What is the best affordable smartwatch?

Best affordable smartwatch for most people: Amazfit Bip 5. It usually hits the right balance of low price, large display, long battery life, built-in GPS, basic fitness tracking, and phone notifications without feeling too bare-bones.

If you use an iPhone and want the smoothest smartwatch experience, look for an Apple Watch SE if it fits your budget. If you use Android and want a more polished app/watch experience than the cheapest models, consider Samsung Galaxy Watch FE or Galaxy Watch6 when discounted. For the lowest-cost fitness-first option, Xiaomi Smart Band 9 is better thought of as a fitness band than a full smartwatch, but it is excellent value.