How to choose an affordable smart watch in Lebanon
Pick by what you will use: WhatsApp alerts, swimming or a slim band. Read the listed battery life, water rating and app first, and treat health readings as estimates.
Choose a budget smart watch by what you will actually use it for. Of the watches we sell, the Y68 suits WhatsApp alerts with step and sleep tracking, the D18 is the one whose listing says IP68 with swimming, and the 115 Plus is a slim 25 g fitness band. Before you order, read the listed battery life, water rating and phone app, and treat every health reading as an estimate, not a medical test.
What the specs on a smart watch listing mean
Screen size and shape
Screens are measured diagonally, in inches. The 115 Plus has a 0.96 inch band screen. The D18 has a 1.3 inch touch screen and the Y68 a 1.4 inch square one. A bigger screen is easier to read at a glance; a smaller one is lighter and slimmer under a sleeve.
Battery life, as listed
Listings often give two figures: use time (a normal day with alerts and tracking) and standby (switched on but barely touched). The D18 lists 3 to 5 days of use and 7 to 10 days on standby. The Y68 lists 4 to 7 days normally and up to 30 days on standby.
Plan around the lower number: a bright screen, lots of alerts and GPS all drain a battery faster.
Charging
The D18 charges wirelessly in under 1 hour, as listed. The 115 Plus charges over USB in about 2 hours, from a laptop, a USB wall plug or, during power cuts, a power bank (see our power bank guide). The Y68 listing doesn't say how it charges.
Calls and notifications
Bluetooth calling means the watch has a speaker and microphone, so you can talk through it with your phone nearby. A call alert only buzzes when the phone rings.
The Y68 lists call alerts plus WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter and WeChat notifications. The D18 lists call switching, and the 115 Plus lists notifications without naming the apps. None of them mentions a speaker or microphone, so if calls on your wrist matter, ask us on WhatsApp before you order.
The app and your phone
The watch pairs over Bluetooth with an app on your phone, where you switch on notifications and see your history. The D18 and Y68 both use FitPro. Only the Y68 listing names phone support: Android 4.4 and above, and iOS 9.0 and above.
Water ratings: what IP67 and IP68 cover
An IP rating comes from a lab test. The first digit is dust (6 means dust-tight) and the second is water. A 7 means the watch was tested in up to 1 m of still, fresh water for 30 minutes. An 8 means a longer or deeper test, on conditions the maker sets. Splash-proof is lower: rain and splashes, not swimming.
The D18 listing says IP68 and names swimming. The Y68 listing says splash-proof only, not for swimming. The other watches here don't list a rating, so keep them dry.
No rating covers hot showers, saunas or sea water. Heat and steam can work past the seals, and salt isn't part of the test, so take your watch off before you swim at the beach.
Health and sports tracking: useful, but an estimate
A watch is good at trends, like whether you walked more this week than last. It is not a medical device, and a loose strap or lots of movement can throw a reading off. Here is what each listing says it tracks:
- Y68: heart rate, blood oxygen, blood pressure, sleep, steps, calories, distance, multi-sport modes and a reminder to move after sitting too long
- D18: compass, barometer, altimeter, GPS tracking, MET (a measure of workout intensity) and a women's health feature
- 115 Plus: a heart rate sensor, in a band sold as a fitness tracker
The D18 listing also mentions blood glucose. A watch is not a glucose meter or a blood pressure cuff, so if you manage diabetes or blood pressure, keep using your proper device and follow your doctor's advice.
Compare the watches side by side
| Watch | Screen | Battery life | Charging | Water | Calls and alerts | App |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D18 Smart Watch | 1.3 inch touch | 3 to 5 days use, 7 to 10 days standby | Wireless, under 1 hour | IP68 | Call switching | FitPro |
| Y68 Smart Watch | 1.4 inch square touch | 4 to 7 days, up to 30 days standby | Not listed | Splash-proof, not for swimming | Call alerts, WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, WeChat | FitPro |
| 115 Plus Smart Watch | 0.96 inch | Not listed | USB, about 2 hours | Not listed | Notifications, apps not named | Not listed |
Not listed means the listing doesn't say, not that the watch can't do it.
Which watch fits which person
Your first smart watch, mostly for WhatsApp and steps
The Y68 is the simplest place to start: WhatsApp and call alerts, steps, sleep and heart rate, plus find-my-phone, a camera remote for your phone and several watch faces. Its listing names Android and iOS support, and it comes in black, pink or white.
A slim band for everyday activity
The 115 Plus is a fitness band rather than a watch face: a 0.96 inch screen, a TPU strap, 25 g on your wrist and a heart rate sensor. The box holds the band and a user manual.
For swimming, hikes and sport
If you want to swim with your watch, look at the D18: its listing says IP68 and names swimming. The compass, barometer, altimeter and GPS tracking it lists suit weekend hikes, and it comes in black, green or red.
The NEXERA Smart Sports Watch is described as made for sports, but its listing gives no screen size, battery life or water rating, so ask us about those first.
In summer heat, a spare strap lets you rinse one while you wear the other. The Straps For Smart Watches are TPE or silicone, listed as a secure fit for sports, with band options named D18 and Y68. Pick the option that matches your watch.
The editions with numbers in the name
The Ultra 2 Smart Watch - 7 in 1 Strap Edition is a strap edition, so it suits you if you like swapping straps to match an outfit. The Laxasfit Ultra 3 Smart Watch 49mm - 8 in 1 Edition, the S1000 Pro Max Smart Watch 7+2 Combo and the S1000 Pro Smart Watch Series 10 - 7+1 Edition are sold as editions as well.
Their listings don't give full specs yet, so message us on WhatsApp for the screen size, battery life, water rating and what's in the box before you order.
You can browse every model in Smart Watches & Wearables, and read our returns page before you order.
Questions people ask
Can I swim with a budget smart watch?
Only if its listing says so. The D18 lists IP68 and swimming, while the Y68 is splash-proof only. No rating covers hot showers, saunas or sea water.
Will these watches work with my iPhone?
The Y68 listing names iOS 9.0 and above, and Android 4.4 and above. The other listings don't say, so send us your phone model on WhatsApp before you order.
Can I answer calls on the watch?
The Y68 lists call alerts, so you answer on your phone. The D18 lists call switching but no speaker or microphone, so ask us first if you need calls on your wrist.
How accurate are heart rate and blood pressure readings?
Treat them as estimates for spotting trends. A watch is not a medical device, so use a proper meter for anything your doctor asked you to track.