
Best cheap smartwatches 2023: Affordable wearables for Android and iOS
The best cheap smartwatches are the saving grace for anyone on a budget, who still needs a time-tracking device with a few digital bells and whistles.
Even a basic smartwatch has a lot more than just a digital interface, adding bespoke apps for smartwatch operating systems, a host of fitness capabilities, and sometimes even more traditional clock faces for those looking for a semi-intelligent hybrid model.
Sports-oriented smartwatches can be fully waterproof and sweatproof, with trackers and heart rate counters that tally up your steps throughout the day; others are designed to send you notifications, download and stream music, or even enable calls.
But the one thing that ties all the entries on this list together is that they’re all (relatively) cheap, which means they’re largely entry-level models from the likes of Samsung, Google, Garmin and Fitbit plus an Apple Watch model if you can stretch that far.
The best cheap smartwatches at a glance
If you’re on the hunt for a new smartwatch, we’ve rounded up some of the best options that won’t break the bank.
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Fitbit Versa 2
Best for: fitness tracking
Diameter: 40mm
Water resistance: 50m
Cellular: No
Battery life: 4 days
The Fitbits Versa 2 smartwatch is still worth checking out, although newer and flashier versions have since hit the market.
At under $100, that’s a great price for a fitness-focused smartwatch, whether you’re taking it for runs and bike rides, counting your steps, or tracking your sleep throughout the day. night. Fitbit boasts that you can download over 300 songs on the smartwatch itself, although when it comes to Spotify it only acts as a remote control for the app running on your phone.
With a rounded square design and an AMOLED display, it can also pass as an Apple Watch remote. Just keep in mind that there’s no GPS or voice calling here, which means you’ll need a phone with you to track distances, your location, or call your mom.
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Apple Watch SE
Best for: apple lover
Diameter: 41mm, 45mm
Water resistance: Yes
Cellular: Available
Battery life: 1-2 days
Yes, even the cheapest Apple Watch will be a little expensive for some, but for those who are married to the Apple ecosystem, sporting an iPhone, AirPods and AirTags on them, the Apple Watch is the perfect complement to their wrist.
This sleek, lightweight model features the full watchOS operating system, with waterproofing for shallow swim sessions (up to 50m). This is in addition to the usual suite of fall detection, collision detection, heart rate tracking and cardio fitness notifications, although you’ll need a more capable model to get the oxygen tracking. pulse and other more specialized fitness features.
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Garmin Vivofit Junior 3
Best for: Children
Size: Fits wrists 130-175mm
Water resistance: 50m
Cellular: No
Battery life: Up to one year
Why afford a connected watch that a child will probably only break? These durable fitness trackers are built for the bumps and drops of an active childhood, with a replaceable battery that should last you up to a year. Even better, a linked app will allow parents to set tasks and reminders, if they need a little playful encouragement to do the dishes.
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Garmin Forerunner 45
Best for: Runners
Diameter: 39, 42mm
Water resistance: 50m
Cellular: No
Battery life: 7 days
The Garmin Forerunner 45 is a go-to choice for those looking for a smartwatch on a budget, with an always-on color display and five buttons along the dial for easy access to timers and marking laps during workouts.
Many of the more stylistic choices on this list settle for a single button instead, so this is definitely the option for those who want immediate functions at their fingertips. It lacks a few more advanced features found in the Forerunner 55 like female health tracking and much longer battery life, but you’ll find the basics covered here for a lot less money.
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Withings Steel HR
Best for: Style
Diameter: 36, 40mm
Water resistance: 50m
Cellular: No
Battery life: 1 month
The Withings Steel HR is a brilliant choice for those who like the look and feel of traditional smartwatches, but want to add some modern functionality. The Steel HR uses a standard clock face, with digitally controlled hour and minute hands so the time is always in sync with your smartphone.
A circular micro-display can scroll the date, time, pedometer, heart rate, calorie estimate and distance traveled. The watch will also automatically detect when you’re running or swimming, and can lightly buzz your wrist with smartphone notifications or gentle morning alarms.
So if you want those digital conveniences without having to deal with tons of apps, this is the smartwatch for you.
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Samsung Galaxy Watch4
Best for: Samsung phone owners
Diameter: 40, 44mm
Water resistance: 50m
Cellular: Available
Battery life: Up to 40 hours
The Samsung Galaxy Watch4 is an excellent low-cost smartwatch, using a modified version of the Wear OS platform that contains countless wearable apps from the Google Play Store.
With GPS and the ability to monitor your heart rate and blood oxygen, there’s plenty to recommend it as a fitness device. It’s not as flashy as the Apple Watch SE, but you get about twice the battery life, so who’s the real winner here.
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Huawei 3 Pro band
Best for: Value
Size: 0.95 inch screen
Water resistance: 50m
Cellular: No
Battery life: 1-2 weeks
The Huawei Band 3 Pro might be more of a fitness tracker than a smartwatch, but there’s no denying how much it achieves in its compact size with step and sleep tracking, an always-on clock display and even the ability to receive notifications on its 0.95-inch touchscreen.
Considering the bargain price, it’s a solid choice for those looking for the main features of a good smartwatch for as little money as possible, while looking good at the same time.
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Amazfit BIP 3 Pro
Best for: Price
Size: 44mm
Water resistance: 50m
Cellular: No
Battery life: 1-2 weeks
With a simple interface, large display and GPS tracking, the Amazfit BIP 3 Pro is an ideal smartwatch for beginners with the basics of fitness tracking covered. A big plus is how well it integrates with other services, meaning you can send your fitness data to Strava or the Apple Health app on iOS. Just be aware that it doesn’t quite have the polish or comfort of more sophisticated models.
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Verdict
It’s a tough call to make, but we have to top it off. Fitbit Versa 2 like the best cheap smartwatch here. It supports both the basic fitness tracking experience and the debut of appropriate smart capabilities and apps, including the ability to download music to your wrist mate. It’s not as independent as some other more expensive models on this list that lack built-in GPS, but sleek styling and a confident feature set make it a great sub-100 option.

