The ten greatest health trackers in 2024

Health trackers have come a good distance from the easy bands that tracked steps and little else. Fashionable trackers can monitor all the things out of your coronary heart well being to how properly you’ve recovered from a tough bout of coaching. Even flagship smartwatches, which was lackluster trackers, have develop into fairly adept exercise companions. No matter your health targets are, there’s most likely a health tracker that may assist you obtain them.

In comparison with another devices, wearables are extremely private, which suggests there are a number of further concerns you’ll need to consider earlier than reaching in your pockets. It makes it arduous to say that anybody health tracker is the very best for everybody. Fortunately, the very best factor about health trackers in 2024 is that there’s sufficient selection to suit into each sort of way of life. 

Proper now, we’re heading into the vacation purchasing season. Somewhat persistence goes a good distance this time of 12 months. Retailers and corporations alike will likely be making an attempt to do away with outdated inventory, which means reductions galore forward of Black Friday. If you happen to don’t want the most recent and best, it’s an excellent time to snag final 12 months’s fashions in nicer supplies.

Dimension: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: As much as 14 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Twin-frequency and 6 GNSS methods / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 2.3GB

The Amazfit GTR 4 punches approach above its weight. It features a complete array of options you’d anticipate to see on a lot pricier wearables, like a vibrant OLED display screen, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep stage monitoring, stress monitoring, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an offline digital assistant. It’s additionally received a local digital camera distant and a helpful Pomodoro timer in-built. And for out of doors health fans, the GTR 4 additionally has multiband GPS for extra correct GPS monitoring in difficult environments. You may even import GPX routes from websites like Strava and Komoot. The GTR 4 takes a extra holistic strategy to well being, buying and selling in steps for PAI factors to gauge whether or not you’re getting the really useful 150 minutes of average exercise per week.

For sensible options, the GTR 4 has all of the fundamentals: push notifications, fast textual content replies on Android, alarms, timers, and the power to make and take calls over Bluetooth. The one factor the GTR 4 is de facto lacking is contactless funds, however it greater than makes up for it, given the expansive characteristic set and battery life. It lasts about 10–14 days on a single cost with regular use and a few week with heavy utilization. It could not have the model recognition of a Fitbit, however since Google nerfed each the Versa 4 and Sense 2, you may need to overlook that. Plus, the GTR 4 doesn’t have thick bezels like both of these watches. Watchfaces on the OLED show are crisp, and animations are clean. When you think about that Amazfit watches are sometimes on sale, it’s a no brainer.

Learn my full evaluate of the Amazfit GTR 4 right here.

Sizes: 40mm w/20mm straps / Weight: 38g / Battery life: As much as 11 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 4GB (for Music Version)

The $250 Garmin Venu Sq 2 is the watch I like to recommend for anybody seeking to change their growing old Fitbit Versa 2, 3, or 4. It’s received the same look and vibe, with a a lot nicer OLED show and longer battery life.

Garmin is thought for its complete health monitoring, and that’s not an exception right here. After all, you get the fundamentals, like steps and energy burned, however you get an entire lot extra, too. There’s built-in GPS for monitoring walks, runs, and bike rides, in addition to loads of different sports activities profiles like yoga and power coaching. For sensible options, you get push notifications, timers, contactless funds, and a bunch of security options like Garmin’s Incident Detection, which is its tackle fall detection. (You will have to hold your telephone with you, nonetheless, as this doesn’t have LTE.)

If you need the choice of onboard music, you’ll be able to shell out $50 further for the Music Version, which comes with sufficient storage for about 500 songs. I wouldn’t advocate it, nonetheless, as you’ll probably have your telephone on you since this isn’t a real standalone watch.

What I like most about this watch, nonetheless, is it’s one you can develop with. On high of restoration metrics and sleep monitoring, it additionally has Garmin Coach — a built-in, free coaching program for newbie and intermediate-level runners hoping to deal with a 5K, 10K, or half marathon. For well being monitoring, you’ll be able to monitor coronary heart charge, blood oxygen, depth minutes (what number of minutes of average train you get per week), stress, hydration, respiratory charge, and menstrual cycles. And the very best half is Garmin doesn’t lock any of this behind a paywall.

One be aware: there’s a Venu 3, which provides a more recent coronary heart charge sensor and nap detection. I appreciated it fairly a bit, and it ticks off lots of the best bins — aside from worth. It’s $450, which places it outdoors what I’d contemplate ideally suited for informal customers. The opposite choice is Garmin’s Forerunner 165 — it’s a $249 funds coaching watch that’s fairly just like the Venu Sq 2 feature-wise, albeit with a sportier vibe. Mainly, go together with what you discover on sale. I firmly imagine older fashions are nonetheless a sensible choice if all you need is the fitness-tracking fundamentals. That is very true since newer software program updates typically make their technique to older Garmins. Garmin customers additionally have a tendency to hold onto their machine for an excellent whereas. Strava’s 2023 year-end survey discovered that the preferred smartwatch amongst its customers was an eight-year-old Garmin!

Learn my full evaluate of the Garmin Venu Sq 2.

Sizes: 7S Professional: 42mm w/20mm straps, 7: 47mm w/22mm straps, 7X: 51mm w/26mm straps / Weight: 7S Professional: 63g (Photo voltaic), 58g or 65g (Sapphire Photo voltaic, titanium or stainless-steel) 7: 79g (Photo voltaic), 73g (Sapphire Photo voltaic) 7X: 96g (Photo voltaic), 89g (Sapphire Photo voltaic) / Battery life: 7S: as much as 11 days, 14 w/ Photo voltaic, 7: as much as 18 days, 22 days w/ photo voltaic, 7X: as much as 28 days, 37 w/photo voltaic / Show kind: MIP touchscreen / GPS: All-systems GNSS and dual-frequency GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Ant Plus, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 10ATM / Music storage: As much as 32GB

Garmin’s flagship Fenix 7 sequence isn’t any joke, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup takes it up a notch. It’s received built-in multiband GPS, photo voltaic charging on all fashions, the choice of touchscreen or button navigation, topographical maps, and oodles upon oodles of knowledge. Plus, each Fenix 7 Professional mannequin has a hands-free LED flashlight, an upgraded coronary heart charge sensor, and an improved memory-in-pixel show that’s barely simpler to learn in low lighting.

Garmin wearables are additionally identified for offering intensive, in-depth metrics, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup isn’t any exception. You get wonderful restoration metrics, in addition to useful coaching guides and training packages. The very best half is Garmin doesn’t cost further for these options. That’s excellent news, as these are costly watches.

I respect how rapidly these Fenix 7 watches are capable of decide up a GPS sign. That’s a should in the event you’re coaching within the lifeless of winter. These watches may take a beating. All fashions are constructed to military-grade requirements and have as much as 10 ATM of water resistance. Meaning they’re greater than able to a dunk within the ocean.

Though the display screen is brighter, MIP shows nonetheless aren’t my absolute favourite — the OLED on the Garmin Epix 2 and the Epix Professional are rather a lot simpler on the eyes. It’s admittedly robust to choose between the Fenix 7, Fenix 7 Professional, Epix 2, and Epix Professional lineups — particularly now that the Epix Professional additionally has nice battery life, the LED flashlight, and now is available in a number of sizes. What it boils all the way down to is whether or not you prioritize a brighter show, longer battery life, or worth.

Personally, I want the Epix Professional for higher readability, however the Fenix 7 Professional is the higher selection if that is your first introduction to Garmin’s platform. You’ll get higher battery life, the identical LED flashlight, all the identical coaching options, and a decrease beginning worth. (It’s also possible to try our Garmin shopping for information in the event you’d like much more alternate options.)

Technically, there’s a new Fenix 8 sequence on the block. That mentioned, I nonetheless assume the usual Fenix 7 lineup is an effective selection, particularly given how costly the brand new Fenix 8 is. We’re nonetheless reviewing it, however the primary updates over the Fenix 7 lineup are “smarter” options like a voice assistant. If that’s not a priority, an older mannequin is likely to be friendlier to your funds — particularly as retailers are likely to low cost older inventory across the vacation season.

Learn my full evaluate of the Garmin Fenix 7S Professional.

Sizes: 8 proprietary sizes, 6-13, sizing equipment wanted / Weight: 4–6g (will depend on dimension) / Battery life: As much as 7 days / Show kind: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: As much as 328 ft / Music storage: None

The overwhelming majority of health trackers are worn on the wrist, however the $299 Oura Ring isn’t. The sensible ring is an effective choice for people who find themselves on the lookout for one thing slightly extra discreet. It’s additionally much less distracting than another wrist-based choices, because it lacks a display screen and doesn’t mirror push notifications out of your telephone. 

Whereas smaller than your common wearable, the Oura Ring nonetheless tracks a ton of metrics, together with coronary heart charge variability and physique temperature. The third iteration of the machine additionally introduces SpO2 sensors, in addition to all-day coronary heart charge monitoring and interval predictions. Since launching, the Oura Ring has additionally added exercise monitoring, blood oxygen ranges, chronotypes to assist visualize your circadian rhythms, and a brand new social characteristic referred to as Circles. It’s additionally begun rolling out an entire new sleep phases algorithm that it claims is extra correct than earlier than. If you happen to’re on the lookout for some stress reduction, the Oura Ring additionally allows you to monitor guided meditation periods. 

The Oura Ring tracks typical metrics — reminiscent of steps and energy burned —  however its essential focus is sleep and restoration. Every day, you’re given three units of scores in your readiness, sleep, and exercise. It’s a easy, holistic have a look at your total wellness and a super decide in order for you a extra hands-off expertise together with your knowledge.

If you happen to’ve received a Samsung Galaxy Watch, chances are you’ll need to contemplate the $399.99 Galaxy Ring. It’s a bit costlier than the bottom Oura Ring, however it doesn’t include a subscription, and also you get a lot better battery life when used with the Galaxy Watch. The {hardware} can be wonderful, particularly the charging case. That mentioned, that is solely an choice for Android customers, and even then, you don’t actually unlock its full potential until you’ve received different Samsung gear.

You won’t need to purchase at this actual second, nonetheless. Android Authority noticed some certification filings for a possible Gen 4 mannequin earlier this summer time. Corporations normally do that when a brand new launch is imminent. If one thing new is within the works, it’s doubtless Oura will launch it earlier than Black Friday. So, it’s an excellent time to carry out in the event you can wait.

Learn my full evaluate of the Oura Ring (Gen 3).

Dimension: 42mm x 24mm x 12.2mm with 16mm straps / Weight: 28g / Battery life: As much as 18 days / Show kind: OLED / GPS: Tethered / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: None

It’s really arduous to beat the Amazfit Band 7’s $49.99 worth — doubly so since you’ll be able to typically discover it on sale for even much less. Carrying the Band 7 seems like a throwback to 2014, which is nice if all you’re on the lookout for is a straightforward and informal tracker that received’t break the financial institution.

Nobody goes to go with you on the Band 7’s design, however it’s received a handful of cute watchfaces that make good use of its OLED touchscreen. And regardless of having an OLED show, you’ll nonetheless get roughly 14 days of battery life on a single cost. It’s additionally extremely light-weight, making it an excellent choice for sleep monitoring as properly.

You additionally get an absurd variety of options for the value. That features Amazon Alexa, steady coronary heart charge monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, stress monitoring, superior sleep monitoring, coaching metrics like VO2 max and cargo, irregular coronary heart charge alerts, menstrual monitoring, push notifications, discover my telephone, a digital camera distant, and even a Pomodoro timer. You’re sacrificing contactless funds and should accept tethered GPS, however it is a truthful tradeoff contemplating all the things else you’re getting. It’s not the best choice for hardcore health monitoring, however it is a nice choice if all you’re seeking to do is casually monitor exercise and your steps.

Amazfit’s been making surprisingly good funds trackers for some time. That mentioned, in the event you’re slightly cautious of a lesser-known model, the $159.95 Fitbit Cost 6 is an honest different. It’s pricier, however you get lots of what Amazfit is lacking. That features Google companies like YouTube Music, Google Pockets, and Google Maps. Plus, it has built-in GPS and the power to broadcast your coronary heart charge with some Bluetooth-compatible gymnasium gear.

Learn my full evaluate of the Amazfit Band 7.

Sizes: 37mm with 18mm straps / Weight: 45g / Battery life: As much as 39 days / Show kind:  OLED show / GPS: Tethered GPS / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: N/A

The $249.95 Withings ScanWatch Gentle is a fetching hybrid analog smartwatch. Consider it as a dressier health band with some Swatch-like design sensibilities. It’s received all of your fundamentals like easy push notifications, timers, and alarms. Plus, you’ll be able to monitor steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS actions straight from the wrist. It appears to be like spiffy on the wrist, and in the event you like a pop of colour, Withings presents minty inexperienced and pale blue colour choices. It’s additionally received wonderful battery life, with an estimated 30 days on a single cost. I received rather less in testing at round 25 days, however that’s nonetheless a lot better than the overwhelming majority of flagship smartwatches. This additionally appears to be like far more trendy than beefier multisport watches with comparable battery life.

Like its title suggests, the Gentle is a pared-down model of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The primary belongings you’re lacking are an EKG sensor for atrial fibrillation detection, a temperature sensor, blood oxygen monitoring, and an altimeter for monitoring elevation. For primary health monitoring, you don’t actually need these sensors. That’s why I feel the additional $100 in financial savings is price it for the Gentle, particularly since each are missing in security options, contactless funds, and another bells and whistles you may get from different watches within the $350 worth vary. That mentioned, in order for you extras, the ScanWatch 2 additionally will get you a barely extra elegant look because of the second step-counter dial.

Another choice I like is the $179.99 Garmin Vivomove Sport, which really dominated this class the previous few years. It’s arduous to beat the value, particularly because it will get you entry to Garmin’s platform. Nevertheless, Garmin’s “hidden” OLED show can get washed out in vibrant lighting, and battery life was considerably shorter than different hybrid analog watches at round 5 days. Nonetheless, in the event you’d fairly a platform with a concentrate on health fairly than wellness, the Vivomove Sport would be the higher transfer over a Withings watch.

Learn my full evaluate of the Withings ScanWatch 2 and Gentle.

Sizes: 42mm, 46mm / Weight: 29.3g (42mm), 35.3g (46mm) / Battery life: As much as 18 hours / Show kind: All the time-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: LTE (optionally available), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters / Music storage: 32GB

If you happen to’re on the lookout for a smartwatch that does health properly, then iPhone homeowners must look no additional than the $399 Apple Watch Sequence 10. (The LTE model prices $50 extra.) That is one other 12 months of iterative updates, however the Sequence 10 is a way more snug watch than in years previous. It’s thinner and lighter, plus there’s a bigger show. If you happen to’ve received a Sequence 5 or older, now is an effective time to improve.

With watchOS 11, there’s a brand new suite of coaching options. There’s Coaching Load, which provides you larger perception into how intensely you’ve been understanding the previous week in comparison with the final 28 days. There’s additionally a brand new Vitals app that flags when key metrics, like sleep period or coronary heart charge, could also be out of whack. Plus, you’ll be able to lastly pause your rings for relaxation days. The software program replace additionally brings some savvy updates to the Good Stack. For instance, in the event you’re in a loud cafe questioning what track’s taking part in, the Good Stack can now floor the Shazaam widget. It additionally now helps Dwell Actions, turning your wrist right into a mini Dynamic Island. Well being-wise, we additionally now have FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection.

After all, we even have to deal with the Apple Watch ban. As of January 18th, 2024, new Apple Watches bought within the US have the blood oxygen characteristic disabled on account of an ongoing patent battle with medical machine maker Masimo. This isn’t an enormous deal for most individuals, as this characteristic isn’t that helpful for most individuals but, and the brand new sleep apnea characteristic solely makes use of the accelerometer fairly than the blood oxygen sensor. You may need to contemplate a refurbished Sequence 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is vital to you, nonetheless.

If you happen to’re a first-time purchaser, you can even go for the second-gen Apple Watch SE. It’s barely cheaper at $249, and whilst you don’t get as many options, it’s an excellent introduction to the ecosystem. In any other case, in the event you’re the kind of athlete who covets a Garmin, you may additionally need to contemplate splurging on the Apple Watch Extremely 2. It’s costlier at $799, however it does have the brightest display screen of any Apple Watch, comes with dual-frequency GPS, has diving and mountaineering security options, and is fabricated from extra sturdy supplies. There’s additionally a fetching new black colour.

Learn my full evaluate of the Apple Watch Sequence 10.

Sizes: 47mm / Weight: 60.5g / Battery life: As much as 100 hours / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (optionally available), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 10ATM, IP68 / Music storage: 32GB

Honestly, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely left me a bit disenchanted after reviewing it — not as a result of it’s a nasty piece of {hardware}, however as a result of it copies a bit an excessive amount of from Apple. Even so, that is essentially the most full-featured health smartwatch a Samsung telephone proprietor should buy.

Whereas I want the Galaxy Watch 7 myself, I can’t say it’s the very best for health monitoring. There was an excessive amount of of a niche between it and the Extremely in my testing so far as accuracy, particularly for GPS monitoring. However what actually sealed the deal for me was the distinction in battery life. It’s merely evening and day, and the Galaxy Watch 7 actually struggled on this enviornment. (The gaps are a lot much less egregious between the bottom Apple Watch and Extremely 2.)

The caveat is, if all you need is informal health monitoring, the Galaxy Watch 7 is the higher selection for wearability. It’s simply extra snug for sleep monitoring and lighter total. Simply take into accout it lacks the Extremely’s emergency siren and shortcut button, and the display screen doesn’t get fairly as vibrant.

With each watches, you get a sooner processor, a brand new 3-in-1 BioActive Sensor, some AI well being options, and FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection. The newer {hardware} makes for a extra futureproof buy, however I discovered the AI well being options to be hit-or-miss in observe. As all the time, some options, like EKGs and sleep apnea detection, are restricted to Samsung homeowners. That makes this difficult to wholeheartedly advocate this to non-Samsung Android customers.

But when the Extremely doesn’t float your boat, now is an effective time to seek out the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence, notably the bottom fashions, on sale. The bottom Galaxy Watch 7 could have newer {hardware}, however so far as precise use goes, it’s not a large replace over final 12 months. And in the event you’re right into a bodily rotating bezel, simply go forward and snag a Galaxy Watch 6 Basic.

Learn my full evaluate of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely.

Sizes: 41mm, 45mm / Weight: 31g / Battery life: As much as 24 hours / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (optionally available), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB

With the Pixel Watch 3, Google is lastly performed taking part in catch-up.

There are really too many updates to name every one out individually, however total, they fall into two buckets: refinement and enlargement. The {hardware} is usually the identical as final 12 months’s Pixel Watch 2 by way of design. Nevertheless, we now have a brighter display screen, smaller bezels, and a brand new 45mm dimension. The bigger dimension is sort of good, particularly in the event you want bigger screens with out sacrificing wearability.

Battery life can be higher. There’s a brand new battery-saver mode that kicks in once you hit 15 p.c and the brand new shows are additionally extra energy environment friendly. Plus, bedtime mode is computerized now, in order that helps the watch last more in a single day for sleep monitoring. It’s solely a modest enchancment over the Pixel Watch 2, however it’s dramatic in comparison with the unique.

Software program is the place the Pixel Watch 3 makes essentially the most updates. There are a ton of latest health and well being options, together with a brand new operating dashboard, customized operating exercises, and AI-generated exercise ideas. There’s additionally a revamped Every day Readiness Rating and a brand new Cardio Load metric, which gauges how intensely you’ve been exercising. For European customers, you can even get the brand new Lack of Pulse characteristic, which calls emergency companies in your behalf if it detects you not have a pulse. Sadly, this isn’t obtainable stateside, because it hasn’t but acquired FDA clearance.

The Pixel Watch 3 additionally higher integrates with Google companies and the Pixel ecosystem. Now you can view your Nest Doorbell or Digital camera feed straight from the wrist — and it’s fairly helpful in the event you get lots of packages or visitors. You probably have Google TV, you should use the watch as a distant. Now that the watch has an extremely wideband chip, it may well additionally now unlock your Pixel telephone. It’s also possible to use the Recorder app to seize audio and ship it straight to your Pixel telephone.

That mentioned, a few of these options now imply the Pixel Watch works greatest with a Pixel telephone. If you happen to’re on the lookout for alternate options to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is a powerful different. You’re giving up LTE, however it’s a handsome-looking watch with surprisingly lengthy battery life and Google Assistant from the get-go.

Learn my full evaluate of the Google Pixel Watch 3.

Sizes: 43mm by 28mm by 10mm / Weight: 18g / Battery life: 4–5 days / Show kind: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: As much as 10 meters / Music storage: None

The Whoop 4.0 will not be for the informal fanatic. Not solely does it include an costly month-to-month subscription, however the data it gives is barely helpful in the event you’re actively coaching for a cardio-intensive sport. If power coaching is your essential type of train, you’re higher off wanting elsewhere. Just like the Oura Ring, it is a distraction-free tracker that focuses on sleep and restoration. The primary distinction is that this has a extra athletic bent. As an illustration, you’ll get far more perception into how a lot pressure you’ve taken on up to now week. 

Whoop additionally gives lots of novel methods to put on its tracker, together with in underwear and arm/knee sleeves. This makes it an interesting choice in the event you’re a kind of unicorns who wants a secondary tracker to complement one other type of health monitoring. Once more, it is a tracker greatest appreciated by individuals who go arduous and aren’t afraid to experiment. Plus, Whoop just lately lowered its subscription costs in sure tiers, so whereas it’s nonetheless costly, it’s not fairly as expensive because it was.

Learn my full evaluate of the Whoop 4.0.

Replace, October fifteenth: Adjusted pricing and availability.