Looking for a good cheap smartwatch for Christmas… any ideas?

Seeking Advice
1

My mom wants a smartwatch for Christmas because her current one (Galaxy Watch 4) doesn’t work well with her phone (Galaxy A53 5G) anymore. So I’m trying to find a cheap one (100€ or less, which is about $105 as of December 2024). It needs to do three things:

2

I don’t have a specific watch to suggest, but writing and sending WhatsApp messages might be the tricky part. The keyboards on these devices are usually very small. Maybe look for one that supports voice-to-text for messaging.

3

@Blaire
From what I know, the budget mostly limits you to generic brands you’ll find on Amazon. Most of them can handle phone calls but struggle with WhatsApp features or custom wallpapers. Just a heads-up.

4

@Case
Actually, even the most basic smartwatches let you set custom wallpapers. Usually, you either get a set of pre-made designs or can upload an image to use behind a digital clock. The options might be limited, but it’s there.

5

@Case
When I say custom, I mean being able to upload your own photo as the background. If the watch doesn’t let you do that, then it’s not customizable to me. Something like the Galaxy Watch 7 lets you not only upload pictures but also move the clock and icons wherever you want.

6

@Case
Fair point. What level of customization does the person who posted this actually need?

7

@Case
I’ve tried a few generic smartwatches from Amazon, and none of them allowed photo uploads—it’s all pre-set images. Maybe the ones you’re talking about are from more established brands?

8

@Case
Nope, I mean those cheap $20-30 watches you find on Aliexpress or Alibaba.

9

@Case
Those seem risky to buy since returning them can be a hassle. Do you have a specific brand or model you’d recommend? I’m looking for something to answer calls, including WeChat calls, but I don’t care about customizing the background.

10

@Case
There’s no consistent brand or model name for those, as they’re often sold under different names. It’s true that quality can be hit or miss. If you’re curious, I’ve reviewed some thinner ones on my site here.

11

Check out the Spade & Co Smartwatch 3. It’s budget-friendly and works well for the price.