Credit: Kaitlyn Cimino / Android Authority
Testing wearables for a living is a lot like living in a perpetual state of opening presents in front of the gift giver. Sometimes, a smartwatch is an absolute home run, and I can’t say enough about it. Other times, I wish I could quietly put a device back in its box. But unlike opening a present, one of the factors I evaluate in any new smartwatch is cost.
Many of my favorite finds have been budget-friendly watches and fitness trackers thoughtfully designed to bring valuable tools to more wrists. These wearables pack accurate sensors, robust tool kits, and enough basic smarts to warrant a place on my wrist without costing me an arm or a leg. Depending on your ecosystem, the devices below represent the budget smartwatches I would buy.