RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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But not everyone can (or should) spend half a month’s rent on a smartwatch. In this economy? That’s why I’ve rounded up the best budget smartwatches, all of which cost $250 or less. My picks, including my top choice—the Nothing CMF Watch 3 Pro ($79)—prove that you don’t have to sacrifice performance just because you’re on a budget.
For more recommendations, check out our guides to the Best Smartwatches, Best Fitness Trackers, and Best Apple Watches.
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Nothing is known for the affordability and retro charm of its headphones and phones, so it was unsurprising to discover that the CMF Watch 3 Pro is both fun to use and very affordable. (CMF is a sub-brand of Nothing.)
Why WIRED recommends: This is a feature-packed smartwatch, with wrist-based gesture controls, an onboard microphone for voice calls, a ChatGPT-integrated voice assistant, and a built-in flashlight. Weighing only 51.9 grams (1.8 ounces), it’s super light, but the 1.43-inch AMOLED display is large and bright with more than 120 vibrant watch faces to choose from. The CMF Watch 3 Pro syncs with the Nothing X app on both iOS and Android, and battery life lasts about 13 days.
The suite of health features is pretty comprehensive. Its optical heart rate sensor is accurate; former editor Adrienne So tallied the live readings on the Watch 3 Pro with her Oura Ring 4, and they almost always matched exactly. It also has dual-band GPS tracking for more accurate outdoor tracking, detailed workout summaries, and fun animations that appear when you’re measuring your heart rate or doing breathing exercises.
The trade-offs: It has a more utilitarian look than most smartwatches. The case is made from precision-milled metal, but it looks and feels more like plastic. The app can be a little wonky, the running coach is less flexible than those on other fitness trackers, and the watch occasionally overestimates sleep by as much as an hour compared with other sleep trackers.
If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch SE (3rd Gen) is the best value in Apple’s lineup. It’s a decent upgrade if you’re coming from an older model and also makes a great smartwatch for your parents or kids.
Why WIRED recommends: It has the latest S10 chip, which enables many of the standout health features the previous Apple Watch SE 2 lacked, such as sleep apnea notifications and skin temperature sensing. It runs watchOS 27, so you can view the dynamic app grid with Siri-suggested apps, converse with the new Siri AI assistant, and use Workout Buddy without your iPhone nearby. It has fast charging, and even though it doesn’t have the Apple Watch Series 11’s 24-hour battery life, former editor Adrienne So still managed to get a full day of battery life out of it, even with the always-on display enabled.
The trade-offs: It can’t measure blood oxygen, doesn’t support the ECG app, and lacks the latest hypertension notifications. The screen is only a 1,000-nit display compared with the 2,000-nit display on the Series 11, and it doesn’t have the UWB locator chip. The bezels around the screen are chunkier, and battery life is also restricted to the usual 18 hours.
Always-on Retina display, up to 1,000 nits
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is an excellent running watch for beginners and anyone who wants plenty of accurate data without paying for a more advanced model.
Why WIRED recommends: The Forerunner 165 has a bright AMOLED display, with both a touchscreen and physical buttons for two different ways to navigate. It has accurate multi-band GPS and a suite of useful sensors, including a pulse oximeter for measuring blood oxygen, a barometric altimeter, a compass, and an ambient light sensor. Alongside personalized training plans, you can view metrics like running power and cadence, as well as proprietary metrics such as Training Effect. Battery life is advertised as 11 days, but former editor Adrienne So got around a week, which is still pretty decent for a smartwatch.
The trade-offs: The Forerunner 165 launched in February 2024, so it’s not Garmin’s latest or greatest running watch. It’s also only water-resistant up to 50 meters.
If the idea of owning a Google Pixel Watch 4 is out of your budget, but you still want a Google Fitbit-centric experience, the Versa 4 is the one to go for.
Why WIRED recommends: You get a smartwatch with a gently curved design that’s almost identical to the original Versa but with the welcome return of a physical button. The 1.58-inch AMOLED display touchscreen is large and vibrant, and battery life lasts up to six days.
As for fitness tracking, the Versa 4 is equipped with a built-in GPS to track outdoor workouts and motion sensors to log indoor swims. Google Health Coach offers AI-powered coaching and insights that provide a holistic view of your health and wellness. Lastly, you get access to a suite of Google apps, including Amazon Alexa, Google Maps, and contactless payments with Google Wallet.
The trade-offs: Automatic activity tracking supports only 40 exercise modes, which is fewer than many other fitness trackers. There are no third-party apps or music controls. Voice and texting features are limited to Android users. Finally, it’s water-resistant only up to 50 meters.
Amazfit Bip 6 for $79: Former editor Adrienne So liked the Bip 6 for its aesthetic, responsive AMOLED screen, week-long battery life, and 140 sport modes. She did find its fitness-tracking capabilities and the Zepp app to be occasionally inaccurate. If you’re willing to spend $20 more, get the Amazfit Active 2 instead.
Google Fitbit Charge 6 for $160: The Fitbit Charge 6 remains one of the best entry-level fitness trackers, packed with just enough features to build healthy habits without overwhelming you with data. Its heart rate tracking held up well against more expensive devices in testing, and it can even connect to compatible gym equipment, including Peloton bikes and NordicTrack treadmills. The Cha...
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