Top cheap smartwatches that won't break the bank.
If you’re looking for a budget smartwatch, there’s never been more choice. And unlike in the past, sub-$150/£150 smartwatches are now very usable options.
Huawei, Amazfit, and Honor are developing genuinely powerful smartwatches at low prices. Strong competition is also emerging from brands like Redmi, CMF by Nothing, and Realme.
While top smartwatches like the Apple Watch Series 10 and Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 still command top prices for features like ECG and a wide array of third-party apps, there’s an influx of less expensive devices that are big on features and low on price.
We’ve also tested the lot. Below are the top smartwatches that don’t break the bank, plus insight into which new releases are confirmed or rumored for 2025.
- No money constraints? Check out the best smartwatches
- Find out the best smartwatches for Android users and iPhone users
- Svelte and stylish: All of the current best smartwatches for women
Incoming: Budget smartwatches expected in 2025
Sometimes it’s worth waiting for the next generation and maximizing your investment, rather than jumping in mid-cycle. That’s why it’s essential to be aware of the budget watches already confirmed for 2025, as well as some that are highly likely based on previous cycles.
The first half of the year has been relatively busy in this sub-section of the market, with Amazfit delivering several budget releases, including the Bip 6 and Active 2, which we’ve now reviewed and included in this guide.
We’re hoping for some surprise releases before 2025 is done, as rumors regarding further budget releases are minimal. In the meantime, we’ll be testing and delivering our verdict on the Watch Pro 3 from Nothing sub-brand’s CMF and Huawei’s latest budget entry. Stay tuned for those.
Confirmed 2025 releases:
- Redmi Watch 5 ($110; released on 15 January)
- Amazfit Active 2 ($99; released on 18 February in Europe)
- Amazfit Bip 6 ($80; released 31 March)
- Huawei Watch Fit 4 ($120; released 15 May)
- CMF Watch Pro 3 ($99; released 22 July)
Expected 2025 releases:
- Xiaomi Watch 3 & Watch 3 Pro
How we tested and chose these smartwatches
Ranking the best cheap smartwatches is a tricky task. Though choosing the standout picks from our reviews is part of the process, this buyer’s guide also focuses on the value for money. So, it’s not simply a list of the top-rated options we’ve tested under a specific price point.
We’ve leaned on our experiences in our complete, in-depth testing (typically occurring when a device first launches), where we rigorously analyze the design, features, health monitoring, activity tracking, and manufacturer claims.
Amazfit Active 2
Amazfit Active 2 key features
- 1.32-inch AMOLED display
- 10-day battery life (typical use)
- Tracks heart rate, sleep, GPS & activity with full mapping
- External sensor support
- Zepp Flow AI assistant
With a price of just $99/£99 (or $129/£129 for the premium version), the Amazfit Active 2 redefines what to expect from a budget smartwatch. It punches well above its weight, incorporating high-end features like full offline mapping and the ability to pair external sensors, which are exceptionally rare at this price point.
The new round design is a departure from the original and might divide opinion, but the AMOLED screen is bright and clear. During our testing, GPS accuracy proved decent for casual use, although the onboard heart rate tracking still lags behind that of premium rivals. This is where an external sensor pairing can prove helpful, as it allows you to link up a more accurate external sensor.
The main trade-off is the user experience, which can feel sluggish when using demanding features like the new mapping function. However, it puts up an excellent fight to rivals like the Huawei Watch Fit 4.
In short, despite its flaws, the sheer number of features packed into the Active 2 for the price makes it an almost unbeatable opti0n for those on a budget.
- Check out our Amazfit Active 2 review
Pros
- There are tons of features for the price
- Full mapping and ability to pair external sensors
- Smart features and fitness tracking works well
Cons
- The makeover won't appeal to everybody
- Software lagging is still present
- Heart rate accuracy is still not great
Huawei Watch Fit 3
Huawei Watch Fit 3 key features
- Lightweight (26g) and thin (9.9mm) with a bright, vivid 1.82-inch AMOLED display
- GPS, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and over 100 workout modes
- 10-day battery life (4 days with always-on display enabled)
- Supports Android and iOS
Update: July 2025: The Huawei Watch Fit 3 was replaced by the Watch Fit 4 earlier this year. We’re currently testing the latest generation ahead of a complete verdict, which will be released in August 2025. While we don’t recommend buying the Watch 3, we’ve included our Fit 3 entry below for context in the meantime.
The Huawei Watch Fit 3 is the best budget smartwatch we’ve tested, and our top recommendation. There are a handful of cheaper rivals, but you won’t find better.
At £109 (around $130), the Watch Fit 3 is around half the price of an Apple Watch SE, from which it draws plenty of design inspiration. Huawei’s return to a square format is derivative, but it’s so light and comfy to wear (it tips the scales at just 26g) that it’s hard to be critical.
It’s also no slouch when it comes to fitness tracking. Accurate GPS makes it a good option for runners, and Huawei also integrates with Strava. The heart rate and biometric tracking all stood up, too, making this a superb all-rounder.
You don’t get too many health features, with ECG and Health Glance reserved for the Watch 4 and Watch GT 5, but there’s stress tracking, and it offers a good overview of your resting heart rate.
Sleep tracking was slightly disappointing. It missed a few naps and tended to overestimate the duration of our sleep. Yet, it’s not a dealbreaker if you’re casually tracking sleep, and there’s plenty of data to pore over.
Battery life was strong – we got around a week – but HarmonyOS doesn’t have the types of apps, mobile payments, or support for music streaming services Wear OS or Apple’s watchOS. If you can look beyond that, this is the best budget smartwatch you can buy.
- Check out our Huawei Watch Fit 3 review
Pros
- Good workout tracking
- Lovely price
- Slim and light
Cons
- Sleep tracking accuracy could be better
- Basic watch faces and UI design
- Lack of apps/services
Xiaomi Watch 2
Xiaomi Watch 2 key features
- Single-day battery life
- Wear OS 3.5
- HR, stress, sleep, and blood oxygen tracking
- Android-only
It’s been a couple of years since Xiaomi’s budget-friendly Watch 2 was released, but it remains a compelling option due to being the cheapest device to run Google’s Wear OS platform.
This limits it to Android phone users only, but it also means anybody previously priced out of the Wear OS ecosystem (and the third-party apps that come with it) has a worthy option to consider. That’s especially important given that the next realistic option, the Samsung Galaxy Watch FE, remains around $200.
The build quality and display are superb for a cheaper smartwatch. At the same time, the software—though far from being the Wear OS 6 version capable of the Galaxy Watch FE—was polished and responsive during our original testing.
As you would expect at this price, there are compromises. Battery life is limited to a single day and Xiaomi has made no room for features like LTE. Still, the Xiaomi Watch 2 offers a mix of usability and build quality we’d thought was impossible at this price point. And with no concrete rumors of a follow-up arriving in 2025, it’s still worth considering.
- Check out our full Xiaomi Watch 2 review
Pros
- Superb price tag
- Light and attractive design
- HR accuracy is very solid
Cons
- Battery life is very average
- Mi Fitness is a glitch-fest
- Doesn’t run Wear OS 4
Redmi Watch 5
Redmi Watch 5 key features
- 2.07-inch AMOLED display with up to 1,500 nits brightness
- Sleek aluminum design with 2.5D glass
- Up to 24 days of battery life
- 5ATM water resistance (up to 50m depth)
Although the Redmi Watch 5 doesn’t offer many upgrades over its predecessor, the vivid AMOLED display was a definite highlight and a key differentiator during our testing. It provides sharp visuals and excellent visibility, giving the watch a more premium feel than the affordable price suggests.
However, it’s not a smartwatch without issues. It adequately handles essential smartwatch functions like notifications and music control, but fitness tracking remains a mixed bag. Heart rate readings during exercise proved inconsistent, like the Watch 4, meaning it’s not really an option for those serious about tracking fitness.
On the plus side, battery life is excellent, potentially lasting for weeks on a single charge – a significant advantage over many on this list. The UI also remains intuitive and easy to navigate, while sleep tracking accuracy proved solid despite being back by limited insights.
If you’re primarily after a stylish smartwatch for everyday wear, with basic activity tracking and excellent battery life, the Redmi Watch 5 is a decent option. However, don’t expect it to replicate the tracking performance of others on this list – or more expensive watches.
Pros
- Really likeable design
- Slick Xiaomi HyperOS software
- Battery life has improved
Cons
- Heart rate tracking still not great
- Bluetooth call quality is only okay
- Too many half-baked features
Amazfit Bip 6
Amazfit Bip 6 key features
- Large AMOLED display
- Up to 14-day battery life
- Offline maps & GPS tracking
- External sensor support
- Zepp Flow AI
Amazfit has delivered a big upgrade with the Bip 6, launching at an aggressive $79.99/£79.99 price point that’s even lower than its predecessor. It fixes the biggest complaint of the Bip 5 by swapping the dated TFT panel for a vibrant, colourful AMOLED display, which instantly makes it feel like a much more expensive device.
The headline addition is offline maps, a feature that is virtually unheard of on a sub-$100 smartwatch (unless it’s an Amazfit device, of course). GPS tracking is present, but not the most accurate. And while exercise heart rate has improved, serious athletes will appreciate the new ability to pair an external heart rate sensor for even better results (much like with the Active 2 above).
The build quality also sees a welcome upgrade, with an aluminium alloy frame giving it a more premium feel than its all-plastic predecessor. Battery life remains a strong point, as it comfortably lasts around 10 days with regular use. The new Zepp Flow AI assistant replaces Alexa, although its performance can be inconsistent in its current form.
While it still makes compromises on performance to hit its price, this smartwatch represents is a massive step up. The addition of an AMOLED screen and offline maps makes it one of the best-value smartwatches available today.
- Check out our full Amazfit Bip 6 review
Pros
- Decent sleep tracking
- Zepp Health app is strong
- GPS on board
Cons
- Some dodgy workout data
- Chunky and plasticky
- TFT display
Nothing CMF Watch Pro 2
Nothing CMF Watch Pro 2 key features:
- Four-day battery life
- Interchangeable bezels
- Android and iOS compatible
Update, July 2025: The CMF Watch Pro 2 is a top budget watch that we highly recommended in our review process, although it has now been replaced by the CMF Watch Pro 3. We’ll leave the entry below intact until our full Watch Pro 3 review is published in August 2025, but also advise holding off on buying the last-gen device for now.
The first-gen CMF Watch Pro is further down this list, but it’s the follow-up we fell in love with during testing and recommend to those on the ultra-budget end of the spectrum.
Priced at just $69, no other smartwatch provides such a unique and stylish design.
It’s light enough to wear during workouts, passes as relatively unisex, and can blend into more formal wear, while the interchangeable bezels give it a real novelty factor. It’s just a really fun watch to wear on the wrist, and that’s very rare at this price point.
Meanwhile, the software is basic but functional, with no major bugs encountered during testing (even if the app still has the odd glitch).
While some features like GPS lock-on are slow, the fitness tracking is surprisingly okay (for the price). There’s heart rate monitoring, workout tracking (with guided warm-ups), and some decent recovery and training insights (matching up with our Garmin’s recommended recovery hours during testing, for example).
Sleep tracking seems to be improved from the previous version, too, but there’s no in-depth analysis provided; you’ll get an estimate of your sleep stages and nothing more.
Battery life is also solid, lasting 4-5 days with moderate use (always-on display enabled) and potentially up to 10-12 days with power-saving measures.
Overall, the Watch Pro 2 is a great option for budget-minded users who prioritize design and good enough fitness tracking over advanced features and in-depth health data. Again, it just doesn’t get much more fun than this.
- Check out our full Nothing CMF Watch Pro 2 review
Pros
- Unique design and software personality
- Largely accurate tracking
- Unrivalled value at $69
Cons
- Battery life isn't mega
- Mostly basic insights
- Could do with a second button
