The Best Cheap Smart Watches
Smartwatches are today's must-have gadget, allowing you to talk, text, surf, and stay connected with the wireless world while being fashionable at the same time. And guess what? They even tell time, too! We've researched dozens of models - so you don't have to - and selected six of the best cheap smartwatches out there. Let’s do this!
Affordable smartwatches come in all shapes and sizes and are designed to be the ultimate wearable electronic fashion accessory. But because of the many styles and capabilities available on the market, knowing what features to look for can be a challenge. Here’s what you need to know when selecting your smartwatch.
Make sure that the smartwatch you are buying is compatible with your phone. While many will work with both iOS and Android operating systems, you'll want to know beforehand whether or not your watch will be able to communicate with your phone. Also, it's a good idea to know what version of operating system your phone runs on, as some watches won't be compatible with older releases.
Do you prefer a touch screen on your smartwatch or rather buttons? New smartwatches generally feature touch-sensitive displays, however, some will be button-operated. Although this primarily boils down to personal preference, as a general rule the more sophisticated and powerful smartwatches will usually be touch-sensitive, allowing you to access them far more easily.
You don't have to mess around with bulky charging cables anymore thanks to wireless charging technology. Many of the best cheap watches incorporate magnetic couplings in order to replenish the charge, so there's no wire to fish out and use. It's a very convenient feature to have and we definitely recommend it.
Many smartwatches offer the capability to monitor heart rate and other functions, allowing it to act as a fitness assistant. These functions include step counters, heart-rate monitors, GPS-enabled running trackers, and a good watch will allow you to integrate it with a dedicated fitness app.
Generally speaking, the type of display a smartwatch features will have a huge impact on its battery life. Color displays can have a huge impact on the amount of time between charges, as can certain extra features. Choose a watch that offers a good balance between the features it offers and the length of battery charge.
Not every product available will be a waterproof smartwatch, but it definitely helps, especially if you plan to use it while swimming. Not only that, but it's a good idea to have a waterproof model in the event you accidentally get it wet, for instance, if you find yourself caught in a downpour or happen to drop it into a puddle.
It's easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer number of gadgets available, especially when it comes to affordable smart watches. There're literally hundreds of brands and models to choose from. But don't worry, we’re here to help. Your trusty techies at GeekWrapped strapped on and sampled dozens of the highest-rated products (we know, it's a tough job but someone has to do it!), and whittled the list down to the six best. All six winners shown here are high quality, durable, and affordable. In short, the budget smart watches listed here represent the best of the best. Let’s take a look!
Featuring a quick and responsive touch screen, the PowerLead A9S offers Apple Watch-like capabilities at a fraction of the cost. Make calls, send texts and emails, and monitor your calendar. Designed to operate with both iOS and Android, this device also features a camera with full video support.
The PowerLead A9S will work in standby mode for up to 180 hours on a single charge, giving it excellent battery life. Enjoy fitness apps such as a pedometer, sleep tracker, and heart rate monitor. And receiving notifications is a breeze thanks to its ability to switch between tone or vibrate mode. Listen to music from your smartphone's library thanks to the built-in Bluetooth connection. An SD expansion slot will allow you to incorporate extra memory to save photos and videos.
All in all, the PowerLead A9S is an excellent and very affordable smartwatch, because of its cross-platform compatibility, intuitive interface, excellent battery life, and great camera.
The Pebble Time incorporates the best features of a smart watch at an extremely affordable price. Compatible with both iOS and Android (4.0 and above), this watch has hundreds of available apps from the Pebble app store on offer.
Designed to operate for up to seven days on a single charge, the Pebble Time is waterproof up to a depth of 30 meters. The touch-screen interface is sublime, offering notifications such as calendar, text, and email messages at a single glance. Simple and elegant, the lightweight and ergonomic design means it will become a stylish part of you. By the way, this watch is available in a variety of colors and styles to suit your every fashion whim. Fitness enthusiasts will enjoy Pebble Health, a suite of health apps which include activity tracking as well as sleep monitoring, and which delivers reports based on the above.
With multi-OS compatibility, great app availability, excellent battery life, water resistance, intuitive interface, and health monitoring, you really can't go wrong with the Pebble Time Smart Watch.
Our top budget pick is the Martheroll GT-88, a smartwatch incorporating all the qualities you'd look for in a sleek and elegant design. Featuring a scratch-resistant coating, anti-sweat backing, and unisex styling, this watch delivers the goods.
Receive calls, texts and emails with full iOS and Android compatibility. The intuitive touch-screen display is easy to use and functional, allowing you to see all important information at a glance. A fully-functional camera which supports video is also included. The Martheroll features a full deck of health apps, including heart-rate monitoring, as well as sleep and step tracking. The battery life is excellent and the watch features magnetic charging so there are no cords to trip over. Last but not least, it's waterproof, sturdy, and robust.
You really can't go wrong with the stylish Martheroll on your wrist, thanks to the impressive list of features such as onboard camera, cross-platform compatibility, the intuitive display and health apps.
There's lots to love about the Motorola Moto 630 Sport smartwatch. Fully compatible with iOS and Android, this circular-styled watch is a must-have item for your busy life. Wireless charging, waterproof construction, and an easy-to-use interface augment the stylish design.
Where this watch really shines is with its voice-command options as well as a built-in GPS with turn-by-turn navigation system. Most functions can be controlled by voice without the touch of a button thanks to the dual digital microphones, and the navigation system will get you to your destination easily and effectively. The watch face is fully customizable and features health apps such as heart-rate monitoring and GPS-enabled activity tracking. Battery life is good: It lasts a full day with all features activated and much longer in standby mode.
All in all, the Moto 360 is an excellent cheap smartwatch thanks to its unique styling, iOS and Android compatibility, health apps, as well as the great GPS system. We highly recommend it!
Sony's entry into the connected device field is a waterproof smartwatch designed to suit your busy lifestyle. Compatible with Android Wear, it's easy to use, stylishly designed, and contains a suite of bells and whistles designed to appeal to the discerning user.
The display is simple and elegant and allows for voice commands to run most of the watch's functions. The band is a classic black style, making it perfect for any occasion. A built-in accelerometer, as well as compass, gyroscopic, and GPS capability will perfectly track all of your activities and monitor your health. A rated battery life of up to 2 days with up to 72 hours on standby will ensure you'll have enough time to enjoy it between each charging. A wide range of apps from the Android store will ensure that you can customize it to suit your needs.
This is a really amazing piece of tech, so don't hesitate to give the Sony SmartWatch 3 a go. Ground-breaking technology, health monitoring apps, a stylish and easy user interface, and long-lasting battery technology make this watch a great choice!
The classically-styled ZenWatch is ASUS's signature waterproof smartwatch, incorporating a list of features that'll make anyone fall in love with it. Built-in Wi-Fi capability will extend the reach of the traditional Bluetooth connection, ensuring you'll always stay in touch. The touch screen is scratch-resistant and rated as being very difficult to crack, thanks to the strong Corning protective coating.
Compatible with Android and iOS, the watch has excellent battery life and features ASUS’s exclusive "HyperCharge" technology that will have your watch wirelessly charged in no time. The onboard sensors allow for not only voice commands but also gesture control, making it easier than ever to answer calls and to respond to texts and emails. This watch is a ton of fun to use! This waterproof watch is also highly customizable, with as many as 150 different watch faces available for download. Additionally, it incorporates a large suite of health apps, from tracking steps and monitoring calories to helping you with your workout.
The ASUS ZenWatch 2 is one of the best smartwatches we’ve seen. With a customizable design, a full suite of fitness functions, voice-activation and gesture control, very fast wireless charging and excellent battery life, this cheap smartwatch is ready to play in the big leagues.
