# The Best Budget Smartwatch Is Proof You Don’t Need to Overspend

> Like many consumer gadgets and wearables, smartwatches have gotten more expensive in recent months, thanks in part to rising component costs and supply chain pressures.

- **Source:** [WIRED](https://www.wired.com/story/best-budget-smartwatch/?utm_source=gearopen.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=feed&utm_content=6a6d1872e4f45170661d14a1)
- **Published:** 2026-07-31
- **Category:** Wearables
- **Tags:** #apple #apple-watch #google #chatgpt #android #ios #smartwatch #headphones
- **Canonical:** http://localhost:4321/a/6a6d1872e4f45170661d14a1

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_GearOpen's distilled summary. The full original article is published at WIRED (source link above); GearOpen does not republish the source's full text._