You can buy an Android smartwatch without breaking the bank - Android

Every user has a different set of priorities and if you don't want to spend a fortune on your Wear OS device, then you may find yourself interested in the best cheap Android watches. Luckily, there are numerous quality options available at lower price points. One of the most affordable yet feature-packed Android smartwatches you'll find is the TicWatch S2, which is all about rugged durability. There's plenty more where that came from.

Best Overall: TicWatch S2

The TicWatch S2 isn't for the faint of heart. This smartwatch was designed with the active individual in mind. Whether you're the outdoorsy type or a certified gym fiend, you'll be glad to have this level of strength on your wrist. The large 1.39-inch display is crisp and easy to read. It's not only waterproof but it was also built with military-grade durability, so you know it's tough. You won't have trouble keeping track of your stats, either. The combination of Google Fit and TicMotion will help you stay motivated with easy access to all of your workouts and data.

The TicWatch S2 also provides you with smartphone notifications so can stay connected to the world as you go about your day. Let's not forget about the convenience of having Google Assistant readily available. With that said, you can expect up to two days of battery life. If you take advantage of always-on display and regularly use GPS and apps, you can expect closer to one day of battery. It would've been nice to have Google Pay on the S2, but at this price point, it's hard to complain. You also don't have an altimeter, so you won't be able to track floors climbed.

Pros:

• Onboard GPS
• Two color options
• Military-grade durability
• 5 ATM water resistance
• Heart-rate monitoring

Cons:

• Lacks NFC payments
• Rugged look isn't for everyone
• No altimeter

Best Overall

TicWatch S2

• $120 from Amazon
• $120 from Walmart
• $135 from B&H

Affordable durability

The S2 offers a pretty display, military-grade durability, GPS, and great fitness tracking. It's also reasonably priced.

Best Value: Michael Kors Access Gen 4 MKGO

Typically, when you think of a Michael Kors watch, you think about a stylish timepiece that's all about elegance. The MKGO, on the other hand, is a fitness-focused smartwatch that's packed with perks. Most importantly, it comes with a reasonable price tag, which makes it one of the best cheap Android watches out there.

It's lightweight and comes with a silicone strap, which is ideal for fitness enthusiasts who want to be as comfortable as possible during their exercise routines. You'll enjoy onboard GPS, fitness tracking with Google Fit, water resistance up to 30 meters, and heart-rate monitoring. Some other smartwatch features make the MKGO convenient and fun to use, such as Google Assistant and Google Pay.

While you'll settle in some areas with a price tag this low, the Michael Kors Gen 4 MKGO is an all-around great place for athletes to start tracking their health and fitness. You'll only have about a day of battery life, which won't be a surprise to those who are accustomed to Wear OS. You also won't have music storage but you will have the option to control your smartphone's music from the watch.

Pros:

• GPS, HRM, NFC
• 3 ATM water resistance
• Decent fitness tracking
• Google Assistant
• Smartphone notifications

Cons:

• Short battery life
• Lacks music storage

Best Value

Michael Kors Access Gen 4 MKGO

• $175 from Amazon
• $151 from Walmart

Get going

The MKGO is a wonderful value that offers key features such as GPS, fitness tracking, and heart-rate monitoring.

Best Lifestyle Smartwatch: Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle

If you're looking for a cheap Android watch that will make a great lifestyle wearable, you'll want to check out the Fossil Gen 5 models. There are different variants to choose from, all of which come in a 44mm stainless steel case, including the Carlyle listed here. You'll get a stunning AMOLED touchscreen as well as a rotating crown for scrolling through menus. There are two additional side buttons that you can customize to your liking. You'll be happy to know that Fossil Gen 5 bands are interchangeable, so it's easy to replace them when you feel like changing it up.

Not only does this smartwatch offer a stylish design, but it also offers many features that make it a perfect pick for daily wear. It comes with built-in GPS, heart-rate monitoring, activity/health tracking, Google Pay, and Google Assistant, and it's water resistant up to 30 meters. Considering just how many new models the company has been releasing lately, the Carlyle is now available at an extremely low price.

When you head outdoors, you might notice that the sunlight visibility isn't fantastic on this smartwatch, but that may not be a deal breaker for you. It's not unlike other Wear OS models in terms of battery life. The Fossil Gen 5 will last for about a day before you need to recharge it. You can take advantage of the battery-saving modes if you need it to last a little longer. Keep in mind that this can limit what features you're able to use, so it's probably not realistic for everyday use.

Pros:

• GPS, HRM, NFC
• Stylish design
• Activity/health tracking
• 3 ATM water resistance
• Google Assistant
• Smartphone notifications

Cons:

• Poor sunlight visibility
• Short battery life

Best Lifestyle Smartwatch

Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle

• $177 from Amazon
• $177 from Walmart

A perfect companion

When you're looking for a smartwatch that's ideal for daily wear with all of the basics, you'll love the Fossil Gen 5 models.

Best for Men's Fashion: Fossil Gen 4 Explorist HR

If you're looking for a touch of class when choosing an Android smartwatch, go for the Fossil Gen 4 Explorist HR. It comes in many eye-catching colors, including Gunmetal, Black, Silver, and Rose Gold. It's slightly more expensive than some of the other options on this list, but still affordable compared to other high-end options you'll find on the market today.

This successor offers heart-rate tracking, Google Pay, onboard GPS, and music storage. All of these features are new when you compare them to the previous Gen 3 model. Battery life is estimated to last for up to 24 hours. A recent update offers additional battery modes. For example, Extended mode claims to prolong battery life for multiple days by turning off nonessential features, like Wi-Fi, always-on display, and so on. Time-Only mode gives you additional hours when you're running low by turning off all features except timekeeping.

While the Fossil Gen 4 Explorist HR is a step in the right direction, t's still lacking in some important areas. It's not fully waterproof like many of the other smartwatches on this list nor does it have its own swim tracking app. It's also still running on the old Snapdragon Wear 2100, which is a bit of a bummer. When all is said and done, though, you'll get some solid features without breaking the bank.

Pros:

• Fashionable design
• Onboard GPS
• Activity and heart-rate tracking
• Music storage and controls
• Google Pay

Cons:

• Only 3 ATM water resistance
• No native swim tracking
• Still running old processor

Best for Men's Fashion

Fossil Gen 4 Explorist HR

• $194 from Amazon

Form and function

An affordable watch doesn't have to lack style. The fashionable Gen 4 Explorist gives you GPS, NFC, music storage, and more.

Best for Women's Fashion: Michael Kors Access Runway (Gen 4)

If you're worried about having to compromise your affinity for fashion to own a smartwatch, think again. You can get the best of both worlds with a stylish watch like the Michael Kors Access Runway. It comes with onboard GPS, activity/health tracking, heart-rate monitoring, 3 ATM water resistance, Google Assistant, and Google Pay. There are multiple attractive colors to choose from, including gold, rose gold, pink, black, and silver.

Believe it or not, this cheap Android watch is about more than looks. The Access Runway lets you set customized fitness goals, track calories burned, and map your exercise routes. There's a generous selection of activities to pick from, including aerobics, elliptical, boxing, circuit training, and more. If you like to accessorize but still want a useful wearable that will track your activities, this is an excellent option for you.

One unfortunate issue is that iPhone users will have to keep the Wear OS app running in the background. This ensures your smartwatch will remain connected. Otherwise, you won't receive notifications on your watch. When your phone is connected, can accept or reject calls (there's no built-in speaker, though). Android Users can reply to texts but iOS users won't have that option. Given how luxurious the design is, this watch may not be the best pick for users who frequently enjoy high-intensity workouts.

Pros:

• GPS, HRM, NFC
• Activity tracking
• Google Assistant
• Multiple color options
• Smartphone notifications

Cons:

• Short battery life
• Not great for intense workouts
• Limited iOS functionality

Best for Women's Fashion

Michael Kors Access Runway

• $168 from Amazon
• $202 from Walmart

Elegant luxury

The stylish Michael Kors Access Runway gives you tons of nice perks, like GPS, activity tracking, and heart-rate monitoring.

Best Compact Design: Skagen Falster 2

The Skagen Falster 2 is now in the affordable smartwatch category thanks to the release of the third edition. At just 11 mm thick, this is a super-slim smartwatch that boasts a compact yet attractive design. This stainless steel smartwatch is available in an array of band materials and colors. It also works with 20 mm interchangeable bands, so you can swap them out for new ones as you please. It isn't lacking in features, either. You'll have onboard GPS, heart-rate monitoring, 3 ATM water resistance, Google Assistant, Google Pay, and activity tracking with Google Fit.

Considering that the Skagen Falster 2 is running the old Snapdragon Wear 2100, battery life and software performance are mediocre at best. You can expect it to last for up to 24 hours before you need to recharge it. The new processor might have helped with laggy software issues, too. However, if it's a slim, compact smartwatch full of features that you're after, you may not find this to be a major issue.

Pros:

• Onboard GPS
• Heart-rate monitoring
• Google Pay
• Google Assistant
• Compact, slim design

Cons:

• Short battery life
• Laggy software
• Lacks new Snapdragon Wear 3100

Best Compact Design

Skagen Falster 2

• $149 from Amazon
• $145 from Walmart

Compact yet robust

You can't go wrong with a feature-packed smartwatch. The compact Falster 2 has heart-rate monitoring, GPS, Google Pay, and more.

Best cheap Android watches Which should you choose?

While Wear OS smartwatches may not be the most popular wearables on the market, there are still some incredible options that hold their own. Most importantly, you don't have to spend a fortune when there are a fair amount of reasonably priced options out there. You'll need to figure out what features matter most to you and what your design preferences are.

The Mobvoi TicWatch S2 is a great place to start, especially if you're a beginner in the smartwatch world and you're also on a budget. When it comes to finding the best cheap Android watch that offers both affordability and a well-rounded user experience, there's no better choice. This rugged watch comes with military-grade durability, all-day battery life, waterproofing, heart-rate monitoring, and more.

If you're not a fan of the S2, there are many other Wear OS options that you may find more suitable. Whether you're prioritizing fashion, features, or a mix of both, you'll have the chance to choose a smartwatch that will make your wrist happy without hurting your wallet. If you're willing to expand your horizons beyond the walls of Wear OS, you may also want to consider exploring all the other types of Android smartwatches on the market these days.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Courtney Lynch is a freelance writer at Android Central. She's obsessed with all things health, fitness, and music. At any given time she can be found checking out the latest and greatest gadgets while simultaneously petting her dog and sipping iced coffee.