4 Best Smartwatch Models Under $250 (2026)

Why WIRED recommends: You get a smartwatch with a slightly curved design that’s almost identical to the original Versa but with a physical button welcome. The 1.58-inch AMOLED display is large and bright, and the battery life lasts six days.

As for fitness tracking, the Versa 4 has built-in GPS to track outdoor workouts and motion sensors to log indoor swimming. Google Health Coach provides AI-powered training and insights that give you a snapshot of your health and well-being. Finally, you get access to Google apps, including Amazon Alexa, Google Maps, and contactless payments with Google Wallet.

Exchange: The fitness tracker supports only 40 types of exercise, which is fewer than many other fitness trackers. No third-party software or music controls. Voice and text features are for Android users only. Finally, it is water resistant up to 50 meters.

Honorable Mentions

Amazfit Bip 6 for $79: Former editor Adrienne Pa loved the Bip 6 for its beauty, responsive AMOLED screen, week-long battery life, and 140 game modes. He found his fitness tracker and Zepp app to be inaccurate at times. If you are willing to do so spend another $20take it Amazfit Active 2 on the contrary.

Google Fitbit Charge 6 for $160: The Fitbit Charge 6 it’s still one of the best fitness trackers out there, packed with enough features to get you into good habits without overwhelming you with data. Its heart rate tracking is compatible with more expensive testing equipment, and can connect to exercise equipment, including Peloton bikes and NordicTrack treadmills. The Charge 6 is now a few years old – it was launched in 2023 – and the Fitbit Air offers many of these features at a lower price. But if you’re looking for a fitness tracker with a screen, consider the Charge 6. If you don’t mind built-in GPS, Fitbit Inspire 3 it costs less than $100 and is accurate.

Samsung Galaxy Watch FE for $226: The Galaxy Watch FE is a great budget Wear OS smartwatch. The 40-mm model has a smaller screen that isn’t too bright, and has a smaller processor and smaller battery than the Watch7 series. The battery lasts about a day, if not less. The health sensors are almost identical, with the Gear editor Julian Chokkattu they got accurate heart rate and sleep tracking results.

Photo: Julian Chokkattu