Finding an affordable smartwatch for under $50 is challenging. You likely won’t be able to find a typical name brand but there are plenty of generic watches that can still perform well. These cheaper watches are also a good alternative for those who will be traveling where theft is a risk or participating in activities where their watch could be damaged.
Here are the five best smartwatches you can within a $50 budget.
Rwatch R5 Smart Watch
If you like the look of Samsung’s Gear 2 watch, you’ll appreciate the styling of Rwatch’s R5 Smart Watch. This watch offers a touchscreen display that is so popular among smartwatch developers.
Specs and Features:
- Available in three colors – silver, gold, and black
- 5″ touch screen display with 240 x 240 resolution
- Bluetooth 4.0 used for wireless syncing
- Works with any Bluetooth-compatible phones (Apple, Android, Huawei, etc)
- Three built-in sensors – gyro sensor, accelerometer, and gravity
- Includes normal watch functions as well as basic activity tracking, sleep monitoring, and Find My Device
- The battery life offers a talk time of 4 hours and a standby time of 180 hours
- Charges quickly with an included micro USB cord
The three color options include the whole color of the watch, meaning both the metal display screen surround and the wrist band. Many people find black or silver to be more attractive color options rather than gold, which doesn’t translate well with a rubber wrist band.
Like any good watch, the R5 has all the typical features you’d expect – clock (with alarm), stopwatch, and a timer. It also functions as a basic fitness tracker and sleep tracker. For fitness tracking, this device works like a glorified pedometer.
It will track your steps, mileage, pace, calories burned and total time spent exercising. Rwatch does claim that the R5 offers sleep tracking though it doesn’t exactly explain what data it collects.
Vidonn X6 Smart Wristband
Vidonn’s X6 Smart Wristband looks very much like a typical activity tracker. It lacks the large display associated with some smartwatches, making it more sleek and sporty looking.
Specs and Features:
- Available in three colors – black, purple, and blue
- The incredible standby battery life of 360 hours
- Works with Android and iOS
- Water-resistant/splash-proof
- Syncs with Bluetooth 4.0
- Offers sleep tracking with a silent alarm
- Built-in fitness tracking with impressive accuracy
The X6 is considered a smartwatch but is more on the fitness tracker side of the spectrum. You get all of the normal watch features along with notification alerts when you can calls, message, or push notifications from major apps. For fitness tracking, you get all of the basics you need.
This wristband keeps track of distance traveled, steps are taken, calories burned, and more. On the interface, you can create daily activity goals to ensure you are constantly working towards better health.
This watch collects data every two minutes and can store up to 7 days worth of fitness data. Another nice feature is an alert to prompt you to move if you’ve been sedentary for too long.
The X6 also works for sleep tracking. You can set sleep goals and a silent, vibrating alarm to wake you up more peacefully in the morning. The sleep data it collects includes a time when you fall asleep and whether you were in deep or shallow sleep.
Geelyda Smart Watch Aplus
The Geelyda Smart Watch Aplus is another device similar to the Samsung Gear 2. It boasts the large touchscreen display that is so popular with smartwatches.
Specs and Features:
- 5″ display screen with 240 x 240 resolution
- Compatible with Bluetooth 3.0
- Works with iOS and Android phones
- Includes very basic fitness tracking and sleep tracking
- Works with Bluetooth as a music player
- Can be used without a phone
While both this watch and the Rwatch R5 are very similar, Geelyda seemed to have gone with making their watch less about actual fitness. The SmartWatch Aplus only offers three types of fitness tracking – steps taken, distance covered, and calories burned. It seems to be fairly accurate and the average person will only need these three types of data anyways.
One cool thing about this device is that you can use it on its own without a phone. Simply add a SIM card and you’re set. Of course, the major advantage of Bluetooth syncing is that you can receive notifications, calls and play music which is the purpose of a smartwatch.
However, those without a phone or those who only want fitness tracking for the day will be happy that they don’t necessarily need a phone to use this watch.
OUMAX Bluetooth Smart Watch S6
If you have an Android phone, the OUMAX S6 Smart Watch is perfect.
Specs and Features:
- Designed primarily for Android, with limited iOS compatibility
- 54″ touch display screen with 240 x 240 resolution
- Plays video and audio
- Works with Bluetooth 3.0 for syncing
- Supports major phone features like clock, contacts, push notifications, and more
- Built-in speaker and pedometer
- Standby battery life up to 80 hours
If the bare bones of fitness tracking are all you need and you’d rather have a watch function as a true smartwatch, you’ll likely be very happy with the S6. This watch has a pedometer but that is about where fitness data collection ends. You do however get a whole lot more in terms of lifestyle features.
First off, this watch was primarily made for Android phones. You can use it with iOS but will find it frustrating in how limited it is. Therefore you may as well choose a different model if you use an Apple phone. With an Android device, you’ll be impressed with all the different little features it offers.
You will have access to the contacts, calendar, and any app notifications via Bluetooth from your phone. You can make and take calls, plays video or music, and even look at pictures. You also have quick access to setting alarms and using a calculator. It is overall very user-friendly and will work very well as an everyday smartwatch.
Martian Watches Notifier Smartwatch
Some people just don’t like the look of a large display screen or the slim sporty design of wristbands. Thankfully the ]Martian Watches Smartwatchgives the look and feel of a traditional watch, with a lot of neat additions.
Specs and Features:
- Includes a camera remote
- Receive email, app, call, SMS, and message notifications
- Set alarms and dual clocks
- Shows caller ID and basic text
- Access weather and calendar when synced to your phone
- Wirelessly syncs via Bluetooth
You can even set custom vibration alerts so you can feel what type of notification your watch is receiving. Not all apps with work with this notification set up but all the major ones do, such as Facebook Whatsapp, Twitter, Skype, Gmail, Pinterest, and more social media and other apps. Another useful feature is a Leash and Find Phone. If you happen to lose your phone you can use the watch to find it.
The Notifier Smartwatch is really more of a lifestyle watch rather than a fitness tracker. This isn’t a downside, however, and may be just what you may want for your busy life. It’s also not water-resistant and it’s not in a stainless steel case.
Unfortunately, there aren’t many smartwatches under $50 and even though these are some of the best options you can find, they don’t necessarily compete with well-known brands. Most authorities on these gadgets recommend that if you want a watch that will last for a couple of years without fail, you may want to save up $100+ and purchase a name-brand choice.
Further read:
- The Full Fitbit Ionic vs Samsung Gear Sport Comparison
- Suunto Traverse vs. Garmin Fenix 3: Which Should You Buy?
- Comparison: Fitbit Blaze vs Garmin Vivoactive HR
- Fitbit Ionic vs Garmin Forerunner 235 – Which One Should You Buy?
- Best Smartwatch Deals and Activity Tracker Deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday – October 7, 2020
- Best Prime Day Fitness Tracker Deals – Fitbit Deals, Garmin Deals, Moov Deals, and More! – October 6, 2020
- The Full Bellabeat Leaf Review – December 30, 2019