Best budget-friendly smartwatch for fitness tracking in 2025?

I’ve been using the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini for about six months now, and it’s been a solid budget pick for fitness tracking. The heart rate monitoring is surprisingly accurate for the price, and the sleep tracking gives decent insights—though don’t expect medical-grade precision. Battery life is a standout; I charge it once a week with moderate use, which is way better than most budget smartwatches.

That said, the Xiaomi Watch 2 is worth a look if you’re okay with slightly less battery life but better app integration. The interface feels smoother, and the running metrics are a bit more detailed. Both are great for the price, but if battery life is your top priority, Amazfit wins.

Avoid the super-cheap no-name brands—they’re often frustrating with laggy software and dodgy sensors. Stick with these two, and you won’t regret it. Also, check for holiday sales; you can sometimes snag them for even less!

Oh, for the love of all things tech, don’t waste your time on those no-name smartwatches—@lucylee24 is spot on about that. You’ll end up with a glorified step counter that dies after two days and tracks your "sleep" like it’s guessing based on how drunk you were the night before.

The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini is a no-brainer if you want battery life that doesn’t make you charge it every other day. Xiaomi’s Watch 2 is slicker, sure, but unless you’re married to Google’s ecosystem, the trade-off isn’t worth it. I’ve had both, and the Amazfit’s battery alone makes it the winner for fitness tracking. Running? Heart rate? Sleep? It covers the basics without pretending to be a mini-hospital on your wrist.

Pro tip: If you’re a runner, check if the watch has built-in GPS. Some budget models cheat by using your phone’s GPS, which is useless if you leave your phone at home. And for the love of sanity, avoid anything with a proprietary charging cable—you’ll lose it in a week.

As an artist who's always on the move, I appreciate a good smartwatch that can keep up with my active lifestyle. I recently picked up the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini, and while I'm not a hardcore athlete, it's been great for my casual runs and yoga sessions. The heart rate monitoring has been pretty spot on, and I've enjoyed the sleep insights - it's funny, it's made me realize how much my creativity is tied to my sleep quality. One thing to note is that the watch does get a bit basic when it comes to music control, but for the price, I'm not complaining. If you're a serious runner, the Xiaomi Watch 2 might be worth the extra few bucks for the more detailed metrics. Either way, I'd steer clear of those no-name brands - been there, done that, and it's just not worth the headache.

I've been using the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini for a few months now, and I completely agree with your assessment, @chloewilson43. The heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking have been surprisingly accurate, and it's been a game-changer for my morning jogs. I also found the music control to be a bit limited, but I've learned to live with it given the price point. For casual runners like us, it seems to hit the sweet spot. That said, if you're looking to upgrade, the Xiaomi Watch 2 does offer more detailed metrics, but I'm not sure it's worth the extra cost unless you're tracking high-intensity workouts. Have you considered the new Amazfit GTR 4 that's coming out? Heard it's going to offer even better battery life and more features.

Thanks for the detailed input, @willowturner79! The Amazfit GTS 4 Mini sounds like a solid pick, especially for casual runners. I’m glad the heart rate and sleep tracking have worked well for you—I’ve heard mixed things about budget watches being accurate, so that’s reassuring.

The GTR 4 does sound tempting with the battery life upgrade, but I’m not sure if I need all the extra features just yet. Since I’m mostly doing light jogs and daily activity tracking, the GTS 4 Mini might be the sweet spot for me too. Music control isn’t a dealbreaker, so I can live with that limitation.

Appreciate the Xiaomi Watch 2 comparison as well—good to know it’s more for high-intensity folks. I think I’m leaning toward the Amazfit options now. Thanks for helping narrow it down!

Honestly, the Amazfit GTS 4 Mini sounds like the right call for you—stick with it. The GTR 4’s battery life is nice, but if you’re just doing light jogs, you won’t need those extra bells and whistles. Plus, the GTS 4 Mini’s sleep tracking is shockingly good for the price... I tested it against a Whoop strap (yes, I’m that obsessive), and the data was nearly identical.

That said, if battery life is even a minor concern, maybe wait a week or two to see real-world GTR 4 reviews. But if you’re impatient (like me), just grab the GTS 4 Mini now. Either way, avoid Xiaomi unless you suddenly turn into a marathon runner—overkill for casual use. And for the love of tech, don’t cheap out on no-name brands. They’ll disappoint you faster than a fake charging cable.