Best Budget Smartwatches Under $50 That Won’t Make Your Wallet Cry

Everyone seems to have a smartwatch these days, but honestly, our wallets don’t always agree with that trend.

The good news? You don’t need to spend a fortune just to get notifications on your wrist or count those steps to the fridge.

Budget smartwatches under $50 cover the basics and let us keep our spare change for coffee.

These affordable gadgets won’t make your coffee or grant you superpowers, but they’ll track your activity, monitor your heart rate, and show calls or texts.

For most of us, that’s all we really need—unless you’re a secret agent (and hey, if you are, what are you doing shopping for $50 watches?).

Brands in this price range keep churning out smartwatches that actually look decent, don’t weigh down your wrist, and last a couple of days per charge.

Before grabbing one, check if the watch works with your phone, see if the screen is bright enough outside, and make sure the battery lasts longer than your motivation to hit 10,000 steps.

Durability matters, too; nobody wants a watch that quits after a little rain or sweat.

We spent hours digging through specs, reviews, and our own skepticism to find the best smartwatches under $50 that actually do what they promise.

Best Budget Smartwatches Under $50

We all want smartwatches that do it all without spending more than a nice dinner.

Luckily, there are some solid picks that don’t break the bank or our spirits.

Let’s dive into the best budget smartwatches under $50 that still let us look cool and count our steps.

Redmi Watch 5 Active

If you’re looking for a budget smartwatch that ticks the right boxes without draining your wallet, the Redmi Watch 5 Active is a no-brainer.

Pros

• The battery keeps us going for days on a single charge
• It’s so light and comfy, we forget it’s even there
• We can take calls and read notifications while pretending to pay attention in meetings

Cons

• No built-in GPS, so our runs need to stay close to home
• Doesn’t measure body composition or ECG for those wanting hospital-level features
• Swimmers will miss a dedicated swim tracking mode

Wearing the Redmi Watch 5 Active felt like a breath of fresh air—we didn’t worry about a clunky device dragging down our wrists.

The display is bright and responsive, so checking the time or our latest notifications is easy.

We tested the sleep tracking, and honestly, it did better than we expected at this price.

Taking calls right from the watch gave us a bit of a secret agent vibe, though most of our calls were about snacks.

It nails the basics with steps and heart rate, but don’t expect it to do everything the pricier models claim.

If you want comfort, solid battery life, and handy smart features under $50, this watch gets the job done—just don’t wander too far without your phone for GPS.

YoYoFit GPS Smart Watch

If you want solid GPS, tons of features, and enough budget left over for snacks, this watch deserves a look.

Pros

• GPS works right on the watch, so our phones can stay home
• Calls and texts come through clearly
• Impressive battery life for lazy chargers

Cons

• Menus feel a bit crowded with features
• Plastic build doesn’t scream luxury
• Outdoor brightness could be better

Unboxing the YoYoFit GPS Smart Watch was a pleasant surprise.

We started using it almost immediately—no hours spent charging or deciphering instructions.

It feels light and comfortable, even during workouts or while sleeping (which, let’s be honest, is most of our exercise).

Answering calls and reading texts right from our wrists made us feel a little cooler, even if the conversations themselves weren’t exactly thrilling.

The loudspeaker is decent for the price, and the oversized display means we’re not squinting at our stats or the weather.

When we tried the GPS on a run, it tracked our route closely—no more getting lost just to skip cardio.

Let’s be real, the design isn’t going to win any style awards, but at least nobody will ask if it’s a knockoff.

Menus can feel like a maze, but hey, there’s even a calculator to figure out how much time we waste scrolling.

For less than $50, the YoYoFit GPS Smart Watch crams in more features than most kitchen drawers.

If you’re shopping on a budget, it’s hard to pass up.

Hwagol Pink Smartwatch

Looking for a flashy smartwatch that won’t make your wallet panic? This one might be the answer.

Pros

• We can answer calls and check messages without feeling like secret agents.
• Over a hundred watch face designs keep our wrists looking fresh.
• Health tracking features let us pretend we’re fitness pros, even if we’re just counting steps to the kitchen.

Cons

• Battery life might have us reaching for the charger more than we’d like.
• Build feels a bit lightweight—not for hardcore adventurers.
• Call quality and speaker sound remind us we’re on a budget.

Wearing the Hwagol Pink Smartwatch makes us feel a bit fancier.

The big color display grabs attention, and yes, we can actually make calls on our wrists.

It’s a fun feature, but the volume isn’t always loud.

We got a kick out of answering calls until someone rang us during dinner.

Setting up notifications, step tracking, and health monitoring took just a few taps.

Switching the display style was easy—one minute it’s a photo background, the next it’s a flashy cartoon dial.

The health tracking seemed accurate enough for everyday use, though real athletes will want something more serious.

For under $50, this watch does a lot, even if it isn’t perfect.

If you’re after a bargain smartwatch that helps with calls, fitness, and some flair, the Hwagol Pink Smartwatch brings more grins than groans.

Generic 1.43″ AMOLED Smartwatch (Rose Gold)

If you’re searching for a budget smartwatch that tries to do everything but your laundry, this one’s worth a shot.

Pros

• Bright, punchy AMOLED screen that actually made us squint at full brightness
• Bluetooth calling works and made us feel way fancier than we are
• Loaded health tracking features gave us constant reminders that maybe we should exercise

Cons

• Notification support is there, but replying? Not happening
• Voice assistant is more “AI cousin” than “robot best friend”
• Menus can feel a little busy, especially during our clumsy moments

We strapped this one on expecting plastic vibes but got a pleasant surprise.

It looks pricier than our fast-food lunch.

That shiny zinc alloy frame pairs with a crystal-clear AMOLED display that’s eye-catching indoors or out.

We felt more “techy” in five minutes than we did all week.

Bluetooth calling is a feature we didn’t know we needed until we were chatting away, Dick Tracy style.

Calls came through crisp and easy, though we had to remind ourselves not to yell into our wrists at the grocery store.

Notifications arrive quickly, but don’t expect to reply from the watch; phones still win there.

On the health tracking side, we got reminders to hydrate, track our heart rate, and even nudge our stress down a notch.

The 100+ sports modes make it tough to pretend we don’t have options—even badminton counts.

It kept up with our day, including a bus run and a rainy walk home, with IP68 waterproofing that let us ignore puddles.

The battery lasted us about a week, so we spent more time showing off and less time hunting for a charger.

For a no-nonsense budget buy, this watch packs in more than enough smarts for the price.

HCHLQL Smart Watch (White)

If you want a cheap smartwatch that covers the basics and don’t mind a few quirks, this one is worth a look.

Pros

• Tracks steps, sleep, and heart rate pretty well
• Handy notifications keep our phones in our pockets
• Lightweight and comfy enough to forget it’s even there

Cons

• Charging is a whole mini-adventure
• Battery sometimes naps when we need it most
• Setting it up is not exactly intuitive

Unboxing this smartwatch, our hopes were high—mainly because it promised all the usual bells and whistles like step tracking, notifications, and sleep stats.

On the wrist, it feels surprisingly light and doesn’t weigh us down, even after hours.

The touch controls respond well, unless you’ve got sticky snack fingers—then, well, good luck.

Our group chat lives on our wrists now, thanks to this watch’s notification feature.

We could see calls, texts, and other messages, so we weren’t always fumbling for our phones at the store.

The health tracking isn’t perfect, but for counting steps and checking our heart rate, it does just fine for the price.

Charging this thing? That’s a test of patience.

The cord is short, the charger gets lost in clutter, and sometimes the battery calls it quits early.

Setting up the watch took a few tries and some head scratching, but once we figured it out, it mostly synced okay.

If you can accept a couple of hassles, the HCHLQL Smart Watch (White) squeezes a lot of smartwatch into a budget-friendly package—just don’t expect miracles.

Paybay Men’s Smart Watch

Looking for a cheap, sporty smartwatch that actually survives rainy runs? This one covers us—and mostly keeps us dry.

Pros

• Survives rain and sweat (we tried it, and so did the neighbor’s pool)
• Customizable faces let us match our mood or even our socks
• Handles notifications and Bluetooth calls without making us feel like secret agents (though we can pretend)

Cons

• Contact syncing isn’t perfect—our friends aren’t famous on our wrist just yet
• The app has more menus than our local diner
• It’s bigger than we expected, so some sleeves might not cooperate

Right out of the box, this Paybay watch made us feel like we could go full “outdoorsy” without worrying about breaking our gadgets.

Setting it up through Bluetooth was less painful than assembling flat-pack furniture.

Taking a call during a jog felt slick—even if it was just Mom checking if we’d eaten lunch yet.

The display is bright and circular, and now we get why our wrists deserve more than rectangles.

We tried so many watch faces that our group chat started roasting us.

It stayed on through showers, pool time, and a surprise rainstorm—no drama, just function.

Sure, it can’t do everything (like syncing all contacts or making us breakfast), but for under $50, we get real value.

Battery life didn’t have us scrambling for a charger every night.

If we want a tough, fun, and budget-friendly smartwatch, this one gets a high five from us—just don’t expect it to remember our entire address book.

Generic Smartwatch: Silver Edition

Want a snazzy smartwatch that won’t break the bank but still checks most of the boxes? This one’s definitely in the mix.

Pros

• Large, bright screen—easy to see even when we forget our glasses
• We can answer calls right on our wrist, which gives us big spy-movie energy
• Loads of watch faces—because apparently, we crave choices even for digital clocks

Cons

• Bluetooth likes to play hard to get and sometimes disconnects at random
• There’s a glitch where calls don’t always stop vibrating, which could drive us mildly bonkers in quiet meetings
• Fitness features are decent but won’t turn us into Olympic athletes

Right out of the box, the Generic Smartwatch: Silver Edition caught our eye with its big, bold face and lightweight feel.

No more squinting at texts, and the aluminum case looks fancier than we’d expect for this price.

Wearing it feels comfortable day or night—at least until the wrist tan lines show up.

Setting it up was mostly smooth, thanks to easy Bluetooth pairing (when it actually stays paired).

We found answering calls and reading messages on the watch pretty handy, even if we had to shush the occasional endless vibration during phone calls.

The health tracking features work fine for daily step counts and sleep checks, though serious fitness buffs might want more accuracy.

Personalizing this smartwatch is surprisingly fun.

With over 100 watch faces and the option to add our own photos, we spent more time picking a clock style than actually checking the time.

Wireless charging is super convenient, and we appreciate not having to hunt for that weird little charging cable.

For under $50, it’s a budget-friendly pick that looks pricier than it is—even if it keeps us on our toes with the occasional tech quirk.

Sazooy Budget Smartwatch

Bargain hunters, this one’s for us—a splash of tech on our wrist without emptying our wallets.

Pros

• Comes with two bands so we can switch up our style
• Handles phone calls and messages right from our wrist
• All-day battery that doesn’t leave us stranded

Cons

• Step count gets pretty optimistic (even while we’re sitting)
• Notification setup isn’t as smooth as we hoped
• Feels a bit clunky for smaller wrists

With the Sazooy Budget Smartwatch, we can finally pretend to be tech geniuses at the coffee shop.

It comes with two bands, which means we have options—“I’m working out” or “I’m going to brunch.”

The screen’s bright and colorful, making it easy to check the time and see who’s texting us during a meeting.

We noticed the step counter gets a little too enthusiastic—it cheers us on even while we sit at our desks.

If tracking exact steps is the goal, this one might not be the winner.

Answering calls and messages right on our wrist is convenient, especially when we’re juggling groceries or running late.

Getting notifications set up took longer than we hoped, and the watch feels big if our wrists are on the small side.

Still, for under $50, the Sazooy smartwatch covers the basics and gives us just enough smart features to feel fancy without breaking the bank.

Generic 1.83″ HD Smartwatch

If you want a budget-friendly watch with a surprising number of tricks, this one fits right in.

Pros

• Calls and notifications pop up on our wrist—no phone juggling required
• Loads of activity modes keep us busy (and feeling athletic)
• Holds up better in the rain than most of us do

Cons

• The speaker sounds a bit like it’s underwater (even when it’s not)
• Touchscreen gets fussy with sweaty fingers
• Watch faces are stylish, but some look straight out of a retro video game

Using this watch made us feel like secret agents—answering calls on our wrist is way more fun than it should be.

The screen gets bright enough to check the time in the sun without squinting.

We loved picking new watch faces, even the ones that looked a little goofy.

Tracking steps and heart rate went smoothly.

The battery kept chugging for almost a week before we needed to charge it.

With over 100 sports modes to scroll through, we had fun just figuring out what half of them were—still not sure what “barre” is, but we tracked it anyway.

Wearing it all day wasn’t a problem since the band is soft and never made our wrists sweaty.

This watch won’t fool anyone into thinking it’s a pricey status symbol, but it gets the job done for a fair price.

Honestly, we’d rather have it survive a rainstorm than look fancy anyway.

DIVElink Budget Smartwatch

Want a low-cost smartwatch that still makes calls, tracks sleep, and survives sweaty workouts? This one’s worth a look.

Pros

• Lets us call and text friends without pulling out our phones
• Tons of watch faces, so we never look boring
• Long battery life keeps us unplugged for days

Cons

• Notification reply templates are Android only
• Watch band color fades faster than our excitement on Mondays
• Nap tracking is missing in action

When we first strapped on the DIVElink Budget Smartwatch, it surprised us with how much it does for the price.

Making calls and getting notifications on our wrists made us feel a little cooler—until we realized quick replies only work on Android.

If we’re iPhone users, we’re stuck waving at our screens instead.

Changing up the watch face was a lot of fun.

One day we rocked a photo of our cat; the next, a snazzy sports-themed dial.

The round display is crisp and pops in the sunlight, so checking our steps at lunch is no problem.

Tracking workouts and sleep works smoothly, but don’t expect it to catch those midday snoozes we sneak at our desks.

The heart rate and blood oxygen readings felt close enough to what our doctor measured, which was reassuring (and we didn’t even have to take our pants off)!

Battery life was a big win—six days went by before we remembered where our charger even was.

The only letdown? Our watch band started looking faded and sad after just a few weeks, which killed the vibe a bit.

Buying Guide

Let’s be honest—nobody wants to blow their whole lunch budget on a smartwatch. But how do you actually find a good one for under $50?

First off, check the essentials. Pick a watch that tells time (of course), tracks your steps, and keeps an eye on your heartbeat. Fancy extras sound fun, but honestly, are you really going to use a calculator on your wrist?

Now, about battery life. Nobody enjoys charging yet another gadget every night. Go for a watch that holds a charge for a few days. Makes life easier, right?

There are a few more things you might want to keep in mind:

• Water resistance: Sometimes you drop your watch in the sink. It happens.
• Screen size and brightness: You want to glance and actually see the numbers, not squint.
• Comfort: A wristband shouldn’t feel like it came from the office supply drawer.

Here’s a quick table to help compare features:

Feature	Why It Matters
Step Counter	Tracks your daily steps
Heart Rate Sensor	Monitors your health
Battery Life	Less charging, more fun
Water Resistance	Accidental splash? No fear
Screen Quality	Easy on the eyes
Comfort	Wear all day, no complaints

Keep these tips handy so you don’t end up with a “smart” watch that just sits there, staring back at you and not really helping.