The watch is both a fashionable and a functional accessory, and for a long time "digital" watches looked anything but cool. Now, however, a well-made smartwatch can be as aesthetic as a mechanical watch. A good, well-chosen smartwatch or fitness tracker can make your life easier in a number of ways, from tracking your steps to monitoring your heart rate to controlling your smart home items - all from the comfortable position on your wrist. All of these features make it easy to live hands-free without constantly having to dig around to pull out your smartphone.
Smartwatches are getting more sophisticated, with greater performance and longer battery life, often in a smaller and lighter exterior, and with incredibly sophisticated touchscreens and increasingly intuitive interaction software, the time has never been better to jump on the bandwagon. The only thing that doesn't get better is the price, which means the real question is how do you get the features you need for the price you want?
Are you ready to dive into high-tech, hands-free wearables? Read on for the best smartwatch and Apple Watch deals for August 2020. However, don't expect to see the Pixel Watch anytime soon.
The best smartwatch deals right now
More about the best smartwatch offers on the market right now
Apple Watch
The Apple Watch Series 1 and Series 2 were long retired, but Apple only recently retired the Apple Watch Series 4 in favor of the Apple Watch Series 5. During their event in September, the Series 5 debuted along with other sought-after products like the iPhone 11. Is the Series 5 worth buying? We think so, and there are a few features to be aware of. While the design of the clock is anything but the same, the display is now "always on". While you might think this would drain the battery (and Apple Watches lag a little behind their counterparts here), a lower refresh rate in this mode allows the Series 5 to maintain the same 18-hour battery life as the previous generation. We're splitting the full spec difference between the Series 4 and Series 5 (there isn't much).
If you're not ready to spend the big bucks, the Apple Watch Series 3 is the cheapest option for an Apple Watch. Even though it's two generations old, it's still one of the best smartwatches out there, and it's not that much different from the Apple Watch Series 4. You can use it to send and receive messages over Bluetooth, keep up with your social media accounts, and Track your training with the built-in GPS.
Amazfit Bip
The Amazfit Bip is one of the cheapest smartwatches in our roundup. If you are looking for a super affordable, budget smartwatch, consider the new Amazfit Bip. The sturdy Bip speaks for an affordable, no-frills sports watch design that's perfect for active users looking for more than just their standard digital watch (think G-Shock with heart rate monitor and customizable dial and smart connectivity).
Compatible with Android and iOS devices, this cheap smartwatch can wirelessly sync with your phone to upload and track fitness data through the Mi Fit companion app. The case is dustproof and waterproof. Most impressive is that the internal battery can last up to 30 days before it needs to be charged.
VTech Kidizoom DX2
If you know a young tech geek who would love their own smartwatch, then the Kidizoom DX2 from VTech is just the thing. This cheap wearable smartwatch comes with 55 digital and analog watch faces to help kids learn how to tell the time. There are also built-in wrist-based features like a pedometer, a gyroscope motion sensor for games, and two cameras for taking videos and photos. The included USB cable allows you to charge the watch, download new games and watch faces from the VTech Learning Lodge, and upload pictures and video clips to your computer or SIM card.
The Kidizoom DX2 has a metal and rubber housing that helps it withstand everyday "child use" and the associated bumps and drops. It's affordable too, making it one of the best cheap smartwatches for kids who want their own watch.
Samsung Gear S3 Frontier
Not everyone is obsessed with Apple and iOS. For the rest of us who are agnostic about the operating system or who are Android fans, this discount is well worth it. One of our favorite offerings comes from Samsung and is a firm favorite of ours. The great looking Gear S3 has a classic yet functional design, thanks to its gray steel case and thick rubber or leather strap. Robust Gorilla Glass protects the touchscreen face and the case offers military protection from dust, moisture and shocks.
The Gear S3 also has a rotating bezel that lets you scroll through apps, notifications, and more. Like other options, it syncs with your phone wirelessly, and the S3 also has a heart rate monitor, as well as a variety of health monitoring features. The rugged Samsung Gear S3 Frontier is available for $ 250 on Amazon and is great for any Samsung lover. And if you're looking for a cheaper option, that renewed Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Smartwatch is available for under $ 200 on Amazon.
Mobvoi Ticwatch E is one of the cheapest smartwatches you can buy, and it was a surprise hit. This budget-friendly wearable costs less than some fitness trackers, but it has a full suite of Android Wear 2.0 features for use with a variety of great apps. It also has built-in support for the Google Assistant, which lets you reply to messages, ask questions, set reminders, and more with simple voice commands. It also has decent battery life, but you need to charge it for at least two hours before using it. Thanks to the integrated heart rate monitor and the fitness tracker functions, the Ticwatch has a double role as a fitness smartwatch.
Garmin Vívosmart HR
For a solid and affordable, inexpensive Fitbit alternative, check out the health-related Garmin Vivosmart HR. This fitness tracker shows steps, distance, calories and heart rate as well as text, call, email, calendar and social media notifications. It also has an alarm clock. It's easy to use and reminds you to stay active via a motion bar and vibrating alert. It even has a built-in barometric altimeter that tracks stair climbing and measures your exercise intensity so you can monitor your progress based on weekly goals. (However, you cannot make calls with this model.)
For detailed calorie tracking, you can create a MyFitnessPal account and link it to your Garmin Connect account. This allows you to compare calorie consumption with total consumption of calories burned and face other challenges. This pedometer smartwatch has a battery life of up to five days and a practical, non-intrusive touchscreen design.
Fossil Gen 4 Q Venture HR
Here's another great, classic-looking Fossil hybrid smartwatch made for women only - the new Gen 4 Q Venture. Like the updated Fossil Explorist, this hybrid watch combines a traditional watch case design with smart features like fitness tracking and Bluetooth connectivity, as well as new features like a heart rate monitor and built-in GPS. When you pair it with your iOS or Android device, the Venture will notify you when you receive calls, texts, social media updates and more. You can also track your daily activity progress at a glance.
If you like the traditional aesthetic of the Explorist but prefer something more feminine, then the Q Venture is an equally affordable alternative: you can get this great-looking hybrid smartwatch in a variety of colors and case / strap combinations.
Fitbit Blaze Special Edition
There are many different reasons to want a smartwatch, but if fitness tracking is high on your list, a wearable Fitbit is the one for you. Unlike other simplified options from this venerable brand like Alta and Flex 2, the Blaze is more than just a smart pedometer. With this handy watch, you can keep track of your resting heart rate, daily calories burned and the stairs, and even use the sleep monitor to better understand what your body needs. Fitbit provides a sneak peek of the day's stats and even allows you to keep track of certain workouts like running, biking, weight lifting, and hamster wheeling on the treadmill.
The Fitbit Blaze is standard as a Bluetooth smartwatch. With a battery life of up to five days, integrated GPS and smartphone functionality, it has all the technology you would expect from one of the top brands on the market. Although this particular model has now been superseded by Fitbit Ionic and Fitbit Versa, it's still one of those smartwatches to be proud of. If you're looking for a fitness tracker at a cheaper price, the all black Blaze Special Edition is for you.
Samsung Gear Sport
On the other hand, if you want a fitness watch with a more classy look, check out the excellent Samsung Gear Sport which can help you keep track of your daily activities, heart rate, and more. This Samsung smartwatch uses a wide range of tracking sensors to accurately monitor your activity levels, including steps taken, calories burned, heart rate and sleep quality. It can even automatically identify different types of physical activities such as running, swimming, and cycling. The smartwatch is waterproof to depths of up to 30 meters and has a curved, full-color Super AMOLED screen that shows real-time activity statistics as well as texts and other warnings from your iOS or Android smartphone.
The integrated GPS also gives you accurate real-time statistics. The watch has the S Health app, with which you can set goals, check leaderboards, challenge others to step competitions and share training results with just one push of a button. The smartwatch also acts as a standalone music player, so you can save your favorite music on your Gear Sport or connect to your phone using Spotify to access millions of songs. Charging is easy with the included holder.
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