The Best Cheap Smartwatches To Buy Right Now…

Cheap Smartwatches: The Complete Buying Guide

Smartwatches don’t have to cost $300+ anymore. In 2025, you can get reliable fitness tracking, bright displays, and week-long battery life for under $100.

But not all budget smartwatches are created equal and the trade-offs can be confusing if you’re buying your first one.

This guide answers the most common questions people ask before picking up an affordable smartwatch.

1. How Much Should You Spend on a Cheap Smartwatch?

Most budget smartwatches fall into three tiers:

• Under $50: Basic fitness bands with step counting, notifications, and simple health tracking. Think Xiaomi Bands or older Amazfit models.
• $50–$100: The sweet spot. Expect AMOLED displays, 100+ sport modes, and decent health tracking. This is where models like the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 and Amazfit Bip 6 sit.
• $100–$150: Premium budget. Watches like the Huawei Fit 3 push into smartwatch territory with better sensors, GPS, and polished apps.

👉 If you want built-in GPS or a larger display, aim for the $70–$120 range.

2. What Features Should You Look for in a Budget Smartwatch?

The main specs that matter are:

• Display: AMOLED is brighter and sharper than LCD. Ideal for outdoor use.
• Battery life: Expect 5–7 days minimum; the best budget watches last 10–14 days.
• Health tracking: Heart rate, SpO₂, and sleep tracking are standard. Stress and menstrual cycle tracking are nice extras.
• GPS: Built-in GPS is better, but many budget watches piggyback on your phone’s GPS.
• Water resistance: Look for 5ATM or IP68 if you plan to swim or shower with it.
• Compatibility: Most work with both Android and iOS, but some (like Samsung’s Fit 3) are Android-only.

3. Can Cheap Smartwatches Track Fitness Accurately?

A cheap smartwatch is never going to replace a high-end Garmin or Apple Watch Ultra. But they’re not meant to, either. $1000 smartwatches are designed for pro or serious athletes. If you’re more of a basic user that just needs things like step counting and basic run / activity tracking, a cheap smartwatch will almost certainly suit your needs.

Brands We Like, Recommended Options

• Amazfit & Huawei: Among the most consistent for heart rate, sleep, and GPS.
• Samsung Galaxy Fit: Great for Android users, reliable sleep tracking, but no onboard GPS.
• Ultra-budget ($30–$40 bands): Fine for steps and heart rate, but sleep and SpO₂ data can be patchy.

👉 For runners or cyclists, built-in GPS (like on the Amazfit Bip 6) is worth paying extra for.

4. Do Budget Smartwatches Have Smart Features Like Notifications and Calls?

Most basic smartwatches support notifications. But for iPhone users to really get the most from any smartwatch, you really need to use Apple Watch.

With Android, it’s much different. Nearly all basic watches support notifications but the level of integration and the detail you get varies massively. Again, notifications on your watch can be annoying.

Personally, I always have them switched off. It saves battery life and makes my life far less stressful. But if notifications are important, go with a brand of smartwatch that is made by the same brand as your phone. That’s usually the best rule of thumb.

Most cheap smartwatch models support:

• Notifications: You’ll see texts, calls, and app alerts. Replying is usually limited to Android users.
• Bluetooth calling: Found on watches like the CMF Watch Pro 2 and Amazfit Bip 6.
• Music control: Almost all let you skip tracks and adjust volume, but offline music storage is rare.
• Payments: Don’t expect NFC/tap-to-pay on budget models.

5. Are Cheap Smartwatches Durable?

Cheap smartwatch models can be fairly durable; some are brilliant in this regard (see CMF Watch Pro 2 and Amazfit Bip 6). But IP ratings vary across the models, so always check these before you pull the trigger on one, especially if you do a lot of swimming. You’ll need an IP rating for that.

• Premium feel: Aluminum alloy bodies (Amazfit Bip 6, Huawei Fit 3).
• Entry-level: Plastic cases (Xiaomi Bands, cheaper CMF models).
• Water resistance: Most support splash resistance; some, like the Fit 3 and Bip 6, are fine for swimming.
• Straps: Some brands (Huawei, Samsung) use proprietary straps, limiting replacements.

6. Which Cheap Smartwatch Brands Are Best?

Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Amazfit: Best mix of features, fitness tracking, and long battery life.
• Huawei: Polished hardware, accurate sensors, great sleep insights, limited app store.
• Samsung (Fit series): Best for Android integration, but no iOS support.
• CMF by Nothing: Stylish designs and Bluetooth calling at low prices, but basic health insights.
• Xiaomi: Extremely cheap, good screens, but inconsistent GPS accuracy.

7. How Long Should Battery Life Last?

• Average budget watch: 5–7 days.
• Top performers: 10–14 days (Amazfit Bip 6, Huawei Fit 3).
• With Always-On Display: Usually cuts battery life in half.

Charging times are usually 60–90 minutes.

👉 If sleep tracking matters to you, pick a watch with 10+ day life so you’re not charging it every night.

9. How Good Is the Software on Cheap Smartwatches?

Don’t expect full app stores like on Apple Watch or Wear OS. Instead, most use proprietary software:

• Amazfit Zepp OS: Feature-rich and syncs with Strava, Apple Health, Komoot, etc.
• Huawei Health OS: Polished and reliable, but limited app support.
• Samsung Health (Galaxy Fit): Great data and insights, but only works with Android.
• CMF/Nothing OS: Simple, lightweight, but limited features.

Software updates are less frequent than Apple or Samsung flagships, but most major brands keep supporting their budget devices for 1–2 years.

Are Cheap Smartwatches Worth It?

If you’re not running ultra-marathons, hitting the gym six times a week, and you don’t have any underlying health conditions, you definitely don’t need to be spending $1000 on a smartwatch.

All of the options we currently recommend offer more than enough fitness tracking capabilities for runners, gym users, and swimmers. Basically, if you like to exercise but aren’t a maniac about it and you’d like to start tracking, you might as well start with something more affordable, test the water, see if you like it.

All of our top-recommended cheap smartwatch models feature:

• A bright AMOLED display
• Reliable health tracking
• Built-in GPS (on some models)
• Battery life measured in days, not hours

The key is knowing your priorities. Want the most features? Amazfit Bip 6. Best for Android users? Galaxy Fit 3. Sleek design and Bluetooth calling? CMF Watch Pro 2. Accuracy and polish? Huawei Fit 3.

👉 Bottom line: If you buy from a reputable brand, cheap smartwatches are absolutely worth it — as long as you understand where the compromises lie.