Connected watches can be used for a variety of purposes, including music, GPS navigation, sports, communication, and monitoring of physical vitals. But the best connected watches are expensive. So, we had the idea to propose 4 reasonably priced connected watches of great brand and particularly elegant. We also offer you some tips on how to choose the right cheap connected watch for you.
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Our selection
"It's hard not to fall for the charm of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Its 44 mm dial combines classic and modernity with the…"
"You have no more than 30 euros to invest in a connected watch? Here is the Idealroyal P22 Smart Watch. For sports, music, communication or…"
"The Apple Watch Series 6 has a 44mm aluminum case. Available in 5 colors, it will fit wrists from 140 to 122 cm. Its dual-core…"
"The Garmin Instinct Solar is a connected watch completely dedicated to sports. In addition to its versatility, elegance, robustness and ergonomics, it has the particularity…"
It's hard not to fall for the charm of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Its 44 mm dial combines classic and modernity with the 360 x 360p touch screen for 1.34 inches, one of the most readable on the market.
135 £ on AmazonThe Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has a 1.35-inch super Amoled touchscreen with 360 x 360p resolution. The rim has an aluminum coating that simulates a rotating ring. This which allows navigation through the menu of the connected watch and facilitates interaction with the smartphone. The One UI interface based on Tizen 4.0 remains very responsive to customize the layout of applications and widgets. Brightness can be set in the watch settings and even from the shortcut panel. In addition to the 44mm diameter circular dial shown here, this inexpensive connected watch comes in a 40mm version.
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is powered by an Exynos 91110 processor with 0.75 GB of RAM and 4 GB of internal storage. For wireless operation, it incorporates Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n 2.4 GHz. Moreover, thanks to NFC, you can take advantage of Samsung Pay to make contactless payments. The 340 mAh battery offers a battery life of more than 60 hours in traditional use and can reach 130 hours in power saving mode. The tocante automatically detects your physical efforts and displays messages of encouragement while timing your exercise.
You have no more than 30 euros to invest in a connected watch? Here is the Idealroyal P22 Smart Watch. For sports, music, communication or monitoring of vital signs, it will satisfy your desires.
23,99 £ on AmazonThe Idealroyal P22 Smart Watch imitates the design of the Apple Watch. For those who are not shocked by this, this cheap connected watch is still very elegant. Easy to wear with a rectangular dial that falls ideally on the wrist, but it also has an IP67 waterproof rating. Simply put, it is waterproof and perfectly suited for outdoor activities. Equipped with a 1.4-inch IC Hynitron 816S touchscreen, this model is available in 3 colors and has a 240 x 240p resolution. You will have 100 wallpapers and you can add more!
This cheap connected watch supports 8 sports modes, namely walking, basketball, swimming, jumping rope, soccer, badminton, running and cycling. It accurately records your daily activities and physical data. The advanced optical sensors continuously monitor your steps, calories burned and distance traveled. It also performs 24-hour heart rate monitoring with its PPG: HRS3300 sensor and sleep analysis. Its Li-Po battery can last 10 days.
The Apple Watch Series 6 has a 44mm aluminum case. Available in 5 colors, it will fit wrists from 140 to 122 cm. Its dual-core A13 Bionic processor is the same as that of the iPhone 11!
355 £ on AmazonThe Apple Watch Series 6 is a connected watch available in 2 dial sizes: 40 and 44 mm. It has a Digital Crown, which allows you to navigate the menus and choose the functions to activate. It also allows you to enlarge what is displayed on the 1.78-inch Retina display with Always On technology to read the dial without having to activate it. Its crystal clear back is lined with red and green LEDs as well as a sensor that checks the oxygen level in the blood.
Using the System-in-Package S6, this cheap connected watch has 32GB of storage. Its dual-core A13 Bionic processor is the same as the iPhone 11! This adds 20% to the watch's performance speed. In addition to 5GHz Wi-Fi, it features a U1 chip with ultra-wideband antennas. Functions include heart rate monitor, accelerometer, altimeter, GPS, gyroscope, barometer and sports functions both indoor and outdoor. This watch is waterproof to 50 m and has 18 hours of autonomy.
The Garmin Instinct Solar is a connected watch completely dedicated to sports. In addition to its versatility, elegance, robustness and ergonomics, it has the particularity of being able to run on solar energy.
239 £ on AmazonGarmin's Instinct Solar Surf is designed for outdoor activities, including off-grid. Featuring a dial with solar-rechargeable glass, it offers fine, relevant measurements. The 45 x 45 x 15.3 mm case size fits wrists from 132 to 224 mm. This inexpensive connected watch features a customizable 23 x 23 mm dual window display with a screen resolution of 128 x 128p. Note the battery life of 54 days in connected watch mode, 38 h in GPS mode and up to 145 h for battery use in UltraTrac.
Just by looking at your wrist, stay informed about ocean conditions, especially for surfing. While previous models used the Mediatek GPS chipset, this one takes advantage of Sony's. The Garmin Instinct Solar now incorporates the expedition mode of the Garmin Fenix 6. In addition to this, the Garmin Instinct Solar meets the U.S. military standard 810 for heat resistance, shock resistance and remains waterproof to 100 m.
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| THE BEST | LESS EXPENSIVE | UPPERFORMING | EXCELLENT | |
In accordance with our commitment, this buying guide does not contain any sponsored products. |
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7/10 |
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| OUR SELECTION |
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
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Idealroyal P22 Smart Watch
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Apple Watch Series 6
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Garmin Instinct Solar
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It's hard not to fall for the charm of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2. Its 44 mm dial combines classic and modernity with the 360 x 360p touch screen for 1.34 inches, one of the most readable on the market.
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You have no more than 30 euros to invest in a connected watch? Here is the Idealroyal P22 Smart Watch. For sports, music, communication or monitoring of vital signs, it will satisfy your desires.
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The Apple Watch Series 6 has a 44mm aluminum case. Available in 5 colors, it will fit wrists from 140 to 122 cm. Its dual-core A13 Bionic processor is the same as that of the iPhone 11!
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The Garmin Instinct Solar is a connected watch completely dedicated to sports. In addition to its versatility, elegance, robustness and ergonomics, it has the particularity of being able to run on solar energy.
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Screen size
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1.35 inch
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1.4 inch
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1.78 inch
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1.4 inch
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Lisibility and touch features
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Storage capacity
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4 GB
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3 GB
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32 GB
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8 GB
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Autonomy
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60 to 130 hrs
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10 days
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18 h
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54 days
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Display
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44 mm diameter circular
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44 mm rectangle
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44 mm rectangle
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44 mm diameter circular
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The choice of a cheap connected watch depends above all on your needs. What you intend to do with it comes into play a lot. Indeed, manufacturers often focus on one area at a time. For athletes, a watch with powerful sensors that have accurate telemetry of their physical activity will do the trick. Hikers will prefer smartwatches with integrated GPS. Others on the other hand just prefer a discreet watch relaying notifications and alarm clock.
Evenif you have a comfortable and light watch, having a good screen makes all the difference. This one conditions the color, the display and the autonomy. Today, there are a wide range of technologies to choose from. Those using AMOLED technology offer beautiful colors and good brightness. Other panels have moved to LED or LCD screens, providing high screen resolution and a permanent illumination of the panel. There are also those called E-ink or electronic ink screens, which consume almost nothing.
This isan essential element to check if you want to invest in a cheap connected watch, whether it is standalone or linked with a smartphone. If you want to be able to import photos or listen to music without being connected to Wifi, you need to choose a model with good storage capacity. A better memory capacity allows you to use many applications such as GPS, for example. Today, some models offer 16GB of memory or even more.
Likesmartphones, connected watches generally run on batteries. The autonomy therefore depends on the capacity of the latter, but also on the technology of the screen. To gain in autonomy, you have to sacrifice features. Watches that contain more battery power must be recharged once a week in most cases. On the other hand, others such as basic watches that are not equipped with a screen remain low on power and often run on a battery.
Likesmartphones, connected watches generally run on batteries. The autonomy therefore depends on the capacity of the latter, but also on the technology of the screen. To gain autonomy, you have to sacrifice some functionalities. Watches that contain more must be recharged once a week in the vast majority of cases.
Smartwatches are becoming more and more fashionable in recent years. Even if they are elegant and robust, they still have some flaws. Whether it's iOS or Android Wear, one of them is battery life. Fortunately, there are some very simple tips to save battery life. You can apply them by playing with the settings on your smartphone and smartwatch to increase battery life a bit.
The screen of a connected watch is always very power hungry. The brighter it is, the faster the battery will discharge. Lowering the brightness therefore means reducing consumption considerably. It is better to use manual brightness management rather than automatic. Set the level to minimum and then increase it manually depending on the ambient light.
Even if it is one of the main functions of the connected watch, there are still notifications that are useless. Sometimes you get everything and anything. The best thing to do is to disable or filter them. This way you can save battery life. In most cases, all you have to do is activate the Do Not Disturb mode on your smartphone or watch.
If the watch has a Wi-Fi connection, it may automatically connect to registered Wi-Fi networks. This can drain your battery life without you realizing it. For sufficient and controlled usage, be sure to adjust the usage time from your watch. Go to settings, then Connectivity and check if Wi-Fi is disabled. The process remains the same to reactivate it when you need it.
This is the most common and widespread model on the market. As the name suggests, this watch relies heavily on a smartphone to exchange data using Bluetooth wireless technology. It offers many possibilities and facilitates access to a multitude of mobile applications. From its dial, it displays all the notifications you receive. Thanks to the built-in speakers and microphones, you can also make and receive calls.
Thestandalone watch has its own 3G or 4G SIM card depending on the model. It is completely disconnected from a mobile terminal. The emission and reception of calls as well as access to the Internet are done directly on the screen. All of this is completely autonomous, without the help of a smartphone. So you can easily access the information and event notifications you need from your watch. This type of smartwatch is especially attractive to sportsmen and users who often go on adventures.
Atfirst glance, you would not suspect that this is a smartwatch, as the resemblance to a simple watch is so striking. Indeed, these models keep a very classic design with a dial with a hand. Apart from this detail, they have the same characteristics as the complementary models of a smartphone. Being equipped with sensors, they perfectly ensure and support their functions as connected watches. In order to keep up with the times, several traditional watchmakers have entered this market.
The cheap connected watch has as its primary function the display of the time. But linked to a Bluetooth connection, you can make calls, receive and send SMS. This high-tech watch has its own operating system (Watch OS, Android Wear) and offers the possibility to be customized with a digital display. The fact that it has its own storage space depending on the model allows it to install applications and store music, photos and videos. Some watches even have the possibility of integrating a SIM card directly to do without a smartphone.
However, the autonomy remains a major criterion. Cheap connected watches struggle to stay on for more than 48 hours. Indeed, models that resist beyond that are rare. The autonomy could even drop to less than 12 hours with intensive use. The second limitation is its ergonomics. Because of its width, smartwatches are often bulky and heavier on the wrist. Finally, there remains the compatibility with phones. Even if there is a wide range of products, not all smartphones are compatible with smartwatches.
The connected bracelet is the faithful ally of the smartphone. It allows you to monitor the physical activities of its user on a daily basis. Equipped with sensors, these trackers indicate the number of steps taken during the day, the number of calories burned, the heart rate and sleep monitoring. It works in conjunction with an application installed on the smartphone. The connection is via Bluetooth. Its large screen gives access to most health applications. This more discreet bracelet offers a comfortable use and adapts to the vagaries of weather.
Unfortunately, to use the results, it is necessary to go through the smartphone. This device is rarely accompanied by a GPS. An option that can be very useful to restore its course. In addition, the data provided are inaccurate, even limited. Pedometers do not necessarily give the same result and some devices indicate a caloric expenditure much higher than the real caloric expenditure. Note also that the bracelets are only compatible with models capable of managing Bluetooth 4.0.
With its many functions, the cheap connected watch replaces the smartphone, even if you always have to pay attention to the autonomy. It even rivals the connected bracelet in terms of price. Connected bracelets have many features and health applications. However, be careful not to fall into addiction with this device, which can have a considerable psychological impact.
Check compatibility with your smartphone
When you buy a smartwatch, checking compatibility requires absolute attention. The majority of companies that dominate this market are mainly smartphone manufacturers. For example, Samsung is flexible on this issue, allowing its watches to be paired with other than its own brand, but this is not the case for Apple. You will only be able to pair your high-tech tocante with an iPhone.
Clean your smartwatch
If you have a watch with a small screen, a clean microfiber cloth or a coffee filter soaked in vinegar water is enough. If it's waterproof, you can put it in a solution of a drop of dishwashing liquid and a cup of warm water for a few seconds.
Avoid prolonged wear of the connected watch
Excessive use of this device can harm your skin. In particular, it can cause itching and irritation. Give your skin a break from time to time by removing the watch. If at worst you can't live without it, change your wrist.
Avoid exposure of the watch to chemicals
The area where you wear your watch is very sensitive. Some substances can cause very serious damage to your skin if they come in contact with your watch. So, avoid putting any product like perfume, creams, gels on this part.
Keep your wrist clean and dry
Before wearing your high-tech tocante, make sure your hand is clean and dry. If the watch is well cared for, it's no use if your wrist contains traces of sweat or dust.
Most connected watches on the market come with a dedicated charger. So please use that and not another one. Plug it into a USB port on your computer or other low-power device. A UL certified 5v USB wall charger is also an option. All you have to do is make sure the charge is on. Don't use a USB hub, USB splitter, USB Y-cable, battery pack, or other device to charge.
Most connected watches for kids are geared toward little ones over 3 years old. These educational and fun tools can accompany them up to age 12. Other models exist for teenagers from 13 to 15 years old. Beyond this age group, manufacturers recommend connected watches for adults.
It is important to know that contactless payment with a cheap connected watch does not work in all countries. However, the method remains the same as on your smartphone. You just have to place the watch near the payment terminal. In some models, you may need to install an app before that.
Most smartwatches are waterproof. This is to allow users to use them underwater. Still, check the ATM resistance, which refers to pressure resistance. A 3 ATM waterproof product means that it is waterproof to a depth of 30 m. Some brands also exclude sea water and chlorinated water. The warranty is only for fresh water.
Normally, you have at least a 10m margin. But keep in mind that the range of the Bluetooth connection between these two devices varies greatly depending on the environment. You have to consider walls and other dividers.
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