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For most buyers looking for a cheap smartwatch in the US, the Amazfit Active 2 is the strongest all-round pick under $100: it combines onboard GPS, sleep and heart-rate tracking, swimproofing, and a 10-day rated battery life. Tom’s Guide and TechRadar both list it at $99 and recommend it, though Tom’s Guide flags concerns about heart-rate and elevation data. The best choice changes if you prioritize iPhone integration, Android apps, or running metrics.
Best cheap smartwatches at a glance
| Best for | Watch | Key details | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best all-rounder under $100 | Amazfit Active 2 | $99 guide price; onboard GPS; 10-day rated battery life | Less polished software, limited third-party apps, and reported heart-rate and elevation-data concerns |
| Best for iPhone owners | Apple Watch SE 3 | iOS-only; GPS; always-on display; 18-hour rated battery life | Shorter rated battery life; not compatible with Android |
| Best Android value | Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | Android-only; GPS; optional LTE; 24-hour rated battery life, or 40 hours in low-power mode | Some holistic health features require a Samsung Galaxy phone; value depends on discount |
| Best for beginner runners | Garmin Forerunner 165 | Built-in GPS; running and training metrics; up to 11 days advertised battery life | Sport-focused rather than built around a broad third-party app ecosystem |
Prices and battery figures are publisher-reported guide snapshots and product ratings, not a live price check or a controlled comparison. Battery results depend on settings and use, so the figures are not directly equivalent.
Which cheap smartwatch is the best all-rounder?
Amazfit Active 2: best under $100 for most buyers
At a $99 starting price in Tom’s Guide’s 2026 guide, the Amazfit Active 2 covers the essentials many buyers want without a premium smartwatch price: onboard GPS, heart-rate and sleep tracking, sports modes, swimproofing, and a 10-day rated battery life. TechRadar’s 2026 guide also lists it at $99 and names it its best cheap system-agnostic pick. Tom’s Guide’s budget smartwatch picks and TechRadar’s cheap smartwatch guide support its position as the leading cross-platform option in this group.
The compromise is software depth: the operating system is less polished than Apple’s or Samsung’s, and third-party apps are limited. Tom’s Guide also raises concerns about heart-rate and elevation data, so treat its health and workout readings as useful everyday guidance rather than assuming they match a dedicated reference device.
#1 Best Overall
- 【Superb Visual Experience & Effortless Operation】Diving into the latest 1.58'' ultra high resolution display technology, every interaction on the fitness watch is a visual delight with vibrant colors and crisp clarity. Its always on display clock makes the time conveniently visible. Experience convenience like never before with the intuitive full touch controls and the side button, switch between apps, and customize settings with seamless precision.
- 【Comprehensive 24/7 Health Monitoring】The fitness watches for women and men packs 24/7 heart rate, 24/7 blood pressure and blood oxygen monitors. You could check those real-time health metrics anytime, anywhere on your wrist and view the data record in the App. The heart rate monitor watch also tracks different sleep stages for light and deep sleep,and the time when you wake up, helps you to get a better understanding of your sleep quality.
- 【120+ exercise modes & All-Day Activity Tracking】There are more than 120 exercise modes available in the activity trackers and smartwatches, covering almost all daily sports activities you can imagine, gives you new ways to train and advanced metrics for more information about your workout performance. The all-day activity tracking feature monitors your steps, distance, and calories burned all the day, so you can see how much progress you've made towards your fitness goals.
- 【Messages & Incoming Calls Notification】With this smart watch fitness trackers for iPhone and android phones, you can receive notifications for incoming calls and read messages directly from your wrist without taking out your phone. Never miss a beat, stay in touch with loved ones, and stay informed of important updates wherever you are.
- 【Essential Assistant for Daily Life】The fitness watches for women and men provide you with more features including drinking water and sedentary reminder, women's menstrual period reminder, breath training, real-time weather display, remote camera shooting, music control,timer, stopwatch, finding phone, alarm clock, making it a considerate life assistant. With the GPS connectivity, you could get a map of your workout route in the app for outdoor activity by connecting to your phone GPS.
Which budget smartwatch should you buy for your phone?
For iPhone: Apple Watch SE 3
If you use an iPhone and want Apple’s integration, consider the Apple Watch SE 3. Tom’s Guide lists a $249 value price in its 2026 guide, while WIRED showed a $229 sale listing when its guide was accessed; the latter is a dated sale snapshot, not a guaranteed current offer. The watch is iOS-only, has GPS and an always-on display, and carries an 18-hour rated battery life. See Tom’s Guide and WIRED’s affordable smartwatch guide for their respective guide details.
For Android: Samsung Galaxy Watch 7
The Galaxy Watch 7 is an Android-only option with GPS and optional LTE. Tom’s Guide lists a 24-hour rated battery life, rising to 40 hours in low-power mode. Some holistic health features require a Samsung Galaxy phone, so check whether the features you care about work with your specific Android handset. Since it is an older generation, its value depends on the discount available for the exact size and connectivity variant. Tom’s Guide’s 2026 guide lists its compatibility and battery specifications.
Rank #2
- 1.83" Touch Screen & 100+ Dials: Elevate your style with a smart watch that looks as good as it performs. The vibrant display, available up to 1.83 inches, delivers crisp visuals and smooth responsiveness, with excellent sunlight visibility and adjustable brightness for any setting. Our smart watch has hundreds of customizable watch faces, or upload your own photos to make it truly yours. The lightweight aluminum build and durable 2.5D glass strike the perfect balance between sleek design and everyday durability. Whether you’re in the office or at the gym, this is a smart watch that fits your style seamlessly
- 24/7 Health Monitoring & Smart Reminders: Designed exclusively for women’s daily health care, recording female menstrual periods for better lifestyle adjustments, our T7 smart watch is your wearable wellness guardian that stays by your side around the clock. This smartwatch is fitted with high-precision optical sensors and up to 10 days of battery life, delivering uninterrupted 24-hour monitoring of your heart rate, blood oxygen saturation, and stress levels. The smartwatch automatically tracks your sleep throughout the night, breaks down your sleep into deep, light, awake to help you say goodbye to restless nights and build consistent, healthy sleep routines
- Bluetooth Call & Smart Notification Center: Stay connected and in control with the T7 smart watch that delivers crystal-clear Bluetooth calling—meaning zero lag and crisp audio, even in noisy environments. Answer or make calls directly from your wrist using the high-definition speaker and microphone. The AI assistant is built right into the smart watch, so you can set reminders, check the weather, and control music hands-free. Real-time notifications for texts, emails, and apps like WhatsApp, Facebook, and Instagram go straight to your wrist, so you never miss what matters
- Fitness Tracker & IP67 Water Resistant: The smart watch track over multi-sport modes—from running to yoga and hiking, with accurate measurements of steps, distance, calories burned, and workout duration. High-precision sensors give you the data you need to analyze performance and dial in your training. Built with an IP67 waterproof rating, the smart watch is comfortable for sweat, rain, and handwashing (not for swimming or hot showers). Whether you’re an athlete or just staying active, this is the all-day companion that works as hard as you do
- Seamless Compatibility & Multi-Functionality: The T7 smart watch compatible with most iOS and Android smartphones, so whether you’re on an iPhone or Android, pairing is quick and reliable. Battery life goes the distance, up to 10 days of regular use on a single charge, with fast charging that gets you back up and running in around 2 hours. Beyond fitness and calls, this smart watch packs in the everyday tools you’ll actually use: stopwatch, timer, remote shutter, check the weather, find phone, calculator, and even track menstrual cycles. Sedentary reminders help you stay moving during long workdays. It’s the kind of smart convenience that simplifies your day, right from your wrist
For either platform: check feature-level compatibility
The Amazfit Active 2 and Garmin Forerunner 165 are described by the cited guides as cross-platform, but compatibility can vary by phone operating-system version and by feature. Confirm support for notifications, health data, GPS functions, and any companion app you plan to use before buying; “works with iPhone and Android” does not guarantee identical functionality on both.
The Tool Desk
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Garmin Forerunner 165: best for beginner runners
The Forerunner 165 is the better fit if running guidance and training metrics matter more than a large app catalogue. WIRED lists built-in GPS, iOS and Android compatibility, water resistance to 50 meters (5 ATM), and up to 11 days of advertised battery life. That battery figure is Garmin’s advertised maximum as reported by WIRED, not a guaranteed result for every runner; a reviewer reported around a week of use. WIRED’s 2026 under-$250 guide identifies its running and training focus.
Rank #3
- 【Crystal-Clear Communication】AEAC smartwatch delivers clear call quality with high-definition speakers and microphones. Built with an AI assistant, it enables smooth voice commands and hands-free calls.
- 【Comprehensive Health Monitoring】The AEAC smartwatch tracks vital health metrics—blood oxygen, heart rate, stress, and sleep analysis—providing you with valuable insights for enhanced well-being.
- 【Long-Lasting Battery】Enjoy up to 10 days of use on a quick 2-hour charge. Will monitor your heart rate, steps, activity routes, and calorie burn around the clock, offering a complete view of your health and fitness.
- 【110+ Sports Modes & Waterproof】With 110+ sports modes, this fitness watch supports a wide range of activities, from yoga to swimming. Its 3ATM water-resistant design ensures reliable performance in wet conditions.
- 【1.32" AMOLED Touchscreen】 Features a 1.32-inch AMOLED display for sharp visuals and smooth responsiveness. The watch face measures 43 mm, offering a clear and comfortable viewing area. Choose from 200+ watch faces or personalize with your own photos, making the watch uniquely yours
Choose it for sport-specific tools, not as a direct substitute for a general-purpose watch with a richer third-party app ecosystem. If your priority is a lower price and general health and workout basics, compare it with the Active 2 instead.
How should you judge “cheap” and compare battery life?
“Cheap” depends on where you shop. In the US-focused guides, the Active 2 is listed at $99, the SE 3 at $249 by Tom’s Guide, and the Galaxy Watch 7 and Forerunner 165 are presented as value-oriented choices rather than with a single stable live price. In the UK, Which? defines its budget smartwatch category as watches up to £200 and notes that buyers below £100 are more likely to accept compromises; it also says built-in GPS is more expected above £100. Those UK thresholds are not directly interchangeable with US guide prices. Which?’s budget smartwatch guide states that definition and was dated 14 August 2026.
Rank #4
- STYLISH DESIGN, VIBRANT DISPLAY: The lightweight aluminum build blends effortless style with workout durability, while the vivid 1.97" AMOLED display keeps your data easy to read, even under bright sunlight.
- ALL-IN-ONE ACTIVITY TRACKING: The Amazfit Bip 6 fitness tracker watch offers 140+ workout modes including HYROX Race and Strength Training, plus personalized AI coaching and 50m water resistance.
- UP TO 14 DAYS BATTERY LIFE: The Amazfit Bip 6 smart watch powers through your training and recovery for up to two weeks at a time - no nightly charging needed.
- ACCURATE GPS TRACKING & NAVIGATION: Stay on course with free downloadable maps and turn-by-turn directions. Support from 5 satellite systems ensures precise tracking of every move and fast GPS connection.
- 24/7 HEALTH MONITORING: The Amazfit Bip 6 smartwatch provides precise, real-time monitoring of heart rate, sleep, blood-oxygen and stress, empowering you with actionable insights to optimize your health and fitness.
Battery ratings are also not a like-for-like endurance test. The cited guides list 10 days for the Active 2, 18 hours for the SE 3, 24 hours (40 in low-power mode) for the Galaxy Watch 7, and up to 11 days for the Forerunner 165. Each figure reflects a product rating or advertised claim, with different usage assumptions. GPS workouts, display settings, LTE, and notifications can change actual time between charges; decide whether you value fewer charging sessions or the software and features you will use.
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What should you check before buying?
- Phone and feature support: Verify the watch’s operating-system requirements and confirm that the particular health, notification, and payment features you want work with your phone.
- GPS type: If you want to record a run without carrying your phone, verify that the exact model has built-in GPS rather than relying on phone-connected GPS.
- Price and configuration: Check today’s price, generation, case size, GPS or LTE variant, seller, and return policy. Guide prices and sale listings can change.
- Comfort and durability: Consider case size, screen readability, water resistance, and how the watch feels during sleep and exercise.
- Sensor confidence: Smartwatch readings are not all equally reliable. Which? says its tests compare tracking with reference devices and assess personal-data security, scratch, drop and water resistance, screen readability, battery, and charging. Its opened guide does not show model-level scores without membership, so it cannot establish a specific ranking for these watches.
- Software priorities: Apple and Samsung offer fuller app ecosystems; the Active 2 emphasizes everyday basics and fitness with more limited app depth; Garmin puts training features first.
How these recommendations are supported
These picks reflect recommendations and specifications published in 2026 buying guides, not personal testing for this article. Tom’s Guide and TechRadar identify the Active 2 as a leading cheap option; WIRED’s guide supplies the cited Forerunner 165 details and an SE 3 sale snapshot. Wareable’s 2026 guide describes its selected watches as tried and tested, while Which? describes its testing methods but restricts model-level scores on the opened page. Read the publishers’ own context before treating a ranking as a definitive accuracy comparison: Wareable’s tested picks, Which?’s UK budget guide, Tom’s Guide, TechRadar, and WIRED.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- 【1.10 Inch Display & Custom Watch Face】 Fitness trackers with AMOLED HD Touch Color Screen design, an exquisite visual display, provide you with high-quality touch and visual experience, making all incoming calls and message reminders extremely clear, enjoy a wonderful view.
- 【All-day Activity Tracking】 With app “Keep Heath”, the step counter understand resting heart rate trends and better estimate calorie burn with 24/7 continuous heart-rate, Tune in to your body with breathing rate, heart rate variability and more. You can also set the amount of exercise you want to complete, stay motivated all day long!
- 【Sleep Tracker】 Fitness watch automatically measures your fall asleep, awake times, light and deep sleep, then review your sleep quality and duration in the App. Please note that the data should be for reference only and does not replace a doctor's advice.
- 【25 Sports Modes】 Step counter for walking with 25 sports modes to track the corresponding exercise. For example: steps, calories, distance, heart rate, exercise time, etc. Let you exercise more scientifically. With connected GPS, it can record your workout route, and so on.
- 【IP68 Water resistant Design】Fitness watches for women designed to withstand your variety lifestyle, pedometer watch features a IP68 water resistant, allowing you to wear it with confidence rain or shine, ensuring you stay connected and in control no matter where life takes you.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
