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If you’re wondering which budget fitness trackers are worth your money, stick around! After we run through each product, I’ll give you my personal take—Would I buy it, or would I skip it? No fluff, just my honest opinion. Let’s get into it!
Watch the video version: This Is The BEST Budget Fitness Tracker Of The Year - Here's Why!
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6:
The screen on this thing is absolutely incredible for the price point, with a bright AMOLED display that makes everything super easy to read. While it offers an impressive array of features including SpO2 monitoring, stress tracking, and all-day heart rate monitoring, I found the connected GPS to be quite disappointing, adding extra distance to my runs. The battery life is solid, lasting around 10 days with all features enabled, though it can stretch to two weeks if you’re conservative with the settings. The wristband can be uncomfortable when worn tightly, and I noticed the raise-to-wake feature has an annoying one-second delay.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While it offers great value and features for the price, the GPS issues and comfort problems make it hard to fully recommend.
Garmin Forerunner 55:
This running-focused tracker absolutely nails the basics with excellent GPS accuracy and a super intuitive interface that makes tracking workouts a breeze. The battery life is phenomenal, lasting up to two weeks in smartwatch mode and 20 hours with GPS enabled, which blows away competitors like the Fitbit Charge 6. I love how it provides suggested workouts and recovery times based on your training history and fitness level, features typically reserved for much more expensive models. The bright screen makes it easy to check your stats during runs, and the PacePro feature has really helped me improve my running performance.
Would I buy it?
Yes – It’s the perfect balance of features and functionality for runners, especially beginners, without breaking the bank.
Amazfit Bip 5:
At just $89, this tracker packs an impressive punch with features you’d typically find on devices costing twice as much, including 120+ sport modes and built-in GPS. The battery life is solid, though not as impressive as some competitors, lasting about five days under heavy usage. While the fitness tracking is generally accurate, I found the sleep tracking to be a bit unreliable, often missing nighttime wake-ups. The app interface is well-designed and user-friendly, but you’ll need to pay extra for some advanced features like AI-generated analysis.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – It’s an incredible value proposition, but some tracking inconsistencies hold it back from being a must-buy.
Fitbit Inspire 3:
The vibrant color AMOLED display with always-on option is a major upgrade from previous models, though it does impact battery life significantly. While the sleep tracking is impressive and the app experience is top-notch, I noticed the heart rate sensor struggles during high-intensity workouts. The device offers great basic fitness tracking features and supports over 20 different exercise modes, though you’ll need your phone nearby for GPS functionality. The small screen might not be ideal for everyone, and the scrolling isn’t very well optimized.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – It’s a solid entry-level tracker with great sleep features, but the heart rate accuracy issues during workouts are concerning.
Honor Band 5:
The battery life is quite impressive, lasting up to 14 days with normal use and about a week with all features enabled. The AMOLED display is crisp and vibrant, but the touch sensitivity is frustratingly inconsistent, often confusing swipes with taps. The workout tracking options are severely limited compared to competitors like the Xiaomi Mi Band, lacking specific activity modes and detailed metrics. The build quality feels cheap and the interface is clunky, making it difficult to navigate through basic features.
Would I buy it?
No – The Honor Band 5 feels outdated compared to newer budget trackers, and the limited features and poor touch response make it hard to recommend.
Xiaomi Mi Band 8:
The redesigned metal case and removable band system give it a much more premium feel than previous models while maintaining an incredibly affordable price point. The new Pebble Mode with foot attachment provides excellent running insights and tracking accuracy that rivals more expensive devices. The battery life is outstanding, lasting up to 16 days with normal use, and the 60Hz refresh rate makes the interface feel incredibly smooth. The fitness tracking features are comprehensive with support for over 200 activities, though some of the more advanced metrics can be slightly inaccurate.
Would I buy it?
Yes – The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 offers incredible value with premium features and design at a budget price point, making it the perfect choice for both beginners and enthusiasts.
Apple Watch Series 8:
The watch features excellent health tracking capabilities including skin temperature sensing and crash detection, though these features come at a premium price point. The battery life is decent with the new low power mode extending usage to 36 hours, but it still requires more frequent charging than dedicated fitness trackers. The display and interface are beautiful and intuitive, but the lack of a siren feature like the Ultra model feels like a missed opportunity for safety features. The compass app with waypoints and trackback features works great for outdoor activities, though you’ll need to pay extra for cellular connectivity.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While it’s an excellent smartwatch with great fitness features, the high price and shorter battery life make it harder to recommend as a pure fitness tracker.
Garmin Fenix 7:
The battery life is exceptional for a GPS watch, but the display uses memory-in-pixel technology which lacks contrast and can be hard to read. The touchscreen implementation works well for map navigation, though it’s locked by default during workouts which can be frustrating. The GPS accuracy is impressive and the training tools are comprehensive, but the watch is significantly more expensive than basic fitness trackers. The watch offers excellent navigation tools and mapping features, but the lack of a microphone for hands-free calls is disappointing at this price point.
Would I buy it?
No – While it’s an excellent premium sports watch, its high price and complex features make it overkill for someone seeking a budget fitness tracker.
Xiaomi Smart Band 7:
The 1.62-inch AMOLED display is a significant upgrade with an always-on function that makes it super easy to check your stats at a glance. With over 110 sports modes and reliable heart rate monitoring, I found it tracks everything from running to rowing accurately, though you’ll need your phone for GPS since it doesn’t have one built-in. The battery life is impressive – I got about 5 days with heavy use and all features enabled, including continuous heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring. The touch controls are responsive and the UI is intuitive, though I noticed occasional lag when scrolling through notifications.
Would I buy it?
Yes – it offers incredible value with premium features like SpO2 monitoring and sleep tracking at a budget price point.
Amazfit Band 7:
The gorgeous 1.47-inch AMOLED display with smaller bezels makes everything look bright and vibrant, and I love how easy it is to read notifications. For just $50, you get an incredible array of features including continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen tracking, and even Amazon Alexa integration. The step counting accuracy really impressed me – during testing it was nearly perfect when compared to manual counting, with minimal false steps while sitting or sleeping. While the band is comfortable at just 28g, I found it tricky to put on one-handed, especially with smaller wrists.
Would I buy it?
Yes – it packs premium smartwatch features into an affordable fitness band that punches way above its weight class.
Garmin Vivosmart 5:
The monochrome display feels dated compared to colorful competitors, and the plastic build quality doesn’t justify its higher price point. While the heart rate monitoring is accurate, the lack of built-in GPS means you’re always tethered to your phone for distance tracking. The battery life is disappointing at just 7 days, especially compared to other trackers in this price range. The interface feels stiff and paginated, with a frustrating 3-second delay just to view basic stats.
Would I buy it?
No – there are better options available at lower prices that offer more features and better displays.
Amazfit GTS 4 Mini:
The watch impresses with its standard 20mm band compatibility, giving you thousands of options for customization. Battery life is stellar – even with heavy usage and monitoring cranked up, I consistently got around 10 days between charges. The device excels at workout tracking with automatic detection for over 100 activities, and the GPS tracking is solid. While the watch faces are limited in the free selection, the default information-dense face is highly readable and practical.
Would I buy it?
Yes – it offers the perfect balance of smartwatch features and fitness tracking capabilities at an affordable price point.
Amazfit Balance:
The dual-band GPS tracking is surprisingly accurate for a budget device, matching the performance of more expensive watches like the OnePlus Watch 2. While it offers comprehensive running metrics and heart rate monitoring, I found the readiness score feature to be quite unreliable, often contradicting how I actually felt. The sleep tracking is decent but can be fooled by activities like watching TV, and the strength training feature struggles to accurately count repetitions. The battery life is impressive though, lasting a full week even with intense daily use and GPS enabled.
Would I buy it?
No – The unreliable features and strength training tracking issues make it hard to justify, especially when there are better options in this price range.
Amazfit GTS 2e:
The design really caught my eye with its premium Apple Watch-like look, featuring a crisp 1.65′ AMOLED display that’s protected by tempered glass. The battery life is excellent, and the quick charging feature comes in handy when you’re in a hurry. While it tracks 90 different physical activities, I noticed some accuracy issues with distance tracking, showing up to 0.4km disparities between runs. The lack of NFC payments and call functionality is disappointing for a device in this price range.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – It’s a solid choice if you want a stylish fitness tracker with great battery life, but be prepared to compromise on some smart features.
Huawei Band 7:
This ultra-lightweight tracker weighs just 16 grams and features a gorgeous 1.47-inch AMOLED display that’s perfect for quick glances during workouts. The fitness tracking is impressively accurate, showing similar step count and heart rate measurements to the Galaxy Watch 4 during testing. I love that it includes quick reply features for notifications, which is rare at this price point. The battery lasted about six days with Always On Display and all features enabled, including three workouts.
Would I buy it?
Yes – It offers exceptional value with accurate tracking, great display, and useful features while maintaining a super comfortable lightweight design.
Garmin Venu Sq 2:
The upgrade to an AMOLED display from the previous LCD version makes a huge difference in visibility, and the battery life has nearly doubled to 11 days. The heart rate tracking proved accurate during testing, matching closely with chest strap readings during various activities. However, it’s disappointing that it lacks features like stair tracking and outdoor track mode, which you’d expect at this price point. The sleep tracking is spot-on accurate to the minute, but it doesn’t handle early morning wake-and-sleep patterns well.
Would I buy it?
Maybe – While it offers solid fitness tracking and great battery life, the missing features make it hard to fully recommend at its price point.
Fitbit Charge 6:
The heart rate tracking is impressively accurate with up to 60% better readings during intense workouts like HIIT and spinning compared to previous models. While the screen is crisp and clear, it’s frustrating that you can only see one metric at a time during workouts and have to constantly tap to cycle between them. The battery life is decent at around 5-7 days depending on usage, and it comes with useful Google integrations like Maps, Wallet, and YouTube Music controls. The GPS accuracy is disappointingly poor when used without a phone, often providing unreliable tracking data for outdoor activities.
Would I buy it?
Maybe. While it offers great features for the price point, the GPS issues and limited screen metrics make it hard to fully recommend for serious fitness enthusiasts.
Redmi Smart Band Pro:
The 1.47-inch AMOLED display is impressive with 450 nits brightness, making it easily readable even in direct sunlight. Despite claiming to track over 110 activities, many of the tracking features feel gimmicky and unreliable. The battery drains significantly faster than advertised when using features like Always-on display. The heart rate monitoring is inconsistent and often requires readjusting the band to get readings.
Would I buy it?
No. While the display is nice, the unreliable tracking features and battery life issues make it hard to justify even at its budget price point.
Amazfit Active:
The battery life is absolutely terrible compared to what’s advertised, lasting only about 8 days under regular use instead of the promised 14 days. The strength training feature is particularly frustrating, consistently miscounting reps and requiring manual set switching. The screen gets uncomfortably sweaty during workouts and the watch faces need to be downloaded through the companion app before use. The UI feels sluggish and unresponsive, making it difficult to navigate during activities.
Would I buy it?
No. Despite its affordable price point, the poor battery life and unreliable tracking features make it a disappointing choice.
Garmin Vivomove Trend:
The interface is overly simplified with limited data fields, making it frustrating for anyone who wants detailed workout metrics. The display isn’t very responsive and can be difficult to read in bright conditions. The lack of built-in GPS means you’re always dependent on your phone for accurate tracking. The battery life is disappointing at only 5 days in smartwatch mode, which is poor compared to other Garmin models.
Would I buy it?
No. While it looks stylish, its limited functionality and dependence on phone GPS make it hard to recommend as a dedicated fitness tracker.
Thanks for watching, I hope this video helped you pick the budget fitness trackers for you. If you have any questions, drop a comment below. Links to all of these products mentioned in this video will be in the description.
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