Living a healthy lifestyle is everybody’s common goal. Apart from proper diet, taking supplements, and doing exercises, we also wanted to track our daily health progress. However, with our hectic schedules, we could only do it if it was time-consuming and a hassle. Yet, with the integration of technologies in our wearables, our goals became handy. We can then monitor our health regularly with the help of fitness trackers and our wellness wearables. In this article, we will tackle the best fitness trackers in 2024.
The advancements in wearable technology over the decades have been remarkable. Nowadays, smartwatches commonly double as fitness trackers, offering features to monitor and record various metrics like calories burned, heart rate, sleep quality, and even breathing reminders. With many options available, navigating the market can be daunting, making it difficult to know where to start.
What are Fitness Trackers?
- A wearable electronic device, typically worn on the wrist, is intended to track and record various aspects of physical fitness and activity, such as heart rate and the number of steps taken.
- A wearable electronic gadget or software app that tracks an individual’s physical fitness and daily activity levels.
- Fitness trackers are wearable devices that allow you to measure a wide range of data to enhance overall health. Their recent integration into daily life prompts curiosity about their origins, which date back further than commonly known.
These wearable devices typically manifest as wristbands, straps, or headbands designed to monitor physical activity and vital signs. They can wirelessly connect to an app for storing, processing, and presenting data.
Moreover, these bands monitor sleep patterns, steps taken, calories burned, and workout logs. After gathering your data, they provide insights into your overall health and fitness, enabling adjustments to promote positive habits. While features vary among fitness trackers, key considerations include:
- Extended battery life.
- Comfortable on-wrist fit.
- Integrated GPS.
- The capacity to monitor fitness levels and heart rate.
Varieties of Fitness Trackers
The market offers a plethora of fitness trackers catering to different preferences. Some prioritize simplicity, offering relevant data, while others emphasize customization for a personalized experience. Here are various types you may encounter during your online search:
- Standard Fitness Trackers
- Jewelry Fitness Trackers
- Unexpected Fitness Trackers
- Smart-tech Fitness Trackers
- Community-based Fitness Trackers
Best Fitness Trackers in 2024:
Fitbit Luxe
The Fitbit Luxe is our top choice among fitness trackers, thanks to its exceptional health monitoring features, stylish design, and the robust Fitbit app that complements its functionality.
This device tracks various metrics, including everyday activity, sleep patterns, heart rate, respiration, and workouts. During our testing, we were particularly impressed by its heart rate monitoring accuracy, which rivaled that of much pricier running watches. Your daily data is showcased on a vibrant AMOLED display, offering detailed insights in a compact space and minimizing the need for excessive scrolling.
The Luxe represents Fitbit’s most visually appealing fitness tracker yet, featuring a stainless steel case and buckle and offering options of either a soft silicone band or a gold-toned stainless steel bracelet. Throughout our trials, it proved comfortable to wear day and night, allowing for a comprehensive understanding of our activity and sleep patterns.
For optimal performance, fitness trackers should be worn consistently to capture a complete picture of your lifestyle and habits, and the Luxe is one that you’ll enjoy wearing. Its only notable drawback is the absence of onboard GPS; instead, it relies on a connection to your phone. If this limitation is a deal-breaker, consider opting for the slightly pricier Fitbit Charge 5.
PROS
- Vibrant AMOLED screen
- Sleek, fashionable design
- Superb heart rate monitoring
CONS
- Lacks onboard GPS
Specifications:
- Screen: Present
- Heart rate tracker: Included
- Waterproof: Certified
- Activity tracking: Supported
- GPS: Absent
- Battery life: Lasts up to 7 days
- Compatibility: Works with Android/iOS
Huawei Band 3 Pro
This fitness tracker is one of the best options for those with a tight budget, offering impressive specifications comparable to the Garmin Vivosport 4. The Huawei Band 3 Pro features GPS functionality, making it ideal for outdoor activities, and its water-resistant design with a dedicated swimming mode renders it suitable for pool use as well.
During our evaluations, we found the color display easily readable even in direct sunlight, allowing for glances at workout stats. Additionally, the heart rate monitor delivered accurate results comparable to those of much pricier dedicated sports watches, which is particularly beneficial for interval training.
While the GPS functionality may take longer to lock on than Garmin devices, once connected, it consistently provides accurate tracking even in densely populated areas. If you’re searching for an affordable entry-level device to kickstart your fitness tracking journey, the Band 3 Pro deserves serious consideration.
PROS
- Impressive two-week battery life
- Attractive color screen
CONS
- GPS locking can be sluggish
- Lacks breathing exercise feature
Specifications:
- Display: Present
- Heart rate monitor: Included
- Waterproof: Certified
- Activity tracking: Supported
- GPS: Available
- Battery life: Up to 14 days on standby
Oura (Generation 3)
The Oura smart ring is a distinctive fitness tracker that fits comfortably on your finger, providing more precise heart rate measurements and blood oxygen saturation than wrist-worn devices. The latest version, launched in late 2021, features an enhanced optical heart rate sensor that continuously monitors your pulse, offering detailed insights into its daily fluctuations.
Additionally, seven new sensors have been incorporated to track skin temperature and assess whether it remains within normal parameters. The device also boasts an improved sleep-tracking algorithm without compromising weight or battery life. Our evaluations found it to be an intuitive device, presenting data in an organized manner, including restorative time. It provides a thorough insight into your health, although it may not be suitable for monitoring dedicated workouts such as runs and gym sessions.
The primary drawback of the Oura smart ring is its price, compounded by the introduction of a subscription service offering additional tools and insights for a monthly fee. On the bright side, purchasing the ring grants you six months of free access to the subscription service. At the same time, those upgrading from the second-gen version receive a complimentary lifetime membership.
Pros
- Precise continuous heart rate monitoring
- Outstanding sleep analysis capabilities
- Clear presentation of statistics
Cons
- Price higher compared to watches
- Not all features are available yet
Specifications:
- Screen: Absent
- Heart rate tracker: Included
- Waterproof: Certified
- Activity tracking: Supported
- GPS: Not available
- Battery life: Lasts 4-7 days
- Compatibility: Compatible with Android/iOS
Fitbit Charge 6
The Fitbit Charge 6 currently represents the pinnacle of band-style fitness trackers available from Fitbit, offering many features exceeding those of the Fitbit Luxe, which tops the list. This makes it our top recommendation for individuals seeking a versatile tracker accommodating various needs and workout regimens.
Resembling a smaller, slightly simplified version of the Fitbit Sense 2, the Fitbit Charge 6 boasts impressive high-end functionalities, including ECG heart health readings and an EDA stress sensor.
While it is an impressive tracker, it does not claim the title of the best Fitbit overall due to its notably deficient GPS tracking capabilities. However, this drawback may be insignificant if you typically run with a phone. Nonetheless, this tracker may need to match the finest running watches available.
Nevertheless, if you seek a versatile wearable tracker for diverse purposes, the Fitbit Charge 6 remains an excellent choice, particularly given Fitbit’s consistently reliable sleep-tracking performance, which surpasses average standards.
Pros
- Loaded with features for a fitness band
- Respectable battery life
- Capable of transmitting HR to gym equipment
Cons
- Unreliable GPS functionality
- No altimeter included
- Heart rate accuracy falls short
Specifications:
- Screen: Present
- Heart rate tracker: Included
- Waterproof: Certified, up to 5ATM
- Activity tracking: Supported
- GPS: Available
- Battery life: Lasts up to 7 days
- Compatibility: Compatible with Android/iOS
Amazfit Bip 3 Pro
The Amazfit Bip 3 Pro is a budget-friendly fitness tracker and our top choice for those seeking affordability without compromising on a quality screen. It covers all the essentials, including an optical heart rate sensor. Surprisingly, unlike the non-Pro version of the Bip 3, it also features full GPS functionality, making it suitable for phone-free run tracking.
Compared to Fitbit’s offering, which provides a small display for a similar price point, and the Huawei Band 3 Pro, which is slightly larger but not significantly better, the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro resembles more of a smartwatch in appearance.
While its appearance may not fully reflect its value in photos, our review of the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro noted that it may appear cheaper in person. Additionally, we found that heart rate tracking accuracy could have been better. However, if you’re searching for a highly affordable tracker with an appealing screen, the Amazfit Bip 3 Pro fits the bill.
Pros
- Strong built-in GPS functionality
- Cost-effective
- Lightweight and comfortable to wear
Cons
- Erratic heart rate accuracy
- Some components of the build and screen feel inexpensive
- Inconvenient manual brightness control
Specifications
- Screen: Present
- Heart rate tracker: Included
- Waterproof: Certified, up to 5ATM
- Activity tracking: Supported
- GPS: Assisted GPS
- Battery life: Lasts 14 days, seven days with heavy use
- Compatibility: Compatible with Android/iOS
Honor Band 5
The Honor Band 5 is one of the most affordable fitness trackers available, yet it offers impressive features to monitor your daily health and well-being. Notably, its sleep tracking feature goes beyond simply monitoring sleep stages, providing actionable advice to optimize your rest.
In terms of step tracking, it performs nearly identically to more expensive Fitbit devices. Additionally, it offers dedicated workout modes for various activities like walking, running, cycling, cross-training, rowing, and swimming. While it may provide less data than Garmin devices, the mobile app presents clear summaries of your time, distance, speed, and heart rate statistics post-workout.
As expected from a budget fitness tracker, the Honor Band 5 lacks onboard GPS for outdoor cardio workouts and may exhibit slight screen lag compared to higher-end models. However, given its affordable price point, these limitations are understandable.
Pros
- Precise sleep tracking
- More affordable compared to Fitbit
Cons
- Notifications can be inconsistent
- Screen occasionally unresponsive
Specifications:
- Screen: Present, color touchscreen
- Heart rate tracker: Included
- Waterproof: Certified
- Activity tracking: Supported
- GPS: Absent
- Battery life: Lasts seven days
- Compatibility: Compatible with Android/iOS
Venu Sq
The Venu Sq encompasses all the essential sensors in its round counterpart, the impressive Garmin Venu, featuring built-in GPS, a heart rate monitor, and the trendy Pulse Ox (blood oxygen) sensor. With dedicated running, cycling, and swimming modes, it is a reliable sports tracking partner, although we observed that acquiring a GPS signal could be slightly sluggish.
Moreover, it doesn’t compromise on smartwatch functionalities. The music edition boasts a built-in music player, while all versions offer contactless payments and access to Garmin’s Connect IQ store for app and watch face downloads. However, compared to the main Venu, the Venu SQ lacks the more impressive AMOLED display, animated workouts directly on the watch, and an altimeter for elevation tracking. If you can do without these features, the Venu SQ is a commendable sporty smartwatch companion.
Pros
- Feature-rich
- Lightweight and comfortable
- Compatible with external sensors
Cons
- Somewhat outdated watch UI
- Screen quality is lower than Venu
Specifications:
- Display: Present
- Heart rate monitoring: Included
- Water resistance: Certified
- Activity tracking: Supported
- GPS: Absent
- Battery life: Lasts ten days
- Compatibility: Compatible with Android/iOS
Conclusion:
Thus, these fitness trackers could aid you in providing more precise heart rate measurements and blood oxygen saturation. It can also help track your activity and sleep cycle simply by wearing it on your wrists or fingers. Regularly track your health using one of these devices paired with proper diet, supplements, and exercise. Live a healthy lifestyle so problems will be prevented.
