Fitness trackers have come a long way from the simple bands that tracked steps and little else. Modern trackers can monitor everything from your heart health to how well you’ve recovered from a hard bout of training. They’ve got sensors galore and, in some cases, can give smartwatches a run for their money. Whatever your fitness goals are, there’s probably a fitness tracker that can help you achieve them.
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Compared to some other gadgets, wearables are incredibly personal, which means there are a few extra considerations you’ll have to take into account before reaching for your wallet. It makes it hard to say that any one fitness tracker is the best for everyone. Thankfully, the best thing about fitness trackers in 2024 is that there’s enough variety to fit into every kind of lifestyle.
Who is this fitness tracker for? The ideal fitness tracker for hardcore athletes will look different than the best one for casual users looking to get a few more steps in.
A fitness tracker should be able to go at least two to three days between charges. If it’s a flagship smartwatch, it should at least offer quick charging.
Is it a band or a smartwatch? Is it comfortable to wear 24/7?
What metrics does this device track? We prioritize active minutes over steps and calorie burn, but health metrics like resting heart rate, VO2 Max, and sleep quality are plusses.
Accuracy is nice, but it’s more important for measuring progress that your device delivers consistent results for heart rate, distance tracking, and steps.
Certain trackers are limited to specific phone ecosystems — others will work regardless of what your phone is. We prioritize the latter wherever possible.
Size: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: Up to 14 days / Display type: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Dual-frequency and six GNSS systems / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 2.3GB
The Amazfit GTR 4 punches way above its weight. It’s affordable at $199 and includes a whole array of features you’d expect to see on much pricier wearables. That includes a bright OLED screen, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep stage tracking, stress tracking, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an offline digital assistant. It’s also got a native camera remote and a handy Pomodoro timer built in. And for outdoor fitness enthusiasts, the GTR 4 also has multiband GPS for more accurate GPS tracking in challenging environments. You can even import GPX routes from sites like Strava and Komoot. The GTR 4 takes a more holistic approach to health, trading in steps for PAI points to gauge whether you’re getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.
The OLED display is one of the Amazfit GTR 4’s best features. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
For smart features, the GTR 4 has all the basics: push notifications, quick text replies on Android, alarms, timers, and the ability to make and take calls over Bluetooth. The only thing the GTR 4 is really missing is contactless payments, but it more than makes up for it, given the expansive feature set and battery life. It lasts about 10–14 days on a single charge with normal use and about a week with heavy usage. It may not have the brand recognition of a Fitbit, but since Google nerfed both the Versa 4 and Sense 2 last year, you might want to overlook that. Plus, the GTR 4 doesn’t have thick bezels like either of those watches. Watchfaces on the OLED display are crisp, and animations are smooth. When you consider that Amazfit watches are often on sale, it’s a no-brainer.
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The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is a great replacement for a Fitbit smartwatch. Not only do they look similar, but the Venu Sq 2 has way more fitness features, long battery life, and no subscription.
$224 at Amazon$250 at GarminSizes: 40mm w/20mm straps / Weight: 38g / Battery life: Up to 11 days / Display type: OLED touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 4GB (for Music Edition)
The $250 Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the watch I recommend for anyone looking to replace their aging Fitbit Versa 2 or 3. It’s got a similar look and vibe, with a much nicer OLED display and longer battery life.
Garmin is known for its comprehensive fitness tracking, and that’s not an exception here. Of course, you get the basics, like steps and calories burned, but you get a whole lot more, too. There’s built-in GPS for tracking walks, runs, and bike rides — as well as plenty of other sports profiles like yoga and strength training. For smart features, you get push notifications, timers, contactless payments, and a bunch of safety features like Garmin’s Incident Detection, which is its take on fall detection. (You will need to carry your phone with you, however, as this doesn’t have LTE.)
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 has a bright, beautiful OLED display and long battery life. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
If you want the option of onboard music, you can shell out $50 extra for the Music Edition, which comes with enough storage for about 500 songs. I wouldn’t recommend it, however, as you’ll most likely have your phone on you since this isn’t a true standalone watch.
What I like most about this watch, however, is it’s one that you can grow with. On top of recovery metrics and sleep tracking, it also has Garmin Coach — a built-in, free training program for beginner and intermediate-level runners hoping to tackle a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. For health tracking, you can monitor heart rate, blood oxygen, intensity minutes (how many minutes of moderate exercise you get per week), stress, hydration, respiratory rate, and menstrual cycles. And the best part is Garmin doesn’t lock any of this behind a paywall.
One note: there is a Venu 3, which adds a newer heart rate sensor and nap detection. I liked it quite a bit, and it ticks off a lot of the right boxes — except for price. It’s $450, which puts it outside what I’d consider ideal for casual users. I firmly believe older models are still a good choice if all you want is the fitness-tracking basics. This is especially true since newer software updates often make their way to older Garmins. Garmin users also tend to hang onto their device for a good while. Strava’s 2023 year-end survey found that the most popular smartwatch among its users was an eight-year-old Garmin!
Sizes: 7S Pro: 42mm w/20mm straps, 7: 47mm w/22mm straps, 7X: 51mm w/26mm straps / Weight: 7S Pro: 63g (Solar), 58g or 65g (Sapphire Solar, titanium or stainless steel) 7: 79g (Solar), 73g (Sapphire Solar) 7X: 96g (Solar), 89g (Sapphire Solar) / Battery life: 7S: up to 11 days, 14 w/ Solar, 7: up to 18 days, 22 days w/ solar, 7X: up to 28 days, 37 w/solar / Display type: MIP touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 10ATM / Music storage: Up to 32GB
Garmin’s flagship Fenix 7 series is no joke, and the Fenix 7 Pro lineup takes it up a notch. It’s got built-in multiband GPS, solar charging on all models, the option of touchscreen or button navigation, topographical maps, and oodles upon oodles of data. Plus, every Fenix 7 Pro model has a hands-free LED flashlight, an upgraded heart rate sensor, and an improved memory-in-pixel display that’s slightly easier to read in low lighting.
Garmin wearables are also known for providing extensive, in-depth metrics, and the Fenix 7 Pro lineup is no exception. You get excellent recovery metrics, as well as helpful training guides and coaching programs. The best part is Garmin doesn’t charge extra for those features. That’s good news, as these are expensive watches.
I appreciate how quickly these Fenix 7 watches are able to pick up a GPS signal. That’s a must if you’re training in the dead of winter. These watches can also take a beating. All models are built to military-grade standards and feature up to 10 ATM of water resistance. That means they’re more than capable of a dunk in the ocean.
The hands-free flashlight rules! Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Although the screen is brighter, MIP displays still aren’t my absolute favorite — the OLED on the Garmin Epix 2 and the Epix Pro are a lot easier on the eyes. It’s admittedly tough to pick between the Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Pro, Epix 2, and Epix Pro lineups — especially now that the Epix Pro also has great battery life, the LED flashlight, and now comes in multiple sizes. What it boils down to is whether you prioritize a brighter display, longer battery life, or price.
Personally, I prefer the Epix Pro for better readability, but the Fenix 7 Pro is the better choice if this is your first introduction to Garmin’s platform. You’ll get better battery life, the same LED flashlight, all the same training features, and a lower starting price. (You can also check out our Garmin buying guide if you’d like even more alternatives.)
That said, I still think the standard Fenix 7 lineup is a good choice — especially if solar charging isn’t all that appealing to you. Plus, many of the new features that launched with the Fenix 7 Pro and Epix Pro have trickled down to the standard line via OTA updates. You can also save a couple hundred dollars this way if budget is your main concern. In general, the holiday season is right around the corner, so I recommend keeping your eyes peeled for deals as retailers try to get rid of old inventory.
Sizes: 8 proprietary sizes, 6-13, sizing kit needed / Weight: 4–6g (depends on size) / Battery life: Up to 7 days / Display type: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: Up to 328 feet / Music storage: None
The vast majority of fitness trackers are worn on the wrist, but the $299 Oura Ring isn’t. The smart ring is a good option for people who are looking for something a little more discreet. It’s also less distracting than some other wrist-based options, as it lacks a screen and doesn’t forward push notifications.
The Oura Ring is one of the most recognizable smart rings around. Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge
While smaller than your average wearable, the Oura Ring still tracks a ton of metrics, including heart rate variability and body temperature. The third iteration of the device also introduces SpO2 sensors, as well as all-day heart rate monitoring and period predictions. Since launching, the Oura Ring has also added activity tracking, blood oxygen levels, chronotypes to help visualize your circadian rhythms, and a new social feature called Circles. It’s also begun rolling out a whole new sleep stages algorithm that it claims is more accurate than before. If you’re looking for some stress relief, the Oura Ring also lets you track guided meditation sessions.
The Oura Ring tracks typical metrics — such as steps and calories burned — but its main focus is sleep and recovery. Each day, you’re given three sets of scores for your readiness, sleep, and activity. It’s a simple, holistic look at your overall wellness and an ideal pick if you want a more hands-off experience with your data.
That said, 2024 is shaping up to be the year of the smart ring. Samsung just confirmed it’s working on a Galaxy Ring that’s slated for launch later this year. I’m currently testing a new ring from Movano, and Amazfit is expected to launch another compelling option in the near future — both of these won’t have a subscription. If you can be patient, you might want to wait to see what happens in the smart ring space over the next few months.
Size: 42mm x 24mm x 12.2mm with 16mm straps / Weight: 28g / Battery life: Up to 18 days / Display type: OLED / GPS: Tethered / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: None
It’s truly hard to beat the Amazfit Band 7’s $49.99 price — doubly so since you can often find it on sale for even less. Wearing the Band 7 feels like a throwback to 2014, which is great if all you’re looking for is a simple and casual tracker that won’t break the bank.
No one is going to compliment you on the Band 7’s design, but it’s got a handful of cute watchfaces that make good use of its OLED touchscreen. And despite having an OLED display, you’ll still get roughly 14 days of battery life on a single charge. It’s also incredibly lightweight, making it a good option for sleep tracking as well.
The Amazfit Band 7 won’t turn heads, but it’s the type of capable yet affordable fitness band that’s much harder to find nowadays. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
You also get an absurd number of features for the price. That includes Amazon Alexa, continuous heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, stress tracking, advanced sleep tracking, training metrics like VO2 max and load, abnormal heart rate alerts, menstrual tracking, push notifications, find my phone, a camera remote, and even a Pomodoro timer. You’re sacrificing contactless payments and will have to settle for tethered GPS, but this is a fair tradeoff considering everything else you’re getting. It’s not the best option for hardcore fitness tracking, but this is a great option if all you’re looking to do is casually track activity and your steps.
Amazfit’s been making surprisingly good budget trackers for a while. That said, if you’re a little wary of a lesser-known brand, the $159.95 Fitbit Charge 6 is a decent alternative. It’s pricier, but you get a lot of what Amazfit is missing. That includes Google services like YouTube Music, Google Wallet, and Google Maps. Plus, it has built-in GPS and the ability to broadcast your heart rate with some Bluetooth-compatible gym equipment.
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The Withings Scanwatch Light is a hybrid analog smartwatch that tracks the basics like steps and activities, while delivering up to 30 days of battery life.
$250 at Withings$250 at AmazonSizes: 37mm with 18mm straps / Weight: 45g / Battery life: Up to 39 days / Display type: OLED display / GPS: Tethered GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: N/A
The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Light is a fetching hybrid analog smartwatch. Think of it as a dressier fitness band with some Swatch-like design sensibilities. It’s got all your basics like simple push notifications, timers, and alarms. Plus, you can track steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS activities straight from the wrist. It looks spiffy on the wrist, and if you like a pop of color, Withings offers minty green and pale blue color options. It’s also got excellent battery life, with an estimated 30 days on a single charge. I got a little less in testing at around 25 days, but that’s still much better than the vast majority of flagship smartwatches. This also looks way more stylish than beefier multisport watches with similar battery life.
Like its name suggests, the Light is a pared down version of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The main things you’re missing are an EKG sensor for atrial fibrillation detection, a temperature sensor, blood oxygen tracking, and an altimeter for tracking elevation. For basic fitness tracking, you don’t really need those sensors. That’s why I think the extra $100 in savings is worth it for the Light, especially since both are lacking in safety features, contactless payments, and some other bells and whistles you can get from other watches in the $350 price range. That said, if you want extras, the ScanWatch 2 also gets you a slightly more elegant look thanks to the second step-counter dial.
The ScanWatch 2 is about $100 more but adds more advanced health tracking. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
Another option I like is the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport, which actually dominated this category the past few years. It’s hard to beat the price, especially since it gets you access to Garmin’s platform. However, Garmin’s “hidden” OLED display can get washed out in bright lighting, and battery life was significantly shorter than other hybrid analog watches at around five days. Still, if you’d rather a platform with a focus on fitness rather than wellness, the Vivomove Sport may be the better move over a Withings watch.
Sizes: 41mm, 45mm / Weight: 32g (41mm), 39g (45mm) / Battery life: Up to 18 hours / Display type: Always-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Built-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: Up to 50 meters / Music storage: 32GB
If you’re looking for a smartwatch that does fitness well, then iPhone owners need to look no further than the $399 Apple Watch Series 9. (The LTE version costs $50 more.) This year’s updates were pretty iterative, but the updated S9 processor makes this the smartest fitness tracker around for Apple users.
With watchOS 9, Apple added advanced running metrics and the ability to create custom workouts. This year’s watchOS 10 update adds greater integration with cycling accessories, as well as custom workout plans within Fitness Plus. Hikers also get better maps and directions on the wrist. Otherwise, the watch is incredibly similar to last year’s Series 8. That’s fine! Not only could you save a bit of extra dough by opting for an older model, but you’re still getting the vast majority of the features that matter. Exclusive to the Series 9 are the forthcoming double-tap gesture, brighter screens, and offline Siri capability — but these are fairly minor if your real focus is fitness. But if you want to use Siri to interact with your health and fitness stats, that’s also a Series 9 exclusive.
Of course, we also have to address the Apple Watch ban. As of January 18th, 2024, new Series 9 sold by Apple (and eventually, third-party retailers) will have the blood oxygen feature disabled due to an ongoing patent battle with medical device maker Masimo. This isn’t a huge deal for most people, as this feature isn’t that useful for most people yet. You might want to consider a refurbished Series 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is important to you, however.
If you’re a first-time buyer, you can also opt for the second-gen Apple Watch SE. It’s slightly cheaper at $249, and while you don’t get as many features, it’s a good introduction to the ecosystem. Otherwise, if you’re the type of athlete who covets a Garmin, you may also want to consider splurging on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It’s more expensive at $799, but it does have the brightest screen of any Apple Watch, comes with dual-frequency GPS, has diving and hiking safety features, and is made of more durable materials.
Sizes: 40mm, 44mm / Weight: 28.7g (40mm), 33.3g (44mm) / Battery life: Up to 30 hours with AOD, 40 hours without AOD / Display type: Always-on OLED / GPS: Built-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: Up to 50 meters, IP68 / Music storage: 16GB
If you have a Samsung phone, this is the best full-featured smartwatch for fitness tracking. It (and the Watch 6 Classic) are the first watches to get Wear OS 4 and One UI 5 Watch, which adds a bunch of health and sleep tracking improvements like temperature-based cycle tracking, personalized heart rate zones, and custom workouts. It also has the same 3-in-1 sensor, which enables body composition analysis. That’s a unique feature that no other smartwatch at the moment is capable of. You can also access workout videos from the Samsung Health app — though the production values aren’t as good as Fitness Plus or Peloton.
While I prefer the Classic overall (I mean, rotating bezel!), the base Watch 6 model is our pick for general fitness tracking due to its lighter weight and smaller size. Overall, it’s less distracting during workouts and more comfortable for sleep tracking. That said, the Classic is a very capable tracker, even if its aesthetic and larger size lend it toward being a better smartwatch. However, if you want a more rugged fitness watch with truly multiday battery life, you might be better off with the $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Pro. The Pro is also getting some new software updates in One UI 5 Watch, including turn-by-turn navigation for running and walking.
We pick the Galaxy Watch 6 base model (top) as our overall fitness tracking pick due to its lighter weight and smaller size. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
The big thing with the Galaxy Watch 6 series is that battery life has improved over last year. In my testing, I was able to last an entire day without worrying about battery under various scenarios. For example, on outdoor GPS runs with the always-on display enabled, I only saw a battery drain of 3–4 percent per mile. Fast charging enables you to get eight hours of battery life on a single charge, and the improved bedtime mode mitigates overnight battery drain to 10–15 percent — even if you turn on continuous SpO2 sensing, snore detection, and skin temperature tracking.
While Wear OS 4 and One UI 5 Watch look, feel, and function similar to Wear OS 3 / One UI Watch 4.5, you now get cloud backups. Google has also continued to expand third-party app offerings, so there are more choices than ever. However, some features are limited to Samsung owners, making it hard to wholeheartedly recommend this to non-Samsung Android users.
Sizes: 41mm / Weight: 31g / Battery life: Up to 24 hours / Display type: Always-on OLED / GPS: Built-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (optional), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB
Last year, the Google Pixel Watch shifted the playing field for Android smartwatches. Now, the Pixel Watch 2 is here, and while it looks the same as its predecessor, it’s a significant improvement over last year.
Under the hood, you get a newer processor, Wear OS 4, and a new multipath sensor. What this translates to is much faster charging, zippier performance, and battery life that actually lasts 24 hours with the always-on display. On the health front, you have more accurate heart rate tracking, automatic workout tracking, and the Fitbit Sense 2’s continuous electrodermal activity sensor for stress tracking. Plus, there are new personal safety features: Safety Check and Safety Signal. The former is a proactive timer that alerts emergency contacts to your location while the latter allows you to use emergency features even if you don’t have an active LTE plan, provided you have a Fitbit Premium subscription. (Note: you still need the LTE version of the watch for Safety Signal to work.)
The Pixel Watch 2 is a significant update over the original. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
These are the main updates, but there are also a bunch of tiny fixes and updates here and there that address many of the quirks with the first-gen watch. That said, we still have concerns in terms of durability, repairability, and size. The Verge staff has cracked and scratched our devices, and Google doesn’t offer any repair options — just the Preferred Care extended warranty. (And even then, this is a new addition with the Pixel Watch 2 that’s limited to the US and Canada.) And while the 41mm size is fetching on petite wrists, it may appear too dainty for people with larger wrists.
But if you’re looking for alternatives to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 was just announced at MWC 2024. I’m still putting that watch through its paces, but so far it looks to be a promising option now that Fossil has decided to quit smartwatches altogether.
$ 30
This distraction-free recovery tracker helps you monitor your sleep quality and cardiovascular strain. The hardware is “free,” but it costs $30 per month.
$30 at WhoopSizes: 43mm by 28mm by 10mm / Weight: 18g / Battery life: 4–5 days / Display type: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: Up to 10 meters / Music storage: None
The Whoop 4.0 is not for the casual enthusiast. Not only does it come with an expensive monthly subscription, but the information it provides is only useful if you’re actively training for a cardio-intensive sport. If strength training is your main form of exercise, you’re better off looking elsewhere. Like the Oura Ring, this is a distraction-free tracker that specializes in sleep and recovery. The main difference is this has a more athletic bent. For instance, you’ll get way more insight into how much strain you’ve taken on in the past week.
Whoop also provides a lot of novel ways to wear its tracker, including in underwear and arm/knee sleeves. This makes it an appealing option if you’re one of those unicorns who needs a secondary tracker to supplement another form of fitness tracking. Again, this is a tracker best appreciated by people who go hard and aren’t afraid to experiment. Plus, Whoop recently lowered its subscription prices in certain tiers, so while it’s still expensive, it’s not quite as pricey as it used to be.
The Whoop 4.0 is best for elite athletes or people who don’t mind experimental trackers. Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge
Update March 11th, 12:54PM ET: Replaced Garmin Vivomove Sport with Withings ScanWatch Light, moved Vivomove Sport to alternatives in same section. Updated other text regarding OnePlus Watch 2 and smart rings.
Whether it's a slender Fitbit or a rugged smartwatch, the best fitness trackers can be invaluable to achieving your health and fitness goals. These smart wearables don't just track your vital stats — they can map your running trails, tell the altitude, and even warn you when the weather conditions are about to change. Some may even act as a handy extension to your phone, thanks to smart features like contactless payment solutions, notification alerts or music playback. In fact, a good fitness tracker can be a convenient one-stop shop for all your needs.
However, choosing the right fitness tracker is not an easy task. Smart wearables come in all shapes and sizes, and even the most tech-savvy shoppers may end up utterly confused at the sheer range of models available on the market. But that's where we step in. To help you find the best fitness tracker for you, the team at Live Science has spent countless hours testing some of the top ranking wearables. We looked at price, value for money, design, features, comfort, durability and battery life, as well as looks, ease of use, and connectivity with third-party devices.
Read on to find out which fitness trackers ranked best, and don’t miss our guides to the best Fitbit and best Garmin watches, too.
The quick list
Why you can trust Live Science Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best ones for you. Find out more about how we test.
The best fitness tracker overall
(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
Buy it if
✅ You want accurate health tracking features: You can trust Apple's sensors — particularly when it comes to their heart rate measurements.
✅ You need a great all-rounder: It comes with countless apps and additional features, and it is comfortable to wear, too.
✅ You want to track your menstrual cycle: It features top-class temperature sensors and relevant software.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want a long battery life: It lasts just one day on a single charge.
❌ You are an Android user: Only compatible with other Apple devices.
What the users say
The Apple Watch Series 8 (renewed) scores a respectable 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 73% of users giving it a full five stars. Buyers like this watch for its sleek design, advanced features, and seamless connectivity with other Apple devices. Negative reviews, on the other hand, tend to focus on individual units that appear to have been poorly refurbished.
If you are looking for great GPS and heart rate hardware, The Apple Watch Series 8 is a fantastic fitness tracker and our favorite of all the watches we have tested. We gave this iconic wearable a massive 4.5 stars in our Apple Watch Series 8 review — for many good reasons.
Apple really does offer best-in-class when it comes to health and safety features. In the Series 8, you will find an ECG monitor that can detect abnormal heart rhythms, a blood oxygen monitor and sleep tracking too. There is also an advanced gyroscope for fall detection, as well as ovulation tracking for those with a menstrual cycle. These are all features that you can find in other trackers, but in our experience the heart-tracking capabilities of Apple outstrip its competitors.
On top of that, the watch has an app library that’s bigger than all of its rivals put together. You can find second-party apps that will improve your yoga flows, help track your workouts and guide you on meditations. Compared with its predecessor, the Apple Watch Series 8 also offers more in-depth data on activities like running, including heart rate zones. You can even create custom workouts and save them to your watch.
But it is not without its faults; the watch is only compatible with iPhones and battery life only lasts for one day. Still, we think the model is the best combination of value, features and performance available on the market.
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Best smartwatch for tracking workouts
(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
Buy it if
✅ You want a detailed overview of your exercise performance: It is a great wearable for data-driven fitness fanatics.
✅ You need accurate navigation systems: This watch boasts reliable GPS tracking and detailed on-watch maps.
✅ You want long battery life: It can last up to 18 days on a single charge.
Don't buy it if
❌ You are on a budget: It costs nearly $800.
❌ You want an unobtrusive watch: This bulky wearable feels heavy on the wrist.
What the users say
The Garmin Fenix 7 scores a whopping 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 85% of users giving it a full five stars. Positive reviews rave about its long battery life, extensive features and durable build, even despite its high price. As one user said, "If you can get past the sticker shock, I would definitely recommend checking out a Fenix 7." Negative reviews tend to cite problems with individual units.
A Garmin Fenix 7 is the best fitness tracker to get if you want the most comprehensive set of built-in exercise features available. These stand out when you bring other hardware into the mix.
During our Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar review, we were thoroughly impressed with its performance and functionality. This rugged watch can connect to heart rate straps and foot pods, bike turbo trainers, and even Garmin’s bike lights. We liked that you can download continents’ worth of maps to the watch’s internal memory and plan hike, bike and run routes so you can leave your phone at home.
It lets you download music and podcasts from some of the most popular music services, including Spotify and Deezer. And the MiP screen only becomes clearer in bright sunlight, so tracked outdoor sessions won’t kill the long-lasting battery.
Its heart rate and GPS accuracy are great, and the presentation of stats like training load and VO2 Max seems tailored for the fitness enthusiast.
A Garmin Fenix 7 may be a bit much if you just want to track 5km runs a couple of times a week. It is not light and it is not cheap. The bulk isn’t ideal for sleep tracking, so consider Garmin’s Versa 2 if you like the sound of Garmin’s style but would prefer something smaller.
That said, Garmin’s watches are less intimidating than they once were. The Fenix 7 has a touchscreen and a quick swipe up from the watch face gives you a neat run-down of all your important daily stats. It has encyclopedic features, but works well for casual all-day tracking too.
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Best budget fitness tracker
(Image credit: Sam Hopes)
Best on a budget: This neat fitness band packs a load of features into its affordable price point.
Our expert review:
Screen:
1.62” AMOLED
Water resistance:
5ATM
GPS:
Yes
Compatibility:
iOS, Android
Battery life:
14 days
View at AmazonView at AmazonView at GeekBuying+
Advanced health tracking stats
+
Over hundred sport and fitness modes to choose from
+
Wallet-friendly
-
Some metric tracking isn’t accurate
-
The screen isn’t very responsive, particularly when sweaty
Buy it if
✅ You are looking for great value for money: It strikes a great balance between functionality and affordability.
✅ You want a long battery life: This watch can last up to two weeks on a single charge.
✅ You want to track your menstrual cycle: It features an advanced period tracker.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want highly accurate tracking features: Sleep and workout metrics may be imprecise.
❌ You like high-intensity workouts: The screen may get unresponsive upon contact with sweat.
What the users say
The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 scores a respectable 4.3 out of five stars on Amazon, with almost three quarters of users giving it a full five stars. Positive reviews praise this fitness tracker for its sleek design, ease of use and affordable price. One user commented, "The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 is a remarkable smartwatch that combines affordability, functionality, and style." Negative reviews often cite issues with Bluetooth connectivity and poor customer support from the brand.
The Xiaomi Smart Band 7 has joined the flock of one of the most popular wearable brands in the world, offering users features often reserved for premium-priced wearables. It may not be the highest rated watch in this guide — it scored 3.5 stars in our Xiaomi Smart Band 7 review — but for $39.95, this fitness tracker is hard to beat for the sheer number of its features.
It looks good, too. Closely resembling the Fitbit in design, the crisp 1.62'' AMOLED high-resolution display is glare-resistant and 25% larger and brighter than its predecessor – the Xiaomi Smart Band 6.
The Smart Band 7 is iOS and Android compatible, pairing with its own Mi app to give access to data like heart rate, oxygen monitoring, sleep, and workout analysis. You can also follow guided meditations via the app and check in on your daily stress level data. Xiaomi has thrown the kitchen sink at fitness enthusiasts, offering GPS tracking and 110 sport and fitness modes, including swimming (the watch is 50 meters waterproof) and yoga.
We loved the female health management feature that allows you to track your periods and form patterns between your workout data and health stats. However, we found that a few features lacked accuracy, including sleep (and sleep stages) data and workout stats like calories and distance. The touchscreen also became unresponsive during sweaty workouts, which could be frustrating for activities like running or CrossFit.
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Best running watch
(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
Best running watch: This sleek wearable can be the key to boosting your running performance.
Our expert review:
Screen:
1.4in 454 x 454 OLED
Water resistance:
5ATM
GPS:
Yes
Compatibility:
iOS, Android
Battery life:
Up to 23 days
View at AmazonView at Backcountry.comView at REI.com+
Plenty of features
+
More affordable than the Epix 2
+
Accurate stat tracking
-
5ATM water resistance only
-
Relatively expensive
-
A plastic resin
Buy it if
✅ You are looking for good value for money: It offers all the high-end Garmin features, but at a reasonable price.
✅ You want a long battery life: This watch can last up to 23 days on a single charge.
✅ You want accurate tracking features: It features an excellent GPS, and you can rely on its health sensors, too.
Don't buy it if
❌ You are a keen swimmer: It will not survive deep dives.
❌ You need an ultra-sturdy watch: Not as durable as more premium Garmin models.
What the users say
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with a whopping 80% of buyers awarding it the highest rating. Users can't praise it enough for its long battery life, stylish looks, durability, and accurate tracking features. One user said, "This is the best smartwatch I’ve ever owned." Negative reviews tend to cite problems with individual units and a lack of the USB-C adapter.
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is an excellent choice for runners thanks to its user-friendly design, excellent navigation, and a wealth of features designed to boost your exercise performance. It is also more affordable than some of the more premium Garmin models — which is why we gave it a strong 4.5 stars in our Garmin Forerunner 965 review.
The Forerunner watches have won our seal of approval multiple times, even despite the ever-increasing retail prices. We loved the Garmin Forerunner 955, but had to admit it was slightly too expensive for a watch with a plastic shell. The Forerunner 965 has stepped up its design, though — while the main part of the shell is still made from a plastic “resin”, its bezel is now crafted from rock-hard titanium.
The Forerunner 965 screen boasts the biggest OLED Garmin has put into a watch to date, a 1.4in panel of 454 x 454 pixels. The display is also crisp, bright and colorful, making it easy to track your stats and follow the route on-the-go.
The Garmin Forerunner 965 is packed to the brim with features that can help you level up your running performance. There is a good range of reliable health and activity stats to give you valuable insights into your cardiovascular health, exercise performance and recovery time. The Forerunner 965 is also equipped with excellent navigation systems and detailed maps, so you'll not veer off the track and get lost when running through unfamiliar places. Mind you, this model currently has the 8.8GB Europe Topo maps pack installed, but you can freely install others if you like.
You also have 32GB on which to store any music you might want to carry around with you, smart notifications and handy workout suggestions to spruce up your exercise routine.
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Best fitness tracker for stress management
(Image credit: Anna Gora)
Best for stress management: Boost your wellness and improve sleep with this surprisingly affordable smartwatch.
Our expert review:
Screen:
AMOLED 1.5 inch - 480x480 (Round)
Water resistance:
5ATM
GPS:
Yes
Compatibility:
iOS, Android
Battery life:
14 days
View at WalmartView at AmazonView at Target+
Accurate tracking features
+
Light and compact
+
Great battery life
+
Affordable
-
No Gorilla glass on the screen
-
Some features require subscription
If you want to learn more, please visit our website smart health watch.
Buy it if
✅ You are on a budget: This feature-packed smartwatch costs a reasonable $220.
✅ You want a long battery life: This watch can last up to two weeks on a single charge.
✅ You want accurate tracking features: Its heart rate and body composition sensors are top-class.
Don't buy it if
❌ You are an outdoor adventurer: It may not be durable enough to survive extreme conditions.
❌ You do not want to pay for extra subscriptions: Some features are behind a paywall.
What the users say
The Amazfit Balance scores 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with nearly two-thirds of users giving it a full five stars. Positive reviews praise this smartwatch for its stylish looks, accurate health tracking features, app galore, and great value for money. As one user commented, "It's a great watch for anyone that is looking for something in-between a dedicated fitness device and smartwatch, it provides the best of both worlds at a reasonable price."
The budget-friendly Amazfit Balance is a great option for those who want to better manage their sleep hygiene and stress levels. This sleek fitness tracker is packed to the brim with wellness apps and advanced health tracking features designed to help you boost your post-exercise recovery and live a more mindful lifestyle. It also comes with a whopping 14-day battery life, crisp AMOLED display, dual-band GPS navigation, compass, altimeter, and many other features typically reserved for more premium models.
During our Amazfit Balance review, it thoroughly impressed us with its performance and stylish, unobtrusive design. This smartwatch accurately measured our heart rate, breathing rate, heart rate variability, and body composition, and did a great job at picking up on our stress levels, sleep duration, and overall sleep quality.
We also liked its easy-to-use, colorful display and comfortable, buttery-soft strap. Not to mention, it was one of the lightest and most compact smartwatches we have ever tested.
For roughly two hundred dollars, the Amazfit Balance offers great value for money. However, some of its additional features, such as the AI-powered fitness coach chatbot, are locked behind a paywall. Moreover, the display in the Amazfit Balance does not feature Gorilla Glass or any other sturdy materials, so it may not be the best choice for those who engage in extreme sports or heavy manual tasks.
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Best smartwatch for sleep tracking
(Image credit: Lloyd Coombes)
Buy it if
✅ You want an unobtrusive watch: It is light, compact, and comfortable to wear while sleeping.
✅ You want good value for money: This watch packs a lot of advanced tracking features, but it remains relatively affordable.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want music playback options: No music apps.
❌ You need a big display: It is crisp and bright, but on the small side.
What the users say
The Fitbit Charge 5 scores 4.1 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 62% of buyers awarding it the highest rating. Positive reviews praise this fitness tracker for its sleek build and accurate tracking features, while negative reviews cite poor customer service from the company, lack of durability and issues with the Fitbit membership.
If you are looking for a fitness tracker that can help you get a more restful shut-eye, you can't go wrong with the Fitbit Charge 5. It’s rare to see a fitness tracker this small that is so comprehensive in the stats it can gather, and Fitbit’s sleep tracking is among the best on the market — which is why we gave it a strong 4-star rating in our Fitbit Charge 5 review.
But it is not just the extensive sleep metrics that make the Charge 5 stand out among competitors — it is one of the best Fitbit models out there, we dare say. If you have your heart set on a Fitbit, you just have to decide whether you would prefer this or the bigger, more expensive Fitbit Sense. This model is much smaller, as it is more of a band than a watch. And you do not get the downloadable apps available on Fitbit’s Versa and Sense — like Spotify, for example. If you want to go for a run and listen to music, you will have to use your phone if you are using a Charge 5.
However, the sheer amount of stuff Fitbit packs into the Charge 5 is impressive. It has full GPS, for phone-free route tracking. It has the EDA stress sensor Fitbit introduced in the Sense watch, and even an ECG sensor. This analyses your heart rhythm to check for abnormalities, using hardware completely separate from the optical heart rate reader on the back.
Mind you, to see the Fitbit Charge 5 at its full strength you will need to sign up for Fitbit Premium. It costs $9.99/£7.99 a month and the watch includes a 6-month trial. While a Charge 5 works fine without it, fitness plans and even blood oxygenation readings sit behind this paywall.
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Best screen-free fitness tracker
(Image credit: Future)
Best screen-free: No display? No problem. This Whoop band has plenty on offer for serious athletes.
Our expert review:
Screen:
N/A
Water resistance:
IP68/2M depth
GPS:
No
Compatibility:
iOS, Android
Battery life:
4-5 days
Whoop 4.0
$30
/mth
Visit Siteat WHOOP+
A unique approach to wearables
+
Offers advice tailor made for committed athletes
+
Useful for fine-tuning exercise workloads
-
High monthly costs
-
Accuracy still is not close to best-in-class
-
Lacks basics like step counts
Buy it if
✅ You are a keen swimmer or weightlifter: Its unique design makes it less prone to structural damage.
✅ You want detailed health and fitness tracking: This wearable provides a wealth of in-depth data.
✅ You want hassle-free charging: You can charge the battery straight from your wrist.
Don't buy it if
❌ You are an endurance athlete: No way to quickly check the heart rate.
❌ You are on a budget: The membership is quite pricey.
What the users say
The Whoop 4.0 is rated 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with nearly two-thirds of users giving it the highest score. Positive reviews praise this wearable for its comfortable strap and plenty of in-depth tracking data, while negative reviews often cite issues with charging and accuracy. Some buyers were also disappointed that the Whoop 4.0 did not count steps.
The Whoop 4.0 does not resemble any other fitness tracker on the market — but that's what makes it so special. This peculiar-looking wearable lacks a giant touchscreen or bulky buttons; instead, it comes with a discrete “sensor suite” and a woven, elasticated strap. It may come as a surprise, but the Woop 4.0 does not count steps, either. What you get, however, is continuous monitoring of health metrics including heart rate, skin temperature and heart rate variability, as well as in-depth sleep tracking. This data is then combined and analysed to produce three easy-to-understand daily scores; strain, sleep and recovery.
During our Whoop 4.0 review, we tested it for nearly a month, and found this alternative approach had both benefits and drawbacks. This fitness tracker will not find any devoted fans among endurance athletes, since it does not have a screen, in-built GPS or other features that display stats while running. On the other hand, its discreet, screenless design will appeal to swimmers and weightlifters.
The Whoop 4.0 feels sturdy, durable and shows no signs of damage after being smacked with a dumbbell or submerged in a swimming pool.
The strain, sleep and recovery scores allowed us to get the most out of our training sessions without having to ponder on the individual metrics. But if you like your numbers, you can still get plenty of in-depth data on the Woop's dedicated app.
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Best looking fitness tracker
(Image credit: Future)
Best looking: This is one of the most elegant fitness trackers we have tested.
Our expert review:
Screen:
Passive Matrix OLED (PMOLED) screen, 38mm and 42mm
Water resistance:
5 ATM
GPS:
Yes
Compatibility:
iOS, Android
Battery life:
Up to 30 days
View at TargetView at CrutchfieldView at Amazon+
Beautifully designed
+
Intuitive health and fitness tracking
+
Responsive crown mechanism
-
Expensive
-
No touchscreen
Buy it if
✅ You need a watch that goes with formal attire: It is one of the most elegant fitness trackers on the market.
✅ You want detailed health and fitness tracking: This watch comes with multiple advanced tracking features.
✅ You want a long battery life: It lasts up to 30 days on a single charge.
Don't buy it if
❌ You are on a budget: It costs around $400.
❌ You want a touchscreen: It features a regular display.
What the users say
The Withings ScanWatch is rated 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 59% of users giving it a full five stars. Positive reviews praise this smartwatch for its comfortable strap, long battery life and stylish looks. Negative reviews tend to mention issues with tracking accuracy and poor customer service from the company.
We have tested both the Withings Scanwatch and the newer Withings ScanWatch Horizon — and the original model remains our favorite. It expertly blends a fashionable wristwatch design with high-tech health and fitness tracker.
We loved testing this sophisticated watch during our Withings ScanWatch review — we thoroughly enjoyed playing with features like on-the-spot oxygen and ECG monitoring, sleep and fitness tracking, and basic metrics on calories and step count. It is brilliant for gathering comprehensive data on your health, helping to provide a holistic picture of your wellbeing.
The crown on the side of the watch flicks through features on a small digital screen within the clock face, bringing old and new together into one medical-grade wearable.
The Withings ScanWatch is iOS and Android compatible and partners with the Health Mate app, where you have access to a dashboard of data like blood pressure, average heart rate, and more in-depth sleep analysis. You can also link up to third-party apps including Strava and Apple Health, and set up weight loss goals, macro tracking, or step count. It’s even waterproof (up to 50 meters) if you fancy taking it for a swim, but it’ll set you back a cool $249.95/£279.95.
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Best fitness tracker ring
(Image credit: Future)
Buy it if
✅ You want in-depth sleep tracking: It is impressively accurate and insightful.
✅ You need an ultra-discreet fitness tracker: No chunky design or heavy machinery.
✅ You want a long battery life: It lasts up to 7 days on a single charge.
Don't buy it if
❌ You have sensitive fingers: It is bulkier and heavier than a regular ring.
❌ You need highly accurate workout tracking: Some measurements may be imprecise.
❌ You are on a budget: It costs over $300.
What the users say
The Oura Ring Gen3 scores 4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 60% of users giving it a full five stars. Positive reviews praise this ring for its stylish and durable design, features, and accurate sleep tracking. Negative reviews often cite its high price and pricey membership.
We were impressed with the performance of the Oura ring during our month-long testing period, and we consider its accurate sleep tracking to be the real stand out feature. During our Oura ring Generation 3 review, we found that whenever we woke up feeling groggy and poorly rested, this sleek wearable was able to show us exactly when our rest had been disturbed and how it had affected our REM sleep.
The ring is able to take this data and make suggestions too. For example, our tester was advised to shift their workouts to earlier in the day and found that doing so had a positive impact on their sleep latency (how long it took them to fall asleep.)
As the ring is so small, it does not have a screen. Instead, you will have to rely on a companion app to look at most of your health data. We did not find this to be a massive issue, although it does mean there is no easy and quick way to check things like your heart rate when you are in the middle of a workout.
There is an impressive amount of data gathered by the ring. It measures your heart rate at various intervals throughout the day, along with your heart rate variability at night, to help check for potential health problems. And it has a helpful ‘readiness’ feature that will let you know if you should prioritise exercise or rest.
We did find that it is not 100% accurate at tracking all health metrics. For example, we found it massively over estimated calorie burn during our testing period. And its ‘auto-detect’ feature often attributed the wrong exercise to our workout, for example recording a HIIT session as a weights session.
Despite this, we really like it, thanks to its unusual design and brilliant, unmatched sleep-tracking ability.
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Best for health tracking
(Image credit: Tantse Walter)
Buy it if
✅ You want accurate health tracking: It does a good job at measuring heart rate and body composition.
✅ You are on a budget: As it is an old model, it is often heavily discounted.
Don't buy it if
❌ You are an iPhone user: This smartwatch is only compatible with Android devices.
❌ You want a long battery life: It only lasts 40h on a single charge.
What the users say
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 scores a massive 4.6 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with 78% of buyers giving it the highest rating. Positive reviews praise this smartwatch for its stylish looks and accurate tracking features. Negative reviews, on the other hand, focus on poor battery life and issues with displaying heart rate measurements.
Fitness trackers are never precise, but some wearables may be more accurate at tracking your health data than others — and that is not necessarily down to their price. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is not the most expensive or advanced smartwatch on the market, but when it comes to the reliability of its data, it easily blows the competitors out of the water.
During our Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 review, we assessed its health and fitness tracking abilities by comparing the measurements obtained with the smartwatch to the values obtained with more professional devices. We were amazed at how similar they were, and that is something we do not see often.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 can also make calls, read and reply to messages, set calendar reminders, control your smart devices, and even pay for your shopping. It is highly customizable, too — the Galaxy Watch 4 works with a range of third-party apps and its straps can be easily changed so they better match your outfit.
True, this is not the newest model in the Galaxy Watch line-up, but it does not differ much from the more recent Galaxy Watch 5. Compared to its younger sibling, it comes with a slightly shorter battery life and a more delicate display, but otherwise it offers the very same features. And given that the cost of living is in full swing right now, we have decided to include the more affordable Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 model.
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Best value outdoor watch
(Image credit: Andrew Williams)
Best value outdoor watch: Hi-end features and excellent durability at an affordable price.
Our expert review:
Screen:
1.2in 240 x 240 Memory LCD touchscreen
Water resistance:
5ATM water resistance
Compatibility:
iOS and Android
Battery life:
Up to 17 days
GPS:
Yes
Heart rate monitor:
Yes
View at AmazonView at REI.comView at Outdoor Gear Exchange+
On-watch maps at an appealing price
+
Comfortable
+
Excellent rugged credibility
-
No music streaming service support
-
Interface navigation is relatively slow and stilted
-
Some minor HR accuracy issues
Buy it if
✅ You want good value for money: Functionality of the high-end Garmin watches, but without the hefty price tag.
✅ You want a light yet durable outdoor watch: It will not overload your wrist, and it will not break down easily, either.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want music playback options: This smartwatch does not feature any music apps.
❌ You are a keen swimmer: It may not survive deep dives.
What the users say
The Coros Apex 2 is rated an impressive 4.4 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with almost three-quarters of users giving it a full five stars. Positive reviews praise this rugged smartwatch for its durable build, excellent battery life, ease of use, and customization features. Negative reviews tend to cite issues with charging and connectivity.
The Coros Apex 2 strikes a perfect balance between quality and affordability which is why we gave it a strong 4-star rating in our Coros Apex 2 review. And although this rugged smartwatch was designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, it can pull some serious weight in the gym, too. The Apex 2 is relatively light and compact, looks good on the wrist, comes with a long-lasting battery life, and boasts an eye-pleasing design — we reckon it can easily compete with the top offerings from Garmin, Fitbit and Apple.
In addition, the Coros Apex 2 is one of the least expensive ways to get a dedicated fitness watch with true on-watch mapping that does not need any kind of internet connection to work. And yes, Garmin’s mapping features may be more advanced and detailed, but the price of entry is higher for those. And the Coros Apex 2 beats such models with its use of durable materials like titanium and sapphire.
In our view, its health tracking abilities fall slightly behind those of the best from Garmin or Apple, but this mostly seems to affect all-day readings. But if you do not mind these tiny discrepancies, the Coros Apex 2 can be an invaluable companion on hiking trails.
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How we test
You can trust our recommendations when it comes to picking the best fitness trackers; each product on this list has been tried and tested by our expert fitness team. We gathered a range of top wearables and put them through their paces, wearing them for a variety of activities including running, swimming, gym sessions, HIIT workouts, and more.
We looked at the features, feedback and metrics on offer from each one, from the industry-standard step-counters to more detailed data like heart rate variability and blood oxygen saturation. Other factors considered included their design, comfort and performance, with our experiences in each area used to decide a final score out of five stars.
Our experts
Nathan Kennedy
Personal trainerNathan Kennedy is a UK-based certified personal trainer, online fitness coach, and a representative for Bio-Synergy, a sports nutrition brand. He told Live Science about the potential health and fitness benefits of using fitness trackers.
Alka Patel, MD
Lifestyle medicine physicianDr. Alka Patel is a lifestyle medicine physician and longevity expert based in London. She achieved a distinction in the MRCGP (Membership of the Royal College of GPs) and 10 more titles including a Diploma in Lifestyle Medicine. For this piece, Dr. Patel commented on the validity of calorie measurements and sleep tracking features.
Mark Estes III, MD, FAHA
Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of MedicineDr. Mark Estes III is a Pittsburgh-based cardiologist and past chair of the American Heart Association’s scientific publishing committee and Council on Clinical Cardiology. For this piece, he commented on the use of fitness trackers for detecting cardiovascular problems.
FAQs
Garmin vs Fitbit, which should you choose? Generally, Garmins are for fitness nerds, Fitbits are for those who would prefer a tracker with a more friendly face. That has been the traditional take on these two brands, and it still mostly holds up in 2024.
Garmin’s trackers tend to offer significantly better core stat accuracy and reliability than Fitbits. The latest models also have more advanced GPS navigation. However, Fitbits tend to have a more deliberate sense of style, and their prices don’t reach anything like the heights of the top Garmin trackers. The Fitbit Sense 2 and Charge 6 also have a couple of features not seen in Garmin rivals, such as ECG/EKG hardware to monitor sinus rhythm.
Fitbit vs Apple Watch, which is better? Fitbit makes a wider array of wearables than Apple. Conversely, all Apple Watches look roundly similar aside from how much of the front is covered by a screen. The Fitbit Versa and Sense watches get much closer to the Apple Watch style. However, even these last significantly longer than Apple’s watches off a charge.
This makes Fitbits better for sleep tracking, and Fitbit has one of the best sleep-tracking features on the market. On the other hand, an Apple Watch will have a better heart rate sensor than a Fitbit’s. It also has the best app ecosystem of any watch.
In short, yes. "Fitness trackers have many useful features and have helped myself and my clients with data collection you can then use to make better fitness decisions," Nathan Kennedy, a certified personal trainer, told Live Science. "Most fitness trackers track number of steps taken, heart rate, and sleep patterns. Some also have connected apps that allow you track your overall progress, set goals as well as offer guidelines to help you achieve your fitness goals."
Many fitness trackers have “stress” monitoring, and guided mindfulness breathing exercises to help you lower that stress level. Even cheap models will also relay notifications received, and this can be a useful if you want to spend less time on your phone after work.
Fitness trackers can help you get fitter and healthier. Studies have shown that using smart wearables can help you increase physical activity levels and improve body composition, according to a 2022 meta-analysis published in the journal Lancet Digital Health.
"Fitness trackers not only encourage exercise and weight loss, but may also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol in people with Type 2 diabetes and other health conditions," Kennedy told Live Science.
In short, yes, they can. "Accountability is much higher when using a fitness tracker as you get the sense personal motivation or if you’re in a group challenge with your friends," Kennedy said. "Trackers can provide feedback to help people monitor their progress toward activity goals and can remind wearers of them. Some trackers come with or integrate with mobile apps that inspire a variety of behavior changes. Ideally, trackers can help users to develop lifestyles that make it easier to integrate physical activity into daily life. The easier it is for the user to get into a lifestyle that works for them the bigger the chance of them achieving their end goal is."
More info
Fitness trackers record a bunch of metrics, each of which introduces accuracy headaches. For step counting, how does a tracker separate steps from hand movements while you work sat at a desk? How can a yoga tracking mode really judge calories burnt when it does not know your muscle tension or perhaps even the positions you adopt?
The best fitness trackers now offer good reliability in a few crucial areas, though, heart rate and location — which look at the distances you run or walk.
We find Apple Watches and some of the latest Garmin watches, like the Fenix 7, are top-tier performers for heart rate tracking. Apple led the pack for years, but others are starting to catch up. A 2019 study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research found the Apple Watch offered “clinically acceptable accuracy” for HR tracking during exercise, a higher standard than it might sound — and that was for an old Apple Watch variant. However, it also found the watch overestimated calories burnt.
Almost all fitness trackers with GPS will provide fairly good distance stats, particularly if you give them time to lock-on properly before starting your session.
A lot of other trackers still struggle a little with heart rate readings, though. Interval training and very high exertion in general can be problematic, although in truth this is not a huge issue for most people. Are you really going to pore over the heart rate graph in your tracker’s app?
SpO2 (blood oxygenation) readings can be more problematic, because we find most wearables can throw out highly suspect results at times. You will often get better results on a second or third attempt, but we frequently see readings that suggest we should head straight to the hospital from high-end trackers.
That said, a study published in Nature concluded the old Apple Watch Series 6 is a reliable enough way to monitor SpO2 in patients with lung conditions.
The best way to approach a fitness tracker’s stats is to compare your exercise results to your own, from previous sessions. Comparing with a friend’s tracker will expose the way different brands’ algorithms color the results.
You should also make sure your tracker’s strap is snug and firmly strapped on before starting a tracked exercise session. This will get you the best results from the heart rate sensor.
(Image credit: Future/Lloyd Coombes)
Most fitness trackers can tell you how many calories you burn, and some models can even guide you on the choice of activity that matches your energy requirements. However, these calorie measurements may not be entirely accurate, according to a 2020 systematic review and meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Researchers pulled results from 60 studies and found that, on the whole, fitness trackers tended to underestimate energy expenditure, especially during sedentary and household tasks. They also noted that different wearables can produce vastly different readings.
That is because fitness trackers do not measure calories directly — they use a combination of different data points to assess your approximate energy expenditure. These metrics often include physical activity levels, heart rate and basal metabolic rate (BMR), meaning the minimum number of calories the body needs to maintain normal bodily functions, such as breathing or pumping blood, Dr. Alka Patel, a lifestyle medicine physician and longevity expert based in London, told Live Science.
Most devices calculate your BMR based on height, weight and age, and then put this information into a complex algorithm. This means that calorie values obtained by a fitness tracker may not be as accurate as those obtained through validated clinical tests. However, these devices may still be useful for monitoring calorie trends, meaning changes in energy expenditure over time, Patel said.
To make sure your fitness tracker is as accurate as possible, keep your device close to the body, Patel noted. Most wearables use optical sensors, meaning they use light to detect changes in blood flow under the skin. “If you're wearing a loose-fitting bracelet or loose-fitting ring, the readings are not going to be accurate,” she said.
(Image credit: Getty)
Right now there’s only one mainstream consumer wearable that has true standalone blood pressure monitoring, the Huawei Watch D. And it is not widely available.
Samsung has offered blood pressure readings in its top watches since 2020’s Galaxy Watch 3. However, the feature is only unlocked in certain countries/markets, and is much more limited than the Huawei Watch D’s version.
Where the Huawei Watch D adopts the method used by blood pressure cuffs with a specialist strap that inflates, the Galaxy Watch uses the heart rate reader on the back to evaluate pulse transit time. Fitbit is researching a similar method, using pulse arrival time.
However, such methods that do not demand bespoke hardware do need to be regularly recalibrated using a traditional blood pressure cuff. Samsung says results should be taken with one every four weeks, for example.
Rumors of a blood pressure feature for Apple Watches have circulated for a while, but the latest report suggests we won’t see it released until September 2024. However, you can use an Apple Watch to log blood pressure readings taken elsewhere, in the Apple Health app. Apple sells Withings’s BPM Connect smart blood pressure cuff at the Apple Store.
Blood pressure via a wearable? It’s not quite there yet. And as the Huawei Watch D is expensive, hard to get hold of, and something we have not tested, you are better off with a more traditional cuff-style design for now.
(Image credit: Getty)
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes repeated bouts of breathlessness or shallow breathing during sleep. Around 30 million people in the US may have this condition, but the vast majority of cases are not diagnosed and treated, according to the American Medical Association. That is because the key symptoms of sleep apnea — gasping for air, loud snoring and lapses in breathing — occur throughout the night, and people with this disorder are not awake when they happen.
So given that many fitness trackers come with sleep tracking features, can smart wearables detect sleep apnea?
In short: not yet. Devices currently available on the market are not accurate enough to provide a valid diagnosis of sleep apnea. However, fitness trackers have potential to be used in the future, according to a 2020 review published in the Journal of Thoracic Disease.
Fitness trackers provide several data points that, when combined and interpreted together, can indicate whether someone has sleep apnea, Dr. Alka Patel, a lifestyle medicine physician and longevity expert based in London, told Live Science. People with this condition often sleep for fewer hours and have worse quality of sleep than individuals without sleep apnea. For example, they tend to spend less time in deep (non-REM) sleep, the stage of sleep critical for growth and recovery, she said.
During an episode of sleep apnea, the heart rate and oxygen saturation levels may drop, and then increase and recover after the episode is over. People with sleep apnea also tend to toss and turn in their sleep. All of these parameters can show up on a fitness tracker. However, it is for a healthcare professional to put these metrics together, interpret them and then confirm the sleep apnea diagnosis with clinically-approved tests, Patel said.
That is because commercially available fitness trackers often under- or overestimate sleep duration and may not accurately distinguish whether someone is awake or not. They may also fall short of providing reliable cardiovascular measurements or accurately detecting sleep stages, the 2020 review authors noted.
If you are concerned about the readings on your fitness tracker, it is best to consult your doctor.
Fitness trackers can tell you a lot about the inner workings of your heart, such as the frequency of your heartbeat. Some devices can even help you choose the best activities to boost your cardiovascular health. But can fitness trackers detect heart problems, too?
The answer to this question is not straightforward.
“There have been many advancements in the technology used in fitness trackers, and the ability for people to track their heart rate is helpful, but it shouldn’t be a replacement for medical care,” Dr. Mark Estes III, a Pittsburgh-based cardiologist and past chair of the American Heart Association’s scientific publishing committee and Council on Clinical Cardiology, told Live Science by email.
Smart wearables tend to use photoplethysmography, a technology that employs optical sensors to detect blood flow and determine heart rate. If you look at the underside of a smartwatch, you might see a bright light emitted by one of these sensors. Studies have shown that heart rate measurements picked up by fitness trackers tend to be relatively accurate. Still, they are not as precise as electrocardiogram (ECG) ― a recording of electrical signals in the heart obtained by placing electrodes on the skin, which is used to diagnose conditions like coronary heart disease and arrhythmias — according to a 2020 meta-analysis published in the Journal of Sports Sciences.
The accuracy of heart rate readings also varies between different devices, and may depend on activity. For example, fitness trackers tend to be more precise at measuring heart rate during sleep than during high-intensity exercise, such as running.
Lastly, heart rate alone may not be enough to identify a cardiovascular condition, Peter Charlton, a British Heart Foundation Research Fellow in the Department of Public Health and Primary Care at the University of Cambridge, told Live Science.
However, certain smart wearables may be able to detect signs of atrial fibrillation, a condition in which the heart beats too quickly, too slowly or has an irregular rhythm.
“Some fitness trackers can identify an irregular heart rhythm, and their accuracy is sufficient to warrant a further clinical investigation,” Charlton said. But again, wrist-based devices cannot fully substitute for an ECG test, he cautioned.
For example, a 2022 study published in the journal Circulation found that some Fitbit devices were highly accurate at predicting whether someone may have atrial fibrillation. However, these fitness trackers could not identify the condition during exercise. That is because photoplethysmography sensors could only detect heart rhythm irregularities during periods of inactivity, the study authors noted.
The takeaway? “If you receive any alerts from your fitness tracker about possible abnormalities or experience any other symptoms like dizziness or shortness of breath, it’s important to contact your doctor for further testing,” Estes said.
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GPS is arguably the most powerful tool for fitness trackers. It’s why runners, keen walkers and cyclists should make sure their next fitness tracker has it.
GPS triangulates your position with the help of satellites. One of these satellite arrays is called “GPS”, but today’s best watches also support others like GLONASS and Galileo. Each of these satellite arrays is maintained by a different country, or set of countries.
By tracking your location, fitness trackers can produce maps of your runs, hikes and rides. These make historical records much more useful, so you can actually remember which workout an entry refers to.
Accurate distance data is also important because it affects so many other readings. If the recorded distance is too low, the tracker will think you are slower than you are. And this in turn could affect fitness metrics like VO2 Max. It works the other way around too, of course — too long a recorded distance and the tracker will say you are faster than you really are.
We always recommend a full GPS watch to runners in particular, but there is a second type of GPS. It’s Connected GPS. This is where the tracker does not have its own GPS chip, but can take GPS data from your phone, over Bluetooth.
Many cheaper trackers without GPS have Connected GPS. And if you plan on running with your phone anyway, to listen to music or podcasts, it’s a decent stand-in.
With no GPS at all, your tracker has to extrapolate distance using its motion sensors. It can count your strides and evaluate the pace of them to differentiate between running and walking. This can work pretty well with a good algorithm running behind the scenes, but GPS is better. And considering how cheap Connected GPS wearables get, we don’t recommend entirely non-GPS watches to many folks these days.
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