In June 2025, we added the Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 to our round-up as a simple, more affordable alternative for Samsung fans looking to track their health and fitness.

Picking a budget smartwatch can be trickier than it looks, mostly because of the sheer volume of bad options out there. This list is a great place to start, but it’s worth thinking through your priorities (beyond just price)  before you commit. Here’s what to keep in mind when shopping under $100:

Software and UI

If reliability and user-friendly design matter to you, stick with more established brands like Samsung, Fitbit or even other Amazfit options. At this price, you can likely score some older models at a discounted rate or opt for fitness tracker hybrids like the Samsung Fit 3 or the Fitbit Inspire 3 with some smartwatch features that work well with your phone. Samsung pairs seamlessly with Samsung phones, while Fitbit and Amazfit options tend to work reliably across both iOS and Android.

Design

Design is often where budget watches cut corners. Many use plastic cases and silicone bands, which can feel bulkier and look less refined. Screen quality is another trade-off — lower resolution displays can appear grainy or pixelated. If aesthetics matter, consider older models of premium brands or a fitness tracker with a sleeker look. 

Battery Life Battery life claims can be misleading at this price. Make sure what’s advertised for the specific watch reflects typical use, and includes some kind of stripped-down low-power mode that only shows the time. Always-on displays that often accelerate battery drain are rare on wearables under $100, but most watches should last 24 hours (at the bare minimum) using raise-to-wake mode.

Connectivity and GPS

Expect only Wi-Fi models in this range, meaning you won’t be able to make calls or send texts without your phone nearby. Also, check the GPS capability; some watches, like the Bip 6, can track outdoor workouts independently, while others, like the Fit3, rely on your phone for mapping. 

Price

You’re already filtering for watches under $100, but even within that range, you’ll find differences. Going closer to $50 usually means fewer features, but that could be fine if you don’t need all the bells and whistles. If you’re looking for something more well-rounded, the $80 to $100 range tends to offer better value overall.

With budget smartwatches, we follow the same rigorous testing guidelines as their premium counterparts, paying even closer attention to categories where we may see potential trade-offs like sensor accuracy and software support.

The Basics: First, we evaluate how well these watches hold up to real-world use: notifications, texting (if available), and phone pairing. We also review the companion app experience, which is particularly important for budget watches, many of which rely on proprietary apps for health data and customization. Some may lack advanced phone integration — especially for iPhone users — so we flag those limitations in our reviews.

Performance and navigation: While lower-cost models rarely have the processing power of premium options, we assess how smooth and responsive the interface is during typical use. That includes swiping between menus, launching workouts, syncing to the app and responding to notifications (when available).

Design and durability: Affordability doesn’t have to mean cheap build quality. We test for comfort, fit, and how the watch holds up to daily wear and tear. Most budget models don’t come with military-grade durability or high water resistance ratings so we’re not as “rough” on these devices and only go up to what the rating allowed, but will fully acknowledge this trade off in the review.

Battery life: Budget smartwatches tend to outperform premium ones when it comes to battery life because of the lesser-quality screen and power-hungry apps, but it’s not always a given. We start our testing with a fully charged battery and then test how long a watch lasts with normal use. This includes sleep tracking, mirrored notifications from our phone and at least one outdoor (using GPS). Once it’s drained, we’ll time how long it takes to charge back up to 100%. We’ll also flag any battery-saving tactics unique to that model, although our core testing is done at full capacity (not battery-saving mode).

Sensor accuracy: Sensor quality can be hit or miss in this category, so we run side-by-side comparisons with gold-standard tools. For heart rate, we test against a chest strap during cardio workouts. For SpO2, we use a fingertip pulse oximeter. For watches with built-in GPS, we also assess how quickly the GPS locks in for outdoor workouts and compare its accuracy to a smartphone GPS (separate from the one it’s paired to). We’ll call out any obvious inconsistencies in route and tracking.

Ultimately, we’re looking for watches that deliver true value and not just a long spec sheet of half baked-features.

We’ve also tested the Amazfit Active 2, which shares a lot of the same great features as the Bip 6 but comes in a smaller, circular design that feels a bit more premium thanks to its stainless steel frame and slimmer body. It’s more expensive than the Bip 6, but at $100, it technically still makes the cutoff to land a spot on this list (barely).

For a more full-featured alternative to the Galaxy Fit 3, the older Galaxy Watch 4 still holds up to today’s standards with ECG and blood pressure tracking (but no skin temperature). It may not be as speedy as the newer models, but it will run the latest version of Wear OS and you can often find it for under $100 through third-party retailers like Walmart.

Smartwatches are only getting smarter about health, and I hope that continues; whether it’s better sensors, new metrics, or more personalized coaching, especially as more brands start leaning on AI to make sense of your data. One trend I’d love to see stick around in this year’s launches is better battery life. Smarter software and hardware upgrades like the dual CPU architecture on the OnePlus Watch 3 are finally making multiday wear feel realistic. Meanwhile, the definition of a wearable is expanding fast, with more smart rings making their debuts as well as upgraded earbud options with built-in health sensors that are already nudging into smartwatch territory. They probably won’t replace watches entirely, but they’re definitely raising the bar, and will continue giving the smartwatch category a healthy push forward.