Fitness trackers have come a long way in recent years. Whatever your fitness goals, these handy devices can help you reach your fitness goals and stay motivated. In this article, we’ll help you find the best fitness tracker and smartwatch to track your health and fitness metrics in 2023.
With so many fitness trackers on the market, choosing the best or a dedicated fitness tracker can be tricky. To make your decision easier, we’ve tested and reviewed the top fitness trackers and smartwatches with advanced fitness-tracking features.
We compared models on factors like price, design, battery life, accuracy, smartphone compatibility, and health tracking capabilities. We focused on the latest 2023 fitness trackers as well as some of the best from previous years.
Whether you want a basic fitness tracking experience or more comprehensive health and fitness data, our guide will help you find the best fitness tracker and smartwatch in 2023. Let’s dive to find out the best smartwatches with health and fitness features.
What to Look for in the Best Fitness Tracker
When choosing a fitness tracker, there are a few key factors to consider:
- Accuracy – The tracker should provide precise metrics for steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, heart rate, sleep stages, and more. Look for validation from clinical trials.
- Battery life – For convenience, you want a tracker with battery life of 5-7 days minimum. Some models last weeks without charging.
- Design – Pick a comfortable, sleek tracker you’ll be happy to wear all day and night. Opt for waterproofing if swimming.
- Display – Fitness trackers have simple memory LCDs or full color OLED/AMOLED screens. Some are always-on for quick glances.
- Smart features – Many connect to smartphones for notifications, music controls, find my phone, etc. Some make calls and reply to texts.
- Health tracking – Top models go beyond steps to monitor heart health, blood oxygen, stress, temperature, women’s health features and more.
- Price – Fitness trackers range from $25 basic bands to $400+ premium smartwatches. Set a budget before you start shopping.
Let’s take a look at the top 10 best fitness trackers and see which one is the best fit for your needs.
1. Fitbit Charge 5 – Best Overall Fitness Tracker
The Charge 5 earns Fitbit its 13th fitness award, as probably the best smartwatch, thanks to its excellent fitness tracking experience and stylish design. It’s the best tracker we’ve tested in 2022.
This sleek fitness band packs advanced health and fitness tracking into a slender design. It delivers a wealth of metrics from heart rate to SpO2, plus stress, sleep, activity, and workout tracking. With these outstanding capabilities, we say proudly; welcome to the new fitness.
The AMOLED color display looks crisp and clear. Use it to monitor exercise, breathing, notifications, apps and more. Expect 6 days of battery life and enjoy fast charging. These features clearly makes it one of the best smartwatches in the market.
Choose from soothing motivation features to enhance your workouts and recovery. Best of all, it costs less than $150 for all these powerful features. For comprehensive health and fitness data, Charge 5 is the best fitness tracker available.
2. Garmin Venu 2 Plus – Best Fitness Smartwatch
Garmin dominates the fitness smartwatch category, especially for Android users. The Venu 2 Plus is a top pick, blending health tracking and smart features like phone calls in a sleek design.
This fitness smartwatch monitors heart rate, pulse ox, stress, sleep, hydration, respiration and more. You also get built-in GPS to map outdoor activities minus your phone.
The bright AMOLED display looks sharp on the stainless steel bezel and silicone band. Get 9 days of battery life in smartwatch mode or 8 hours in GPS mode with music. Enjoy voice calling, voice assistant, notifications and Garmin’s excellent fitness features.
3. Fitbit Inspire 3 – Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Fitbit offers the best fitness trackers under $100. Case in point: the slender Inspire 3, which earned a 2022 fitness award for its impressive health metrics at an affordable price.
This sleek band delivers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, sleep stages, stress management, workout modes, and more. The color display shows calls, texts calendar alerts, and more.
Battery life is an impressive 10 days and it’s water resistant up to 50 meters. Choose from several stylish, interchangeable bands. For the price, Inspire 3 is the best fitness tracker for everyday health tracking.
4. Apple Watch Series 8 – Best for iPhone Users
Apple rules the smartwatch market, especially for iPhone users who want seamless connectivity. The Series 8 takes fitness tracking up a notch with new temperature sensing and crash detection capabilities.
Apple’s excellent health app tracks activity, workouts, heart health, sleep and more. You also get calls, notifications, Apple Pay, music and thousands of apps.
The Always-On Retina display is easy to read and crack-resistant. Get 18 hours of battery life per charge. Overall, it’s the best Apple watch yet. The new dual-sensor for temperature tracking sets Apple Watch Series 8 apart.
5. Fitbit Sense 2 – Best Fitness Features
The Sense 2 wins a 2022 CES Innovation Award for its robust stress management, heart health features and sleek, streamlined design. It replaces the Sense as Fitbit’s most advanced fitness smartwatch.
This smartwatch packs sensors to track EDA for stress, heart rate variability, skin temperature and more. The AMOLED display delivers crisp graphics and an intuitive interface.
Built-in GPS lets you track pace, distance, and route without a phone. Get six days of battery life with fast charging. Sense 2 strives to be the ultimate health and wellness coach on your wrist. If you want a comprehensive look at your health metrics, this is the watch for you.
6. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 – Best Fitness Smartwatch for Android Users
The Galaxy Watch5 ranks among the best Android smartwatches for its bright, vivid display, durable premium design, and activity tracking. It earns Samsung its first-ever fitness award.
This stylish smartwatch combines fitness tracking with excellent smartphone connectivity and apps. Track steps, calories, sleep, heart rate, and more. Built-in GPS captures pace and distance during outdoor workouts and hikes.
The new Sapphire Crystal display resists scratches and cracks. Expect around 3 days of battery life. For Android users who want a premium, durable smartwatch with activity tracking, Galaxy Watch5 hits the mark.
7. Garmin Forerunner 55 – Best GPS Running Watch
Serious runners will love the Forerunner 55, Garmin’s affordable GPS running watch that doesn’t skimp on features. It provides in-depth data for your running goals.
Built-in GPS tracks your pace, distance, route and more when running, hiking and biking outdoors. After your workout, check your performance metrics and VO2 max estimate.
The comfortable, lightweight watch monitors heart rate 24/7 and tracks sleep too. Get up to 2 weeks of battery life and view stats on the 1.1” color display. For the price, this compact GPS watch packs a powerful punch.
8. Fitbit Luxe – Best Smartwatch and Fitness Tracker for Fashion
Fitness trackers aren’t known for fashion, but the Luxe bucks that trend with its modern jewelry-inspired design and vibrant AMOLED display. It looks more like jewelry and less like a fitness band.
Beyond the stylish look, Luxe delivers 24/7 heart rate, sleep tracking, stress management tools and more. See your stats on the colorful touchscreen. The sleek, lightweight tracker is water-resistant and comfortable for all-day wear.
Get up to 5 days of battery life and enjoy fast charging. The Luxe proves you can have both fashion and function in a slender fitness tracker for under $150.
9. Garmin Venu Sq 2 – Best Garmin Fitness Watch Under $250
The affordable Venu Sq 2 packs an impressive array of health, fitness, and smartwatch functions into a slim watch. It wins a 2022 fitness award for offering advanced tracking under $250.
This sleek smartwatch can monitor heart rate, sleep, stress, hydration, blood oxygen, and more. Built-in GPS captures pace and distance for outdoor workouts without carrying a phone.
The bright AMOLED display is easy to read, even in direct sunlight. Control music, view notifications and more on your wrist. Get up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode. Venu Sq 2 hits the sweet spot of features and price.
10. Amazfit Bip 3 – Best Budget Fitness SamrtWatch
If you want smartwatch functionality for under $50, the feature-packed Bip 3 is tough to beat. This slim, lightweight smartwatch delivers impressive fitness tracking and battery life for the price.
Track steps, distance, calories, heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, sleep and more. Built-in GPS lets you map your routes without a phone. View workout data on the 1.69” color LCD display.
Get up to 14 days of battery life and enjoy Alexa built-in. It’s also waterproof up to 50 meters. For an affordable fitness smartwatch, Bip 3 packs outstanding value.
Key Takeaways
- The Fitbit Charge 5 is the best overall fitness tracker available, offering advanced health metrics in a sleek and stylish design.
- For a full-featured fitness smartwatch, look to the Garmin Venu 2 Plus or the new Apple Watch Series 8 if you’re an iPhone user.
- The affordable Fitbit Inspire 3 provides impressive fitness tracking in a slender, budget-friendly design.
- Serious runners will benefit from the Garmin Forerunner 55’s built-in GPS capabilities.
- The stylish Fitbit Luxe proves you don’t have to sacrifice fashion for function.
- Fitbit Sense 2 takes health tracking to the next level with robust stress management and heart health sensors.
- If you’re on Android, the new Samsung Galaxy Watch5 is a top choice that earned Samsung its first fitness award.
- Amazfit Bip 3 packs outstanding value into a budget fitness smartwatch.
FAQs
Q: What is the most accurate fitness tracker?
A: Fitbit trackers consistently perform well in clinical trials validating their accuracy. Models like the Charge 5 and Sense 2 deliver highly precise metrics for steps, distance, calories, heart rate, sleep stages and more.
Q: Is Fitbit or Apple Watch better?
A: It depends. Apple Watch offers better connectivity and apps for iPhone users. Fitbit tracks more health metrics at lower prices. Choose based on your budget, smartphone platform and fitness needs.
Q: How much does a good fitness tracker cost?
A: You can get a very capable fitness band starting around $100. For more advanced health tracking, plan to spend $200 to $400 for leading fitness smartwatches with GPS and onboard music storage. Our guide lists excellent options at every price point.
Q: How accurate is Garmin fitness tracking?
A: Garmin fitness trackers and smartwatches are very accurate for metrics like steps, heart rate, distance and advanced running data. Garmin uses extensive internal testing protocols to ensure its wearables provide precise data.
Q: Which is better for sleep tracking – Fitbit or Garmin?
A: Fitbit edges out Garmin for its detailed sleep analytics, sleep score, and integration with its excellent app and Premium subscription. But Garmin still provides good overall sleep monitoring.
We hope our guide to the best fitness trackers of 2023 helps you find your perfect match! Let us know if you have any other questions.
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