If you have ever looked at a £50 smartwatch and thought "there is no way that actually works," you are not alone. The scepticism is understandable. How can a watch costing a tenth of an Apple Watch Ultra deliver anything useful?
We compared five budget smartwatches under £75 to find out what you actually get, what you genuinely miss, and whether the trade-offs matter for everyday use.
The Short Answer
Yes, cheap smartwatches are worth it in 2026, for most people. Budget watches now include features that were flagship-exclusive just two years ago: built-in GPS, Bluetooth phone calling, blood oxygen monitoring, and batteries that last a week or more. The gap between a £50 and a £350 watch is narrower than ever.
But there are trade-offs. If you need specific things (NFC payments, a rich app store, premium build quality), a budget watch will not deliver those. Read on for the honest breakdown.
What You Actually Get for Under £75 in 2026
| Feature | Budget Watch (Under £75) | Premium Watch (£300+) |
|---|---|---|
| Heart rate monitoring | Yes (24/7) | Yes (24/7, more accurate) |
| Blood oxygen (SpO2) | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep tracking | Yes (basic stages) | Yes (detailed analysis) |
| Step counting | Yes (accurate) | Yes (accurate) |
| GPS | Built-in (on some models) | Built-in (multi-band on premium) |
| Bluetooth calling | Yes (on most models) | Yes (with LTE on some) |
| Battery life | 5 to 25 days | 1 to 3 days (Apple/Samsung) |
| NFC payments | Rare | Yes (Apple Pay, Google Pay) |
| App store | No (basic companion app) | Yes (thousands of apps) |
| Build materials | Alloy/plastic, silicone band | Titanium/ceramic, premium bands |
| Water resistance | IP68 / 3ATM | 5ATM+ / diving rated |
5 Budget Smartwatches Compared
| Watch | Price | GPS | Battery | Calling | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| V75 Military Grade | £55.84 | Yes | 7+ days | Yes | All-rounder |
| ProX AMOLED | From £65 | Yes | 5+ days | Yes | Display quality |
| Gentleman Elite | From £55 | No | 7+ days | Yes | Dress watch style |
| Hello Watch 5 Plus Ultra 3 | From £70 | Yes | 3+ days | Yes | Apple Watch look |
| X3 GPS Sport | From £70 | Yes | 7 days | Yes | Fitness tracking |
1. V75 Military Grade - Best All-Rounder
£55.84 | View on Astridia Bazaar
The V75 is our benchmark for what a budget smartwatch should be. Built-in GPS, compass, Bluetooth calling, 650mAh battery lasting 7+ days, and a 1.45" Ultra HD round display. It handles everything from outdoor hikes to daily fitness tracking to taking calls from your wrist.
At £55.84, it costs less than a night out. For what it delivers, the value is exceptional.
2. ProX AMOLED - Best Display
From £65 | View on Astridia Bazaar
If screen quality matters to you, the ProX has an AMOLED display that produces richer colours and deeper blacks than the IPS screens on most budget watches. It also includes NFC (rare at this price), GPS, and IP68 waterproofing. The display alone makes it feel like a much more expensive watch.
3. Gentleman Elite - Best Dress Watch
From £55 | View on Astridia Bazaar
Most budget smartwatches look like sports watches. The Gentleman Elite breaks that pattern with a sapphire glass display and a design that works with a suit. If you want a smartwatch for the office, dates, or formal settings, this is the one that does not scream "cheap fitness tracker."
4. Hello Watch 5 Plus Ultra 3 - Best Apple Watch Alternative
From £70 | View on Astridia Bazaar
The Hello Watch 5 Plus is the closest you will get to an Apple Watch Ultra experience without the £800 price tag. AMOLED display, 4GB of storage (for music), titanium-style build, GPS, and Bluetooth calling. It does not run watchOS, but the hardware package is impressive for the money.
5. X3 GPS Sport - Best for Fitness
From £70 | View on Astridia Bazaar
Built specifically for runners and cyclists. The X3 has dedicated GPS sport modes with accurate pace and distance tracking, a 7-day battery that handles daily GPS sessions, and Bluetooth calling so you can leave your phone at home during short runs.
What You Genuinely Miss with a Budget Smartwatch
Let us be honest about the trade-offs:
No App Store
Budget smartwatches do not have app stores. You cannot install Spotify, Uber, WhatsApp, or any third-party apps. You get the built-in features and that is it. If downloading apps to your watch is important, you need an Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch.
No NFC Payments (Usually)
Apple Pay from your wrist is one of the Apple Watch's killer features. Most budget smartwatches do not have NFC for contactless payments. The ProX AMOLED is a rare exception.
Less Polished Software
The companion apps for budget watches (Da Fit, Wearfit Pro, etc.) are functional but basic compared to Apple Health or Samsung Health. Data visualisation is simpler, and syncing can occasionally be unreliable.
Build Quality Differences
Budget watches use alloy and plastic rather than titanium and ceramic. Silicone bands are standard rather than premium leather or metal. They feel lighter (some prefer this) but less "luxurious" on the wrist.
When a Cheap Smartwatch Makes Perfect Sense
- First smartwatch: Try the concept before committing £300+
- Fitness tracking: Heart rate, steps, sleep, and GPS are all you need
- Battery life matters: Budget watches last 5 to 25 days. Apple Watch lasts 18 hours
- Outdoor activities: You will not cry if a £50 watch gets scratched on a hike
- Gift: A thoughtful tech gift that does not break the bank
- Backup watch: A second watch for the gym, travel, or rough activities
When You Should Spend More
- You need NFC payments: Apple Pay or Google Pay from your wrist
- You want a rich app ecosystem: Spotify, maps, messaging from your watch
- You need ECG or medical-grade health data: Only certified devices (Apple Watch, Samsung, Fitbit Sense) offer FDA/CE-approved ECG
- Build quality is non-negotiable: You want sapphire crystal and titanium
- You are deep in the Apple ecosystem: iMessage, Siri, Handoff, and seamless device switching only work with Apple Watch
The Verdict
For 80% of people, a budget smartwatch under £75 covers everything they actually use a smartwatch for: checking the time, tracking fitness, monitoring sleep, and seeing notifications without pulling out their phone. The features that premium watches offer beyond this (apps, NFC, premium build) are nice to have, not need to have.
If you are unsure, start with a budget option. You will quickly learn which features you actually use daily and which ones you thought you would use but never do. Then decide if upgrading is worth it.
Browse all smartwatches at Astridia Bazaar - Free UK delivery on every order.