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Jul 7

The 10 best fitness trackers in 2024 – The Verge

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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 youve recovered from a hard bout of training. Theyve got sensors galore and, in some cases, can give smartwatches a run for their money. Whatever your fitness goals are, theres 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 youll 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 theres enough variety to fit into every kind of lifestyle.

Right now, were heading into flagship launch season. Were expecting to see the latest Samsung Galaxy Watches this month, while Google announced a surprise Pixel event for August. September is also generally when we see the new Apple Watches and this year will be the 10th anniversary. If you have gadget FOMO, a little patience goes a long way this time of year. That said, if you need to replace a broken smartwatch or fitness tracker right now, summer sales like Amazon Prime Day are a good time to hunt for a deal.

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.

A fitness tracker should be able to go at least two to three days between charges. If its a flagship smartwatch, it should at least offer quick charging.

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

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.

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

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

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. Its affordable at $199 and includes a whole array of features youd 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. Its 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 youre getting the recommended 150 minutes of moderate activity per week.

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 1014 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 doesnt 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, its a no-brainer.

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. Its 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 thats not an exception here. Of course, you get the basics, like steps and calories burned, but you get a whole lot more, too. Theres 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 Garmins Incident Detection, which is its take on fall detection. (You will need to carry your phone with you, however, as this doesnt have LTE.)

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 wouldnt recommend it, however, as youll most likely have your phone on you since this isnt a true standalone watch.

What I like most about this watch, however, is its 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 doesnt 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. Its $450, which puts it outside what Id consider ideal for casual users. The other option is Garmins Forerunner 165 its a $249 budget training watch thats quite similar to the Venu Sq 2 feature-wise, albeit with a sportier vibe. Basically, go with what you find on sale. 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. Stravas 2023 year-end survey found that the most popular smartwatch among its users was an eight-year-old Garmin!

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

Garmins flagship Fenix 7 series is no joke, and the Fenix 7 Pro lineup takes it up a notch. Its 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 thats 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 doesnt charge extra for those features. Thats good news, as these are expensive watches.

I appreciate how quickly these Fenix 7 watches are able to pick up a GPS signal. Thats a must if youre 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 theyre more than capable of a dunk in the ocean.

Although the screen is brighter, MIP displays still arent my absolute favorite the OLED on the Garmin Epix 2 and the Epix Pro are a lot easier on the eyes. Its 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 Garmins platform. Youll 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 youd like even more alternatives.)

That said, I still think the standard Fenix 7 lineup is a good choice especially if solar charging isnt 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.

Sizes:8 proprietary sizes, 6-13, sizing kit needed /Weight:46g (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 isnt. The smart ring is a good option for people who are looking for something a little more discreet. Its also less distracting than some other wrist-based options, as it lacks a screen and doesnt forward push notifications.

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. Its also begun rolling out a whole new sleep stages algorithm that it claims is more accurate than before. If youre 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, youre given three sets of scores for your readiness, sleep, and activity. Its 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 its working on a Galaxy Ring thats launching this month. The Evie Ring is another decent smart ring that caters to women with a simpler feature set but a clever design. Im also currently testing alternatives from Ultrahuman, RingConn, and Circular. So far, Oura remains the most full-featured of the bunch, but well have to see how this space settles over the next few months.

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

Its truly hard to beat the Amazfit Band 7s $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 youre looking for is a simple and casual tracker that wont break the bank.

No one is going to compliment you on the Band 7s design, but its got a handful of cute watchfaces that make good use of its OLED touchscreen. And despite having an OLED display, youll still get roughly 14 days of battery life on a single charge. Its also incredibly lightweight, making it a good option for sleep tracking as well.

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. Youre sacrificing contactless payments and will have to settle for tethered GPS, but this is a fair tradeoff considering everything else youre getting. Its not the best option for hardcore fitness tracking, but this is a great option if all youre looking to do is casually track activity and your steps.

Amazfits been making surprisingly good budget trackers for a while. That said, if youre a little wary of a lesser-known brand, the $159.95 Fitbit Charge 6 is a decent alternative. Its 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.

Sizes:37mm with 18mm straps /Weight:45g /Battery life:Up to 39 days /Display type: OLED display /GPS:Tethered GPS /Connectivity:Bluetooth /Water resistance:5ATM /Music storage:N/A

The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Light is a fetching hybrid analog smartwatch. Think of it as a dressier fitness band with some Swatch-like design sensibilities. Its got all your basics like simple push notifications, timers, and alarms. Plus, you can track steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS activities straight from the wrist. It looks spiffy on the wrist, and if you like a pop of color, Withings offers minty green and pale blue color options. Its also got excellent battery life, with an estimated 30 days on a single charge. I got a little less in testing at around 25 days, but thats still much better than the vast majority of flagship smartwatches. This also looks way more stylish than beefier multisport watches with similar battery life.

Like its name suggests, the Light is a pared-down version of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The main things youre missing are an EKG sensor for atrial fibrillation detection, a temperature sensor, blood oxygen tracking, and an altimeter for tracking elevation. For basic fitness tracking, you dont really need those sensors. Thats why I think the extra $100 in savings is worth it for the Light, especially since both are lacking in safety features, contactless payments, and some other bells and whistles you can get from other watches in the $350 price range. That said, if you want extras, the ScanWatch 2 also gets you a slightly more elegant look thanks to the second step-counter dial.

Another option I like is the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport, which actually dominated this category the past few years. Its hard to beat the price, especially since it gets you access to Garmins platform. However, Garmins hidden OLED display can get washed out in bright lighting, and battery life was significantly shorter than other hybrid analog watches at around five days. Still, if youd rather a platform with a focus on fitness rather than wellness, the Vivomove Sport may be the better move over a Withings watch.

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 youre 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 years updates were pretty iterative, but the updated S9 processor makes this the smartest fitness tracker around for Apple users.

With watchOS 9, Apple added advanced running metrics and the ability to create custom workouts. This years 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 years Series 8. Thats fine! Not only could you save a bit of extra dough by opting for an older model, but youre 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, thats 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 isnt a huge deal for most people, as this feature isnt 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 youre a first-time buyer, you can also opt for the second-gen Apple Watch SE. Its slightly cheaper at $249, and while you dont get as many features, its a good introduction to the ecosystem. Otherwise, if youre the type of athlete who covets a Garmin, you may also want to consider splurging on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. Its 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.

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.Thats 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 arent 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, its 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.

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 34 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 1015 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.

Right now is a good time to find the Galaxy Watch 6 series, particularly the base models, on sale. Were expecting Samsung to release the Galaxy Watch 7 at its Unpacked event, alongside a rumored new Galaxy Watch Ultra. If you already know youd rather prioritize savings, keep an eye out for sales on the Galaxy Watch 6 devices as retailers look to clear out inventory. Otherwise, you may want to hold off if the idea of an Ultra or longer battery life appeals to you.

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, its 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 2s 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 dont 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.)

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 doesnt offer any repair options just the Preferred Care extended warranty. (And even then, this is a new addition with the Pixel Watch 2 thats 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.

But if youre looking for alternatives to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is a strong alternative. Youre giving up LTE, but its a handsome-looking watch with surprisingly long battery life and Google Assistant from the get-go.

Sizes: 43mm by 28mm by 10mm /Weight:18g /Battery life:45 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 youre actively training for a cardio-intensive sport. If strength training is your main form of exercise, youre 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, youll get way more insight into how much strain youve 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 youre 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 arent afraid to experiment.Plus, Whoop recently lowered its subscription prices in certain tiers, so while its still expensive, its not quite as pricey as it used to be.

Update July 1st, 1:38PM ET: Updated buying advice for summer season, added information about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watches and Galaxy Ring. Added Garmin Forerunner 165 as an alternative for casual users. Added OnePlus Watch 2 as an alternative for Android smartwatch.

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The 10 best fitness trackers in 2024 - The Verge

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