Fortunately, Xbox One supports the smooth insertion of portable hard drives through USB of various sizes and formats, making this a simple problem to fix. To get them up and running, you’ll have to jump through a few hoops, but the procedure is straightforward and easy.

While we already have an extensive list of the best external drives that you can purchase, we will tell you how Xbox owners can choose the correct external drive and make sure that it works properly.

How To Use an External Hard Drive With Xbox

External storage on the Xbox One is relatively straightforward. All you have to do is connect a USB external hard drive to one of the console’s ports.

It would be best if you kept this always connected; otherwise, you risk losing data and having to repair the drive every time it is removed.

To make life simpler for you, we have included some specific steps below:

• Connect your external hard drive to a USB port on your Xbox One and format it.
• Give your external drive a name.
• Select Install new things here to have future titles automatically installed on this drive.

Internal storage drives in Xbox consoles range from 500 gigabytes (GB) to two terabytes (TB). A large proportion of this space is dedicated to games and applications, with some space set aside for the console operating system and other system software.

To manage both internal and external storage, follow these steps:

• Hit the Xbox button on your controller.
• Select Profile and System, and press Settings options. After that, select System > Storage from the drop-down menu.
• A graphic for each drive is displayed on the Storage devices panel, along with the percentage of storage used and available free storage.
• Choose a drive to View contents. It will take you to your games and files, where you can check how your storage is being used.

How to Transfer Items from Internal to External Storage

Items can be moved from internal to external storage by following simple steps. You can transfer games to an external drive if they take up a lot of space on your system.

• Press the Xbox button and select My games & applications > See all > Games.
• Select Manage game and add-ons after picking a game and pressing the Menu button.
• Click on Move or Copy from the game box in the upper right corner of the screen.
• Make your changes in the Transfer section.
• Select a From drive if a game is installed in multiple locations.
• The To drive where you want your game to move to.
• Check the boxes for the items you wish to transfer and then press Copy selected or Move selected. Copy selected will keep the game files on the current drive and copy the game files to the To drive.
• When you click on Move selected, the game files will be copied to the To drive, and the game will be uninstalled from the From drive.

What Kind of External Hard Drive Works With Xbox?

All Xbox One games, including those purchased on disk, must be put on the console’s hard drive before being used. There are several symptoms of a failing hard drive, including strange noises, overheating, disk errors, and slow performance of the system.

You can’t repair or upgrade the Xbox One’s built-in hard drive without voiding your warranty, so unless you are willing to take that risk, you are forced to stick with the default drive.

On Xbox One, external drives must be at least 256GB and support USB 3.0. The old and slow USB 2.0 drives are not supported anymore, ensuring that data transfers between your console and the external drives are lightning-fast.

So, choosing the optimal storage device from the several possibilities is critical to having the best Xbox One experience. Your purchasing approach will become much easier if you know what to search for precisely in the market.

Simply keep your requirements and priorities in mind, and you will be on your way to making a decent buy.

The simplest method to narrow down your options is to figure out how much storage space you require. Your goal should be to have as much storage as possible for the least amount of money (without sacrificing performance).

We have gone over some of the most important things to look for when buying a hard drive for your Xbox One. Still, other variables like portability, design, reliability, and connectivity also play a role in determining which hard drive is suitable for you.

Basically, a hybrid smartwatch can be worn anywhere by anybody (including fashion-conscious women), whether we’re talking about a business meeting with Big Tech execs, on the golf course, or even at the pub with your friends (yes, those were the days). A hybrid smartwatch will look the part in any situation, and it will deliver more than your “regular timepiece” experience, making for the best of both worlds, provided such a thing even exists.

So, the main advantage of getting a hybrid smartwatch is that you’ll retain the traditional timepiece face/case design, plus some extras, like an extra dial (or maybe two), for “infotainment” purposes. Also, unlike a regular smartwatch, a hybrid should offer weeks or even months of autonomy.

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How to choose the best hybrid smartwatch

OS compatibility

Now, just like with smartwatches, pay extra attention to OS compatibility. However, modern hybrids are fully compatible with both Android and iOS, but you should check it out anyway.

Functionality

Another thing to contemplate is functionality, and here personal preference comes into play. If you’re looking for style and classic-design first and foremost, you may not require fancy features like heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking/activity tracking technology, etc. On the other hand, if you’re shopping for a “fitness buddy”, fitness tracking features (or the lack thereof) can be deal-breakers.

Water resistance

Since we’re talking about “wearable” technology, water resistance is a nice feature to have in a smartwatch, especially if you’re into snorkeling, swimming, and/or pool-diving.

Battery life

Battery life shouldn’t be an issue with hybrids since they lack touch-screens like their smarter cousins, but check it out anyway, just to be on the safe side.

Budget

Finally, there’s the budget thing, because after all’s said and done, with money no object, we’d be all driving Porsches and wearing Frederique Constant hybrid smartwatches; or, why not, golden Apple Watches. By the way, there are high-end hybrid smartwatches that cost more than a family car, so pay attention to the price tag.

With all these in mind, let’s take a closer look at the best hybrid smartwatches available on Amazon right after a short commercial break.

Best Hybrid Smartwatches

Garmin vívomove 3

The Best Hybrid Smartwatch Overall

We’ll start the “best of” list with the Garmin vívomove 3, a pretentiously sounding hybrid smartwatch, but truth be told, this Garmin wearable is a sophisticated piece of gear by any metrics, and on top of that, it looks the part. And by that, we mean the vívomove 3 can easily pass the “smell test”, i.e. it looks and feels like a regular timepiece, so you can wear it anywhere without having to justify it too much. Simply put, this hybrid smartwatch doesn’t have “virgin nerd” written all over it, which may help you with picking up girls and whatnot.

All jokes aside, this Garmin watch does a great job in blending style and substance, and, most importantly, it will not cost an arm and a leg. Striking the ideal balance between smartwatch functionality and awesome looks is not an easy task, but Garmin is an expert in this regard, and we must admit: the vívomove 3 looks absolutely great, having a 42mm case while weighing a mere 35 grams (feather-light) and boasting the classic analog hands plus a hidden OLED screen.

The vívomove 3 comes with a nylon wristband, and yes, Garmin could have done better here; navigating the secret smart life of the watch is pretty straightforward, as you can either raise your wrist sharply or double-tap the screen. The OLED display works great in everyday use and it’s basically invisible until you need it. When on, the secondary display will show you all sorts of useful things, ranging from minutes of activity, stress levels, sleep tracking, how many flights of stairs you climbed, total steps for the day, current heart rate, respiration rate, a digital clock if one so inclined (who would do that actually) and so on and so forth.

For female readers, don’t worry as the vívomove 3 is up to the current “woke culture”, as the smartwatch offers a menstrual cycle widget, hydration level, upcoming calendar events/appointments, and the weather. Navigating/cycling through the menus is by using a small touch-button, and if you want more functionality, you can always connect the Garmin smartwatch to your smartphone via Bluetooth and receive smart notifications like texts and emails directly to your wrist.

Withings Steel HR Sport

The Best Hybrid Smartwatch for Fitness Tracking

Next in line we have the Withings Steel HR Sport hybrid, which was built to be your best friend during your workouts, as it makes for one hell of an activity tracker. The smartwatch comes in a nice circular design and boasts an amazing 25-day battery life, which is respectable for a hybrid. However, what’s really nice about the Withings Steel HR Sport is the plethora of sport-centric features.

Design-wise, this smartwatch has a classic shape, featuring an analog dial, a single crown on the edge, and a stainless steel casing, with numbers etched and all that traditional stuff. There’s also a tiny inset display used to deliver all sorts of useful info, ranging from smartphone notifications to activity tracking and heart rate monitoring, because yes, this bad boy comes with fitness and heart-rate tracker, as well as a Connected GPS feature (via your smartphone), smart notifications and even water resistance.

The stainless steel casing is complemented by a silicon strap, which gives it an industrial look and feel, and, most importantly, the watch feels and looks durable, while the design leans toward the masculine. The 40mm stainless steel case feels premium, and compared to other smartwatches on the market, it’s definitely from a different league quality-wise. But since what’s under the hood matters in a hybrid, let’s see about the smart stuff: the small display allows you to cycle back and forth between a digital clock, date and, most importantly, step count, heart rate, calories burned, distance traveled and battery life.

We know, it’s not much, but it’s literally all you need to know from a decent fitness tracker. To cycle through the features, you’ll have to press the button located on the right, the crown-like thing respectively, which also rotates by the way. The watch supports 30 different workouts, including cycling, running, yoga and volleyball (nice touch), and since it’s water-resistant, you can also take it for a dive in the swimming pool.

Smartphone notifications work well, and the watch is compatible with more than 100 Android and iOS apps, especially the quintessential Health Mate app, which works great on both platforms.

Fossil Hybrid Smartwatch HR

The Best Fossil Hybrid Smartwatch

Fossil is the king of fashion-brands and its Hybrid Smartwatch HR is a statement to that, as it makes for one of the sexiest and prettiest gadgets out there, featuring a beautiful E-ink display and a classic timepiece design, plus some smart features, everything at a very affordable price. If you’re that kind of “love at first sight” person, the Fossil Hybrid HR will fit you like a glove, because regardless of what you’ve heard from complete “n00bs”, looks are everything, and this baby looks like a million bucks from any angle. To make it real simple for our readers, this Fossil watch manages to blend classic analog aesthetics with a couple of smart features, and thus it makes for a very sexy “all-rounder” which is aimed at normal people (not geeks) looking for a fitness-centric smartwatch.

The 42 x 13mm case is made from stainless steel and the watch comes with interchangeable 22 mm straps and a 1.06-inch always-on “read-out” e-ink display (non-touchscreen obviously). However, at first glance, the smartwatch looks totally analog and has a few analog watch elements, like number markings and physical watch hands.

The display is the novelty here, being the exact-same technology you will find in an Amazon Kindle reader, E-Ink respectively, which comes with pros and cons. We personally love E-Ink, especially in this type of “analog-smart-watch” (we know, it sounds paradoxical).

One of the main advantages of using E-Ink displays is improved battery life, i.e. E-Ink is the diesel-engine of displays, and truth be told, this type of screen blends beautifully with the analog watch face, making it look way sleeker and “business-like” compared to an OLED/AMOLED variety. Navigation through the menus takes place by using 3 pushers located on the right-side and each button can be programmed to do a specific task.

Speaking of smartwatch features, the Fossil Hybrid Smartwatch HR does a decent job, offering smartphone notifications, Heart Rate, Activity & Sleep Tracking with in-depth wellness stats, message previews, weather updates and more, plus it works with both Androids and iPhones. Arguably, one of the main selling points of this Fossil beauty is battery life, which is quite impressive, as the watch offers more than 14 days of autonomy on a single charge, so if you’re looking for a beautiful and rather unique hybrid smartwatch at an affordable price, you’ve just found your match.

Skagen Men’s Hybrid HR Jorn Smartwatch

A Premium Watch With A High IQ

Skagen comes from Denmark, Nordic European country with a high IQ, and that’s exactly what this watch is: a premium timepiece that can be worn ad a dinner, so if you don’t like geeky bulky gadgets, this is the way to go.

Basically, the Skagen is a classy watch in terms of appearance, but it hides a ton of smart features under its minimalistic look that most fashion conscious people love, not to mention the fact that it looks and feels like a high quality timepiece, which it is.

The only thing that betrays its high-tech innards at a close look is the circular e-ink display in the middle. The rest of the watch is “analog”, made of metal, including the side buttons. The back of the watch harbors a heart sensor which works great, and you also get smartphone notifications, activity tracking and music control.

Connecting the Skagen to your Android smartphone or iPhone via a proprietary app will unleash the beast, i.e. you’ll be able to access in-depth wellness stats, activity and sleep tracking, heart rate, receive and view smartphone notifications and alerts, see the calendar and weather updates, control your music and many more.

Finally, battery life is rated at 2 weeks on a single charge, which is great, and screen customization is excellent.

Fossil Women’s Jacqueline

The Best Women’s Hybrid Smartwatch

Last but not least, we have a stunning hybrid smartwatch for our lady-readers, this time from Fossil. The Jacqueline is a beautifully designed hybrid that is compatible with Android- and iOS-powered smartphones, making for a fantastic ladies’ watch that looks like a classic timepiece yet offers a number of smart functions to make your life easier. The stainless steel case has 36 mm in diameter and the watch features auto-update time/date, Bluetooth 4.1, fitness/activity tracking capabilities, remote control activation, and sleep tracking; it’s also worth mentioning that you won’t get a heart-rate sensor, so buyer beware.

The user interface/software is well designed and intuitive, and the ecosystem is easy to use and works great with both iOS and Android, as Fossil made an emphasis on simplicity and nothing overdone. Interestingly enough, this Fossil hybrid smartwatch uses a replaceable/classic Lithium Battery Cr2025 that doesn’t require charging, and it will last you for up to 6 months, depending on how much you’ll be abusing the “notifications” thing (Bluetooth and all).

The bottom line, if you’re looking for a beautiful hybrid that doesn’t look like a gadget/smartwatch at all, the Jacqueline should rank high on your shopping list. However, if you want a technological power-house to control your digital social life, look elsewhere.

As you may guess, finding the best smartwatch under $100 isn’t as easy as some people might think. However, a bit of advice from this guide should make everything much easier.

Therefore, pay attention to the following lines and find yourself the best fit.

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	Fitbit Inspire 2 Health & Fitness Tracker with a Free 1-Year Fitbit Premium Trial, 24/7 Heart Rate,...	Check at Amazon
	SAMSUNG Galaxy Fit 2 Bluetooth Fitness Tracking Smart Band – Scarlet (US Version)	Check at Amazon
	Amazfit GTS 2 Mini Smart Watch for Men Android iPhone, Alexa Built-in, 14-Day Battery Life, Fitness...	Check at Amazon
	AGPTEK Smart Watch for Women Men, 5ATM Waterproof Smartwatch for Android and iOS Phones, Fitness...	Check at Amazon
	Amazfit Bip U Pro Smart Watch with Alexa Built-In for Men Women, GPS Fitness Tracker with 60+ Sport...	Check at Amazon

Last update on 2025-04-10 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon

How to Choose the Best Smartwatch under $100

Finding the best smartwatch under $100 is no rocket science. Still, it requires you to pay attention to a few details that include the following:

Battery Life

One of the most important characteristics of any mobile device is definitely its battery life. To be honest, nobody likes to charge their devices on a daily basis. For that reason, choose the smartwatch with the biggest autonomy and give yourself as much freedom as you can.

Features

Features are genuinely important and can make a huge difference between the products.

However, you should choose them in accordance with your preferences. If you are like fitness training, make sure that the desired device can offer activity tracking and sport modes. On the other hand, if you like swimming, make sure that is waterproof, and so on.

In any case, choose the smartwatch that will give you the biggest flexibility and the most for your hard-earned money.

Screen

Since you will spend a lot of time staring at your smartwatch, its resolution, and its overall quality, are of utmost importance. Therefore, make sure you don’t forget about this little detail.

Best Smartwatches under $100

Fitbit Inspire 2

A No Frills Fitness Tracker

The Fitbit Inspire, now at its second iteration, makes for one hell of a fitness tracker, and it’s arguably one of the best gadgets of its kind under $100. The Inspire 2 offers solid sporting features as well as passive health tracking, unobtrusive design, solid battery life and overall, simplicity.

Basically, if you’re shopping for a high quality and easy to use multi-sport tracker, or something to push you towards a more active lifestyle, the Inspire 2 would fit the bill.

One of the most important things about the Fitbit Inspire 2 is the heart rate monitoring feature, which allows you to keep an eye on your ticker at all times. Obviously, the gadget also offers all the standard tracking features, making for a fantastic training tool. So, this fitness tool will comprehensively monitor your training sessions, tracking your heart rate, monitoring your breathing as well as your heart rate variability, even when you sleep.

Battery life has been improved compared to the previous generation, as the device is advertised to last 10 days on a single charge; also, the Inspire 2 is water resistant to 164 feet, which means it will survive a pool dip with flying colors. The display is tiny yet legible, even in sunlight, and the touchscreen is accurate and sensitive, doing a great job with taps and swipes.

The only downside is that it’s a monochrome variety, which may seem dated for 2021 standards. Setting up the device is fairly easy after you download the app, which is available for both Apple and Android users, but you’ll have to first create a Fitbit account, provided you don’t have one already.

The user interface is simple and intuitive, with new on-screen navigation controls; everything works via swiping the screen up and down, but you can also use the 2 touch panels available on each side of the tracker. Finally, the device comes with a freebie, i.e. 1 year of Fitbit Premium included (it usually costs 10 bucks a month).

SAMSUNG Galaxy Fit 2

A Solid Entry-Level Fitness Tracker

Samsung is the daddy of wearables nowadays, and the Galaxy Fit 2 is one of the best budget fitness trackers out there by a long shot. Not only it comes from Samsung, but it costs way less than $100, looks great, and it makes for a solid upgrade of the original Galaxy Fit.

The Galaxy Fit 2 is clearly one of the best looking affordable fitness trackers on the market, and covers all the basic tracking features you’ll ever need if you’re not a pro athlete. If you’re happy with entry level smartwatch/fitness features, the Galaxy Fit 2 will not disappoint.

To begin with, the Galaxy Fit 2 is a glorified fitness tracker that has sleep and step tracking, as well as heart rate monitoring. The design is glorious considering how cheap this gadget is, and the same goes for build quality. Samsung upgraded the display of the old generation with a cool AMOLED touchscreen, their specialty actually, and also ditched the physical button for a more streamlined design.

The Galaxy Fit 2’s coolest feature is automatic exercise tracking, but truth be told, you’d be better off doing it manually. The thing is, this fitness tracker doesn’t have GPS, hence it relies on motion sensors to track exercise, i.e. it’s not very accurate on auto mode. Daily stats cover distance covered, steps and calories burned.

The Fit 2 also comes with an optical heart rate monitor to keep a close eye on your ticker during exercise, and on top of that, you get stress monitoring. The smartwatch features include music controls, notification support, weather forecast, and a myriad of watch faces that can be synced via Samsung’s Galaxy Wearable app.

The fitness tracker is compatible with both Apple and Android smartphones by the way. Battery life is solid at 15 days, and the Fit 2 is also water-resistant, being rated at 5 ATM.

Bottom line, the Galaxy Fit 2 is a solid fitness tracker for people on a budget looking for high quality gear and basic tracking features.

Amazfit GTS 2 Mini

Sporty Smartwatch That Offers Great Value for Money

To begin with, the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini would make for a cool gift for a lady, because the new generation got smaller and cuter than ever, while still offering amazing value for money. Priced around 100 bucks, the GTS 2 Mini offers the same core experience as the GTS 2, but sacrifices a few smart watch features in the process, in order to keep the price down.

As the name suggests, the GTS 2 Mini is a smaller version of the highly popular GTS 2, which makes for the top square smart watch in Amazfit’s fashion watch category. The smart watch has a 40 mm case, which used to be the norm back in the day for elegant time pieces, and uses a titanium alloy/plastic mélange in the manufacturing process. The 1.55’’ AMOLED display is smaller than in the GTS 2, and also saw a resolution drop, but it still looks good and it’s large enough to provide you a satisfactory experience with features like weather updates and fitness stats.

Speaking of features, the GTS 2 Mini comes with Huami’s proprietary BioTracker health sensor that works great for continuous heart rate monitoring, and not so much for tracking your heart during high intensity exercise. The same sensor enables blood oxygen measurements by the way, and you also get 70+ sport modes, heart rate, stress level monitoring, and sleep monitoring.

The GTS 2 Mini works best for 24/7 fitness tracking, but it must be said that the smart features took a hit, whereas you no longer have GPS, Bluetooth or a built-in music player. You still have basic notifications support though, and music controls, plus a nice collection of customizable watch faces.

Bottom line, if you’re looking for a well built, great looking and relatively affordable smart watch, the GTS 2 Mini punches well above its weight, due to its refined design, solid build quality, good activity tracking, strong battery life (5 days heavy usage), which make it hard to resist.

AGPTEK LW11 Smartwatch

Great Value with Great Functionality

If you thing Apple Watches are overprices and you’re looking to get the best bang for the buck, the AGPTEK Smartwatch has your name on it. For less than $50, you’ll end up with a stylish round-face time piece, featuring IP68 rating (water/dust proof), activity tracking, a heart rate monitor, a pedometer, sleep monitoring and iOS/Android compatibility.

For that kind of money, it doesn’t get any better, trust us on that. The touchscreen display is 1.3’’ in diameter and it’s protected by an anti-scratch coating. Furthermore, the stylish aluminum alloy frame confers it shock protection, so you can take this baby basically anywhere, anytime.

There are five dials readily available plus thirty more from within the app. Another cool thing is that you can customize your watch faces, so you’ll never get bored. In terms of smart features, the watch comes with activity tracking (calories, pedometer, distance), various sport modes, heart rate monitoring, sleep monitoring, and all sorts of well-being/care for your healthy life stuff.

You also have notifications of SMS, call, and even app messages, though the watch doesn’t support text back or answer calls. However, you get remote control of music and cameras, call rejection, sedentary reminder, weather report, stopwatch, alarm clock, brightness adjustment, find phone, power-saving mode, and tons of other functions to meet your daily needs.

Our favorite feature is automatic sleep tracking to monitor your sleep status (awakening, shallow sleep, deep sleep). Finally, battery life is pretty good, rated at 7 to 10 days, and truth be told, for fifty dollars, this watch makes for a solid alternative to the more expensive brand-name watches.

Virmee VT3 Lite

Solid Budget Fitness Tracker Smartwatch

Here comes another budget friendly option from a relatively unknown company. This Android compatible smartwatch is very interesting considering its price tag as in addition to tracking sleep health and heart rate, can also keep an eye on your stress levels and blood oxygen, which makes it stand out from the crowd.

The 1.3’’high res LCD display is impressive in its price range, and offers quick access at a glance to all your data, plus the watch arrives with 2 different band colors to help you customize your look.

There are also 18 exercise modes, 24/7 health tracking including blood oxygen, heart rate, stress status, and sleep stage, which make the watch the king of digital well-being. Exercise modes include workouts like fast walk, run, rope jump, swim, basketball, volleyball, soccer, cycle, climb, dance, yoga, aerobics and more.

Smart features include call and app notification, hang up call only (no reply to messages), plus you get a compass, and a stopwatch/timer.

Interestingly enough, the Virmee app can connect to the Health app and Google Fit. Battery life is rated at 7 days, and the watch comes with a magnetic charging USB cable.

Considering that the Virmee VT3 Lite retails for less than $40, it comes highly recommended.

Amazfit Bip S Lite

A Toned Down Bip S

Here comes the Bip S Lite from Huami, another budget oriented smartwatch with fitness tracking capabilities from China. The Bip S Lite is basically a cheaper version of the Bip S, in such it doesn’t have a GPS sensor, skips swim tracking, and yet retains the fabulous transflective screen with amazing outdoor visibility, water-resistance up to 50 meters and a lot of comprehensive features for your average couch potato, including blood-oxygen level measurement, stress monitoring, and menstrual cycle tracker for women (makes for a cool gift for your GF).

Needless to say, the Bip S Lite is significantly cheaper than its sibling, while being identical in terms of looks and design, including build quality and materials. Speaking of which, the Bip S Lite is made entirely of plastic and is feather-light (30 grams), which makes it supremely comfortable on your wrist.

The display is a non-touch 1.28″, 176×176 pixel color transflective screen protected by 2.5 D Gorilla Glass, which makes it tougher than a coffin nail, and everything runs on Amazfit OS.

The main features worth mentioning include sleep tracking, real-time heart monitoring, step counter, sports tracking, idle alert, call and app notification alert, phone finder (!), music control, weather forecast and world clock.

Sports modes include jump rope, treadmill, outdoor running, indoor/outdoor cycling, walking, freestyle, elliptical trainer, cricket, ping pong, badminton, yoga, rowing machine, and basketball.

The Bip S Lite comes with a plethora of sensors, like PPG Bio-Tracking Optical Heart Rate Sensor, 3-axis accelerometer, 3-axis geomagnetic sensor, and features Bluetooth 5.0/BLE connectivity.

Summary

Who wouldn’t want a great, yet affordable smartwatch these days? Well, now you have the best of the best in front of you when it comes to these tiny gizmos under $100. Make a pick and get going!

Although most parents will decide to get their kids a phone, the fact is that there are also some other devices, such as a smartwatch for kids, that will deliver the same level of communication, but with much more control that may be a decisive factor for many of you.

If you are still not convinced whether a smartwatch is an optimal option for your kids, read the following lines carefully. Pay closer attention to smartwatch characteristics that make the biggest difference and separate the ones that rock, from those that will just get on your nerves.

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How to Choose the Best Smartwatch for Kids

These are the aspects of the smartwatch that will have the biggest impact on the device’s overall quality, whether it is a women’s smartwatch or a cheap smartwatch:

Durability

Kids, in general, are very curious and like to investigate a variety of things, which is a great thing; however, they can be a bit reckless, considering both their and other people’s stuff. Therefore, it would be advisable to always look for a level of product durability, when you are buying something for your kid. Whether they are headphones, or, as in this case, the best smartwatch, kids simply need stuff that can survive a lot of “torture”.

Battery life

Whether you are buying the device for you or your kid, battery life stays one of the priorities. No one likes devices that need to be constantly charged. People, including kids, like freedom and buying the smartwatch that would limit that simply, isn’t a smart choice.

Screen

Since your kid will spend a lot of time looking at his/her smartwatch, it is very important that its size, image quality, including resolution, are at the highest possible level. After all, this is your kid we are talking about and the last thing anybody wants is that your child has a bad sight, or even worse that you caused that in some way.

For that reason, don’t be a cheapskate and find the smartwatch with the best screen possible.

Design

Just like adults, kids want to own something that they really like. In other words, whether they are two, or 13 years old, consult with them and listen to what they have to say and find the optimal option that will, before anything else, satisfy their taste.

Best Smartwatches for Kids

Fitbit Ace 3

Great Value For Money In A Kids’ Smartwatch

The Fitbit Ace 3 is the successor of the highly popular Ace 2, and it makes for a kid friendly smartwatch/fitness tracker that’s as tough as a coffin nail. As far as build to last gear goes, this smartwatch runs with the best.

Retailing for less than $100, the Fitbit Ace 3 would make for a great gift for your kid as it offers both sleep and activity tracking. Designed for kids ages 6 and up, this smartwatch can handle pretty much anything you throw at it, being water-resistant, tough (as in shock resistant) and nonetheless fun, boasting over a week of autonomy on a single charge.

Compared to its predecessor, the Fitbit Ace 3 has a brighter display and improved autonomy, plus 50 meters water resistance, which makes it swim and shower friendly. Even if the display is a monochrome PMOLED variety, you can choose between a myriad of watch faces, so that not 2 Fitbits are identical (that’s important for kids).

Due to the fact that this is a kid’s gadget, it doesn’t track stuff like calories burned and lacks any weight loss feature, because kids don’t care about those things. However, you can track important stuff like steps, sleep, active minutes and exercise time via multiple sensors used to track activities like trampolining, jumping, step counting and anything in between.

Be advised there’s no GPS for location tracking; the smartwatch allows you to set a range of activity goals that offer game-style rewards for reaching a certain number of steps or active minutes, and the app that accompanies it has a Kid View feature that allows them to check out on their stats.

Bottom line, if you’re looking for a solid smartwatch for your kid that doesn’t look childish, is comfortable, looks good, is tough and skips of fancy features like cartoon characters and movie tie-ins, the Fitbit Ace 3 has your name on it.

Little Tikes Tobi Robot Smartwatch

Arguably the Funniest Smartwatch For Kids

This is the ultimate robot smartwatch for your kid, and you can take that to the bank! Speaking of which, this gadget is not exactly cheap for what it is, i.e. a glorified toy robot to put on your kid’s arm. However, for less than 30 bucks, you’ll get a cool toy for your kid, a wrist robot with movable arms and legs, fun expressions, sound effects, and take a load of this: it can play games and track steps and fitness!

On top of that, the smartwatch has built-in cameras for photo and video, a multi-color touchscreen, and over 50 watch faces, so your kid will never get bored. The built-in cameras can take selfies, film videos, and capture stills. The internal memory is 512 MB, which may not sound like much, but it’s enough for 30 minutes of video or 3000 photos at low-res ( the smartwatch captures 640 x 480 pixels photos).

Needless to say, this funny gadget is called Tobi Robot Smartwatch, and it’s designed to be as kid-friendly as possible, featuring a responsive touchscreen display, a built-in rechargeable battery and comes with a USB cable for transferring photos/vids to your computer.
Kids are not the friendliest of critters when it comes to delicate electronic gadgets, hence Tobi Robot is built like a Soviet tank and is also splash proof, in order to withstand use and abuse all day long. Just don’t take it out swimming, okay?

Bottom line, if you’re looking for a cross between a kid’s learning tablet and an electronic pet, just go for Tobi and never look back!

Garmin vívofit Jr 2

A Perfect Companion For the Youngest Kids

Garmin vívofit Jr 2 is a playful, fun and highly durable smartwatch, intended for kids between four and seven years old that are still accommodating to their daily duties and routines and require for some sort of device that will motivate them and remind them to perform them.

In other words, Garmin vívofit Jr 2 allows kids access, otherwise, restricted games and options, when they complete 60 minutes of their scheduled activities and that way “bribes” them and gets them used to daily activities.

Garmin vívofit Jr 2 comes with 88×88 pixel touchscreen and a ton of functions and features that involve Activity Tracking, Sedentary Reminder, Sleep Monitoring, Alerts, Parental control and many others. Moreover, it offers design fully accommodated to kids, with Marvel and Disney themes, such as Spiderman, Captain America, Frozen, or Star Wars allowing you to find the one that will perfectly fit your toddlers’ taste.

Another cool feature of this smartwatch is its long-lasting battery that can last up to one year, as well as great durability, reinforced by its swim-friendly bands that guarantee that this device can take a lot of abuse and keep pace with your kids for quite some time.

To make a long story short, if you need the best kids’ smartwatch that will help your child develop and get used to a healthy lifestyle, Garmin vívofit Jr 2 is the device that you need.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6

Greatness on a budget

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 is an excellent choice if you’re shopping for an affordable yet massive cool fitness tracker. Retailing for less than $50 currently, the Smart Band 6 is proof of Xiaomi’s know-how when it comes to affordable gadgets.

So here’s what you get for the price of a couple coffee moccachino soya lattes: 5 ATM water resistance, 2 weeks battery life, a sharp 1.56” AMOLED Touch Screen (152 x 486 pixels), 30 sports mode, fitness tracking, sleep and steps tracking, plus a heart rate monitor.

Did we mention that the Smart Band 6 looks really cool?

Even if this wearable is not exactly cutting edge in terms of design and features, it does a really great job for the money asked, hence it will give you a big bang for the proverbial buck asked. Its unassuming looks hide a plethora of impressive features, which are to be expected from more expensive smartwatches, things like a pulse oximeter, or an all-day stress tracking (the latter may save your life actually).

However, we must tell you that feature wise, the Smart Band 6 is more of a life coach, as in it has an emphasis over well-being rather than fitness tracking (as in workouts). We were most impressed by the all-day stress monitoring feature, which includes breathing exercises if things are starting to get out of hand, and the pulse ox sensor, which has the ability to perform spot checks. There’s also a period tracking, and all features are available with a tap and a swipe.

Needless to say, this Xiaomi smartwatch offers dozens of workout modes, both indoors and outdoors, and the heart rate monitor is very well implemented. The only downside we can think of is the lack of a GPS sensor, but truth be told, this feature is not to be expected in such an affordable device.

VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch DX2

A Smartwatch that Encourages Curiosity

Curious kids have always been a blessing, but a huge responsibility as well. Their inquisitive mind can lead them to both good and bad tracks and your duty, as a parent, is to guide them in the right direction and with the help of VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch DX2, which combines healthy activities, with games, this duty of yours should be at least a bit easier.

VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch DX2 is designed for kids between four and 12 years old that are not afraid of challenges. For that reason, it is fitted with a motion sensor that should encourage such activities and through games such as Crazy Dance and Funky Jump help the development of your kids’ motoric capabilities.

This smartwatch comes with two cameras for video-callings, videos, pictures, etc., as well as a very good 1,4-inch touchscreen and modest 256MB of memory that, on the other hand, should be more than enough for your kids’ games. Also, this smartwatch offers a Micro-USB connection for charging and file transfers and much needed parental control setting that allows you to be a responsible adult and limit your kids’ playing time and similar activities.

To make a long story short, if you want the best smartwatch for kids that will be fun at the same time, VTech KidiZoom Smartwatch DX2 should be your number one pick.

AGPTEK Kids Smart Watch

Cute and Stylish Birthday Present

The AGPTEK Kids Smart Watch is designed for 3-12 years old, and boasts a HD dual camera, a colorful touchscreen, as well as a music player, educational games and 8 GB of internal memory. All of these could be your for way less than $50, which is kind of amazing.

If you’re looking for a cool gift, this smartwatch would definitely fit the bill. Arguably, the main selling point of this smartwatch is the dual HD camera, which allows your kid to capture the beauty of life from various angles. However, the AGPTEK also has a calculator built-in for future mathematicians, which will probably develop your kid’s ability of independent thinking.

There are 5 puzzle games built in, both classic and educational games, an alarm clock to teach your kids to follow a schedule and help them develop autonomy and following a schedule, and the 1.54’’ high-definition touchscreen has six sets of time interfaces.

What’s very important in our book is the anti-addiction mode feature. You’ve probably noticed how kids these days are obsessed with their electronic gadgets, but the AGPTEK allows parents to limit their kids daily intake of high-tech, i.e. the smartwatch will not allow them to play excessively ((15/30/60/90 minutes/without limit).

The battery is rechargeable and it allows your kid to use the watch for 3-4 hours straight on a single charge, and after all’s said and done, just give it a shot and you’ll thank us later.

Conclusion

If you think it is the right time for your kid to get his/her first smart device, one of these gadgets will be your match! Make a choice of three products and then ask your kid which one they like the best – and voila! Good luck!

The point being, a smartwatch can do two (or three) things at once: provide you with quick and non-intrusive notifications from your smartphone, and by non-intrusive we mean that you won’t have to constantly peck at your smartphone when you’re out with your friends. On top of that, if you choose wisely, a smartwatch can successfully replace your regular watch, i.e. you’ll end up with both a smart gadget and an elegant timepiece to complement your “night-out” wardrobe.

Top Picks

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	Fitbit Versa 3 Health & Fitness Smartwatch with GPS, 24/7 Heart Rate, Alexa Built-in, 6+ Days...	Check at Amazon

Last update on 2025-03-30 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon

How to choose the best smartwatch for women

Why do you Need It

To begin with, you must ask yourself why you need a smartwatch in the first place: as a fashion statement or as a high-tech device that can be used in a multitude of scenarios. If you’re just looking for a fashion smartwatch, you’ll probably be happy with a hybrid, i.e. a smartwatch that combines the classic analog look with “2020 features”. There’s also the geek’s type of smartwatch, and we’re talking about those with big shiny touchscreen displays, which come with a myriad of functions and features and stuff like that.

Hybrid or a Real Smartwatch

A hybrid is basically a smart timepiece that looks like a regular watch at first sight, yet it hides smart bits under the hood, while a fully-fledged smartwatch makes for the whole shebang, i.e. it can perform a multitude of tasks, ranging from fitness-tracking stuff to all sorts of advanced functions and notifications, including mobile payments and/or call management directly from your wrist.

Keep in mind that a regular smartwatch with a big colorful touchscreen display is often plagued by shorter battery life compared to a hybrid. Yet if you want a really smart wearable with all the features you can think of, and then some, a classic smartwatch would be the best bet for your money. Always remember that your smartwatch of choice should be fully compatible with your smartphone.

Operating System

Generally speaking, Android smartphones work best with smartwatches running on Wear OS (by Google, obviously); however, most Wear OS gizmos are also compatible with iPhones (limited functionality though), so don’t sweat it too much, just read the fine print and you’ll be fine.

If you’re already an iPhone owner, it must be said that Apple smartwatches are the way to go, and even if today’s article is not really focused on how to choose a smartwatch under $100, you should seriously consider pairing your iPhone with an (expensive) Apple smartwatch, that if you want to make the most of your gear and obviously if you can afford it.

Features

Now, depending on what you’re shopping for, look for control apps, track fitness features, notification delivery systems, battery life (especially if that’s a deal-breaker) and so on and so forth; basically, you must buy the right tool for the job. The display is also important, and the best smartwatch for women should boast an AMOLED variety, or at least a high-end LED, so the photos and apps can be displayed flawlessly even in sunlight. AMOLED displays are the best choice in terms of battery life by the way and they also look awesome.

Moreover, some smartwatches specifically designed for women offer gender-exclusive features, such as the ability to track menstruation and things of that nature. With all these in mind, let’s check out some of the best-buy smartwatches available today on Amazon, right after this short commercial break.

Best Smartwatches for Women

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2

The Best Android Smartwatch for Women

We’ll begin today’s “contest” with a smartwatch from the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturer, and yes, that would be Samsung. The Galaxy Watch Active2 is not a cheap gadget by any means, and that’s something to be expected since the Active2 model is praised by many as Samsung’s best smartwatch to date. So, for a little bit under $300 you’ll get a refined version of the company’s hugely popular Galaxy Watch Active sans the rotating bezel that made the first-gen a superstar.

However, the Active2 features a digital bezel instead, and a minimal, slim and modern look, i.e. it doesn’t look very masculine so to speak. Feature-wise, the Active2 is pretty similar to Apple’s Watch 5 series, which makes it a solid choice for tech-savvy women looking for a great deal. Basically, the Active2 looks the part (especially the stainless-steel model) which means it’s excellent as both a fitness tracker and an everyday/every occasion smartwatch.

There are 2 versions of the Galaxy Watch Active2: the basic one, with an aluminum body, and an “advanced” model in stainless steel. The basic is available in cloud silver, aqua black and pink gold colors, while the “advanced” (and more expensive) version comes in silver, black and gold.

The cheaper Active2 smartwatch is kind of sporty, featuring a rubberized Fluoroelastomer band, while the stainless-steel model is more classy/elegant due to its leather strap. However, you can always go for an aftermarket 20 mm band, i.e. this is hardly an issue.

The back of the watch harbors a heart rate monitor with 8 photodiodes, which means it’s pretty accurate compared to the first-gen that only had 4. There are 2 side-buttons to help you navigate the menus, a back button and a home button respectively. The display is definitely one of the strong selling points of the Active2, and we’re talking here about Samsung’s specialty: a 360 x 360 resolution Super AMOLED touchscreen.

The new digital dial works great and makes navigation a child’s play, while everything is powered by an Exynos 9110 dual-core CPU; internal storage is not an issue, as the Active2 comes with 4 GB storage capacity and 768 MB of RAM. By the way, there’s also an LTE model that boasts 1.5 GB of RAM. The OS is Samsung’s in-house made Tizen with the familiar One UI overlay, and yes, it’s very user-friendly and intuitive.

For fitness aficionados, the smartwatch offers 39 workout-tracking modes, including walking, running and swimming, to name just a few, plus a plethora of apps and features, including an ECG (electrocardiogram) that can be used detect things like atrial fibrillation.

Apple Watch Series 6

Elegant Smartwatch with a Wide Range of Features

The Apple Watch is not just a fancy fitness tracker that can sometimes connect to your phone for data synchronization. This device is a smartwatch with all the necessary functions to turn it into an extension of your iPhone (if you have one).

The Series 6 model is equipped with GPS and has an accurate ECG app that checks your heart rhythm, and a new sensor that measures your blood oxygen level. The watch allows users to make calls, reply to texts, and perform a wide range of activities without even touching the phone.

Moreover, it supports 5GHz Wi-Fi and is 20% faster than previous models due to the U1 Ultra Wideband. In addition, the Always-On Retina display is 2.5 times brighter outdoors so it’s easy to check the watch without touching it.

Lastly, the Series 6 Apple Watch is well-equipped with all sorts of fitness tracking apps and sensors so you can get an accurate representation of your level of activity.

Fitbit Versa 3

GPS. BT, & Built-in Voice Assistants

While mostly geared towards tracking fitness activity, the Versa 3 is also capable of taking calls, playing music, and using voice assistants (Google Assistant & Alexa). In addition, the new Fitbit comes with PurePulse 2.0, which is an enhanced heart rate technology that can keep more accurate track of a user’s level of activity and intensity.

Users also have access to their favorite assistants (built-in Google and Amazon virtual assistants) and a wide range of watch faces. Also, the built-in storage space, mic, and speaker allow users to use the watch for phone calls or music.

Overall, Fitbit Versa 3 is an elegant smartwatch that looks like a watch but behaves like a fitness tracker with several important smartwatch features.

Fossil Gen 5 Julianna

Stunning and Brave

Fossil is more of a fashion brand, yet the company’s Gen 5 smartwatch punches above its weight so to speak, offering a lot of smartwatch experience and features for less money compared to a “luxury brand”, proving once again that less is more, or something along these lines. This stainless-steel smartwatch is definitely aimed at winning the hearts and minds of ladies, as it looks pretty flashy and marvelous, even flamboyant from certain angles. Looks aside, the Julianna comes with its own speaker, a GPS sensor, NFC functionality, a heart rate sensor and smartphone notifications.

To make a long story short, the Fossil Gen 5 Julianna has both the looks and the smarts to make you happy, and even if it’s not cheap, you’ll get basically two watches for the price of one, so it’s a win-win situation, if you’re happy with the design. Some say that the Fossil Gen 5 running on Google’s Wear OS is the best smartwatch money can buy in the current year, and that’s not very far from the truth.

The display is a crisp 1.28 inches wide AMOLED variety, bright and clear and with decent sunlight legibility. There are tons of customizable watch faces, which all look pretty nice, plus a myriad available in the Play Store.

The speaker located on the side of the watch is a great feature to have in a wearable, while the 2 physical buttons and the rotating crown make navigation through the apps and menus a child’s play. Moreover, the watch comes with all the sensors in the world, including GPS, gyroscopic, heart rate, altimeter, ambient light, a speaker and a microphone and NFC, plus Bluetooth connectivity. Most importantly, you can reply to emails/texts very easy, text and make calls directly from the watch, swim with it, so yeah, this Fossil ticks all the boxes in our list and then some.

Michael Kors Access Bradshaw 2

The Best Smartwatch for Fashionistas

Michael Kors’ latest Bradshaw 2 smartwatch is definitely bold and brilliant as a fashion statement, but the question is: are quality and style reasons enough to buy it? Well, we’re only being presumptuous here, because this stylish smartwatch is not a triumph of form over substance. Or, to put it another way, this beautiful Wear-OS powered smartwatch has both the looks and the brains, which means it would make for the perfect companion for our fashion conscious (with a hint of geekiness) female readers.

Here’s why you should buy it: first, you’ll get a great-looking timepiece, which also comes with all the features required from a smartwatch in 2020: built-in GPS module, built-in speaker, lots of customizable watch-faces, amazing overall performance, the world’s most popular OS, Wear OS by Google respectively, and, last but not least, the fashion know-how provided by a company that operates under Fossil’s management.

The Bradshaw 2 is available in 6 color options and has a 44 mm stainless steel made casing with 22 mm lug width; needless to say, this one can easily pass as a regular watch. Ease of use is one of the smartwatch’s main selling points as the Bradshaw 2 comes with a rotating crown and 2 physical buttons, which help a lot with navigating through apps and menus, while the display is a high-quality 1.28-inch AMOLED variety, with 328ppi density.

Moreover, Bradshaw 2 comes with a microphone and speaker, as well as a heart rate monitor, Google Pay and NFC connectivity, which means you can pay from your wrist. Email and phone calls can be accessed through the watch itself, and social media notifications are well implemented. Bottom line, if you’re looking for a stunningly beautiful fashion-oriented smartwatch with a plethora of features, that blends style with modern-day technology, give Michael Kors a chance.

Kate Spade Scallop Smartwatch 2

Smarts and Brains

If you’re a woman with exquisite taste, we’ve just found your perfect match. Just take a look at this gorgeous smartwatch powered by Google’s Wear-OS, which works well with both Android and iPhones, and stand in awe! This smartwatch is not only bold and beautiful but also smart, as it comes loaded with all the goodies one would expect from a cutting-edge gadget in the current year: GPS activity tracking (great for fitness lovers), heart rate tracking, customizable watch faces and so on and so forth.

Another cool feature of the Kate Spade New York Women’s Scallop Smartwatch 2 is that it offers both NFC and Google Pay, i.e. you can make contactless payments with your timepiece. On top of that, you get Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity, and if you own an Android smartphone, you will be able to use the smartwatch for viewing notifications from basically any messaging system and/or app, and also to control calls directly from your wrist, track activity (calories, steps, heart rate etc.), use Google Pay, get weather updates and a million other useful things.

Garmin Vívoactive 3

The Best Smartwatch for Fitness and Tracking

Compared to the smartwatches reviewed previously, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 looks pretty bland. However, don’t let the looks deceive you, as the Vivoactive 3 is definitely the best value smartwatch for ladies obsessed with a sporty lifestyle. The Vivoactive 3 has a “serious cat” design, but it’s actually an excellent all-rounder smartwatch, which delivers a lot of bang for the proverbial buck: GPS, multi-sport tracking, heart rate tracking (24/7 monitoring actually), impressive battery life compared to the fashion-icons above, everything packed in a lightweight form-factor.

When it comes to looks, the Vivoactive 3 features a circular yet stylish (some may say minimalist) design. However, this smartwatch is clearly aimed at fitness aficionados, as it comes with a plethora of fitness features and apps. Moreover, you’ll get Garmin’s in-house Payment system, which is similar to Google Pay, smart notifications, and, a very nice touch for women, sleep and real-time stress tracking. To make it really easy for our readers, if you’re looking for a discrete and versatile smartwatch that combines smart notifications with lifestyle features and fitness tracking, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 plays in a league of its own.

Amazfit GTS 2

A Stylish Smartwatch with Health Tracking Features

If you would like the style of an Apple smartwatch but don’t want to invest the money, the GTS2 is the perfect device for you! Following Apple’s design, this smartwatch features a 3D curved screen, a bezel-less design, and a wide range of strap options.

It also has several basic sensors and fitness tracking apps, a heart rate monitor, and a sleep tracker, but the accuracy is not always on point. Still, the AMOLED display has good resolution and looks amazing on your wrist (though you may have some difficulty trying to read it outdoors).

Lastly, you can connect the GTS2 with your phone (via BT) and take calls (it has a built-in mic and speaker). Also, it allows you to chat with your phone’s voice assistant even if you are offline.

We’re only exaggerating a bit for dramatic effect, but there are some pretty expensive smartwatches out there, from big names like Tag Heur, which cost thousands of dollars a piece. The good news is that if you can’t afford a thousand-dollar gadget, you can always go for a smartwatch under $100 that’s capable of performing just as well feature-wise.

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Last update on 2025-03-31 // The links above are affiliate // Images from Amazon

How to Choose the Best Cheap Smartwatch

Choosing the right smartwatch is not an easy task, especially if you don’t have the time to read countless reviews and opinions on the interwebz, or if you’re not a tech geek like us. But don’t worry, we’ve already done the research and here are the main lessons to take home before going on a shopping spree. The first thing to consider is what type of smartphone you already own, as usually speaking, your smartwatch will work “hand in hand” with your smartphone, i.e. if you’re on Android OS, you’ve already hit jackpot, as there are countless Android compatible models out there, and they’re pretty cheap too, unlike Apple-made gear.

Built-in Fitness Features

If you’re a fitness buff, look out for built-in fitness features, things like a heart rate sensor for example; the good news is that you will find lots of fitness-focused smartwatches, such as the Fitbit Versa, or its cheaper alternative Letsfit. Some watches are perfectly capable of working independently, but most “wearables” are designed to work symbiotically with your smartphone, and that’s that.

“Don’ts”

Here’s a short list of “don’ts” when shopping for a smartwatch: never buy a smartwatch without making sure it’s compatible with your smartphone, read carefully the tech-specs with an emphasis on autonomy, look for GPS and heart rate sensor if you’re into fitness, check out if the wrist band is easily replaceable/available, and also look at the OS and the selection of compatible apps with your smartphone.

Display

The display is another important factor to consider. Most current-year smartwatches feature color displays, including AMOLED stuff, which means you’ll be able to watch all sorts of content on your smartwatch, but there’s a trade-off for high quality-high res displays: shorter battery life.

Interface

The interface issue comes to play, as you have two basic options: touchscreen vs old school buttons. Even if touchscreens seem to be a no-brainer choice for most people reading this, truth is that classic buttons are sometimes easier to use, especially when on the move/run. A touchscreen may be difficult to operate on a tiny touch display, and often, especially on cheap smartwatches, gesture-based interfaces don’t work so great.

Notifications

A smartwatch worth its salt will do a good job with notifying you about emails, incoming calls, text messages, social media mentions and various other alerts via a quick jolt to your wrist and/or sound. Look after social network integration, if you’re into that crazy business, as well at the choice of built-in sensors to track your physical activity.

Design

The overall design, including ergonomics and customization options is another important factor to consider, but that boils down to one’s personal preferences. Bottom line: there are advanced watches out there, that allow you to make mobile payments via NFC; others offer water resistance and wireless charging, and so on and so forth. The possibilities are endless, and the final factor is your budget and your personal choice. With all these in mind, let’s take a quick look at Amazon’s best cheap smartwatches in no particular order:

Best Cheap Smartwatches

Fitbit Versa 3

A Decent, yet Affordable Smartwatch

Fitbit Versa 3 is a solid-performing smartwatch, with plenty of health data and practical features that make it one of the better smartwatch deals on the market. With this smartwatch, you get built-in GPS, advanced sleep-tracking, as well as the ability to make and receive calls and text messages and accept app notifications; however, only if you own an Android-based smartphone. In case you have an iPhone, the functionality is limited to receiving messages and app notifications, and making calls, while sending messages is out of the question.

Fitbit Versa 3 comes with a solid built-in battery that provides some six days of work and offers a water-resistant build that allows its submerging into up to 50m of water. Moreover, this smartwatch comes with a built-in microphone and speaker, and supports the use of both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa, adding to the device’s practicality.

In addition, Fitbit Versa 3 provides all the workout information through the Fitbit app; it offers very good heart rate tracking, with the help of the PurePulse 2.0 app, and equally importantly, allows music storing and playing Deezer or Pandora. In other words, it offers the full package.

Therefore, if you are after an affordable, yet attractive smartwatch, Fitbit Versa 3 should be high on your list.

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active

The Best Smartwatch Under 200

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active has already achieved legendary status, as it makes for a relatively affordable smartwatch, which is also beautiful and comfy all day long. The Galaxy Active basically takes all that was great in Samsung smartwatches and goes to the next level, i.e. it arrives in a smaller form-factor, cheaper than the fully featured Galaxy Watch, which is the “premium version” so to speak.

The Active is for, well, active people, as it lacks some of the high-end features, but it’s way more affordable, smaller and lighter. If you’re looking for the best cheap smartwatch, the Galaxy Active should rank high on your shopping list, as it features a classic circular design (no rotating bezel this time), it’s incredibly light, thin, looks premium (metal-made), and it’s available in 4 colors: silver, black, pink for the ladies and blue. The band is made of silicone and the display measures 1.1-inch and boasts a resolution of 360 x 360 pixels.

The OLED touchscreen is bright and sensitive, there are 2 discrete buttons to “push around”, and the Tizen OS is pretty good and intuitive, plus you get a wide variety of apps. Being made for active folk, this Samsung smartwatch is IP68 rated, which means you can take it for a quick dive (up to five meters). Finally, everything runs smoothly on this smartwatch powered by a dual-core Samsung Exynos 9110 processor with 750MB of RAM, yet some complain about limited on-board storage. But hey, nobody’s perfect.

Garmin Vívoactive 3

The Best Cheap Smartwatch

Next in line we have another “established” brand, the Garmin vívoactive 3 GPS smartwatch respectively. Just like the previously reviewed smartwatches, this one retails for under $200, yet it delivers a lot of technological oomph for the price asked. Just to give you an idea, the 3rd gen vívoactive has an optical heart rate monitor and GPS with GLONASS, which makes it the ideal companion for fitness freaks, not to mention a plethora of Garmin Connect IQ apps, smartphone notifications and the amazing 7-days autonomy on a single charge.

Yes indeed, this Garmin gadget really has it where it counts, and it also makes for a serious contender (at a much more affordable price) for Google Pay or Apple Pay via its Garmin Pay payment system.

Design wise, the Garmin vívoactive 3 is a classic round-faced smartwatch with a thick silver bezel, featuring a touchscreen, a single button on the side (for menu-accessing) and Side Swipe controls. The Side Swipe user interface is well implemented and together with the physical button makes interaction with the menus very easy and intuitive, especially during a workout. The vívoactive 3 is available in 2 color ways, white and black, with both of them featuring that huge silver bezel, and it’s great as an everyday wearable, as it’s a versatile and well-designed fitness-focused gadget.

Amazfit GTS Smartwatch

The Best Smartwatch for Fitness

If you want a fitness tracker that’s pretty much a clone of the Apple Watch, the Amazfit GTS definitely has the looks, and if you check out the price tag, well, forget about it, I’m down for two! Okay, we’re only joking around, but the Amazfit GTS really looks the part, i.e. it’s a 1:1 clone of the Apple smartwatch, but what’s inside is another story. Obviously, you won’t get Apple software in this baby, but the build quality and the materials are impressive for the price asked.

The body is slim and made of metal, with a great tactile feel. However, the back panel is all plastic and comes with a heart rate sensor. The smartwatch is very light and feels comfy, but its main selling point is the beautiful 1.65 inches wide 348 x 442 pixel AMOLED display boasting an impressive 341 PPI density. Brightness is not an issue even on a sunny day in Cali, and if you’re into customizing your screen obsessively, there are over 20 watch faces to choose from the app.

The software/OS is a mixed bag though, as some settings work nice and easy, while others may become a pain in the rear end if you’re not a “zoomer” (read tech-savvy). However, even if you’ll have to tinker around with the OS for a while, you’ll figure it all out in the end, especially if you read the manual. Battery life is amazing, as the smartwatch is advertised to last for 14 days on a single charge, but don’t bet on that if you’re using it enthusiastically, i.e. you should expect something like 10 days tops, which is not bad at all for an under $200-gadget.

Finally, compatibility-wise, the GTS works with Android 5.0+ and iOS 10.0+, and features GPS + GLONASS, Bluetooth 5 BLE, 6 axis accelerometer, barometer, 3 axis geomagnetic sensor, e-compass and an ambient light sensor.

Fitbit Inspire 2

A Solid Fitness Tracking Tool

Fitbit Inspire 2 is a more mainstream-oriented smartwatch/fitness tracker that offers a very good 10-day battery life and all sorts of activity tracking tools that should help you stay in shape, as well as control your heart rate, estimate calorie burning, and track sleep.

This device is compatible with both Android and iOS devices, it supports texting, making calls, and it receives app notifications. It can be submerged into up to 50m of water and it is fitted with a one-year free Fitbit Premium subscription.

Unfortunately, there is no built-in GPS, or voice controls, while the OLED touchscreen is in grayscale, which isn’t impressive. However, considering the price, it is somewhat expected.

Fitbit Inspire 2 isn’t a premium product, but an affordable fitness tool dedicated to masses, preferable women. Therefore, it shouldn’t be a surprise that some of the features simply had to go. Nonetheless, that doesn’t change the fact that this smartwatch still has a lot to offer and presents a pretty good deal, if health and fitness tracking is what you are seeking from the best smartwatch for women in the first place.

Samsung Galaxy Fit

The Best Cheap Smartwatch for Android

The Samsung Galaxy Fit makes for another great fitness tracker if you’re on a tight budget or you just don’t need all the technological bells and whistles in the world, as it makes for the company’s most accessible wearable to date. At first look, the Galaxy Fit looks pretty similar to the Fitbit Inspire HR, i.e. it boasts a minimalist yet stylish design, but unfortunately, it lacks the GPS module. However, the screen is made of glass, while the casing is crafted from high-quality anodized aluminum.

Needless to say, the choice of glass and aluminum confers the Galaxy Fit a premium look and feel, even if the watch retails for less than $100.

Unlike the Fitbit Inspire HR though, the Galaxy Fit comes with a full-color display, which is very nice to say the least, even if we’re talking about a tiny 0.95-inch wide 240 x 120-pixel OLED screen. There are 24 face watches to choose from, with 2 analogs, and the user-interface is gesture-based and can handle notifications pretty well. The 120 mAh battery is good enough to juice-up the smartwatch for up to seven days, depending on how you use it, hence, if you’re looking for a high-quality premium-looking fitness tracker from Samsung, the Galaxy Fit will fit you like a glove.

P.S. The Galaxy Fit complies with the MIL-STD-810G standard, which means is as tough as a coffin nail (yes, it’s also water-resistant).

Apple Watch Series 3

The Best Smartwatch For iPhone Owners

The Apple Watch Series 3 is one of the most popular gadgets in Apple’s wearable portfolio, and there are many reasons for that. To begin with, if you’re an iPhone owner, the Apple Watch Series 3 is a must-have gizmo that will perfectly complement your high-end smartphone.

Secondly, the Series 3 comes with a GPS sensor and a beautiful Retina display, Apple’s specialty, plus an optical heart sensor, which is great for fitness tracking and stuff like that. The smartwatch is perfectly capable of storing podcasts, music and audiobooks, and that’s great for listening to your favorite stuff on the go.

Speaking of which, you’ll also get comprehensive fitness tracking features, like swimming, running, activity trends or cycle tracking, not to mention that everything runs smoothly due to the S3 chip with a dual-core processor.

Bottom line, if you’re looking for a relatively affordable gadget from Apple and a fully functional smartwatch to match your iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 3 has your name on it.

Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch

An Excellent Fitness and Health Tool

Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch is a high-quality activity tracking/health tool that offers a solid six-day autonomy and more importantly, multiple features that will satisfy every health-aware person. To be exact, there is activity and sleep tracking, as well as EDA, or stress tracking. On top of that, there is heart rate tracking as well; therefore, if your heart rate goes above or below the average values, you will be informed about that through the alarms and notifications.

Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch is intended for persons that are 22 years old and older and features built-in GPS, as well as voice commands that are compatible with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. This smartwatch supports calls, messaging, as well as app notifications.

On top of that, it is attractive, and it brings a pretty good value for the money as should be the case with one of the best smartwatches on the market. For that reason, if you are seeking a well-rounded device that will offer a good battery life and multiple handy features, Fitbit Sense Advanced Smartwatch should be one of your top picks.