The 6 Best Cheap Smartwatches of 2022

Best Overall: Apple Series 3 GPS Watch

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For iPhone users considering a smartwatch, the Apple Watch is a natural choice. If you’d rather not pay the premium of the flagship's most recent versions, the Apple Watch Series 3 offers an appealing compromise.

You’ll enjoy the same sleek styling that’s a mix of sporty and contemporary along with basically all of the smartwatch features you could ask for—including onboard GPS and a swim-proof build for detailed workout tracking, all-day heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, Apple Music access, and contactless Apple Pay. As an Apple device, this watch also works seamlessly with your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

While you won’t get to enjoy the latest Apple Watch innovations such as an onboard ECG monitor, the blood oxygen app, or the ability to make phone calls and send texts with cellular connectivity, battery life is similar to the newest version of this watch at about 18 hours. That will get you through most of the day, but this device still requires a daily charge. Considering the rich array of features at your disposal, though, this isn’t unreasonable for dedicated iPhone and Apple users interested in adding a compatible wearable to their routines.

Best for Android Users: Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle

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If you want a feature-rich smartwatch that blends in with your lifestyle, the Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle combines traditional timepiece looks with innovative wearable tech. The Gen 5 Carlyle operates on Wear OS, which is compatible with both iOS and Android, but Android users will feel right at home with this device—and experience full functionality.

A speaker and microphone combination makes Google Assistant accessible with a simple voice prompt and allows for convenient smart home device control and Bluetooth calling when your (Android) phone is near. Connectivity also includes Wi-Fi, NFC, and GPS.

In addition to connected features, this watch includes sensor technology to support activity tracking, including swimming, workouts, and sleep. Personalization is also easy, thanks to thousands of watch faces to choose from. The Gen 5 Carlyle also has enough memory to support your favorite fitness and productivity apps from the Google Play store. For detailed fitness data, an alternate app could be preferable since metrics are limited in the Google Fit app.

And while there are several battery modes that can help extend battery life, the use of smart features diminishes the battery after about one day. Luckily, this watch recharges quickly: 50 minutes will restore the battery to 80 percent.

Best Minimalist: Samsung Galaxy Fit

4.5

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If you care about staying active but don’t want a lot of hardware on your wrist or a huge dent on your wallet, the Samsung Galaxy Fit could be an ideal wearable. This bracelet-style watch is slim with an ultra-light 23-gram build that won’t weigh you down. While it’s great for smaller wrists and users who want a minimalist accessory, the close-fitting band closure could be awkward for some. Plus, the small 1-inch display doesn’t offer a lot of surface area to interact with, which sometimes results in misfires with swiping and tapping motions. 

As an exercise tracker, the Fit lives up to its name. Despite the lack of onboard GPS, workout metrics are generally accurate for casual daily exercising tracking. Plus, the handful of useful smart features (including canned text replies with a Galaxy smartphone), the stellar week-long battery life, and military-grade durability for just around $100 make this watch a steal for the right user.

Best for Wellness: Fitbit Versa 2 Fitness Smartwatch

4.3

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Wellness enthusiasts will find a lot to love in the Fitbit Versa 2. Design-wise, the Fitbit Versa 2 takes a page from the Apple Watch’s playbook, with an upscale, square-shaped display and plush silicone band that looks and feels great. In addition to an aesthetically pleasing form factor, the Versa 2 monitors virtually everything you could think of to provide a full wellness picture. That includes all-day activity and calorie burn, heart rate, sleep quality, blood oxygen saturation, stress, and mensuration.

Sophisticated wellness and fitness tracking aside, the Versa 2 also comes with advanced smart features including NFC payment, Alexa integration, and the ability to reply to text messages—if you have an Android phone and it’s nearby. This device is also capable of storing music (up to 300 songs with a premium Deezer or Pandora account), but limits Spotify users to playback functionality. To top it off, the watch comes with a pretty impressive battery life of over six days.

Best Battery: Amazfit Bip

4.4

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The Amazfit Bip is another smartwatch that proves you don’t have to pay a premium for the convenience of a wrist-based wearable. This affordable and lightweight smartwatch offers a slim design that weighs in at just 32 grams and a bright, 1.2-inch always-on display that’s protected by IP68 dust and splash resistance. This comfortable introductory wearable also supports popular smartwatch features including text and phone notifications, fitness tracking, as well as heart rate and sleep monitoring, though accuracy may vary.

While heart rate monitoring and built-in GPS sensors are thoughtful touches that rival more expensive models, the Bip can’t really compete when it comes to customization power with adding additional apps or widgets, responding to texts, or other advanced wellness features. It also lacks music playback control on your connected smartphone. That being said, if you want the essentials, this affordable wearable obliges while also boasting up to 45 days of battery life.