The ten greatest health trackers in 2024

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

In comparison with another devices, wearables are extremely private, which suggests there are just a few further concerns you’ll need to have in mind earlier than reaching to your pockets. It makes it laborious to say that anyone health tracker is one of the best for everybody. Fortunately, one of the best factor about health trackers in 2024 is that there’s sufficient selection to suit into each type of life-style. 

Proper now, we’re heading into the vacation procuring season. A bit of persistence goes a good distance this time of yr. Retailers and firms alike will probably be attempting to do away with previous inventory, which means reductions galore forward of Black Friday. If you happen to don’t want the newest and best, it’s a great time to snag final yr’s fashions in nicer supplies.

Dimension: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: As much as 14 days / Show sort: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Twin-frequency and 6 GNSS techniques / 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 count on to see on a lot pricier wearables, like a brilliant OLED display screen, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep stage monitoring, stress monitoring, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an offline digital assistant. It’s additionally acquired a local digicam distant and a useful Pomodoro timer in-built. And for outside health fans, the GTR 4 additionally has multiband GPS for extra correct GPS monitoring in difficult environments. You possibly can 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 helpful 150 minutes of average exercise per week.

For good options, the GTR 4 has all of the fundamentals: push notifications, fast textual content replies on Android, alarms, timers, and the flexibility to make and take calls over Bluetooth. The one factor the GTR 4 is de facto lacking is contactless funds, nevertheless it greater than makes up for it, given the expansive function 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 would possibly 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 easy. 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 sort: 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 trying to change their growing old Fitbit Versa 2, 3, or 4. It’s acquired 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 a complete 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 good 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 want to hold your telephone with you, nevertheless, as this doesn’t have LTE.)

If you would like the choice of onboard music, you possibly can shell out $50 further for the Music Version, which comes with sufficient storage for about 500 songs. I wouldn’t advocate it, nevertheless, as you’ll almost definitely have your telephone on you since this isn’t a real standalone watch.

What I like most about this watch, nevertheless, is it’s one that you would be able to develop with. On prime 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 possibly can monitor coronary heart price, blood oxygen, depth minutes (what number of minutes of average train you get per week), stress, hydration, respiratory price, and menstrual cycles. And one of the best half is Garmin doesn’t lock any of this behind a paywall.

One observe: there’s a Venu 3, which provides a more moderen coronary heart price sensor and nap detection. I favored it fairly a bit, and it ticks off numerous the precise packing containers — apart from value. It’s $450, which places it exterior what I’d contemplate ideally suited for informal customers. The opposite possibility is Garmin’s Forerunner 165 — it’s a $249 price range coaching watch that’s fairly just like the Venu Sq 2 feature-wise, albeit with a sportier vibe. Mainly, go along with what you discover on sale. I firmly imagine older fashions are nonetheless a good selection if all you need is the fitness-tracking fundamentals. That is very true since newer software program updates usually make their strategy to older Garmins. Garmin customers additionally have a tendency to hold onto their gadget for a great whereas. Strava’s 2023 year-end survey discovered that the most well-liked 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 chrome 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 sort: 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 collection is not any joke, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup takes it up a notch. It’s acquired 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 price sensor, and an improved memory-in-pixel show that’s barely simpler to learn in low lighting.

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

I admire how rapidly these Fenix 7 watches are in a position to choose up a GPS sign. That’s a should if you happen to’re coaching within the useless of winter. These watches may also 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 quite a bit simpler on the eyes. It’s admittedly powerful to select 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 value.

Personally, I favor 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 value. (You can even try our Garmin shopping for information if you happen to’d like much more alternate options.)

Technically, there’s a new Fenix 8 collection on the block. That stated, I nonetheless assume the usual Fenix 7 lineup is an efficient 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 could be friendlier to your price range — 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 (is dependent upon measurement) / Battery life: As much as 7 days / Show sort: 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 good ring is an efficient possibility for people who find themselves searching for one thing a little bit 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 price variability and physique temperature. The third iteration of the gadget additionally introduces SpO2 sensors, in addition to all-day coronary heart price 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 function known as Circles. It’s additionally begun rolling out a complete new sleep phases algorithm that it claims is extra correct than earlier than. If you happen to’re searching for some stress aid, the Oura Ring additionally enables you to monitor guided meditation periods. 

The Oura Ring tracks typical metrics — akin to steps and energy burned —  however its foremost focus is sleep and restoration. Every day, you’re given three units of scores to your readiness, sleep, and exercise. It’s a easy, holistic have a look at your general wellness and a great choose if you’d like a extra hands-off expertise together with your information.

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

You won’t need to purchase at this precise second, nevertheless. 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 possible Oura will launch it earlier than Black Friday. So, it’s a great time to carry out if you happen to 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 sort: OLED / GPS: Tethered / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: None

It’s really laborious to beat the Amazfit Band 7’s $49.99 value — doubly so since you possibly can usually discover it on sale for even much less. Carrying the Band 7 appears like a throwback to 2014, which is nice if all you’re searching 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, nevertheless it’s acquired 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 a great possibility for sleep monitoring as nicely.

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

Amazfit’s been making surprisingly good price range trackers for some time. That stated, if you happen to’re a little bit cautious of a lesser-known model, the $159.95 Fitbit Cost 6 is an honest different. It’s pricier, however you get numerous what Amazfit is lacking. That features Google companies like YouTube Music, Google Pockets, and Google Maps. Plus, it has built-in GPS and the flexibility to broadcast your coronary heart price with some Bluetooth-compatible fitness center tools.

Learn my full evaluate of the Amazfit Band 7.

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

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

Like its title suggests, the Mild is a pared-down model of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The principle 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 really want these sensors. That’s why I believe the additional $100 in financial savings is value it for the Mild, particularly since each are missing in security options, contactless funds, and another bells and whistles you may get from different watches within the $350 value vary. That stated, if you’d like extras, the ScanWatch 2 additionally will get you a barely extra elegant look because of the second step-counter dial.

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

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

Sizes: 42mm, 46mm / Weight: 29.3g (42mm), 35.3g (46mm) / Battery life: As much as 18 hours / Show sort: At all times-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters / Music storage: 32GB

If you happen to’re searching for a smartwatch that does health nicely, then iPhone homeowners have to look no additional than the $399 Apple Watch Sequence 10. (The LTE model prices $50 extra.) That is one other yr 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 acquired a Sequence 5 or older, now is an efficient time to improve.

With watchOS 11, there’s a brand new suite of coaching options. There’s Coaching Load, which provides you higher 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 price, could also be out of whack. Plus, you possibly can lastly pause your rings for relaxation days. The software program replace additionally brings some savvy updates to the Good Stack. For instance, if you happen to’re in a loud cafe questioning what music’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 offered within the US have the blood oxygen function disabled as a result of an ongoing patent battle with medical gadget maker Masimo. This isn’t an enormous deal for most individuals, as this function isn’t that helpful for most individuals but, and the brand new sleep apnea function completely makes use of the accelerometer moderately than the blood oxygen sensor. You would possibly need to contemplate a refurbished Sequence 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is vital to you, nevertheless.

If you happen to’re a first-time purchaser, you may also go for the second-gen Apple Watch SE. It’s barely cheaper at $249, and when you don’t get as many options, it’s a great introduction to the ecosystem. In any other case, if you happen to’re the kind of athlete who covets a Garmin, you may additionally need to contemplate splurging on the Apple Watch Extremely 2. It’s dearer at $799, nevertheless it does have the brightest display screen of any Apple Watch, comes with dual-frequency GPS, has diving and mountain climbing security options, and is product of 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 sort: At all times-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 10ATM, IP68 / Music storage: 32GB

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

Whereas I favor the Galaxy Watch 7 myself, I can’t say it’s one of the best for health monitoring. There was an excessive amount of of a spot 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 general. Simply take into account it lacks the Extremely’s emergency siren and shortcut button, and the display screen doesn’t get fairly as brilliant.

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 follow. As at all times, some options, like EKGs and sleep apnea detection, are restricted to Samsung homeowners. That makes this tough to wholeheartedly advocate this to non-Samsung Android customers.

But when the Extremely doesn’t float your boat, now is an efficient time to search out the Galaxy Watch 6 collection, 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 yr. And if you happen to’re right into a bodily rotating bezel, simply go forward and snag a Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional.

Learn my full evaluate of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely.

Sizes: 41mm, 45mm / Weight: 31g / Battery life: As much as 24 hours / Show sort: At all times-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB

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

There are really too many updates to name each out individually, however general, they fall into two buckets: refinement and growth. The {hardware} is generally the identical as final yr’s Pixel Watch 2 by way of design. Nevertheless, we now have a brighter display screen, smaller bezels, and a brand new 45mm measurement. The bigger measurement is sort of good, particularly if you happen to favor bigger screens with out sacrificing wearability.

Battery life can also be higher. There’s a brand new battery-saver mode that kicks in whenever you hit 15 p.c and the brand new shows are additionally extra energy environment friendly. Plus, bedtime mode is automated 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, nevertheless it’s dramatic in comparison with the unique.

Software program is the place the Pixel Watch 3 makes probably the most updates. There are a ton of latest health and well being options, together with a brand new working dashboard, customized working exercises, and AI-generated exercise options. 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 may also get the brand new Lack of Pulse function, which calls emergency companies in your behalf if it detects you not have a pulse. Sadly, this isn’t accessible stateside, because it hasn’t but obtained FDA clearance.

The Pixel Watch 3 additionally higher integrates with Google companies and the Pixel ecosystem. Now you can view your Nest Doorbell or Digicam feed straight from the wrist — and it’s fairly useful if you happen to get numerous packages or company. When you have Google TV, you should use the watch as a distant. Now that the watch has an extremely wideband chip, it will probably additionally now unlock your Pixel telephone. You can even use the Recorder app to seize audio and ship it straight to your Pixel telephone.

That stated, a few of these options now imply the Pixel Watch works greatest with a Pixel telephone. If you happen to’re searching for alternate options to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is a robust different. You’re giving up LTE, nevertheless 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 sort: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: As much as 10 meters / Music storage: None

The Whoop 4.0 is just not for the informal fanatic. Not solely does it include an costly month-to-month subscription, however the data it supplies is barely helpful if you happen to’re actively coaching for a cardio-intensive sport. If power coaching is your foremost type of train, you’re higher off trying elsewhere. Just like the Oura Ring, this can be a distraction-free tracker that makes a speciality of sleep and restoration. The principle distinction is that this has a extra athletic bent. As an example, you’ll get far more perception into how a lot pressure you’ve taken on up to now week. 

Whoop additionally supplies numerous novel methods to put on its tracker, together with in underwear and arm/knee sleeves. This makes it an interesting possibility if you happen to’re a kind of unicorns who wants a secondary tracker to complement one other type of health monitoring. Once more, this can be a tracker greatest appreciated by individuals who go laborious and aren’t afraid to experiment. Plus, Whoop not too long ago lowered its subscription costs in sure tiers, so whereas it’s nonetheless costly, it’s not fairly as expensive because it was once.

Learn my full evaluate of the Whoop 4.0.

Replace, October fifteenth: Adjusted pricing and availability.