The market for the best cheap smartwatches is surprisingly large. With so many options, it can be difficult to choose the right model for you. Basically, everything depends on your budget and taste.
Almost all smartwatches will track your fitness workouts as well as send notifications when you need them. It is the add-ons that separate which one you want the most, like how much they cost, extra features, and how they look. An affordable smartwatch may not have all the features, but it will still be adequate for everything you would want from a device like this.
What was the best and, at the same time, affordable smartwatches for this year? Read below!
Fitbit Versa Lite
You have probably already heard of the Fitbit Versa in your search for a new smartwatch, but did you know that the company now has a less feature-rich and, therefore, more affordable version? It is called the Fitbit Versa Lite, and it is definitely one of the best affordable smartwatches out there. This watch will not offer the most comprehensive smartwatch experience, though, as notifications are limited, you cannot listen to music, and there is no contactless payment technology. The tech behind contactless payments is one of the favorite features of smartwatches among their users. Depriving users of this usability means that they will not be able to conduct cashless transactions online, such as not being able to deposit on the best-rated sites at bookmaker-expert.com/country/south-korea/ that accept Apple Pay, which poses a major drawback of Fitbit Versa Lite. But all that said, if you are looking for an attractive watch that tracks your workouts as well as offers a few basic smartwatch features, this might suit you.
Before you buy the Fitbit Versa Lite, we recommend checking the prices for the Fitbit Versa. It costs a similar amount to the Lite in some markets, and if you can get your hands on the original watch, you’ll also get extra features like music and swim tracking.
The price of the device is about 150 EUR.
Letsfit Smartwatch
The Letsfit Smartwatch is the most cost-effective option that still gives you the features you care about. It is equipped with a built-in heart rate monitor and notification support for everything from incoming phone calls to Snapchat and is actually thinner and lighter than its flagship counterpart, the Apple Watch 6.
If you are just looking for casual fitness tracking and basic smartwatch features, the ID205L could be the right choice for you. It is not the most accurate activity tracker, but it is not terrible, especially if you’re using it in conjunction with another device, such as a phone, which you’ll need for GPS connectivity anyway.
The price of the device is about 40 EUR.
Garmin Forerunner 45
Looking for a more ‘dedicated’ fitness watch? The Garmin Forerunner 45 is one of the company’s entry-level devices, and it is a top choice if you are looking for something built for running and exercise.
It has built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor, which is very accurate, and several other features that make it stand out as one of the most affordable running watches. You will be hard-pressed to find a more comprehensive running watch that is also more affordable, so if you are looking for a great balance of features and a lower price, the Garmin Forerunner 45 could be a very good choice on this list.
The price of the device is about 115 EUR.
TicWatch E2
The TicWatch E2 is not a phenomenal upgrade to 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 has not improved much, so it still does not feel particularly premium on your wrist, but it is still a nice piece of tech that we are happy to wear at all times of the day. You will get about two days of battery life from the watch, GPS and swim tracking is built in if you want to take your devices to the pool for a swim.
One of the biggest frustrations is the lack of NFC which means you cannot use Google Pay on the watch, but you get all the other benefits of Wear OS here. That is something that nothing else on this list offers.
The price of the device is about 150 EUR.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
Samsung’s first-generation Galaxy Watch Active is its most affordable and, at the same time, one of the best affordable smartwatches for Android users. The Galaxy Watch Active has a faster processor and software that is easier to use than other Android watches running Google’s older Wear OS platform (not the new one on the Galaxy Watch 4).
The only downside: The Galaxy Watch Active does not have many familiar apps, especially compared to the Apple Watch. Fortunately, Samsung’s built-in apps, including its fitness-focused options, are more than capable of handling most tasks. We would still consider it one of the best Samsung watches.
Samsung also offers the Galaxy Watch Active 2, which comes in two sizes and includes LTE connectivity and an EKG sensor that will eventually be able to detect atrial fibrillation.
The price of the device is about 90 EUR.
Amazfit Bip
OK, this is not the most inventive smartwatch you will find to buy in 2020, but it is one of the cheapest. In fact, it might even be the most affordable watch actually worth buying. It looks pretty much like an Apple Watch, but this device is a whopping six times cheaper than the top-of-the-line Apple Watch Series 5 when bought brand new.
It does not perform nearly as well as the Apple Watch, but it has an amazing 45-day battery life and plenty of features for cyclists and runners, including a heart rate sensor.
The price of the device is about 52 euros.
Polar M200
The Polar M200 is one of the most affordable running watches you can buy today, and you will find that it includes almost all the fitness features you would want in a smartwatch but at a much more affordable price, which is always a plus.
We found that the GPS could be a little slow at times, and the design is not as premium as some of the other devices we have seen from Polar, but other than that, it is a solid running watch with great battery life. This will not offer notifications and apps like some of the other devices on this list, but if fitness is your main goal, the Polar M200 is an affordable choice that offers a number of top-notch features.
The price of the device is about 145 EUR.
Fitbit Versa 2
Fitbit Versa 2 makes small changes to the original Versa, including an AMOLED display and built-in Alexa. Fitbit’s smartwatch offers all the features we loved in the original Versa, such as accurate heart rate tracking, long battery life, a colorful touchscreen, and in-depth sleep analysis. That is why the Versa 2 made it to this list of the best and most affordable smartwatches and is one of the best Fitbit devices you can still buy.
This Versa does not have built-in GPS like the newer Fitbit Versa 3, which would make it a more capable rival to the Apple Watch, and its app store isn’t as well-stocked as Apple’s. But with five-day battery life, cross-platform compatibility, an affordable price, and sophisticated sleep-tracking features, the Versa 2 is a solid smartwatch for most people.
The price of the device is about 160 EUR.
Garmin Lily
Garmin Lily is a small and elegant smartwatch that will make you forget about the bulky wearable GPS devices that this brand is best known for. A modern offer designed for the first users of smartwatches, Garmin Lily, is a small device with a more affordable price and an elegant design, which turned out to be a hit for the company.
Aside from the small and barely present feel, the screen is accented by a patterned lens that somehow does not interfere with the content you would like to see at a glance. Of all the best Garmin watches, even the company’s previous attempts at lifestyle models, this one looks the most like real jewelry.
The price of the device is about 180 EUR.
Fossil Sport
Fossil is also one of the best yet most affordable smartwatches out there, boasting a multitude of models and styles. At a very affordable price, the Fossil Sport is one of the most affordable yet stylish smartwatches out there. Although it debuted in 2018, it is powered by the latest Qualcomm 3100 processor. In addition, it has GPS, a heart rate monitor, NFC for mobile payments, and Wi-Fi. It is available in several colors, and the strap is easily replaceable.
Wear OS has evolved a lot since its launch, but there are still a few things we think could be improved, especially compared to Apple’s watchOS. We also do not recommend a Wear OS smartwatch for iPhone owners, as you simply cannot do as much as you could if the watch was paired with an Android phone.
The price of the device is around 100 EUR.
Amazfit T-Rex
With a large screen, built-in GPS, a built-in compass, and enough durability certification to survive Jurassic Park, the Amazfit T-Rex is one of the best affordable outdoor smartwatches ever made. At US$140, which is less than half the price of the Garmin Instinct and other popular GPS smartwatches, this watch is a very affordable alternative for those who want a lot of features but at a more affordable price.
T-Rex offers impressive battery life, various sports modes, and sleep tracking, all encased in its impenetrable shell. With all the sensors you could want, the T-Rex is a beast to be reckoned with. Plus, you have to admit that the name of the watch itself inspires a certain amount of awe.
The price of the device is about 140 EUR.
How to Choose (Depending on the User) The Best and Yet Affordable Smartwatch?
When deciding which affordable smartwatch to buy, it is a good idea to look for the same things as if you were buying a more expensive model. First, what kind of smartphone do you have? If you own an iPhone, we recommend sticking with the Apple Watch Series 3 (or another version), as the Apple Watch is the only smartwatch that fully works with the iPhone.
If you have an Android smartphone, your best bet is either a Samsung or a Wear OS smartwatch; both of these platforms fully support Android phones, such as making and receiving calls from your wrist, as well as creating messages. Wear OS has a much larger app library than Samsung’s Tizen-based operating system, but in terms of the user interface, it is arguably better on Samsung’s smartwatches. Plus, they usually come with better battery life.
