Which smart band is better?

Finding the best fitness tracker starts with four basic questions:

• Do you prefer a band or watch-style fitness tracker?
• What activities do you plan to track?
• Do you care about the brand or the platform?
• Are there any special features you need, like SpO2 tracking, built-in GPS, or an ECG?

Once you know what matters the most to you, it’s much easier to pick the right fit. From bands to smartwatches, our team puts every wearable device we review through rigorous testing to ensure only the best options make it on our lists. We dive into everything from activity tracking to sleep tracking to daily use, particularly focusing on user experience, accuracy, and value. Keep reading to see our picks for the best fitness trackers you can buy in 2024.

The best fitness trackers worth considering

To be clear, it’s hard for just one device to fit all user types. Some users might need more app support, while others need a few more bells and whistles. There are plenty of great fitness trackers and watches worth checking out. The list below represents our top picks.

Band-style fitness trackers:

• Fitbit Charge 6: The Fitbit Charge 6 builds on its predecessor with added Google app integration and upgraded heart rate monitoring.
• Xiaomi Mi Band 8: For shoppers on a budget, the Mi Band 8 is the best cheap fitness tracker you can buy, thanks to its low price point and solid fitness tracking.
• HUAWEI Band 7: The best Xiaomi Mi Band 8 alternative, the HUAWEI Band 7 offers a roomy form factor and all-day SpO2 monitoring, plus useful smart features. Though HUAWEI launched a Band 8, it’s not readily available everywhere.

Watch-style fitness trackers:

• Apple Watch Series 9: For iPhone users, the Apple Watch Series 9 is the best fitness-tracking smartwatch. It’s arguably the best smartwatch you can buy and has great workout capabilities.
• Garmin Venu 3: The Venu 3 is highly accurate, with many sport modes and useful extras like voice calling and nap detection. It’s one of the best fitness trackers available from Garmin.
• Garmin Forerunner 265: One of the first Forerunner devices to feature an OLED display, this smartwatch is a much-anticipated update to the series and a great pick for runners.
• Garmin vivomove Sport: Looking for a fitness tracker that doesn’t stand out? This sneaky hybrid watch could be the perfect fitness tracker for you.

Fitbit Charge 6 is the best fitness tracker from Fitbit

Fitbit Charge 6

Useful physical button • Updated heart rate sensor • All sport modes now on device

MSRP: $159.99

The Fitbit Charge 6 is the company's 2023 top-of-the-line fitness tracker

When it comes to fitness trackers, the Fitbit Charge 6 is now the best product in the company's portfolio. To get anything better, you'd need to jump up to the Sense 2, which is more like a smartwatch. The Charge 6 has a full-color display, 40 exercise modes, and the most advanced heart-rate tracker Fitbit offers.

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The latest addition to Fitbit’s stable, the Charge 6, introduces key upgrades to a fan-favorite line. Reliable health sensors and staple Fitbit tools make the device a great choice for most shoppers. The band-style tracker is lightweight and comfortable and boasts a colorful AMOLED display for reading stats. The new model even reintroduces a physical button to smooth and streamline device interaction.

Internally, the Charge 6 provides all the basics, including step and activity tracking, sleep tracking, ECG support, skin temperature tracking, SpO2 monitoring, and the option to take EDA scans. It also supports Fitbit’s Daily Readiness and Stress Management scores with a Fitbit Premium account. Plus, the tracker boasts improved heart rate tracking for more accurate stats than ever, thanks to improved machine learning algorithms. We were generally very impressed with the sensor’s performance during our review period.

Meanwhile, in light of recent changes to the Fitbit stable, the Charge 6 is also a better value than the company’s branded smartwatches. It doesn’t pack all the same smart features but offers useful integration with Google Wallet, Google Maps, and YouTube Music. All of these tools make the tracker a more useful workout companion. Unfortunately, it suffers from some major drawbacks regarding GPS performance. This makes the Charge 6 hard to recommend for long-distance training, but it’s a great pick for basic activity tracking.

What makes it stand out

• Google’s influence adds smartwatch-like smarts: Useful integration with Google Wallet, YouTube Music, and Google Maps elevate the tracker into near smartwatch territory for a powerful all-day device.
• Key design and UI upgrades: The latest model’s physical button makes for easier user interaction. At the same time, the availability of all sport modes right on the device makes tracking even more convenient.
• Upgraded heart rate monitoring: Thanks to improved algorithms, heart rate tracking on the Charge 6 is more accurate than ever.

Xiaomi Mi Band 8 is the best cheap fitness tracker

Xiaomi Mi Band 8

Accurate health and fitness tracking • Affordable price point • Unique form factor

MSRP: $43.00

Once again, Xiaomi delivers a well-rounded fitness tracker at an approachable price.

The Xiaomi Mi Band 8 features an all-new strap design and the same vibrant touchscreen display found on the previous generation. On the wrist, as a necklace, or even attached to a running shoe, the device tracks key fitness stats and offers useful health monitoring tools to users eager to keep an eye on their wellness. It's a powerful, entry-level tracker at a great price.

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For anyone on a budget, Xiaomi’s Mi Bands come highly recommended. We even awarded the last generation with an Editor’s Choice. We’ve yet to review the Xiaomi Mi Band 8, but we’re confident the tracker offers the same reliable experience we’ve found in the past, with a few new perks. For starters, the Mi Band 8 introduces a slightly more elevated look and is designed to be wearable as a necklace or attached to a gym shoe. That means more versatility in how you track your stats throughout the day.

A very solid entry-level device, the Xiaomi Mi Band 8 tracks steps, distance, and calories to VO2 max, blood oxygen saturation, heart rate, sleep, and stress. In addition to these basics, the band also offers tracking for more than 150 unique activities. It even features an upgraded accelerometer, so users can workout alongside movement-based fitness courses in the Mi Fitness app. Unfortunately, the band does not feature built-in GPS, but it does offer connected GPS if you’re willing to pocket your phone for runs and rides.

The band also boasts a battery life of 16 days with regular use or six days with the always-on display enabled. The band’s colorful 1.62-inch AMOLED display may look a lot like that of the Mi Band 7, but the latest model now has a 60Hz refresh rate and brightness of up to 600 nits. Coupled with the device’s quick-release strap, the effect is a more attractive and user-friendly device.

What makes it stand out

• That price tag: The Mi Band 8 is a good fitness tracker at a great price. It’s at least $30-$40 cheaper than most trackers while offering many of the same features.
• Versatility in how you wear it: The device takes tracking beyond the wrist with the added ability to wear the tracker pill around your neck or attached to a gym shoe.
• Tons of features: Generally, “entry-level” fitness trackers lack a lot of advanced sensors like SpO2 and heart rate monitoring. On the Mi Band 8, you’ll find most sensors other major fitness trackers offer, including connected GPS.

HUAWEI Band 7 gives Xiaomi a run for its money

Huawei Band 7

Affordable price point • AMOLED display • Solid tracking suite

MSRP: $64.99

An attractive tracker at an incredibly low price

The Huawei Band 7 offers the full gamut of basic fitness tracking plus blood oxygen readings, heart rate tracking, and sleep monitoring. It's a thin, light fitness tracker with an impressive display for such a low cost.

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HUAWEI surprised us with the HUAWEI Band 6, and the 7 builds on its predecessor’s success. Blurring the line between tracker and smartwatch, it sports a large 1.47-inch AMOLED display with ultra-narrow bezels. The Band also offers improved phone integration, including the ability to answer phone calls on the wrist, music, remote camera control, and message quick reply. The device even features support for NFC payments.

In many other ways, the HUAWEI Band 7 is very similar to the Mi Band 7 — and that’s a compliment. Users will find all-day SpO2 monitoring, sleep tracking, 96 workout modes, menstrual tracking, and more. Though we haven’t yet tested the device in-house, we were quite impressed with the accuracy of the Band 6 and the Band 7 is said to improve the user experience even further.

We tested the sleep tracking function on the HUAWEI Band 6 against various devices, including the Fitbit Sense and Garmin Forerunner 245 Music. The results were spot on. In other words, if sleep tracking is important to you, it’s important to note that we found the previous generation HUAWEI Band to be more accurate than the Mi Band 7.

Above all, HUAWEI’s Band 7 is affordable. The device is available to US shoppers for less than $70 from third-party retailers, including Amazon. You can grab the budget device in four colors: black, green, pink, and red. It is water resistant up to 50 meters and boasts up to two weeks of battery life between charges.

What makes it stand out

• Beautiful full-color display: HUAWEI added a vibrant and large display to its tracker line well before Fitbit followed suit. The display here looks great and is shockingly good for a watch at this price.
• Accurate sleep tracking: If you’re interested in sleep tracking, you’ll be happy to know that HUAWEI has a solid reputation for accuracy in overnight data.
• Tons of workout modes: This tracker has over 96 workout modes. This is a lot for even more expensive trackers, making the device one of the best fitness trackers for anyone on a budget.

Apple Watch Series 9 is the best tracker for iPhone users

Apple Watches aren’t for Android users, but we highly recommend the Apple Watch Series 9 for iPhone users. As always, the company introduced iterative upgrades in the latest model, yet we were more than satisfied with its performance during our review period. The device tracks all the basics, including steps, calories, distance, floors climbed, resting and active heart rate, sleep, VO2 max, blood oxygen saturation, temperature, and more. With advanced sensors, it does so accurately. Likewise, GPS tracking with the Series 9 was virtually flawless during our outdoor workouts.

Meanwhile, watchOS 10 brought several improvements to Apple’s wellness tools, including mental health features, workout tracking for cyclists, and changes to medication management. The update also introduced a redesigned interface, including glanceable widgets for easier consumption of stats and data. Additionally, Siri can now process queries on the device, including questions about personal health stats. Users can even interact with the Apple Watch Series 9 more efficiently than ever with Double Tap, a one-handed gesture control that completes simple actions with the tap of two fingers.

From apps to notifications, integration with the iPhone is seamless, and users will find every smart feature needed, from on-wrist phone calls to offline music playback. Unfortunately, battery life remains a hindrance even in the latest generation. The Series 9 will last just over its 18-hour claim, though Low Power Mode helps users eke out additional use between charges.

If you want a smartwatch with accurate tracking and tons of third-party app support, the Apple Watch Series 9 is a no-brainer. For a budget-friendly option, the Apple Watch SE 2 ($269.99 at Amazon) drops a few sensors, but it is still a great fitness tracker. On the other end of the spectrum, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 ($679 at eBay) offers a similar experience on a much more durable device.

What makes it stand out

• King of the apps: You can’t do better if you want third-party support. Apple has worked hard to bring in tons of partners. In addition to the 40-plus apps built in, the App Store is loaded with additional tools for athletes.
• ECG support works perfectly: Apple is one of few brands with an FDA-approved ECG monitor. If this is an important health metric to you, you’ll want the Apple Watch.
• Gorgeous and durable design: The Apple Watch design is iconic. It looks great and turns heads. If you care about something that is not only beautiful but highly durable, look no further.

The Garmin Venu 3 is a great workout watch for every niche

Garmin Venu 3

Highly accurate GPS and heart rate sensors • Automatic nap detection and sleep coaching • Up to 14-day battery life

MSRP: $449.99

Accuracy and smarts.

The Garmin Venu 3 and Venu 3S focus on providing personalized data about your health and wellness with some of Garmin's most advanced body tracking features. The Body Battery function informs you of your activity levels, and new sleep tracking includes nap detection.

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The Garmin Venu 3 might be Garmin’s premium smartwatch, but it’s also one of the best fitness trackers. In addition to tracking tons of sport modes and advanced workout metrics, the watch also offers Garmin’s Health Snapshot feature, which takes a two-minute recording of your health stats, including heart rate, heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, respiration rate, and stress. The Venu 3 also offers the same FDA-approved ECG app found on its predecessor for recording on-demand readings and monitoring signs of AFib.

Meanwhile, the rest of the core health fitness features are as accurate as you’d expect from one of Garmin’s best watches. The Venu 3 features multi-band GNSS and the company’s latest Gen 5 Elevate optical heart rate sensor. It also boasts Garmin’s top training tools, including Body Battery, Recovery Time, Workout Benefit, Perceived Exertion, Garmin Coach, and more. On the sleep tracking front, the device is packed with data points to help users build better bedtime habits. It’s also the first Garmin device to provide automatic nap detection. We loved the accuracy we found in this arena and how Garmin integrates these stats into broader insights.

Overall, the Garmin Venu 3 is one of the best fitness trackers and a great pick from a trusted brand. It’s pricey but also brings key smartwatch features to the table, such as mobile payments, voice calling, and voice assistant support. The device is also available in two case sizes so users can find the perfect fit for their wrists.

What makes it stand out

• The ability to make calls. While a growing number of smartwatches have call and messaging functionality, it’s still not all that commonplace.
• Assistant support isn’t limited to one platform. Most trackers and watches have built-in assistants, but the Garmin Venu 3 uses the phone in your pocket. This means you can choose between Bixby, Assistant, Siri, and others.
• Industry-leading fitness tracking features. Garmin is one of the leaders in fitness features and as a result, there are tons of activity modes. There’s support for a wide range of sports, including golf, swimming, strength training, and much more.

Garmin Forerunner 265 is one of the best fitness trackers for hardcore runners

Garmin Forerunner 265

AMOLED display • Music storage • GPS • Health and fitness tracking

MSRP: $449.99

Night runs just got a whole lot brighter

Stepping up from its predecessor, the Garmin Forerunner 265 offers the same great features, with improvements to make it a reliable, lightweight running watch with an AMOLED display.

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The Garmin Forerunner 265 is easily one of the most impressive running watches we’ve ever used and a welcome upgrade to its already powerful predecessor. The most apparent upgrade on this model is its OLED touchscreen display. It’s bright, responsive, and paired with a colorful UI refresh.

We also applaud Garmin’s decision to offer the watch in two sizes, a 265 and 265S, with the same retail price. Both sizes also feature music storage as standard rather than as an upcharge. The 265S features a 1.3-inch display with 416 x 416 resolution. The 265S has a 1.1-inch display with 360 x 360 resolution. During our review of the smaller model, we hit around four days of usage with the always-on display enabled. In smartwatch mode, the device can last about two weeks.

The Forerunner 255 added NFC support, Morning Report, and an upgraded heart rate sensor to the mid-range lineup. These features return in the Forerunner 265 series, and the sensor accuracy is fantastic. We clocked highly reliable stats throughout our review period, including heart rate data, sleep tracking, and, of course, GPS tracking. The newest model also adds Training Readiness, a popular Garmin metric for dedicated athletes, a great tool to see at this price point.

The price of the Forerunner 265 did jump considerably compared to its predecessor, inching the device out of “affordable” territory. However, $449 is reasonable considering the features you’ll find on board. If budget isn’t a consideration, we were also impressed by the Garmin Forerunner 965.

What makes it stand out

• Options for different wrist sizes: The Forerunner 265 is available in a 46mm model and a 42mm 265S model, so everyone can get the perfect fit. Both are the same price and offer music storage.
• Training Readiness is a useful addition: For dedicated athletes prepping for the next big race, Training Readiness is a coveted tool from the Garmin ecosystem.
• The gold standard in heart rate monitoring: Let’s be honest; most trackers struggle for truly accurate heart tracking. The Elevate sensor in the 265 is one of the few monitors that can yield nearly as accurate results as you’d get from a chest strap.

Garmin vivomove Sport is the perfect hybrid for the incognito fitness buff

Garmin Vivomove Sport

Sleek design • Hidden screen with analog flavor • Multi-day battery life

MSRP: $179.99

This Garmin hybrid watch effortlessly balances style with surprisingly good value

This is the smartwatch you get for traditional analog watch lovers. Despite its minimalist looks, it provides plenty of value. It packs Garmin's well-known health and fitness features, including Body Battery. But this isn't why you buy the Vivomove Sport. Its attractive, customizable design is its biggest attraction.

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Like everything from Garmin, the vivomove Sport offers the full gamut of fitness tracking. Where it stands out is how it houses them. During our Garmin vivomove Sport review, we fell in love with the device’s form factor, particularly its spy-tech “hidden” display. With real ticking hands, this hybrid watch feels like a classic analog accessory. The aesthetic is completely appropriate for a fancy meal or a night out. Meanwhile, it hides an accurate fitness tracker with some of Garmin’s top tools just a double-tap away.

Navigating the tiny display on the vivomove Sport takes a little getting used to, but we got the hang of it after just a few hours of digging in. The device records all the basics you’d expect from a tracker, plus sleep data, 24/7 heart rate, and stress data. It also offers Garmin’s Body Battery and all-day stress monitoring. Unfortunately, you won’t find a sleep score nor built-in GPS here, though you get connected GPS. We were also excited to see a heart rate monitor in a hybrid, though it’s not nearly as accurate as you’d find on a more traditional fitness tracker.

The Garmin vivomove Sport is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a stylish tracker that blends in wherever you take it. Metallic accents elevate the device, while comfortable silicone bands make it durable for a sweaty workout. Our tests showed around five days of battery life for the hybrid features. After that, the watch would go into an analog-only mode. This mode lets us use the device as a standard watch for about one more day.

What makes it stand out

• A stylish workout companion: The vivomove Sport is a very good-looking device. It offers users a classic look that moves seamlessly between the office and the gym.
• We can’t say enough about the display: The device isn’t just good-looking, it’s clever. This type of “hidden” display isn’t new to Garmin, but it has never been done better than on this device.
• Garmin’s reputation proceeds it: Even though this isn’t a dedicated fitness tracker, it is (as the name implies) a capable sports companion. Garmin is known for accurate fitness tracking, and the company’s Body Battery feature makes this an attractive pick.

What to look for in a good fitness tracker

Those new to fitness trackers might not be completely sure where to start. To choose the right device, consider the following:

Your style of workout matters

What do you plan to use your device for? Do you want a tracker that can do it all or a more specialized watch? If you’re a swimmer or a diver, you’ll want a water-resistant device that can handle certain depths. Likewise, runners need step tracking and GPS with accuracy they count on.

Form over function, or vice versa

Will you want to use the tracker long-term if you find it uncomfortable? Is comfort less important than simply looking good? That’s important to figure out, too. Some of the best fitness trackers work well but may be too bulky or not aesthetically pleasing. Others are designed with style in mind but sacrifice features.

How smart do you want your fitness tracker to be?

Some fitness trackers and smartwatches offer advanced features. These included everything from stress tracking to music controls, third-party app support, voice calling or assistant support, and much more. If you want everything and the kitchen sink, a smartwatch is probably the right choice, or something that crosses the line between a traditional fitness band and a fitness watch — like the Charge 5.

What features do you need versus find “nice to have?”

Maybe you’re buying a fitness tracker to “get into better shape.” In most cases, you can probably do just fine with a basic tracker. On the other hand, it doesn’t hurt to get a watch with extras. Consider the value of tools such as a heart rate monitor, GPS, or SpO2 tracking when searching for the best fitness tracker for you.

Features for serious health concerns

If you’re interested in the best fitness trackers for monitoring serious health concerns, you’ll want to spring for extra features. Relevant options include sensors for monitoring blood oxygen levels, heart rate, and other important metrics.

How crucial is the battery life on your fitness tracker?

If you plan to use this for long hikes or situations where battery life is a concern, you’ll want something that can last days, if not weeks. Meanwhile, if you want smarts, you’ll have to settle for something that needs more frequent charging. The best fitness tracker is the one that aligns with your fitness habits.

Will it work with your current device, and what’s the app like?

Not all devices in this list work with both Android and iOS phones. The Apple Watch only works with iPhones, for example. Depending on your paired device, some watches will offer different features or a better experience. Unless noted in the descriptions below, all the recommendations in this list are compatible with both major smartphone platforms. However, don’t overlook the device’s companion app itself. For example, the Mi Band is a great fitness tracker in terms of hardware, but the app experience isn’t nearly as robust as you’ll find from Garmin or Fitbit.

What’s your budget?

What you spend on your new tracker is up to your budget. The Fitbit Charge 6 rings up higher than some cheaper trackers because it’s a higher-quality device. Meanwhile, springing for a fitness-tracking smartwatch will set you back even further. However, it may be worth the investment for a well-rounded experience. On the other hand, if you have a low budget and aren’t sold on how much you’ll use a fitness tracker, we absolutely recommend a budget option.

Why you should trust us & how we test

Android Authority has a long history with wearable devices, spanning at least as far as the Pebble in 2013. Since then, we’ve reviewed hundreds of wearables and learned a lot along the way. Our dedicated health and fitness experts test dozens of new wearables and fitness trackers yearly. Only the best make it onto recommendation lists like the one you are reading. How do we determine what’s worthy? When testing, we have two main focuses: user experience and accuracy. To that end, we start by utilizing the device as a daily driver:

• We wear the product 24/7 (except for charging time) to evaluate its day-to-day performance, capabilities, and comfort.
• We note everything from strap materials and display brightness to navigation and battery life.
• We tap into as many features as possible, leaving no stone unturned.
• We set alarms, chat with voice assistants, fire off texts, follow breathing exercises, sweat through workouts, and much more.
• We test sleep tracking accuracy and wear the watch to bed, comparing its data to other products well-regarded for their sleep analysis.
• We test SpO2 sensors against other wearables or a pulse oximeter.
• For heart rate monitoring, we equip chest straps to test the device’s accuracy and push the sensor through interval training workouts.
• We also test GPS accuracy on outdoor runs and rides wearing the device and a notably accurate GPS device to see how the review unit performs.
• When possible, we strap on a comparable device from the current market to analyze how the review subject stands up to similarly priced competition.
• We dig into the companion app. We look to see how the data is organized and analyzed and evaluate the ease of use.

Smartwatches and trackers have a ton of variety, and reviewing each product is quite nuanced. For example, a Garmin Fenix 7 Pro review looks very different from a Xiaomi Mi Band review. So, we also determine the wearable’s place in the market regarding form factor, target audience, and budget. Then, we check to see if the device is missing anything important that users might expect to see. Finally, we verify that it matches its brand’s (measurable) claims.

You can trust that our experts put every device through its paces. Typically, our review period lasts about a week. However, we sometimes extend it to weeks or months for especially feature-packed devices. We also regularly revisit watches and trackers to ensure they hold up over time.

FAQs

Compatibility is always device-specific, but all of the options on this list are compatible with iPhones. Similarly, all of the devices are also compatible with Android devices except for the Apple Watch.

For the sake of this article, we refer to devices with big displays that prioritize apps and notifications as smartwatches. We refer to devices with small displays that look more like a traditional fitness band as fitness trackers. In reality, many smartwatches have fitness tracking tools, and many fitness trackers have smartwatch features.

The answer to this varies. Typically no tracker will be as good as higher-grade medical equipment like chest straps and monitors. However, some brands come closer than others. Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple are three brands known for their accuracy.

Garmin and Fitbit devices are each best suited for different users. Garmin offers a data-heavy experience for serious athletes, while Fitbit is a great option for more casual tracking. Read more about the differences between these two industry leaders in our Garmin vs Fitbit comparison guide to find out which company offers the best fitness tracker for you.

Smart water bottles are a different kind of fitness tracker that helps you monitor your hydration habits. If you struggle to stay hydrated, a smart water bottle may be worth considering.

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.

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. 

What we’re looking for

Audience

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.

Battery life

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.

Form factor

Is it a band or a smartwatch? Is it comfortable to wear 24/7?

Metrics

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.

Consistency

Accuracy is nice, but it’s more important for measuring progress that your device delivers consistent results for heart rate, distance tracking, and steps.

Platform

Certain trackers are limited to specific phone ecosystems — others will work regardless of what your phone is. We prioritize the latter wherever possible.

Best fitness tracker overall

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.

Best fitness watch for casual users

Garmin Venu Sq 2

$ 246

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$ 246

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$ 250

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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.

Sizes: 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!

Best for serious outdoor athletes

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.

Best non-wrist tracker

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. We’re also expecting to see compelling options from Movano and Amazfit in the near future — and these two options 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.

Best fitness band

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.

Most stylish fitness watch

Sizes: 40mm w/20mm straps / Weight: 19g / Battery life: Up to 5 days / Display type: “Hidden” OLED touchscreen / GPS: Tethered GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: N/A

While Garmin’s made some truly exquisite hybrid trackers in the past, the price made them hard to recommend. However, the Vivomove Sport finally gets things right. It looks like an analog Swatch, thanks to the hidden OLED display, but you don’t actually lose anything in terms of accuracy. 

For $179.99, you are giving up some things like built-in GPS and NFC payments. However, you do get push notifications and access to Garmin’s entire fitness tracking platform. There are some more jewelry-like trackers — Bellabeat’s lineup or the Fitbit Luxe come to mind — but the Vivosport Move’s design is a lot sturdier for active lifestyles. 

The Garmin Vivomove Sport is a beautiful hybrid tracker that doesn’t cost a fortune. Photo by Victoria Song / The Verge

Another option I like is the Withings ScanWatch 2 and ScanWatch Light, which I’m currently testing. While I’m still formulating a final opinion, they’re both quite fetching to look at on the wrist and share the same overall design aesthetic as the Vivomove Sport. The ScanWatch 2 has more in-depth health tracking and adds a temperature sensor. It’s also got an EKG for atrial fibrillation detection and tracks blood oxygen levels. The rub is that it’s a lot more expensive at $350. The ScanWatch Light knocks off about $100 from the price, but it’s also missing the temperature sensors, EKG, blood oxygen, and elevation tracking.

Best fitness tracker for iPhone users

Apple Watch Series 9 (41mm, GPS)

$ 329

$ 399

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$ 329

$ 329

$ 399

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The Apple Watch Series 9 features a brand-new S9 processor that enables offline Siri use, brighter displays, and the double tap gesture. It also has the second-gen ultra wideband chip for Precision Finding if you have an iPhone 15. Read our review.

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.

Related

• How to choose which Apple Watch to buy

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.

Best fitness smartwatch for Samsung phones

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.

Best fitness smartwatch for Android

Google Pixel Watch 2 (GPS)

$ 300

$ 350

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$ 300

$ 300

$ 350

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The new Google Pixel Watch 2 now achieves a reliable 24 hours on a single charge with the always-on display enabled. It sports a new processor, multipath health sensor, Wear OS 4, and new safety features, all around a substantial update.

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.

Best for early adopters and elite athletes

Whoop 4.0

$ 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.

Sizes: 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 January 23rd, 2:34 PM ET: Added Withings ScanWatch 2 and Light as an alternative to Garmin Vivomove Sport, context about forthcoming smart rings to the Oura Ring section, and extra details about Apple Watch ban.