <\/p>\n No side button hampers navigation <\/p>\n It\u2019s incredibly rare to see a wearable under \u00a3100 that allows for GPS tracking independently of a connected smartphone, and yet that\u2019s exactly what\u2019s being offered on the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro<\/a>.<\/p>\n In spite of its budget-friendly nature, the GPS tracking on the Band 8 Pro is surprisingly solid, and our reviewer found that it was able to keep up with the far pricier Garmin Epix Pro (Gen 2)<\/a>, so if you want to keep better tabs on your running routes then this is a great option that\u2019s easy on the wallet.<\/p>\n Xiaomi has also updated the UI here with several handy widgets that give you quick access to music playback, settings and more. Beyond the GPS tracking, it\u2019s a fairly bare bones experience where smart features are concerned, so if you want a more fully-featured smartwatch on the cheap then you\u2019ll be better suited with either the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4<\/a> or the Apple Watch SE 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n Wear OS at its finest <\/p>\n The digital bezel works like a charm <\/p>\n Flat, minimalist design is stunning <\/p>\n Gorgeous collection of original watch faces <\/p>\n Still a lot of features yet to come <\/p>\n Doesn\u2019t work with iPhone <\/p>\n Bixby is a mess <\/p>\n At the time of writing, Samsung no longer officially sells the Galaxy Watch 4 but there are still plenty of retailers out there selling remaining stock as well as used units. If you are able to get your hands on one then you\u2019ll be quite impressed with the value proposition on offer here.<\/p>\n Despite being released several years ago now, the Galaxy Watch 4 has been updated to Wear OS 5. This means you can benefit from the latest software tweaks provided by Google, showing that there\u2019s plenty of life left in this device.<\/p>\n With access to tons of third-party apps like WhatsApp, Calm and Spotify, the Galaxy Watch 4 gives you plenty of functionality directly on your wrist so if you want to spend less time scrolling on your phone and only interact with apps when it\u2019s important, this wearable can provide just that. It\u2019s also a great fitness tracker in its own right with lots of workouts to be tracked, not to mention Samsung\u2019s detailed BioActive sensor for determining key health metrics.<\/p>\n Great price <\/p>\n Solid workout performance <\/p>\n Light and comfortable with good battery life <\/p>\n Love the nylon strap <\/p>\n Sleep tracking not the best <\/p>\n No apps <\/p>\n Even though big name brands like Garmin and Apple dominate the world of running with higher priced devices, Huawei proves that you don\u2019t have to spend a fortune in order to get a great digital companion for whenever you\u2019re out on the track.<\/p>\n
\n Customisable watch faces
\n Great battery life<\/p>\n
\n Not the most advanced sensors
\n Tracking metrics are a little basic for fitness fans<\/p>\n
\n Google services are welcome additions
\n Sleep and health tracking both shine<\/p>\n
\n Sports tracking is basic
\n Some features locked behind Fitbit Premium<\/p>\n
\n Large, bright screen
\n Impressive automatic workout tracking
\n Great battery life<\/p>\n
\n Sleep tracking is all over the place
\n No built-in GPS<\/p>\n
\n Faster Siri
\n Accurate tracking
\n Very bright screen<\/p>\n
\n Health data needs to be shown better<\/p>\n
\n Accurate HR and GPS
\n Superb value<\/p>\n
\n Limited unique health insights
\n Battery life still unchanged<\/p>\n
\n Excellent battery life
\n Accurate GPS tracking<\/p>\n
\n Mi Fitness lags behind rivals
\n No side button hampers navigation<\/p>\n
\n The digital bezel works like a charm
\n Flat, minimalist design is stunning
\n Gorgeous collection of original watch faces<\/p>\n
\n Doesn\u2019t work with iPhone
\n Bixby is a mess<\/p>\n
\n Solid workout performance
\n Light and comfortable with good battery life
\n Love the nylon strap<\/p>\n
\n No apps<\/p>\n
\n Solid activity and sleep tracking
\n Wild value at $69<\/p>\n
\n Mostly basic insights
\n A second button would be handy<\/p>\n