A wearable fitness tracker can help you monitor your steps, strides, sleep, and more. It can also dole out doses of motivation along the way, which could push you toward a specific goal. Since 2015, we’ve spent more than two months running, walking, swimming, cycling, sleeping, and in short, living with 35 different fitness trackers day and night to assess their accuracy, ease of use, and comfort. Although no tracker perfectly recorded all the metrics he attempted (including distance traveled, step countssleep quality, calories burned and heart rate), we are confident that the easy-to-use and feature-packed software fitbit charge 5 It is the best option for most people who want to use a fitness tracker to monitor their movements and take action to improve their health.
our choice
fitbit charge 5
A stylish and feature-packed activity tracker, the Fitbit Charge 5 records a variety of activities accurately and automatically, includes built-in GPS, and has an app that makes it easy to use and customize.
Purchase options
*At the time of publication, the price was $180.
the fitbit charge 5 is one of the most accurate for measuring steps and heart rate (although accuracy isn’t everything). Reliably detects, almost always correctly identifies, and automatically starts recording workouts (running, walking, cycling, swimming) after about 10 minutes of activity. The color touch screen is vivid and clear, even in bright sunlight, with easily identifiable icons that allow for hassle-free menu negotiation. (However, getting your bearings with all of its features can take a while.) Fitbit’s concise and simple app makes it easy to analyze your daily activity data and allows you to link to a strong network of other Fitbit users, which could help you stay motivated. (You also can prefer to the Premium version of the app, which usually costs $10 per month). The Charge 5 has 21 activity modes, six of which you can add to your favorites list on the device through the app. Within the app, you can also determine which smartphone notifications you’d like to have ring on your wrist. The Charge 5 has wrist-worn ECG (electrocardiogram) and built-in GPS, allowing for real-time distance and pace data without the need for a phone connection (although it was susceptible to irregularities, as GPS often is).
Battery duration: up to seven days in watch mode, or up to five hours in continuous GPS mode
Sleep Tracking: yes, including naps longer than an hour
Waterproof: yes, up to 50 meters
Monitor heartbeat: Yes
GPS: Incorporated
budget selection
fitbit inspire 2
Compared to Fitbit Charge 5, Fitbit Inspire 2 has a slimmer silhouette and three days longer battery life. But it has a smaller screen that isn’t color and doesn’t offer built-in GPS.
Purchase options
*At the time of publication, the price was $80.
the fitbit inspire 2 it has a slimmer profile than the Fitbit Charge 5. Its touchscreen is bright and vibrant, though not in color (the Charge 5’s is). The Inspire 2 doesn’t have built-in GPS (which the Charge 5 does); measures pace and distance when walking or running when connected to your phone’s GPS, which means you’ll need your phone with you. Although we found the Inspire 2 to be less accurate at recording step counts throughout the day, it performed solidly in our heart rate tests. It has guided breathing sessions on the wrist, which the Charge 5 doesn’t. Like the Charge 5, this Fitbit model offers around 20 goal-based exercise modes and tracks sleep stages (although alarms can only be set in the app; with the Charge 5, you can set alarms on the device). You can wear the Inspire 2 on your wrist or on your clothes with a clip (sold separately).
Battery duration: up to 10 days
Sleep Tracking: yes, not including naps
Waterproof: yes, up to 50 meters
Monitor heartbeat: Yes
GPS: when connected to a phone
Upgrade Selection
Garmin Vivoactive 4S
Earning points for its accuracy and portability, the Garmin Vívoactive 4S combines the best of sport and everyday use for those who lead a fitness-driven life. It’s also one step closer to a GPS watch than the Fitbit trackers we recommend.
Purchase options
*At the time of publication, the price was $250.
If you’re especially active and want to keep detailed records of your workouts, consider the Garmin Vivoactive 4S. It’s an advanced, sporty fitness tracker with an emphasis on, you guessed it, exercise. The 4S is the smaller of Garmin’s two Series 4 offerings (it has a 40-millimeter screen, compared to the Vívoactive 4’s 45-millimeter screen). It’s refined and highly portable: The 4S is larger than the two Fitbit models we recommend, but smaller than other watch-like trackers from Garmin and Polar (another brand we tried). Its color touchscreen is clear and responsive, though dimmer than some color-screen competitors. Buttons next to the screen make it easy to switch between training modes or start and stop workouts, and the training data screens show more than one metric simultaneously (our Fitbit picks show one at a time).
Battery duration: up to seven days in watch mode, or up to five hours in music mode plus GPS
Sleep Tracking: yes, not including naps
Waterproof: yes, up to 50 meters
Monitor heartbeat: Yes
GPS: Incorporated
also great
Apple Watch SE
A smartwatch first and foremost, the Apple Watch SE offers engaging activity, workout, and health tracking. But its battery life is shorter than our other picks, its app is a little less detailed, and it lacks some advanced features that might appeal to you depending on your goals.
Purchase options
*At the time of publication, the price was $270.
If you want a true smartwatch with engaging activity and workout tracking, if you’re a fan of the Apple ecosystem, and if you can do without a handful of features that the more advanced Apple Watch Series 7 (our The best smartwatch option for people with iPhone) have the Apple Watch SE could fit perfectly. Our budget selection For him best smart watch for iphone users, Apple Watch SE has a bright, clear display and intuitive controls. It measures activity by encouraging you to close a trio of rings each day, which is a visually appealing way to track your progress. The SE’s simple (if stripped-down) Fitness app houses various workout and activity stats, though its sleep tracking isn’t as detailed as our other picks. Also absent is an always-on display, which can be a bummer during workouts. The Apple Watch SE performed at the top in our heart rate accuracy tests, providing a reasonable daily step count and reliable GPS tracking. But battery life lasts only up to 18 hours, while our other picks have batteries that last for days.
Battery duration: up to 18 hours
Sleep Tracking: yes, not including naps
Waterproof: yes, up to 50 meters
Monitor heartbeat: Yes
GPS: Incorporated
