The Best Watches Under $200
Whether you’re in the market for something you can wear to work, run with, or take into the field, these 12 models are the best cheap watches around.
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You don’t have to drop hundreds of dollars to get a reliable, feature-packed watch to wear around town, track your workout, or take into the field. “Now the technology has come to a point where there’s a lot of good inexpensive watches out there,” says Michael Scriniere, a Pennsylvania-based watchmaker certified through the American Watchmakers-Clockmakers Institute. The price of some smart watches has come down considerably without sacrificing much functionality, and there are plenty of lower-tech options that look great and track time, if that’s all you want and need. We’ve tested many watches, sussing out the strengths and flaws of each to recommend the best.
Types of Watches
The world of watches is a vast one, and differences go far beyond analog and digital. You can choose specific functions, various strap and case materials, and in the case of analog, how your watch actually ticks. Think about how you plan to use your new watch, and that should help you navigate the options to the model that will serve you best.
A sports watch, and possibly something more specialized such as a smart watch or altimeter watch, is the way to go if you plan to work up a sweat. They typically offer greater water-resistance than analog watches, and smarter models track a smattering of activities, your heart rate, and more. With a focus on data, sports watches usually have digital displays, some with touchscreens, and feature silicone or resin straps.
If you don’t need many special features, consider an analog model like a field watch that will work for diving, hunting, and even casual wear. Originally used by the military, field watches traditionally feature quartz movement for accuracy and a stainless-steel case for durability. Today, field watches can also have titanium cases, and crystals—the clear covering over the dials—are commonly mineral or sapphire (the latter is the most scratch-resistant). Band materials include leather, nylon, and metal.
Understanding Analog Watch Movements
Analog watches can run on one of two movement types: quartz or mechanical. Quartz mechanisms are powered by batteries. Electrical currents from the battery cause a small quartz crystal to vibrate, and those vibrations advance the hands. Because they have few moving parts, quartz watches are more affordable, but eventually, the battery needs to be replaced.
Other timepieces operate on more complex (and expensive) mechanical movements that require manual or automatic winding. That winding tightens the mainspring, and as this spring loosens, it sets the gears and other parts in motion to move the watch hands. A watch with manual movement requires you to wind it, whereas the more common automatic movement harnesses the energy from your body movement to turn a rotor that does the winding, instead. Although they do not need regular battery maintenance, mechanical watches should be serviced every five years or so to ensure accuracy.
Choosing the Right Water Resistance
No matter what type of watch you choose, Scriniere recommends evaluating the water-resistance rating. “It’s amazing how far case construction has come,” he says. “It’s really a feat of engineering, how basic they are but how much pressure they can withstand.” Some models are built with high-quality materials that handle the pressure 1,000 meters or more below the water’s surface, but anything greater than 30 meters offers the protection you need for most activities, including swimming, Scriniere says. Even if the case is water-ready, most companies recommend not adjusting the buttons underwater just to be sure. Also, watches with leather bands, which become brittle when water binds to the leather’s oil and then evaporates, are best left on land.
How We Tested
To find cheap watches that don’t skimp on performance, we set a $200 limit, researched the market, consulted user and expert reviews, and spoke with product managers about the latest releases. We considered features, construction, style, and price and had our test editors wear the most promising options for one week. They wore them while exercising, adventuring, walking around town, sleeping, doing the dishes, and even showering, then told us how easy the watches were to use and how they felt on their wrists. In some cases, our test samples didn’t need to be returned immediately, allowing us to continue gathering impressions beyond our official evaluation period. But with each new round of testing, all previously vetted models need to prove themselves against newer competition to maintain their spots. Among these dozen that made the cut, there should be a watch that’s right for you.
Case Width: 37 mm | Water Resistance: 30 meters | Materials: Stainless-steel case with Hardlex mineral crystal | Available Bands: Canvas or stainless steel | Movement Type: Automatic mechanical
When it comes to classic wristwatches, it’s hard to beat the value of the venerable Seiko 5. First released in 1963, the Japanese-made watch is widely regarded to be a dependable option that can hold its own against many pricier timepieces. We were able to easily set the time and date, and the automatic movement saved us from hand-winding or eventually needing to replace the battery. Although it will lose power if you leave it sitting for a few days, that won’t be an issue for everyday watch wearers (who will appreciate the timeless appearance). It’s clean and simple, and the canvas strap can be swapped for a dressier stainless-steel bracelet, like the one our test sample had.
Case Width: 40 mm | Water Resistance: 200 meters | Materials: Stainless-steel case with sapphire crystal | Available Band: Nylon | Movement Type: Japanese Quartz
Bertucci is known for its affordable and lightweight field watches. The company doubled down on durability in its tactical series, which includes the A-2S Ballista. The Ballista has the same heavy-duty nylon strap as many other Bertucci models, but it features a premium sapphire crystal, ten-year lithium battery, and up to 25 years of illumination powered by the tritium gas-filled tubes inside the stainless-steel case. We liked that the watch face automatically glowed, though the illumination was better suited for low-light situations than total darkness. The screw-down crown never dug in when our wrist was flexed because it’s thoughtfully placed at the 4 o’clock hour (a hallmark among Bertucci watches). A secondary dial displays the day of the month up to 31 days, so you’ll need to reset it after the five shorter months in the year.
Case width: 40 mm | Water resistance: 30 meters | Materials: Brass case with mineral glass | Available bands: Leather or nylon | Movement type: Quartz
Since debuting in 2011, Timex’s Weekender series has consisted of good-quality watches at bargain prices. The quartz mechanism lends accuracy, and before you write it off as being too old-school, the watch comes with an Indiglo backlight for night use and—as the name implies—a chronograph function. The large face and hour markers made it easy to read the watch with a quick glance. We liked the date window near the 4 o’clock mark, too. The heavy brass case had a tendency to shift unless the band was snuggly against our wrist. Like all Weekenders, the Chrono is available in several colors and with numerous fabric and leather bands that are easy to change.
Case Width: 41.5 mm | Water Resistance: 200 meters | Materials: Stainless-steel case with mineral crystal | Available Band: Stainless steel | Movement Type: Mechanical
If going into the field means adventuring on or in the water, you’ll want a dive watch. Orient’s Mako II is one of the most popular and affordable options around. It’s tough enough to wear up to 200 meters below water, and the one-way rotating bezel lets you track how much time you’ve spent submerged. The handsome watch is also not so technical that it feels out of place on land, and the links on the stainless-steel bracelet were simple enough to remove at home with a spring bar tool. We did wish our test sample’s illumination were brighter. We could easily spot the hands and dial in total darkness, but it was more challenging in low-light situations. The timekeeping mechanism inside the Mako II allows it to function as a manual or automatic mechanical watch, though the reserve time isn’t that long. On our dresser, it kept time for about a day and a half before stopping. Resetting the time is easy enough, but we recommend occasional watch wearers look elsewhere.
Case Width: 44 mm | Water Resistance: 50 meters |Materials: Stainless-steel case with mineral crystal | Available Bands: Leather or stainless steel | Movement Type: Quartz
Fossil’s Grant is a good-looking watch with some substance. We found ourselves using the stopwatch—displayed as three small dials within the larger face—every day. Reading an exact time from the analog display is more challenging than a digital stopwatch, but it was perfect for our casual needs. The 50-meter water-resistance rating also provided assurance that the watch wasn’t at risk of breaking from a little sweat or other moisture. If you’re not a fan of the black and brown appearance, Fossil makes the Grant in a variety of case, dial, and strap colors.
Case Width: 38 mm | Water Resistance: 100 meters | Materials: Resin case with mineral crystal | Available Band: Resin
There are cheap watches, and then there are really cheap watches. While many might not be worth even the couple of bucks they cost, the Casio W800H-1AV is a genuinely durable timepiece that’s easy to use and water-resistant to 100 meters. Switch between 12- to 24-hour display modes with the tap of a button, and when you navigate away from the default timekeeping mode, say to set the alarm or work the stopwatch, you can still see the current time in the bottom corner of the face. The band is nice and long for larger wrists, and although the mostly black styling won’t please everyone, our biggest complaint was that the W800H-1AV doesn’t have a timer like some similar models. But if you don’t need many bells and whistles, you won’t be disappointed.
Screen Size: 1.2 in. | Water Resistance: 50 meters | Materials: Fiber-reinforced polymer case with Corning Glass | Available Bands: Nylon or silicone
This affordable GPS watch is laser-focused on delivering the best, lightest, fastest run-tracking experience on the roads and during speedwork. Coros achieves that in a few ways, first by designing a nylon strap that’s lighter than the (still available) silicone one. In total, the Pace 2 weighs one ounce—a smidge lighter than the Apple Watch Series 5 and significantly less than other models. Next, the company stripped down the workout tracking modes to 12 essentials. Three are for running, and the rest cover cross-training days on the bike, in the pool, or at the gym. And then there’s the matter of the watch’s monstrous battery life. It promises 30 hours of GPS tracking and up to 20 days otherwise. “I tested the device with at least 20-minute runs every day for three straight weeks, including a couple hour-and-a-half runs,” reported our tester. “It only required one charge. That’s one less charging cable I have to worry about packing for a work trip or family vacation.” Another feature we liked: Night Mode keeps the display on when the sun’s not around. It was also helpful at high noon, when the backlighting made the digits easier to read through our sunnies.
Screen Size: 1.28 in. | Water Resistance: 30 meters | Materials: Polycarbonate case with Corning Gorilla Glass | Available Band: Silicone
For the price, the Amazfit Bip is a pretty great (albeit basic) GPS watch. It’s very light at 1.1 ounces, just as accurate in its tracking as pricier models, and the battery life is astounding. We started our testing when it was 45 percent charged and didn’t have to touch the power cord once. (Amazfit says it can last more than a month on a single charge.) We liked that the watch created route maps of our runs, but our tester reported the heart rate sensor can be temperamental and the sleep tracking function didn’t always log data. She found the most accurate readings when the watch was cinched tightly around her wrist. The touchscreen is intuitive, though many of the watch controls are found on Amazfit’s app, including switching the display to 12-hour versus the default military time.
Screen Size: 1 in. | Water Resistance: 50 meters | Materials: Resin case with Corning Gorilla Glass 3 | Available Bands: Elastomer, silicone, recycled polyester, and leather
In the newest Charge, Fitbit finally installs built-in GPS, and that makes its most robust fitness tracker a better coaching tool for people looking to get back in shape or take their performance up a notch. In the Fitbit app, we could see where we ran, walked, rode, and hiked, as well as how our pace and heart rate changed over the course of our routes. The real-time heart rate zone notifications (a series of vibrations) helped us know when to push the gas and when to pull back during our workouts. The GPS functionality did significantly shorten the battery life, though. Our testers averaged three to five days depending on how much they used it compared to Fitbit’s promise of up to a week between charges. On sunny days, we wished the black-and-white screen had been brighter, but overall, its one-inch size struck a nice balance between readability and discreetness when displaying our text and call notifications, calendar items, or the weather forecast. The Charge 4 also monitors your sleep and lets you control Spotify from your wrist, though not while you’re also tracking a workout.
Case Width: 42 mm | Water Resistance: 10 meters | Materials: Stainless-steel case with mineral crystal | Available Bands: Stainless steel and nylon | Movement Type: Japanese Miyoto
The Milano is as simple a timekeeper as they come, without even a date tracker. But its modern design and two included bands set this watch apart from the others. The hexagonal copper-colored case is eye-catching and earned us several compliments. And although the minimalist dial lacks numbers, the inclusion of one-minute markers made it easy to read. It was even easier to swap out the bands. Whereas many watches require tools for this procedure, the Milano has a sliding pin mechanism that let us release and attach the bands in seconds flat. Surprisingly, the fashionable case looked right at home alongside the (more comfortable) black nylon strap, but for a more formal look, switch to the black stainless-steel mesh band. (If you prefer rose gold, opt for The Monaco instead.) And through a partnership with The Plastic Bank, Solgaard pledges to pull five pounds of plastic out of the ocean for every product sold. This is a watch that does good and looks good to boot.
Case Width: 49.6 mm | Water Resistance: 200 meters | Materials: Resin and stainless-steel case with mineral crystal | Available Bands: Resin | Movement Type: Quartz
Whether you’re constantly working with power tools or charging down singletrack, your watch needs to be tough enough to keep up. Enter the G-Shock GM5600-1. It’s vibration-, electric shock-, and water-resistant down to 200 meters. Padding around the key internal mechanisms protect against drops, and the protruding case and bezel serve as bumpers shielding the mineral crystal and the four buttons, though this design did make it more difficult for us to push those buttons. Although we love its durability, we found the GM5600-1 wasn’t the most user-friendly and had to play around with the settings before we got the hang of all the features. We also thought the light-on-dark display was a bit dim, but the backlighting helped. Casio adds a stainless-steel cover to the square resin case, creating a retro vibe we dig (it’s all the more apparent in the black and silver model we tested). The large case size isn’t for everybody though, especially people with smaller wrists or anyone who prefers more inconspicuous design.
Case Width: 52 mm | Water Resistance: 100 meters | Materials: Resin and stainless-steel case with mineral crystal | Available Band: Resin | Movement Type: Japanese Quartz
Head off the grid (or at least into the wilderness) with the Pro Trek PRG270-1 from Casio. The watch, which runs on a solar-rechargeable battery, includes a ton of features, but the big draws for adventurers are the altimeter, barometer, and compass. Unless you’ve used an ABC watch in the past, you’ll want to spend some time with the directions, as these functions aren’t intuitive. But once you’ve familiarized yourself, the PRG270-1 becomes a powerful piece of gear. On a three-day backpacking trip, we also made good use of the sunrise/sunset feature that helped us plan our daily mileage while it was still light out. The massive 52-mm case was surprisingly comfortable to wear, even while we slept. Our main gripe? The light function lasts just two seconds—hardly long enough to read the time, let alone scroll through the displays to set an alarm or start the timer.
Adrienne Donica tested hiking, camping, and other adventure gear as Popular Mechanics' outdoors editor, before going on to edit gear reviews for Popular Mechanics, Runner's World, and Bicycling as Expert Reviews editor. Find her on the trail, working on her latest cocktail project, or eating mint chocolate chip ice cream.
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