Picking the best smartwatch is not always a matter of the one with the most features, the best design, or an Apple Watch. Those are also usually the most expensive smartwatches and so sometimes the best smartwatch is the one that's at the right price. Here’s a breakdown of the watches you should be considering if you're on a budget.
Smartwatches are big sellers, and yet, they also do not sell as well as many might think. Although that sounds contradictory, it is not. The problem with the smartwatch market has always been that is that it is very heavily skewed towards the Apple Watch. This is a smartwatch that sells in big numbers and those help to make the smartwatch market appear healthier than it really is. For example, sales of Apple watches normally account for between 45 and 50 percent of the overall smartwatch market each quarter. With no other smartwatch even coming close to the watchOS wearable, once the Apple Watch is removed from the equation, the smartwatch market looks a lot less impressive. Even more so, if you also remove fitness trackers, considering due to their feature and design overlap, they often get bundled in with smartwatches.
If you want the best smartwatch then that will probably be the Apple Watch Series 5 for most consumers. However, it is also a fairly expensive smartwatch and certainly not one that would be considered budget. Those intent on opting for an Apple Watch, but also looking to save as much as possible will want to check out the Apple Watch Series 3. Apple still officially sells this model and although it's an older generation, it can be picked up for around $200. If that still sounds like too much, then there are plenty of smartwatches available to buy for less than the price of the Series 3. Before getting into some of the best options for an affordable smartwatch, it’s worth pointing out that while there are a lot of very cheap watches you can buy, the focus here is on ones you should buy.
In reality, if you don’t go for the Apple Watch, but do want a full-featured smartwatch, then the operating system options are limited - similar to the current situation with the smartphone market. In fact, there’s a good chance that you’ll most likely end up with a Watch OS watch. This is Google’s wearable platform, making it ideal for those who already own an Android smartphone.
TicWatch E2
Of the options available, the best bang for the buck Wear OS smartwatch is likely to be the TicWatch E2. Technically, this is not going to be the best Wear OS device you can find, but it comes packed with plenty of features for the price, including GPS. It is this combination of being feature-rich, while low in price, that has made the TicWatch E2 a winner. This watch typically retails for $150, although you can often find it on sale and sometimes for under $100.
Fossil Sport
Another brand always worth considering is Fossil. This is a company that makes a number of Wear OS smartwatches, resulting in a variety of choice and styles. While Fossil smartwatches can get expensive and certainly can cost more than $200, the Fossil Sport is a good one to consider right now. This has proven to be a very popular smartwatch in the past and while it is a little older than some of the others, that’s reflected in a lower average price point now. As is often the case with tech, opting for a slightly older model can result in big savings.
Fitbit Versa Lite
Then there's Fitbit. While previously a company more known for its fitness trackers, Fitbit is now a major player in the wearables market, and offers a variety of more than capable smartwatches at attractive prices. In fact, Google recently purchased Fitbit and likely for this very reason, making this a company to keep a closer eye on in the future. The Fitbit Versa Lite doesn’t come with as many features as some of the others (or the Fitbit Versa 2), but that’s almost its point. This smartwatch comes loaded with what you need it to, and keeps the price low by holding back on many of the other unnecessary features. Arguably, the Fitbit Versa Lite is designed to be the best budget smartwatch in general.
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