The best cheap smartwatch market is surprisingly extensive, for a once very premium device. With plenty of options out there, it can be confusing to know where to start. Basically, it depends on your budget and taste.
Pretty much all smartwatches will track your fitness workouts as well as send over notifications when you need them. It's the extras that separate which one you want most, such as how much they cost, additional features, and what they look like. A cheap smartwatch may not have every feature out there, but it'll still be enough to keep your tech-loving nature content, as well as your bank balance.
We've included the best cheap smartwatches that are all £150/$150 or less. You won't see the likes of the Huawei Watch GT 2e here but there's room for the Fitbit Versa Lite and TicWatch E2. Both watches continue to be ideal all-rounders at this price.
If you are willing to spend a little more, check out our guide to the best smartwatches which includes featured-packed wearables at higher prices.
Have a think about what you need from your cheap smartwatch. Do you need health and fitness tracking for runs and workout sessions or is a stylish watch for the office the priority here? Once you've figured that out, take a look at each entry to learn more.
Some of the best cheap smartwatches can squeeze in extra features like NFC for mobile payment and even GPS for phone-less run tracking. Whether you need those depends on what you plan on doing with it. Be willing to make compromises to find the right balance for you. Reading the full review of each of the smartwatches below should help you reach the best decision for your needs.
Best cheap smartwatches 2022
You've probably already heard of the Fitbit Versa in your search for a new smartwatch, but did you know the company now has a less feature-rich and therefore more affordable version of it? It's called the Fitbit Versa Lite, and it's now our best cheap smartwatch.
It isn't the most comprehensive smartwatch experience as notifications are limited, you can't listen to music and there's no contactless payment tech, but all of that said, if you're looking for an attractive timepiece that tracks your workouts as well as offering a few basic smartwatch features this may suit you.
Before you buy the Fitbit Versa Lite, we'd recommend checking prices for the Fitbit Versa. In some markets it has cost a similar amount to the Lite, and if you can get the original watch you'll get additional features such as music and swim tracking too.
If not, the Fitbit Versa Lite is a great companion if you're looking for a fitness focused smartwatch.
Read our full Fitbit Versa Lite review
Looking for a more dedicated fitness watch? The Garmin Forerunner 45 is one of the company's entry-level devices, and it's a top choice if you're looking for something built for running and exercise.
It has GPS onboard, a heart rate monitor - that we found to be accurate in our testing - and a few other features that make is stand out as one of the most affordable running watches.
You'll be hard pressed to find a more comprehensive running watch that is also cheap, so if you're after something that can make sure you're being put through your paces this could be the best choice on this list.
Read the full Garmin Forerunner 45 review
The TicWatch E2 isn't a phenomenal upgrade upon the TicWatch E, but it will offer a waterproof design and better battery life for a similar price to the original watch.
The design of this watch hasn't been improved much, so it still doesn't feel particularly premium on your wrist but it's still a good looking piece of tech that we're happy to wear at all times of day.
You'll get around two days of battery life from the watch, there's GPS built-in and swim tracking as well if you like to take your devices into the pool for a dip.
One of the biggest frustrations is the lack of NFC which means you can't use Google Pay on the watch, but you do get all of the rest of the benefits of Wear OS here. That's something nothing else on this list offers.
Read our full TicWatch E2 review
OK, this isn't the most inventive smartwatch you're going to find to buy in 2020, but it is one of the cheapest. In fact, it may even be the most affordable watch that is actually worth buying.
It looks quite like an Apple Watch, but this device is a whopping six times cheaper than a top-end Apple Watch Series 5 when bought brand new.
It doesn't do anywhere near as much as the Apple Watch, but it does sport some incredible battery life at 45 days and lots of features for cyclists and runners including a heart rate sensor.
Read our full Amazfit Bip review
The Polar M200 is one of the most affordable running watches money can buy and you'll find it includes almost all of the fitness features you'll want from a smartwatch.
We found the GPS could be a little slow at times, and the design isn't as premium as some of the other devices we've seen from Polar, but apart this is a solid running watch with great battery life.
This won't offer notifications and apps like some of the other devices on this list, but if fitness is the main aim for you the Polar M200 is an affordable choice that offers a variety of top features.
Read the full Polar M200 review
- The best Android smartwatches for your Android phone
