8 Lesser-Known Smartwatches That Are Way Better Than the Apple Watch

More than half of smartwatch owners chose an Apple Watch per Statista. While this brand has several popular features, other options are better for buyers looking to get the maximum number of features for an optimal price. Here are 8 lesser-known smartwatches that pile on the features without being challenging to afford. They're in order from most expensive to least expensive and selected using Amazon ratings with more than 300 positive reviews. (Also learn "5 Ways to Use ChatGPT to Improve Your Fitness Routine.")

Founded in 2010, Garmin earned a reputation for car and boat navigation devices. Smartwatches are a newer entry into their product line. This multisport GPS watch has a price tag that's comparable to the Apple Watch, but it charges using the power of the sun. The solar charging capability helps it stand out as a must for people who spend time outside. It's a must-have smartwatch for people engaged in outdoor activities like camping, hiking, marathons, skiing, and surfing.

• MSRP: $619.99
• Best for outdoor athletes

• 32 GB storage
• ABC sensors (altimeter, barometer, and compass)
• Access to Galileo, GLONASS, and GPS satellite systems
• Blood oxygen, breathing, heart, and sleep monitoring
• Bluetooth, GPS, and Wi-Fi connectivity
• Built-in music apps
• Compatible with Android and iOS
• Compatible with HIIT workout tracking
• Email, SMS, and phone capabilities
• Full-color golf course, TopoActive, and ski slope maps accessible through built-in Wi-Fi
• Garmin Pay capable
• POI checkpoints and key trail points
• Real-time stamina analytics
• Surfline Sessions for filming videos while surfing
• Trend data analytics for race prediction

TicWatch is a smartwatch brand from Mobvoi, a tech company founded in 2012. The price of the TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro is higher, but this watch does a lot. If you're trying to improve your health and fitness, this watch is an ideal partner. It serves as a calorie counter, tracks all essential health readings, and even tells you if you're snoring patterns are abnormal.

• MSRP: $349.99
• Best for comprehensive training programs

• 32 GB storage
• 110 workout modes
• Apple Pay/Google Pay capable
• Blood oxygen, breathing, heart, sleep, and stress monitoring with TicHealth
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Compatible with Android 8.0
• Compatible with Adidas Running, Nike Run Club, and Strava
• Email, SMS, and phone capabilities
• Smart training
• Snapdragon W5 and Wear OS by Google

Competitive athletes need to look at the TicWatch Atlas smartwatch. As one of the top lesser-known smartwatches, it has a Heat Map function that analyzes your performance in a game and tells you where you've been most active and where there's room for improvement. Think of it as your personal performance coach.

• MSRP: $349.99
• Best for sports performance tracking

• 2 GB storage
• 45-day battery life
• Blood oxygen, breathing, heart, sleep, and stress monitoring with TicHealth
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Built-in barometer, compass, GPS, microphone, and speaker
• Compatible with Android 8.0
• Email, SMS, and phone capabilities
• Emergency SOS
• Enhanced TicMotion for workout performance outdoors
• Fall detection
• Google Pay capable
• Snapdragon W5 and Wear OS by Google

Founded in 1987, Huawei has a long history as a leader in technology. While some smartwatches act as a music controller with your phone, the Huawei GT 4 boasts independent music playback. If you're out jogging, play music from a playlist you've built in the watch. It also has real-time monitoring of your heart rhythm and alerts you to anything abnormal.

• MSRP: $228.29
• Best for on-demand music for your workouts

• 32 GB storage
• 100 workout modes
• 25,000 watch faces available
• Blood oxygen, breathing, heart, sleep, and stress monitoring
• Bluetooth 5.2
• Email, SMS, and phone capabilities
• GPS tracking when connected to a smartphone
• Music playback from the watch
• Water resistant to 50 meters

Amaztim is a newer entry in smartwatches and is part of Seattle's Amazwear Technology. The M3 Ultra proves to have multiple benefits that make it ideal for outdoor use. It's a lesser-known smartwatch brand that deserves more attention than it gets. Not only does the military-grade smartwatch offer GPS tracking and a built-in compass, but it also excels at coverage with support for L1 to L5 satellite positioning.

• MSRP: $159.99
• Best for accurate GPS positioning

• 170 sports modes
• Battery life of two weeks
• Blood oxygen, breathing, heart, and sleep monitoring
• Built-in pedometer
• Compatible with Android and iOS
• Compass, altitude, and air pressure monitoring
• Email, SMS, and phone capabilities
• Waterproof to 50 feet

Zepp Health has its own line of smartwatches and fitness trackers, and the Active Edge receives high praise as a GPS tracker and durable fitness watch. Its large screen is easy to see and is water resistant to 100 meters. With a battery life of 16 days, you don't have to charge this watch often. No subscription is needed to access the all-in-one fitness tracking app.

• MSRP: $109.99
• Best for GPS tracking on a budget

• 102 watch faces for customization
• 130 sports modes
• Android and iOS compatible
• Built-in AI health coach, accelerometer, multisport tracking, and strength/exercise recognition
• Blood oxygen, breathing rate, heart, sleep, and stress monitoring
• GPS tracking
• One-year warranty

Founded in 2010, Xiaomi is a leading smartphone company. This is one of two picks that cost less than $100 and are much cheaper options than an Apple Watch. If you want a smaller watch design that still packs the device with features, the Mi Band 7 Pro is ideal. The screen size is ample, but its slimmer rectangular face makes it look smaller and less bulky. It's come a long way from the original Mi Band models that were small and lacked an abundance of features.

• MSRP: $59.99
• Best for smaller wrists

• 8 MB storage
• 12-day battery life
• 110 fitness modes
• Built-in accelerometer and gyroscope
• Email, phone, and messaging
• GPS navigation
• Health tracking for blood oxygen, heart rate, ovulation, sleep, and stress

Csasan is an affordable tech option that started out making quality earbuds and expanded into smartwatches. While this watch doesn't offer every feature an Apple smartwatch provides, the T70 has a number of them and an unbeatable price. It's a great choice for new users looking to see if a smartwatch fits their needs. It's a budget smartwatch that helps you save money without sacrificing features. The two-year replacement warranty makes it a top choice.

• MSRP: $49.99
• Best for a tight budget

• 110 workout modes
• Built-in weather, alarm clock, flashlight, camera remote, stopwatch, and find phone
• Compatible with Android 5.0 or iOS 9.0 or higher
• Email, SMS, and phone capabilities
• Heart rate, ovulation, and sleep monitoring with the GloryFit app
• Time to move and hydration reminders
• Waterproof