Android Central 2021: Best Smartwatch for Fitness
There are many options for active people who want to track their workouts using an Android smartwatch. For many reasons, the Garmin Vivoactive 4 fitness smartwatch is one of our favorites. The Garmin Vivoactive 4 will provide you with a lot of features, including GPS, music storage, activity/sleep tracking and waterproofing. You won't find a more complete smartwatch or fitness tracker than this one, so it could be exactly what you are looking for.
Source: Courtney Lynch/Android Central
Although the Garmin Vivoactive 4 may not be the most recent watch on the market, it is still one of the best smartwatches for fitness. It offers significant improvements over its predecessor. These include on-screen workouts and two sizes. Music storage is also now standard. Although it isn't as costly as it used to be, it's still not the most affordable option. It's still a great fitness smartwatch and will track every step. This smartwatch is also a great option for runners who want to improve their performance. You'll find your regular heart-rate monitoring and activity tracking. The new features include the Pulse Ox sensor and Body Battery energy monitoring. There are also 20+ pre-loaded apps for sports. The Pulse Ox sensor measures blood oxygen saturation levels. The Body Battery allows you to monitor your energy levels throughout the day so that you can plan your rest and workouts accordingly. You can map out outdoor runs with the built-in GPS. The watch can also be waterproof to 50 meters. It's easy to see why it is our top choice. Although it is more expensive and only two colors are available with the larger model, this watch has a lot of value for people who are serious about tracking their fitness and health. There are two sizes available
Monitoring heart rate
GPS built-in
50-meter waterproofing
Garmin Pay with NFC
Battery life up to eight days Cons: Very expensive
The 45mm size is smaller and offers fewer color options
Garmin Vivoactive 4 GPS Smartwatch is the best overall fitness smartwatch. The Garmin Vivoactive 4 GPS Smart Watch will provide you with stellar battery life, GPS tracking, and many other perks. Amazon: $234
Best Buy: $350
Walmart: $235
Best value: Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
Source: Andrew Martonik / Android Central
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 offers users a slim and light design that is as stylish as ever. The capacitive bezel will allow you to navigate easily on the AMOLED touchscreen. Tizen OS is easy to use, but it can take some time to get used to if this is your first time using the software. You'll get between two and three hours of battery life depending on whether you choose the 44mm or 40mm model. This smartwatch is packed full of features, so you can expect it to be charged every two days. The Active 2 has a number of fitness and health-tracking features, just like its predecessor. The Active 2 has built-in GPS and automatic activity-tracking. It also features heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking, water, food, caffeine-consumption tracking, and heart-rate monitoring. The Running Coach feature has been improved to provide real-time pace metrics and a breakdown of the session's expectations before you start. This smartwatch has received recent improvements. The Running Analysis feature will help you improve your running form and prevent injury. The Galaxy Watch Active 2 can monitor VO2 max. This is the maximum oxygen that one can use during intense exercise. You can also use the electrocardiogram (ECG), which detects irregular heartbeats, and the blood pressure monitoring feature. There are many smartwatch features. Samsung Pay, music storage, smartphone notifications, Wi-Fi connectivity and Wi-Fi connectivity will all be available to you. An LTE model is an excellent upgrade, especially if your goal is to have a smartwatch that's versatile. It will be more expensive than the Bluetooth-only model. It may take some time to get used to Tizen OS. Third-party app support is not very good at best. Pros: Compact, lightweight design
Battery life is two-to-three day
Automated activity tracking
Running Analysis
Water-resistant upto 5ATM
GPS, NFC and ECG built-in
Optional LTE connectivity Cons : Poor third-party app support
Tizen OS learning curve
For beginners, Withings is the best choice
Source: Android Central
Are you not ready for a full-fledged Smartwatch yet? The Withings Move may be the perfect fit. The Move is a traditional watch that has physical hands and a touchscreen display. The Move, despite its discrete appearance, is a complete fitness companion that offers many perks. Withings Move offers 24/7 activity tracking, sleep-tracking and automatic workout detection. It can also waterproof up to 50 metres. Although the lack of a built-in GPS is disappointing, outdoor runs and bikes can still be mapped as long as your phone is with you. Withings' Health Mate app syncs all your data with Apple Health, Fitbit, MyFitnessPal and Google Fit. The replaceable battery of the Withings Move means that it can last for up to 18 months without needing to charge. Although it isn't as sophisticated as other smartwatches, it's still a great place to begin tracking your fitness. Pros Battery lasts 18 months
It looks like a normal watch
Activity/sleep-tracking
Water resistant up to 50 meters
The Cons of Automatic Workout Detection Doesn't Have a Built-in GPS
No heart rate sensor
No notifications or apps for your phone
For beginners, Withings – Move Activity Tracker Fitness tracking for novices. This hybrid smartwatch is affordable and has many fitness features. Amazon: $56
$56 on Best Buy
Best battery: Garmin Venu 2
Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central
You don't want your watch to need to be charged every day so you want a smartwatch that will last for a long time. Garmin Venu 2 is a great option. This is the company's latest model, and it has many new features that will allow you to track your fitness. Garmin Venu 2 smartwatch mode can provide up to 11 days battery life. Even though the model is smaller at 40mm, it still offers a remarkable 10 day battery life. There is also a battery saver mode to extend your battery life. The Venu 2 is available in a 45mm or 40mm case, depending on whether you choose the smaller 2S model. It also features an AMOLED display. Both models can be used with interchangeable bands. You can choose from many different styles so that you don't have to sacrifice your fashion sense when purchasing a Garmin smartwatch. You'll also enjoy many fitness features such as built-in GPS, activity/sleep monitoring, over 25 sport modes and heart-rate monitoring. Garmin Pay also offers onboard music storage, NFC payments and NFC payments. The fitness age feature will calculate whether your body is older or younger than your chronological age by using key stats like your actual age, weekly vigorous exercise, and your BMI. If you are interested in lowering your fitness age, there are some helpful tips. Although it's a costly smartwatch, some may find its unbeatable battery life or feature set to be worthwhile. Pros Gorgeous AMOLED display
Battery life up to 11 days
GPS built-in
Monitoring heart rate
Water resistance 50 meters
Pros of a stylish design
A smaller model is not necessarily more expensive
Garmin Venu 2 Smartwatch - Best Battery The smartwatch for fitness with incredible battery life. The Garmin Venu 2 has many perks. It doesn't need to be charged every day. Amazon: $400
Best Buy: $400
Walmart: $400
Best upgrade pick: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Source: Ara Wagoner / Android Central
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 wearable is the most recent to hit the market. There's plenty to love about it. On closer inspection, the Galaxy Watch 4's successor is the Galaxy Watch Active 2. The Galaxy Watch 4 Classic is also available. It has the same smartwatch features and can be used for health/fitness tracking. Only the physical appearance is different. It has a rotating bezel instead of a digital one. The cases are made from stainless steel, not aluminum, and so they weigh more than the Galaxy Watch 4 models. The most significant change is the upgrade to the Galaxy Watch 4 models. These watches now run on the Wear OS 3 platform. You get a smooth user experience when you add Samsung's Exynos SoC, 1.5GB RAM, and 16GB storage. Samsung's 3-in-1 BioActive sensor is another improvement. It consists of one chip which houses multiple health sensors including an optical heart rate and an electrical heart. It is possible to easily measure your blood oxygen levels, record your heart beat, and take an electrocardiogram (ECG). The BIA sensor, a new addition, measures your body composition. It records key metrics such as body water, fat percentage, skeletal muscles mass, and other important data. The merging of Google and Samsung will allow users to have a wider selection of apps. The Galaxy Watch 4 will come preloaded with many Google apps, including Messages by Google and Google Pay. However, iOS users are not compatible. Although the battery life is impressive, it can only last up to 40 hours. The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is on its way to being one of the most popular fitness smartwatches. Pros: The Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is slim and lightweight
First Wear OS 3 smartwatch
Silky-smooth performance
Activity/sleep monitoring
Optional LTE connectivity
App support is better Cons: Battery life hasn’t improved
iOS users are not compatible
The Galaxy Watch 4 Smartwatch is the best upgrade. The Galaxy Watch 4 tracks many aspects of your fitness and health. You can choose from two sizes, with ECG, BIA and optional LTE. Samsung: Starting at $250
Best Fitbit: Fitbit Versa 3
Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central
The new Fitbit Versa 3 is a great device. It's an amazing device that successfully combines the best of Fitbit's fitness features with outstanding smartwatch perks. Finally, this model has onboard GPS! This model has six-plus days of battery-life, enhanced heart-rate technology and Active Zone Minutes. The new design is also slimmer and more sleek than the predecessor. The device also features a microphone and speaker built in, making it easy to use voice assistants. You can also make Bluetooth calls right from your wrist. The Versa 3 offers all the fitness features you would expect such as 24-hour heart rate monitoring, tracking activity, sleep stages and female health. On-screen workouts will guide you through every move. It can withstand water up to 50M. Active Zone Minutes now lets you know when your heart rate has reached your target zone. You might not be happy if you have a collection of Fitbit Versa bands. Versa 3 features the company's latest infinity bands, which are quick to release and easy to use. The app selection for Fitbit wearables is limited, however, as it usually is with Fitbit watches. If you love the Versa 3, but are looking for more advanced health features than the Versa 3, you might consider the Fitbit Sense. Pros: Sleek, slim design
Battery life for six-plus days
GPS onboard
Minutes in Active Zone
Speaker and mic built-in
Fitbit Pay Cons Older bands are not compatible
Small app selection
The Best Fitbit Fitbit Versa 3 Fitness & Health Smartwatch with GPS Fitbit's most comprehensive smartwatch to date. It features a sleek design and a long battery life. Amazon: Starting at $228
Best Buy: $230
Walmart: $229
Best Wear OS: TicWatch Pro 3
Source: Chris Wedel/Android Central
Although it is a bit more expensive than the TicWatch Pro 3, the TicWatch Pro 3 fitness smartwatch is the best for Wear OS users. It not only has a dual-layer display from the company and a longer battery life, but also offers many other features that make it a great wearable device. The watch's battery life can be determined by the choice of different modes. You can use all the key features in Daily Mode, but it will need to be charged every day. Extended Mode allows you to use key features, and only requires recharging once every few days. The TicWatch Pro 3 can be used in Essential mode, which only has a few features activated. It can last for up to 45 days. This is a large Wear OS watch at 47mm. Mobvoi claims that the design has been refined and is 30% lighter. Although the case is still quite large, it's great that Mobvoi made an effort to make it lighter. The addition of Snapdragon Wear 4100 allows for faster performance. TicExercise, TicPulse, and TicPulse are two new apps that have been updated. TicOxygen is available for SpO2 tracking and TicHearing can detect and alert to noises, TicBreathe allows for breathing training and TicZen monitors stress levels with heart-rate data. This smartwatch could be the best fitness smartwatch for your needs, regardless of its size or price. This is a great example of what a successor should have. The new processor will provide you with a snappy performance, improved design, health sensors, and many more apps. The TicWatch Pro 3 will also be eligible for the next Wear OS 3 platform upgrade. Pros Improved performance
GPS built-in
Monitor heart rate
Blood oxygen tracking
Swim-proof design
NFC for Google Pay Cons Too big for some wrists
High price tag
Best Wear OS TicWatch Pro 3 GPS Smartwatch. The TicWatch Pro 3 GPS smartwatch is the best for fitness. It features activity tracking, GPS and blood oxygen monitoring. Amazon: $300
Walmart: $280
B&H: $240
Apple Watch Series 6 is the best premium option
Source: Android Central
The Apple Watch Series 6 is a great watch for iOS. There aren't many changes from the previous model. There are many perks to the Apple Watch Series 6, including heart-rate monitoring and built-in GPS. It also has an altimeter that tracks floors climbed, blood oxygen (SpO2) monitoring and sleep-tracking. You can also use Apple Pay (5 ATM) and it will be waterproof. This time, the design is almost identical. You'll have more color options, including blue, red and gold as well as graphite. Aluminum, stainless steel and titanium are all options for case materials. Apple has dropped the ceramic version of its iPhone 6S with this edition, as you may have noticed. This device also includes the new S6 processor. Apple claims that the Apple Watch Series 6 will be faster than its predecessor and last for longer. Apple is trying to stay ahead of other fitness smartwatches in the market. Apple Fitness+ is a subscription service that offers a variety of video-led workouts. This model features the new Apple Fitness+. The user can choose their favorite workout and the video will be displayed on the Apple device of choice. The screen will display the current Apple Watch data while you are working out. The Apple Watch Series 6 is still quite expensive. This is a seamless experience, even if you have an iPhone. You might consider upgrading if you are okay with the price and the fact that it isn't a huge improvement over the previous model. It still has the 18-hour battery, which is a disappointment. Pros Always-on display
ECG built-in
Native sleep-tracking
Call 911 in an emergency
Apple Fitness+
Optional LTE connectivity
Apple Pay Cons: Not many upgrades over the predecessor
It's quite expensive
