Health trackers have come a good distance from the straightforward bands that tracked steps and little else. Trendy trackers can monitor every thing out of your coronary heart well being to how effectively you’ve recovered from a tough bout of coaching. Even flagship smartwatches, which was once lackluster trackers, have grow to be fairly adept exercise companions. No matter your health targets are, there’s most likely a health tracker that may assist you to obtain them.

In comparison with another devices, wearables are extremely private, which implies there are a number of further issues you’ll should consider earlier than reaching in your pockets. It makes it arduous to say that anybody health tracker is the perfect for everybody. Fortunately, the perfect factor about health trackers in 2024 is that there’s sufficient selection to suit into each type of life-style. 

Proper now, we’re heading into the vacation procuring season. Somewhat persistence goes a good distance this time of 12 months. Retailers and firms alike shall be attempting to eliminate outdated inventory, which means reductions galore forward of Black Friday. For those who don’t want the most recent and biggest, it’s an excellent time to snag final 12 months’s fashions in nicer supplies.

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

The Amazfit GTR 4 punches means 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 obtained a local digital camera distant and a useful Pomodoro timer inbuilt. And for outside health fanatics, the GTR 4 additionally has multiband GPS for extra correct GPS monitoring in difficult environments. You may 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 advisable 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 basically lacking is contactless funds, however it greater than makes up for it, given the expansive characteristic 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 would possibly wish 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 easy. When you think about that Amazfit watches are sometimes on sale, it’s a no brainer.

Learn my full evaluation of the Amazfit GTR 4 right 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 seeking to exchange their growing older Fitbit Versa 2, 3, or 4. It’s obtained the same look and vibe, with a a lot nicer OLED show and longer battery life.

Garmin is understood 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 have to to hold your cellphone with you, nevertheless, as this doesn’t have LTE.)

If you would like the choice of onboard music, you may shell out $50 further for the Music Version, which comes with sufficient storage for about 500 songs. I wouldn’t suggest it, nevertheless, as you’ll most definitely have your cellphone on you since this isn’t a real standalone watch.

What I like most about this watch, nevertheless, is it’s one which you can 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 may monitor coronary heart price, blood oxygen, depth minutes (what number of minutes of reasonable train you get per week), stress, hydration, respiratory price, and menstrual cycles. And the perfect half is Garmin doesn’t lock any of this behind a paywall.

One observe: there’s a Venu 3, which provides a more moderen coronary heart price sensor and nap detection. I appreciated it fairly a bit, and it ticks off quite a lot of the suitable containers — aside from worth. It’s $450, which places it exterior what I’d contemplate perfect for informal customers. The opposite possibility is Garmin’s Forerunner 165 — it’s a $249 price range coaching watch that’s fairly much like the Venu Sq 2 feature-wise, albeit with a sportier vibe. Principally, go along with what you discover on sale. I firmly consider 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 solution to older Garmins. Garmin customers additionally have a tendency to hold onto their gadget for an excellent whereas. Strava’s 2023 year-end survey discovered that the preferred smartwatch amongst its customers was an eight-year-old Garmin!

Learn my full evaluation 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 collection is not any joke, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup takes it up a notch. It’s obtained 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 price sensor, and an improved memory-in-pixel show that’s barely simpler to learn in low lighting.

Garmin wearables are additionally recognized for offering in depth, 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 packages. One of the best half is Garmin doesn’t cost further for these options. That’s excellent news, as these are costly watches.

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

Though the display is brighter, MIP shows nonetheless aren’t my absolute favourite — the OLED on the Garmin Epix 2 and the Epix Professional are so much simpler on the eyes. It’s admittedly robust to choose 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 worth.

Personally, I want the Epix Professional for higher readability, however the Fenix 7 Professional is the higher alternative 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 worth. (You may as well try our Garmin shopping for information should you’d like much more alternate options.)

Technically, there’s a new Fenix 8 collection on the block. That mentioned, I nonetheless assume the usual Fenix 7 lineup is an efficient alternative, particularly given how costly the brand new Fenix 8 is. We’re nonetheless reviewing it, however the principle updates over the Fenix 7 lineup are “smarter” options like a voice assistant. If that’s not a priority, an older mannequin may be friendlier to your price range — particularly as retailers are likely to low cost older inventory across the vacation season.

Learn my full evaluation of the Garmin Fenix 7S Professional.

Sizes: 8 proprietary sizes, 6-13, sizing equipment wanted / Weight: 4–6g (depends upon dimension) / Battery life: As much as 7 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 $299 Oura Ring isn’t. The sensible ring is an efficient possibility for people who find themselves searching for one thing just a little 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 cellphone. 

Whereas smaller than your common wearable, the Oura Ring nonetheless tracks a ton of metrics, together with coronary heart price variability and physique temperature. The third iteration of the gadget additionally introduces SpO2 sensors, in addition to all-day coronary heart price monitoring and interval predictions. Since launching, the Oura Ring has additionally added exercise monitoring, blood oxygen ranges, chronotypes to assist visualize your circadian rhythms, and a brand new social characteristic known as Circles. It’s additionally begun rolling out an entire new sleep phases algorithm that it claims is extra correct than earlier than. For those who’re searching for some stress aid, the Oura Ring additionally helps you to monitor guided meditation periods. 

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

For those who’ve obtained a Samsung Galaxy Watch, chances are you’ll wish to contemplate the $399.99 Galaxy Ring. It’s a bit dearer than the bottom Oura Ring, however it doesn’t include a subscription, and also you get significantly better battery life when used with the Galaxy Watch. The {hardware} can be glorious, particularly the charging case. That mentioned, that is solely an possibility for Android customers, and even then, you don’t actually unlock its full potential until you’ve obtained different Samsung gear.

You won’t wish to purchase at this precise second, nevertheless. Android Authority noticed some certification filings for a possible Gen 4 mannequin earlier this summer time. Firms often do that when a brand new launch is imminent. If one thing new is within the works, it’s probably Oura will launch it earlier than Black Friday. So, it’s an excellent time to carry out should you can wait.

Learn my full evaluation of the Oura Ring (Gen 3).

Dimension: 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 worth — doubly so since you may usually discover it on sale for even much less. Sporting the Band 7 appears like a throwback to 2014, which is nice if all you’re searching for is an easy and informal tracker that gained’t break the financial institution.

Nobody goes to go with you on the Band 7’s design, however it’s obtained 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 an excellent possibility for sleep monitoring as effectively.

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

Amazfit’s been making surprisingly good price range trackers for some time. That mentioned, should you’re just a little cautious of a lesser-known model, the $159.95 Fitbit Cost 6 is an honest various. It’s pricier, however you get quite a lot 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 price with some Bluetooth-compatible fitness center tools.

Learn my full evaluation 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 obtained all of your fundamentals like easy push notifications, timers, and alarms. Plus, you may 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 gives minty inexperienced and pale blue coloration choices. It’s additionally obtained glorious battery life, with an estimated 30 days on a single cost. I obtained rather less in testing at round 25 days, however that’s nonetheless significantly better than the overwhelming majority of flagship smartwatches. This additionally seems far more trendy than beefier multisport watches with related battery life.

Like its identify suggests, the Gentle is a pared-down model of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The principle belongings 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 will get from different watches within the $350 worth vary. That mentioned, if you’d like extras, the ScanWatch 2 additionally will get you a barely extra elegant look because of the second step-counter dial.

An alternative choice I like is the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport, which truly dominated this class the previous 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 somewhat a platform with a concentrate on health somewhat than wellness, the Vivomove Sport would be the higher transfer over a Withings watch.

Learn my full evaluation of the Withings ScanWatch 2 and Gentle.

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

For those who’re searching for a smartwatch that does health effectively, then iPhone house owners have to look no additional than the $399 Apple Watch Sequence 10. (The LTE model prices $50 extra.) That is one other 12 months of iterative updates, however the Sequence 10 is a way more snug watch than in years previous. It’s thinner and lighter, plus there’s a bigger show. For those who’ve obtained a Sequence 5 or older, now is an efficient time to improve.

With watchOS 11, there’s a brand new suite of coaching options. There’s Coaching Load, which supplies you better 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 length or coronary heart price, could also be out of whack. Plus, you may lastly 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 tune’s taking part in, the Good Stack can now floor the Shazaam widget. It additionally now helps Reside 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 characteristic disabled because of an ongoing patent battle with medical gadget maker Masimo. This isn’t an enormous deal for most individuals, as this characteristic isn’t that helpful for most individuals but, and the brand new sleep apnea characteristic completely makes use of the accelerometer somewhat than the blood oxygen sensor. You would possibly wish to contemplate a refurbished Sequence 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is necessary to you, nevertheless.

For those who’re a first-time purchaser, you can too go for the second-gen Apple Watch SE. It’s barely cheaper at $249, and whilst you don’t get as many options, it’s an excellent introduction to the ecosystem. In any other case, should you’re the kind of athlete who covets a Garmin, you might also wish to contemplate splurging on the Apple Watch Extremely 2. It’s dearer at $799, however it does have the brightest display of any Apple Watch, comes with dual-frequency GPS, has diving and mountain climbing security options, and is product of extra sturdy supplies. There’s additionally a fetching new black coloration.

Learn my full evaluation of the Apple Watch Sequence 10.

Sizes: 47mm / Weight: 60.5g / Battery life: As much as 100 hours / Show kind: At all times-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (elective), 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 cellphone proprietor should purchase.

Whereas I want the Galaxy Watch 7 myself, I can’t say it’s the perfect for health monitoring. There was an excessive amount of of a niche 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 enviornment. (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 alternative for wearability. It’s simply extra snug for sleep monitoring and lighter total. Simply take note 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 apply. As all the time, some options, like EKGs and sleep apnea detection, are restricted to Samsung house owners. That makes this tough to wholeheartedly suggest this to non-Samsung Android customers.

But when the Extremely doesn’t float your boat, now is an efficient time to seek out the Galaxy Watch 6 collection, 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 12 months. And should you’re right into a bodily rotating bezel, simply go forward and snag a Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional.

Learn my full evaluation of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely.

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

With the Pixel Watch 3, Google is lastly achieved taking part in catch-up.

There are actually too many updates to name every one out individually, however total, they fall into two buckets: refinement and growth. The {hardware} is generally the identical as final 12 months’s Pixel Watch 2 by way of design. Nevertheless, we now have a brighter display, smaller bezels, and a brand new 45mm dimension. The bigger dimension is kind of good, particularly should you want bigger screens with out sacrificing wearability.

Battery life can be higher. There’s a brand new battery-saver mode that kicks in once 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 recent health and well being options, together with a brand new working dashboard, customized working exercises, and AI-generated exercise solutions. There’s additionally a revamped Each day Readiness Rating and a brand new Cardio Load metric, which gauges how intensely you’ve been exercising. For European customers, you can too get the brand new Lack of Pulse characteristic, which calls emergency providers in your behalf if it detects you 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 useful should you get quite a lot of packages or company. When you’ve got Google TV, you should use the watch as a distant. Now that the watch has an extremely wideband chip, it could actually additionally now unlock your Pixel cellphone. You may as well use the Recorder app to seize audio and ship it straight to your Pixel cellphone.

That mentioned, a few of these options now imply the Pixel Watch works greatest with a Pixel cellphone. For those who’re searching for alternate options to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is a robust various. You’re giving up LTE, however it’s a handsome-looking watch with surprisingly lengthy battery life and Google Assistant from the get-go.

Learn my full evaluation 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 isn’t for the informal fanatic. Not solely does it include an costly month-to-month subscription, however the info it offers is barely helpful should you’re actively coaching for a cardio-intensive sport. If energy coaching is your predominant type of train, you’re higher off wanting elsewhere. Just like the Oura Ring, this can be a distraction-free tracker that makes a speciality of sleep and restoration. The principle distinction is that this has a extra athletic bent. As an example, you’ll get far more perception into how a lot pressure you’ve taken on up to now week. 

Whoop additionally offers quite a lot of novel methods to put on 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 not too long ago lowered its subscription costs in sure tiers, so whereas it’s nonetheless costly, it’s not fairly as expensive because it was once.

Learn my full evaluation of the Whoop 4.0.

Replace, October fifteenth: Adjusted pricing and availability.