I've worn more budget smartwatches than I care to admit. Some of them felt like strapping a calculator to my wrist. Others surprised me so much I stopped reaching for my phone entirely. The good news? In 2026, the sub-£100 market is stacked. You can get GPS tracking, Bluetooth calling, AMOLED screens, and proper health monitoring without spending Apple Watch money.
Whether you want something to track your runs, nudge you off the sofa, or just stop you pulling your phone out every time it buzzes, there's a watch on this list that fits. I've spent weeks comparing these five across daily wear, workouts, sleep tracking, and (honestly) just how they look on my wrist. Here's what I'd actually spend my money on.
What to Look for in a Budget Smartwatch
Before you pick one, it helps to know what actually matters at this price. Not everything branded as a "feature" is worth paying for.
- Display type: AMOLED screens are brighter, sharper, and easier to read in sunlight than LCD. Most watches under £100 now offer AMOLED, but the cheapest models still use LCD. That's perfectly fine if you just want notifications and step counts.
- Battery life: Ranges from around 10 days to over three weeks. If you hate charging things, prioritise this. Watches with always-on displays or heavy GPS use will drain faster than the headline figure suggests.
- GPS: Built-in GPS lets you track runs and walks without your phone. Dual-band GPS (L1 + L5) is more accurate in cities and under tree cover. Not all budget watches include it.
- Health tracking: Heart rate monitoring is standard. SpO2 (blood oxygen), stress tracking, and sleep analysis are common at this price now. Accuracy varies, so don't treat any of these as medical devices, but they're useful for spotting trends over time.
- Bluetooth calling: Most of these watches let you answer calls from your wrist via a built-in speaker and mic. Sound quality varies, but it's handy when your phone's in your bag.
- Water resistance: 5ATM (50 metres) is standard and means you can swim, shower, and get caught in the rain without worrying. Check before you jump in the pool though, because not all are rated for actual swimming.
- Compatibility: All five watches here work with both Android and iOS, but some features (like app stores or call handling) work better on one platform than the other. Check the fine print if you're on iPhone.
The Best Smartwatches Under £100
1. Amazfit Active 2 — best overall (£85)
The Amazfit Active 2 is the one I'd recommend if you asked me to pick just one. It does everything well and nothing badly, which sounds like faint praise until you've tried a few budget watches that absolutely fall apart in one area or another.
The 1.32-inch AMOLED display is crisp and bright enough to read in direct sunlight without squinting. It's a round face, which I personally prefer. Looks more like an actual watch and less like a tiny phone strapped to your arm. The silver case punches above its weight too.
What sets it apart is the GPS with built-in maps and turn-by-turn directions. I used it on a few unfamiliar running routes and it kept me on track without needing to glance at my phone. The BioTracker sensor handles heart rate, SpO2, and stress monitoring. The readiness score each morning is a nice touch too, telling you whether your body's recovered enough for a hard session or if you should take it easy.
Battery life sits at around 10 days with typical use, which is middle of the pack here. It supports 160+ sport modes including HYROX and strength training with rep counting. Water resistance is rated at 5ATM, so swimming is fine.
Pros:
- GPS with proper maps and directions, which is rare at this price
- Readiness score and HRV tracking give useful daily insights
- Round AMOLED display looks like it costs more than it does
- Comfortable silicone strap, no skin irritation after long wear
Cons:
- 10-day battery is decent but not class-leading
- No Bluetooth calling on this model (available on the premium version)
- Zepp app can feel cluttered with too many menus
Best for: Runners and anyone who wants a proper all-rounder with GPS maps built in.
Where to buy: Amazon (£85.49)*
2. Huawei Watch Fit 3 — best design (£80)
If you've ever looked at an Apple Watch and thought "I want that, but I don't want to spend £300," the Huawei Watch Fit 3 is your answer. It's the best-looking watch on this list by a comfortable margin. The aluminium case is just 9.9mm thin and weighs 26 grams. I forgot I was wearing it more than once, which is the highest compliment I can give a watch.
The 1.82-inch AMOLED screen is sharp at 347 PPI and hits 1,500 nits, so you can read it in full sun without shading it with your hand. I found the rectangular shape gave me more room for notifications and text previews compared to round watches.
Bluetooth calling works well. The speaker is clear enough for quick conversations, though I wouldn't use it in a noisy pub. Health tracking covers heart rate, SpO2, stress, and sleep, and Huawei's Health app is one of the better ones for presenting this data in a way that actually makes sense.
Battery life is around 10 days, matching the Amazfit. It charges quickly though, so topping it up for 30 minutes over breakfast gives you a solid few days.
Pros:
- Looks like a watch that costs twice as much
- Ultra-slim at 9.9mm and only 26g on the wrist
- Bright 1.82" AMOLED, easily readable outdoors
- Bluetooth calling with decent speaker quality
Cons:
- Huawei's app ecosystem is more limited than Google or Samsung
- No third-party app support
- Some iOS features are restricted
Best for: Anyone who cares about how their watch looks and wants something slim and stylish.
Where to buy: Amazon (£79.86)*
3. CMF by Nothing Watch 3 Pro — best GPS accuracy (£93)
Nothing has a knack for making budget tech feel anything but cheap, and the CMF Watch 3 Pro carries that same energy. The dark grey metal body has a minimal, almost industrial look that I find quite appealing. It gets quietly noticed rather than shouting for attention.
The big selling point here is dual-band GPS using both L1 and L5 satellite signals. In plain English: it locks onto your position faster and tracks your route more accurately, especially in built-up areas where tall buildings throw off cheaper GPS. If you run in a city, this matters more than you'd think. I tested it on a few routes through central Manchester and the tracking was tighter than any single-band watch I've tried.
The 1.43-inch AMOLED display runs at 60fps, which makes scrolling through menus feel smooth instead of laggy. Battery life hits 13 days, the longest of the round-faced watches here. Bluetooth calling is included with AI noise reduction, which does a reasonable job of cutting out background noise during calls.
Heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress monitoring are all present, plus detailed sleep analysis. It's the most expensive watch on this list at £93, and whether that premium is worth it depends on how much you value GPS accuracy and that extra battery life.
Pros:
- Dual-band GPS for genuinely better route tracking
- 13-day battery life, best among the round watches
- 60fps AMOLED display is smooth and responsive
- Bluetooth calling with effective noise reduction
Cons:
- Most expensive on this list at £93
- CMF/Nothing app ecosystem is still maturing
- No built-in maps (GPS tracking only, no directions)
Best for: City runners and anyone who wants the most accurate GPS tracking under £100.
Where to buy: Amazon (£93.06)*
4. Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 — best battery life (£78)
If charging your watch is the thing you dread most, the Redmi Watch 5 will make you very happy. Xiaomi claims 24 days on a single charge, and in my experience that's not far off. I got a solid three weeks with Bluetooth calling, notifications, and daily health tracking all switched on. With lighter use, you could probably stretch it further.
The screen is enormous. At 2.07 inches, it's the biggest AMOLED display in this lineup, and it makes reading messages and checking stats much more comfortable than on smaller watches. The trade-off is that the watch itself is quite large at 53mm, so if you have smaller wrists it might look a bit chunky.
Bluetooth calling is clear and reliable. Health tracking covers heart rate, sleep, and SpO2, with 150+ sport modes and built-in GPS for outdoor tracking. The aluminium frame gives it a bit more heft and solidity than you'd expect from Xiaomi's budget range.
The Mi Fitness app is simple and easy to navigate, which I appreciate after wrestling with some of the more bloated alternatives. It won't win any design awards, but it doesn't hide things behind three sub-menus either.
Pros:
- 24-day battery life, charge it once or twice a month
- Largest AMOLED screen here at 2.07 inches
- Bluetooth calling included
- GPS and 150+ sport modes
Cons:
- 53mm case is bulky on smaller wrists
- Design is functional rather than stylish
- Sleep tracking accuracy could be better
Best for: Anyone who hates charging and wants a big, easy-to-read screen.
Where to buy: Amazon (£77.99)*
5. Xiaomi Redmi Watch 5 Active — best under £30 (£28)
Right, let's talk about this one. Twenty-eight quid. For a smartwatch with Bluetooth calling, heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, 140+ sport modes, and 18-day battery life. I had to double-check the price because it didn't seem right.
Obviously there are compromises. The display is a 2.0-inch LCD rather than AMOLED, so colours aren't as vibrant and it's not quite as punchy in bright sunlight. There's no built-in GPS, so it piggybacks off your phone for run tracking, which means you need to carry your phone with you. And the overall build quality is fine, but it doesn't feel as solid in the hand as the Huawei or CMF.
But for what most people actually use a smartwatch for (notifications, step counting, sleep tracking, the occasional call from your wrist), it does all of it perfectly well. The 18-day battery means you charge it less than once a fortnight. The silver version looks surprisingly clean on the wrist. And if you're buying your first smartwatch and aren't sure you'll stick with it, spending £28 instead of £90 takes all the pressure off.
I'd also recommend this as a solid option for kids or teenagers who want a smartwatch but don't need GPS tracking or advanced health sensors.
Pros:
- Absurd value at under £30
- Bluetooth calling, which is rare at this price
- 18-day battery life
- 5ATM waterproof
Cons:
- LCD screen instead of AMOLED
- No built-in GPS, needs your phone for location tracking
- Basic health tracking compared to pricier options
Best for: First-time smartwatch buyers, teens, or anyone who wants the basics without spending much.
Where to buy: Amazon (£27.99)*
Comparison Table
| Feature | Amazfit Active 2 | Huawei Fit 3 | CMF Watch 3 Pro | Redmi Watch 5 | Redmi Watch 5 Active |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £85 | £80 | £93 | £78 | £28 |
| Display | 1.32" AMOLED | 1.82" AMOLED | 1.43" AMOLED | 2.07" AMOLED | 2.0" LCD |
| Shape | Round | Rectangular | Round | Rectangular | Rectangular |
| Battery | 10 days | 10 days | 13 days | 24 days | 18 days |
| GPS | Yes (with maps) | Yes | Dual-band | Yes | No (phone GPS) |
| Bluetooth Calling | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Water Resistance | 5ATM | 5ATM | 5ATM | 5ATM | 5ATM |
| Heart Rate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SpO2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sport Modes | 160+ | 100+ | 120+ | 150+ | 140+ |
| Best For | All-rounder | Style | GPS accuracy | Battery life | Value |
When to Buy a Smartwatch in the UK
Smartwatch prices fluctuate throughout the year, and if you can time your purchase right, you'll save a fair bit. Here are the best windows to watch for:
- Amazon Prime Day (July): Consistently the best time to buy budget smartwatches. Amazfit, Xiaomi, and Huawei all see heavy discounts, often 20-30% off. The Redmi Watch 5 dropped to under £60 during Prime Day 2025.
- Black Friday / Cyber Monday (November): Another strong period for deals. Most retailers (Amazon, Currys, Argos) run smartwatch discounts. This is typically when you'll find the best Huawei and Samsung deals.
- January Sales: Good for picking up older models that retailers want to clear. If a new version has just launched, the previous generation often drops significantly.
- New Model Launches: When a brand releases a new watch (usually spring or autumn), the outgoing model gets discounted across all retailers. Worth keeping an eye on brand announcements.
That said, all five watches on this list are already well under £100 at full price. If you need one now, don't wait six months to save a tenner. You'll get more value from actually wearing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do budget smartwatches work with iPhones?
Yes, all five watches on this list are compatible with both Android and iPhone. However, the experience is generally smoother on Android. Some features (replying to messages from the watch, deeper app integration) can be limited on iOS depending on the brand. Huawei and Amazfit tend to have the best cross-platform support in this price range.
How accurate is heart rate tracking on cheap smartwatches?
For general fitness tracking and spotting trends over time, budget smartwatches are perfectly adequate. They use optical sensors (green LED lights on the underside) to measure heart rate, which is the same technology used in more expensive watches. Accuracy can vary during high-intensity exercise or if the watch isn't snug against your skin, but for resting heart rate, daily averages, and sleep tracking, they're reliable enough. Just don't use them for medical decisions.
Is it worth paying more for AMOLED over LCD?
If you use your watch outdoors a lot, yes. AMOLED screens are significantly brighter, have better contrast (true blacks), and use less power when displaying dark watch faces. LCD screens work fine indoors and in shade, but they wash out more in direct sunlight and colours look flatter. The Redmi Watch 5 Active's LCD is the only one here, and at £28, the trade-off is completely reasonable.
Can I swim with these smartwatches?
All five have a 5ATM water resistance rating, which means they can handle pressures equivalent to 50 metres depth. In practice, this means pool swimming, showering, and rain are all fine. What you should avoid is hot water (saunas, hot tubs) and high-pressure water (jet skiing, water slides), as these can push water past the seals. If swimming is a primary use case, the Amazfit Active 2 and Redmi Watch 5 both have dedicated swim tracking modes.
The Verdict
For most people, the Amazfit Active 2 is the one to get. It strikes the best balance between features, build quality, and price. The GPS with actual maps is something none of the others offer at this price, the health tracking is solid, and it looks good on your wrist without trying too hard. At £85, I haven't found anything better for the money.
If design matters more to you than GPS accuracy, the Huawei Watch Fit 3 at £80 is the one. It's the thinnest, lightest, and best-looking watch here. People will assume you spent twice as much.
If you just want to spend as little as possible and still get a useful smartwatch, the Redmi Watch 5 Active at £28 is almost silly value. It won't match the others for display quality or fitness tracking depth, but for notifications, calls, step counting, and basic health monitoring, it does everything you need.