If you want to really hone in on your fitness tracking, a fitness tracker is a great option. Some of the best fitness trackers also include additional sensors to track things like stress, sleep, and other health metrics. Of course, you can choose the best smartwatch out there, but if you’re not interested in all the extra features a smartwatch has to offer, a fitness tracker might be a better (and more affordable) option. Accurate workout and activity tracking is what fitness trackers do best. Most products include a pedometer to track your steps throughout the day. It may not look as glamorous as the Apple Watch, but it fulfills certain roles well. We’ve researched and tested a selection of the most popular fitness trackers out there to make your decision a little easier.
What does a fitness tracker do best?
The answer seems simple. Fitness trackers are great for monitoring your workouts, like a 10-minute walk around your neighborhood or a half-marathon you’ve trained hard for. Of course, smartwatches can also help you reach your fitness goals, but there are several areas where fitness bands prove to be the best purchase, including focus, design, battery life, durability, and price. .
When I say “focused,” I’m alluding to the fact that fitness trackers are made to track activity well. Anything else is redundant. Smartwatches often lack additional features that can hinder your ability to track your health. They also tend to have fewer sensors and internal components, which keeps them smaller and lighter. Fitness trackers are also a good option for people who want a discreet device on their wrist all day.
Fitness trackers also tend to have longer battery life. Most smartwatches last 1-2 days on a single charge, while fitness bands have a battery life of 5-7 days. This is for all-day and overnight use, even with sleep tracking enabled.
When it comes to price, there’s no competition. Most worthwhile smartwatches cost between $175 and $200, but solid fitness trackers are available starting at $70. Sure, there are more expensive bands out there (we recommend a few here), but you’ll find more options under $150 in the fitness tracker space than in the smartwatch space.
When to buy a smartwatch instead?
If you need to get a little more out of your wearable and don’t want to limit yourself to a fitness or activity tracker, a smartwatch could be the perfect purchase for you. There are things that smartwatches have that the best fitness trackers don’t, like on-watch apps, alerts, and more robust fitness features. Control your smart appliances, set timers and reminders, check the weather forecast, and more all with one device. Some smartwatches let you choose which apps you want to receive alerts for, and the options go beyond call and text notifications. However, not all smartwatches work with both operating systems, so make sure your smartwatch is compatible with Android or iPhone before purchasing.
But perhaps the most important thing to consider when deciding between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch is the additional fitness features. The latter devices tend to be larger, with more space for things like GPS, barometer, and onboard music storage. Some fitness trackers have built-in GPS, but it’s not common.
best fitness tracker
fit bit
Tracker: Fitness, heart rate, ECG, SpO2, skin temperature, stress, sleep | Compatible OS: Android, iOS | Maximum battery life: 7 days | size: small, big | water resistance: yes
While we are not giving; Fitbit Charge 6 Although we don’t have a full review yet, we confidently recommend it as a successor to our previous top pick, the Charge 5. The company has added some new features here, including a more accurate heart rate monitor and the ability to combine it with exercise. You can connect to your machine via Bluetooth and a physical side button, which works with the touchscreen to operate the device’s interface. Charge 6 has 20 exercise modes for tracking, and thanks to Fitbit’s parent company Google, you can skip and control YouTube Music playback if you have a YouTube Music Premium subscription .
Otherwise, the Fitbit Charge 6 is very similar to its predecessor, the Charge 5. The key to this appeal is that it’s clearly not a smartwatch. This means it’s slightly thinner on your wrist and can last for days on a single charge while tracking your activity and monitoring your heart rate, steps, and sleep. It also has a full-color AMOLED display and relatively thin design, making it look quite premium compared to other fitness trackers.
Other perks include contactless payments with Fitbit Pay and Google Wallet, as well as convenient integration with Google Maps to see turn-by-turn directions on your wrist. But don’t get me wrong. Once again, the built-in GPS is the star. If you’re looking for a wearable that lets you accurately plan your runs or bike rides while tracking your heart rate and other stats during each workout, the Charge 6 is a great choice for those looking for durability and functionality in a health tracker. . .
- Built-in GPS
- More accurate heart rate monitor
- 7 days battery life
- No integration with Apple Health
- Some data hidden behind the Fitbit Premium paywall
garmin
Tracker: Fitness, Heart Rate, SpO2, Stress, Sleep | Compatible OS: Android, iOS | Maximum battery life: 7 days | size: 122-188 mm (small/medium), 148-228 mm (large) | water resistance: yes
A more modest-looking fitness band alternative is $150 Garmin VivoSmart 5. It’s thinner than the Fitbit Charge 6 and fits a little better with bracelets and other jewelry you wear regularly. But its attractive design is only part of its appeal. Garmin knows how to track fitness, and the Vivosmart 5 proves that you don’t have to pay hundreds of dollars for the company’s detailed fitness watch to get a capable device.
It has many of the same features as the Charge 6, with the exception of built-in GPS. However, it does support connected GPS, so if you have your smartphone with you, you can map your outdoor runs or bike rides. Vivosmart 5 tracks your heart rhythm throughout the day thanks to its heart rate sensor, and also records your sleep data and workouts. We always appreciate how many workout profiles Garmin lets you choose from, including exercises like strength training. The pedometer feature tracks your steps throughout the day, ensuring even light activity contributes to your fitness goals.
Customize what you see on your device and change it at any time. Also includes Garmin’s Body Battery score (which tells you how long it takes to train at peak performance again after a hard workout), blood oxygen levels, sleep stage data, menstruation for women, and more. Health and wellness information is also available. cycle monitoring etc. If you’re looking for a comprehensive activity tracker, the Garmin vívosmart 5 has it all.
The biggest drawbacks to fitness tracking with the Vivosmart 5 are the aforementioned lack of built-in GPS, and the mobile app is a bit difficult to use. But the flip side is that while Garmin devices can sync with Apple Health, Fitbit devices don’t yet have that capability.
- slim design
- Great workout tracking features
- Customizable on-device workout modes
- Sync with Apple Health
- Connected GPS only
- cumbersome mobile app
xiaomi
Tracker: Fitness, Heart Rate | Compatible OS: Android, iOS | Maximum battery life: 16th | size: 135mm~210mm | water resistance: yes
At Engadget, we tested some of the cheapest fitness trackers available for under $100. At the top of the list are xiaomi band 8which means it beats out Fitbit Inspire 3 and Amazfit Band 7 with more sports tracking modes, a unique “pebble” running mode, and free and accurate sleep monitoring features. It’s also very comfortable and quite stylish with a sleek and nimble design. It also has fast charging capabilities and can easily be worn for 10-14 days (depending on usage) before running out of charge. Importantly, this watch makes it easy to track niche exercises right on the dial without any distractions during your workout. Like other fitness trackers on this list, it also works with both Android and iPhone.
Pebble mode is a great feature that allows you to attach the tracker to your shoe using the included running clip accessory, and has the great ability to report information about your pace and cadence directly to the display when you complete a run. More detailed insights can also be viewed on your smartphone through the Mi companion app. With Band 8 on your wrist, you can easily set training goals related to time, distance, and calories burned per session for activities like deadlifts and skateboarding.
The Amazfit Band 7 lost out slightly in terms of exercise tracking capabilities, but when compared to the Fitbit Inspire 3, the Xiaomi Band 8 had a real advantage. On the other hand, while Fitbit’s devices only had six pre-built exercise shortcuts, the Xiaomi Band 8 includes more than 150 exercises that can be tracked directly on the wearable out of the box. Also, with Inspire 3, I no longer have detailed information about sleep and recovery. Because that information resides behind Fitbit Premium’s paywall. Meanwhile, Xiaomi’s device offered a free detailed sleep report with selected advice on how to improve your rest time. — Reporter Malak Saleh
- comfortable
- Easy to use UI
- Detailed training report
- Unique “Pebble” mode
Photo by Daniel Cooper/Engadget
Tracker: Fitness, Sleep | Compatible OS: Android, iOS | Maximum battery life: 18 months | size: Not applicable | water resistance: yes
All of the fitness trackers mentioned above have their own appeal (bonus points for the ones with interchangeable bands), but they all look similar. There are very few designs to replace these devices anymore. of Withings Move Watch for $70 is an exception and one of the most traditionally fashionable fitness trackers available. It’s an analog watch face with health monitoring features like step, calorie, distance, and sleep tracking, connected GPS, automatic recognition of over 30 workouts, and a water-resistant design. But what we really like is its long battery life. Coin cell battery lasts up to 18 months before needing replacement. This means there is no charger to back up the battery, but replacement coin-cell batteries are available relatively cheaply.
- Attractive analog design
- All-day activity and sleep tracking
- Months of battery life
Other fitness trackers we tested
fitbit inspire 3
of fitbit inspire 3 Strip all the luxury features from the Charge 6 and leave only the essential tracking features. There’s no built-in GPS tracking, Fitbit Pay, or Spotify controls, but you do get solid activity tracking, automatic workout detection, smartphone alerts, and more. The updated version has a sleeker design and includes a color touch display and connected GPS, the latter of which allows you to track your pace and distance while running or cycling outdoors while holding your phone. You can track it. Compared to Charge 6, Inspire 3 is also more fashionable. Interchangeable bands allow you to change the look and feel of your tracker at any time, and it’s slim enough to blend in with other jewelry you’re wearing. We were also impressed with the multi-day battery life. Fitbit promises up to 10 days on a single charge, and that worked for us. After 4 days and 24 hours of use, the Inspire 3 still had 66% battery left.
Frequently asked questions about fitness trackers
How long does my fitness tracker battery last?
Fitness tracker battery life varies depending on the model and its features. On average, most fitness trackers last between 5 and 7 days on a single charge. Basic models with limited functionality can take up to 10 days or more. However, more advanced trackers with features such as continuous heart rate monitoring, GPS, and always-on displays may require recharging after 1 to 3 days. If you use GPS or stream music on your fitness tracker, you’ll notice your battery drain faster. Reducing the use of these features or turning them off will extend battery life.
