The best fitness trackers and watches for 2024

Health trackers have come a great distance from the straightforward bands that tracked steps and little else. Fashionable trackers can monitor every thing out of your coronary heart well being to how properly you’ve recovered from a tough bout of coaching. Even flagship smartwatches, which was lackluster trackers, have change into fairly adept exercise companions. No matter your health targets are, there’s in all probability a health tracker that may allow you to obtain them.

In comparison with another devices, wearables are extremely private, which suggests there are a few extra considerations you’ll need to keep in mind earlier than reaching on your pockets. It makes it arduous to say that anyone health tracker is the most effective for everybody. Fortunately, the most effective factor about health trackers in 2024 is that there’s sufficient selection to suit into each type of way of life. 

Proper now, we’re in the midst of the vacation purchasing season. Somewhat persistence goes a great distance this time of yr. Retailers and firms alike will probably be making an attempt to eliminate outdated inventory, that means reductions galore — even following Black Friday. If you happen to don’t want the most recent and biggest, it’s a very good time to snag final yr’s fashions in nicer supplies.

Measurement: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: As much as 14 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Twin-frequency and 6 GNSS methods / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 2.3GB

The Amazfit GTR 4 punches manner above its weight. It features a complete array of options you’d count on to see on a lot pricier wearables, like a vivid OLED display, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep stage monitoring, stress monitoring, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an offline digital assistant. It’s additionally received a local digicam distant and a helpful Pomodoro timer in-built. And for outside health lovers, the GTR 4 additionally has multiband GPS for extra correct GPS monitoring in difficult environments. You possibly can even import GPX routes from websites like Strava and Komoot. The GTR 4 takes a extra holistic method to well being, buying and selling in steps for PAI factors to gauge whether or not you’re getting the beneficial 150 minutes of reasonable exercise per week.

For sensible options, the GTR 4 has all of the fundamentals: push notifications, fast textual content replies on Android, alarms, timers, and the power to make and take calls over Bluetooth. The one factor the GTR 4 is admittedly lacking is contactless funds, however it greater than makes up for it, given the expansive function set and battery life. It lasts about 10–14 days on a single cost with regular use and a couple of week with heavy utilization. It might not have the model recognition of a Fitbit, however since Google nerfed each the Versa 4 and Sense 2, you may need to overlook that. Plus, the GTR 4 doesn’t have thick bezels like both of these watches. Watchfaces on the OLED show are crisp, and animations are clean. When you think about that Amazfit watches are sometimes on sale, it’s a no brainer.

Read my full review of the Amazfit GTR 4 here.

Sizes: 40mm w/ 20mm straps / Weight: 38g / Battery life: As much as 11 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 4GB (for Music Version)

The $250 Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the watch I like to recommend for anybody trying to exchange their growing older Fitbit Versa 2, 3, or 4. It’s received an identical look and vibe, with a a lot nicer OLED show and longer battery life.

Garmin is thought for its complete health monitoring, and that’s not an exception right here. In fact, you get the fundamentals, like steps and energy burned, however you get an entire lot extra, too. There’s built-in GPS for monitoring walks, runs, and bike rides, in addition to loads of different sports activities profiles like yoga and energy coaching. For sensible options, you get push notifications, timers, contactless funds, and a bunch of security options like Garmin’s Incident Detection, which is its tackle fall detection. (You will have to hold your telephone with you, nonetheless, as this doesn’t have LTE.)

If you would like the choice of onboard music, you possibly can shell out $50 additional for the Music Version, which comes with sufficient storage for about 500 songs. I wouldn’t advocate it, nonetheless, as you’ll most probably have your telephone on you since this isn’t a real standalone watch.

What I like most about this watch, nonetheless, is it’s one that you may develop with. On high of restoration metrics and sleep monitoring, it additionally has Garmin Coach — a built-in, free coaching program for newbie and intermediate-level runners hoping to deal with a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. For well being monitoring, you possibly can monitor coronary heart charge, blood oxygen, depth minutes (what number of minutes of reasonable train you get per week), stress, hydration, respiratory charge, and menstrual cycles. And the most effective half is Garmin doesn’t lock any of this behind a paywall.

One observe: there’s a Venu 3, which provides a more recent coronary heart charge sensor and nap detection. I favored it fairly a bit, and it ticks off lots of the appropriate containers — apart from value. It’s $450, which places it exterior what I’d think about ideally suited for informal customers. The opposite possibility is Garmin’s Forerunner 165 — it’s a $249 finances coaching watch that’s fairly just like the Venu Sq 2 feature-wise, albeit with a sportier vibe. Mainly, go along with what you discover on sale. I firmly imagine older fashions are nonetheless a good selection if all you need is the fitness-tracking fundamentals. That is very true since newer software program updates usually make their strategy to older Garmins. Garmin customers additionally have a tendency to hold onto their units for a very good whereas. Strava’s 2023 year-end survey discovered that the most well-liked smartwatch amongst its customers was an eight-year-old Garmin!

Read my full review of the Garmin Venu Sq 2.

Sizes: 7S Professional: 42mm w/ 20mm straps; 7: 47mm w/ 22mm straps; 7X: 51mm w/ 26mm straps / Weight: 7S Professional: 63g (Photo voltaic), 58g or 65g (Sapphire Photo voltaic, titanium or stainless-steel); 7: 79g (Photo voltaic), 73g (Sapphire Photo voltaic); 7X: 96g (Photo voltaic), 89g (Sapphire Photo voltaic) / Battery life: 7S: as much as 11 days, 14 w/ Photo voltaic; 7: as much as 18 days, 22 days w/ photo voltaic; 7X: as much as 28 days, 37 w/ photo voltaic / Show kind: MIP touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 10ATM / Music storage: As much as 32GB

Garmin’s flagship Fenix 7 series is not any joke, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup takes it up a notch. It’s received built-in multiband GPS, photo voltaic charging on all fashions, the choice of touchscreen or button navigation, topographical maps, and oodles upon oodles of knowledge. Plus, each Fenix 7 Professional mannequin has a hands-free LED flashlight, an upgraded coronary heart charge sensor, and an improved memory-in-pixel show that’s barely simpler to learn in low lighting.

Garmin wearables are additionally recognized for offering intensive in-depth metrics, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup is not any exception. You get glorious restoration metrics in addition to useful coaching guides and training applications. The most effective half is that Garmin doesn’t cost additional for these options. That’s excellent news, as these are costly watches.

I recognize how shortly these Fenix 7 watches can choose up a GPS sign. That’s a should should you’re coaching within the lifeless of winter. These watches can even take a beating. All fashions are constructed to military-grade requirements and have as much as 10ATM of water resistance. Which means they’re greater than able to a dunk within the ocean.

Though the display is brighter, MIP displays nonetheless aren’t my absolute favourite — the OLED on the Garmin Epix 2 and the Epix Professional are a lot simpler on the eyes. It’s admittedly powerful to select between the Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Professional, Epix 2, and Epix Professional lineups — particularly now that the Epix Professional additionally has nice battery life, the LED flashlight, and now is available in a number of sizes. What it boils all the way down to is whether or not you prioritize a brighter show, longer battery life, or value.

Personally, I choose the Epix Professional for higher readability, however the Fenix 7 Professional is the higher selection if that is your first introduction to Garmin’s platform. You’ll get higher battery life, the identical LED flashlight, all the identical coaching options, and a decrease beginning value. (You can too take a look at our Garmin buying guide should you’d like much more options.)

Technically, there’s a new Fenix 8 series on the block. That mentioned, I nonetheless assume the usual Fenix 7 or 7 Professional lineup is the higher total worth. The Fenix 8 provides diving options and voice assistant capabilities, however it additionally ups the usual Fenix 7’s beginning value of $650 by a further $350. That’s powerful to swallow, particularly since retailers might provide reductions on older fashions to eliminate current stock.

Read my full review of the Garmin Fenix 7S Pro.

Sizes: 12 proprietary sizes, 4–15, sizing equipment wanted / Weight: 4–6g (depends upon measurement) / Battery life: As much as seven days / Show kind: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: As much as 328 toes / Music storage: None

The overwhelming majority of health trackers are worn on the wrist, however the $349 Oura Ring isn’t. The sensible ring is an effective possibility for people who find themselves searching for one thing a little bit extra discreet. It’s additionally much less distracting than another wrist-based choices, because it lacks a display and doesn’t mirror push notifications out of your telephone. 

The brand new Oura Ring 4 isn’t functionally that a lot totally different from the earlier Gen 3. It’s slimmer, includes a new all-titanium design, has improved battery life, and has a brand new sensor algorithm that Oura says is extra correct. Not one of the new software program options are gatekept to the Ring 4, so Gen 3 homeowners shouldn’t really feel the necessity to improve except their ring now not lasts greater than two days on a single cost. That mentioned, the fourth-gen ring has an expanded measurement vary spanning from 4 to fifteen. If you happen to felt your Gen 3 was a bit comfortable or couldn’t discover a measurement that match proper, you’ll have a greater possibility now.

Whereas smaller than your common wearable, the Oura Ring nonetheless tracks a ton of metrics, together with coronary heart charge variability, physique temperature, blood oxygen, all-day coronary heart charge monitoring, and cycle monitoring. Since launching, the Oura Ring has additionally added exercise monitoring, blood oxygen levels, chronotypes to assist visualize your circadian rhythms, a social function referred to as Circles, improved stress monitoring, cardiovascular age and capacity metrics, and even an AI chatbot (in beta). It’s additionally rolled out a brand new sleep stages algorithm that it claims is extra correct than earlier than. The app has additionally been completely revamped to raised set up all these new options and metrics.

The Oura Ring tracks typical metrics — similar to steps and energy burned —  however its principal focus is sleep and restoration. Every day, you’re given three units of scores on your readiness, sleep, and exercise. It’s a easy, holistic have a look at your total wellness and a super choose if you’d like a extra hands-off expertise together with your knowledge.

If you happen to’ve received a Samsung Galaxy Watch, you might need to think about the $399.99 Galaxy Ring. It’s a bit costlier than the bottom Oura Ring, however it doesn’t include a subscription, and also you get a lot better battery life when used with the Galaxy Watch. The {hardware} can also be glorious, particularly the charging case. That mentioned, that is solely an possibility for Android customers, and even then, you don’t unlock its full potential except you’ve received different Samsung gear. I additionally advocate the Ultrahuman Ring Air for folk who don’t like the concept of Oura’s month-to-month subscription.

You possibly can learn my experiences with a bunch of other smart rings, however proper now, the Oura Ring is essentially the most polished with the most effective total expertise. If you happen to don’t thoughts a last-gen mannequin, my professional tip is to get the Gen 3. Oura will probably be trying to eliminate stock, so it’s doubtless you’ll be capable of snag a very good low cost whereas provides final.

Read my full review of the Oura Ring 4.

Measurement: 42mm x 24mm x 12.2mm with 16mm straps / Weight: 28g / Battery life: As much as 18 days / Show kind: OLED / GPS: Tethered / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: None

It’s actually arduous to beat the Amazfit Band 7’s $49.99 value — doubly so since you possibly can usually discover it on sale for even much less. Sporting the Band 7 looks like a throwback to 2014, which is nice if all you’re searching for is a straightforward and informal tracker that received’t break the financial institution.

Nobody goes to go with you on the Band 7’s design, however it’s received a handful of cute watchfaces that make good use of its OLED touchscreen. And regardless of having an OLED show, you’ll nonetheless get roughly 14 days of battery life on a single cost. It’s additionally extremely light-weight, making it a very good possibility for sleep monitoring as properly.

You additionally get an absurd variety of options for the value. That features Amazon Alexa, steady coronary heart charge monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, stress monitoring, superior sleep monitoring, coaching metrics like VO2 max and cargo, irregular coronary heart charge alerts, menstrual monitoring, push notifications, discover my telephone, a digicam distant, and even a Pomodoro timer. You’re sacrificing contactless funds and must accept tethered GPS, however this can be a honest tradeoff contemplating every thing else you’re getting. It’s not the most suitable choice for hardcore health monitoring, however this can be a nice possibility if all you’re trying to do is casually monitor exercise and your steps.

Amazfit’s been making surprisingly good finances trackers for some time. That mentioned, should you’re a little bit cautious of a lesser-known model, the $159.95 Fitbit Charge 6 is an honest different. It’s pricier, however you get lots of what Amazfit is lacking. That features Google providers like YouTube Music, Google Pockets, and Google Maps. Plus, it has built-in GPS and the power to broadcast your coronary heart charge with some Bluetooth-compatible fitness center gear.

Read my full review of the Amazfit Band 7.

Sizes: 37mm with 18mm straps / Weight: 45g / Battery life: As much as 39 days / Show kind:  OLED show / GPS: Tethered GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: N/A

The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Gentle is a fetching hybrid analog smartwatch. Consider it as a dressier health band with some Swatch-like design sensibilities. It’s received all of your fundamentals like easy push notifications, timers, and alarms. Plus, you possibly can monitor steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS actions straight from the wrist. It seems spiffy on the wrist, and should you like a pop of coloration, Withings presents minty inexperienced and pale blue coloration choices. It’s additionally received glorious battery life, with an estimated 30 days on a single cost. I received rather less in testing at round 25 days, however that’s nonetheless a lot better than the overwhelming majority of flagship smartwatches. This additionally seems far more fashionable than beefier multisport watches with related battery life.

As its title suggests, the Gentle is a pared-down model of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The primary stuff you’re lacking are an EKG sensor for atrial fibrillation detection, a temperature sensor, blood oxygen monitoring, and an altimeter for monitoring elevation. For primary health monitoring, you don’t actually need these sensors. That’s why I feel the additional $100 in financial savings is value it for the Gentle, particularly since each are missing in security options, contactless funds, and another bells and whistles you may get from different watches within the $350 value vary. That mentioned, if you’d like extras, the ScanWatch 2 additionally will get you a barely extra elegant look due to the second step-counter dial.

Another choice I like is the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport, which truly dominated this class prior to now few years. It’s arduous to beat the value, particularly because it will get you entry to Garmin’s platform. Nevertheless, Garmin’s “hidden” OLED show can get washed out in vivid lighting, and battery life was considerably shorter than different hybrid analog watches at round 5 days. Nonetheless, should you’d moderately a platform with a concentrate on health moderately than wellness, the Vivomove Sport could be the higher transfer over a Withings watch.

Read my full review of the Withings ScanWatch 2 and Light.

Sizes: 42mm, 46mm / Weight: 29.3g (42mm), 35.3g (46mm) / Battery life: As much as 18 hours / Show kind: All the time-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: LTE (optionally available), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters / Music storage: 32GB

If you happen to’re searching for a smartwatch that does health properly, then iPhone homeowners must look no additional than the $399 Apple Watch Sequence 10. (The LTE model prices $50 extra.) That is one other yr of iterative updates, however the Sequence 10 is a way more comfy watch than in years previous. It’s thinner and lighter, plus there’s a bigger show. If you happen to’ve received a Sequence 5 or older, now is an effective time to improve.

With watchOS 11, there’s a brand new suite of coaching options. There’s Training Load, which supplies you larger perception into how intensely you’ve been figuring out the previous week in comparison with the final 28 days. There’s additionally a brand new Vitals app that flags when key metrics, like sleep period or coronary heart charge, could also be out of whack. Plus, you possibly can finally pause your rings for relaxation days. The software program replace additionally brings some savvy updates to the Good Stack. For instance, should you’re in a loud cafe questioning what track’s enjoying, the Good Stack can now floor the Shazaam widget. It additionally now helps Stay Actions, turning your wrist right into a mini Dynamic Island. Well being-wise, we additionally now have FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection.

In fact, we even have to handle the Apple Watch ban. As of January 18th, 2024, new Apple Watches bought within the US have the blood oxygen function disabled attributable to an ongoing patent battle with medical system maker Masimo. This isn’t an enormous deal for most individuals, as this function isn’t that helpful for most individuals but, and the brand new sleep apnea function completely makes use of the accelerometer moderately than the blood oxygen sensor. You may need to think about a refurbished Sequence 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is vital to you, nonetheless.

If you happen to’re a first-time purchaser, you too can go for the second-gen Apple Watch SE. It’s barely cheaper at $249, and when you don’t get as many options, it’s a very good introduction to the ecosystem. In any other case, should you’re the kind of athlete who covets a Garmin, you may additionally need to think about splurging on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It’s costlier at $799, however it does have the brightest display of any Apple Watch, comes with dual-frequency GPS, has diving and mountaineering security options, and is made from extra sturdy supplies. There’s additionally a fetching new black color.

Read my full review of the Apple Watch Series 10.

Sizes: 47mm / Weight: 60.5g / Battery life: As much as 100 hours / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (optionally available), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 10ATM, IP68 / Music storage: 32GB

In truth, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely left me a bit upset after reviewing it — not as a result of it’s a nasty piece of {hardware}, however as a result of it copies a bit an excessive amount of from Apple. Even so, that is essentially the most full-featured health smartwatch a Samsung telephone proprietor should purchase.

Whereas I choose the Galaxy Watch 7 myself, I can’t say it’s the most effective for health monitoring. There was an excessive amount of of a spot between it and the Extremely in my testing so far as accuracy, particularly for GPS monitoring. However what actually sealed the deal for me was the distinction in battery life. It’s merely night time and day, and the Galaxy Watch 7 actually struggled on this area. (The gaps are a lot much less egregious between the bottom Apple Watch and Extremely 2.)

The caveat is, if all you need is informal health monitoring, the Galaxy Watch 7 is the higher selection for wearability. It’s simply extra comfy for sleep monitoring and lighter total. Simply remember it lacks the Extremely’s emergency siren and shortcut button, and the display doesn’t get fairly as vivid.

With each watches, you get a sooner processor, a brand new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor, some AI well being options, and FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection. The newer {hardware} makes for a extra futureproof buy, however I discovered the AI well being options to be hit-or-miss in observe. As at all times, some options, like EKGs and sleep apnea detection, are restricted to Samsung homeowners. That makes this difficult to wholeheartedly advocate this to non-Samsung Android customers.

But when the Extremely doesn’t float your boat, now is an effective time to seek out the Galaxy Watch 6 series, significantly the bottom fashions, on sale. The bottom Galaxy Watch 7 might have newer {hardware}, however so far as precise use goes, it’s not an enormous replace over final yr. And should you’re right into a bodily rotating bezel, simply go forward and snag a Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional.

Read my full review of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra.

Sizes: 41mm, 45mm / Weight: 31g / Battery life: As much as 24 hours / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (optionally available), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB

With the Pixel Watch 3, Google is lastly carried out enjoying catch-up.

There are actually too many updates to name each out individually, however total, they fall into two buckets: refinement and enlargement. The {hardware} is usually the identical as final yr’s Pixel Watch 2 when it comes to design. Nevertheless, we now have a brighter display, smaller bezels, and a brand new 45mm measurement. The bigger measurement is kind of good, particularly should you choose bigger screens with out sacrificing wearability.

Battery life can also be higher. There’s a brand new battery-saver mode that kicks in while you hit 15 p.c and the brand new shows are additionally extra energy environment friendly. Plus, bedtime mode is automated now, in order that helps the watch last more in a single day for sleep monitoring. It’s solely a modest enchancment over the Pixel Watch 2, however it’s dramatic in comparison with the unique.

Software program is the place the Pixel Watch 3 makes essentially the most updates. There are a ton of latest health and well being options, together with a brand new operating dashboard, customized operating exercises, and AI-generated exercise solutions. There’s additionally a revamped Day by day Readiness Rating and a brand new Cardio Load metric, which gauges how intensely you’ve been exercising. For European customers, you too can get the brand new Lack of Pulse function, which calls emergency providers in your behalf if it detects you now not have a pulse. Sadly, this isn’t obtainable stateside, because it hasn’t but acquired FDA clearance.

The Pixel Watch 3 additionally higher integrates with Google providers and the Pixel ecosystem. Now you can view your Nest Doorbell or Digicam feed straight from the wrist — and it’s fairly helpful should you get lots of packages or company. You probably have Google TV, you need to use the watch as a distant. Now that the watch has an extremely wideband chip, it could possibly additionally now unlock your Pixel telephone. You can too use the Recorder app to seize audio and ship it straight to your Pixel telephone.

That mentioned, a few of these options now imply the Pixel Watch works greatest with a Pixel telephone. If you happen to’re searching for options to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is a powerful different. You’re giving up LTE, however it’s a handsome-looking watch with surprisingly lengthy battery life and Google Assistant from the get-go.

Read my full review of the Google Pixel Watch 3.

Sizes: 43mm by 28mm by 10mm / Weight: 18g / Battery life: 4–5 days / Show kind: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: As much as 10 meters / Music storage: None

The Whoop 4.0 shouldn’t be for the informal fanatic. Not solely does it include an costly month-to-month subscription, however the info it supplies is barely helpful should you’re actively coaching for a cardio-intensive sport. If energy coaching is your principal type of train, you’re higher off wanting elsewhere. Just like the Oura Ring, this can be a distraction-free tracker that focuses on sleep and restoration. The primary distinction is that this has a extra athletic bent. As an illustration, you’ll get far more perception into how a lot pressure you’ve taken on prior to now week. 

Whoop additionally supplies a lot of novel ways to wear its tracker, together with in underwear and arm/knee sleeves. This makes it an interesting possibility should you’re a kind of unicorns who wants a secondary tracker to complement one other type of health monitoring. Once more, this can be a tracker greatest appreciated by individuals who go arduous and aren’t afraid to experiment. Plus, Whoop lately lowered its subscription prices in sure tiers, so whereas it’s nonetheless costly, it’s not fairly as expensive because it was.

Read my full review of the Whoop 4.0.

Replace, December twenty sixth: Adjusted pricing and availability.