Best Value Smart Watch?

ENSLAVER on 11/08/2023 - 13:19

I've been using one of the Xiaomi Mi bands (using the third party app Notify for Mi Band) for ~6 months and it's been good. Battery lasts ~1 week, tracks sleep, SpO2, lots of watchfaces for free, no subscription. Unfortunately the overall physical look, shape and band isn't that great for everyday wear. I could buy a regular watch for everyday wear but I'd rather kill two birds with one stone.

I've checked the recommendations in other threads but they weren't very specific or descriptive.

Preferences:

Up to ~$250 (used is ok).
Not Apple specific.
Round dial not square and preferably not a huge dial (not > 46mm).
Workout/sleep/SpO2,etc. tracking.
Don't care about: battery life, LTE, NFC, making calls/text notifications, google/strava integration, big screen, or playing music.

Must not have ongoing paid subscriptions for features.

Thanks <3

Find Me A Bargain Smartwatch

Comments

  • boomramada on 11/08/2023 - 13:27
    -1

    This one https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/793184

  • Caped Baldy on 11/08/2023 - 13:28
    +1

    I'm using a Huawei GT Pro2 watch and like it quite a bit but it's not integrated with google so need a third party app to sync between the two health apps.

    Multiple weeks of battery life, gets notifications, sleep tracking, exercise tracking. Call quality through it is terrible. No NFC or messaging abilities.

  • scrimshaw on 11/08/2023 - 14:59

    The Galaxy Watch4 / Watch5 is the best all rounder: It does a bit of everything and I wear the Watch4 almost everyday and use it for NFC payments quite a bit.

    The very obvious downside is the battery life (rather, it's lack thereof, you will definitely be charging it at the end of the day if you want to use it tomorrow), but if you don't care about battery life then it's probably one of the best choice that cost under $200~ $250.

    If money is no object I'd purchase the Ticwatch Pro 5: it's got a digital crown and true multi-day battery life, something that the Watch4 is sorely lacking. But it's twice the price and you could buy two Watch4's for the price of one TicWatch.

    • MrMcHairyHead on 11/08/2023 - 15:39
      +4

      Do not buy the Galaxy Watch 4. With everything on the default and LTE off the battery runs out after about 12 - 14 hours. It's useless. Wouldn't ever last me past 7pm.

      • Sturt on 11/08/2023 - 16:02
        +3

        Agreed. It's easy for people like the OP to say they don't care about battery life until they have a watch that won't even tick passed 7pm on an early rising day. Battery life is the bane of all smartwatches.

  • Davo1111 on 11/08/2023 - 16:08

    I have the same requirements as you, but honestly I don't think it exists. Most of the big watches have battery issues.

    Also, imo if you want to track sleep (I don't find it comfortable, use a mi band)

  • bargaino on 11/08/2023 - 17:17

    Not Apple specific.

    You or the watch?
    I'm not normally an Apple fan, but the Apple watch is best by far. Sadly requires iPhone, but if you have iPhone, its a no-brainer. I'm sure you can get a used one in that budget.

  • Binchicken22 on 11/08/2023 - 19:28

    Galaxy watch 4/5 on sale is the go, 90% the same hardware as the latest GW6, just slightly less battery life and slightly bigger bezels.

  • Reverse Snorkel on 14/09/2023 - 10:11

    I've been scouting for watch. There is not best watch. Everyone wants something different.

    Personally I'm less worries about the exercise features and more about the styling and battery life. Others don't care about battery life and want something with more accurate monitoring.

    Also depends if you are male or female as some big battery watches like Galaxy Watch 5 pro and Ticwatch pro 5 are pretty hefty.

    Then you get the watches where some only work on Apple and others only work on Android/Samsung for some features.

    All youtube reviews will focus on different requirements. It can be a real rabbit hole experience..

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