Now that the sun is shining, it's time to play catch up with our health and fitness. Even if you're one of the dedicated ones that have managed to stay on top of things throughout the winter, there's always room for improvement! Whether you're looking to start pounding the pavement, hitting the gym, or playing more sports as we head towards summer, there's no better way to keep track of your progress than with a smart fitness tracker.
Not everyone can afford a personal trainer to keep them in check, but hey, there's a smart fitness tracker for every type of budget! Some even come with personal training or workout modes to help guide you through your session and push you further. We've got pretty much everything covered in this one with models suitable for everyone from casual golfers all the way to endurance swimmers. Keep in mind, this list will not include full-fledged smartwatches which generally have a larger feature list and price tag. Here's our pick of the top smart fitness trackers!
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Best Basic Watch - Samsung Galaxy Watch Fit3
The Samsung Galaxy Fit3 is a prime example of simplicity meeting functionality. Designed for those who prioritize core fitness metrics without the complexities of advanced features, the Galaxy Fit3 offers a streamlined approach to health tracking. Its sleek and lightweight design, featuring a vibrant 1.6" AMOLED display, ensures comfort throughout the day, making it a perfect companion for both casual wearers and fitness enthusiasts.
At the heart of the Galaxy Fit3 is its ability to accurately monitor essential health indicators. From heart rate and sleep patterns to activity levels, this tracker provides valuable insights to help you understand your overall well-being. While it may not boast an extensive array of sports modes like some of its competitors, the Galaxy Fit3 excels at covering the fundamentals. Equipped with 5ATM water resistance, it's also a reliable companion for your swimming workouts. Beyond basic fitness tracking, the Galaxy Fit3 incorporates thoughtful features like fall detection, offering an added layer of safety for users.
With a focus on user experience, Samsung has equipped the Galaxy Fit3 with a clear and intuitive interface, making it easy to navigate through its features. Additionally, the device's impressive battery life of up to 13 days ensures you can focus on your fitness goals without the constant worry of running out of power.
Best Value Watch - Redmi Watch 3 Active
For those looking for a smart watch/fitness tracker that offers incredible value, look no further than the Xiaomi Redmi Watch 3 Active. Xiaomi has a reputation for making fantastic smart devices at affordable prices and they certainly deliver in the wearables space. The Redmi Watch 3 Active features an ultra large and vibrant 1.83" full-color LCD display that offers rich colours, sharp visibility, and stunning vision, allowing you to view everything at a glance from the message notification to workout data. It's not just about aesthetics though, as the device also boasts robust fitness tracking capabilities with over 100 sports modes. This includes activities like swimming, hinting at its 5ATM water resistance feature for all your water-based activities or workouts.
In terms of health monitoring, it covers essential metrics, such as heart rate monitoring, sleep analysis, and even SpO2 blood oxygen saturation levels. Changes in your heart-rate or blood oxygen levels will alert you so you can stay on top of things. The Redmi Watch 3 Active can also accurately record your sleep duration and condition by continuously monitoring your blood oxygen and heart rate at different stages such as deep sleep and light sleep, and provide you with sleep improvement suggestions according to the monitoring data to optimize your sleep quality.
Another great feature is the device's long battery life, capable of running for up to 12 days on a single charge in typical usage scenarios, which makes it a low-maintenance fitness companion. It also has basic smartwatch functionalities! You can connect your watch to your smartphone via Bluetooth and answer phone calls with just a tap. All these features, coupled with its sleek, lightweight design, make the Redmi Watch 3 Active a strong contender for the best basic fitness tracker available today.
Best Battery Life - Mi Smart Band 8
If battery life is your top priority, the Mi Smart Band 8 is our top pick! It features a large 1.62-inch AMOLED high-resolution display that has 100 levels if brightness adjustment so reading and navigating is always with ease. It has a whopping 150 sport modes to help keep track of burned calories, heart rate changes and workout durations. With 5ATM water resistance, you can even wear it while swimming or doing water sports. In fact, the Smart Band can intelligently recognise when you're doing the four common swimming styles. It'll also track your VO2 max, training effect, training load, and recovery duration. Fitness, check!
It helps you stay on top of your health too. Blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) is a key indicator of a person's overall health, and the Smart Band 8 provides all-day monitoring to ensure your levels are in check. If not, the band will vibrate to alert you if your blood oxygen level is too low (<90%) to protect you from potential health risks. Similarly, it does the same with all-day heart monitoring, and also provides sleep quality tracking, stress level monitoring, female health management, personal activity index, and deep breathing exercises.
One of the best things about the Mi Smart Band 8 is the incredible battery life. It'll last you up to 16 days on a single charge! That means you can truly reap all the benefits of the all-day health monitoring features. This latest edition of the Mi Smart Band also comes in more colours, providing you an array of fun choices. You can even purchase bands individually so you can change it up to match your outfit!
Best Wear OS Watch - Google Pixel Watch 2
It may come as no surprise that the best fitness tracker on the Google Wear OS platform is by Google itself. The Google Pixel Watch 2 is impressive in many regards. Not only is it sleek and stylish, but it offers great performance and boasts a host of features that make it a standout choice for Android users. One of its main advantages is it's three sensors, which will help to provide accurate measurement and tracking of heart rate, skin temperature and signs of stress.
Another one of the Pixel Watch 2's most significant advantages is its deep integration with Google services. From effortless notifications to hands-free Google Assistant commands, this watch offers a truly connected experience. The Pixel Watch 2's always-on display ensures you're always in the know, with essential information like time, notifications, and fitness metrics readily available at a glance.
In terms of fitness tracking, the Pixel Watch 2 delivers impressive performance. With accurate heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and support for various workout modes, it's a valuable tool for health-conscious individuals. The watch is also 5ATM water-resistant, making it suitable for swimming or wearing in the rain. Additionally, the built-in GPS allows you to track your outdoor activities with precision. The watch's integration with Fitbit's health and fitness platform provides additional insights and motivation to reach your fitness goals.
Best Fitbit Tracker - Fitbit Charge 6
Fitbit is the pioneer of fitness trackers, introducing the first fitness wearable back in 2009 – so of course there's got to be a Fitbit on this list! Backed with a wealth of experience and skills, the Fitbit Charge 6 is an advanced fitness tracker that'll really help you take charge of your fitness and redefine your routine. The Charge 6 lets you set personal goals and choose from various exercise modes to track and deliver live stats on your wrist. Even if you forget to start tracking, the watch will auto-detect when you're exercising and begin doing so anyway. It'll monitor your heart-rate as well as activity zone, so you get credit when you work harder. A built-in GPS will also let you track your pace and distance while running with no phone required; then, get a workout intensity map in the Fitbit app to see your pace and heart rate zones throughout your route.
The Charge 6 does a great job at monitoring your health across a variety of areas too, include SpO2 tracking, VO2 Max, heart rhythm and heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, stress management, skin temperature monitoring, breathing rate, menstrual health tracking, and more. If you have a Fitbit premium membership, you can even get a wellness report detailing your key health and wellness stats from the past few months. In fact, there are a number of great features you can enjoy with a premium subscription, including high-energy workouts to follow along with, games and challenges, and the Daily Readiness feature. Daily Readiness uses insights from your exercise, sleep and heart rate variability (GRV) and lets you know if you're ready for a workout or need to prioritise recovery.
There are some smart features included on this fitness tracker too. With your phone nearby, you can get call, text and app notifications, use Fitbit pay (depends on availability), and Find My Phone - compatible with both iOS and Android devices. The Charge 6 has a 7-day battery life which means less charging, and more living (this may vary depending on use and other factors).
Best Lifestyle Watch - Huawei Watch FIT 3
With all of the features Huawei has included in the Watch FIT 3, this fitness tracker is more of an entry-level smartwatch that has a big focus on health and fitness. It's packed with intelligent features designed to help you work out anytime, anywhere; including 100+ workout modes for everything from running and cycling, to weight training, dancing, ball games, winter sports and more. There’s also a built-in animated fitness coach for 7 selected modes, offering easy-to-follow audio instructions and demonstrations – including warm-up and cool down – making it easy to fit workouts into your life and track progress as you go.
Runners will appreciate the Watch Fit 3's accurate GPS tracking, which helps to monitor pace, distance, and route. Beyond running, the watch also offers comprehensive health monitoring features. In addition to tracking heart rate, blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and sleep quality, the Watch Fit 3 can also provide insights into stress levels and menstrual cycles. For those looking to manage their weight or overall nutrition, the device can track calorie intake and expenditure, offering valuable data to support dietary goals.
To enhance your overall well-being, the Huawei Watch Fit 3 seamlessly integrates with the Huawei Health App. This app provides personalized health recommendations, tracks your progress, and offers additional features like sleep analysis and stress management tools. With a user-friendly interface and a focus on holistic health, the Watch Fit 3 empowers you to take control of your wellness journey. The Watch Fit 3 also boasts impressive battery life, ensuring you can enjoy its features without constant recharging.
Best for Outdoors - Apple Watch Ultra 2
If you're the adventurous type who loves conquering peaks and diving into the great outdoors, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a fantastic companion. Designed for explorers and athletes alike, this rugged watch is built to withstand harsh conditions while delivering cutting-edge performance. Crafted from durable titanium, the Watch Ultra 2 is not only exceptionally strong but also surprisingly lightweight, making it the perfect adventure partner. Its large, always-on display is incredibly bright, ensuring optimal visibility even in the most challenging lighting conditions. With a battery life of up to 36 hours in standard use and an extended battery life of up to 60 hours in Low Power Mode, you can confidently embark on multi-day expeditions without worrying about running out of juice.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features an advanced GPS, combined with the new Dual-frequency GNSS, ensuring accurate tracking even in the most challenging environments, like dense forests or mountainous terrain. The built-in compass, altimeter, and depth gauge provide essential information for navigation and water activities. For quick access to key features like Workout, Compass, and Back Track, the Action button is a game-changer. Whether you're hiking, running, swimming, or diving, this watch tracks your performance in detail, offering a wide range of workout types and metrics. Advanced safety features, including Emergency SOS and Find My, provide peace of mind during your adventures.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is certified for recreational scuba diving up to 40 meters. It transforms into a reliable dive computer with the Oceanic+ app. This app provides essential dive data, including depth, time, and water temperature. However, it's crucial to remember that while the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a capable tool, it should always be used as a secondary device alongside a dedicated dive computer for safety.
These fitness trackers are just some of our top picks. If you want something with more features, you can always check out our Best Smart Watches too. Otherwise, you can head over to our website to browse what other fitness trackers we have on offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best fitness watch for Android?
The best fitness watch for Android ultimately depends on personal preferences and specific needs. If you're not necessarily looking for smart watch functionalities, any of the fitness trackers on this list will be great for Android users. However, if you're an Android user looking for a top-notch fitness watch that will connect with your phone, the Samsung Galaxy Watch5 and the Fitbit Charge 5 stand out as excellent options.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 is particularly optimized for Android users, especially those using Samsung smartphones. It offers comprehensive health tracking, including metrics like heart rate, sleep patterns, blood oxygen saturation, and even body composition. In addition to health tracking, it provides a range of smartwatch features.
On the other hand, the Fitbit Charge 5 works well with Android and is known for its powerful fitness tracking capabilities. It incorporates features such as heart rate and sleep monitoring along with GPS and SpO2 sensor. It also supports voice assistants, receives smartphone notifications, and allows music control.
What is the best fitness watch for Apple users?
Once again, if you're not necessarily looking for smart watch functionalities, any of the fitness trackers on this list will be great for Apple users too. However, if integration with your Apple smartphone is important, we're going to recommend a full-fledged smart watch instead. In this case, the Apple Watch Series 8 stands out as the best fitness watch due to its deep integration with iOS and a broad suite of fitness tracking and smartwatch features.
The Apple Watch series offers advanced tracking for various workouts, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, blood oxygen level detection, and even an ECG app for heart rhythm assessment. It's swim-proof, supporting water-based workouts, and offers fall detection and emergency SOS for safety. The seamless syncing with iPhones, iPads, and Macs, along with the ability to receive calls, respond to messages, use Siri, and access a multitude of apps from the App Store, makes it notably user-friendly for Apple users.
What is the most accurate fitness tracker?
Several fitness trackers on the market are renowned for their accuracy. The Fitbit Charge 5, for instance, is well-regarded for its precise tracking of a wide range of metrics, including heart rate and sleep stages. The Apple Watch Series has been reported to provide highly accurate readings for heart rate, step counting, and even electrocardiogram readings. However, individual results may vary, and the 'most accurate' tracker could depend on the specific activities and health metrics you are wishing to monitor. Generally speaking, more premium options will tend to offer more accurate tracking than cheaper options.
Are fitness trackers worth it?
Fitness trackers can certainly be worth it if they align with your personal needs and fitness goals. They can act as a motivational tool, providing real-time data about your activities, which can help keep you accountable and encourage you to stick to your health and exercise routines. Besides simple step counting, most fitness trackers offer a variety of features like calorie expenditure, sleep quality analysis, heart rate monitoring, and more, providing a comprehensive overview of your health and wellness. Some allow for personal goal setting, helping you track your progress and work towards bettering your fitness levels. Many fitness trackers also feature notification reminders, prompting you to remain active throughout the day.
