I can't settle on a new smartwatch, so I'm asking for recommendations. I don't want to pay more than 50 euros for it, but I just want it to tell the time and steps accurately without connecting to an app, and a long battery life. Everything else is extra, but nice to have.

Have you looked into asteroidOS?

If you use an Android phone, you can install Trail Sense from F-droid on it. It has a step counter. Then if you still want to wear a watch, use an ordinary dumb watch.

https://f-droid.org/en/packages/com.kylecorry.trail_sense

Well
https://www.amazon.com/Casio-A158WA-1-Water-Resistant-Digital/dp/B000GAYQJ0

Don't buy it on Amazon btw.

1. That watch doesn't seem to have a step tracker

2. https://www.casio.com/us/watches/casio/product.A158WA-1/

Check out the watches supported by the gadget bridge APP and buy second Hand.

I have the old CMF Watch Pro, which is compatible with Gadgetbridge, which is a FOSS app, and supports all features. The new ones are also compatible but may lack a feature or two. You can use it without connecting to the phone too, but I don't mind, since Gadgetbridge is FOSS and privacy friendly.

For the battery, mine works for at least 3 days, when connected to the phone and using other features like always on display, lift to wake etc.

I have the CMF Watch 2 pro, and can confirm mostly the same.

Price point is right where OP was looking to spend which is pretty cheap for a smartwatch.

It looks good for the price, machined aluminum bezel, should work with aftermarket bands etc. It works with GadgetBridge (initial pairing was kinda jank for me, but follow the provided directions and you'll be fine).

Most of the basic features work and are supported with GadgetBridge- step counting, push notifications etc. Some more advanced features may not work. Also if you don't use the official Nothing/CMF app you are stuck with the 5 or 6 default preloaded watch face designs, most of which kinda suck. Maybe someone has come up with a workaround for this since I last checked.

This is just my mindset so take it with a grain of salt.

I think for outdoors, fitness, and sports you don't get a Garmin you shouldn't get a smart watch dedicated for it. I personally run, hike, climb, occasionally even dive. I just wear a simple casio square day to day because I don't want to shell out the couple hundred dollars for a garmin fenix just yet.

I don't particularly know what's your use case that some burner phone that only has a step counter app can't do

Wow I didn't know any of them had step trackers without other internet crap. But some do, and are affordable. This one is $55:

https://www.casio.com/us/watches/casio/product.LWS-2200H-1AV/

Search term on Casio site is "accelerometer". You don't want the GPS ones or the "pace signal" ones.

Might be best to avoid smart watches, they are truly little SPY devices…

That's the one. I've just copy pasted the wrong link thanks

PineTime is probably the best choice privacy wise. It hits all your requirements but it is definitely not fancy. Pretty much everything will require an app, but the GadgetBridge app is FOSS with no trackers or uploading your data.

I would second this heh - buy second hand, and especially if you don't want/need anything fancy.
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I recently was gifted a 2nd-hand garmin forerunner 235. Battery life could be better, but it does most things well (simple). I wasn't sure I wanted a smart watch, but it's growing on me.