Best Fitness Trackers Reviews and Recommendations for Different Needs
Fitness trackers have become an essential part of our lives, helping us monitor our health and achieve our fitness goals. With an array of options available, it can be challenging to choose the right one.
In this blog post, we’ll review six popular fitness trackers: the Oura Ring 4, Apple Watch Series 10, Garmin Forerunner 265, Fitbit Charge 6, Whoop, and Withings ScanWatch 2. We’ll also provide our top picks in various categories for the best fitness trackers to help you make an informed decision.
The Round Up
Best Budget Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Charge 6
Best Fitness Tracker for iPhone Users: Apple Watch Series 10
Best Non-Wrist Fitness Tracker: Oura Ring 4
Best No-Screen Fitness Tracker: Whoop
Best Fitness Tracker for Running: Garmin Forerunner 265
Most Stylish Fitness Tracker: Withings ScanWatch 2
Oura Ring 4
The Oura Ring 4 is a sleek, discreet fitness tracker that fits on your finger. It offers comprehensive health tracking, including sleep, activity, steps and recovery metrics. The Oura Ring 4 stands out for its detailed sleep analysis, which includes deep, REM, and light sleep stages. It also tracks your heart rate, body temperature, and respiratory rate, providing a holistic view of your health. The Oura Ring is leaning towards more to a holistic wellness tracker, whereby you can set your activity target to either calories or steps. Of course, if you choose the target to be calories, steps are also tracked, and we are all aware that getting steps in throughout the day is as important as only the one session of exercise per day. One special feature is that with all the metrics it could detect, Oura can help to detect signs that you may be getting sick, which could be handy for us to prioritize recovery and rest. The ring’s design is stylish and unobtrusive, making it a great choice for those who prefer a subtle wearable. It is a non-wrist based tracker, which means that if you are a fan of analogue watch, you can still wear one without looking “too special” with a smart watch and analogue watch on your wrists.
Pros:
- Comprehensive sleep and activity tracking
- Discreet and stylish design
- Holistic health metrics
- Informative and nicely presented app
- Long battery life
Cons:
- Limited tracking options compared to wrist-based trackers
- Expensive compared to other trackers
- Requires monthly subscription to fully access the features
Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10 is the latest iteration of Apple’s popular smartwatch. It boasts a large, vibrant display and a host of health and fitness features. The fitness tracker includes an ECG app, blood oxygen monitoring, and advanced workout tracking. A special feature is that it includes built-in safety features for Emergency SOS and international emergency calling in case of a hard fall detection. For iPhone users, the seamless integration with iOS is a significant advantage. With the e-sim, you can also receive and make calls solely with your Apple Watch, without having your phone in reach. This is a convenient feature if you are out for a run and do not want to have your phone with you. The Apple Watch Series 10 also supports numerous third-party fitness apps, making it a versatile choice for fitness enthusiasts.
Pros:
- Comprehensive health monitoring
- Seamless integration with iOS
- Support for third-party fitness apps
Cons:
- Shorter battery life
- Expensive
Garmin Forerunner 265
The Garmin Forerunner 265 is distinguished for its advanced running features tailored to meet the needs of both amateur and professional runners. This model includes comprehensive tracking capabilities such as GPS, heart rate monitoring, and VO2 max estimation. Moreover, it offers personalized training plans and in-depth performance analytics to help enhance your running efficiency. Since it also tracks your sleep, akin to the Oura Ring with a Readiness score, the Garmin Forerunner can also suggest daily workouts to you based on your recovery and performance. Known for its ruggedness and long battery life for up to 13 days in smart watch mode, the Forerunner 265 is an excellent choice for dedicated runners seeking reliability and precision.
Pros:
- Advanced running metrics
- Durable and long-lasting battery
- Personalized training plans accprding to your readiness
Cons:
- Complex interface for beginners
- Bulky design
Fitbit Charge 6
The Fitbit Charge 6 builds upon the strengths of its predecessors with enhanced features such as advanced heart rate monitoring, improved sleep tracking, and more accurate built-in GPS. This model also offers new features like stress management tools and blood oxygen level monitoring. The Fitbit Charge 6 is designed to be user-friendly, providing insightful data on your daily activities and health metrics. Its sleek and modern design makes it a fashionable accessory, and it remains relatively affordable, making it a great option for those on a budget and new to fitness tracking who want to give it a try. It also now supports broadcasting heart rate to certain supported brand’s gym equipment, including bikes, treadmills and rowing machines. On a downside, the music app it supports only limited to subscription-based YouTube Music Premium and there is no offline music storage available.
Pros:
- Affordable price
- User-friendly interface
- Advanced health metrics
- New stress management tools
Cons:
- Limited smartwatch features
- Average battery life
- Supported music app is limited to YouTube Music, which requires subscriptions
Whoop
Whoop is a unique fitness tracker that focuses on sleep, recovery, stress and strain rather than traditional metrics like calories burned or exercise performance. The Whoop strap is a screenless health tracker that monitors your heart rate, sleep, and recovery, providing personalized insights to optimize your performance. The subscription-based model includes access to the Whoop app, where you can view detailed personalised analytics and recommendations. It’s a valuable tool for athletes and those serious about understanding their body’s responses to training. The Whoop is meant for you to wear it 24/7, the charging of the Whoop is very special, it can be charged with the wireless charger attaching on the Whoop sensor, so you can charge on the go without taking it off your wrist. Apart from being a wrist-based tracker, it has a line of Whoop Body accessories, which you can buy to wear it in different parts of your body, in times when it’s more convenient for that particular type of sports or you want to dress up for an event without having to wear the fitness tracker publicly. These Whoop Body accessories include arm band, underwears, etc.
Pros:
- Focus on recovery and strain
- Personalized insights and recommendations
- Detailed analytics in the Whoop app
- Long battery life
- Can charge on-the-go with the portable charging case
Cons:
- Subscription-based model
- No display for on-the-go data or use it as a watch
Withings ScanWatch 2
The Withings ScanWatch 2 is an upgraded version of the popular hybrid smartwatch, blending traditional watch aesthetics with advanced health tracking capabilities. It features an analog face with a hidden PMOLED display, offering ECG readings, heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and blood oxygen levels. Akin to the Oura Ring, it also has 24/7 temeprature sensing, which may indicate the onset of an illness. The OLED screen on the Withing ScanWatch 2 comparing to other smart watches like Apple Watch or Garmin Forerunner is small, so if you would like more information, you will have to use the accompanying app on your phone, more like the Oura Ring and the Whoop band. The Withings ScanWatch 2 impresses with its elegant look, robust build, water resistance, and a long battery life that can last up to 30 days on a single charge. It’s an ideal choice for those who want a sophisticated timepiece with comprehensive health tracking.
Pros:
- Elegant hybrid design of an analogue watch and smart watch
- Advanced health metrics including ECG and SpO2
- Extended battery life up to 30 days
- Water-resistant for swimming
Cons:
- Higher price point
- Limited app support compared to other trackers
- Smaller digital display may not suit all users
Best Budget Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Charge 6
For those looking for a budget-friendly option, the Fitbit Charge 6 is the best choice. It offers a wide range of health and fitness features, including heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and GPS, at an affordable price. The Fitbit Charge’s user-friendly interface and insightful data make it an excellent option for anyone looking to improve their health without breaking the bank.
Best Fitness Tracker for iPhone Users: Apple Watch Series 10
If you’re an iPhone user, the Aple Watch Series 10 is the best fitness tracker for you. Its tight integration with the iOS ecosystem allows for seamless connectivity and access to a host of features, including notifications, music control, and the ability to use Siri. The Apple Watch Series 10 provides a superior experience for iPhone users looking to track their fitness and stay connected.
Best Non-Wrist Fitness Tracker: Oura Ring 4
The Oura Ring 4 is the best fitness tracker in the ring category. Its discreet design, comprehensive health tracking, and detailed sleep analysis set it apart from other wearables. The Oura Ring 4 is perfect for those who prefer a subtle, stylish device that doesn’t compromise on functionality.
Best No-Screen Fitness Tracker: Whoop
For those who prefer a no-screen wearable, the Whoop strap is the top choice. Its focus on recovery and strain, along with its personalized insights and recommendations, make it an invaluable tool for athletes and fitness enthusiasts. The Whoop strap’s subscription model provides access to detailed analytics, helping you optimize your performance and recovery.
Best Fitness Tracker for Running: Garmin Forerunner 265
The Garmin Forerunner 265 series is the best choice for runners. Its advanced running features, including GPS, heart rate monitoring, and personalized training plans, help runners track their progress and improve their performance. The Forerunner 265‘s durability and long battery life ensure it can keep up with even the most demanding training schedules.
Most Stylish Fitness Tracker: Withings ScanWatch 2
The Withings ScanWatch 2 wins the title of the most stylish fitness tracker. Its hybrid design, combining a traditional analog face with modern digital features, makes it a fashion-forward choice. The ScanWatch 2 doesn’t compromise on functionality, offering ECG readings, GPS tracker, blood oxygen monitoring, and long battery life, all wrapped in a sleek, elegant package.
So What is Your Choice?
Choosing the right fitness tracker depends on your individual needs and preferences. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly option, a device with advanced running features, or a discreet ring tracker, there’s a perfect fitness tracker out there for you. We hope this guide helps you find the ideal device to support your health and fitness journey.
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