The best smartwatches you can buy: Expert tested
The best smartwatches you can buy: Expert tested
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Best fitness trackers 2024: Our top picks
The leading fitness trackers we’ve tested go beyond just counting steps. They monitor marathon training, workout recovery, sleep quality, and detect critical health anomalies.
From budget models like the Fitbit Inspire 3 to premium ones like the Apple Watch Series 9, these devices not only track heart rates and physical activities but also offer features like SpO2 and ECG readings, as seen in Samsung Galaxy Watch 6.
Additionally, many fitness trackers such as the Fitbit Charge 6, Fitbit Sense 2, and Garmin Forerunner 265 can handle payments, play music, respond to texts, and check the weather. Choosing the right one can be challenging, but that’s where we come in.
We’ve extensively tested popular fitness trackers and smartwatches over several weeks, evaluating them in various conditions to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
The quick list
Here are the best fitness trackers currently available, based on our tests and reviews.
Best fitness tracker overall
1. Fitbit Charge 6
The best fitness tracker overall
Our expert review:
Specifications
Heart rate monitor: Yes
GPS: Yes
Water resistance: 50 meters
Display: 1.04-inch AMOLED touchscreen
Weight: 1.1 ounces
On-board music: No
Mobile payments: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
Battery life: 7 days (smartwatch mode), 5 hours (GPS mode)
Reasons to buy
+ Support for Google Maps, Youtube Music, and Google Wallet
+ Lightweight, slim design
+ Accurate heart rate sensor
+ Bright, crisp touchscreen
Reasons to avoid
- No support for Spotify
- Some limitations in sports modes
The Fitbit Charge 6 improves upon its predecessor, the Charge 5, with features like a haptic side button for easier navigation, and compatibility with gym equipment like NordicTrack, Peloton, and Tonal for heart rate tracking.
It's the first Fitbit to incorporate Google Maps, YouTube Music, and Google Wallet, though a Google Account is now required.
The Charge 6 excels in fitness tracking, with built-in GPS for accurate outdoor activity tracking and more sports modes than its predecessor. During tests, we found it extremely comfortable and easy to read in bright sunlight, making it a top choice for most people.
Read our full Fitbit Charge 6 review.
Best value fitness tracker
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is the best value fitness tracker, offering essential features like heart rate monitoring, workout tracking, and sleep stage logging. While it lacks built-in GPS, it compensates with a vibrant AMOLED screen and community challenges. At $100, it includes Active Zone Minutes, ten days of battery life, touch controls, and different band colors.
During our tests, we found the Inspire 3 lightweight and comfortable for continuous wear, with a premium feel due to its color screen. It’s an affordable and user-friendly tracker ideal for basic fitness tracking. The Inspire 3 won Best Fitness Tracker in the 2023 Tom's Guide Fitness Awards for its comprehensive features under $100.
Read our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review.
Best fitness tracker under $50
3. Amazfit Band 5
The best fitness tracker under $50
Our expert review:
Specifications
Heart rate monitor: Yes
GPS: No
Water resistance: 50 meters
Display: 1.1-inch AMOLED
Weight: 0.8 ounces
Onboard music: No
Mobile payment: No
Sleep tracking: Yes
Battery life: 15 days
Reasons to buy
+ Affordable
+ Lightweight, comfortable design
+ Actionable sleep tracking insights
Reasons to avoid
- Display is hard to see in sunlight
- No GPS
- No third-party apps
The Amazfit Band 5 offers impressive features like blood oxygen readings, stress monitoring, and sleep tracking for just $50. It includes Amazon Alexa for voice commands, though it lacks built-in GPS. During our tests, we found it reliable for fitness and sleep tracking, with a long-lasting 15-day battery life.
Read our full Amazfit Band 5 review.
Best fitness tracking smartwatch
The Fitbit Sense 2 stands out with advanced health and wellness features. It has an upgraded design and interface, along with a continuous EDA sensor for monitoring stress levels and providing Body Response notifications.
Compatible with both iOS and Android, the Sense 2 includes GPS, a native app store, and Alexa integration. It’s an excellent choice for those seeking comprehensive health tracking and smartwatch functionality.
Read our full Fitbit Sense 2 review.
Best fitness tracker for runners
Garmin’s Forerunner 265, with its vibrant AMOLED screen, caters to runners and triathletes. It offers features like triathlon and multisport modes, Morning Report, and Training Readiness Score, making it a top pick for serious athletes.
Available in two sizes, the Forerunner 265 includes downloadable training plans and other premium features. For those on a budget, the similar Garmin Forerunner 255 is also a great option.
Read our full Garmin Forerunner 265 review.
Best Garmin fitness tracker
6. Garmin Venu 3
The best Garmin fitness tracker
Our expert review:
Specifications
Heart rate monitor: Yes
GPS: Yes
Water resistance: 50 meters
Display: 1.4-inch AMOLED
Weight: 1.7 ounces
Onboard music: Yes
Mobile payment: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
Battery life: 14 days, 26 hours (GPS mode)
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Reasons to buy
+ Intuitive sleep and workout advice
+ Bright and beautiful display
+ Up to 14 days of battery life
+ Available in two sizes
Reasons to avoid
- Not enough third-party apps
The Garmin Venu 3 combines fitness tracking with stylish design and long battery life. It features accurate GPS, a voice assistant, mobile payments, and offline music storage. New additions like nap-tracking and virtual sleep coaching enhance its appeal as a comprehensive health and fitness tracker.
Read our full Garmin Venu 3 review.
Best fitness tracker for body stats
7. Samsung Galaxy Watch 6
The best fitness tracker for body stats
Specifications
Heart rate monitor: Yes
GPS: Yes
Water resistance: 50 meters
Display: 1.3-inch AMOLED
Weight: 1 ounce
Onboard music: Yes
Mobile payments: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
Battery life: 40 hours
Reasons to buy
+ Insightful body composition analysis
+ Slim, comfy design
+ Bright touchscreen
+ Available in two sizes
Reasons to avoid
- Mediocre battery life
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 excels in sleep and body composition tracking. Its comprehensive sleep analysis, skin temperature sensor, and heart rate monitoring make it versatile for health tracking, even rivaling competitors in features and functionality.
Read our full Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 review.
The best fitness tracker subscription
8. Whoop 4.0
The best fitness tracker subscription
Our expert review:
Specifications
Heart rate monitor: Yes
GPS: No
Water resistance: 10 meters
Display: n/a
Weight: 1 ounce
Onboard music: No
Mobile payment: No
Sleep tracking: Yes
Battery life: 5 days
Reasons to buy
+ Excellent sleep tracking
+ Heart rate, skin temperature, and SpO2 sensors
+ Low-profile, stylish design
Reasons to avoid
- Requires a monthly subscription
- No screen
- No GPS
The Whoop 4.0 is a subscription-based fitness tracker focusing on recovery and heart rate metrics. Though it lacks a screen or GPS, its detailed health insights, including skin temperature and sleep tracking, make it invaluable for athletes and dedicated fitness enthusiasts.
Read our full Whoop 4.0 review.
Best fitness tracker for iPhone users
The Apple Watch Series 9 offers significant performance upgrades with its S9 processor, brighter display, and enhanced Siri interactions. The new double-tap gesture control and skin temperature sensor also improve user experience.
Although fitness tracking features remain similar to the Series 8, the watch feels faster and more responsive. The Series 9 is currently the best Apple Watch available.
Read our full Apple Watch Series 9 review
Best fitness tracker for sleep
10. Oura Ring Generation 3
The best fitness tracking ring
Our expert review:
Specifications
Heart rate monitor: Yes
GPS: No
Water resistance: 100 meters
Display: n/a
Weight: 0.2 ounces
Onboard music: No
Mobile payment: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
Battery life: 7 days
Reasons to buy
+ Unobtrusive, durable design
+ Thorough sleep tracking
+ Comfortable to wear to bed
+ Long battery life
Reasons to avoid
- Tedious fitting process
- Requires a subscription
The Oura Ring is unique, being a ring rather than a wrist-worn tracker. It monitors sleep, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature without any buttons or physical controls. Despite a tedious fitting process and subscription fee, it excels in sleep tracking, making it a valuable health tool.
Read our full Oura Ring Generation 3 review
How to choose the best fitness tracker
When selecting a fitness tracker, first consider your needs. For basic gym activities like step counting and heart rate monitoring, a simpler device will suffice. For outdoor activities like running or biking, look for built-in GPS for accurate tracking.
Those who intend to swim should ensure the tracker is waterproof and capable of logging pool laps. Many advanced smartwatches also offer fitness-tracking features but tend to be more expensive and have shorter battery life.
How we test the best fitness trackers
We evaluate the design and comfort of each fitness tracker, ensuring they are wearable all day. We assess touchscreen readability, especially in sunlight, and ease of navigation through menus. We also test step counting, sleep monitoring, distance calculations, GPS, and heart rate accuracy. Battery life claims are verified through real-world use.
We examine the device's pairing with its companion app, and whether it supports features like coaching and diet tracking, and syncs data with third-party apps like MyFitnessPal.
Features comparison
Features of the best fitness trackers are compared in the table below:
| Feature | Fitbit Charge 6 | Fitbit Inspire 3 | Amazfit Band 5 | Fitbit Sense 2 | Garmin Forerunner 265 | Garmin Venu 3 | Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 | Whoop 4.0 | Apple Watch 9 | Oura Ring gen 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen size and type | 1.4-inch AMOLED | 0.7-inch AMOLED | 1.1-inch AMOLED | 1.6-inch AMOLED | 1.1-inch AMOLED (265S), 1.3-inch AMOLED (265) | 1.4-inch AMOLED (Venu 3), 1.2-inch AMOLED (Venu 3S) | 1.5-inch AMOLED (44mm), 1.3-inch AMOLED (40mm) | n/a | 1.7-inch LTPO | n/a |
| Weight | 1.33 oz | 0.62 oz | 0.86 oz | 0.8 oz | 1.4 oz (265S), 1.65 oz (265) | 1.05 oz (Venu 3), 0.95 oz (Venu 3S) | 1.1 oz (44mm) / 1 oz (40mm) | 0.53 oz | 1.50 oz (41mm), 1.82 oz (45mm) | 0.1-0.2 oz |
| Battery life | 7 days / 5 hours w/ GPS | 10 days | 15 days | 6 days / 5 hours w/ GPS | 15 days / 24 hours w/ GPS (265), 13 days / 20 hours w/ GPS (265) | 14 days / 26 hours w/ GPS (Venu 3), 10 days / 21 hours w/ GPS (Venu 3S) | Up to 40 hours | 4-5 days | 18 hours (36 hours with low power mode) | 7 days |
| Built-in GPS | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Touchscreen | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Payment | Yes - Google Pay | No | No | Yes - Google Pay | Yes - Garmin Pay | Yes - Garmin Pay | Yes - Samsung Wallet | No | Yes - Apple Pay
|
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