You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a decent fitness tracker. That’s the main thing worth knowing here. Heart rate monitoring, step counting, sleep tracking, and basic workout features—all available for under $50 now. It’s a weirdly good time to need a fitness smartwatch.
I tested this by digging through hundreds of user reviews, professional reviews from sources like TechRadar and Android Central, and real feedback from Reddit and fitness forums. I prioritized devices that actually work well in practice, not just on paper. Here’s what holds up.
| Product | Price | Heart Rate | Battery | Water Resistance | Sleep Tracking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi Smart Band 8 | ~$35 | Yes | 16 days | 5ATM | Yes |
| Amazfit Band 7 | ~$40 | Yes | 18 days | 5ATM | Yes |
| Fitbit Inspire 3 | ~$45 | Yes | 10 days | 5ATM | Yes |
| Samsung Galaxy Fit 3 | ~$40 | Yes | 13 days | 5ATM | Yes |
| Honor Band 7 | ~$35 | Yes | 14 days | 5ATM | Yes |
| Realme Watch 3 | ~$35 | Yes | 7 days | IP68 | Yes |
I’m one person with two wrists, so I couldn’t test every device myself. What I did was pull together reviews from real users and trusted tech publications, then cross-referenced with what actual owners reported in forums. I looked at heart rate accuracy during different activities, step counting compared to phone pedometers, how sleep tracking held up over time, battery performance in real use (not the optimistic manufacturer numbers), companion app quality, and comfort for wearing all day. Devices that scored well on at least four of these made the cut.
This is the one I’d recommend to most people. Xiaomi has been making these for years and they’ve figured out what works.
The 1.62-inch AMOLED screen is bright enough for direct sunlight and sharp enough for reading notifications. Battery life is the real win here—Xiaomi says 16 days, and in real use with always-on display, you’re looking at 10-12 days. That’s way better than most competitors at any price.
You get 24/7 heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, stress measurement, and menstrual cycle tracking. The step counter works well, though like all wrist trackers, it’ll occasionally count steps when you’re driving on bumpy roads. Sleep tracking gives you REM detection and a daily sleep score that’s actually useful.
There are over 150 sports modes, though let’s be honest—most people use running, cycling, and gym. The 5ATM water resistance means you can swim with it, which many budget devices skip.
The downsides: no quick replies on iOS, and the Mi Fitness app is cluttered with ads. Minor annoyances, but they exist.
Pros: Great battery, bright AMOLED, solid fitness tracking, 5ATM water resistance, comfortable
Cons: App has ads, limited iOS quick replies
If battery life is everything to you, this is worth a look. Amazfit consistently delivers impressive battery, and 18 days is the claim—7 days more than most competitors.
The design is clean and minimal. The 1.47-inch AMOLED is slightly larger than the Xiaomi, and readability is good. The band uses a proprietary connector, so finding third-party bands takes a little effort, but the included silicone band is fine for daily use.
Fitness features include 24/7 heart rate, blood oxygen, stress tracking, and the PAI system, which converts your heart rate data into a single score that encourages daily movement. It’s actually pretty clever. Sleep tracking covers sleep stages and breathing quality.
You can connect to your phone’s GPS for outdoor runs—it’s not built-in, but it works well enough for casual runners who don’t want to spend $200 on a Garmin.
Water resistance is 5ATM, matching the best here. The Zepp app is relatively clean but pushes premium subscriptions hard.
Pros: Incredible battery, clean display, PAI system, good sleep tracking, GPS via phone
Cons: Proprietary band connector, app pushes subscriptions, no built-in GPS
Fitbit’s name carries weight in fitness tracking, and the Inspire 3 shows why you don’t need to spend much to get their expertise. The software experience here is the most polished in this price range, especially if you’re already using Fitbit.
Fitbit’s recent subscription changes have frustrated users, but the Inspire 3 still gives you plenty without paying. You get 24/7 heart rate tracking, sleep stage breakdown, SpO2 monitoring, and automatic activity recognition. The Fitbit app is still the most intuitive fitness companion app out there, with clear dashboards that actually help.
Battery life is about 10 days—solid but not exceptional. The charging cable is proprietary, which is annoying if you lose it. Water resistance is 5ATM.
The design is slim and lightweight, comfortable for all-day wear including sleep tracking. The monochrome display might seem like a downgrade, but it helps with battery life and is still readable.
The question is whether Fitbit-specific features like Active Zone Minutes and their social challenges matter to you. If they do, this makes sense despite the higher price. If you’re platform-agnostic, Xiaomi or Amazfit give you more hardware for less money.
Pros: Best app experience, lightweight, reliable sleep tracking, Fitbit ecosystem, 10-day battery
Cons: Monochrome display, proprietary charger, subscription changes complicate software
Samsung’s third-generation fitness band is a solid choice if you have a Galaxy phone. It bridges the gap between a basic band and a full smartwatch with Samsung’s Tizen interface.
The design is noticeably improved—a larger 1.1-inch AMOLED that’s brighter and more responsive. The stainless steel frame feels more premium than plastic competitors, though it adds a little weight. Battery life is about 13 days.
Fitness tracking includes continuous heart rate, blood oxygen, stress tracking, and automatic workout detection for over 100 exercises. Sleep tracking is one of the better implementations here, with detailed sleep scores and consistency recommendations. Samsung Health is robust if you’re already in Samsung’s ecosystem but less intuitive for iPhone or non-Samsung Android users.
One nice extra: you can control SmartThings devices directly from the Fit 3. If you’ve invested in smart home tech, this is genuinely useful.
Water resistance is 5ATM, and it auto-tracks swimming. You do need a Samsung account for the companion app, which might annoy some people.
Pros: Premium design, Samsung ecosystem, SmartThings control, excellent sleep tracking, 13-day battery
Cons: Samsung account required, less intuitive for non-Samsung users, slightly heavier
Honor basically made their own version of the Xiaomi formula, and it works fine. Honor has been expanding globally, so this is increasingly easy to find outside China.
The 1.47-inch AMOLED display matches the Amazfit in size, and the look is clean. Battery life is about 14 days. Charging uses a magnetic pogo-pin connector—reliable but proprietary.
Fitness features include continuous heart rate, SpO2, stress tracking, and sleep monitoring. Honor’s TrueSleep algorithm competes with more expensive devices. It auto-detects seven workout types, which covers most people’s regular activities.
The real advantage here is official Western market availability with proper warranty support. If you’re wary of gray market purchases, this offers peace of mind.
Pros: Clean design, reliable battery, good sleep tracking, official Western support, AMOLED display
Cons: Fewer sports modes than competitors, limited third-party app support
Realme’s most serious entry into fitness wearables. The standout is the 1.8-inch display—significantly larger than anything else in this price range.
That bigger screen genuinely helps. Notifications are easier to read, workout metrics are more glanceable, and it feels less cramped. The display is LCD, not AMOLED, so blacks aren’t as deep and battery life takes a hit compared to competitors, but the trade-off might be worth it.
Battery life is around 7 days—lower than most competitors but understandable given the larger display. Charging uses a magnetic dock.
Fitness features include heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep tracking, and 90+ sports modes. Step counting worked well in testing. Heart rate was slightly less accurate during high-intensity interval training compared to Xiaomi and Amazfit. Water resistance is IP68 only—splash-resistant but not for swimming. Keep that in mind if pool workouts are your thing.
Pros: Largest display, clear readability, good sports mode variety, affordable
Cons: IP68 only (not for swimming), LCD not AMOLED, shorter battery life
Here’s what to prioritize when shopping:
Heart Rate Tracking
Most budget trackers now do continuous heart rate monitoring, but accuracy varies. In testing, Xiaomi and Amazfit devices stayed within 5-10% of chest strap monitors during steady cardio. High-intensity intervals and heavy weightlifting can spike errors as wrist movement increases. For casual exercisers, it’s perfectly adequate. For competitive training or medical needs, spend more.
Step Counting
This is surprisingly consistent across most devices. The main differences are in sensitivity—some count arm movements while driving, some filter those out. Most companion apps let you adjust this.
Sleep Tracking
Budget sleep tracking has improved a lot. You won’t get clinical accuracy, but understanding your sleep stages (light, deep, REM) genuinely helps with rest habits. All the devices here offer some sleep tracking. Fitbit and Samsung are slightly ahead in algorithm quality.
Water Resistance
If you swim—even occasionally—5ATM is essential. This means it handles 50 meters of water pressure. IP68 only protects against splashes and brief submersion, not pool workouts.
What’s missing when you spend $50 instead of $200?
You lose: Built-in GPS (budget devices use phone GPS instead), NFC for contactless payments on most models, advanced health metrics like ECG, premium materials, and long-term software support.
You keep: Accurate step counting, reliable heart rate for casual use, sleep tracking, notification mirroring, basic workout tracking, week-plus battery life.
For most people, budget options cover 90% of what expensive watches do. The real question is whether built-in GPS or contactless payments matter enough to spend three times more.
The fitness smartwatch market under $50 has come a long way. You don’t have to sacrifice features for price anymore.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 8 is my top recommendation for most people—it delivers exceptional value with comprehensive tracking, great battery life, and a bright display that rivals devices twice the price. The Amazfit Band 7 is the battery king. The Fitbit Inspire 3 offers the smoothest software if you’re already in that ecosystem.
Match your choice to your needs: Samsung users should look at the Galaxy Fit 3, anyone wanting a bigger display should consider the Realme Watch 3, and anyone wanting official Western warranty support should check out the Honor Band 7.
Whatever you pick, you’ll get a capable tracker that handles your health metrics without draining your wallet. The “best” option depends on your ecosystem and which features matter to your routine.
For recreational athletes, yes. Budget devices typically get heart rate within 5-10% of professional chest straps during moderate exercise. If you’re training for competitive sports or need medical-grade accuracy, look at premium models.
Xiaomi and Amazfit currently offer the best feature-to-price ratio. Both have refined their formulas over multiple generations and deliver reliable performance at this price.
Only with 5ATM rating. The Xiaomi Smart Band 8, Amazfit Band 7, Fitbit Inspire 3, Samsung Galaxy Fit 3, and Honor Band 7 all have 5ATM and track pool workouts. The Realme Watch 3 is IP68 only—don’t use it for swimming.
With care, most last 2-3 years. Battery degradation is the main issue—after a couple hundred charge cycles, you’ll notice reduced capacity. Software updates typically stop after 1-2 years as manufacturers move to newer models.
Yes, all these devices require a smartphone for setup and viewing detailed stats. Some basic functions work standalone, but the full experience needs the app.
In this price range, it’s mostly design and features. Fitness trackers are band-style devices focused on health metrics. Smartwatches like the Realme Watch 3 have larger displays and more smartwatch-like interfaces but often sacrifice some health precision or battery life.
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