Just like the shift to offer more affordable smartphones to consumers who are tied to stricter budgets, it’s 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’t suit your needs, our guide can help you out.
It wasn’t that long ago that if you wanted a digital wearable at an affordable price, you would have to check out the best fitness trackers 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’t cost a fortune.
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.
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.
All of this builds a comprehensive view of each wearable so that you can make an informed buying decision.
Keep on reading to see which cheap smartwatches most impressed our team of tech experts or, if you’re curious to see what a higher budget can get you, check out our breakdown of the best smartwatches 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, best Samsung Galaxy Watch or the best Garmin watch.
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SQUIRREL_ANCHOR_LIST
Pros
Petite design
Customisable watch faces
Great battery life
Cons
Lacks deep software integration
Not the most advanced sensors
Tracking metrics are a little basic for fitness fans
Pros
Improved design with side button return
Google services are welcome additions
Sleep and health tracking both shine
Cons
GPS performance is very poor
Sports tracking is basic
Some features locked behind Fitbit Premium
Pros
Incredible value
Large, bright screen
Impressive automatic workout tracking
Great battery life
Cons
Bluetooth connection issues
Sleep tracking is all over the place
No built-in GPS
Pros
Plenty of the best Apple Watch features in a cheaper package
Excellent software
Wide customisation options
Accurate tracking
Cons
Slow charging
No always-on display
Pros
Slim, classy design
Accurate HR and GPS
Superb value
Cons
No apps or payments
Limited unique health insights
Battery life still unchanged
Pros
Friendly, unisex design
Excellent battery life
Accurate GPS tracking
Cons
Mixed HR accuracy
Mi Fitness lags behind rivals
No side button hampers navigation
Pros
Wear OS at its finest
The digital bezel works like a charm
Flat, minimalist design is stunning
Gorgeous collection of original watch faces
Cons
Still a lot of features yet to come
Doesn’t work with iPhone
Bixby is a mess
Pros
Excellent battery life
Bright, clear display
Solid tracking in most cases
Cons
Huawei Health app is handy but cluttered and confusing
App navigation can take some time to get used to
Pros
It outdoes most smartwatches on style
CMF’s UI is clean and responsive
Great battery life
Cons
The complete lack of meaningful waterproofing
No NFC or third-party apps
Pros
12-day battery life is anxiety-relieving
Superb fitness and health tracking capabilities
Design is more refined than previous generations
Cons
Garmin Connect app can be complicated for first-timers
Only has two buttons for non-touchscreen control
Quite expensive
Petite design
Customisable watch faces
Great battery life
Lacks deep software integration
Not the most advanced sensors
Tracking metrics are a little basic for fitness fans
The Redmi Watch 5 is fronted by a beautiful 2.07-inch AMOLED display, which isn’t 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’s HyperOS.
Speaking of which, Xiaomi’s UI is wonderfully intuitive, with a clean layout that makes it easy to understand after just a short time of use, and it’s 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.
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 which almost all go for a much higher price tag.
Bear in mind however that if you’re an iPhone user, you won’t be able to enjoy the music playback controls (it’s 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’re not too fussed on diving into the details of every workout you take on.
Improved design with side button return
Google services are welcome additions
Sleep and health tracking both shine
GPS performance is very poor
Sports tracking is basic
Some features locked behind Fitbit Premium
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’s some weight to that argument, there’s no denying that the Charge 6 does so much right that it’s simply an easy wearable to recommend to most people.
While Fitbit has some stiff competition from the likes of Apple and Samsung at the upper end of the smartwatch market, the same can’t be said about the budget market, where it sometimes feels like Fitbit stands in a class of its own.
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.
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.
It also retains key bits of smartwatch functionality such as incoming notifications, alarms, timers and ‘find my phone’, but the real meat here is in Fitbit’s operating system and accompanying app. There’s no shortage here of workouts to track, and Fitbit’s week-on-week style metrics are a lot easier for beginners to get into than the standard ‘reach this goal today’ method. The catch is that some features and metrics lay behind a Fitbit Premium paywall.
Incredible value
Large, bright screen
Impressive automatic workout tracking
Great battery life
Bluetooth connection issues
Sleep tracking is all over the place
No built-in GPS
There’s no shortage of smartwatches that fall below the £100 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 £59.99 price tag, it still manages to pack in tons of helpful features.
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’s more than enough battery to get you through the week and it easily puts some pricier smartwatches to shame.
To our surprise, the Band 2 also features one of the best watch face libraries out there, being close in quality to what you’ll find from the likes of Apple and Samsung. You can even use AI to make a new watch face that’ll blend with the colours of your outfit on any given day. It’s all quite impressive and just not what one would expect for the price.
The workout tracking also does a good job, and you can view your metrics clearly on the device’s bright 1.57-inch display. There’s 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.
Plenty of the best Apple Watch features in a cheaper package
Excellent software
Wide customisation options
Accurate tracking
Slow charging
No always-on display
Even though the Apple Watch Series 10 is a great device, and the super tough Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a solid pick for runners, the humble Apple Watch SE 2 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’d want from an Apple Watch.
The only major features that aren’t 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’re still getting access to key functions like iMessage, Maps and Apple Wallet on your wrist, as well as plenty of third party apps.
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 that do a better job of breaking down statistics into actionable advice, but Apple’s fitness rings do let you know at a glance whether or not you’ve met your goals for the day or if there’s still some work to do.
Even though it retails with a starting price of £219/$249, we’ve regularly seen the Apple Watch SE fall to around the £199/$199 mark, making it an absolute bargain and one of the best smartwatches for iPhone users.
Slim, classy design
Accurate HR and GPS
Superb value
No apps or payments
Limited unique health insights
Battery life still unchanged
Even though the Huawei Watch GT 5 slightly pushes the barrier for what could be considered an ‘affordable’ price tag with a starting rate of £229.99, there’s no getting around the fact that if you want a stylish wearable that doesn’t break the bank then the GT 5 really is your best option.
Huawei adopted its ‘fashion forward’ with the Watch GT 4, 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.
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’s far better suited for the gym.
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’s also detailed advice on how to improve the quality of your sleep, making it a great option for those looking to be more active.
The obvious downside is that with this being a Huawei watch, you don’t have access to key third-party apps in the way that you would via Android’s Wear OS or Apple’s watchOS, so bear this in mind before making a final decision.
Friendly, unisex design
Excellent battery life
Accurate GPS tracking
Mixed HR accuracy
Mi Fitness lags behind rivals
No side button hampers navigation
It’s incredibly rare to see a wearable under £100 that allows for GPS tracking independently of a connected smartphone, and yet that’s exactly what’s being offered on the Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro.
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), so if you want to keep better tabs on your running routes then this is a great option that’s easy on the wallet.
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’s a fairly bare bones experience where smart features are concerned, so if you want a more fully-featured smartwatch on the cheap then you’ll be better suited with either the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 or the Apple Watch SE 2.
Wear OS at its finest
The digital bezel works like a charm
Flat, minimalist design is stunning
Gorgeous collection of original watch faces
Still a lot of features yet to come
Doesn’t work with iPhone
Bixby is a mess
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’ll be quite impressed with the value proposition on offer here.
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’s plenty of life left in this device.
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’s important, this wearable can provide just that. It’s also a great fitness tracker in its own right with lots of workouts to be tracked, not to mention Samsung’s detailed BioActive sensor for determining key health metrics.
Excellent battery life
Bright, clear display
Solid tracking in most cases
Huawei Health app is handy but cluttered and confusing
App navigation can take some time to get used to
Whether you’re a total beginner or are getting back into running after a long hiatus, you’re likely looking for a smartwatch that’s both cheap, long-lasting and accurate. Enter the Huawei Watch Fit 4.
Fitted with essential sensors including a gyroscope, accelerometer, barometer and, of course, an optical heart rate monitor, the Huawei Watch Fit 4 is packed with the essentials you need to get a core understanding of your health and fitness level.
Not only that, but the Watch Fit 4 is a brilliant motivator too. Essentially, and much like the Apple Watch series, the Watch Fit 4 encourages you to stand up and get some steps in if you’ve been sitting for a long period of time.
Setting up the Watch Fit 4 is seamless, whether you’re an iPhone or Android user. You simply need to download the Huawei Health app to pair the two together.
Although we’d say it’s a brilliant running watch, if swimming is your preferred workout then you’ll be pleased to know the Watch Fit 4 sports a 5ATM water resistance rating and can track lengths in a pool too.
Otherwise, the Watch Fit 4 looks remarkably similar to the Apple Watch, with a similar rounded display that’s equipped with a rotating crown too. That’s certainly not a bad thing, as we think the Apple Watch series is undoubtedly a stylish looking wearable.
However, where the Watch Fit 4 triumphs over the Apple Watch is with its battery life. While most iterations of the Apple Watch can barely last more than a day, the Watch Fit 4 can see up to ten-days of use in default conditions. Of course, this will drop down to around four or five days if you’ve maxed out the settings, but that’s still a pretty impressive feat.
If you want a stylish smartwatch that’s easy to use and can keep you motivated while getting into a workout routine, all without splurging or signing up to a subscription, then the Huawei Watch Fit 4 is a brilliant option.
It outdoes most smartwatches on style
CMF’s UI is clean and responsive
Great battery life
The complete lack of meaningful waterproofing
No NFC or third-party apps
If you want a wearable that looks good and can still accurately measure your workouts, then the CMF Watch 3 Pro is one for you. Available in four unique colourways, the CMF Watch 3 Pro undoubtedly stands out from the crowd – in a good way.
While its predecessor was able to swap out bezels, this is a feature that’s missing from the Watch 3 Pro. It’s a shame, especially as we quite appreciated the customisation option, however it’s certainly not a reason to not opt for the Watch 3 Pro.
Its 1.43-inch display is not only bigger but, at 670 nits, it’s brighter too which makes using it outdoors much easier. Plus, the display is responsive too and we never felt any moments of slowdown, even when jumping from one app to another.
Speaking of design, the UI is a simple, monochrome colour palette that helps keep the watch looking slick in everyday use. This helps make vibrant colours pop even more when introduced.
However, it’s worth noting that the Watch 3 Pro isn’t equipped with the likes of NFC payments or many third-party apps. While you can access your calendar and even your camera app, if you’re used to using a smartwatch in your day-to-day then you’ll struggle.
Even so, the Watch 3 Pro is first and foremost a fitness tracker, and this is where it excels. Not only can it monitor plenty of workouts, but it’s also fitted with dual-band GPS support for more accurate tracking. Once you’ve completed a workout, you’ll receive key information and metrics, which although generally is fairly accurate, the average BPM does tend to vary a bit.
Otherwise, with up to 13 days on a single charge and plenty of health and fitness tracking features all housed in a sleek wearable and for under £100, the CMF Watch 3 Pro is hard to beat.
12-day battery life is anxiety-relieving
Superb fitness and health tracking capabilities
Design is more refined than previous generations
Garmin Connect app can be complicated for first-timers
Only has two buttons for non-touchscreen control
Quite expensive
While it’s not the cheapest option on this list, if you want a stylish smartwatch that also benefits from Garmin’s useful health and fitness tracking features, then the Venu 4 is an easy recommendation.
Unlike some of the best Garmin watches that sport a more rugged finish, the Venu 4 looks and feels more like an everyday watch, thanks to its stainless steel finish and crisp 1.4-inch (or 1.2-inch if you opt for the smaller model) AMOLED display.
Although it looks more like a regular watch than a smartwatch, it’s still worth remembering that there’s plenty of tracking tools at play here. Perhaps most notably, as it’s a Garmin, is its GPS tracking which is brilliant for runs or hikes.
However, there’s also sleep tracking and, via the Garmin Connect app, which shows metrics like Body Battery, Training Readiness and Training Condition too. You can also see your fitness age, respiration rates and track your cycle too. As an all-rounder, you couldn’t do much better.
While all of those features do come as standard, there is the option to pay for the premium Garmin subscription which uses AI to analyse and explain your data.
Aside from its stylish design and in-depth tracking, the Garmin Venu 4 also benefits from up to a whopping 12 days of battery life. Sure, this will vary depending on your own usage, but it certainly blows the likes of the Apple Watch Series 10 out of the water.
Although it’s not the cheapest, if you want an all-round Garmin smartwatch that doesn’t look too much like a fitness tracker, then the Venu 4 is a great option.
Test Data
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5
Fitbit Charge 6
Oppo Band 2
Apple Watch SE 2
Huawei Watch GT 5
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Huawei Watch Fit 4 review
CMF Watch 3 Pro
Garmin Venu 4
Time from 0-100% charge
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
71 min
–
–
Time from 0-50% charge
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
33 Min
–
–
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Full Specs
Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Review
Fitbit Charge 6 Review
Oppo Band 2 Review
Apple Watch SE 2 Review
Huawei Watch GT 5 Review
Xiaomi Smart Band 8 Pro Review
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Review
Huawei Watch Fit 4 review
CMF Watch 3 Pro Review
Garmin Venu 4 Review
UK RRP
£89
£139.99
£59.99
£259
£227.99
£59.99
£249
£109.99
£99
£469.99
USA RRP
–
$159.95
$69.99
$249
Unavailable
Unavailable
$249
–
$99
$549.99
EU RRP
–
–
–
€292
–
Unavailable
€279
–
–
–
CA RRP
–
–
–
CA$329
–
Unavailable
–
–
–
–
AUD RRP
–
–
–
AU$399
–
Unavailable
AU$399
–
–
–
Manufacturer
Xiaomi
Fitbit
Oppo
Apple
Huawei
Xiaomi
Samsung
Huawei
Nothing
Garmin
Screen Size
2.07 inches
1.04 inches
1.57 inches
40 mm
–
1.74 inches
40 mm
1.82 inches
1.43 inches
1.4 inches
IP rating
IP68
Not Disclosed
Not Disclosed
Not Disclosed
–
IP68
IP68
Not Disclosed
IP69
IP68
Waterproof
5ATM
5ATM
5ATM
5ATM
–
5ATM
5ATM
5ATM
N/A
5ATM
Battery
550 mAh
–
200 mAh
–
–
–
247 mAh
400 mAh
350 mAh
–
Size (Dimensions)
41.1 x 11.3 x 47.5 MM
38.7 x 18.6 x 11.7 MM
29.1 x 10.6 x 45.3 MM
34 x 10.7 x 40 MM
x x INCHES
33.35 x 9.99 x 46 MM
40.4 x 9.8 x 39.3 MM
43 x 38 x 7.5 MM
47 x 14.4 x 47 MM
45 x 12.5 x 45 MM
Weight
33.5 G
130 G
33 G
26.4 G
–
22.5 G
–
27 G
51 G
38 G
ASIN
B0DPX91VHZ
B0CHN2F11G
B082GM3242
B0BDHYDYFP
–
–
B094R7CDDP
–
B0F66TFJY3
–
Operating System
–
Fitbit OS
–
Watch OS 9
–
Mi Fitness
Wear OS
HarmonyOS 5.1.0
–
–
Release Date
2025
2023
2022
2022
2021
2024
2021
2025
2025
2025
First Reviewed Date
22/04/2025
30/11/2023
21/07/2023
–
–
04/04/2024
11/08/2021
29/12/2025
12/12/2025
20/10/2025
Colours
Black, Purple, Silver
Obsidian / Porcelain / Coral
Midnight Black
Silver, Midnight, Starlight
–
Black and White
Black, Pink, Gold, Silver, Green
Purple, Gray, White, Black
Orange, Light Grey, Dark Grey, Light Green
–
GPS
Yes
Yes
–
Yes
–
Yes
Yes
–
Yes
Yes