Fitness trackers are extremely personal, just like any other item you regularly wear on your body.
Sure, they must fit your lifestyle and how and when you choose to exercise, as well as being comfortable and stylish.
Do you exercise with a bike, rower, or weights?
Do you spend hours running on trails, or do you only need a wake-up call every hour?
Whatever your requirements, there has never been a greater opportunity to locate a potent, cutting-edge gadget that will enhance your exercises or kick-start your routine.
Fitbit Charge 5
Even while Fitbit has had to contend with fierce competition from other producers, most notably the Apple Watch, its trackers have consistently impressed.
They perfectly balance attractiveness with price, accessibility, and usability.
They’re ideal for anyone who isn’t a semi-pro powerlifter seeking to set a new personal record or an ultramarathon runner.
The version from the previous year included smoother lines, a bright AMOLED screen, and nearly every sensor imaginable, including electrocardiograms and stress tests.
The Charge 5 quickly integrates with Android phones, just like the Apple Watch does with iPhones, and includes both onboard and linked GPS, allowing you to seamlessly track outside activities.
With the addition of Fitbit’s new Heart Rhythm Notifications feature, it now also offers an FDA-approved feature to identify atrial fibrillation.
Garmin Vívomove Sport
When choosing a fitness tracker, it’s important to evaluate both the hardware and the proprietary software. The Fitbit app is quite user-friendly, but I also prefer Garmin’s Connect since I think it’s one of the most feature-rich digital health apps. For instance, if you find that you enjoy running, Strava can be readily integrated. Garmin doesn’t hide the majority of its best features behind a pricey subscription like Fitbit does.
Due to its lack of a sporty appearance, Garmin’s entry-level smartwatch is the best choice for a first fitness tracker. It has several different colors and looks like an analog timepiece. To log activities and view notifications, merely swipe along the touchscreen’s bottom half. You can check a few more of Garmin’s in-house algorithms, like your Body Battery or how prepared you are for the day, in addition to tracking your workouts, sleep, and heart rate. A Garmin is typically purchased because it has GPS capabilities, but the Vivomove Sport merely uses connected GPS from your phone.
Apple Series 8
People frequently keep their Apple Watches for many years, and for good reason—if you have an iPhone, it is by far the greatest fitness tracker available. Therefore, the most recent Series 8 is the greatest option if you desire one. New body temperature sensors in Series 8 are intended to track menstrual cycles. Additionally, it offers updated safety features including Crash Detection. The Series 8 will use a potent new accelerometer and gyroscope, as well as the barometer, GPS, and microphone to detect a car crash in the case of a serious auto accident and notify emergency personnel if the user has not answered within 10 seconds.
Along with these, WatchOS 9 offers a wide range of health and fitness improvements, including improved workout views, more detailed running data, medication monitoring, and improved sleep tracking. In contrast, the new Apple Watch SE lacks wrist-based body temperature sensing and older functionality like the blood oxygen or ECG app. It also lacks the most recent S8 chip and Crash Detection.
Coros Pace 2
The battery lasts for weeks between charges, which is a characteristic you won’t find in any other watch on our list. It is really light.
It also interacts with Strava to plan your runs and bike rides, and it tracks your path using the same multiple satellite positioning systems as Garmin.
On the down side, EvoLab, Coros’ analytics platform created to compete with Garmin’s Connect, has a simple LCD screen and is still in its infancy.
Since some of my outdoor runs were not well tracked, accuracy can be hit or miss.
But Coros also comes with a ton of inexpensive, practical features like a locking screen and straightforward two-button operation.
Samsung Galaxy Watch5
The most comfortable Wear OS smartwatch available is Samsung’s Galaxy Watch5. It is available in 40- and 44-mm sizes and runs Wear OS 3. As a result, you can use Google Maps’ turn-by-turn navigation and Google Assistant, as well as the best health features from Samsung, such as SpO2 readings, auto-workout recognition, sleep tracking, and an electrocardiogram. It’s excellent for both checking and responding to notifications.
Don’t expect to go for days on a single charge, just with the Apple Watch. Unfortunately, this watch only functions with Android smartphones, and ECG monitoring is only available on Samsung smartphones (blood pressure monitoring is also not yet available in the US). Try the pricey Galaxy Watch5 Pro, which has a better battery life, GPX support, and is constructed of more durable materials, if you want a larger watch that’s just a little bit more rugged. A wonderful watch from last year, the Galaxy Watch4, is also available if you want to save some money.
