Not everyone can splash out on a premium smartwatch but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out. Budget smartwatches are better than ever, and some people might not even be able to tell the difference.
Plenty of great models have been released in the last year and we’ve been putting them through their paces before deciding which is worthy of our prestigious end-of-year award.
Without further ado, here are our winners for 2024-25 and you can find out all the other category winners here .
Best New budget smartwatch of the Year – Winner: CMF Watch Pro 2
Mike Sawh / Foundry
For only its second effort, Nothing’s budget brand has done an amazing job of creating a desirable smartwatch which doesn’t cost much more than a power bank.
A switch to a round design looks great and the Watch Pro 2 doesn’t feel budget either. We love the distinctive interface and the wearable has lots of useful smart and fitness features.
A well-made companion app and solid battery life complete the package giving you the bang for buck value you just wouldn’t normally expect.
Read our full CMF Watch Pro 2 review .
Best New budget smartwatch of the Year – First Runner Up: Huawei Watch Fit 3
Mike Sawh
If you want the look and feel of an Apple Watch without the price tag then the Huawei Watch Fit 3 fits the bill perfectly.
This affordable smartwatch isn’t much more than £100 and has a gorgeous AMOLED screen, nice mix of fitness and smartwatch features, good battery life and quick charging to boot.
Read our full Huawei Watch Fit 3 review .
Best New budget smartwatch of the Year – Second Runner Up: Samsung Galaxy Watch FE
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
This is Samsung’s first Fan Edition of a smartwatch and although it’s largely an updated Galaxy Watch 4, it makes for a solid and affordable option if you want a Samsung wearable.
It offers a stylish design available in a range of colours, responsive auto-tracking, holistic health data and decent battery life.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch FE review .
You may also be interested in all the 2023-24 award winners .
Author: Chris Martin, Managing Editor, Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor Managing Editor Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been with us for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.
Recent stories by Chris Martin:
- What is Raylo? Phone and tech subscription explained
- Apple Watch SE 3 review: The easy choice
- Our 10 favourite budget smartwatches, vetted by tech experts
