Club Benefits
The best cheap smartwatches in 2026 do nearly everything their pricier counterparts do, like keep you connected, monitor your health and fitness, help you navigate new terrain, pay for items from the wrist, and more.
Best of all, some of the best cheap smartwatches in 2026, like the Amazfit Active 2, cost less than $100. Others, like my overall pick for iPhone users, the Apple Watch SE 3, start at $249 but frequently go on sale for much less.
The best cheap smartwatches you can buy today
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The quick list
Amazfit smartwatches keep getting better and better. Thankfully, the brand's pricing remains extremely competitive. In 2026, the best bang-for-the-buck Amazfit model is the Active 2. Starting at $99, it's sleek, long-lasting, and packed with legit health and fitness-tracking tech.
The Apple Watch SE 3 is the brand's latest entry-level device, and it's absolutely packed with upgrades over its 2022 predecessor, including a super-fast processor, always-on display and 5G connectivity.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 starts at $299 but can often be found for up to $100 off since it was replaced by the Galaxy Watch 8 last summer. Similar to the newer model, the Galaxy Watch 7 offers impressive AI-backed wellness tools and supports Google's excellent Gemini-backed AI voice assistant.
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is an entry-level GPS running watch that punches well above its weight class. Originally launched for $199, you can easily find the Forerunner 55 for $150 or less. Yet it offers rock-solid GPS tracking accuracy, impressive fitness training tools, a solid build quality, and epic battery life.
The Garmin Approach S12 is a fairly entry-level golf watch, but it checks all the key boxes, including a long-lasting battery, super-accurate location tracking data, course support for a huge number of global golf courses, and a durable, easy-to-use design. Priced at $199, the Approach S12 often goes on sale for $50 off.
Best cheap smartwatch under $100
The Amazfit Active 2 is the best cheap smartwatch you can buy in 2026 for less than $100. Compatible with both Android and iOS devices, it boasts an impressive set of fitness, health, and sleep-tracking tools, outstanding battery life, a stylish and comfortable design, and a handful of useful smart features like storage for offline music and NFC payments.
That said, the operating system isn't as refined as the latest watchOS or Wear OS builds, but for under a Benjamin, the Active 2 punches well above its price class. It also features onboard GPS for location tracking without a smartphone, support for offline maps, a moderately-useful AI voice assistant, and a surprisingly gorgeous display.
Did I mention it's just $99?
Read our full Amazfit Active 2 review
Best cheap Apple Watch
The third-generation Apple Watch SE 3 is the best cheap smartwatch you can buy in 2026 if you own an iPhone, with most of Apple's best wellness, fitness, sleep tracking, and safety features, the latest S10 processor, an always-on display, and 5G connectivity, all for under $250.
Battery life is still just 18 hours per charge, like its predecessor; however, you can bump that to 24 hours per charge by switching to low-power mode. The screen brightness is also nothing to write home about, and the case is a little chunky, but those downsides aside, the SE 3 represents tremendous value when you consider all the features you're getting for the price. Better yet, it goes on sale frequently for $50 or more off.
It also works with all of Apple's latest on-wrist AI tools, including the personalized fitness coach, Workout Buddy, and live message translations.
Read our full Apple Watch SE 3 review
Best cheap Android smartwatch
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 may be out, but the Galaxy Watch 7 remains an attractive value proposition for Android smartphone owners. It boasts a slim, lightweight, and comfortable design, two size options, a bright and responsive AMOLED touchscreen, and excellent health and fitness tracking features backed by AI.
Like the Apple Watch SE 3, there are an impressive number of third-party apps to try out, as well as the option to add LTE connectivity. However, compatibility is limited to Android devices only, and some features, like sleep apnea detection, require a Samsung Galaxy phone.
That said, when it comes to AI features, the Galaxy Watch 7 beats all of the other smartwatches in this guide thanks to its support for Google's genuinely useful Gemini AI voice assistant.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 review
Best cheap smartwatch for fitness
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is the brand's most entry-level running watch, but don't let that dissuade you. This thing is absolutely brimming with high-end training features, health sensors, and holistic insights. These include tools to help you stay on pace while training, effectively recover after particularly challenging workouts, and prep for upcoming events.
The watch's battery life and build quality also impress. However, non-workout features are virtually non-existent. For example, there's no NFC for mobile payment or onboard storage for music. That said, you do get accurate GPS tracking and a super-rugged, comfortable overall design.
Read our full Garmin Forerunner 55 review
Best cheap smartwatch for golf
Golf watches can be pricey, and especially for new or casual players, the upfront cost of the game tends to add up. So for the $199 Garmin Approach S12 to pack many of the key game features found in the brand’s higher-tier devices — including 43,000 preloaded courses, shot-distance measurements, and compatibility with Garmin’s other golf accessories — its value is hard to beat. That's why it's one of the best cheap smartwatches for golfers, if not the best overall.
It doesn’t have the finesse of Garmin's higher-end golf watches, and the lack of a heart rate monitor means it can't replace your fitness tracker. But for mirrored notifications and a simple, yet customizable watch face, there's plenty of versatility on and off the green.
Read our full Garmin Approach S12 review
How we test
We test cheap smartwatches the same way we do pricier models: By wearing them. We first see how well the watches fit on our wrists and how easy the displays are to read, especially in direct sunlight.
Depending on its capabilities, we also test the watches' sensors, such as GPS and heart rate monitors. If you need a watch that can track your workouts without your phone, check out our guides to the best GPS watches and best running watches instead.
Other criteria that factor into our ratings include the number of apps available for a smartwatch, how well it interacts with our smartphone, and battery life. In all of this, we also take into account the price of the smartwatch.
The less a watch costs, the more leeway we're inclined to give it. Still, there are a lot of lousy cheap smartwatches — and plenty of good ones, even under $100 — so our tolerance only goes so far.
