Side-by-side comparison based on expert reviews and community consensus.
Amazfit Bip 5 / Bip 6
Best Overall BudgetApple Watch SE 3
Best Budget for iPhone UsersPrice
$50-$100
$219-$249
Summary
The go-to recommendation across Reddit budget smartwatch communities for years running. Solid GPS, accurate HR tracking, and a price that undercuts nearly everything else with comparable features.
The cheapest way into Apple's ecosystem with most of the flagship health features intact — sleep tracking, crash detection, temperature sensing, and now 5G. For iPhone users, nothing else at this price comes close.
Pros
- Consistently recommended in budget smartwatch Reddit communities as the top pick under $100
- Accurate heart rate sensor that rivals pricier options according to community users
- Built-in GPS praised by runners on tight budgets
- Lightweight design with long battery life
- Latest S10 processor, always-on display, and 5G connectivity at under $250
- Sleep Score, Workout Buddy, sleep apnea notifications, and temperature tracking included
- Ultrafast charging added in third generation
- Deep iPhone integration unmatched by any Android-compatible alternative
Cons
- App ecosystem (Zepp) is less polished than Garmin or Apple
- Heart rate accuracy still trails Apple Watch and Huawei per community comparisons
- Smartwatch features (notifications, apps) are more limited than Wear OS watches
- iPhone-only — useless if you're on Android
- Still $219-$249, which is the high end of 'budget'
- No ECG or blood oxygen sensor compared to Series 11
Our take
If you want a no-nonsense budget smartwatch that just works, Amazfit Bip is the answer — Reddit's budget watch communities recommend it more consistently than anything else at this price point.
If you're on iPhone, stop looking at Amazfit and just save up for the SE 3 — the ecosystem integration alone makes it worth the stretch, and Tom's Guide calls it the best cheap smartwatch you can buy.
Buy
