You don’t need to spend flagship money to get a smartwatch that feels genuinely useful. Budget and previous-generation models have become surprisingly capable, offering everything from GPS and workout tracking to sleep monitoring, notifications and bright AMOLED displays.

If we were narrowing the current market down to three affordable smartwatches, these are the ones we’d put near the top of the list.

1. Amazfit Active 2 — Best Value Under $150

The Amazfit Active 2 is the easy place to start if you want plenty of features without spending much money.

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For around the $150 mark, it gives you a bright AMOLED display, built-in GPS, sleep and heart-rate tracking, and more than 160 sports and exercise modes. It also supports offline maps, which is a feature you don’t always expect to find at this price.

Battery life is another big reason to consider it. Amazfit rates the Active 2 for up to 10 days, making it far less demanding than smartwatches that need to visit the charger every night.

It isn’t perfect. The software experience isn’t quite as polished as Apple’s watchOS or Google’s Wear OS, and the selection of third-party apps is more limited. Still, those compromises are fairly easy to accept considering how much hardware and fitness functionality you’re getting for the money.

Key specs:

• 44mm case
• AMOLED display
• Up to 10 days of battery life
• Built-in GPS
• Heart-rate and sleep tracking
• Swimproof design
• Works with Android and iPhone

Best for: Anyone looking for maximum smartwatch value around $150.

2. Apple Watch SE 3 — The Sensible Choice for iPhone Owners

If you use an iPhone but don’t want to pay for Apple’s more expensive Watch models, the Apple Watch SE 3 makes a lot of sense.

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It keeps most of the features people actually use every day, including activity and workout tracking, sleep monitoring, GPS and Apple’s broader collection of health and safety tools. The SE 3 also brings an always-on display and uses Apple’s S10 processor, so it doesn’t feel like a dramatically cut-down smartwatch just because it sits below the flagship models.

There are two case sizes available — 40mm and 44mm — which makes it easier to find something that suits your wrist.

The biggest compromise remains battery life. With roughly 18 hours of rated use, this is still a watch you’ll be charging regularly. It also misses some of the more advanced health functions found on Apple’s higher-end watches.

For most iPhone owners who simply want the Apple Watch experience at a more reasonable price, though, the SE 3 covers the important stuff.

Key specs:

• 40mm or 44mm
• Always-on display
• S10 processor
• GPS
• Heart-rate and sleep tracking
• Swimproof
• 5G connectivity available
• Around 18 hours of rated battery life

Best for: iPhone users who want an Apple Watch without paying flagship prices.

3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 — Great Value for Android

The Galaxy Watch 7 may no longer be Samsung’s newest smartwatch, but that’s actually part of what makes it interesting. Once a newer generation arrives, the previous model often becomes much easier to recommend when discounts start appearing.

CHECK THE GALAXY WATCH 7 ON AMAZON >>

The Watch 7 still feels modern, with a bright AMOLED touchscreen, a slim case and a responsive interface. You can choose between 40mm and 44mm versions, and there’s also an LTE option for people who want more independence from their phone.

Fitness and wellness tracking are among its stronger points. You get GPS, heart-rate monitoring, detailed sleep information and Samsung’s collection of health features, along with Google’s Wear OS ecosystem and access to plenty of third-party apps.

Battery life is rated at around 24 hours under normal use, extending further when using power-saving settings. That’s nowhere near the multi-day endurance of the Amazfit, but it’s fairly typical for a full-featured Wear OS watch.

One thing worth knowing is that you’ll need an Android phone, and certain health functions work best — or exclusively — when paired with a Samsung Galaxy device.

Key specs:

• 40mm or 44mm
• AMOLED touchscreen
• GPS
• Heart-rate and sleep tracking
• LTE option
• 50m water resistance
• Around 24 hours of standard battery life
• Wear OS

Best for: Android users who want a feature-rich smartwatch without buying Samsung’s newest model.

Which One Should You Buy?

These three watches approach affordability in very different ways.

The Amazfit Active 2 is our pick for pure value. Its long battery life, AMOLED screen, GPS and extensive fitness features make the sub-$100 price particularly attractive.

For iPhone owners, the Apple Watch SE 3 is the obvious step up. It costs considerably more, but you get Apple’s polished ecosystem and excellent integration with the iPhone.

Android users should take a close look at the Samsung Galaxy Watch 7, especially when it’s discounted. It may be a generation behind Samsung’s newest watches, but there’s still plenty of life — and plenty of technology — left in it.

Ultimately, the best budget smartwatch isn’t necessarily the cheapest one. It’s the one that gives you the features you’ll actually use without making you pay for the ones you won’t.

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