Contents
- Editor’s Choice
- Top 10 Best Budget Smartwatches of 2022 According to KP
- Main sensors and modules in smartwatches
- How to choose a smart watch
Today, displaying the time on smartwatches is a tribute to mechanical predecessors, but by no means the main function. Watches of the XXI century monitor the state of health, assess the quality of sleep and give useful recommendations, determine the physical parameters of the environment, and sometimes can even replace a smartphone.
However, the best smartwatches are designed to complement the capabilities of a pocket computer, not to force it out of the market. Due to the small screen size, they are not suitable for playing games or watching videos, but with their help it is more convenient to receive an incoming call, view notifications and check the weather information.
Even the most affordable smartwatches have sensors that will come in handy for lovers of tourism and sports. They could be built into a smartphone, but it is unlikely that it will be convenient for an athlete or climber to get it every time to view the distance traveled or height above sea level. In addition, a smartphone from a pocket or bag could not measure the level of oxygen in the blood or pressure, but a gadget on the wrist could easily.
Smartwatches have a lot of options and possibilities – you can list them almost endlessly. Instead, Healthy Food Near Me invites you to learn about the best budget smartwatches in 2021 and choose a companion for your requirements yourself.
Editor’s Choice
Veila T500 Plus
Combine the functions of a fitness tracker and a watch. With them, you can train in different modes and monitor all the indicators necessary during training. The clock will remind you of important events and meetings. There is a heart rate monitor and an alarm clock that will wake you up in the morning for work or school. The strap is made of pleasant to the touch silicone, the screen has a classic square shape, and the screen diagonal is 1.54 inches.
The watch can be synchronized with the simulators located in the gym. There is a calorie counter that will help you keep track of how much you have lost after a workout or a few exercises. If you use your watch while running, it will notify you of your pace. With the smart watch, you can also answer calls with one touch. In addition, there is a weather widget and the ability to view messages, as well as control the music that is in your phone.
Main characteristics
Operating system | Watch OS |
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Vibration | Yes |
Housing material | metal |
Bracelet/strap material | silicone |
Moisture protection | yes, IP67 |
Advantages and disadvantages
Top 10 Best Budget Smartwatches of 2022 According to KP
1. Jet Phone SP1
Smart watches are made in a minimalist style. The strap is made of pleasant silicone, the display has a classic square shape. The touch screen with a diagonal of 1.2 inches contributes to a good and clear display of information. The main distinguishing feature of these smartwatches is the presence of a slot for your SIM card, therefore, they can be used without being tied to a smartphone. There is an alarm clock that will always wake you up on time, and notifications of incoming calls and messages are immediately displayed on the display.
You can record with a voice recorder, follow the weather thanks to the existing widget. The watch has a built-in MP3 player to play music. Vibration is intense, but not annoying. In addition, the smart watch has its own camera with good quality, it has a calculator for making quick calculations and a calendar. The watch has different training modes, with their help you can monitor physical activity.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | Windows, Android, OS X |
Vibration | Yes |
Bracelet/strap material | silicone |
Bracelet length adjustment | Yes |
View or reply notifications | SMS, mail, calendar, Facebook, Twitter, weather |
Advantages and disadvantages
2. Amazfit Bip U
The smart watch is equipped with a large and clear 1.43-inch display. Comfortable and soft silicone strap does not pinch or rub your hand. All information is easily perceived and clearly displayed on a 320 x 302 pixel screen. There are 50 watch faces in total, thanks to which you can always choose the one that best suits your clothes or mood.
It is also possible to independently create new dials, using your photos and pictures. The watch is very light, its weight is only 31 grams. Protected from moisture, so they can swim in the sea, pool and even dive. A large number of sports modes is a great opportunity to lead an active lifestyle and train, both at home and in the gym.
Another necessary and useful feature is the ability to measure the level of oxygen in the blood. The sleep monitoring function will show how much you sleep and the phases of your sleep. There is a built-in heart rate monitor that will show the heart rate both during sleep and during activity. For women, a calendar has been added that will notify you of the upcoming women’s days, the ovulation period. Work without recharging for more than one week.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Vibration | Yes |
Housing material | plastic |
Bracelet/strap material | silicone |
Moisture protection | yes, IP67 |
View or reply notifications | SMS, mail, calendar, Facebook, Twitter, weather |
Advantages and disadvantages
3. HONOR Band 6
Watches are distinguished by their design. The screen, unlike most smartwatches, is rectangular rather than square. The strap is made of silicone, which is quite pleasant to the skin. The screen has a diagonal of 1.47 inches, so it clearly and correctly displays all the necessary information. The watch can work up to 14 days without recharging, which is very convenient and will not create unnecessary problems.
There is a sensor for measuring the level of oxygen in the blood, which is especially important during a pandemic. It has a 10/XNUMX heart rate monitor. If you lead an active lifestyle and like to train at home or in the gym, there are XNUMX sport modes available for you. Thus, you can keep track of all vital signs during training, and the watch will notify you of new achievements and load levels.
By default, the classic watch face is set, but you can choose any of the available ones. The design of the dial can be chosen according to the color and style of clothing, as well as just the mood. In addition to the touch display, there is an additional button on the side panel of the case, with which you can activate the screen and bring up the main menu. Another useful feature is the recognition of the type of physical activity. The watch itself can determine the type of your physical activity and start the appropriate sports mode.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Vibration | Yes |
Housing material | plastic |
Bracelet/strap material | rubber |
Moisture protection | yes, IP68 |
Water resistance class | WR50 (5 atm) |
Advantages and disadvantages
4. Canyon Wildberry CNS-SW74
This smart watch is very stylish and lightweight. The strap is made of silicone, and the case is made of metal, which makes it especially strong, reliable and durable. The watch counts the number of steps taken with particular accuracy. The built-in heart rate monitor allows you to check the heart rate during sleep, training and just during the working day. With the help of such a gadget, you can switch tracks that are in your smartphone. There is a widget that displays the weather in your region, allowing you to always know exactly the temperature, humidity and other indicators.
There are several training modes that provide comfortable exercise both at home and in the gym. You can take high-quality photos on your phone by controlling the smartphone’s camera directly from the watch. For girls, there is a special calendar that will help you keep track of upcoming women’s days, ovulation and much more. It is possible to set reminders and change the watch faces to the one you like best. The screen is made of tempered glass, the watch is waterproof, they can work up to 20 days without recharging.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Vibration | Yes |
Housing material | metal |
Notifications | SMS, weather |
Moisture protection | yes, IP67 |
Advantages and disadvantages
5. Xiaomi Mi Watch Lite
The watch comes with a charger and a user manual. The smart watch is made in a minimalist classic design. Silicone padded strap and 1.4-inch square touchscreen with 320 x 320 dots. A convenient application allows you to comfortably use all the functions of this watch. On the sidebar there is an additional button with which you can call the main menu or activate the screen.
By synchronizing the watch with your phone, you can receive messages and notifications from your social networks on it. There is a function to answer a phone call, you can also remotely control the music of your smartphone. There is a heart rate monitor that allows you to monitor the pulse both at a certain moment and around the clock.
The presence of sports modes will allow you to train on a treadmill, bike, run and engage in other activities at home or in the gym. There is a flashlight, a compass that allows you to navigate the terrain. The breathing function will help you calm down in a difficult and exciting moment. The watch monitors your sleep and provides all the information in the form of statistics. You can choose any of the watch faces in the app or create your own unique one. The alarm clock will wake you up for school or work, there is also a useful weather widget. In addition, the watch has a timer and stopwatch, and detachable straps can be changed.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Vibration | Yes |
Time display method | digital (electronic) |
Bracelet/strap material | silicone |
View or reply notifications | SMS, mail, calendar, Facebook, Twitter, weather |
Water resistance class | WR50 (5 atm) |
Advantages and disadvantages
6. Haylou Solar LS05
The watch differs from all previous models primarily in its round display. The display, in addition to its original shape, has an impressive size: 1.28 inches. With a resolution of 240 by 240 pixels, the watch face clearly displays both text and available widgets. By default, a classic watch face is installed, which you can change at any time and choose the one that suits you from a large number of proposed ones. The watch is complemented by a soft and reliable silicone strap with a latch.
There is a small button located on the side of the case, thanks to which you can turn on the clock or call up the menu. The watch case is protected from moisture, so you can not only swim in them, but also dive. At the same time, the watch will correctly measure your activity. There is a sensor with which you can measure your heart rate. You can adjust the brightness of the gadget, use it to search for your phone, enable or disable the Do Not Disturb mode.
There are sports modes, thanks to which you can play sports both at home and in the gym and keep track of your activity, achievements, change the load. There is a sleep control that allows you to find out how much you slept, how strong your sleep was, etc. In addition, you can control the music of your smartphone directly from the watch.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Moisture protection | yes, IP68 |
Housing material | metal |
Bracelet/strap material | silicone |
View or reply notifications | SMS, mail, calendar, Facebook, Twitter, weather |
Advantages and disadvantages
7. SIGMA iD.Run
This smart watch is ideal for those who are used to keeping track of their health. Thanks to the user-friendly interface, monitoring the indicators has become very simple and convenient. The design of the gadget resembles a classic electronic watch. The display is monochrome, it shows both the time and other information well. The manufacturer managed to achieve special accuracy thanks to the built-in GPS sensor, which allows you to correctly display your location and the number of steps taken. The pulse sensor allows you to read the pulse as accurately as possible.
The watch constantly monitors your activity level, and it can do this even without connecting to a smartphone. The clock will calculate the speed of your movement, the number of steps. There is a calculation of calories burned, which is especially convenient for people who carefully monitor their diet. In addition, the watch has a timer, alarm clock, calendar, stopwatch, which make the gadget as useful and multifunctional as possible.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | Windows, Android, OS X |
Time display method | digital (electronic) |
Glass type | mineral |
Bracelet/strap material | silicone |
Moisture protection | Yes |
Advantages and disadvantages
8. IMILAB KW66
Smart watches have a stylish and original design. Unlike most models, they have a round dial case. The strap is made of soft and pleasant to the touch silicone. There is a secure metal clasp. The display has a resolution of 240 by 240 pixels and a diagonal of 1.28 inches. This is quite enough for the correct display of information and high definition. On the side there is a special button that allows you to turn on the clock or call up the menu. The watch weighs only 54 grams. The touch controls are very responsive and the display brightness can be adjusted manually or automatically. A large set of functions, such as a pedometer, which keeps the most accurate count of the steps taken, will allow you to monitor the state of the body. There are sports modes (treadmill, tennis, football, running and many others).
All notifications, including from social networks, are sent to the watch. There are different watch faces that you can change to your liking. The watch is waterproof so you can swim with it. Also, for sports and other purposes, you can use a stopwatch. There is a sleep monitoring function that tracks how much you sleep and how good your sleep is.
Main characteristics
View or reply notifications | SMS, mail, calendar, Facebook, Twitter |
Time display method | digital (electronic) |
Bracelet/strap material | silicone |
Moisture protection | yes, IP68 |
The possibility of changing the bracelet | Yes |
Advantages and disadvantages
9. BQ Watch 1.0
The smart watch is equipped with a 1.28-inch color touch screen with a resolution of 240 x 240 pixels. This provides a comfortable viewing of messages, notifications and widgets on the watch. The device will be especially useful for people who are actively involved in sports and take care of their health. There is a heart rate monitor, counting steps taken and calories burned. A very useful feature is the measurement of oxygen levels in the blood. There is a weather widget, which is very convenient, as well as sleep monitoring.
Thanks to this function, you can monitor the quality of sleep and its duration. The watch is waterproof, so you can swim and dive in it. There is also dust protection, so that it will not penetrate inside the case. You can control all your indicators in a special application. You can change the wallpaper on the clock and choose the one that you like best at the moment. The watch works without recharging in active mode up to 7 days, and offline up to 30 days. Among the useful functions: timer, alarm clock, vibration, accelerometer.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Screen presence | Yes |
Housing material | plastic |
The possibility of changing the bracelet | Yes |
Moisture protection | yes, IP67 |
Advantages and disadvantages
10. Geozon Runner
Smart watches from the budget price segment are great for those who are used to leading an active lifestyle. Made in a classic design, have a square display of 1.4 inches and a resolution of 240 by 240 pixels. Thanks to the large enough display, you can easily read the various notifications that come to your phone and social networks. Brightness is adjustable to your liking. The silicone strap is quite soft and pleasant. On the side of the case there is an additional button with which you can activate the watch and call up the menu. With the help of special modes, you can track your physical activity as accurately and in detail as possible.
The smart watch monitors the heart rate, there is a sensor for measuring blood pressure, oxygen levels in the blood. From your phone, you can control the music that is on your smartphone. The operating time of the gadget is about 10 days without recharging. The watch is protected from dust and moisture, so you can swim and take a shower in it.
Comes with an interchangeable strap that allows you to change the look of your gadget. There are several training modes, so you can train at home or in the gym and monitor all the necessary indicators.
Main characteristics
Compatibility | iOS, Android |
Phone calls | incoming call notification |
Bracelet/strap material | silicone |
Moisture protection | yes, IP67 |
Advantages and disadvantages
Main sensors and modules in smartwatches
- Tonometer. Measures the wearer’s blood pressure. For many budget models, the tonometer has a high error, but at least it can warn of a strong drop or increase in pressure so that the owner can respond in time.
- Heart rate monitor. Provides information about heart rate. Useful for athletes to monitor the pulse during training with different intensities. It will also allow people with cardiovascular diseases to notice in advance a dangerous deviation of the pulse from the norm.
- Pulse oximeter. Determines the level of oxygen in the blood. Checking saturation is necessary for people with certain diseases or undergoing treatment, but it will be useful for a healthy person to monitor this indicator.
- Accelerometer. Counts steps and distance traveled while walking or running. This sensor is in all modern models.
- Compass or magnetometer. A classic device showing the cardinal directions. Useful for travelers without access to GPS-navigation and the Internet.
- Barometer. Records atmospheric pressure. It is mainly used to make a weather forecast for the near future.
- Altimeter. This device is also called an altimeter. It allows you to find out the height above sea level or above the nearest flat surface. Indispensable for climbers, lovers of snowboarding and skiing.
- GPS module. Thanks to the connection with the satellite, it reveals the coordinates of the owner. This feature is best implemented in children’s smartwatches to track the location of the child, and in conventional models it is used mainly for determining the route.
- NFC module. Used for contactless payment in stores. Paying for goods using a watch is even more convenient and faster than using a smartphone. Some models have this function in the global version, but not in .
Many of the unique features of smartwatches work thanks to these sensors. The rest of the features of the smart watch resemble the basic functionality of a smartphone: a calculator, a calendar, viewing the history of calls and messages.
Separately, it is worth mentioning the music management. The owner of a smart watch can switch, stop or play a song without taking the smartphone out of his pocket or bag – this is incredibly convenient during training, walking and public transport. Communication with a smartphone is usually established via the 802.11b/g/n wireless network channel with a frequency of 2.4 GHz.
How to choose a smart watch
The first thing to pay attention to is watch compatibility with smartphone operating system. Many models do not support Android versions below 5,0 or 5,1, so owners of older devices need to find out this parameter in the product description. Not all watches will work with Apple smartphones, as the manufacturer has released the Apple Watch for its system.
Usually, the smart watch is connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth, therefore, before buying, you also need to know its version. Newest and fastest – 5,0 and above. To take full advantage of the connection, both the watch and the smartphone must support the version.
Next, pay attention to case material, strap and weight products. A smart watch is on the owner’s wrist for a whole day, because even at night they help to monitor sleep. Because of this, it is very important to choose a comfortable accessory that will not cause discomfort, rub your hand and impede movement.
Chassis budget models are made of durable plastic or metal. The first option is suitable for outdoor activities, tourism and sports, as the watch is almost not felt on the hand, can withstand temperature extremes and is resistant to moisture. A metal product looks more presentable, but weighs 2-4 times more. The exception is gadgets with a lightweight aluminum case, but they are not very durable and are more suitable for everyday use.
С strap materials everything is easier. In budget versions, it is silicone or rubber, fabric is less common. The choice depends solely on the preferences of the buyer.
Then you need to decide on functionality. It should be understood that budget models cannot do everything at the highest level, so it is important to determine for what purposes the device is being bought. If it should help in losing weight or building muscle mass, you need to choose a gadget with the appropriate training regimens. If a smart watch has to monitor the health of an elderly person, it is better to abandon hundreds of auxiliary functions and take a model with the most accurate blood pressure monitor and heart rate monitor. Of course, no manufacturer will write that the built-in devices in his device work for three, but this can be learned from video reviews, tests and reviews.
Other parameters and nuances:
- Display. It is best to buy a gadget with a bright OLED or AMOLED display, although some models with an IPS screen also have high-quality and rich colors. You also need to take into account the resolution – the higher it is, the clearer the image will be with the same diagonal display.
- Autonomy. It can be determined by the volume of the battery, which is measured in mAh. But it should be borne in mind that different screens and “stuffing” will consume different amounts of energy. This means that a 230 mAh battery in one device can drain faster than a 180 mAh battery in another. It is advisable to clarify the exact operating time when buying – many manufacturers indicate it in the description.
- Vibration. The vibration gadget silently notifies the wearer of a new message or call. Business people, as well as lovers of loud parties and concerts, cannot do without this function.
- Protection against moisture and water. In order not to take off your smartwatch when washing your hands or in the shower, you need to take a model with at least IP67 protection. Swimmers and divers will need a gadget with water resistance WR100 and WR200 respectively.
- Connection stability. Another parameter that cannot be found from the description and technical specifications. Some budget watches do not communicate well with a smartphone and may disconnect for no reason. You can find out about this through reviews and reviews.
- Operations with calls and messages. Some smart watches allow you to answer a call, others to dial a number, and still others can be equipped with a SIM card, a microphone and a speaker for a call. It’s the same with messages. But it is worth noting that it is still more convenient to send SMS and call from a smartphone, so it often makes no sense to buy a smart watch with similar functions.
- Language. Some manufacturers of budget watches do not include in the global version. As a result, you can peck at the NFC function and buy a smart watch without native language support.
There are additional features like an ambient light sensor that dims the screen in the dark. But such opportunities can hardly become the main argument in favor of a certain model and should be regarded only as bonuses.
To help readers make a choice, the editors of Healthy Food Near Me have collected the most frequently asked questions and turned to an expert for answers, Alexey Ryazantsev, an expert in procurement and development of electronic goods in China at Flame Group.
Popular questions and answers
Someone additionally wants to monitor health indicators: pulse, pressure, distance traveled, but these indicators should not be abused.
It is worth paying attention to what the manufacturer means by dust and water protection. Someone can declare such protection, but have weak indicators. For example, protection from dust, not from dirt. Or from raindrops, but not from a jet of water.
The same applies to pressure indicators: before measurement, manufacturers often ask to check the real indicators on authorized medical devices. Only after the indicators are added to the applications and the watch already gives out the so-called “estimated” indicators.
Therefore, the expert recommends that any medical functions and related indicators be excluded and not taken seriously.