Walmart’s smartwatch aisle can feel like a maze. There are dozens of options, prices everywhere, and half the features listed on the box don’t make sense unless you already know what you’re looking for. Whether you’re training for a 5K, just want to track your steps, or are curious about your sleep, the right watch helps. The wrong one collects dust in a drawer.
I’ve spent time looking at what’s actually available at Walmart right now—checking prices, reading reviews, and comparing fitness features. Here’s what holds up.
If you have an iPhone, the Apple Watch Series 9 is the default answer for a reason. It works. The fitness app tracks your move, exercise, and stand goals with three rings that either motivate you or make you feel guilty, depending on the day. Heart rate monitoring has gotten more accurate over the years, and the Series 9 can flag irregular rhythms—a useful feature even if most people never need it.
GPS is built in, so you can leave your phone at home on runs. The S9 chip lets Siri respond to voice commands without pinging Apple’s servers every time, which feels slightly more private. Swimming is fine—the watch handles up to 50 meters, and it automatically recognizes strokes. Sleep tracking exists, but you’ll need to charge the watch at some point, which makes overnight wear awkward if you forget.
Battery life is the weak spot. Eighteen hours is about right with normal use. Turn on always-on display and track a long run, and you’re looking for a charger by dinner. This is fine if you’re used to charging nightly, but it’s a adjustment if you’re coming from something with week-long battery.
Walmart carries several configurations. Prices sit in the premium range—you’re paying for the ecosystem, not just the hardware. If you’re all-in on Apple devices, this is the best integrated option. If you’re curious about the Apple ecosystem but don’t need everything, read about the SE below first.
The Galaxy Watch 6 is the strongest Android option at Walmart right now. Samsung’s BioActive sensor does more than most: optical heart rate, ECG, and body composition metrics like skeletal muscle mass and body water percentage. These aren’t just numbers—the data actually means something if you’re tracking fitness progress seriously.
Running features include real-time coaching that analyzes your form. That’s genuinely useful if you’re trying to improve as a runner. The rotating bezel is satisfying to use, even with sweaty hands. Samsung Pay works at most stores, which is convenient for grabbing water or a snack post-workout.
Sleep tracking gives you a Sleep Score and breakdown of stages, similar to Fitbit. Battery life runs about 40 hours with normal use, or significantly less with always-on display enabled. The watch works with iPhones but loses a lot of functionality—it’s really built for Android.
Walmart stocks both standard and Classic variants. The Classic has a leather or stainless steel bezel that looks more dressy if that matters to you.
Fitbit has always been about fitness first, and the Sense 2 pushes further into health territory than most competitors. The standout feature is stress tracking through cEDA sensors that measure skin conductance. Combined with heart rate variability, this gives you a daily Stress Management Score. It’s not magic, but it does help you notice patterns—stressed days versus calm ones.
ECG catches atrial fibrillation, and SpO2 sensors track blood oxygen during sleep. These are features you’d pay extra for on Apple or Samsung, included here as standard. Battery life stretches 6+ days, which is refreshing compared to daily charging.
The trade-off is the app ecosystem. Fitbit’s app is excellent for fitness data, but third-party apps are limited. If you want to check email or control Spotify from your wrist, look elsewhere. If you want the best fitness and health insights without extra stuff you won’t use, this is worth considering.
Walmart often bundles accessories. The main downside is Fitbit’s recent pricing changes—make sure you’re comparing current prices, not last year’s sale prices.
Garmin makes watches for people who take fitness seriously. The Forerunner 255 is built for runners and triathletes, and it shows. Daily suggested workouts adjust based on your training load and recovery—some days it tells you to rest, which is more useful than it sounds. Body Battery combines HRV, resting heart rate, and sleep data to rate how ready you are to train.
GPS accuracy is excellent. It connects to multiple satellite systems and holds signal in places where phones struggle. You can store 500 songs for phone-free runs, and Garmin Coach provides free training plans for 5K through marathon distances.
Battery life is where this pulls ahead of Apple and Samsung. Fourteen days in smartwatch mode, up to 30 hours in GPS mode. That’s enough for a 50-mile ultra if you’re into that sort of thing.
The design is functional rather than flashy. It looks like a fitness tool, because it is one. If you want a watch that looks good in a meeting and tracks your splits, the Forerunner hits a good balance—but it’s built for training, not style.
Walmart’s price on this has gotten competitive. If you’re serious about running or triathlon, it’s worth the investment.
The Apple Watch SE drops the premium price while keeping most of what matters. Same processor as the Series 8, so it’s snappy. Same fitness tracking: heart rate, workout detection, activity rings, sleep tracking. What you lose is always-on display, blood oxygen sensing, and ECG. Most people don’t miss these.
Crash Detection and Fall Detection are included—useful safety features that work. Family Setup lets you manage kids’ watches from your iPhone, which parents appreciate.
The design is classic Apple Watch. No one will mistake it for a premium model, but it looks fine. Water resistance handles swimming. GPS models work without your phone.
Walmart typically prices this significantly below the Series 9. If you want Apple ecosystem integration without the cost, it’s the smart buy.
The Inspire 3 costs under $100 and does what most people actually need. Heart rate tracking, step counting, calories, basic sleep stages, and automatic workout detection. The battery lasts 10+ days, which means you put it on and forget about it until you need it.
This isn’t a smartwatch. There’s no app store, no mobile payments, no music control. That’s the point. It tracks your fitness without the distraction of notifications you don’t need. The slim band fits under sleeves, which matters in professional settings where a bulky watch feels out of place.
Accuracy is good enough for casual fitness tracking. If you’re training for competitive sports, you’ll want more advanced sensors. But for everyone else—the gym regulars, the daily walkers, the people who just want to move more—this works.
Walmart frequently runs sales under $70. At that price, it’s hard to argue against trying one if you’re curious about fitness tracking.
The Amazfit Band 7 is a weird one. It’s cheap—often priced like a basic fitness band—but it has a 1.47-inch AMOLED display and 14-18 day battery life. That puts it in smartwatch territory for fitness band prices.
Health features include 24/7 heart rate, blood oxygen, stress tracking, and menstrual cycle tracking. Sleep analysis is detailed. The PAI system gives you a single activity score regardless of workout type, which is either helpful or reductive depending on your perspective.
The Zepp app is decent but not as polished as Fitbit’s. Alexa works if you use it. NFC payments exist in some regions but are spotty in the US.
At the prices Walmart runs, this is the budget option for people who want more than bare-bones tracking. If you’ve been looking at basic bands and wanting just a little more, this fills that gap.
The Galaxy Watch 5 came out before the 6, and the core features are still good. BioActive sensor handles heart rate, blood oxygen, and body composition. Sleep tracking gives you stages and a score. GPS works for running and cycling. Water resistance handles swimming.
The main trade-off is battery life—expect around 40 hours, sometimes less. The trade-off is worth it if the price is right, and Walmart has been running meaningful discounts on this model. It’s the Galaxy Watch 6 experience at Galaxy Watch 4 prices, which makes it a solid buy for Android users watching their budget.
Works with iPhones but loses features. For Android users, it’s still a complete package.
Before you buy, think about a few things:
What phone do you have? Apple Watch needs iPhone. Samsung works best with Android. Fitbit and Garmin don’t care. This matters more than any feature list.
What are you actually tracking? Walking to the mailbox doesn’t need GPS. Marathon training does. Swimming needs 5 ATM water resistance. Know your activities.
How much do you hate charging? Daily (Apple, Samsung), every few days (Garmin), or weekly (Fitbit, Amazfit)? This affects how often you’ll actually wear it.
What’s the real budget? Add tax. Add a band if the included one sucks. Figure out the real price before you commit.
Does it fit your life? Try it on if you can. Some watches are thick. Some are heavy. Some look like sports equipment. Make sure you’ll actually want to wear it.
Fitbit Inspire 3 is the safest bet. Amazfit Band 7 if you want a bigger screen and more features.
Most do, but some lose features. Apple Watch only fully works with iPhone. Samsung works best with Android. Fitbit and Garmin are platform-agnostic.
Good enough for casual use. Within 5% of chest straps during steady exercise. Less accurate during rapid intensity changes.
Most handle 5 ATM (50 meters), which covers pool swimming. Hot tubs and salt water can degrade seals over time.
Ten days or more for bands, one to two days for full smartwatches. GPS tracking drains batteries faster.
If you run or cycle without your phone, you need GPS. If you use your phone or workout indoors, you don’t.
Here’s the straightforward version:
iPhone user who wants everything: Apple Watch Series 9. Best integration, premium price, daily charging.
iPhone user who wants most things cheaper: Apple Watch SE. Same ecosystem, fewer sensors, better value.
Android user who wants the best fitness features: Galaxy Watch 6. Or save money with the Watch 5—both are solid.
Health metrics matter more than apps: Fitbit Sense 2. Best stress tracking and body composition in this price range.
Running is your thing: Garmin Forerunner 255. No competition for serious training.
Budget under $100: Fitbit Inspire 3. At under $70 during sales, it’s the easiest recommendation for basic tracking.
Want smartwatch features on a budget: Amazfit Band 7. More screen, more battery, less cost.
Whatever you pick, make sure it’s something you’ll actually wear. The best watch is the one you have on your wrist, not the one sitting in the box.
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