Best cheap smartwatch for Android 2025

When you're out shopping for the best cheap Android smartwatch, you'll need to figure out what features are the most important for you. Generally, all the affordable wearables on this list have some trade-offs compared to the more expensive (priced $300 and above) that we recommend. That being said, most of them still deliver a reliable and enjoyable overall experience, without feeling like a downgrade.

Having tested dozens of Android smartwatches over the years, I know which budget smartwatches are actually worth it. Not every affordable product delivers where it counts, but the right one(s) can offer a fantastic overall experience without breaking the bank. I'm quite confident in my choices about which affordable smartwatches are worth buying and which can be skipped.

The Galaxy Watch FE is still the easiest recommendation, especially if you want the proper Wear OS experience with your Android smartphone. It can be purchased for extremely affordable prices, even more so if you're willing to go the renewed route from third-party online storefronts like Amazon. Of course, there are many other solid alternatives as well, so read on to know all about them.

Written by
Photo of Michael Hicks, Senior Editor of Android Central
Written by
Michael Hicks

Michael Hicks is Android Central's resident smartwatch geek, having reviewed or tested dozens of wearables from Samsung, Google, Apple, Garmin, Fitbit, Coros, Polar, Withings, Amazfit, and others. He spends his free time running or hiking while wearing several watches at once, testing which is most accurate.

At a glance

Best overall

Galaxy Watch FE pairing screen on Galaxy S24 FE

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

1. Samsung Galaxy Watch FE

Best overall

Specifications

Display: 1.2-inch (396×396) AMOLED
CPU: Exynos W920 (1.18GHz)
Memory / Storage: 1.5GB + 16GB
OS: Wear OS 4
Battery life: ~40 hours
Protection: 5ATM + IP68, MIL-STD-810H, Sapphire Crystal
LTE: ✔️ (late 2024)
GPS: ✔️
NFC: ✔️
Health sensors: HRM, ECG, BIA, SpO2

Reasons to buy

+
Fast performance
+
Wear OS apps and UI
+
Years of upcoming updates
+
Samsung Health and fitness tools
+
Durable design

Reasons to avoid

-
Uses old Galaxy Watch 4/5 specs
-
Only one display size
-
Relatively short battery life

Samsung makes some of our favorite Android smartwatches and frequently discounts the newer models. Now that the Galaxy Watch 8 series is here, the Galaxy Watch 7 has become even more affordable than before. However, it's actually the Galaxy Watch FE that stands out as the most budget-friendly Wear OS option, complete with years of software support and full access to Google's services.

Designed as a refresh of the Galaxy Watch 4, the Galaxy Watch FE (Fan Edition) adds a Sapphire Crystal to protect the display and a skin temperature sensor from the Galaxy Watch 5. Otherwise, it's very similar to the 4th-gen watch, with the same Exynos W920 SoC, memory, storage, other health sensors, military-grade resistance to falls and water damage, and even software.

It's clear that the Galaxy Watch 7 beats the Watch FE for performance, storage, battery, location accuracy, and other small differences, with the latter relying on last-gen tech. But in the grand scheme of things, the Galaxy Watch FE continues to be a great value because Samsung's quality control and Google's Wear OS make the previous-gen tech much better than other brands' newer stuff.

You'll still get years of Wear OS updates, Google Assistant, Galaxy AI health insights, as well as Play Store apps instead of relying on a proprietary OS. That kind of reliability is rare at this price.

Honorable mentions: As already mentioned, the Galaxy Watch 7 can be had for just over $200 quite often, so spending an extra few bucks over the FE's price will make the watch last longer. Similarly, the OnePlus Watch 2R is available at under $200 too, and has a multi-day battery life, snappy performance, and more.

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Samsung Galaxy Watch FE scorecard

Attribute

Quick look

Score

Display

Durable sapphire glass with vibrant AMOLED, though dimmer and thicker-bezeled than newer watches

★★★★☆

Design

Quite similar to the Galaxy Watch 4: machine cut and relatively skinny

★★★☆☆

Price

Quite affordable considering the software features and longevity; even more so now that the successor is here

★★★★☆

Performance

Sufficiently powerful for casual users, if slower than pricier Samsung watches

★★★★☆

Battery life

Up to 40 hours on a single charge, with smaller capacity than newer models

★★☆☆☆

Features

Flagship-quality sensors (HR, SpO2, ECG, skin temp, and body fat readings); Play Store apps; Google Assistant

★★★★★

Best Wear OS alternative

Amazfit Balance smartwatch

(Image credit: Namerah Saud Fatmi / Android Central)
Best Wear OS alternative

Specifications

Display: 1.5-inch (480x480) AMOLED
CPU: Unknown
Memory / Storage: 2.2GB
OS: Zepp OS 4
Battery life: 14 days (7 days heavy use)
Protection: 5ATM, tempered glass
LTE: 🚫
GPS: ✔️ (dual-band)
NFC: ✔️
Sensors: HRM, SpO2, stress, breathing

Reasons to buy

+
Zepp Flow and Coach AIs
+
Bluetooth calling and Alexa commands
+
Useful health & fitness tracking
+
Excellent battery life
+
Supports tap-to-pay

Reasons to avoid

-
No third-party app support or LTE
-
No ECG or skin temp
-
May be a bit large and heavy for smaller wrists

For all their smarts, Wear OS watches are typically expensive, and need to be charged every day or two. Amazfit's watches can't compete in some ways, but it's consistently been one of the best bang-for-your-buck brands we recommend, with majority of the best Amazfit watches falling in the sub-$200 range. The Amazfit Balance, as its name implies, is the best well-rounded smartwatch out there, although you can find great (cheaper) alternatives too.

The Amazfit Balance includes a built-in mic and speaker for Bluetooth calls, but the mic does more than that. You can use it to control the key tools such as Amazon Alexa or Amazfit's offline voice assistant. Its newest feature, Zepp, powered by ChatGPT-4o, takes things further, letting you reply to messages hands-free, ask about your health stats, check the weather, and a lot more. It was occasionally glitchy during our review period but has continued to improve and get smarter over time.

Amazfit is also well-known for its health and fitness insights. It has 150+ sports modes, a daily readiness score, an AI coach that guides your workout suggestions, offline maps and routes, and meditation tools. It's still missing AFib detection and skin temperature readings, but you can at least take quick readings of your heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress levels at any time.

Overall, the Amazfit Balance delivers a strong experience for under $200, and it is more well-rounded than other Amazfits that don't have calling features, voice commands, or contactless payments through Zepp Pay.

Honorable mentions: As I said, Amazfit has plenty of cheaper options that eliminate specific features. Consider the Amazfit Active 2 if you want similar health and fitness tools for half the price of the Balance, or the Amazfit Bip 6 squircle for even less if you want something a bit more basic for reading notifications.

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Amazfit Balance scorecard

Attribute

Quick look

Score

Display

Large, vibrant 1,500-nit display may be too large for some; tempered glass offers some protection

★★★★☆

Design

Attractive aluminum bezel with lighter polymer keeps it decently light for its size with nylon strap, silicone strap option available too

★★★★☆

Price

Very good value for its price, if not as affordable as other budget Amazfits

★★★★☆

Performance

Fast enough, though not as speedy as Wear OS with fewer apps

★★★☆☆

Battery life

Fantastic longevity, even with heavy use

★★★★★

Features

On-board Alexa; Zepp Flow messaging and convos; Zepp Coach training plans; dual-band GPS; in-depth sleep assessments

★★★☆☆

Best cheap fitness watch

Set up Alexa screen on Fitbit Versa 4

(Image credit: Andrew Myrick / Android Central)

3. Fitbit Versa 4

Best cheap fitness watch

Specifications

Display: 1.58-inch (336x336) AMOLED
CPU: Unknown
Memory / Storage: N/A
OS: Fitbit OS
Battery life: 6 days
Protection: WR50, Gorilla Glass 3
LTE: 🚫
GPS: ✔️
NFC: ✔️
Health sensors: HR, SpO2

Reasons to buy

+
Onboard GPS, HRM, and SpO2
+
Supports Fitbit Cardio / Training Load
+
Built-in mic & speaker
+
Google Wallet payments
+
Google Maps support

Reasons to avoid

-
No music playback controls, 3rd-party apps, Wi-Fi, or voice assistant like Versa 3
-
Fitbit Premium sub required for most insights

The Fitbit Versa 4 is a somewhat odd fitness watch. After Google acquired Fitbit, it cut back on many of the smarts found in the Versa 3, including third-party apps, Google Assistant, music storage, playback controls, or even Wi-Fi downloads. Instead, Google's apps like Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music were prioritized.

Even with those frustrating cutbacks, the Versa 4 stands out as one of the best cheap smartwatches you can get. It's available at steep discounts during significant sales, making it an even more appealing budget-friendly option.

You get a watch having a nearly one-week battery life, as well as a gorgeously bright AMOLED panel, blended GPS with altimeter for judging elevation, Bluetooth calling, continuous heart rate, blood oxygen, heart rate variance (HRV), and respiratory rate tracking. There's no full messaging support like that on a proper Wear OS watch, but at least Alexa commands help fill the gap.

The Versa 4 delivers impressively accurate health data. While some insights are locked behind Fitbit Premium, you now get the Daily Readiness Score for free, which is always a welcome bonus. Plus, Google ported its Fitbit Cardio Load from the expensive Pixel Watch 3 to its Fitbits, so you can better track your daily effort to see if you're improving.

Honorable mentions: We've seen the Fitbit Sense 2 available at $199 quite often, and if you spot it at that price, you can upgrade to get an ECG and stress (cEDA) sensor, among other perks. You might also be interested in the cheaper Fitbit Charge 6; you lose the pretty squircle display and altimeter, but gain the ECG and skin temperature, an upgraded HR sensor for accuracy, and a lighter fit.

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Fitbit Versa 4 scorecard

Attribute

Quick look

Score

Display

Vibrant AMOLED squircle fits a ton of data on screen; could be brighter

★★★★☆

Design

Sleek and lightweight, though you may prefer a less square design

★★★★☆

Price

Already affordable, and discounts are common, but beware the Premium subscription

★★★★☆

Performance

Great for a Fitbit, average for a smartwatch

★★★☆☆

Battery life

Over six days on a single charge; fairly short-lived for GPS tracking

★★★☆☆

Features

Over 40 exercise modes; Fitbit Cardio Load and Daily Readiness Score; Google Maps; Google Wallet; YouTube Music

★★★★☆

Best cheap Wear OS watch

Apps on the TicWatch E3

(Image credit: Chris Wedel / Android Central)
Best cheap Wear OS watch

Specifications

Display: 1.3-inch (360x360) LCD
CPU: Snapdragon Wear 4100 + Mobvoi MCU
Memory / Storage: 1GB + 8GB
OS: Wear OS 3
Battery life: 2–3 days
Protection: IP68
LTE: 🚫
GPS: ✔️
NFC: ✔️
Health sensors: HRM, SpO2

Reasons to buy

+
Wear OS 3 with proper apps
+
Long battery life
+
Strong performance
+
Useful fitness tools
+
Very affordable compared to most Wear OS watches

Reasons to avoid

-
No Google Assistant
-
Dim LCD with huge bezel
-
No crown or digital bezel
-
No chance of further updates

Most Wear OS watches are pricey. If you're looking to stay under $100 and still get the core Wear OS experience, Mobvoi's TicWatch E3 is a standout pick, selling for less than $75 these days. That low price makes it incredibly appealing, but you'll have to live with a few compromises to get there.

First, the positives. Most of our other cheap Android smartwatch picks are essentially fitness watches with proprietary operating systems and little app support. Conversely, the TicWatch E3 gives you a wide range of apps and has a battery life comparable to the Galaxy Watch FE, beating it in Essential mode.

Our TicWatch E3 reviewer had a laundry list of pros lined up when describing it. He noted "little to no delay in opening apps or loading up the Play Store on the watch," something you can't say for many fitness watches. Building on that, it includes heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring for workouts and sleep, with results matching our reviewer's results on Samsung and Amazfit devices.

At that price, though, you can't have it all. The TicWatch E3 has a thick-bezel LCD that our reviewer called "a bit excessive." It lacks a rotating crown, meaning you'll have to rely entirely on the touchscreen for navigation. It also has less RAM and storage than the Galaxy Watch FE, but those are the compromises you make for a smartwatch that is this affordable.

Honorable mentions: While it's inconsistent, the TicWatch Pro 5 is available for under $200, and I can't stress how much better it is than the E3. You get a 1.43-inch AMOLED display with minimal bezels, double the RAM, a faster SoC, four times the storage, and nearly twice the battery capacity. And all of this runs on the newer Wear OS 4. The only major omission? Still no Google Assistant. Seriously, if you don't mind going over $100, go for the Pro 5, as you'll get a wearable with better longevity.

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Mobvoi TicWatch E3 scorecard

Attribute

Quick look

Score

Display

A thick bezel and LCD tech make this display a downgrade on other picks

★★☆☆☆

Design

Lightweight plastic, two push buttons on side

★★★☆☆

Price

So cheap and only getting cheaper!

★★★★★

Performance

Great for the price compared to budget fitness watches, but slower than other Wear OS watches; accurate health and fitness tracking

★★★☆☆

Battery life

Lasts a long time in Essential mode, but will require more frequent charging normally

★★★☆☆

Features

Essential Mode, Wear OS software with Play Store apps, but no Assistant or new Wear OS updates

★★★☆☆

Best hybrid watch

White Garmin Vivomove Sport smart watch

(Image credit: Courtney Lynch / Android Central)
Best hybrid watch

Specifications

Display: 0.34" x 0.73" mono OLED
CPU: Unknown
Memory / Storage: 14 days of data
OS: Garmin OS
Battery life: 5 days
Protection: 5ATM, chemically strengthened glass
LTE: 🚫
GPS: 🚫
NFC: 🚫
Health sensors: HRM, SpO2

Reasons to buy

+
Heart-rate monitoring
+
Pulse Ox & Body Battery
+
Activity/sleep tracking
+
Stress monitoring
+
Stylish design

Reasons to avoid

-
Lacks onboard GPS
-
No NFC payments
-
Sunlight visibility isn't great

Most of the cheap Android smartwatches, whether they have a squircle or circular design, tend to look and feel toy-like. That's why many users gravitate towards hybrid smartwatches that offer the mix of style and substance. But since most of our favorite hybrids are pricey, we're picking the reasonable Garmin Vivomove Sport for this spot.

You can grab this wearable in Ivory, Cocoa, Cool Mint, or Black colors. The Vivomove Sport looks much like a traditional wristwatch, complete with actual watch hands and a subtle mono-color OLED touchscreen on the bottom half of the watchface. Garmin built it to passively monitor your heart rate, stress levels, blood oxygen, Body Battery, and more, but viewing that data requires a trip to the Garmin Connect app.

Compared to the best Garmin watches, the Vivomove Sport is pretty limited. You won't get Garmin Pay, built-in GPS, or advanced training features such as Garmin Coach. This minimalist watch focuses more on essentials like Intensity Minutes, step count, calories burned, and sleep tracking. Still, for many buyers, the streamlined experience and the stylish design will be precisely what they want.

Honorable mentions: Most Garmin watches cost $400 and up, with a few hitting even $1,000! So even though they're too expensive for this list, the Garmin Forerunner 165 and Garmin Venu Sq 2 are relatively cheap for the brand. The former is a terrific runner training tool, offering workout suggestions and post-run recovery time; the latter gives you the squircle look and a fantastic 11-day battery life.

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Garmin Vivomove Sport scorecard

Attribute

Quick look

Score

Display

Built for simplicity; discreet monocolor OLED

★★★☆☆

Design

Sleek and subtle, perfect for wristwatch enthusiasts

★★★★☆

Price

Looks quite premium for a sub-$200 watch

★★★★☆

Performance

Basic health and fitness tracking; not a lot of premium features Garmin typically offers

★★★☆☆

Battery life

Five-day capacity is better than Wear OS but low for a fitness watch

★★★☆☆

Features

Built-in GPS, Body Battery energy tracking

★★★★☆

Best ultra-cheap watch

The CMF Watch Pro 2 in multiple colors.

(Image credit: CMF by Nothing)

6. CMF Watch Pro 2

Best ultra-cheap watch

Specifications

Display: 1.32-inch (466x466) AMOLED
CPU: Unknown
Memory / Storage: N/A
OS: Proprietary
Battery life: 11 days, 9 days (heavy)
Protection: IP68, 2,500 scratches tested
LTE: 🚫
GPS: ✔️
NFC: 🚫
Health sensors: HRM, SpO2

Reasons to buy

+
Incredibly affordable
+
High-res, high-hz AMOLED display
+
Durable design
+
Impressive battery life with built-in GPS
+
Bluetooth calling and assistant

Reasons to avoid

-
No contactless payments
-
Lower cost leads to cutbacks
-
Google Health Connect support won't arrive until later in 2025

Closing out our list of the best cheap Android smartwatches, we had to include the CMF Watch Pro 2, a smartwatch that sounds expensive but costs less than half of what you'd pay for our top budget picks.

Nothing's sub-brand CMF has packed an impressive set of features into this sub-$100 smartwatch. Alongside essentials like heart rate and blood oxygen tracking, you get a built-in GPS, mic, and speaker for Bluetooth calls, which are rare at this price point. It even has tools like reminders, calendar, and alarms, although they're not as advanced as what you'd find on a typical Wear OS watch.

The AMOLED display isn't the brightest at 620 nits, but its 353ppi pixel density and 60Hz refresh rate match higher-end watches. You can use it an entire week before it needs a recharge, and Nothing promises dozens of hours of GPS battery life, too. The rotating crown is helpful for navigation, and its distinct aluminum bezel is interchangeable if you want to switch up your style.

Of course, this low price point comes with trade-offs in accuracy and performance, and you indeed won't find the robust apps you'd expect on the Galaxy Watch FE. That said, it's genuinely impressive how much Nothing has squeezed into a wearable that is this affordable, and I can't name another in its price range I'd trust enough to recommend.

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CMF Watch Pro 2 scorecard

Attribute

Quick look

Score

Display

353 PPI, 60Hz, 620 nits in 1.3-inch display is impressive at this price, normal otherwise

★★★☆☆

Design

Has a very distinct personality; a bit thick, with fun colors and interchangeable bezels

★★★★☆

Price

You can't find a reliable Android smartwatch for less than this

★★★★★

Performance

Not going to be as responsive as a Wear OS watch, but does well compared to comparable fitness watches

★★★☆☆

Battery life

Impressive longevity for normal and fitness use

★★★★☆

Features

120 sports modes, Bluetooth calling, reminders, calendar, alarms, music controls, voice assistant, calculator

★★★☆☆

How we test

Why you can trust Android Central

☑️ One of the oldest and most trusted Android sites on the web
☑️ Over 15 years of product testing
☑️ Thousands of products reviewed and tested since 2007
☑️ Dozens of smartwatches, fitness trackers, and smart rings tested every year by our team

When our wearables team—led by senior editor Michael Hicks—reviews a new smartwatch, the device undergoes a series of hands-on tests and use-case scenarios to prove that it's a proper match for our favorite Android phones.

We test for performance, battery life under heavy and light use, and, most importantly, health and fitness tracking accuracy. After all, accuracy matters if you rely on a smartwatch for health data. That's why we never take manufacturer claims at face value.

That means that Michael is hitting the streets with chest and arm straps to verify heart rate accuracy, wearing a pedometer to confirm step counts, and comparing the results of multiple GPS watches simultaneously to test mapping data.

How to choose

Choosing from the best cheap Android smartwatches

Why you can trust Android Central Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test.

Hopefully, this list shows that you don't have to settle for a cheap Android smartwatch that feels like a major step down. Most of these options still offer all the core features you'd expect, like health and sleep tracking, notifications, and reliable battery life. You'll still have to make a few compromises in software, design, or extra features.

Your first big decision is whether to choose Wear OS or a secondary option like Fitbit OS or Garmin OS. We value the Galaxy Watch FE and TicWatch series for giving you access to Play Store apps and wrist-based replies for messages and notifications. But in exchange, you'll have to charge them every one to two days, while other picks on this list will last a week or more.

Some fitness watches are smarter than others, and the majority of our picks sacrifice features that you may really want. You'll want the Versa 4 for Bluetooth calling, but not for music playback or voice commands. Hybrid watches usually lack built-in GPS and advanced smart features. Most budget-friendly models also lack AFib detection, voice assistants, or Bluetooth call support, which you'd find on more premium options.

Make sure to do your research before you buy so you don't regret your choice. There's no point in "saving money" on a cheap watch that doesn't serve your needs!

The Galaxy Watch FE does look smart and superior to our other picks but remember that it's a downgrade compared to other full-priced smartwatches. Specifically, it has less RAM, an older SoC, and a thicker border around its display than the Galaxy Watch 7. You may want to hunt for deals instead of compromising.

Michael L Hicks
Senior Editor, Wearables & AR/VR

Michael is Android Central's resident expert on wearables and fitness. Before joining Android Central, he freelanced for years at Techradar, Wareable, Windows Central, and Digital Trends. Channeling his love of running, he established himself as an expert on fitness watches, testing and reviewing models from Garmin, Fitbit, Samsung, Apple, COROS, Polar, Amazfit, Suunto, and more.

With contributions from