Smartwatch expertise has drastically developed through the years — among the best smartwatches may even stand alone and not using a companion smartphone. Inexpensive smartwatches have additionally come a good distance, providing options present in flagship smartwatches and sports watches at important financial savings. One of the best low-cost smartwatches provide superior health monitoring, lengthy battery life, trendy design parts, and companion smartphone apps.
Fortunately, manufacturers like Apple, Google, and Samsung provide inexpensive smartwatch fashions. OnePlus and Amazfit are also main gamers within the inexpensive smartwatch sport. These wallet-friendly wearables show you can keep linked and wholesome with out spending a fortune. Hold studying to be taught which inexpensive smartwatch is one of the best match for you.
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What’s the finest low-cost smartwatch proper now?
We tested among the high budget-friendly smartwatches which are extraordinarily excessive performers. Each watch on this record is a succesful smartwatch that may be paired to your smartphone and will be discovered for beneath $300. Whereas the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is our choose for the best smartwatch overall, we chosen the Amazfit Active 2 as our greatest low-cost smartwatch due to its extraordinarily low value, capability to attach with iPhone and Android smartphones, stable well being and wellness options, and lengthy battery life.
Additionally: The best Android smartwatches: Expert tested
One of the best low-cost smartwatches of 2025
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The Amazfit Energetic 2 is hard to beat on the subject of a worth smartwatch. In comparison with its predecessor, the 2023 Active, it encompasses a spherical kind issue, together with a barometric altimeter and ambient gentle sensor, a brighter 2,000 nits show, and extra indoor and outside sports activities, together with ski maps. The watch prices simply $99 and sometimes even much less on sale.
Through the few weeks I examined the Energetic 2, I used to be very impressed by the standard of the smartwatch, with its stainless-steel bezel, sapphire glass display, and sensible AMOLED show. It additionally options actionable issues on the watch face, so you possibly can faucet proper on the complication and go straight to the widget displaying extra particulars.
Evaluation: I recommend this budget Amazfit smartwatch over pricey models
The Amazfit Energetic 2 contains coronary heart charge and sleep monitoring, which I discovered to be correct in comparison with different watches I’ve examined. It may actually be overwhelming to wrap your head across the broad vary of actions which are supported by the watch. It contains over 160 exercise modes together with Hyrox racing, power coaching, working, yoga, and 50-meter water-resistance for swimming. You possibly can customise the info pages and different particular settings after you choose and launch every exercise on the watch.
In case you have ever thought of a smartwatch however have not made the transfer to attempt one, you actually cannot go fallacious spending the $99 for a watch that performs properly, seems good, and lasts for as much as 10 days between expenses.
Amazfit Energetic 2 tech specs: Show: 1.32-inch 390 x 390 pixels | Battery life: 10 days | Dimensions: 1.73 x 1.73 x 0.39 in. | Weight: 1.04 oz. | Water/Mud resistance: 5 ATM | LTE mobile choice: No
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Whereas I personally want massive watches, thousands and thousands of different individuals search for a small, unobtrusive smartwatch that gives a refined person interface at a cheaper price. The Apple Watch SE has a majority of the identical options and features because the bigger Apple Watch models. It may even be bought with mobile assist.
The Apple Watch SE can also be marketed in the direction of households, as it may well match properly on youngsters’ wrists, and Household Setup enables you to assist a number of watches with one father or mother’s iPhone.
Additionally: Apple Watch SE (2022) vs. Apple Watch SE (2020)
This watch is filled with options with a selected deal with well being and health, together with coronary heart well being monitoring, irregular rhythm notifications, cycle monitoring, and even crash detection. It is waterproof for as much as 50 meters, so you possibly can take it alongside for swimming laps, and it means that you can stream music. You get to select your case coloration from three choices, and it’s simply appropriate with the opposite best Apple watch bands.
The bottom SE is 40mm, however you may as well choose up a barely bigger 44mm mannequin for $30 extra. GPS and Wi-Fi fashions can be found with mobile promoting for $50 extra, plus an related mobile plan out of your most well-liked wi-fi service.
Apple Watch SE tech specs: Show: OLED Ion-X glass | Battery life: 18 hours | Dimensions: 40 x 34 x 10.7mm and 44 x 38 x 10.7mm | Weight: 26.4 and 32.9 grams | Water/Mud resistance: 50m | LTE mobile choice: Sure
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The OnePlus Watch 3 is a superb, less-expensive Google Put on smartwatch. Considered one of its finest options is its lengthy battery life: In my testing, the Watch 3 lasted 5 days in typical “good” mode, which is sort of unparalleled when the Apple Watch, Pixel Watch, and Galaxy Watch Extremely are nonetheless within the two-day vary. It additionally competes with GPS sports watches which have AMOLED shows.
Evaluation: This Android wearable lasts for days, and left my Samsung Galaxy Watch in the dust
The OnePlus Watch 3 helps greater than 100 sports activities modes. Nevertheless, the info screens that seem in these modes usually are not customizable and are restricted to some default customary metrics. However after your exercise, you could find plenty of information within the eHealth app, like working dynamics, coronary heart charge, and working energy. OnePlus has not but gained FDA approval, so ECG measurements usually are not supplied within the US or Canada.
The OnePlus Watch 3 is extremely sturdy, with IP68 and 5ATM scores, together with MIL-STD-810H certification. It is a ravishing, practical smartwatch, notably for the $270 price ticket.
OnePlus Watch 3 tech specs: Show: 1.5-inch 466 x 466 pixels AMOLED | Battery life: As much as 16 days in Energy Saver Mode | Dimensions: 46.6 x 47.6 x 11.75mm | Weight: 81 grams (with band) | Water/Mud resistance: IP68 | LTE mobile choice: No
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FE stands for Fan Version, and in 2024 Samsung launched its first FE smartwatch. The FE editions deliver flagship options and capabilities to the lots at a extra inexpensive value. At simply $200 it’s exhausting to not advocate that each Android phone person buy the Galaxy Watch FE if they need a top quality smartwatch.
Additionally: Samsung’s new Galaxy Watch FE is a $199 smartwatch with flagship features
“At Samsung, we attempt to deliver well being and health monitoring capabilities to as many individuals around the globe as potential, serving to them to make the adjustments wanted to enhance their wellness every day and assist them attain their targets,” mentioned Junho Park, Samsung’s vice chairman and head of the Galaxy Ecosystem Product Planning Staff. “We’re excited so as to add the brand new Galaxy Watch FE to our wearables portfolio, providing extra individuals entry to customized well being insights that empower them to be motivated and keep more healthy day and evening.”
The brand new Galaxy Watch FE encompasses a 40mm watch face and is available in black, pink gold, and silver. For better personalization, Samsung additionally unveiled new watch bands with blue and orange stitching and new watch faces. Just like the Galaxy Watch 6, the Watch FE encompasses a Sapphire Crystal glass face.
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE tech specs: Show: 1.2-inch 396 x 396 pixels Tremendous AMOLEDl | Battery life: 14 days | Dimensions: 39.3 x 40.4 x 9.8mm | Weight: 26.6 grams | Water/Mud resistance: 5 ATM | LTE mobile choice: Sure
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One strategy to get pleasure from a inexpensive smartwatch is by shopping for a earlier mannequin. Google now presents the flagship Pixel Watch 3, however the Pixel Watch 2 is obtainable for an inexpensive $250 in only one measurement, which is nice for individuals who desire a small, unobtrusive smartwatch.
At first look, the Google Pixel Watch 2 seems to be an all-display accent, with a spherical domed Gorilla Glass 5 AMOLED display transitioning into the 100% recycled aluminum housing. The entrance makes for fairly the style assertion, particularly when mixed with colourful and compelling bands.
Additionally: Google Pixel Watch 2 review: In one key area, it surpasses every other smartwatch
The Google Pixel Watch 2 improved over the unique with GPS accuracy and new coronary heart charge sensors that are actually one of the vital correct available on the market, making it one of the best Fitbit smartwatch ever made.
With the Google Pixel Watch 2’s Security Test characteristic, you possibly can set a check-in timer everytime you’re shifting from level A to B and wish your emergency contacts to be notified if something goes fallacious. For instance, you possibly can arrange an alert for a deliberate half-hour run, and in the event you do not verify your arrival at house after that time period, your chosen contacts can be notified.
As a Put on OS smartwatch, you possibly can obtain from a bounty of third-party apps and companies through the Play Retailer. Simply remember that extra Tiles will seem in your carousel as you obtain them, and never all apps have devoted Tiles.
Google Pixel Watch tech specs: Show: 320 ppi AMOLED | Battery life:24 hours | Dimensions: 41 x 41 x 12.3mm | Weight: 36 grams | Water/Mud resistance: 5 ATM | LTE mobile choice: Sure
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With its built-in GPS and every day health options, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is our choose for one of the best low-cost smartwatch for runners. The highly effective Garmin Join smartphone app and Garmin ecosystem assist make this watch a tremendous choice for runners and for followers of smaller elegant watches.
Liz Ho, founding father of
Additionally: The best Garmin watches
The Forerunner 55 features a built-in GPS, coronary heart charge monitoring, and devoted apps for mountaineering and different actions. There are every day options on your exercises and customized steerage primarily based by yourself exercise ranges. To maintain you plugged in, the colour show is designed to point out up properly within the solar so you possibly can nonetheless see your messages and alerts outside.
In case you do not thoughts spending a bit extra, I used to be additionally a fan of the Garmin Forerunner 165.
Garmin Forerunner 55 tech specs: Show: 1.04-inch 208 x 208 pixels memory-in-pixel | Battery life: 14 days | Dimensions: 42 x 42 x 11.6mm | Weight: 37 grams | Water/Mud resistance: 5 ATM | LTE mobile choice: No
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ZDNET’s choose for one of the best low-cost smartwatch is the Amazfit Bip 6. It presents all the standard options together with superior well being and wellness monitoring, message triage assist, and purposes. The lengthy battery life and really low value set it aside and make it our choose for one of the best low-cost smartwatch accessible in the present day.
To see how the Amazfit Bip 6 compares, it is a chook’s eye view of one of the best low-cost smartwatches.
| Finest low-cost smartwatch | Value | Display screen measurement | Water resistance |
| Amazfit Energetic 2 | $100 | 33.5 millimeters | 50 meters |
| Apple Watch SE | $169 | 40 millimeters, 44 millimeters | 50 meters |
| OnePlus Watch 3 | $270 | 38.1 millimeters | 50 meters |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch FE | $200 | 30.5 millimeters | 50 meters |
| Google Pixel Watch 2 | $198 | 41 millimeters | 50 meters |
| Garmin Forerunner 55 | $168 | 26 millimeters | 50 meters |
It is not all the time simple to determine which low-cost smartwatch is finest. These are my skilled suggestions to assist discover one of the best smartwatch for you.
| Select this finest low-cost smartwatch… | In order for you... |
| Amazfit Energetic 2 | The most affordable smartwatch on this record with built-in GPS and loads of well being and wellness options for iPhone and Android cellphone customers. |
| Apple Watch SE | An inexpensive smartwatch for Apple iPhone customers. This high smartwatch brings unimaginable worth. |
| OnePlus Watch 3 | A flagship smartwatch for Android customers that could be one of the best Google Put on OS watch accessible in the present day. |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch FE | Probably the most inexpensive Android smartwatch that needs to be picked up by anybody thinking about making an attempt out their first smartwatch. |
| Google Pixel Watch 2 | The second-generation watch comes with loads of enhancements with that very same very small and stylish kind issue. |
| Garmin Forerunner 55 | A smartwatch to maintain up along with your runs. This smartwatch has particular options to learn runners. |
Smartwatches function companions to our smartphones, and there are a number of issues to contemplate as you discover the numerous choices accessible. A number of elements will provide help to rapidly slim down accessible candidates, so let’s take a more in-depth look and assist you choose one of the best smartwatch for you.
- Working system: Each Apple and Android can be found because the smartphone companion working methods for reasonable smartwatches. Earlier than you select one of the best low-cost smartwatch, contemplate what sort of cellphone you employ, as an iPhone will pair finest with an Apple Watch, whereas an Android cellphone will work finest with a Google, Samsung, or OnePlus watch. Garmin and Amazfit are device-agnostic.
- Show: Low-cost smartwatches are available a number of display sizes. Whereas some smartwatches provide a compact design, others could boast a bigger design for simpler viewing on the subject of messages. Earlier than you select one of the best show measurement, nevertheless, make sure to contemplate the scale of your wrist so you could find a snug match.
- Options: Whether or not it’s fitness tracking, sleep tracking, and even well being monitoring, a number of extra options could include one of the best low-cost smartwatch. In case you plan to make use of your smartwatch whereas swimming or showering, search for a mannequin that’s waterproof.
- Battery life: The battery lifetime of an inexpensive smartwatch is a crucial consideration as a result of that is an space the place some firms can slack. Before you purchase, take into consideration how typically you possibly can cost your battery, and look for an inexpensive smartwatch with a battery life that may work inside that timeframe.
- Value: The price of smartwatches can differ considerably, so I regarded for reasonable smartwatches priced under $300. The most affordable smartwatch on the record is the Amazfit Bip 6 at $80, whereas the Google Pixel Watch 2 and Apple Watch SE are each about $250 every.
The smartwatches included on this record have been chosen primarily based on how they carried out when tested in the real world by the ZDNET group. Once we take a look at smartwatches, we usually comply with the identical routine for every one to see which performs finest.
- Each day put on: We put on the smartwatch as our major watch with communications, purposes, and different parts being examined as if it was our solely smartwatch.
- Utility choice and efficiency: One side that makes smartwatches completely different than customary watches is the assist for purposes. We load up the watch with apps after which take a look at the efficiency and performance of these purposes. Apple excels in third-party utility assist with Google’s Play Retailer enhancing annually. Garmin, Amazfit, and others are also increasing the quantity and number of apps accessible on watches.
- Exercises: Smartwatch makers have embraced well being and health so we take our smartwatch out for working with GPS, rowing on the Hydrow, biking on trails, and strolling with the household. GPS and coronary heart charge information is tracked after which we consider the accuracy towards confirmed GPS sports watches.
- Sleep and exercise monitoring: Sleep monitoring has improved with smartwatches over time and we consider them as in comparison with good rings and different watches. Nighttime can also be time to cost your smartwatch, so you could select to not use your watch to trace sleep so your watch can serve faithfully all day and into the evening.
For extra on our testing course of, take a look at our full smartwatch testing methodology.
Newest information on low-cost smartwatches
Google Put on OS watches used to work with each Android and iPhone units, however the brand new Put on OS 4 and later watches from Samsung, OnePlus, and Google solely assist Android smartphones. iPhone customers ought to follow the Apple Watch, whereas Android cellphone customers ought to severely contemplate a Google Pixel Watch, OnePlus Watch, or Samsung Galaxy Watch mannequin.
Garmin, Amazfit, and several other others work flawlessly with each Android and iPhone units.
It appears everybody in the present day lives with a smartphone, and moderately than having your face buried in your cellphone show, a smartwatch can function a dependable companion to triage your incoming communications so you possibly can deal with individuals, locations, and issues round you rather than your cellphone show.
Smartwatches in the present day even have superior sensors that present actionable insights to your well being and wellness in addition to function a constant and dependable tracker. In case you’re thinking about entry to that data, then sure, a smartwatch generally is a useful funding.
Newest Updates
- August 2025: Added the Garmin Lily 2 to alternate options, and verified our suggestions are all accessible and nonetheless signify one of the best picks available on the market. Made small edits for readability
Different low-cost smartwatches
View at Garmin
Smartwatches Reviewed & In contrast
In case you’re on the lookout for one of the best methods to get essentially the most out of wrist-worn tech, take a look at our picks for the best Android smartwatches, our favourite Apple Watch, and the best bands for Apple Watch Ultra. Plus, this is a helpful video for how to use low power mode in your Apple watch.
