Let’s be honest. You’ve seen the ads. You’ve glanced at your friend’s wrist as they dismiss a call or check a notification. You want in on best inexpensive smartwatch trend. You want to track your steps, monitor your sleep, and get that little buzz on your wrist… but then you see the price.
$400. $500. Even more.
The pain is real. You’re stuck in a frustrating gap: you want the features of a premium watch, but you can’t (or won’t) justify the cost of a flagship Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch.
This leads to the big, scary question: Are all “cheap” smartwatches just junk?
Are you just going to waste $80 on a piece of plastic that will die in three months, track your steps inaccurately, and have a companion app that’s a data-stealing nightmare?
That is the number one fear for anyone searching for the best inexpensive smartwatch. The market is flooded with dozens of look-alike devices, all promising the world for under $100. It’s overwhelming.
This guide is here to solve that pain.
I’ve sorted through the digital clutter to find the gems. The truth is, “inexpensive” does not mean “bad” anymore. In 2025, technology has trickled down, and budget-friendly brands are now creating high-quality, reliable wearables.
In this guide, we’re not just finding the cheapest watch. We are finding the best inexpensive smartwatch for your specific needs, one that delivers true value and solves your problems without draining your bank account.
Quick Picks: The Best Inexpensive Smartwatch Models of 2025
If you’re in a hurry, here’s the quick-and-dirty list. These are the models that consistently prove their worth, balancing price, features, and quality.
| Model | Best For | Approx. Price | Why It Solves Your Pain |
| Amazfit Bip 5 | Overall Value | $$ | Solves “Big Screen, Small Budget” Pain: A huge, bright screen and built-in GPS for a fraction of a premium watch’s price. |
| Xiaomi Smart Band 8 | Fitness & Simplicity | $ | Solves “Bulky Watch” Pain: It’s a slim, comfortable, and stylish band with a premium screen and insane battery life. |
| Garmin Forerunner 55 | New Runners | $$$ | Solves “Inaccurate GPS” Pain: Delivers Garmin’s legendary GPS accuracy and training plans for a budget-friendly (for Garmin) price. |
| Amazfit GTS 4 Mini | Sleek Design | $$ | Solves “Apple Watch Clone” Pain: It looks like a premium watch, with a stunning AMOLED screen and slim body, but costs 4x less. |
| Wyze Watch 47 | The Ultra-Budget Pick | $ | Solves “I Just Want Notifications” Pain: It’s a basic, no-frills watch that reliably delivers notifications and tracks steps for an impulse-buy price. |
Why “Budget” is No Longer a Dirty Word (And How It Solves Your Biggest Problem)
Let’s talk about the single biggest pain point of premium watches: Battery Anxiety.
My friends with flagship watches are constantly tethered to their chargers. They’re removing their watch every single night, or even worse, it’s dying mid-afternoon. It’s just one more device to stress about.
This is the hidden superpower of the best inexpensive smartwatch models.
Because they aren’t running power-hungry, complex operating systems like watchOS, their batteries last for days, not hours. It’s common for an affordable smartwatch to last 7, 10, or even 14 days on a single charge.
This is a massive quality-of-life win. You can wear it to bed to actually track your sleep (a key feature!) without worrying it’ll be dead by morning. You can go on a weekend trip and leave the charger at home.
When you buy a best budget smartwatch, you are often gaining freedom from the charger, not sacrificing it.
Deep Dive Reviews: Finding the Best Inexpensive Smartwatch for You
Let’s break down who these watches are for and what problems they really solve.
1. Amazfit Bip 5: The Best Overall Inexpensive Smartwatch
The Pain It Solves: You want a full-size smartwatch experience. You’re afraid a “budget” watch means a tiny, dim, pixelated screen. You want features like GPS and app notifications, and you want it all to just work.
The Amazfit Bip 5 is likely the best inexpensive smartwatch for 90% of people reading this. It shatters the expectation of what a sub-$100 watch can be.
What We Love:
- That Screen: The 1.91-inch LCD screen is massive, bright, and responsive. It makes reading notifications a breeze, not a squint-fest.
- Built-in GPS: This is a killer feature at this price. You can track your runs, walks, or bike rides accurately without having to carry your phone.
- Rich Feature Set: It has a built-in microphone and speaker, meaning you can actually take Bluetooth calls on your wrist. It has 120+ sport modes, blood-oxygen (SpO2) monitoring, and excellent sleep tracking.
- The Zepp OS: The companion app (Zepp) is mature, polished, and easy to use. It’s not some buggy, untranslated mess.
Where It Falls Short:
- The build is entirely plastic. It feels lightweight (which is good for comfort), but it doesn’t feel “premium.”
- The large size might be too much for very small wrists.
Who is this for? This is for the person who wants an “Apple Watch-like” experience (big screen, lots of features, reliable app) for a “Xiaomi Band-like” price. It’s arguably the best budget smartwatch on the market, period.
2. Xiaomi Smart Band 8: The Best Budget Fitness Tracker
The Pain It Solves: You hate bulky watches. The idea of wearing a giant slab of glass to bed or the gym makes you cringe. You want something sleek, stylish, and comfortable that excels at the basics: steps, heart rate, sleep, and notifications.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 (and its predecessors) has dominated this category for years. It’s more of a “band” than a “watch,” but it’s so smart, it blurs the lines.
What We Love:
- Stunning Display: The 1.62-inch AMOLED screen is gorgeous. It’s bright, an “always-on” display, and makes the whole device feel far more expensive than it is.
- Insane Battery Life: You can easily get 10-14 days of use, even with regular tracking.
- Versatility: You can wear it as a wristband, or (with an accessory) as a pendant or even clipped to your shoe for advanced run tracking.
- Price: It is ridiculously inexpensive for the quality you get.
Where It Falls Short:
- No Built-in GPS. You must carry your phone to get accurate run mapping. This is a deal-breaker for serious runners.
- The smaller screen means reading long notifications can be a bit cramped.
Who is this for? The person who wants a “set it and forget it” health tracker. If you value comfort, battery life, and a premium-feeling display over a giant screen and GPS, this is the best inexpensive smartwatch (band) for you.
3. Garmin Forerunner 55: The Best Serious Budget Running Watch
The Pain It Solves: You are a new or intermediate runner. You’ve tried tracking runs with your phone or a “cheap” watch, and the results are a joke. The GPS is wrong, the distances are off, and you get no real training feedback. You’re in pain from not being able to trust your data.
Stop. Do not buy an Amazfit or Xiaomi if this is you. You need a Garmin. The Forerunner 55 is the entry point to Garmin’s elite ecosystem, and it’s the best inexpensive smartwatch for athletes.
What We Love:
- Garmin’s GPS: It is bulletproof. Fast, accurate, and reliable. This is what you’re paying for.
- Real Training Tools: This watch doesn’t just track your run; it analyzes it. You get VO2 Max estimates, recovery time suggestions, and “PacePro” to help you keep pace.
- Garmin Connect App: This is a pro-level app that geeks out on data. It’s fantastic for seeing your progress over time.
- Physical Buttons: When you’re running and sweaty, trying to use a touchscreen is a nightmare. The Forerunner’s five-button layout is perfect.
Where It Falls Short:
- It’s a “Dumb” Smartwatch: The screen is not a fancy AMOLED. It’s a simple, sunlight-visible, non-touch display. It shows notifications, but it’s not great for interacting with them.
- The Price: It’s the most expensive “budget” watch on this list, often double the price of an Amazfit.
Who is this for? The runner. Full stop. If your primary use is running, and you’re frustrated by inaccurate tracking, this affordable smartwatch is the solution to your pain.
4. Amazfit GTS 4 Mini: The Best Inexpensive Smartwatch for Style
The Pain It Solves: You want a watch that looks like a $400 Apple Watch. You hate the plasticky, toy-like look of many budget options. You want something slim, light, and elegant that you can wear to the office or out to dinner.
The GTS 4 Mini is a masterpiece of budget design. It’s thin, has an aluminum alloy frame, and features a stunning 1.65-inch AMOLED display that punches way, way above its price class.
What We Love:
- Premium Look and Feel: This is its main selling point. It looks and feels incredible on the wrist.
- Vibrant AMOLED Screen: Deep blacks, vibrant colors, and an always-on option. It’s the same screen tech premium watches use.
- Still Has Features: Don’t let the “Mini” name fool you. It still has built-in GPS, 5ATM water resistance, and a 15-day battery life.
- Weight: It’s incredibly light and comfortable, making it one of the best inexpensive smartwatch options for sleep tracking.
Where It Falls Short:
- No Speaker/Mic: Unlike the Bip 5, you cannot take calls on your wrist.
- The GPS is good, but not quite as robust as the Bip 5’s or a Garmin’s.
Who is this for? The person who values style and comfort just as much as features. If your main pain point is that other budget watches look “cheap,” this is your answer.
Buyer’s Guide: How to Avoid the Pain of a Bad Purchase
Before you click “buy,” you need to arm yourself with knowledge. This is how you find the best inexpensive smartwatch for you and avoid the pain of disappointment.
1. Pain Point: “My watch won’t connect to my phone!”
- The Solution: Check Compatibility.
This seems basic, but it’s the #1 mistake.- For iPhone Users: All the watches on this list (Amazfit, Xiaomi, Garmin) will work with your iPhone. They sync data to their own apps (Zepp, Mi Fitness, Garmin Connect), which then share data with Apple Health. However, you won’t get the deep integration of an Apple Watch (like replying to iMessages).
- For Android Users: You have your pick of the litter. All these watches work perfectly with Android.
2. Pain Point: “The battery died in one day!”
- The Solution: Read Real-World Battery Claims.
Ignore the marketing fluff that says “30-day battery.” That’s in a “basic” mode you’ll never use. Look for the “typical usage” number.- Always-On Display (AOD): If a watch has an AMOLED screen and you use the AOD, it will destroy your battery life, cutting it by 50-70%.
- GPS Usage: Using the built-in GPS for a 1-hour run will consume more battery than a whole day of normal use.
- A good affordable smartwatch should get you at least 5-7 days of real-world use.
3. Pain Point: “My run data is totally wrong!”
- The Solution: Understand GPS: Built-in vs. Connected.
This is the most confusing part for budget shoppers.- No GPS: The watch only tracks steps (e.g., Wyze Watch).
- Connected GPS: The watch uses your phone’s GPS to track. You must carry your phone on your run (e.g., Xiaomi Smart Band 8).
- Built-in GPS: The watch has its own GPS chip. You can leave your phone at home (e.g., Amazfit Bip 5, Garmin Forerunner 55).
- If you are a runner, a best inexpensive smartwatch with Built-in GPS is non-negotiable.
4. Pain Point: “I can’t see the screen in the sun!”
- The Solution: Prioritize Screen Tech: AMOLED vs. LCD.
- LCD: (Like on the Amazfit Bip 5). These are good and can get very bright, but colors aren’t as punchy and blacks are more of a “gray.”
- AMOLED: (Like on the Xiaomi Band 8 & GTS 4 Mini). This is the premium tech. It offers perfect blacks (which saves battery) and vibrant colors. It’s generally better-looking, especially indoors.
- Transflective (Garmin): A special screen that’s easier to see in direct, bright sunlight. It’s not “pretty,” but it’s built for function.
Are the heart rate and step tracking accurate on a cheap smartwatch?
Yes. For 99% of users, the step counting and 24/7 heart rate monitoring on a modern affordable smartwatch (like an Amazfit or Xiaomi) are very accurate. They are excellent for tracking daily trends. They might only falter during high-intensity interval training (HIIT), where a dedicated chest strap is still king.
Can I answer calls or reply to texts on a budget smartwatch?
Answering calls: Very rarely. The Amazfit Bip 5 can do this, which is exceptional. Most others will only notify you of the call.
Will the best inexpensive smartwatch last more than a year?
Absolutely. The main point of failure used to be the battery, but modern lithium-ion batteries are solid. A quality budget watch from a good brand (like the ones on this list) should easily last you 2-4 years. The plastic body might get scratched, but the internals will keep ticking.
Conclusion: The Pain-Free Purchase
The search for the best inexpensive smartwatch doesn’t have to be painful. You don’t have to choose between a $400 hole in your wallet and a $40 piece of junk.
The key is to identify your primary pain point.
- Is your pain inaccurate run tracking? Get the Garmin Forerunner 55.
- Is your pain hating bulky watches? Get the Xiaomi Smart Band 8.
- Is your pain feeling like budget watches look cheap? Get the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini.
And if you’re like most people, and your pain is simply wanting the best all-around features, a big screen, and great battery life for the lowest price? The Amazfit Bip 5 is the best inexpensive smartwatch for you.
You’re not “cheap” for wanting a good deal. You’re smart. And in 2025, you can finally get a fantastic, affordable smartwatch that solves your problems and doesn’t create new ones.
