The Best Cheap Smartwatch
Above-average ratings, below-average prices, no fake reviews.
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The Apple Watch (5, 6 or SE) is the best overall smartwatch, and subsequently the best smartwatch for iPhone owners, according to reviewers at PC Mag, Digital Trends, T3, Tom’s Guide and Wirecutter.
So, what’s the best smartwatch for Android owners? Wear OS watches (formerly called Android Wear) are the logical choice: They use an operating system that is developed by Google.
Nevertheless, “Wear OS Is In a Sad State,” declared Droid-Life; a sentiment echoed by Reddit /r/Android members and demonstrated by my own analysis. More than 40 Wear OS smartwatches are currently available, however, only one meets my selection criteria.
Thankfully, there are inexpensive, Android-compatible smartwatches that use proprietary operating systems. These budget-friendly watches display notifications, load apps, make and take calls, send and receive texts, and sync with other Bluetooth accessories.
Some of these Wear OS alternatives work with wireless Qi chargers and include scientific instruments like a pedometer, GPS, a blood pressure sensor and a heart rate monitor; sport models are often waterproof.
Those willing to forgo apps and a touchscreen might consider a “hybrid watch.” These are analog watches that have some smart features, like vibrating notifications, plus great battery life.
How Much Does a Good Smartwatch Cost?
A good Android smartwatch (with verified, above-average reviews) costs approximately $123, according to a 12-month analysis of price trends. Those same Wear OS alternatives cost around $105 while on sale: an average discount of 15%. Here are the best budget Android watches for the money:
Methodology for Selecting Products
I use data science to discover above-average products that are selling for below-average prices. To find Android watches with below-average prices, I first assemble a list of candidates, then organize those products by their 12-month average sale price, determine the median value and then exclude any watch with a price above the mid-point.
To find affordable smartwatches with above-average reviews, I measure the relationship between 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 star ratings and flag outliers that fall outside of a normal statistical distribution. I also discount paid, sponsored and unverified reviews as well as unhelpful review behaviors from verified customers. Watches with an average adjusted rating of less than 3.9 out of 5 are excluded; in the end, fewer than 7% of the analyzed products remain.
Samsung Galaxy Watch (42mm, Rose Gold)
Good Value: $200 | Great Deal: $150
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Display: Color Touchscreen
Sleep Tracking: Yes
Integrated GPS: Yes
Water Resistant: Up to 50 Meters, MIL-STD-810G Certified
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Contactless Payments: Samsung Pay
Connectivity: Bluetooth, GPS, NFC, WiFi
This elegant smartwatch has a slick user interface and an attractive, feminine design, according to several online customers. Many reviewers praise the waterproofing of this watch, yet complain that it has a limited app selection and inaccurate fitness tracking features. Customers have mixed feelings about battery life.
Timex Metropolitan R AMOLED Smartwatch
Good Value: $167 | Great Deal: $135
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Display: Color Touchscreen
Sleep Tracking: Yes
Integrated GPS: Yes
Water Resistant: Splashproof
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Contactless Payments: No
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Timex’s budget smartwatch has excellent battery life, reliable notifications and a slim, lightweight design, according to several online customers. Some reviewers say the fitness tracking features are unreliable.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active (40mm)
Good Value: $170 | Great Deal: $139
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Display: Color Touchscreen
Sleep Tracking: Yes
Integrated GPS: Yes
Water Resistant: Swimproof
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Contactless Payments: Samsung Pay
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC
This affordable Apple Watch alternative is a comfortable, good-looking watch that doubles as a fitness tracker, according to several online customers. Many reviewers have two complaints: The battery-life is less than 24 hours and the Tizen-based watch doesn’t support every Android app (like WearOS does).
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
Fitbit Charge 4 Special Edition
Good Value: $160 | Great Deal: $120
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Display: B&W Touchscreen
Sleep Tracking: Yes
Integrated GPS: Yes
Water Resistant: Swimproof
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Contactless Payments: Fitbit Pay
Connectivity: Bluetooth, NFC
Fitbit’s Charge 4 is an excellent activity tracker with a long battery life and a responsive touchscreen, according to several online customers. Some reviewers were disappointed with this model’s limited Spotify integration; other reviewers (especially iPhone owners) had trouble syncing notifications with their phones.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Cyber Monday.
Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle Stainless Steel Touchscreen Smartwatch (44mm)
Good Value: $200 | Great Deal: $139
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Display: Color Touchscreen
Sleep Tracking: No
Integrated GPS: Yes
Water Resistant: Swimproof
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Contactless Payments: Google Pay (with Google Assistant)
Connectivity: WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC
This fifth-generation Fossil Wear OS watch has a durable build, a responsive display and lots of storage space, according to several online customers. Many reviewers agree that the battery runs down quickly when all of the watch’s features are in use; some Android users wish that more Wear OS apps were available.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday.
Amazfit T-Rex Smartwatch by Huami (44mm)
Good Value: $136 | Great Deal: $110
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Display: Color Touchscreen
Sleep Tracking: Yes
Integrated GPS: Yes
Water Resistant: Swimproof
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Contactless Payments: No
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Huami’s rugged smartwatch is tough, responsive, accurate and it has excellent battery life, according to several online customers. Some reviewers complain that the watchband feels chintzy (and that its proprietary design makes it difficult to replace); others say that the Amazfit app is outdated and difficult to navigate.
Note: This item was heavily discounted on Black Friday and Amazon Prime Day.
Garmin Vivoactive 3 Smartwatch (44mm)
Good Value: $132 | Great Deal: $100
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Display: Color Touchscreen
Sleep Tracking: Yes
Integrated GPS: Yes
Water Resistant: Swimproof
Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Contactless Payments: Garmin Pay
Connectivity: Bluetooth, NFC
Garmin’s budget sport smartwatch is comfortable, extremely customizable and a good motivator, according to several online customers. Some reviewers were disappointed by the watch’s battery life and the accuracy of its fitness metrics; others warn that touchscreen is overly responsive and sensitive to long sleeves.
About the Author: John DeFeo is formerly the creative director of Debonair Magazine, a budget-themed menswear publication. He also worked as the head of editorial insights for brands such as Tom’s Guide and Anandtech.
