Finding the perfect smartwatch that balances features, style, and affordability can feel like a daunting task. The market is flooded with options, but you don’t need to break the bank to get a capable wearable on your wrist. For 2025, the sub-$200 category is more competitive than ever, offering premium health tracking, long battery life, and robust smart features that were once exclusive to high-end models.
Whether you’re a dedicated athlete, a wellness enthusiast, or simply someone who wants to stay connected without constantly checking your phone, there’s a budget-friendly smartwatch for you. This roundup cuts through the noise to bring you the top contenders that deliver exceptional value without compromising on performance. We’ve evaluated displays, battery life, fitness tracking, and smart capabilities to find your ideal match.
Our Top Smartwatch Picks Under $200
- Amazfit GTR Smartwatch, 1.39” AMOLED Display 24/7 Heart Rate Monitor
- Ticwatch S2 Waterproof Smartwatch with Build-in GPS 24h Heart Rate Monitor
- Amazfit Bip 6 Smart Watch 46mm, 14 Day Battery, 1.97″ AMOLED Display
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 40mm Smartwatch with ECG Monitor Tracker (Renewed)
- Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch with Daily Readiness, GPS, 24/7 Heart Rate
- Garmin Venu Sq 2 GPS Smartwatch, All-Day Health Monitoring, Long Battery Life
- Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker with Stress Management, Sleep Tracking
- Garmin Forerunner 55, GPS Running Watch with Daily Suggested Workouts
- Amazfit Band 7 Fitness and Activity Trackers, Heart Rate, SpO2, Sleep Analysis
- Amazfit Bip 3 Pro Smart Watch
Amazfit GTR Smartwatch
The Amazfit GTR stands out with its classic and elegant design, featuring a brilliant 1.39-inch AMOLED display that is both sharp and vibrant. Its aluminum alloy construction gives it a premium feel, while a gallery of customizable watch faces allows you to match your style for any occasion. This watch successfully merges a timeless look with modern smartwatch functionality.
For fitness enthusiasts, it offers comprehensive tracking with 12 different sports modes, including running, cycling, and swimming. The 24/7 heart rate monitoring provides continuous insights into your cardiovascular health. A remarkable feature is the 24-day battery life, which significantly reduces how often you need to recharge, making it ideal for daily wear and extended trips.
Ticwatch S2 Waterproof Smartwatch
Built for adventure, the Ticwatch S2 is certified to US Military Standard 810G for durability, meaning it can handle the bumps and shocks of an active lifestyle. It runs on Wear OS by Google, offering full smartwatch capabilities and compatibility with both Android and iOS. This makes it a robust and versatile companion for your outdoor excursions and daily routines.
Its built-in GPS allows you to leave your phone behind while accurately mapping your workouts. The 24-hour heart rate monitor and 5 ATM waterproof rating mean you can track your fitness in the pool or open water. Features like Google Fit and TicMotion help you stay motivated by providing balanced health tracking and actionable insights directly from your wrist.
Amazfit Bip 6 Smart Watch
The Amazfit Bip 6 combines a lightweight aluminum build with a large, vivid 1.97-inch AMOLED display that remains easy to read even in direct sunlight. This design offers a blend of style and durability that is suitable for both the gym and the office. It also supports Bluetooth calling and texting, keeping you connected without needing to pull out your phone.
This watch is a fitness powerhouse with over 140 workout modes, including specialized options like HYROX Race and Strength Training. It provides personalized AI coaching and boasts a 5 ATM water-resistance rating for swim tracking. With a battery life of up to 14 days, it powers through your training and recovery without the need for frequent charging.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
This renewed Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 brings advanced health monitoring to a accessible price point. It is designed to help you manage your wellness goals with comprehensive body readings available right on your wrist. The watch runs a smooth and intuitive interface, offering a premium smartwatch experience that integrates seamlessly with the Android ecosystem.
Key health features include accurate ECG monitoring to help keep an eye on atrial fibrillation and advanced sleep tracking that monitors your sleep stages and blood oxygen levels (SpO2) continuously. You can share personalized readings with your doctor using the Samsung Health Monitor app, making it a valuable tool for proactive health management.
Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness Smartwatch
The Fitbit Versa 4 is built to deliver better fitness results with features like a Daily Readiness Score that helps you decide when to work out or recover. It includes built-in GPS, an workout intensity map, and Active Zone Minutes to optimize your training. With over 40 exercise modes and automatic exercise tracking, it’s a comprehensive fitness partner.
It also provides tools to measure and improve your sleep quality, offering a personalized Sleep Profile, daily sleep stages, and a Sleep Score. Water resistant to 50 meters, it’s as suitable for swimming as it is for your daily routine. The Versa 4 works to keep you accountable and inspired with real-time stats and a fresh, fun approach to your health journey.
Garmin Venu Sq 2 GPS Smartwatch
See everything clearly on the Garmin Venu Sq 2’s bright AMOLED display, which includes an always-on mode perfect for quick glances at your stats. The sleek design houses powerful health and fitness tracking technology, making it a stylish and functional accessory for everyday wear and your workout sessions.
With up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, you can get a more complete 24/7 picture of your health without nightly charging. It monitors a wide range of metrics including your Body Battery energy levels, sleep score, respiration, hydration, stress, and women’s health, providing a holistic view of your well-being.
Fitbit Inspire 3 Health & Fitness Tracker
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a sleek tracker designed to help you find your energy and feel your best. It provides all-day activity tracking, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and over 20 exercise modes with automatic tracking. Its slim and comfortable design makes it easy to wear all day and night for continuous insights.
For stress management, it offers a daily Stress Management Score, mindfulness sessions, and relax breathing sessions. It also includes important health notifications like irregular heart rhythm alerts, SpO2 monitoring, and menstrual health tracking. The Inspire 3 focuses on giving you a complete picture of your wellness in a compact form factor.
Garmin Forerunner 55
The Garmin Forerunner 55 is an easy-to-use GPS running watch that tracks how far, how fast, and where you run. It monitors heart rate at the wrist and is designed for runners of all levels who want reliable data to improve their performance. Its straightforward interface makes it simple to start tracking your runs immediately.
It offers daily suggested workouts to help you train effectively and includes the PacePro feature for GPS-based pace guidance. With up to 2 weeks of battery life in smartwatch mode and 20 hours in GPS mode, it can keep up with your training schedule without constant recharging, making it a dependable running companion.
Amazfit Band 7
The Amazfit Band 7 features a large 1.47-inch always-on HD AMOLED display that is 112% larger than previous models, providing easy access to your data without excessive scrolling. With Amazon Alexa built-in, you can use voice commands for convenience, all from a lightweight and comfortable band design.
It supports an impressive 120 sports modes and is water-resistant to 5 ATM, making it suitable for a huge range of activities. The band offers extensive health monitoring, including heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), and sleep analysis. A standout feature is the up to 18-day battery life, which can be extended to 28 days with battery saver mode, minimizing charging interruptions.
Amazfit Bip 3 Pro Smart Watch
The Amazfit Bip 3 Pro continues the legacy of the popular Bip series, offering a balance of essential smartwatch features and remarkable battery life. It typically includes a clear, always-on color display that is visible in sunlight and a lightweight design for all-day comfort. These watches are known for providing core functionality without unnecessary complexity.
You can expect features like built-in GPS for outdoor activity tracking, multiple sports modes, and continuous heart rate monitoring. Health insights such as sleep analysis and SpO2 measurement are also common in this line. The Bip 3 Pro is designed for users who need reliable tracking and smart notifications over a long period on a single charge.
What to Look For in the Best Smartwatches Under $200 for 2025
So, you’re thinking about getting a new smartwatch, but you don’t want to spend a small fortune. I get it. The good news is that the sub-$200 market is absolutely packed with great options in 2025. You just need to know what to look for to get the best bang for your buck. Let’s talk about the key features that separate a good budget watch from a great one.
First up, let’s talk about compatibility. This is the most critical first step. Most smartwatches are either designed for Android or work best with it, but if you’re an iPhone user, you need to be a bit more careful. Apple’s ecosystem is famously closed, so while many watches will pair with an iPhone, you’ll often lose some functionality. If you’re deep into the Apple world, an older Apple Watch SE might be a better fit, but you can find some great Wear OS watches that play nicely with both. Always double-check the compatibility before you click “buy.”
Next, consider the operating system. You’ll mainly see Wear OS (from Google), watchOS (only on Apple Watches), and various proprietary systems from brands like Garmin, Fitbit, and Amazfit. Wear OS gives you the most app flexibility, similar to an Android phone on your wrist. Proprietary systems are often more focused on health and fitness, with incredible battery life as a trade-off. Think about what you’ll use the watch for most. Is it notifications and apps, or is it tracking your runs and sleep?
Battery life is a huge deal. This is where you’ll see the biggest divide. A full-featured Wear OS watch might need a charge every day, maybe even sooner if you use the always-on display. On the other hand, a fitness-focused watch from Amazfit or Garmin can easily last a week or more on a single charge. I personally lean towards longer battery life because forgetting to charge your watch for a night shouldn’t mean it’s a useless brick the next day.
Finally, don’t ignore the build quality and display. You want a screen that’s bright enough to see in direct sunlight and a case that can handle your daily life. Look for features like an always-on display option, scratch-resistant glass (like Gorilla Glass), and a water resistance rating of at least 5 ATM, which means you can swim with it. These features were once reserved for premium models, but they’re becoming standard even on the best smartwatches under $200 for 2025.
FAQ
Can I get a good smartwatch for under $200, or am I just getting a fancy pedometer?
You can absolutely get a full-featured smartwatch. The market has evolved a lot. For under $200, you can expect features like GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen (SpO2) sensing, smartphone notifications, music control, and even contactless payments. Brands like Amazfit, Samsung, and Fitbit offer models in this range that are powerful and capable, not just basic fitness bands.
Are budget smartwatches durable and water-resistant?
Most are built to last. It’s common to find watches with aluminum alloy cases and reinforced polymer bodies that are both lightweight and tough. For water resistance, look for a rating of 5 ATM or IP68. A 5 ATM rating means the watch is safe for swimming and showering, while IP68 means it’s protected against dust and sustained immersion in water. Always check the specific rating for the model you’re considering.
How accurate is the health tracking on watches in this price range?
The accuracy is generally very good for everyday use. Heart rate monitors using optical sensors are reliable for tracking trends during workouts and throughout the day. GPS tracking is also solid for mapping runs and walks. It’s important to remember that no consumer watch is a medical device. While the data is excellent for fitness awareness and spotting trends, it shouldn’t be used for medical diagnosis.
Will a budget smartwatch work with my iPhone?
Many will, but with some limitations. While Apple Watch is the ideal partner for an iPhone, several Wear OS and other Android-compatible watches can pair with iOS. You’ll be able to get notifications, track fitness, and control music, but you might not have access to every app or be able to reply to messages directly from the watch as seamlessly. It’s a good idea to read the specific compatibility details for any model you look at.
What’s the typical battery life I can expect?
This varies widely and is a key differentiator. A smartwatch with a high-resolution color display and lots of apps (like a Wear OS model) will typically last 1-2 days. However, many fitness-focused brands prioritize battery life, offering 7-10 days, or even more, on a single charge. Your usage, like how often you use GPS or the always-on display, will also significantly impact how long the battery lasts.