Latest news with #wearables
CNET
2 days ago
- Health
- CNET
Best Budget Smartwatches: Top Cheap Picks
CNET staff -- not advertisers, partners or business interests -- determine how we review products and services. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. There are plenty of affordable smartwatches out there, but few are actually worth your time. The sub-$100 category has become the wild west of wearables; crowded with imposters making big claims and delivering on very few. We haven't tested every bargain-bin watch on the market, but we've tested enough to know when we've found a rare gem. A watch that goes beyond just the basics, with solid health and fitness tracking, smartphone features that actually work, and a multi-day battery life that can outlast some pricier models. Here's our pick for the best smartwatch under $100, plus a couple that almost made the cut. And we also share a few tips on what to look for when shopping in this cluttered (and sometimes sketchy) category. Our Picks Best budget watch for Android Amazfit Bip 6 Jump to details $80 at Amazon Jump to details Best Memorial Day Deals CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from mattresses and TVs to everyday essentials and outdoor fun so you can shop the best Memorial Day deals in one place. See now What's the best cheap smartwatch overall? The best budget smartwatch by a landslide is the Amazfit Bip 6. This is the kind of watch that makes you forget its sub-$100 price tag, packing features you'd normally expect from models that cost at least twice as much. This includes advanced health metrics like SpO2 (blood oxygen), wrist temperature tracking, stress levels and women's health insights. It also lasted more than a week on a single charge during our testing, and can be tweaked to stretch even longer with custom settings. Smartphone integration isn't as seamless as what you'd get from Wear OS or WatchOS smartwatches, since the Bip 6 runs its own proprietary system. But that also means it's compatible with both Android phones and iPhones. Just note that iPhone users won't be able to respond to notifications from the watch. The Bip 6 delivers where it counts, making it a great option for anyone prioritizing price and willing to spend a little more time setting it up to fit their needs. Vanessa Hand Orellana / CNET Photo Gallery 1/3 Amazfit Bip 6 Vanessa Hand Orellana / CNET Best budget watch for Android Amazfit Bip 6 Pros $80 price is much less than most watches Works with Android and iOS Great battery life (lasts a week with heavy use) Tracks a wide variety of fitness activities accurately Temperature tracking and advanced sleep monitoring Cons Single sizing option (44mm) UI and app are unintuitive Some health metrics are hard to interpret Voice assistant is unreliable Bluetooth range is short (especially on iPhone) The $80 Amazfit Bip 6 is the most affordable option on this list, and a rare standout in the budget smartwatch category because it delivers on all the basics (and more) without many compromises. The design and interface aren't as refined as what you'll find with pricier models, but that feels like a fair trade-off considering how much the Bip 6 gets right. It offers accurate fitness tracking, with customizable training tools like heart rate zones, plus advanced health features including SpO2 (blood oxygen); temperature and sleep tracking; and high and low heart rate alerts. Why we like it While its low price might be its main draw, the Amazfit Bip 6 is one of the few sub-$100 smartwatches that's actually worth your time. Beyond all the features mentioned above, we also like it for its weeklong (or longer) battery life and its compatibility with both iPhones and Android phones. Who it's best for The Amazfit Bip 6 is ideal for anyone looking to try out a smartwatch without making a major investment. It's a great fit for folks willing to do a bit of customization on the back end to make the watch work for their specific needs. ... Show more Get it now $80 at Amazon $80 at Walmart Specs & Configurations Compatibility Android and iOS Screen size and shape 44 millimeters, rectangular Health features Heart rate monitoring, SPO2 (blood oxygen) monitoring, wrist temperature tracking, breathing rate, sleep tracking, menstrual cycle tracking, stress level Add to compare Factors to consider when choosing a smartwatch Picking a budget smartwatch can be trickier than it looks, mostly because of the sheer volume of bad options out there. This list is a great place to start, but it's worth thinking through your priorities (beyond just price) before you commit. Here's what to keep in mind when shopping under $100: Software and UI If reliability and user-friendly design matter to you, stick with more established brands like Samsung, Fitbit or even other Amazfit options. At this price, you can likely score some older models at a discounted rate or opt for fitness tracker hybrids like the Samsung Fit 3 or the Fitbit Inspire 3 with some smartwatch features that work well with your phone. Samsung pairs seamlessly with Samsung phones, while Fitbit and Amazfit options tend to work reliably across both iOS and Android. Design Design is often where budget watches cut corners. Many use plastic cases and silicone bands, which can feel bulkier and look less refined. Screen quality is another trade-off -- lower resolution displays can appear grainy or pixelated. If aesthetics matter, consider older models of premium brands or a fitness tracker with a sleeker look. Samsung's Galaxy Watch4 can often be found at a discounted rate for under $100. Lexy Savvides/CNET Battery Life Battery life claims can be misleading at this price. Make sure what's advertised for the specific watch reflects typical use, and includes some kind of stripped-down low-power mode that only shows the time. Always-on displays that often accelerate battery drain are rare on wearables under $100, but most watches should last 24 hours (at the bare minimum) using raise-to-wake mode. Connectivity and GPS Expect only Wi-Fi models in this range, meaning you won't be able to make calls or send texts without your phone nearby. Also, check the GPS capability; some watches, like the Bip 6, can track outdoor workouts independently, while others, like the Fit3, rely on your phone for mapping. Price You're already filtering for watches under $100, but even within that range, you'll find differences. Going closer to $50 usually means fewer features, but that could be fine if you don't need all the bells and whistles. If you're looking for something more well-rounded, the $80 to $100 range tends to offer better value overall. We put all our smartwatches through the paces of everyday life including at least one outdoor workout. How we test smartwatches With budget smartwatches, we follow the same rigorous testing guidelines as their premium counterparts, paying even closer attention to categories where we may see potential trade-offs like sensor accuracy and software support. The Basics: First, we evaluate how well these watches hold up to real-world use: notifications, texting (if available), and phone pairing. We also review the companion app experience, which is particularly important for budget watches, many of which rely on proprietary apps for health data and customization. Some may lack advanced phone integration -- especially for iPhone users -- so we flag those limitations in our reviews. Performance and navigation: While lower-cost models rarely have the processing power of premium options, we assess how smooth and responsive the interface is during typical use. That includes swiping between menus, launching workouts, syncing to the app and responding to notifications (when available). Design and durability: Affordability doesn't have to mean cheap build quality. We test for comfort, fit, and how the watch holds up to daily wear and tear. Most budget models don't come with military-grade durability or high water resistance ratings so we're not as 'rough' on these devices and only go up to what the rating allowed, but will fully acknowledge this trade off in the review. The Amazfit Bip 6 has new sensors under the hood that improve precision for health and fitness tracking. Vanessa Hand Orellana / CNET Battery life: Budget smartwatches tend to outperform premium ones when it comes to battery life because of the lesser-quality screen and power-hungry apps, but it's not always a given. We start our testing with a fully charged battery and then test how long a watch lasts with normal use. This includes sleep tracking, mirrored notifications from our phone and at least one outdoor (using GPS). Once it's drained, we'll time how long it takes to charge back up to 100%. We'll also flag any battery-saving tactics unique to that model, although our core testing is done at full capacity (not battery-saving mode). Sensor accuracy: Sensor quality can be hit or miss in this category, so we run side-by-side comparisons with gold-standard tools. For heart rate, we test against a chest strap during cardio workouts. For SpO2, we use a fingertip pulse oximeter. For watches with built-in GPS, we also assess how quickly the GPS locks in for outdoor workouts and compare its accuracy to a smartphone GPS (separate from the one it's paired to). We'll call out any obvious inconsistencies in route and tracking. Ultimately, we're looking for watches that deliver true value and not just a long spec sheet of half baked-features. The Amazfit Active 2 is a slightly more refined, and expensive version of the Bip 6 which is our favorite budget pick. Amazfit Other smartwatches we've tested We've also tested the Amazfit Active 2, which shares a lot of the same great features as the Bip 6 but comes in a smaller, circular design that feels a bit more premium thanks to its stainless steel frame and slimmer body. It's more expensive than the Bip 6, but at $100, it technically still makes the cutoff to land a spot on this list (barely). If you're looking to go with an even more affordable watch, the $60 Samsung Galaxy Fit 3, which we're currently testing, is proving to be a solid hybrid fitness tracker/smartwatch hybrid that pairs well with Galaxy phones. While it doesn't offer smart features like text replies, voice dictation or built-in GPS, it does include many of the same health tools as the Galaxy Watch and integrates seamlessly with Samsung's Health app. For a more full-featured option, the older Galaxy Watch 4 still holds up to today's standards with ECG and blood pressure tracking (but no skin temperature). It may not be as speedy as the newer models, but it will run the latest version of Wear OS and you can often find it for under $100 through third-party retailers like Walmart. The Galaxy Watch 4 still holds up, and can often be snatched up at a steep discount form third party sellers. Scott Stein/CNET
Forbes
3 days ago
- Health
- Forbes
Garmin Forerunner 970: A Very Close Look At Garmin's Latest Watch
Garmin Forerunner 970 The Garmin Forerunner 970 is now available, and could well become Garmin's most popular high-end watch of the year. As is the norm for the series, the Forerunner 970 combines high-end features with fairly pragmatic build, to avoid the additional cost and weight of high-end materials. Lots of titanium or steel is the top example, although this Forerunner does have a titanium bezel. I've recently started using the watch. Just a couple of tracked exercise sessions in, I took out the camera to get some ultra-close-up views of some of the watch's core features, for those out there considering the Garmin Forerunner 970 as a watch upgrade. This is one of the three colour variations currently available, white and yellow, while classic black and grey/indigo are your other options. Let's get (a lot) closer. Garmin Forerunner 970 bezel Here's a close look at the Garmin Forerunner 970's bezel. While the casing is mostly reinforced plastic, the screen surround is titanium. Front-on, it has a matt, brushed-style finish. Look closer and you'll see the side of this metal bezel is actually shiny, which lets it catch the light as you move your wrist around. This photo also gives you an idea of the curvature of the screen glass. The bezel offers no real protection for the screen, as it is not raised. But the glass is Sapphire Crystal, so should prove fairly hardy, Forerunner 970 LED flash This photo captures the top side of the watch, and the Forerunner 970's LED light. There are two white LEDs, one red one. If it appears there are nine here, it's a trick of the light caused by the diffuser lens covering here. See how it appears dithered? That layer helps to soften and spread the light. The red LED is there for when you want to be able to navigate without flooding the area with much light at all. When using the white mode, you have four intensity levels to pick from. Garmin Forerunner 970 Here's the other key piece of metal, bar the buttons and bezel, a colour strip of what I assume is aluminium. In the black version and the white finish seen here, it's this sort-of bright yellow-green (Garmin calls it Amp Yellow). It's indigo/purple in the grey Forerunner 970. You can also see here perhaps the most mysterious part of the watch, the black ring that sits within just one of the five outer buttons. I can't see anything behind there, but such a black cover layer is often used for IR transmitter tech. Here's another look: Garmin Forerunner 970 black button I've asked Garmin if there's any additional information available and will amend this article if anything is forthcoming. It could just be a style touch, or may be a sign of a future feature to come. Garmin Forerunner 970 speaker and microphone On the opposite side of the casing to the LED flashlight is this odd pair of holes, behind which the speaker and microphone live. The Garmin Forerunner 970 cant use ordinary mic and speaker ports because of the extended 5ATM water resistance. Garmin Forerunner 970 HR sensor This is the Garmin Forerunner 970's Elevate heart rate array. At this distance you can even see the little fresnel-style patterns in the LED housing, used to direct and spread the output of the LEDs. As in other recent watches, like the Fenix 8, this one has four light sensors and six LED light squares. The four outer ones are used during tracked exercise, to help improve signal stability when there's a lot of motion in the person wearing the Forerunner 970. And those shiny bits that make the square HR array into a circle? These are metallic pads, required for the ECG feature the Forerunner 970 supports. They effectively complete a circuit, when you (as instructed) place thumb and forefinger on the watch bezel when requested while using the ECG mode. Garmin Forerunner 970 buttons Garmin Forerunner 970 charging port Here's a final close-up look at some of the more familiar elements of the Garmin Forerunner 970. The trio of left-side metal buttons are just like those of other primarily button-operated Garmin watches. And despite experimenting with a new style of power connector in the Marq Gen 2 the better part of three years ago, the Forerunner 970 still has Garmin's classic 4-pin cable. Let's finish off with as close a peer as I can get to the super-bright Forerunner 970 OLED screen, a 454 x 454 pixel 1.4-inch panel I'd need to get a new lens for to get close to letting you see its sub pixels. Garmin Forerunner 970 screen pixels The Garmin Forerunner 970 is available now, for $749.99.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ray-Ban Maker EssilorLuxottica to Buy Optegra in Medical AI Push
The eyewear group said the deal builds on its offering, which spans Ray-Ban frames and lenses to AI-powered technologies, wearables, medical instruments and science-backed eyecare solutions.
Wall Street Journal
4 days ago
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
Meta Fired Palmer Luckey. Now, They're Teaming Up on a Defense Contract.
Meta META 0.37%increase; green up pointing triangle Platforms had a messy split with its virtual-reality chief Palmer Luckey. Now, the two have reconnected to build high-tech headsets for the U.S. Army. Luckey's defense firm Anduril Industries and Meta said Thursday they will together build a line of new rugged helmets, glasses and other wearables that provide a virtual-reality or augmented-reality experience.
TechCrunch
5 days ago
- Business
- TechCrunch
Meta wants to open more retail stores
In Brief Meta wants to grow its retail footprint, Business Insider reported on Wednesday. As Meta continues to invest in wearables, these stores would ideally help Meta boost the sales of hardware like the Ray-Ban Meta glasses and the Meta Quest VR headsets. These products may be easier to sell if customers can try them out at a store before buying them. A retail presence could also help Meta stay in competition with Apple's future AR and VR endeavors, even though its Vision Pro headset is too costly for most consumers. And, to answer the question proposed by this headline: yes, we do mean more retail stores. Indeed, Meta has an existing brick-and-mortar retail store, made out of actual atoms and not pixels, which is located in California, not the metaverse. Ahead of this, Bloomberg reported in February that Meta hired the former CEO of The RealReal as its retail VP.
