The Charge 5 is a fitness tracker that does it all. It has multiple uses and features and is unique in its design. Automatic activity tracking, onboard gps, advanced health monitoring, and more are offered by the Charge 5. It is no wonder that Fitbit is highly regarded in the industry. If that is not your cup of tea, there are many other options to choose from. You will be able to find the best fitness tracker for your needs if you are looking for specific software, design, or feature set.

What are the best fitness trackers?

There are a lot of options when choosing a fitness tracker. One of the most well-known names is Fitbit. The industry leader makes up a good portion of our list. They share the same features, but each tracker is geared towards a different type of user. Whether you want the look and feel of a smartwatch, a dedicated fitness tracker with onboard gps, or a basic tracker that is ideal for beginners, Fitbit has it all.

There are other names you will find here. You will also find other significant players, such as Garmin, that may catch your eye. It will be easier to narrow down your options once you have decided what type of experience you want.

Are you looking for the most robust activity tracking suite? You may be more focused on certain health aspects, like energy, stress, and blood oxygen saturation levels. It will be easy to find a fitness tracker at a reasonable price if you are on a tight budget. There are tons of great fitness watches if you need more.

Fitbit Charge 5 on arm

Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central (Image credit: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central)

Fitbit Charge 5

The best tracker.

Some fitness trackers only cover the basics, but the Charge 5 goes above and beyond. This is as close as you can get to a watch in the form of a fitness tracker. It has the same features as its predecessor, including heart-rate tracking, and the ability to pay. It has new health sensors that will give you a better picture of your well-being.

We know what to expect from fitness trackers, but the Charge 5 will change that. When a new tracker is released, we only get a few subtle changes. A lot has improved with the Charge 5. Key features such as the ECG app and Daily Readiness Score that were not available at launch are now.

One of the most noticeable differences is the refined design with a gorgeous AMOLED screen and a sleek steel body. The fitness tracker is 10% thinner than its predecessor and has a rounded design. The improved design allows for a more natural and comfortable fit that fits perfectly to the shape of your wrist. We get new charging cables and bands with the changes to the design.

The Charge 5 has many essential fitness features from the Charge 4. The advanced health sensors from Fitbit give you more information than before. The stress levels are recorded by the EDA sensor. The sensor can detect irregular heartbeats. If you want to track advanced health metrics, this is the best fitness tracker you can buy.

Some of the key features that made the Charge 4 such a hit will be there for you. The Charge 5 is also equipped with a payment method. You will be able to control music from your tracker. There is no on-device music storage.

Fitbit Charge 4

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Fitbit Charge 4

The best value tracker.

The Charge 4 is the most well-rounded fitness tracker for the money. It has onboard gps to track your workouts without a phone, and easily replaceable bands for convenience and style. You get all of the regular fitness tracking goodies, like step tracking, sleep tracking, and automatic workout tracking.

Fitbit was known for its excellent fitness bands. The Charge 4 takes everything the company has learned about the form factor over the years and stands out as one of the most polished and refined devices. The Charge 4 has come a long way compared to the Charge 3.

The Charge 4 has a built in gps device. This allows you to map outdoor runs, walks, and bike rides without having to bring your phone with you. It has all of the other fitness features you would expect, such as all-day activity tracking, sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and automatic workout detection. If you want to use the Charge 4 for tracking swims, you need 50-meter waterproof.

The Charge 4 is lightweight and comfortable to wear, and it has a seven-day battery life, so you don't have to worry about how much gas you have left in the tank.

There are a number of smart features offered by Fitbit, such as Fitbit Pay, notifications from your phone, and a Spotify app to control music. It would have been great to have local music storage to give the Charge 4 even more independence from your phone, but even so, this is an incredibly complete package.

Fitbit Versa 3

Source: Fitbit (Image credit: Source: Fitbit)

Fitbit Versa 3

The best upgraded fitness tracker.

One of the most popular names in the world is always a good option. Health and fitness tracking is ideal for workout enthusiasts. In addition, you have built-in gps, activity/sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and Fitbit Pay.

The Versa 3 takes everything that is great about the Versa 2 and kicks it up a notch, putting it in the company of the best Android smartwatches. The design of the case was not altered too much, but it did make it a bit slimmer and rounder. The bad news is that any old bands you bought for your Versa, Versa lite, or Versa 2 won't work on this new watch.

It does the same thing as the Versa 2, but with an improved heart rate sensor, SpO2 monitoring, and a new Active Zone Minutes feature. The watch now has built-inGPS so you can accurately track your workout without bringing your phone with you, and all versions of the watch include Fitbit Pay. You can follow along with on-screen activities.

The Versa 3 has an app store with popular names and easy to navigate notifications on the phone. You can talk directly to either of the two virtual assistants and hear their responses. The good news is that there is storage for hundreds of songs on the Versa 3.

Xiaomi Mi Band 6 review

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Xiaomi Mi Band 6

Xiaomi Mi Band 6

As cheap as it gets.

Today's best Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 and deals

The best budget tracker.

The Mi Band 6 is a fitness tracker that will not break the bank. It is the company's latest tracker and offers heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, activity/sleep tracking, 30 sport modes, and menstrual health tracking.

If you want to be able to cover your bases with your fitness tracker without breaking the bank, you will love the Mi Band 6. It is an improvement over its predecessor, with a larger display area that is easier to read and navigate. It offers a satisfying list of tracking abilities and other features that are hard to find at this price point.

You can choose from up to 30 sport modes, including outdoor running, treadmill running, indoor cycling, outdoor cycling, pool swimming, yoga, and more.

You will have a solid 14 days of battery life, which can be extended up to 20 days in power-saving mode. You will enjoy sleep tracking, menstrual health tracking, and all-day heart rate monitoring. It might not be a wristwatch, but it is still a powerful little tracker at this price point.

Fitbit Inspire 2 on wrist

Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central (Image credit: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central)

Fitbit Inspire 2

The best heart-rate monitor on a fitness tracker.

One of the most popular names in the world is always a good option. The Inspire 2 has an improved heart rate monitor, female health and sleep tracking, and an amazing 10 day battery life.

You will likely forget you are wearing it because it is so small and lightweight. The peg-and-loop style is not offered by this tracker. The bands are easy to change and stylish. One of the best fitness trackers for budget shoppers is the Fitbit Inspire 2, which is more affordable than ever.

You will need to squeeze both sides of the buttons to return to the home screen. When you are ready to start exercising, wipe down. There are some restrictions to having a small screen. You will need to go to the app to set alarms and bring your phone with you. If you want to monitor your heart rate, this is an excellent option. It will help you with the basics, but you will miss out on some features.

At 11 days, the Inspire 2 has a phenomenal battery life. Thanks to its integration with the Tile tracking network, it is difficult to misplace.

Garmin Vivosmart 4

Source: Garmin (Image credit: Source: Garmin)

Garmin Vivosmart 4

The best tracking suite on a fitness tracker.

If you're all about health tracking, there's no better choice than the Vivosmart 4. It monitors your heart rate, stress, energy, and blood oxygen saturation levels.

The Vivosmart 4 is a fitness tracker. It keeps a record of your steps, sleep, calories burned, floors climbed, various exercises, and heart rate. The health- tracking features of this tracker shine. It may not be a full-blown Garmin smartwatch, but it has the essential features most users need.

You will have advanced sleep tracking with REM sleep. The pulse ox sensor can be used to gauge blood oxygen saturation levels during the night. There is a relaxation breathing timer as well as the all-day stress tracking feature. The monitor helps you maximize your daily activities based on your energy levels.

There are a couple of things you will miss. You will still have access to notifications on your phone. You can respond with preset quick replies if you are an Android user. The best way to get detailed health tracking data is with the Vivosmart 4.

Galaxy Fit 2 Washing Hands

Source: Samsung (Image credit: Source: Samsung)

Samsung Galaxy Fit 2

The best alternative tracking suite is on a fitness tracker.

Users who are committed to in-depth activity tracking are ideal for theGalaxy Fit 2. You will have access to workout and sleep tracking. It is also great for intense workouts.

If you have been searching for the perfect fitness companion that will go the distance for any activity you have in mind, you will have found your match with the Samsung Fit 2. The device is water resistant up to 50 meters and compliant with military-level durability standards.

You will have the convenience of automatic activity tracking for five workouts. You can use the mobile app to pick from over 90 exercises and 10 can be set as preferred activities. Rope jumping is the newest addition to the exercise mix and is great for both adults and children.

Your heart rate, sleep patterns, and stress levels will be monitored by the Galaxy Fit 2. This robust activity tracking suite is hard to pass up, even though there is no gps here. The FreeRTOS on this fitness tracker isn't as sophisticated as the Tizen OS found on the SAMSUNG WATCH.

A new camera controller feature is available with compatible devices if you have the latest version of the OS on your device. If you want to cancel a call while you are in a meeting or out for a run, there is a new call decline feature.

Fitbit Luxe on wrist

Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central (Image credit: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central)

Fitbit Luxe

The best fitness tracker.

The most premium tracker you can buy is the Luxe, but it is not the most high-end tracker. The profile and capabilities of the Inspire 2 make it a good challenger to the Fitbit Sense.

If you prefer a lightweight, low-profile tracker but want something that has the high-end looks of a much more expensive watch, then the Fitbit Luxe might be just the device you are looking for.

The Luxe's casing is made from high-quality STAINLESS steel and is available in three premium finishes. You can dress it up and accessories with jewelry-style bands, but it can also be used for training. It includes six months of the premium service for you to try out, and setup is easy thanks to the fast pair feature. The Luxe is the first tracker to feature a color screen.

This is one of the best-looking Wearables we have ever tested, but it does make a few tradeoffs that you might want to be aware of. The Charge 4 has built-in gps, but the Charge 4 does not. It has the same capabilities as the cheaper Inspire 2, but lacks the Tile tracker integration and near two-week battery life.

If you want the basics done well in a device that looks fantastic, the Luxe is for you.

Wyze Band in hand by flowers

Source: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central (Image credit: Jeramy Johnson / Android Central)

Wyze Band

Track your health and control your smart home.

If you are looking for a fitness band that also comes with smart home automation capabilities, look no further. The Wyze Band offers activity/sleep tracking and heart-rate monitoring, but it also has a stunning display and built-in voice assistant.

Wyze is better known for making affordable smart home devices like cameras and lights than it is for making Wearables. The Wyze Band has a large color AMOLED display and a comfortable silicone band that you can wear on your wrist.

It does all the basics well, even though it doesn't have all of the advanced health tracking features. The only fitness mode onboard is for running, but that might be enough for you. It brings features to the table that other bands cannot match, like the ability to control your Wyze smart home devices by tapping on the screen of your tracker or the ability to issue commands to Amazon through the included microphone.

The colors and patterns on the display are striking, and you can change them to your liking. The biggest downside to this device is that it doesn't integrate with social competition apps like MapMyFitness. Maybe that will come in a future update.

Amazfit Band 5

Source: Amazfit (Image credit: Source: Amazfit)

Amazfit Band 5

The best fitness tracker for beginners.

Those who are just beginning their fitness- tracking journey may want to ease into it. The Amazfit Band 5 is a great way to go about it. You will have activity/sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, female health- tracking, and more.

At an affordable price point, Amazfit has built a reputation for making quality watches. Whether you want a more basic watch like the Neo or a more advanced watch like the GTS 2, you are sure to find something suitable from this company.

The Band 5 has a similar name, look, and price to its rival, but Amazfit has a few tricks up its sleeve to differentiate it from the low-priced competition. This is one of the few pure fitness trackers that has built-in AmazonAlexa integration, as well as the other two, the Wyze Band and the Fitbit Versa 2 and 3. The innovative PAI health assessment system is an important feature of the Amazfit Band 5. Using data from the heart rate monitor, daily activity tracking, and other health metrics, the Amazfit Band 5 can easily understand your overall health and fitness score. This can help you to make changes to improve your health and life.

The Amazfit Band 5 has table-stakes features like a heart rate monitor. Female health tracking and SpO2 monitoring can be handled by this band. This is the best starter band for this price.

Amazon Halo View workout

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Amazon Halo View

The best fitness tracker.

The Amazon Halo View is an affordable fitness tracker that dives deeper into the details. It takes a different approach to fitness tracking. Standard features include activity/sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, and blood oxygen tracking.

The company has tried before to deliver a well-rounded fitness tracker. The first attempt was the Amazon Halo band, which had a distraction-free design with no display for users to interact with. Amazon listened to feedback and delivered a new model.

The fitness tracker is small and light. You also get blood oxygen and activity monitoring. On a single charge, the battery can last up to a week. You will need a membership to use the in-depth features of the Amazon Halo View. You can get a year of Halo for free when you purchase the tracker. You will have to pay a small monthly fee after that.

Many users will find the metrics in the Amazon Halo View interesting. The app and camera on your phone can be used to assess your mobility, stability, and posture. After the assessment, you will receive custom program recommendations to improve your movement. The same tool is used to determine your body fat percentage. This information can be helpful, but it can feel a bit intrusive and cause users to focus on numbers rather than progress.

How to pick the best fitness tracker

The top spot on our list is taken by the Charge 5. The number of features you receive is unparalleled. You will have a whole week of battery life, built-inGPS, built-in heart-rate monitoring, convenient music controls, sleep tracking, and much more. The new ECG and EDA sensors dive deeper into your health.

The Charge 5 has a smaller display, but it is much easier to use now that you have a color AMOLED screen. These concerns do not hold a candle to the features. You can track everything from step taken to floor climbed. Monitoring your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and controlling your streaming service are all possible while you do this.

If you are looking for the best fitness tracker for your needs, you may be stuck in one of the internet black holes. How do you know which activity tracker has the features you want at a price you can afford?

Here are a few tips to help you decide which fitness tracker is best for you.

1. Start with a price.

Depending on which features you want, your new fitness tracker could be quite expensive, or it could set you back quite a bit. We looked at a watch that was close to the quadruple digits for a good 30 seconds before we realized we were in reality.

You should still be cautious when buying dirt cheap. cheap fitness trackers are just that. You will need to use the app to get all the details on your latest workout because less expensive models won't come with a full display.

2. Decide on features.

Pick which features you need to narrow down your search. If your primary goal is to track your steps as you walk around the neighborhood, you probably don't need a heart rate monitor or gps.

If you want to keep tabs on calories burned, heart rate, and miles traveled while you ride your mountain bike, you need a fitness tracker with gps and a heart rate monitor.

If you plan on swimming laps in the pool while wearing your tracker, you should pay attention to the waterproof rating. Make sure you pick a model that swims.

3. Look at the wristband.

If you have average-sized wrists, wristband fit is not an issue for you. If you have thinner or thicker wrists, you should pay attention to the bands that come with fitness trackers.

The sizes of fitness trackers offered by brands include small, medium, and large. Others offer bands that fit wrists of all sizes.

The strap style is something to note about the wristbands. Is it a traditional watch strap? Is it simply a button together? The button style can feel less secure if we are working out at the gym.

Most fitness trackers have band replacements. If you like, you can upgrade the material, color, and fit. We want to have choices.

4. Consider the style.

Are you satisfied with a fitness tracker that looks like a fitness tracker? Do you prefer a traditional watch?

You can choose from any of the shapes and sizes of activity trackers, so you can go as you please.

If you are looking for a watch that can fool a coworker into thinking it is a real watch, we think the design of the Fitbit Versa 3 is great. If you want something on the stylish side, but are not ready for a full-blown smartwatch, the Charge 5 or Luxe may be the one for you. If you are looking for something simple, the Fitbit Inspire 2 and Luxe are a good choice.

5. Don't forget about the apps.

Our favorite fitness tracker app is Fitbit. It has a full range of features and is user-friendly. We have never seen a fitness tracker app with menstrual cycle tracking.

Many popular third-party apps integrate with the Fitbit app for a more robust tracking system. Here are some of our favorites.

The top health and wellbeing apps.

  1. MyFitnessPal
  2. Calm
  3. C25K
  4. Headspace
  5. Strava

How do fitness trackers work?

Some of the technology used in fitness tracker is relatively common, like optical sensors and altimeters. If you break into your fitness watch, here are some of the technology you can find.

  1. 3-axis accelerometer — This measures your movements in every direction and helps track those steps.
  2. Gyroscope — This gets a read on your orientation and rotation as you move. Now it's time for some split squats!
  3. Altimeter — Whether you're tracking your hike up the mountain or climbing stairs on your work break, this keeps track of your altitude.
  4. Optical sensors — These shine light into your capillaries to measure how quickly or slowly your blood is pumping to give you an idea of your current heart rate.
  5. Actigraphy — Ever wondered how activity trackers monitor your sleep? Actigraphy identifies your sleep patterns by tracking your activity and rest cycles, then gives you an idea of how much you tossed and turned last night.
  6. GPS — The GPS receiver collects data from different satellites to calculate your position as a set of coordinates. This lets you track your terrain and distance after a trail run or day on the slopes.

Not all fitness trackers are created the same. Actigraphy isn't as accurate as measuring your sleep cycle in a lab, and optical sensors aren't as precise as bioimpedance sensors when it comes to monitoring your heart rate.

What are the best fitness watches for large wrists?

It is important to keep size in mind when shopping for a fitness tracker. Most bands can be adjusted to fit your wrist. If you have a large wrist, you will want to keep an eye out for options that will work for you.

We recommend what we recommend for large wrists.

The best fitness watches for large wrists.

  1. Fitbit Charge 5 - The large size sport band can fit bigger wrists between 6.7 to 8.3 inches in circumference.
  2. Fitbit Charge 4 — The large size band will fit comfortably on larger wrists that range from 7.1 to 8.7 inches in circumference.
  3. Fitbit Versa 3 —While the Versa couldn't look more different than the Charge 4, it can also fit 7.1 to 8.7 inches.
  4. Xiaomi Mi Band 6 —This may not be the biggest tracker on the market, but it can still accommodate wrists from 6.1 to 8.6 inches.

What are the best fitness trackers for wrists?

Finding the right fit for a dainty wrist is even more difficult. The last thing you want is for your tracker to move as you go about your day.

What should you do? We think the activity trackers fit in a glove.

Three best fitness trackers for small wrists.

  1. Garmin Vivosmart 4: The small/medium band can fit wrists as small as 4.8 inches and as large as 7.4 inches. Now, that's impressive.
  2. Fitbit Inspire 2: This tracker is lightweight and compact. Did we mention it can fit wrists that measure between 5.5 and 8.7 inches?
  3. Fitbit Luxe: Designed to look dainty, the wristband is also thin and lightweight, making it perfect for smaller wrists ranging from 5.3 to 7.1 inches.

You are one step closer to running laps around your goals now that you have found your fitness tracker match.