10 Best Cheap Smart Watches 2025 in the United States

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 40mm Bluetooth AI Smartwatch offers several compelling features for its price point. It boasts strong fitness tracking capabilities, including heart rate tracking, sleep monitoring, and personalized wellness tips, which makes it a solid choice for fitness enthusiasts. The watch's Galaxy AI provides valuable insights and comparisons to help users improve their performance over time. Additionally, the Energy Score feature is a neat touch to gauge your daily readiness based on past activities.

The watch's compatibility with Samsung’s ecosystem and its Bluetooth connectivity ensure it can integrate well with many devices, although it's best suited for Android users, particularly those with Samsung phones. The cream color and lightweight design add to its aesthetic appeal and comfort for daily wear. For those looking for a budget-friendly smartwatch with strong fitness features and good app support, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 is a worthwhile consideration, especially for users within the Samsung ecosystem.

The Garmin Forerunner 165 is a strong option if you're looking for a budget-friendly smartwatch designed mainly for running and fitness. Its bright 1.2-inch AMOLED touchscreen display offers clear visuals, making it easy to read your stats during workouts. The watch includes built-in GPS and wrist-based heart rate monitoring, which are essential for tracking pace, distance, and heart health without needing your phone. Battery life is impressive for this price range—up to 11 days in smartwatch mode and 19 hours when using GPS, so you won't have to charge it constantly.

It supports over 25 activity profiles, including running, cycling, and strength training, plus smart coaching features that adapt workouts based on your performance and recovery. Compatibility with both Android and Apple devices ensures you can receive call and text notifications, as well as sync data with the Garmin Connect app for deeper insights and community challenges. The lightweight, 43 mm design feels comfortable for everyday wear, and safety features like incident detection add extra peace of mind. Garmin watches typically handle sweat and rain well, though it might not be suited for deep swimming.

The build quality is solid for a budget watch, but if you want a more rugged model, you might need to look higher up in price. Garmin Pay support is a nice bonus for contactless payments, though availability depends on country and bank support. This smartwatch is ideal for runners and active users who want detailed training metrics and good app integration without spending a lot. If you need advanced smartwatch features like music storage or a larger app ecosystem, there are more expensive options, but for fitness tracking and durability, the Forerunner 165 delivers good value.

The Garmin vívoactive 5 is a well-rounded, affordable smartwatch with several noteworthy features. Its standout feature is the bright and colorful AMOLED display, which provides a clear and vibrant user experience. Battery life is impressive, lasting up to 11 days in smartwatch mode, making it ideal for users who don't want to charge their watch frequently.

The built-in GPS and variety of more than 30 sports apps, including unique options like wheelchair mode, make it a strong choice for fitness enthusiasts. It offers comprehensive health monitoring, including heart rate, sleep tracking, and energy levels through its Body Battery feature. The watch is compatible with both Android and iOS, ensuring broad accessibility. Water resistance adds to its versatility, allowing users to wear it while swimming. Build quality appears robust with features like a sturdy round screen and a comfortable band.

App support is extensive, with the ability to download music from popular services like Spotify and Amazon Music for phone-free listening during workouts. However, some potential drawbacks include the limited battery capacity of 4 milliamp hours, which might affect performance over time, and the reliance on the Garmin Connect app, which may not be as user-friendly as other app ecosystems. Additionally, while it offers a wide range of features, users looking for a more straightforward, less feature-rich smartwatch might find it a bit overwhelming. The Garmin vívoactive 5 excels in providing a comprehensive health and fitness tracking experience at an affordable price point, making it ideal for fitness enthusiasts and health-conscious users.