Complete COLMI Smartwatch Buying Guide 2026: Every Model Explained

Buying a budget smartwatch in 2026 has never been more rewarding. The COLMI range spans more than a dozen distinct models, each designed with a specific type of user in mind. If you've landed on this guide feeling overwhelmed by choice, you're in the right place. We'll walk through every COLMI smartwatch available, explain exactly who each one is for, and give you a clear framework for making your decision. By the end, you'll know precisely which COLMI watch to buy and why.

Why COLMI? The Case for Budget-Friendly Wearables

COLMI has built a strong reputation in the UK and European market by delivering features typically found on £100–£300 smartwatches at a fraction of the price. AMOLED displays, built-in GPS, Bluetooth calling, 100+ sports modes, and comprehensive health monitoring are all available for under £65. The brand achieves this by focusing on hardware value over software ecosystem depth. You won't get the deep third-party app integration of a Garmin or Apple Watch, and the companion Da Fit app is functional rather than beautiful. But for the core use cases the vast majority of smartwatch users rely on — health tracking, notifications, step counting, sleep monitoring, and battery life — COLMI delivers outstanding performance per pound spent. All COLMI watches are compatible with both Android and iOS, require no subscription for data access, and come with free UK delivery.

Step 1: Decide What You Actually Need

Before looking at specific models, be honest with yourself about your primary use cases. Most people buy a smartwatch for one of these core reasons:

Health monitoring — heart rate, sleep, SpO2, and stress tracking passively throughout the day
Fitness tracking — workout logging, GPS route tracking, and sports modes for specific activities
Notifications — seeing calls, messages, and alerts without reaching for your phone
Style — a watch that looks good and doubles as a fashion accessory
Calling — making and receiving calls directly from your wrist via Bluetooth

Identifying your top one or two priorities will narrow your options significantly. The sections below walk through every COLMI model through that lens.

The Entry-Level Tier: Under £35

COLMI C8 Max (~£34) — Best for First-Time Buyers

The C8 Max is COLMI's most accessible smartwatch and the ideal starting point for anyone who has never owned a wearable. Its standout feature is the large 1.93-inch IPS display — one of the biggest screens at this price point — making everything easy to read, even for users with less sharp vision or larger hands. Features include heart rate monitoring, SpO2, sleep tracking, step counting, sedentary reminders, and 7-day battery life. Smart features cover call alerts, message notifications, weather display, and a find-my-phone function. It doesn't have AMOLED, built-in GPS, or Bluetooth calling, but it does everything an everyday smartwatch needs to do at the lowest possible price.

Buy the C8 Max if: You want a simple, reliable smartwatch for daily notifications and basic health tracking. Also ideal as a first smartwatch for elderly relatives or teenagers.

COLMI P71 (~£30) — Best for Bluetooth Calling on a Budget

The P71 is remarkable for one reason: it supports Bluetooth calling — make and receive calls directly from your wrist — for under £30. This feature is normally found on smartwatches costing £100 or more. The P71 has a built-in microphone and speaker that handle calls clearly in quiet-to-moderate environments. Beyond calling, it covers the core health tracking bases including heart rate, SpO2, sleep, steps, and stress monitoring, with battery life of 7–10 days.

Buy the P71 if: You want to make and receive calls from your wrist without spending £100+. Also excellent for drivers, cyclists, and anyone who frequently misses calls.

The Mid-Range Tier: £33–£45

COLMI V72 (~£33) — Best Budget AMOLED Display

The V72 is where the COLMI range steps up visually. Its AMOLED display produces true blacks, vivid colours, and exceptional contrast that makes it look dramatically more premium than its price suggests. Available in Black, Gold, and Rose Gold, it's one of the most visually appealing budget smartwatches available in 2026. Health tracking is comprehensive: 24/7 heart rate, SpO2, sleep stage tracking (light, deep, REM), stress monitoring, and 100+ sports modes. Battery life runs 7–12 days. If you want AMOLED quality at the absolute lowest price, the V72 is the clear choice in this range.

Buy the V72 if: Display quality is your priority and you want an AMOLED watch under £35.

COLMI V73 (~£35) — Best for Style-Conscious Buyers

The V73 is the V72's sibling with one key addition: a Pink colour option alongside Gold and other standard colours. The underlying hardware is nearly identical to the V72 — same AMOLED technology, same health tracking suite, same battery life — but the additional colour range makes it the top pick for buyers who want something distinctly fashionable. The slight price premium reflects the expanded style options rather than a hardware upgrade.

Buy the V73 if: You love the V72 but want the Pink or additional Gold variants, or you're buying as a thoughtful tech gift.

COLMI V69 (~£32) — Best for Large-Screen Preference

The V69 is built around its large 1.85-inch IPS display. While it uses IPS rather than AMOLED, the sheer size of the screen makes it particularly easy to read at a glance, and it's appreciated by users who find smaller displays on the V72 or V73 less comfortable to navigate. Health features and sports modes are equivalent to the V72, making it a solid alternative for screen-size-first buyers.

Buy the V69 if: Screen size matters more to you than screen technology, or you simply prefer the V69's colour options.

COLMI P73 (~£38) — Best Rugged Style

The P73 has a bold, rugged camouflage-influenced aesthetic that makes it stand out visually from every other COLMI model. Under the eye-catching exterior is the same comprehensive health and fitness tracking suite found across the P-series. If you want a watch that looks tough and doesn't mind making a statement, the P73 is unique in the lineup.

Buy the P73 if: You want a rugged, bold design that suits outdoor work, adventurous lifestyles, or anyone who wants a watch that commands attention.

COLMI P80 (~£40) — Best Versatile Mid-Range Watch

The P80 offers 100+ sports modes, up to 12 days of battery life, and crucially, a choice between a silicone strap and a stainless steel mesh strap. The steel strap option transforms the P80 from a sports tracker into something that looks equally at home in a professional setting — making it the most versatile watch in the COLMI lineup for users who move between gym and office. Health tracking is comprehensive with all major metrics included.

Buy the P80 if: You want a watch that works for both sport and the office, or if 12-day battery life and a steel strap option are priorities for you.

COLMI P81 (~£40) — Best Pure Fitness Watch

The P81 shares the P80's 100+ sports modes and 12-day battery life but has a more dedicated sporty aesthetic. It sits alongside the P80 at the same price point but without the steel strap option. If you primarily want a fitness tracker rather than a versatile daily watch, the P81 delivers equivalent sports tracking in a form factor built for the gym, track, and trail.

Buy the P81 if: Fitness tracking is your primary focus and you prefer a sporty design over the P80's office-to-gym versatility.

COLMI P76 (~£42) — Best for Swimmers

The P76 stands apart from most COLMI models through its 3ATM waterproof rating. Unlike the IP68 rating on most watches in the range (safe for splashes and brief immersion), 3ATM certifies the P76 for pool swimming and sustained water exposure. It features an AMOLED display and the full comprehensive health tracking suite, making it both stylish and genuinely swim-proof.

Buy the P76 if: You swim regularly or participate in water sports and need a watch you can take into the pool without worry.

COLMI P78 (~£43) — Best Outdoor AMOLED

The P78 is designed for outdoor enthusiasts who want AMOLED display quality with a more rugged, outdoor-focused build. It combines vivid screen performance with durability suited to hiking, trail running, and adventurous activities where brightness and build quality both matter.

Buy the P78 if: You want AMOLED display quality in a rugged, outdoor-specific design for active use in the elements.

COLMI P85 (~£45) — Most Unique Design

The P85 stands out with its horizontal AMOLED screen orientation — a landscape-mode display that creates a completely different visual experience from any standard portrait-orientation smartwatch. This unique form factor makes it genuinely distinctive and gives watch faces and data displays a fresh, unconventional feel. If you want something no one else will be wearing, the P85 delivers it.

Buy the P85 if: You want a truly distinctive, conversation-starting smartwatch design that looks completely unlike conventional wearables.

COLMI P86 (~£45) — Best Curved AMOLED Design

The P86 features a curved AMOLED display that creates a more immersive, premium wrap-around visual effect. The curved screen gives it an aesthetic that punches significantly above its price point, and the underlying specs are strong: 12-day battery life, 100+ sports modes, and the full health tracking suite. If design quality matters most to you, the P86 is the best-looking watch in the mid-range COLMI tier.

Buy the P86 if: You want the most visually premium-looking mid-range COLMI smartwatch. The curved AMOLED display is genuinely impressive in person.

The Premium Tier: £44–£62

COLMI V89 (~£40) — Stylish Premium Option

The V89 sits between the mid-range and premium tiers, offering a stylish display, solid health tracking, and good battery life in an appealing design. It's a strong choice if you want something between the V73 and i28 Ultra in terms of premium feel without the flagship price.

Buy the V89 if: You want a stylish, premium-feeling watch at a moderate price without committing to the i28 Ultra's higher cost.

COLMI i28 Ultra (~£44) — Best All-Round Premium

The i28 Ultra is one of COLMI's flagship models, featuring a 1.43-inch AMOLED display at 466×466 resolution — pin-sharp, vivid, and genuinely impressive. Six colour options including magnetic strap variants (Rose Gold, Silver, Black) give it more personalisation choices than almost any other budget smartwatch. The magnetic strap variants feel genuinely premium: the ease of attachment and polished look of the magnetic clasp are a significant upgrade over standard buckles. Bluetooth 5.3 ensures a fast, reliable connection to your smartphone.

Buy the i28 Ultra if: You want the most premium all-round COLMI smartwatch experience with a stunning display and six colour and strap options. Outstanding as a gift.

COLMI M42 (~£47) — Most Elegant Design

The M42 is the most refined and elegant watch in the entire COLMI lineup. Its slim AMOLED profile, magnetic strap, and understated aesthetic create a watch that looks like it belongs in a jeweller's window rather than a budget tech store. Battery life of around 10 days is excellent for a slim AMOLED watch, and 100+ sports modes cover all fitness bases. If you spend time in formal or professional settings and want a smartwatch that looks equally appropriate alongside a suit, the M42 is the only budget smartwatch we'd confidently recommend for that use case.

Buy the M42 if: Elegance and professional suitability are your top priorities. It's the slimmest, most refined design in the COLMI range.

COLMI P82 (~£50) — Best for GPS and Outdoor Activities

The P82 is arguably the best value proposition in the entire COLMI range for active users. It combines a massive 2.13-inch AMOLED display — the largest screen in the lineup — with built-in GPS, two premium features that usually cost £150+ to get together in a single watch. Add Bluetooth calling, 100+ sports modes, 7–10 day battery life, and comprehensive health tracking, and you have an extraordinary package for under £50.

Built-in GPS means you can leave your phone at home during runs, rides, and hikes and still get accurate distance, pace, and route data recorded directly to the watch. Post-workout route maps are viewable in the Da Fit app alongside your heart rate and pace data.

Buy the P82 if: You're an active user who wants standalone GPS for outdoor workouts without paying Garmin prices. The best value GPS smartwatch available under £100.

COLMI V75 GPS (~£58) — Rugged GPS Watch

The V75 combines built-in GPS with a rugged design and AMOLED display specifically for outdoor enthusiasts. It suits hikers and trail runners who want an outdoor-specific aesthetic alongside precise GPS tracking and the full COLMI health monitoring suite.

Buy the V75 if: You want built-in GPS in a rugged outdoor design and are willing to pay a small premium over the P82 for a more outdoor-specific form factor.

COLMI V76 GPS (~£62) — Best GPS Watch Overall

The V76 is COLMI's most advanced GPS smartwatch, pairing a sharp 1.43-inch AMOLED display with built-in GPS in a sleek, premium design. The combination of the high-resolution AMOLED screen, accurate standalone GPS, and polished design makes it the most capable all-around sports smartwatch in the entire COLMI lineup. For runners and cyclists who want the full package, this is the flagship choice.

Buy the V76 if: You want the best GPS watch in the COLMI range and are happy to pay the premium for the most refined, feature-complete GPS experience available.

Quick Decision Guide

Your Priority	Best COLMI Choice	Price
Lowest price, simple use	C8 Max	~£34
Bluetooth calling, cheapest	P71	~£30
Best AMOLED under £35	V72	~£33
Style / feminine colours	V73	~£35
Large screen preference	V69	~£32
Rugged bold design	P73	~£38
Office + sport versatility	P80 with steel strap	~£40
Swimming and water sports	P76	~£42
Curved premium design	P86	~£45
Best all-round premium	i28 Ultra	~£44
Most elegant slim design	M42	~£47
Best value built-in GPS	P82	~£50
Best GPS watch overall	V76 GPS	~£62

Should You Consider a Smart Ring Instead?

If you're primarily interested in health and sleep tracking rather than display features and smart notifications, COLMI's smart ring range (R02 through R12) is worth considering alongside the smartwatches. Smart rings offer superior comfort for overnight wear, better resting heart rate accuracy from finger-based sensors, and extraordinary battery life — up to 30 days on the COLMI R07 — at a similar price point to entry-level smartwatches.

The trade-offs are significant though: no display, no wrist notifications, and no calling capability. For pure, passive health data including sleep tracking and heart rate trends, a smart ring is a compelling alternative. Many health-conscious users end up using a smart ring overnight for sleep data and a smartwatch during the day for active use — COLMI's pricing makes this combination genuinely affordable.

Setting Up Your New COLMI Smartwatch

Once you've ordered your COLMI watch, here's what to do when it arrives:

Download the Da Fit app before unboxing. Available free on iOS and Android.
Charge the watch fully before first use. Most models reach full charge in 1.5–2 hours.
Open Da Fit and tap the + button to scan and pair your new watch via Bluetooth.
Enter your personal data (age, height, weight, sex) for accurate calorie and health calculations.
Set up notification permissions to allow Da Fit to mirror your phone's notifications to the watch.
Download a watch face you love from the face library in the app.
Set your daily step goal and enable sedentary reminders for regular activity prompts.

Most users are fully set up within 10 minutes, and the first week of daily wearing establishes your personal health baseline in the app.

Final Advice

Every COLMI smartwatch in this guide is a capable, well-built device that will serve you well for everyday health tracking and smart notifications. The differences between models matter less than the act of buying one and wearing it consistently. Pick the model that best matches your top priority from the guide above, and trust that you're getting outstanding value regardless of which one you choose. All COLMI smartwatches are available with free UK delivery from our store. If you have questions about a specific model or use case not covered here, reach out to our team and we'll help you decide.