The best cheap smartwatches of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

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A smartwatch can be a great tool for helping you check messages, take calls, play games, and capture health and wellness metrics, all from your wrist. The downside: They can get expensive. But as smartwatch tech has risen in performance, prices have dropped, meaning a smartwatch doesn't have to cost a fortune to still include some excellent features.

Also: The best Android smartwatches: Expert tested

What is the best cheap smartwatch right now?

We tested some of the top budget-friendly smartwatches that are still extremely high performers. Every watch in this list can be found for under $300, and while the price is rather low, that does not mean you need to make significant compromises to have a capable smartwatch paired to your smartphone. While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is our pick for the best smartwatch overall today, its smaller cousin, the Apple Watch SE (Gen 2), is our pick for the best affordable smartwatch, thanks to its long battery life, excellent fitness tracking, and comfortable fit.

The one caveat with the Apple Watch SE is that you need an iPhone paired with it. But you can pick up the latest iPhone SE for $429 (or far less for an older model), so the combination of both is still less than the price of some phones and some flagship smartwatches.

The best cheap smartwatches of 2024

Apple Watch SE 2

Best cheap smartwatch overall

While I personally prefer big watches, millions of other people are looking for a small, unobtrusive smartwatch that offers a refined and elegant user interface at an affordable price. The Apple Watch SE has a majority of the same features and functions as the larger Apple Watch models, and can even be purchased with cellular support.

The Apple Watch SE is also marketed towards families: The SE will fit well on your kids' wrists, and Family Setup lets you support multiple watches with one parent's iPhone.

Also: Apple Watch SE (2022) vs. Apple Watch SE (2020)

Indeed, this watch is packed with features, with an extra focus on health and fitness, including heart health monitoring, irregular rhythm notifications, cycle tracking, and even crash detection. It's waterproof up to 50 meters, so you can take it along for those daily laps in the swimming pool, and allows you to stream music, too. You get to pick your case color from three options, and it is easily compatible with the other best Apple watch bands.

The base SE is 40mm, but you can also pick up a slightly larger 44mm one for $30 more. GPS and Wi-Fi models are available with cellular selling for $50 more, plus an associated cellular plan from your preferred wireless carrier.

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OnePlus Watch 2R

Best cheap Google Wear smartwatch

The OnePlus Watch 2R is a streamlined version of the Watch 2, which had offered a lot for a fair price. It comes in at an even lower $200 price in either Gunmetal Gray or Forest Green color. The price is down $30 from the launch price and $100 less than the OnePlus Watch 2, with few compromises for such significant savings.

The OnePlus Watch 2R is made of aluminum instead of stainless steel, so it is lighter than the Watch 2. It has a fairly large 1.43-inch AMOLED display with 1,000 nits of brightness and high resolution. Like the Watch 2, the Watch 2R takes things to the next level by offering both RTOS and Wear OS 4 on a single watch with a dual-engine architecture. With this unique approach, the device is the most efficient Wear OS watch available today, with longer battery life than any other Google Wear OS device or Apple Watch. This means that you can use this watch into the third day.

Review: One of the best budget Android smartwatches I've tested is not a Samsung or Google Pixel

Also make sure to check out the extensive number of workout and health settings, which include heart-rate alerts, breathing assessments while you sleep, auto-workout detection, and even customization of the displays for your favorite workouts.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch FE

Best cheap Samsung smartwatch

For a couple of years, Samsung has provided FE editions of its popular smartphones. FE stands for Fan Edition, and in 2024 Samsung released its first FE smartwatch. The FE editions bring flagship features and capabilities to the masses at a more affordable price, and at just $200 it is hard not to recommend that every Android phone user interested in a smartwatch purchase the Galaxy Watch FE if they don't yet have a smartwatch.

Also: Samsung's new Galaxy Watch FE is a $199 smartwatch with flagship features

"At Samsung, we strive to bring health and fitness monitoring capabilities to as many people around the world as possible, helping them to make the changes needed to improve their wellness daily and help them reach their goals," Junho Park, Samsung's vice president and head of the Galaxy Ecosystem Product Planning Team, said in a statement. "We're excited to add the new Galaxy Watch FE to our wearables portfolio, offering more people access to personalized health insights that empower them to be motivated and stay healthier day and night."

The new Galaxy Watch FE features a 40mm watch face and comes in three colors: black, pink gold, and silver. For greater personalization, Samsung also unveiled new watch bands with blue and orange stitching and new watch faces. Like the Galaxy Watch 6, the Watch FE features a Sapphire Crystal glass face.

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Google Pixel Watch 2

Best cheap Pixel smartwatch

One way to enjoy a less expensive smartwatch is to consider previous models. Google's unveiled the Pixel Watch 3, so the solid Pixel Watch 2 is now available for a reasonable $250. Unlike the new Pixel Watch 3, the Pixel Watch 2 is available in just one size, which is perfect for those with smaller wrists or those who want a small, unobtrusive watch on their wrist.

At first glance, the Google Pixel Watch 2 appears to be an all-display accessory, with the round domed Gorilla Glass 5 AMOLED screen transitioning into the 100% recycled aluminum housing. The front looks lovely and makes for quite the fashion statement, especially when combined with colorful and compelling bands.

Also: Google Pixel Watch 2 review: In one key area, it surpasses every other smartwatch

The Google Pixel Watch 2 improved over the original with new heart rate sensors that are now one of the most accurate on the market. GPS accuracy was also improved, and it is clearly the best Fitbit smartwatch ever made.

With the Google Pixel Watch 2's Safety Check feature, you can set a check-in timer whenever you're moving from point A to B and want your emergency contacts to be notified if anything goes wrong. For example, you can set up an alert for a planned half-hour run, and if you don't confirm your arrival at home after that period of time, your selected contacts will be notified.

As a Wear OS smartwatch, you can download from a bounty of third-party apps and services via the Play Store. Just be aware that additional Tiles will appear in your carousel as you download them, and not all apps have dedicated Tiles.

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Garmin Forerunner 55

Best cheap smartwatch for runners

With its built-in GPS and daily fitness suggestions, the Garmin Forerunner 55 is the best cheap smartwatch for runners. The powerful Garmin Connect smartphone app and Garmin ecosystem help make this watch an amazing option for runners and fans of smaller elegant watches.

Liz Ho, founder of Camping Guidance, said she takes it with her on the trail."I have used various smartwatches in my escapades in the great outdoors, but I found the Garmin Forerunner 55 to be especially useful for nature enthusiasts such as myself," she said.

Also: The best Garmin watches

The Forerunner 55 includes a built-in GPS, heart rate monitoring, and dedicated apps for hiking and other activities. There are daily suggestions for your workouts, plus personalized guidance based on your own activity levels. To keep you plugged in, the color display is designed to show in the sun so you can still see your messages and alerts outdoors.

If you don't mind spending a bit more, I was also a fan of the Garmin Forerunner 165.

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Amazfit Bip 3 Pro

Best cheap smartwatch for GPS

If you want a break from the usual Android-Apple operating systems, give the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro a try. It boasts a generous screen size measuring 1.69 inches with a 240 x 280 pixel resolution and a waterproof design, allowing it to dive up to 50 meters. Its battery lasts about two weeks between charges.

But where this watch really shines is in its features. There are over 60 different sports modes that you can choose from, covering all sorts of popular activities with modes like Treadmill, Outdoor Cycling, Yoga, Cricket, Table Tennis, and Jumping Rope. There is also a comprehensive health tracker. It tracks your heart rate 24/7, as well as blood oxygen levels. You can learn more about your stress levels and sleep habits by wearing your watch regularly. Women can even track their menstrual cycles with a built-in calendar.

It will also track your steps and how far you walk or run with its own GPS tracker, with support for four satellite navigation systems. Bluetooth support is included, so you can connect to the comprehensive Zepp smartphone application on your iPhone or Android smartphone.

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ZDNET's pick for the best cheap smartwatch is the Apple Watch SE 2. It offers all the usual features like messaging alerts and health tracking, but it also goes one step further to deliver other benefits not seen in other cheap smartwatches. For instance, there is also critical health monitoring and data reporting, with unique features like crash detection and SOS alerts.

To see how the Apple Watch SE 2 compares, this is a bird's eye view of the best cheap smartwatches.

Best cheap smartwatch	Cost	Screen size	Water resistance
Apple Watch SE 2	$249	40 millimeters, 44 millimeters	50 meters
OnePlus Watch 2R	$199	36.32 millimeters	50 meters
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE	$199	30.5 millimeters	50 meters
Google Pixel Watch 2	$250	41 millimeters	50 meters
Garmin Forerunner 55	$199	26 millimeters	50 meters
Amazfit Bip 3 Pro	$70	36.32 millimeters	50 meters

It isn't always so easy trying to figure out which cheap smartwatch is best. These are my expert recommendations to help you find the best smartwatch for you.

Choose this best cheap smartwatch...	If you want...
Apple Watch SE 2	An affordable smartwatch for Apple iPhone users. This top smartwatch brings incredible value.
OnePlus Watch 2R	A flagship smartwatch for Android users that may be the best Google Wear OS watch available today.
Samsung Galaxy Watch FE	The most affordable Android smartwatch that should be picked up by anyone interested in trying out their first smartwatch.
Google Pixel Watch 2	The second-generation watch comes with plenty of improvements with that same very small and elegant form factor.
Garmin Forerunner 55	A smartwatch to keep up with your runs. This smartwatch has specific features to benefit runners.
Amazfit Bip 3 Pro	The cheapest smartwatch on this list with integrated GPS and plenty of health and wellness features for iPhone and Android phone users.

Smartwatches serve as companions to our smartphones, and there are several things to consider as you explore the many options available. Several factors will help you quickly narrow down available candidates, so let's take a closer look and help you select the best smartwatch for you.

Operating system: Both Apple and Android are available as the smartphone companion operating systems for cheap smartwatches. Before you choose the best cheap smartwatch, consider what kind of phone you use, as an iPhone will pair best with an Apple Watch, while an Android phone will work best with a Google, Samsung, or OnePlus watch. Garmin and Amazfit are device-agnostic.Display: Cheap smartwatches come in multiple screen sizes. While some smartwatches offer a compact design, others may boast a larger design for easier viewing when it comes to messages. Before you choose the best display size, however, be sure to consider the size of your wrist so you can find a comfortable fit.Features: Whether it is fitness tracking, sleep tracking, or even health monitoring, several additional features may come with the best cheap smartwatch. If you plan to use your smartwatch while swimming or showering, look for a model that is waterproof. Battery life: The battery life of a cheap smartwatch is an important consideration because this is an area where some companies can slack. Before you buy, think about how often you can charge your battery, and look for a cheap smartwatch with a battery life that will work within that timeframe. Cost: The cost of smartwatches can vary significantly, so I looked for cheap smartwatches priced below $300. The cheapest smartwatch on the list is the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro at $70, while the OnePlus Watch 2 costs about $249 after you send in any watch for a $50 discount.

The smartwatches included in this list were chosen based on how they performed when tested in the real world by the ZDNET team. When we test smartwatches, we typically follow the same routine for each one to see which performs best.

Daily wear: We wear the smartwatch as our primary watch with communications, applications, and other elements being tested as if it was our only smartwatch.Application selection and performance: One aspect that makes smartwatches different than standard watches is the support for applications. We load up the watch with apps and then test the performance and functionality of those applications. Apple excels in third-party application support with Google's Play Store improving each year. Garmin, Amazfit, and others also are expanding the number and selection of apps available on watches.Workouts: Smartwatch makers have embraced health and fitness so we take our smartwatch out for running with GPS, rowing on the Hydrow, biking on trails, and walking with the family. GPS and heart rate data is tracked and then we evaluate the accuracy against proven GPS sports watches.Sleep and activity tracking: Sleep tracking has improved with smartwatches over time and we evaluate them as compared to smart rings and other watches. Nighttime is also a good time to charge your smartwatch, so you may choose not to use your watch to track sleep so your watch can serve faithfully all day and into the night.

For more on our testing process, check out our full smartwatch testing methodology.

FAQs

Google Wear OS watches used to work with both Android and iPhone devices, but the new Wear OS 4 and later watches from Samsung, OnePlus, and Google only support Android smartphones. iPhone users should stick with the Apple Watch, while Android phone users should seriously consider a Google Pixel Watch, OnePlus Watch, or Samsung Galaxy Watch model.

Garmin, Amazfit, and several others work flawlessly with both Android and iPhone devices.

It seems everyone today lives with a smartphone, and rather than having your face buried in your phone display, a smartwatch can serve as a reliable companion to triage your incoming communications so you can focus on people, places, and things around you instead of your phone display.

Smartwatches today also have advanced sensors that provide actionable insights to your health and wellness as well as serve as a consistent and reliable tracker. If you're interested in access to that information, then yes, a smartwatch can be a helpful investment.

There are many different types of cheap smartwatches that you can buy. These are some of the best cheap smartwatches that almost made our list.

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