Technologies
Best Budget Smartwatches: Top Cheap Picks
Who says a good smartwatch can’t be affordable? Our sub-$100 picks hit the mark without compromising on features or battery life.
Our Experts
There are plenty of affordable smartwatches out there, but only a few are actually worth your time. The sub-$100 category has become the wild west of wearables; crowded with imposters making big claims and delivering on very few. We haven’t tested every bargain-bin watch on the market, but we’ve tested enough to know when we’ve found a rare gem. A watch that goes beyond just the basics, with solid health and fitness tracking, smartphone features that actually work, and a multi-day battery life that can outlast some pricier models. Here are our picks for the best smartwatches (and smartwatch hybrids) under $100, plus a couple of alternatives that almost made the cut. We also share a few tips on what to look for when shopping in this cluttered (and sometimes sketchy) category.
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What’s the best cheap smartwatch overall?
The best budget smartwatch by a landslide is the Amazfit Bip 6. This is the kind of watch that makes you forget its sub-$100 price tag, packing features you’d normally expect from models that cost at least twice as much. This includes advanced health metrics like SpO2 (blood oxygen), wrist temperature tracking, stress levels and women’s health insights. It also lasted more than a week on a single charge during our testing, and can be tweaked to stretch even longer with custom settings.
Smartphone integration isn’t as seamless as what you’d get from Wear OS or WatchOS smartwatches, since the Bip 6 runs its own proprietary system. But that also means it’s compatible with both Android phones and iPhones. Just note that iPhone users won’t be able to respond to notifications from the watch.
The Bip 6 delivers where it counts, making it a great option for anyone prioritizing price and willing to spend a little more time setting it up to fit their needs.
Amazfit Bip 6
Pros
- $80 price is much less than most watches
- Works with Android and iOS
- Great battery life (lasts a week with heavy use)
- Tracks a wide variety of fitness activities accurately
- Temperature tracking and advanced sleep monitoring
Cons
- Single sizing option (44mm) is limiting
- UI and app are unintuitive
- Some health metrics are hard to interpret
- Voice assistant is unreliable
- Bluetooth range is short (especially on iPhone)
The $80 Amazfit Bip 6 is the most affordable option on this list, and a rare standout in the budget smartwatch category because it delivers on all the basics (and more) without many compromises. The design and interface aren’t as refined as what you’ll find with pricier models, but that feels like a fair trade-off considering how much the Bip 6 gets right. It offers accurate fitness tracking, with customizable training tools like heart rate zones, plus advanced health features including SpO2 (blood oxygen); temperature and sleep tracking; and high and low heart rate alerts.
Why we like it
While its low price might be its main draw, the Amazfit Bip 6 is one of the few sub-$100 smartwatches that’s actually worth your time. Beyond all the features mentioned above, we also like it for its weeklong (or longer) battery life and its compatibility with both iPhones and Android phones.
Who it’s best for
The Amazfit Bip 6 is ideal for anyone looking to try out a smartwatch without making a major investment. It’s a great fit for folks willing to do a bit of customization on the back end to make the watch work for their specific needs.
The Galaxy Fit 3 on my ~6.5-inch wrist.
Pros
- $60 price is the cheapest entry point into Samsung’s ecosystem
- Robust health tracking and sleep coaching tools
- 3-day battery life with always-on display (up to 13 days with lighter use)
- Slim, lightweight design that looks fancier than most budget trackers
Cons
- No built-in GPS for phone-free outdoor workouts
- No voice assistant or dictation features
- No mobile payments or third-party app support
- Limited notification handling (can’t initiate calls or texts)
The $60 Galaxy Fit 3 sits right on the line between fitness tracker and true smartwatch. It has a sleek design that’s flattering on most wrists and a simple UI that doesn’t overcomplicate your health data. There are a few concessions given its affordable price and simplicity, like the lack of a voice assistant and true message response, but it’s still plenty for Samsung fans or people looking for an entry-level way to track fitness.
What we like it
At $60, it’s the most affordable entry point into Samsung’s health and fitness ecosystem, which includes metrics like heart rate and SpO₂ monitoring, stress levels, and sleep scores for much less than flagship smartwatches like the Galaxy Watch 7. Its pared-down size and simplified features also give it a battery boost: expect around three days with the always-on display enabled, or up to 13 days in battery saver mode.
Who it’s best for
The Fit 3 is great for anyone looking to track their health and fitness without committing to the price or bulk of a full-fledged smartwatch. It’s best for Samsung users already in the ecosystem, but it can also be paired with other Android phones.
Amazfit Bip 6 specs and features
| Spec | Galaxy Fit 3 | Amazfit Bip 6 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $60 | $79 |
| Display | 1.6″ AMOLED (256 × 402, 16 M colors) | 1.97″ AMOLED (390 × 450, up to 2,000 nits) (us.amazfit.com) |
| Body | 42.9 × 28.8 × 9.9 mm | 46.3 × 40.2 × 10.45 mm |
| Weight | 36.8 g | 27.9 g |
| Materials | Aluminum + glass | Aluminum frame + polymer case |
| Water Resistance | 5 ATM + IP68 | 5 ATM |
| OS | FreeRTOS | ZeppOS |
| RAM | 16 MB | 64 MB |
| Storage | 256 MB | 512 MB |
| Battery | 208 mAh | 340 mAh |
| Battery Life | Up to 13 days | Up to 14 days typical; 26 days saver |
| Fast Charge | 65% in 30 min | ? |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 | Bluetooth 5.2, GPS |
| GPS | No (phone GPS) | Yes, built-in, supports offline maps |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, barometer, optical HR, SpO₂, light | BioTracker™ PPG (5PD+2LED), accelerometer, gyro, ambient light, geomagnetic |
| Notifications | Calls, text, media controls | Calls, texts, notifications; voice replies on Android |
| Additional Features | 100+ workout modes, sleep, stress | 140+ activity modes, Zepp Coach, offline maps, menstrual tracking |
| Voice Assistant | No | Zepp Flow voice control |
| NFC Payments | No | No |
| Platform Compatibility | Android | iOS & Android |
Recent updates
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.
Factors to consider when choosing a smartwatch
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.
How we test smartwatches
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.
Other smartwatches we’ve tested
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.
FAQs
What we look forward to in the second half of 2025
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.
Technologies
Kohler Wants to Put a Tiny Camera in Your Toilet and Analyze the Contents
The company’s new Dekoda toilet accessory is like a little bathroom detective.
Some smart litter boxes can monitor our pets’ habits and health, so having a camera in our human toilet bowls seems inevitable. That’s just what kitchen and bathroom fixture company Kohler has done for its new health and wellness brand, Kohler Health.
The $599 Dekoda clamps over the rim like a toilet bowl cleaner, pointing an optical sensor at your excretions and secretions. It then analyzes the images to detect any blood and reviews your gut health and hydration status. Depending on the plan you choose, the subscription fee is between $70 and $156 per year.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
At toilet time, you sign in via a fingerprint sensor so that the device knows who’s using the facilities. (Please wash your hands before signing out or tracking your progress.) Then, check in with the app for the day’s analysis and trends over time.
Wait until you’re off the pot, though, before you start doomscrolling your health. The device has a removable, rechargeable battery and uses a USB connection.
Kohler says it secures your data via the aforementioned fingerprint scanner and end-to-end encryption, and notes that the camera uses «discreet optics,» looking only at the results, not your body parts.
«Dekoda’s sensors see down into your toilet and nowhere else,» the company says.
Kohler warns that the technology doesn’t work very well with dark toilet colors, which makes sense. I’m sure there could be an upsell model with a light on it. Maybe the company could add an olfactory sensor, since smell reveals a lot about your gut health too. It could track «session» length or buildup under the rim to alert whoever has responsibility to clean it.
Kohler must have been straining to find appropriate lifestyle photos to include with the publicity materials. Many of the images are hilarious, featuring fit-looking men and women drinking water and staring off into space contemplatively — probably thinking about gas.
Technologies
Who’s Up to Fight Mega-Corporations in the Outer Worlds 2 on Xbox Game Pass?
Save the universe by fighting one CEO at a time in The Outer Worlds 2, plus play other great games coming to Xbox Game Pass in October.
Space is the final frontier, and it’s packed with some devious mega-corporations who are out to make a buck in The Outer Worlds 2. Xbox Game Pass subscribers can fight them in the highly anticipated sequel starting on Oct. 29.
Xbox Game Pass offers hundreds of games you can play on your Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, smart TV and PC or mobile device, with prices starting at $10 a month. While all Game Pass tiers offer you a library of games, Game Pass Ultimate ($30 a month) gives you access to the most games, as well as Day 1 games, like Hollow Knight: Silksong, added monthly.
Here are all the games subscribers can play on Game Pass soon. You can also check out other games the company added to the service in October, including Ninja Gaiden 4.
Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.
PowerWash Simulator 2
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 23.
If you’ve ever spent hours watching people on YouTube clean dirty rugs, cars and other grimy objects, you should check out PowerWash Simulator 2. As the name suggests, this sequel is all about blasting away dirt and filth from pools, homes and other objects around town. You have a furry kitty companion, and yes, you can pet them when you’ve finished cleaning.
Bounty Star
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 23.
The American Southwest has devolved into a lawless, post-apocalyptic desert called the Red Expanse in this game. You’re out to clean the place up in this game by taking down major bounties issued by the government, and the best way to do that is by piloting and customizing a giant mech, of course. When you want to nurse your wounds, head back to your run-down garage to rest, grow and cook food and raise animals. It’s like a cozy Armored Core game.
Super Fantasy Kingdom (game preview)
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 24.
After returning from a hunting trip, you find your 8-bit kingdom wrecked in this game. You must rebuild your domain in this roguelite, city builder. But as night falls, hordes of monsters emerge to tear everything back down. Build, mine, cook and grow your home, and prepare to defend it from all dangers.
Halls of Torment
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 28.
Get ready to descend into the deadly Halls of Torment in this retro, horde survival game. You can choose between 11 playable characters, each with their own playstyle, and equip various items and abilities to survive waves of enemies. This game is like Vampire Survivors, so if you like that game give this one a shot.
The Outer Worlds 2
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 29.
Clear your calendar for this sequel to the award-winning sci-fi adventure, The Outer Worlds. This time, you’re an Earth Directorate agent investigating the cause of devastating rifts that could destroy humanity. You have a new ship, new crew, new enemies and mega-corporation goons standing between you and the answers.
1000xResist
Game Pass Ultimate, Game Pass Premium and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Nov. 4.
One thousand years in the future, humanity is hanging on by a thread after a disease spread by alien occupation forces people to live underground in this sci-fi adventure game. You play as Watcher, and you fulfill your duties well, until one day you make a shocking discovery. This game won a Peabody Award in 2024, and it was nominated for the Nebula Award for Best Game Writing that same year, so get ready for a story like no other.
Football Manager 26
Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass subscribers can start playing on Oct. 29.
Get ready for a more immersive matchday experience in the latest installment of the Football Manager franchise. You can build a star-studded squad with new transfer tools, and this entry features official Premier League licenses and women’s football for the first time in the series’ history.
Game Pass subscribers can play the standard or Console edition of this game.
Games leaving Game Pass on Oct. 31
While Microsoft is adding those games to Game Pass, it’s also removing three others from the service on Oct. 31. So you still have some time to finish your campaign and any side quests before you have to buy these games separately.
Jusant
Metal Slug Tactics
Return to Monkey Island
For more on Xbox, discover other games available on Game Pass now and check out our hands-on review of the gaming service. You can also learn about recent changes to the Game Pass service.
Technologies
Does Charging Your Phone Overnight Damage the Battery? We Asked the Experts
Modern smartphones are protected against overcharging, but heat and use habits can still degrade your battery over time.
Plugging your phone in before you head to bed might seem like second nature. That way by the time your alarms go off in the morning, your phone has a full charge and is ready to help you conquer your day. However, over time, your battery will start to degrade. So is keeping your phone plugged in overnight doing damage to the battery?
The short answer is no. Keeping your phone plugged in all the time won’t ruin your battery. Modern smartphones are built with smart charging systems that cut off or taper power once they’re full, preventing the kind of «overcharging damage» that was common in older devices. So if you’re leaving your iPhone or Android on the charger overnight, you can relax.
That said, «won’t ruin your battery» doesn’t mean it has no effect. Batteries naturally degrade with age and use, and how you charge plays a role in how fast that happens. Keeping a phone perpetually at 100% can add extra stress on the battery, especially when paired with heat, which is the real enemy of longevity.
Understanding when this matters (and when it doesn’t) can help you make small changes to extend your phone’s lifespan.
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The science behind battery wear
Battery health isn’t just about how many times you charge your phone. It’s about how it manages voltage, temperature and maintenance. Lithium-ion batteries age fastest when they’re exposed to extreme levels: 0% and 100%.
Keeping them near full charge for long stretches puts additional voltage stress on the cathode and electrolyte. That’s why many devices use «trickle charging» or temporarily pause at 100%, topping up only when needed.
Still, the biggest threat isn’t overcharging — it’s heat. When your phone is plugged in and running demanding apps, it produces heat that accelerates chemical wear inside the battery. If you’re gaming, streaming or charging on a hot day, that extra warmth does far more harm than leaving the cable plugged in overnight.
Apple’s take
Apple’s battery guide describes lithium-ion batteries as «consumable components» that naturally lose capacity over time. To slow that decline, iPhones use Optimized Battery Charging, which learns your daily routine and pauses charging at about 80% until just before you typically unplug, reducing time spent at high voltage.
Apple also advises keeping devices between 0 to 35 degrees Celsius (32 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit) and removing certain cases while charging to improve heat dissipation. You can read more on Apple’s official battery support page.
What Samsung (and other Android makers) do
Samsung offers a similar feature called Battery Protect, found in One UI’s battery and device care settings. When enabled, it caps charging at 85%, which helps reduce stress during long charging sessions.
Other Android makers like Google, OnePlus and Xiaomi include comparable options — often called Adaptive Charging, Optimized Charging or Battery Care — that dynamically slow power delivery or limit charge based on your habits. These systems make it safe to leave your phone plugged in for extended periods without fear of overcharging.
When constant charging can hurt
Even with these safeguards, some conditions can accelerate battery wear. As mentioned before, the most common culprit is high temperature. Even for a short period of time, leaving your phone charging in direct sunlight, in a car or under a pillow can push temperatures into unsafe zones.
Heavy use while charging, like gaming or 4K video editing, can also cause temperature spikes that degrade the battery faster. And cheap, uncertified cables or adapters may deliver unstable current that stresses cells. If your battery is already several years old, it’s naturally more sensitive to this kind of strain.
How to charge smarter
You don’t need to overhaul your habits but a few tweaks can help your battery age gracefully.
Start by turning on your phone’s built-in optimization tools: Optimized Battery Charging on iPhones, Battery Protect on Samsung devices and Adaptive Charging on Google Pixels. These systems learn your routine and adjust charging speed so your phone isn’t sitting at 100% all night.
Keep your phone cool while charging. According to Apple, phone batteries perform best between 62 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit (16 to 22 degrees Celsius). If your phone feels hot, remove its case or move it to a better-ventilated or shaded spot. Avoid tossing it under a pillow or too close to other electronics, like your laptop, and skip wireless chargers that trap heat overnight.
Use quality chargers and cables from your phone’s manufacturer or trusted brands. Those cheap «fast-charge» kits you find online often deliver inconsistent current, which can cause long-term issues.
Finally, don’t obsess over topping off. It’s perfectly fine to plug in your phone during the day for short bursts. Lithium-ion batteries actually prefer frequent, shallow charges rather than deep, full cycles. You don’t need to keep it between 20% and 80% all the time, but just avoid extremes when possible.
The bottom line
Keeping your phone plugged in overnight or on your desk all day won’t destroy its battery. That’s a leftover myth from a different era of tech. Modern phones are smart enough to protect themselves, and features like Optimized Battery Charging or Battery Protect do most of the heavy lifting for you.
Still, no battery lasts forever. The best way to slow the inevitable is to manage heat, use quality chargers and let your phone’s software do its job. Think of it less as «babying» your battery and more as charging with intention. A few mindful habits today can keep your phone running strong for years.
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