The ten finest health trackers in 2024

Health trackers have come a good distance from the straightforward 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 turn into fairly adept exercise companions. No matter your health objectives are, there’s in all probability a health tracker that may allow you to obtain them.

In comparison with another devices, wearables are extremely private, which implies there are a number of further concerns you’ll should consider earlier than reaching in your pockets. It makes it onerous to say that anybody health tracker is the most effective for everybody. Fortunately, the most effective factor about health trackers in 2024 is that there’s sufficient selection to suit into each form of life-style. 

Proper now, we’re heading into the vacation buying season. Just a little endurance goes a good distance this time of yr. Retailers and corporations alike shall be making an attempt to do away with previous inventory, that means reductions galore forward of Black Friday. If you happen to don’t want the most recent 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 kind: 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 method above its weight. It features a entire 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 bought a local digicam distant and a useful Pomodoro timer in-built. And for out of doors health lovers, 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 method to well being, buying and selling in steps for PAI factors to gauge whether or not you’re getting the beneficial 150 minutes of reasonable 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 power 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 couple of 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 final yr, 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 overview 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 exchange their getting old Fitbit Versa 2, 3, or 4. It’s bought 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. In fact, 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 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 have to hold your telephone with you, nonetheless, as this doesn’t have LTE.)

In order for you 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 suggest it, nonetheless, as you’ll more than likely 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 which 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 possibly can monitor coronary heart charge, blood oxygen, depth minutes (what number of minutes of reasonable train you get per week), stress, hydration, respiratory charge, and menstrual cycles. And the most effective 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 charge sensor and nap detection. I preferred it fairly a bit, and it ticks off numerous the appropriate packing containers — apart from worth. It’s $450, which places it outdoors what I’d take into account preferrred for informal customers. The opposite choice is Garmin’s Forerunner 165 — it’s a $249 finances coaching watch that’s fairly much 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 typically make their option to older Garmins. Garmin customers additionally have a tendency to hold onto their system 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 overview 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 collection is not any joke, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup takes it up a notch. It’s bought 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 recognized for offering in depth, in-depth metrics, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup is not any exception. You get wonderful restoration metrics, in addition to useful coaching guides and training packages. The most effective half is Garmin doesn’t cost further for these options. That’s excellent news, as these are costly watches.

I recognize how rapidly these Fenix 7 watches are in a position to choose up a GPS sign. That’s a should in case you’re coaching within the lifeless 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 robust 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 right 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 alternative 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 case you’d like much more alternate options.)

Technically, there’s a new Fenix 8 collection on the block. That mentioned, I nonetheless suppose the usual Fenix 7 lineup is an effective alternative, particularly given how costly the brand new Fenix 8 is. We’re nonetheless reviewing it, however the principle 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 finances — particularly as retailers are likely to low cost older inventory across the vacation season.

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

Sizes: 8 proprietary sizes, 6-13, sizing equipment wanted / Weight: 4–6g (depends upon measurement) / 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 good ring is an effective choice for people who find themselves in search of one thing just a little 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 system 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 function known as Circles. It’s additionally begun rolling out an entire new sleep levels algorithm that it claims is extra correct than earlier than. If you happen to’re in search of some stress aid, the Oura Ring additionally helps you to monitor guided meditation periods. 

The Oura Ring tracks typical metrics — comparable to steps and energy burned —  however its major 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 general wellness and a super choose if you’d like a extra hands-off expertise along with your information.

If you happen to’ve bought a Samsung Galaxy Watch, it’s possible you’ll need to take into account 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 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 except you’ve bought different Samsung gear.

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

Learn my full overview 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 onerous to beat the Amazfit Band 7’s $49.99 worth — doubly so since you possibly can typically discover it on sale for even much less. Sporting the Band 7 looks like a throwback to 2014, which is nice if all you’re in search of is a straightforward and informal tracker that gained’t break the financial institution.

Nobody goes to go with you on the Band 7’s design, nevertheless it’s bought 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 choice for sleep monitoring as properly.

You additionally get an absurd variety of options for the worth. 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 digicam distant, and even a Pomodoro timer. You’re sacrificing contactless funds and should accept tethered GPS, however it is a honest tradeoff contemplating all the things else you’re getting. It’s not the most suitable 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 finances trackers for some time. That mentioned, in case you’re just a little 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 providers 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 health club gear.

Learn my full overview 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 bought 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 in case you like a pop of colour, Withings affords minty inexperienced and pale blue colour choices. It’s additionally bought wonderful battery life, with an estimated 30 days on a single cost. I bought rather less in testing at round 25 days, however that’s nonetheless a lot better than the overwhelming majority of flagship smartwatches. This additionally seems to be far more trendy than beefier multisport watches with comparable battery life.

Like its identify 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 believe the additional $100 in financial savings is value 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, 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 onerous to beat the worth, particularly because it will get you entry to Garmin’s platform. Nonetheless, 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, in case you’d quite a platform with a deal with health quite than wellness, the Vivomove Sport will be the higher transfer over a Withings watch.

Learn my full overview 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: At all times-on LTPO OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS, plus GLONASS, Galileo, QZSS, Beidou / Connectivity: LTE (non-obligatory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters / Music storage: 32GB

If you happen to’re in search of a smartwatch that does health properly, then iPhone homeowners must look no additional than the $399 Apple Watch Collection 10. (The LTE model prices $50 extra.) That is one other yr of iterative updates, however the Collection 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 bought a Collection 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 supplies you larger perception into how intensely you’ve been figuring out 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 possibly can lastly pause your rings for relaxation days. The software program replace additionally brings some savvy updates to the Good Stack. For instance, in case you’re in a loud cafe questioning what music’s enjoying, the Good Stack can now floor the Shazaam widget. It additionally now helps Reside Actions, turning your wrist right into a mini Dynamic Island. Well being-wise, we additionally now have FDA-cleared sleep apnea detection.

In fact, we even have to handle the Apple Watch ban. As of January 18th, 2024, new Apple Watches bought within the US have the blood oxygen function disabled because of an ongoing patent battle with medical system 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 quite than the blood oxygen sensor. You would possibly need to take into account a refurbished Collection 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is vital to you, nonetheless.

If you happen to’re a first-time purchaser, you too can 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, in case you’re the kind of athlete who covets a Garmin, you may additionally need to take into account 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 mountaineering security options, and is fabricated from extra sturdy supplies. There’s additionally a fetching new black colour.

Learn my full overview of the Apple Watch Collection 10.

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

In truth, 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 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 most effective 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 area. (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 alternative 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 quicker 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 all the time, some options, like EKGs and sleep apnea detection, are restricted to Samsung homeowners. That makes this difficult to wholeheartedly suggest 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 collection, significantly the bottom fashions, on sale. The bottom Galaxy Watch 7 might have newer {hardware}, however so far as precise use goes, it’s not a large replace over final yr. And in case you’re right into a bodily rotating bezel, simply go forward and snag a Galaxy Watch 6 Traditional.

Learn my full overview of the Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely.

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

With the Pixel Watch 3, Google is lastly completed enjoying catch-up.

There are really too many updates to name every one 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. Nonetheless, we now have a brighter display screen, smaller bezels, and a brand new 45mm measurement. The bigger measurement is kind of good, particularly in case you want bigger screens with out sacrificing wearability.

Battery life can be higher. There’s a brand new battery-saver mode that kicks in while 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 essentially the most updates. There are a ton of recent health and well being options, together with a brand new working dashboard, customized working exercises, and AI-generated exercise ideas. There’s additionally a revamped Each day Readiness Rating and a brand new Cardio Load metric, which gauges how intensely you’ve been exercising. For European customers, you too can get the brand new Lack of Pulse function, which calls emergency providers in your behalf if it detects you now not have a pulse. Sadly, this isn’t out there stateside, because it hasn’t but obtained FDA clearance.

The Pixel Watch 3 additionally higher integrates with Google providers and the Pixel ecosystem. Now you can view your Nest Doorbell or Digicam feed straight from the wrist — and it’s fairly useful in case you 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 could possibly 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 finest with a Pixel telephone. If you happen to’re in search of alternate options to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is a powerful 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 overview 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 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 in case you’re actively coaching for a cardio-intensive sport. If power coaching is your major type of train, you’re higher off trying 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 prior 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 choice in case you’re a type of unicorns who wants a secondary tracker to complement one other type of health monitoring. Once more, it is a tracker finest appreciated by individuals who go onerous 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 dear because it was.

Learn my full overview of the Whoop 4.0.

Replace September twenty third: Up to date with the Pixel Watch 3, Apple Watch Collection 10, and Samsung Galaxy Watch Extremely. Additionally added new details about potential Oura Ring Gen 4 and vacation buying.