My jaw dropped the first time I looked up the price of a new smartwatch. I thought, “Is everyone really walking around with a $400 device on their wrist?” Don’t get me wrong, there’s reason for the hype. They help with fitness goals, measure heart rate, and even act as a little on-the-go voice assistant. But I’m sure I’m not the only one who wants the convenience of a smartwatch without the hefty price tag.
So I did some digging and found a few hacks for saving money on smartwatches. The first thing I noticed was that you can save the most when new smartwatches come out. For example, now that the Apple Watch Series 8 is out, the Apple Watch Series 7 is $100 cheaper across almost all retailers. So while you might not get all the features of the newer models, you still get fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and text notifications.
Also, definitely wait until big holiday sales like Black Friday, Presidents’ Day, or Prime Day. It’s worth checking out store refurbishment programs, like Apple Refurbished where you can save at least 15% on an older model.
Below you’ll find deals on the best cheap smartwatches.
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Here Are the Best Cheap Smartwatches:
- Apple Watch 3
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
- Garmin Vivomove 3
- Amazfit GTS 4 Mini Smartwatch
- Fitbit Inspire 3
- Fossil Gen E5 Smartwatch
- Garmin Lily
- Carbinox Titan
Apple Watch 3
Best Cheap Apple Watch
If you’ve had your eye on an Apple Watch for a long time but don’t want to spend $800 on the Apple Watch Ultra, we’ve got good news for you. You can get the Apple Watch 3 ($149, Walmart) for less than $200. From what we’ve seen, Walmart’s been slashing its price little by little leading up to Black Friday.
The Apple Watch 3 easily syncs with your iPhone so you can receive text messages and alerts. Just know that since this model isn’t compatible with its own cellular service, you can’t make calls from this watch. If you want to be able to make calls, you can get an entry-level Apple Watch SE with cellular connectivity starting at $299.
Apple Watch 3 Features We Like:
- Tracks daily activities and sleep patterns
- Emergency SOS lets you call for help from your watch when your iPhone is nearby
- Ability to sync music, podcasts, and audiobooks from your phone
Related: Find the best Apple deals here.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Best Cheap Android Smartwatch
This smartwatch ($199.99, Samsung.com) works as an extension of your Android mobile device. It uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to sync with your phone to talk, text, or stream. Bonus: this means you don’t have to pay for a monthly subscription or cellular service either.
For those working toward a fitness goal, this watch automatically tracks workouts (even if you forget to start it before a run). It also monitors your heart rate and cardio levels with a real-time ECG monitor and VO2 max readings for more accurate health data.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Features We Like:
- Tracks activity and sleep patterns
- Uses Wi-Fi and Bluetooth to connect to your phone
- Compatible with Google apps
Garmin Vivomove 3
Best Cheap Versatile Smartwatch
One complaint we often hear about smartwatches is that they don’t look very professional. However, the Garmin Vivomove 3 ($199, Garmin.com) can be worn from the office to the gym. While it looks like a traditional analog watch, it tracks activity all day. You can tap on the screen to reveal a hidden touchscreen display. Also, you can sync it with the Garmin Connect app to see all your health and workout information.
Garmin Vivomove 3 Features We Like:
- Looks like a traditional analog watch
- Tracks walking and running activity with GPS when paired with your smartphone
- Quick screen tap reveals messages and fitness tracker information
Amazfit GTS 4 Mini Smart Watch
Best Cheap Waterproof Smartwatch
Battery life is always a battle with smartwatches. If you wear them around the clock to track sleeping patterns and activity levels, it’s hard to find time to recharge. This compact smartwatch ($89.99, Amazon) is on sale right at the time of publish and offers 15 days of battery life with regular usage, even longer in battery saver mode. If you charge it once a week, you’ll never notice a power slip.
This is also a great smartwatch for swimmers. It’s waterproof with up to 50 meters of water pressure, which means it’s great for lap swimming.
Amazfit GTS 4 Mini Smart Features We Like:
- 15-day battery life
- Works with Amazon Alexa commands
- Tracks activities, including swimming
Fitbit Inspire 3
Best Cheap Fitness Tracker Smartwatch
The Fitbit Inspire 3 ($99.95, Fitbit.com) is a great solution if you want a daily fitness tracker and don’t need any other fancy add-ons. The slim design of this watch doesn’t attract attention, but the touchscreen is super easy to use. It features a 10-day battery life, but if you opt to keep the display on all the time, you’ll need to charge it more frequently.
You can sync the Fitbit Inspire 3 with your mobile device via Bluetooth to receive text messages or other call alerts. And if you want to see all the health information it tracks, just download the Fitbit app.
Fitbit Inspire 3 Features We Like:
- Up to 10-day battery life
- Compatible with iOS and Android devices
- Slim design with touchscreen and text alerts
Fossil Gen E5
Best Cheap Smartwatch with a Metal Band
If you’re craving the feel of a watch with a traditional metal band and the convenience of a smartwatch, this accessory (Fossil, $149.99) is it. Fossil’s Gen E5 smartwatch comes in black stainless steel and other metal finishes. The smartwatch technology is powered by Google’s ChromeOS and is compatible with the latest version of Android and iOS mobile devices.
While there is a built-in speaker for voice controls, you can also use the touchscreen or home button to operate the watch. Plus, you can connect the watch to your mobile device and use apps like Google Play and Spotify. Because of its look, this option feels like a high-end smartwatch when it costs under $200. Just note that with so many features, it doesn’t have the longest battery life.
Fossil Gen E5 Smartwatch Features We Like:
- Metal band looks like a traditional watch
- Connects to popular Google apps
- Has voice activation available
Garmin Lily
Best Cheap Dressy Smartwatch
With a narrow band and rose gold bezel, this stylish watch (Garmin.com, $199.99) doesn’t immediately read as a smartwatch. It is, however, packed with all the features you’d expect from Garmin. For example, if you wanted to head out for a run, it would track you with GPS accuracy and monitor your heart rate every step of the way.
But if your lifestyle is more like a marathon of meetings and less like training for an actual marathon, then this dressed-up smartwatch may be the best fit. You can track activities and sleep patterns while also receiving text messages and calendar alerts.
Garmin Lily Features We Like:
- Offers activity and sleep tracking in a more stylish silhouette
- Syncs with Garmin connect app
- Receive text messages and alerts on your watch
Carbinox Titan
Best Cheap Rugged Smartwatch
This smartwatch (ShopCarbinox.com, $98.95) is heavy-duty. It’s a great option for ranchers, welders, carpenters, and anyone who works in a tough environment. The watch is water resistant, dustproof, and harder to break than most smartwatches. It’s also a great option for hikers and hunters who spend a lot of time outside.
Even though this watch is built for extreme environments, it has all the features you’d expect from a smartwatch. These include health tracking, location-based weather information, text messages, and call alerts.
Carbinox Titan Features We Like:
- Made with rigid materials to work well outside
- Tracks activity and health information
- Connects to any mobile device with the DAFIT app
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