Best Fitness Trackers

If you care about your physical well-being. Go to the gym and are thinking about monitoring all your progress. You might want to consider buying a fitness tracker – a smart device. Best Fitness Tracker That can help you even if you are not a gymnastics guru and looking for. A way to regain or maintain your fitness. Or even if you simply want to keep the basic parameters of your health under control.

The functions present in the best fitness trackers. Extremely varied and not limited only to analyzing the sports. Activities carried out during their days. Many models have. For example, A heart rate sensor that works 24 hours a day. A pedometer with an attached calculation of calories burned. And there are not a few models that. Use specific algorithms for monitoring sleep to improve their nocturnal habits.

In other words. Fitness trackers excellent companions to wear or carry with you. All-day with the most diverse purposes. Even if you not the most diligent of athletes. And if you were looking for the best fitness tracker. But you don’t know which way to go. Fear not. I’m here for it, in this guide. I will give you a series of precious tips to understand. How to orient yourself in choosing the best fitness tracker. And I will make you a selection of the best models. Available in all price ranges.

How to choose a Best Fitness Tracker

Suppose you can’t find your way in choosing your next fitness tracker. I can understand. There are many models on the market. Mostly Chinese and very cheap. That promise to do more or less the same things. Between heart rate monitors. Step counting and data analysis you. No longer know who to rely on. But here I will show you how to choose a fitness tracker. That suitable for your needs as an athlete. Or a simple user in search of personal well-being. Here is a series of useful tips.

Best Fitness Tracker: smart band or smartwatch?

Suppose you don’t know whether to choose between a smart band or a smartwatch. And you don’t know the advantages of it—one type of fitness tracker over the other. I’ll briefly explain the differences.

A fitness smartwatch is the equivalent of a watch with Smart functionality, that is, connected to the Internet or another device from which it draws the ability to access advanced information. Usually, despite their size, smartwatches have autonomy of a few days (sometimes they barely arrive in the evening) and are more reliable in analyzing sports activities.

I do not recommend them, however, for sleep monitoring. In the evening, they often loaded. And you may often lose essential data if you are looking for a generic wrist device. How to wash pillows that are also for the management of notifications (and possible response), for the reproduction of photos, or navigation via GPS, the smartwatch is undoubtedly better. All this, however, weighs heavily on battery life.

The fitness smart bands, on the other hand, are the equivalent of Smart bracelets. They also connect to an external smartphone for online connectivity, but – thanks to smaller displays and quality – they often offer a much longer battery life.

You can not reproduce photos or images on these devices, even if the latest models have color panels, but offer an autonomy that can exceed two weeks. Thanks to this feature, the excellent fitness trackers both during the day and at night: if you are interested in keeping track of your night habits, I recommend this particular type of fitness tracker. Furthermore, even smart bands can reproduce the paired smartphone notifications, even if they offer much less possibility of interaction and management of the same.

Display

A display is almost always present inside a smartwatch, but the same is not correct on smart bands. However, it is tough not to find an integrated panel for displaying the time, date, or even notifications arriving on the paired smartphone in more modern models.

On smart bands, the displays usually very small, monochromatic, or color, while on smartwatches, they usually with a diagonal more significant than the thumb (sometimes the display size of a smartwatch or a smart band also indicated in millimeters ), and with dials of different shapes: some have a square dial, such as the Apple Watch, others have a circular dial, like a classic watch.

The resolution of the panel indicates the number of pixels present in it. With the same diagonal, it is possible to establish the definition (i.e., how many pixels are present in a specific area) if the resolution is 320 × 320 pixels, a reasonably high definition is indicated of 320 pixels on the flat side and another 320 pixels on the vertical side. If the panel circular, however, it clear that both numbers represent the diameter of the display. The most modern smartwatches and smart bands can almost always control by touch, thanks to the implementation of touch-screen panels.

Better Contrast Ratio 

Fitness trackers often use OLED displays, as they are more energy-efficient than LCDs (liquid crystal) and brighter while having the ability to turn off the black pixels to offer a better contrast ratio and a made perfect in the dark. In the past, a technology used on some fitness trackers models was e-Paper technology, which allowed optimal visibility under sunlight (even better than OLEDs), consuming energy only in a state change (for example, when switching from one screen to another). Other).

Have you ever heard of always-on displays instead? This feature indicates the ability to always keep the collection on, even when the smartphone not use. Usually, when this function is not present, the display turns off to save energy, turning on only with a tap or with the arm’s gesture that made to look at the time. However, if present, the panel remains switched on in an energy-saving mode when not in use, while it activates in all its functions when you perform the gesture I have just described to you.

Strap: Best Fitness Tracker

Fortunately, the straps of a fitness tracker can be replaced in the vast majority of cases, both if you buy a smartwatch and if you choose a smart band. You are almost always forced to choose dedicated straps for the specific bracelet model in the latter case. Simultaneously, smartwatches often use compatible standards between multiple models, indicated by the width of the belt. In the presence of a proprietary coupling system, such as occurs on the Apple Watch, it is still necessary to choose specific straps for that model.

Often, some fitness trackers are sold with non-universal size straps indicated with the letters of the alphabet S, M, or L, which, respectively, define the measures Small, Medium, or Large. In this case, try to find the most suitable size for your wrist size.

Autonomy: Best Fitness Tracker

As you have already understood, autonomy is one of your fitness tracker’s fundamental parameters since it inexorably establishes the functions that you can use. Usually, manufacturers indicate (almost always very optimistically) the battery life in days in the list of characteristics of each model, while the battery indicator’s technical specifications in milliampere hours ( mAh ).

However, the plate data of a smartwatch or a smart band are not always adequate. In the use of a fitness tracker, many variables contribute to establishing its autonomy day after day. For example, the width of a display, the always-on functionality, or the use of the GPS module sacrifices a lot of autonomy: in GPS mode, any fitness tracker can, in fact, only last for a few hours, except specific models for sports activities that they have a very long life.

Water resistance: Best Fitness Tracker

If you practice outdoor sports or even pool activities, it is imperative to select water-resistant models. Furthermore, the models with IP certification can also be used in the shower, although manufacturers often advise against using them in the sea or salt water. These models often feature analysis of swimming activities and can be used even in very humid environments without running the risk of breaking.

Another wording that you can find on models that can be used underwater is 3 ATMs or 5 ATMs: the first suggests the possibility of using the fitness tracker at depths of 30 meters, the second up to 50 meters, obviously in both—cases within certain time limits.

Operating systems: Best Fitness Tracker

Many watches, especially those related to the sports world, use a proprietary operating system, as do almost all smart bands in circulation. In this case, you should read about the functions available and, above all, the smartphones that are compatible for pairing (between iPhone and models with Android) and which parts they can use once paired. For example, some models may read the notifications of some smartphones but may only respond to some specific models.

• Apple watchOS – doesn’t need a big introduction. The Apple Watch operating system is tailor-made for iPhones (in theory, it can also be associated with Android, but minimally). It is recognized that it offers the best user experience on smartwatches, but you need to have an Apple smartphone to take full advantage of it.
• Google Wear OS – is the Google operating system for smartwatches that gives its best when paired with an Android smartphone. However, it works with iPhone, although some functions are not supported in the latter case.
• Samsung Tizen OS – Samsung’s system is a cross between Apple’s and Google’s approach. Although it can be used in conjunction with any Android device and even with an iPhone, it gives its best when paired with a Galaxy series smartphone.
• Fitbit OS – one of the most prominent players in the fitness tracker industry is Fitbit, now acquired by Google. The American company’s models make use of a proprietary operating system capable of synchronizing both with the iPhone, albeit with some restrictions in the management of notifications and Android devices.

Fitness functions

Now, let’s move on to a fitness tracker’s fitness functions, which are the most important. Although it is very convenient to read the notifications on a smartwatch or a smart bracelet, it is clear that a device of this type must be mainly reliable in reading the data collected daily and must give useful advice for improving one’s health and personal well-being. . This is possible thanks to a series of sensors, such as accelerometers, heart rate monitors or gyroscopes, integrated inside them.

Pedometer and activity analysis

The step count, also called the pedometer function, works thanks to using a digital accelerometer present in the fitness tracker. It allows you to keep track of the steps taken every day, and dedicated software on the smartphone saves all the history, creating daily, weekly, and monthly statistics to offer a map of the progress made.

Thanks to the data collected, the compatible app on the smartphone can analyze the activities carried out and create a statistic that is always updated over time with a complete history of all the objectives achieved, day after day. Furthermore, the most advanced models’ apps implement a sort of personal trainer capable of giving advice based on the same data to improve health conditions and sports performance in favorite activities.

Some models (now practically all of them) also show data such as distance traveled, counting of floors, and, by combining all the data – even those of the sports activities performed – it is also possible to monitor the estimate of calories burned. 

Heart rate monitor

The heart rate monitor is a sensor that can analyze the wearer’s heartbeat, often throughout the day. Monitoring this data can be useful during sports activities to keep the heart rate constant and discover any heart problems during the day. The analysis carried out by a fitness tracker is not 100% reliable, so before getting alarmed, it is always good to consult a referring doctor.

Some high-end models also implement the electrocardiogram, which is a function that uses integrated sensors to evaluate the frequency and intensity of the electrical impulses produced by the heartbeat. If potentially dangerous cardiac arrhythmias occur, the fitness tracker can notify the user, and even in this case, it is advisable to consult a trained doctor.

GPS support

As mentioned in this guide’s last lines, the GPS module is one of the most expensive energy consumption functions. Still, it is also among the most useful if you practice outdoor sports, such as running or cycling.

It allows you to track the path taken during outdoor workouts and, in the most advanced smartwatch models, it can be used in satellite navigation mode to find out how to reach your destination.

Other fitness functions

The best fitness trackers can have tons of fitness-related features and tons of lifestyle features. In models designed for athletes, there is the possibility of connecting a heart rate monitor, which allows an analysis of the heartbeat that is often more reliable and precise. In contrast, in other models, the automatic recognition of sports activity is supported. This function allows you to enable a specific type of “tracking” once you start a particular exercise (such as running, cycling, swimming, trekking, etc.).

I’ve already told you about sleep monitoring, which allows you to analyze your daily habits and check when you wake up, the data on light, deep, and REM sleep. Also, this feature offers advice on when to go to bed to improve the quality of sleep at night and the user’s general well-being.

Among the useful functions, mainly for the sportsman, there is the stopwatch, the timer, and the possibility of changing the dial and choosing the information to always keep visible on the screen.

Which fitness tracker to buy

Now I’m sure you’re ready to choose which fitness tracker to buy. Below I propose to you all the models that I think are the most valid at the moment, divided into cheap, mid-range, and high-end fitness trackers.

Best budget fitness tracker

Xiaomi Mi Band 5 (smartband)

If you’re not an athlete and don’t want extremely accurate data, there’s no point in spending a fortune on your fitness tracker. An economic model that I recommend, extremely valid as an everyday companion, is the famous Xiaomi Mi Band 5. A smart band with a 1.1-inch AMOLED color touch-screen, 14-day autonomy, and a weight of 10 grams (excluding strap). If comfortable bracelet, to be used even at night, with support for heart rate, step count, distance traveled, and several features, such as alarm, stopwatch, timer, and weather. This is waterproof

for up to 5 ATMs and supports receiving notifications. It can be paired with both Android and iPhone smartphones via Bluetooth 5.0.

Honor Band 5 (smart band)

Another affordable and highly rated model on Amazon is the Honor Band 5. This smart band has a 0.95 inch AMOLED. Touch-screen displays and integrates numerous features. Such as sleep monitoring and tracking of various physical activities. Green 3.5 technology best tablet for kids, allows you to monitor your heart rate in real-time and issue alerts when it goes above or below normal levels. It also offers tips for leading a healthy life. And provides over 200 recommendations for improving sleep. It is waterproof for up to 5 ATMs. In comparison, the battery guarantees an autonomy of up to 20 days.

Huawei Band 4 Pro Smart (smartband)

Huawei Band 4 Pro Smart is an inexpensive smart band. With integrated GPS (also available in a cheaper version without GPS). Designed for the amateur sportsman who wants to follow his paths during running. Cycling or in the open air in general. Among the fitness functions. We have resistance to liquids up to 5 ATMs (so it can be worn safely in the pool). A personal trainer via a dedicated app and support for running. Cycling rower and swimming activities. The display is a 0.95-inch AMOLED color touch-screen. Easily readable even under strong sunlight. It monitors your heart rate. Alerts you when your heartbeat limit exceeds. And can also measure your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) level.

Garmin Vivofit 4 (smartwatch)

Garmin is one of the companies. That has been most appreciated in recent years in the field. Of fitness trackers and Garmin Vivofit, 4 is a smart band. Suitable for all sportsmen. Among the fitness functions that it makes available to the wearer, we have a pedometer, calculation of distance traveled, calories burned, and daily goals. It is also equipped with Garmin Move IQ 2.0 technology that can automatically recognize the activity performed. It is waterproof up to 5 ATMs and a 0.7-inch color always-on display. Connects to Android and iPhone smartphones via Bluetooth.

Fitbit Inspire 2 (smartband)

Fitbit Inspire 2 is one of the cheapest models of the American manufacturer and is recommended for those who approach fitness at a level halfway between amateur and professional. We have a small touch-screen display, heart rate monitor, pedometer, distance count, calorie burn estimation, and sleep monitoring. According to Fitbit’s data, it reaches ten days of autonomy, and, thanks to its waterproofness up to 5 ATMs, it can be used both in the pool and in the shower.

Best mid-range fitness tracker

Fitbit Charge 4 (smart band)

Fitbit Charge 4 is the newest model of Fitbit’s Charge family smart bands. Among its peculiar characteristics, we have resistance to liquids up to 5 ATMs, automatic analysis of 15 sports activities (including swimming, running, cycling, yoga, etc.), and heart monitoring. Thanks to the autonomy of about a week, it can also be used to analyze sleep at night. It is compatible with both iPhone and Android and, overall, can analyze the results of 15 different types of physical activities.

Huawei Watch Fit (smartwatch)

The Huawei Watch Fit is a great mid-range fitness tracker: it uses a 1.64-inch AMOLED always-on touch-screen panel at 326 PPI. It has oxygen saturation and heart rate monitoring and can detect if heartbeats exceed average values promptly. It integrates a GPS sensor, is waterproof up to 5 ATMs and has 96 training modes, including 12 quick training sessions with animated videos and 44 standard movement demonstrations. The battery has an autonomy of 10 days, and there is support for fast charging.

Amazfit GTS from Xiaomi (smartwatch)

Xiaomi’s Amazfit GTS is a fitness watch equipped with a 1.65-inch AMOLED touch-screen panel with 326 PPI pixel density. It is waterproof up to 5 ATMs and has several features, such as sleep monitoring, alarm clock, sedentary alerts, breathing guide, pedometer, and many more. Furthermore, we find 12 sports modes that work best with the integrated GPS module. The battery is 210 mAh. Thanks to an optimization system for the system’s energy consumption and components, it can offer an autonomy of up to 14 days, which can increase significantly (about 45 days) if the smartwatch is used. in basic clock mode

Garmin Forerunner 45 (smartwatch)

Let’s go back to Garmin, this time with a smartwatch. The Garmin Forerunner 45 is a model designed for those who mainly love running. However, it also has different fitness modes in general and other sports activities, such as cycling and walking. The autonomy declared by the manufacturer is seven days or 13 hours when using the integrated GPS module continuously. The display is in color and can use to receive smartphone notifications and manage music playback. It has a heart rate monitor and allows you to monitor your daily steps, distance traveled, calories burned, and even sleep.

Garmin Vivoactive 3 (smartwatch)

The Garmin Vivoactive 3 is a less specific smartwatch than the Forerunner family models, designed more for the fitness lover than for the runner. It has a large (1.6 inch) color touch-screen display with a circular shape. There is also GPS, and we also have NFC to make contactless payments (with Garmin Pay technology). Among the functions related to fitness, we find various sports activities that can be analyzed, analyze the state of form with stress levels, and much more. Also, on this model, notifications from apps installed on the connected smartphone can arrive.

Huawei Watch GT 2 (smartwatch)

The Watch GT 2 another fitness tracker manufactured by Huawei. This model mounts a 1.39 inch AMOLED display with 454 × 454 pixel resolution with high precision touch sensitivity and integrates a double geolocation system (GPS and GLONASS) capable of detecting a more significant number of satellites and thus increasing the accuracy of the geolocation. As for the fitness features, we find 15 training modes and numerous pre-installed courses dedicated to those who want professional training. It is water-resistant, allows for sleep monitoring and oxygen saturation measurement, and integrates a TruRelax system for blood pressure monitoring. It connects to your smartphone via Bluetooth and allows you to make phone calls without picking up the phone.

Honor Watch GS Pro (smartwatch)

HONOR Watch GS Pro has a 1.39 inch AMOLED display and equips with a breathable strap, suitable for wrists with a 14-21 cm circumference. In this model, we find a double geolocation system (GPS and GLONASS), over 100 training modes, and functions for monitoring sleep, fitness, and heart rate. The smartwatch designed for those who practice extreme activities: it has 14 military-type certifications to withstand harsh conditions. The autonomy declared by the manufacturer is 25 days or 100 hours with active GPS.

Best high-end fitness tracker

Garmin Forerunner 245 Best Fitness Tracker (smartwatch)

Another model for running enthusiasts, one of the manufacturer’s most recommended. Garmin Forerunner 245 features a large 1.2-inch circular color dial, is water-resistant to 5 ATMs and can track all performance stats, such as running and training quality. Besides, the Garmin Coach feature allows you to have a guided training plan. Battery life approximately 7 hours with GPS active and 7-8 days without using GPS. Besides, it integrates several sensors to monitor heart rate and blood oxygen saturation.

Ticwatch Pro 3 Best Fitness Tracker (smartwatch)

The Ticwatch Pro 3 is the highest model in the family range and offers excellent value for money. It uses the Wear OS operating system with the Google Play Store, and as a result, apps can be installed. The 577 mAh battery offers an operational autonomy of 3 days with everyday use but, by activating the “Essential” mode with fitness functions, it reaches up to 45 days. There heart rate monitor, GPS, and even an NFC module, while the display is a 1.4-inch AMOLED. Also, it has a built-in microphone that allows it to accept voice commands.

Garmin Vivoactive 4S Best Fitness Tracker

Garmin Vivoactive 4S model of fitness watch (and not only), designed for the lover of general well-being. It offers the user several ways to monitor their health, such as analyzing breathing, stress, sleep, and heart rate. Additionally, there are also functions for monitoring your hydration level and menstrual cycle. It also supports streaming apps like Spotify. Has preset profiles for 20 sports with instructions—right on the wrist and a GPS module. The autonomy under regular use is eight days but becomes 6 hours when using GPS.

Garmin Instinct Best Fitness Tracker (smartwatch)

Suppose you are looking for a model that. Also suitable for the most extreme activities. Then I recommend the Garmin Instinct. This smartwatch design on the USA810 military standard for thermal. Shock and water resistance. Also, it has a triple geolocation system (GPS, GLONASS, and Galileo) and integrates a barometric altimeter, a three-axis electronic compass, and a thermometer. As for the fitness features, on the other hand, we have complete monitoring, with tracking of steps, plans of stairs, weekly minutes of intense activity, stress detection, sleep monitoring, and abnormal heart rate alerts. The battery guarantees a range of 14 days in smartwatch mode, up to 16 hours in GPS mode, and up to 40 hours in UltraTrac power-saving method.

Samsung Galaxy Watch3 (smartwatch)

The Samsung Galaxy Watch3 is a high-end smartwatch suitable for all occasions. In fact. It equips with a leather strap (a model with a titanium strap is also available) and a steel case. The latter is available in 41 mm and 45 mm sizes, making it almost identical to a “normal” watch. Despite this. It also proposes itself as a great fitness tracker. Since it can measure heart rate. Detect irregular beats and monitor blood oxygenation also. The allows you to monitor physical activity in 40 different sports. It can also automatically detect any falls with the possibility of sending the position to emergency contacts. It features Bluetooth connectivity and NFC technology. The battery is 247 mAh and guarantees an autonomy of up to 43 hours.

Apple Watch (smartwatch)

The most famous smartwatch on the market, Apple Watch, is also an excellent fitness tracker. Although it is a model with generic functionality, the Apple device aims to improve the wearer’s health and well-being conditions. There several models on the market. Apple Watch Series 6 is the most recent and has improved. Screen-to-frame ratio compared to the first models of the family. It has an always-on LTPO OLED retina display and the most advanced health and wellness features ever. In fact. It can measure oxygen levels in the blood. Take an ECG from the wrist. Warn if the heart rate is higher or lower than. Average or if the rhythm irregular and even measure.

At any time. The heartbeat. Also, Apple Watch SE a recently produced smartwatch. That integrates an OLED LTPO retina display with heart rate. And heart rate monitoring functions. Both models are available in different versions, with 40 mm or 44 mm speakers. And presentations with 759-977 mm² surfaces. Models with GPS only or even with GPS + Cellular through eSIM (the only compatible Italian operator is Vodafone). In addition to these. We also officially find Apple Watch Series 3 on the market. It proposed in 38 and 42 mm versions with surfaces of 563-740 mm². But it is still possible to find reasonable offers around Apple Watch Series 5 and Apple Watch Series 4.

All Apple Watches use watchOS and can only pair with iPhones. But Cellular models are still independent of the smartphone (but can still receive notifications if connected). Best language learning apps. Furthermore, all models can count steps, distance traveled. Estimate calories burned and can manage incoming calls on the smartphone. The strap is replaceable with dedicated versions. They designed specifically for the Apple Watch. Both original Apple and third-party. And the selection is truly vast.

Garmin Fenix ​​6 (smartwatch)

Sold in 42mm, 47mm, and 51mm cases, the Garmin Fenix ​​6 comes in several versions. And is the most advanced fitness tracker you can wear on your wrist. The “Sapphire” versions use a more resistant sapphire crystal glass. At the same time, the others make use of a still excellent Gorilla Glass DX. All models in this family have a heart rate monitor with PulseOx function. Useful for acclimatization to altitude or for monitoring sleep apnea. Which can measure the level of oxygen saturation in the blood. Do not miss the GPS, and they’re also the possibility. To view the maps of the ski slopes with more than preloaded lifts. Then we have advanced running and cycling modes—support for smart notifications. And for payments, there NFC and support for Garmin Pay.