Ready to step into the world of smart wearables without emptying your wallet? Well, you’re in for a treat! Welcome to our 2024 roundup of the best budget-friendly smartwatches under $100. Gone are the days when you needed to shell out big bucks for a watch that did more than just tell time.
So whether you’re looking for fitness tracking, notifications on the go, or simply a stylish accessory, there’s something for everyone on this list. Stay connected and on top of your health and wellness goals without breaking the bank.
What to Expect in a Sub-$100 Smartwatch
Key Features Commonly Found in Budget Smartwatches
Fitness tracking, heart rate monitoring, and notifications are common features in budget smartwatches. They also have basic apps and customizable watch faces.
Realistic Expectations for Performance and Durability
Smartwatches priced under $100 have basic functionalities but may have limited durability and performance. Their battery life and processing speed may not be as good as the higher-end options’.
The Evolution of Affordable Smartwatch Technology in Recent Years
Affordable smartwatches have advanced significantly, with more functions and better designs than previously. Thanks to technological advancements, they now have better functionality and user experience.
5 Essential Features: What You Can Get for Under $100
1. Fitness Tracking Capabilities (Steps, Calories, Distance)
Budget smartwatches typically have fitness tracking capabilities, allowing you to track your steps, calories burned, and distance traveled.
2. Heart Rate Monitoring
Many low-cost smartwatches have heart rate tracking, which can provide you with information about your cardiovascular health.
3. Sleep Tracking
Sleep tracking is another popular feature in budget smartwatches, allowing you to track your sleep patterns and quality.
4. Basic Smartphone Notifications
Smartwatches under $100 usually have basic smartphone notifications, including calls, texts, and app alerts.
5. Water Resistance Ratings
Water resistance is another valuable feature in budget smartwatches, protecting them from sweat and splashes.
Durability and Build Quality: Affordable Doesn’t Mean Cheap
Materials Used in Construction
Affordable smartwatches sometimes use plastic or aluminum cases to balance cost and durability. Straps are often made of silicone or polyurethane to ensure comfort.
Water and Dust Resistance Ratings
Budget smartwatches often include water- and dust resistant ratings like IP67 or IP68. These grades offer protection from splashes, rain, and mild dust exposure.
Screen Protection Options
Affordable smartwatches may have screen protection such as scratch-resistant glass or toughened plastic. This protects the display from normal wear and tear.
Longevity and Wear-and-Tear Considerations
Budget smartwatches are made to withstand daily usage, even though they may show signs of wear more quickly than expensive versions.
Top 8 Smartwatches Under $100 in 2024
1. Amoled Smartwatch
This smartwatch tracks blood pressure, oxygen, heart rate, steps, along with many other health features.
Pros:
Comfortable, nice design, sleek wrist band, customizable watch faces, bright screen, read messages and take calls, value for money.
Cons:
No GPS, limited app integrations.
Price: $29.99
2. Waterproof Smartwatch
This watch tracks basic features like steps, heart rate, blood oxygen, respiration rate, sleep quality, and overall fitness.
Pros:
Customizable watch faces, good battery life, makes and receive calls, value for money, waterproof, good for wide range of wrist sizes.
Cons:
Set up is a bit challenging, limited Alexa functionality, a bit difficult to sync watch and app, short charging cord.
Price: $39.99
3. Touchscreen Smartwatch
This is a waterproof fitness/health monitoring smartwatch that measures your step counting, oxygen, sleep, and heart rate.
Pros:
Sleek design, professional and classy look, good battery life, touchscreen, easy-to-read clear screen, easy setup, seamless integration with Android and iOS phones, value for money.
Cons:
You can receive messages and notifications, but can’t respond on the watch. No blood pressure monitoring, no GPS, and limited third-party app connections. The charger is magnetic, so be careful not to keep anything metallic near it.
Price: $59.99
4. Fitness Smartwatch
This fitness watch measures basic activities like counting your steps, tracking your heart rate, sleep, and SpO2.
Pros:
Comfortable, touchscreen, bright screen, built-in GPS, make and receive phone calls and texts, can fit small to large wrists, has different sport settings.
Cons:
Doesn’t measure blood pressure, limited app integration, and heart monitoring isn’t continuous.
Price: $65.99
5. Health Fitness Watch
This fitness watch has basic features to track your steps, calories, heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and sleep.
Pros:
Cute, nice size, not bulky, extra watch bands, bright screen, easy to set up, good battery life.
Cons:
No continuous heart rate monitoring, can’t take calls or reply to texts, some data may be inaccurate,
Price: $45.99
6. Fitness Tracker Smartwatch
This fitness tracker comes with basic features such as blood pressure monitoring, oxygen level tracking, and sleep analysis
Pros:
Lightweight and comfortable, easy to set up, good battery life, customizable faces, make and receive calls, adjustable band to fit any wrist size.
Cons:
No blood pressure features.
Price: $49.99
7. Stress Management Fitness Tracker
This fitness tracker tracks your physical activity, calories, heart rate, and sleep patters.
Pros:
Sleek design, in-bult GPS, records workouts and exercises.
Cons:
No ECG, strap can cause friction and heat, screen can be unresponsive and not easy to read, monthly app subscription.
Price: $79.95
8. Women’s Fitness Tracker
This fitness watch for women monitors health metrics including sleep, heart rate, calorie expenditure, and blood oxygen and also gives women’s health reminders: menstrual cycle, safe period, ovulation period, ovulation day, and pregnancy tracking.
Pros:
Cute design, comes with 3 extra watch bands, adjustable bands accommodate small wrists, clear display even outdoors, good battery life, make and answer calls, receive messages, easy to use.
Cons:
No instruction manual in the package; syncing with phone issues, so you have to keep re-connecting.
Price: $59.99
Choosing the Right Budget Smartwatch for You
1. Assessing Your Primary Needs (Fitness, Notifications, Style)
Decide whether you prioritize fitness tracking, receiving notifications, or having a stylish accessory. Understanding your main requirements will help you narrow down the options and choose a smartwatch that best suits your lifestyle and preferences.
2. Considering Your Smartphone Compatibility
Make sure your smartwatch is compatible with your smartphone’s operating system, whether iOS or Android.
3. Reading User Reviews and Expert Opinions
Read user reviews and professional opinions to determine the performance and dependability of affordable smartwatches.
In Closing…
From fitness tracking to smartphone syncing, these sub-$100 wonders prove that you don’t need to break the bank to wear a piece of smartness on your wrist.
Remember, while these watches might not have all the bells and whistles of their pricier cousins, they give incredible value for money.
You get the core features that most people use daily, wrapped up in a package that won’t put a dent in your wallet.
So whether you’re a budget-conscious consumer or just looking for a reliable smartwatch without all the extras, these affordable options are definitely worth considering.
