By: Bryan Tropeano
Not long ago, buying a smartwatch meant shelling out at least a few hundred bucks. If you wanted something that tracked your workouts, kept tabs on your heart rate, or just let you skip pulling out your phone for every little notification, you had to go premium. But in 2025, that’s no longer the case. Budget-friendly smartwatches are finally good, like, actually good.
Whether you’re into fitness, need gentle reminders to breathe during your 3 p.m. stress spiral, or just want something that buzzes your wrist when your group chat goes off, there’s now a wearable that won’t crush your wallet.
Smartwatches Are Growing Up—Even the Affordable Ones
You used to have to squint at tiny screens with laggy interfaces if you went the cheap route. Today, that’s changed. Budget-friendly smartwatches now offer high-resolution AMOLED displays, built-in GPS, SpO₂ sensors, and even AI-powered coaching tools—yes, even under $100.
Brands like Amazfit, Xiaomi, Fitbit, and even Samsung are releasing models that look and feel far more premium than their price tags would suggest.
Amazfit Active 2 Might Be the Best Under-$100 Smartwatch
Launched earlier this year, the Amazfit Active 2 is a stunner for its price. For around $99, you’re getting a bright AMOLED display that hits 2,000 nits (seriously), a week-long battery, and support for over 160 sports modes. It even has Zepp Flow, an AI assistant that learns your patterns and helps fine-tune your fitness plan. For anyone looking to make their first dive into budget-friendly smartwatches, this one is a fantastic place to start.
Xiaomi’s Redmi Watch 5 Active Is Shockingly Capable
Xiaomi’s Redmi Watch 5 Active is basically a mic-drop moment for wearables. It’s stylish, lightweight, and offers Bluetooth calling, more than 100 sports modes, and a surprisingly smooth user experience—all for under $40. If someone told you this was a $150 watch, you’d probably believe them until they showed you the receipt.
Fitbit Inspire 3: Wellness Without the Premium Price
Fitbit continues to know its audience. The Inspire 3 is for people who care more about mindfulness, heart health, and daily movement than cranking out hardcore workouts. It’s priced around $85 to $99 and includes robust heart rate tracking, sleep analysis, and even guided breathing sessions. If you want a no-fuss entry into budget-friendly smartwatches, this one’s tailor-made for casual users who want smart health insights without all the clutter.
Even Samsung Is Playing in the Budget Arena
Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 lineup technically sits at the higher end of the budget category, but it’s worth mentioning. Priced just under $180, this new model packs in dual-frequency GPS, ECG support, and an overall fit and finish that feels way more expensive. It’s rare to see a top-tier brand deliver value in the budget-friendly smartwatches space, but here we are.
Final Thoughts: Smartwatches You’ll Actually Want to Wear
It’s exciting to see how far budget-friendly smartwatches have come. You no longer have to settle for bare-bones features, sluggish performance, or plastic-heavy designs. The 2025 class of affordable wearables offers real utility, polished interfaces, and long battery life—all while staying well below the $200 mark.
So whether you’re a runner tracking splits, a student dodging distractions, or just someone who wants a wrist that’s a little smarter, now’s a great time to grab a smartwatch that fits your lifestyle and your budget.
And if you need help choosing one? You know where to find me.
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About the Author: Bryan Tropeano is a senior producer and a regular reporter for NewsWatch. He lives in Washington D.C. and loves all things Tech.
