AtoZRanking

Budget Smartwatch vs Fitness Band: Which Should You Buy?

9/21/2025 · Wearables · 7 min

Budget Smartwatch vs Fitness Band: Which Should You Buy?

TL;DR

  • Under $100 you will mostly find fitness bands and entry level smartwatches. Bands excel at battery life and basic health tracking.
  • Budget smartwatches add larger screens, richer notifications, and some simple apps, but often with shorter battery life.
  • Best picks by use case:
  • Fitness first: compact fitness band with reliable heart rate and multi day battery.
  • Notifications and watchlike feel: budget smartwatch with color touchscreen and quick interactions.
  • Sleep and battery priority: fitness band with multi week battery life.

Core tracking and sensors

  • Heart rate: Both device types use optical heart rate sensors. Bands typically emphasize continuous HR and sleep metrics.
  • GPS: True standalone GPS is rare at this price. Most rely on connected GPS via your phone, which is fine for casual runs and rides.
  • SpO2 and advanced metrics: Increasingly common, but accuracy varies across models and is often less reliable than medical devices.

Battery and charging

  • Fitness bands: Expect 7 to 21 days on a single charge thanks to small displays and lightweight software.
  • Budget smartwatches: Color screens reduce endurance to roughly 1 to 5 days depending on use and notifications.
  • Charging: Proprietary magnetic or pogo pin chargers are common. Check reported charging convenience and cable replacement availability.

Display and interaction

  • Bands: Small OLED or PMOLED modules for glanceable stats and simple taps. Great for sleep and workouts, limited for long text.
  • Smartwatches: 1.2 to 1.6 inch IPS or AMOLED like screens for clearer notifications and touch input. Better for quick replies and mini apps.
  • If you want to read notifications comfortably, prioritize a budget smartwatch; if you want invisible tracking, choose a band.

Notifications and apps

  • Fitness bands: Show call, message, and app alerts. Interaction is usually limited to dismiss or view.
  • Smartwatches: Offer richer notifications, quick replies on some platforms, media controls, timers, and simple watch apps.
  • App ecosystem: A polished companion app and regular firmware updates improve long term value. Research the brand software before buying.

Build, comfort and water resistance

  • Comfort: Bands are lighter and less intrusive during sleep and exercise. Smartwatches can feel bulkier on smaller wrists.
  • Materials: Silicone straps are standard. Look for replaceable bands if you care about style.
  • Water resistance: Most budget options are at least 5 ATM or IP68 rated, but swim tracking accuracy is model dependent.

Compatibility and ecosystem

  • Android vs iOS: Some budget smartwatches restrict features on iOS. Verify full feature support for your phone before purchasing.
  • Third party integrations: Ability to export data to Google Fit, Apple Health, or Strava is a plus for long term tracking.

Accuracy and real world performance

  • Expect reasonable step counting and heart rate tracking for casual fitness. Do not expect medical grade accuracy.
  • Firmware updates and sensor placement affect results. Check recent reviews and user feedback for model specific insights.

Which should you buy?

  • Choose a fitness band if you prioritize battery life, sleep tracking, and a slim profile for 24 7 wear.
  • Choose a budget smartwatch if you want a larger display, more interactive notifications, and a watchlike experience.
  • If you are undecided, prioritize companion app quality and battery life over extra sensors.

Buying checklist

  • Battery target: 7+ days for bands, 2+ days for smartwatches.
  • Display: small monochrome or OLED for bands; color touchscreen for watches.
  • GPS: built in for standalone tracking, or connected GPS via phone for most budget picks.
  • Sensors: continuous heart rate and sleep tracking as a baseline.
  • Compatibility: confirm full feature support for your phone OS.
  • Build: replaceable bands and decent water resistance.

Bottom line

For most buyers on a tight budget, a fitness band delivers the best battery life and core health tracking. If you value a larger screen, interactive notifications, and a more traditional watch feel, a budget smartwatch is worth the tradeoff of shorter battery life. Shop for recent firmware updates and a solid companion app to get the most value from either choice.

Found this helpful? Check our curated picks on the home page.