The best cheap smartwatch 2024: Great wearable tech that won’t cost the earth
Our selection of the best cheap smartwatches
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The best cheap smartwatch options are now some of the most capable available for life tracking and connectivity, while still saving you money. So while the top-end models might be too pricey, you may also find they have features you’d never use anyway.
So while thebest smartwatches– like the expensiveApple Watch Ultra 2– can offer lots of smart features, it’s worth checking to see what you actually want to use, and pay for. If you’re simply looking to get smartphone notifications, track steps and sleep, there are lots of affordable choices. Or maybe you want to get a decent 10K run time, or push your swimming and cycling to new levels – there are plenty of watches to help without breaking your sports kit budget.
You can expect a heart rate monitor, clear display, sleep tracking, accurate GPS and in some cases onboard music to listen to while you train, without the need for a smartphone. Take a look at our picks of the best cheap smartwatches below, including some of the bestAndroid smartwatchesandsmartwatches for iPhones.
The quick list
Best Apple
The best cheap smartwatch designed by Apple
The Apple Watch SE 2 isn’t the cheapest option in this guide but it is the best for iPhone users. The screen is fantastic, watchOS is amazing, and running features are in abundance.
Read more below
Best Fitbit
The best cheap smartwatch for general fitness
One of the best health and sports tracking smartwatches from an incredibly well-known brand. One of the features we love is the ability to log activities up to 20 minutes after the event.
Read more below
Best GPS watch
The best cheap smartwatch with GPS under $100
A fantastic budget-friendly device with health tracking metrics and full GPS onboard. the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro is light, comfortable and boasts a decent display.
Read more below
Load the next two products…
Best Garmin
The best cheap smartwatch from Garmin
Not only is the Forerunner 55 almost as good as the Apple Watch SE2 but it’s also more affordable. With a nice design, user-friendly interface, and a wide range of running features, the Forerunner 55 is a fantastic watch for runners.
Read more below
Best for runners
The best cheap smartwatch for runners
A feature-rich smartwatch with everything a runner could need. By tracking stride length, cadence, heart rate zones, and elevation, the Coros Pace 3 delivers the metrics to boost performance.
Read more below
The best cheap smartwatch 2024
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The best cheap Apple Watch
1. Apple Watch SE 2
Our expert review:
Even though it’s more expensive than most of the cheap entries on this list, as the cheapest watch inApple’s stable, this is the best option for iPhone users looking for a future-proof fitness watch that doesn’t cost a bomb. It’s ‘nylon-infused’ at the back, ensuring it’s partially made of fabric to cut down on weight ( the new 40mmApple WatchSE is about 13% lighter than the previous version, and 18% lighter than the 41mm Series 8) .and cost.
The screen is still as tough as ever though, and it’s got the same excellent watch OS 9 as it’s more premium contemporaries, so on-wrist running power, vertical oscillation and other key metrics for runners (which evenGarmincan’t do without a HRM yet) make this one of the best cheap smartwatches for runners. Other fitness stuff includes stroke counts for keen swimmers and the ability to close your rings with movement, whether that’s in the great outdoors or using Apple Fitness+, which you also get access to.
You get additional health benefits including crash detection, which can register impacts and automatically notify emergency services in case of an accident. It comes in two sizes in both GPs and GPS+Cellular, depending on your needs.
Read our in-depthApple Watch SE2 review
The best cheap Fitbit
2. Fitbit Versa 3
Our expert review:
TheFitbitVersa 3 has reached the affordable price range and brings with it some of the best health and sports tracking from one of the brands that started it all. There is a Versa 4, but this model is both cheaper and better-reviewed.
One big feature here is the ability to log activities, up to 20 minutes, even if you forget, after the fact – ideal if you’ve done an impromptu big walk and didn’t record at the start. This will also track sports, offers accurate GPS, heart rate data and, of course, gives deep sleep metrics. Plus, the screen is upgraded here with a larger and clearer 1.6-inch AMOLED.
With a great battery life to go for days at time, lightweight build that’s comfortable day or night, lots of useful fitness statistics and even an SpO2 sensor – this really is one of the best wearables out there, especially at this price.
Read our in-depthFitbit Versa 3 review
The best cheap GPS watch
3. Amazfit Bip U Pro
Our expert review:
Amazfit Bip U Pro is the best cheap smartwatch if you’re limited to that under-$100 price range. The brand is known for its reliable and well-built affordable smartwatches, so you can count on one of their bestsellers to see you through your daily activity tracking needs.
This particular model is an improved version of the highly popular Bip U. And, for a budget smartwatch, it comes with several great features including built-in GPS for outdoor tracking and a voice assistant withAmazonAlexa integration. In fact, it’s one of few budget wearables to have GPS. Amazfit also didn’t just add it for the sake of having it. During our testing, we found that the GPS tracking on this watch works beautifully, giving accurate results.
That might be the most important addition to this update, but there are loads of others to mention as well. It’s got many fitness and health features such as heart rate, SpO2, sleep, and breathing tracking as well as more than 60 workouts and activities, plus a camera shutter.
Read our in-depthAmazfit Bip U Pro review
The best cheap Garmin watch
4. Garmin Forerunner 55
Our expert review:
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the best cheap smartwatch from activity brand Garmin you’ll find on the market, undercutting the Apple Watch SE 2 on price and nearly equaling it in outdoor fitness features. It’s an entry-level model, setting you back for much less than other advanced running smartwatches, but it’s a thoughtfully-designed one that’s a step-up from a basic fitness tracker with a design that’s new-user-friendly.
During our tests, we found the new workout suggestions to be the most useful features, as they not only encourage beginners, but also expand their workout options and allow them to discover new ones. The recommended rest time at the end of a workout is fantastic as well.
Of course, specifically for runners, it features Garmin’s brilliant on-board GPS. In our tests it established a lock extremely quickly and recorded a three-mile route to within a few yards. That’s on top of the other tools included specifically to help you become a better runner.
Read our in-depthGarmin Forerunner 55 review
The best cheap smartwatch for runners
5. Coros Pace 3
Our expert review:
The Coros Pace 3 is one of thebest running watchesif you’re on a budget. For under $250 / £219 / AU$399, it’s a wonderful running watch, especially if you’re new to the hobby or just want to see whether a device like this could enhance your performance.
Considering the price, you’d think the smartwatch would be stripped of all its best features but, in reality, it’s surprisingly feature-rich. Everything centers around collating running data, including stride length, cadence, heart rate zones, and elevation.
Along with running metrics, users will also get music storage, a redesigned rear sensor array, a toggle on-off touchscreen functionality and improved satellite navigation tech. The Coros Pace 3 is the complete package for runners who want a great watch at an even better price.
How to choose the best cheap smartwatch for you
Besides the price, it’s important to check its compatibility with your phone, as some smartwatches aren’t compatible with an iPhone, for example. There’s also the battery life and the features.
If you’re a runner, it’s important to get the best cheap smartwatch for running as it’ll have running-specific features that others might not have. If you need to track your sleep, a longer battery life certainly important as you don’t want to be charging twice a day.
Don’t expect the latest Apple orSamsungflagships to be on the list, as those tend to sit at a much higher price point and out of people’s reach if they’re looking for a cheaper option. However, as we mentioned earlier, ‘cheap’ can be relative. A cheap regular smartwatch is going to be considerably more affordable than a budget smartwatch for divers. Keep that in mind when looking at your options.
How we test the best cheap smartwatches
Although not every smartwatch on this list has been fully tested by us, our smartwatch experts have more than enough experience to know exactly what makes them tick and what makes an excellent choice.
Those we have reviewed, however, we have put through their paces. To ensure that every cheap smartwatch gets fully tested in the real world, we use it as our own personal wearable for a week or so. We also perform a comprehensive sweep of its features – at least the most important ones, and varied usage over multiple days to give us a clear idea of how battery life performs.
Once we have all the information we need, we compare it with its price tag to see if it’s a great value and worth recommending to readers.
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Matt is TechRadar’s expert on all things fitness, wellness and wearable tech. A former staffer at Men’s Health, he holds a Master’s Degree in journalism from Cardiff and has written for brands like Runner’s World, Women’s Health, Men’s Fitness, LiveScience and Fit&Well on everything fitness tech, exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing.
Matt’s a keen runner, ex-kickboxer, not averse to the odd yoga flow, and insists everyone should stretch every morning. When he’s not training or writing about health and fitness, he can be found reading doorstop-thick fantasy books with lots of fictional maps in them.
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