The ten greatest health trackers in 2024

Health trackers have come a great distance from the straightforward bands that tracked steps and little else. Trendy trackers can monitor every little thing 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 targets are, there’s most likely 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 additional issues you’ll must have in mind earlier than reaching on your pockets. It makes it laborious to say that anyone health tracker is the perfect for everybody. Fortunately, the perfect 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 purchasing season. A bit endurance goes a great distance this time of yr. Retailers and firms alike will probably be making an attempt to eliminate previous inventory, that means reductions galore forward of Black Friday. When you don’t want the newest and biggest, it’s 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 methods / 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 acquired a local digital camera distant and a helpful Pomodoro timer inbuilt. And for out of doors 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 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 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 admittedly lacking is contactless funds, but it surely 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 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, 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 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 substitute their ageing Fitbit Versa 2, 3, or 4. It’s acquired an identical 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, nonetheless, as this doesn’t have LTE.)

If you’d like the choice of onboard music, you possibly can shell out $50 additional for the Music Version, which comes with sufficient storage for about 500 songs. I wouldn’t suggest it, nonetheless, 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, nonetheless, is it’s one which you can 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 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 perfect half is Garmin doesn’t lock any of this behind a paywall.

One be aware: there’s a Venu 3, which provides a more moderen coronary heart charge sensor and nap detection. I favored it fairly a bit, and it ticks off a whole lot of the proper bins — aside from worth. It’s $450, which places it outdoors what I’d think about ultimate for informal customers. The opposite possibility is Garmin’s Forerunner 165 — it’s a $249 funds coaching watch that’s fairly much 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 good selection if all you need is the fitness-tracking fundamentals. That is very true since newer software program updates usually make their option to older Garmins. Garmin customers additionally have a tendency to hold onto their units for 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 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 sequence isn’t 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 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 glorious restoration metrics in addition to useful coaching guides and training applications. The very best half is that Garmin doesn’t cost additional for these options. That’s excellent news, as these are costly watches.

I admire how rapidly these Fenix 7 watches can choose up a GPS sign. That’s a should in case you’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 10ATM of water resistance. Which means 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 a lot 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 choose 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. (You can too try our Garmin shopping for information in case 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 or 7 Professional lineup is the higher general worth. The Fenix 8 provides diving options and voice assistant capabilities, but it surely additionally ups the usual Fenix 7’s beginning worth of $650 by an extra $350. That’s robust to swallow, particularly since vacation season is upon us and retailers might supply reductions on older fashions to eliminate present stock.

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

Sizes: 12 proprietary sizes, 4–15, sizing package wanted / Weight: 4–6g (relies on measurement) / Battery life: As much as seven 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 $349 Oura Ring isn’t. The good ring is an efficient possibility for people who find themselves on the lookout 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. 

The brand new Oura Ring 4 isn’t functionally that a lot totally different from the earlier Gen 3. It’s slimmer, encompasses a new all-titanium design, has improved battery life, and has a brand new sensor algorithm that Oura says is extra correct. Not one of the new software program options are gatekept to the Ring 4, so Gen 3 homeowners shouldn’t really feel the necessity to improve until their ring now not lasts greater than two days on a single cost. That mentioned, the fourth-gen ring has an expanded measurement vary spanning from 4 to fifteen. When you felt your Gen 3 was a bit comfortable or couldn’t discover a measurement that match proper, you could have a greater possibility now.

Whereas smaller than your common wearable, the Oura Ring nonetheless tracks a ton of metrics, together with coronary heart charge variability, physique temperature, blood oxygen, all-day coronary heart charge monitoring, and cycle monitoring. Since launching, the Oura Ring has additionally added exercise monitoring, blood oxygen ranges, chronotypes to assist visualize your circadian rhythms, a social characteristic known as Circles, improved stress monitoring, cardiovascular age and capability metrics, and even an AI chatbot (in beta). It’s additionally rolled out a brand new sleep levels algorithm that it claims is extra correct than earlier than. The app has additionally been solely revamped to higher manage all these new options and metrics.

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

When you’ve acquired a Samsung Galaxy Watch, chances are you’ll need to think about the $399.99 Galaxy Ring. It’s a bit dearer than the bottom Oura Ring, but it surely doesn’t include a subscription, and also you get a lot better battery life when used with the Galaxy Watch. The {hardware} can be glorious, particularly the charging case. That mentioned, that is solely an possibility for Android customers, and even then, you don’t unlock its full potential until you’ve acquired different Samsung gear. I additionally suggest the Ultrahuman Ring Air for people who don’t like the concept of Oura’s month-to-month subscription.

You possibly can learn my experiences with a bunch of different good rings, however proper now, the Oura Ring is probably the most polished with the perfect general expertise. When you don’t thoughts a last-gen mannequin, my professional tip is to get the Gen 3. Oura will probably be trying to eliminate stock, so it’s probably you’ll have the ability to snag low cost whereas provides final.

Learn my full overview of the Oura Ring 4.

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 actually laborious to beat the Amazfit Band 7’s $49.99 worth — doubly so since you possibly can usually discover it on sale for even much less. Sporting the Band 7 appears 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, but it surely’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 possibility 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 this can be a honest tradeoff contemplating every little thing else you’re getting. It’s not the most suitable choice for hardcore health monitoring, however this can be a nice possibility if all you’re trying to do is casually observe exercise and your steps.

Amazfit’s been making surprisingly good funds trackers for some time. That mentioned, in case you’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 a whole lot 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 flexibility 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 sort:  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 acquired all of your fundamentals like easy push notifications, timers, and alarms. Plus, you possibly can observe steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS actions straight from the wrist. It seems spiffy on the wrist, and in case you like a pop of coloration, Withings affords minty inexperienced and pale blue coloration 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 a lot better than the overwhelming majority of flagship smartwatches. This additionally seems far more trendy than beefier multisport watches with comparable battery life.

As its title suggests, the Gentle is a pared-down model of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The principle stuff you’re lacking are an EKG sensor for atrial fibrillation detection, a temperature sensor, blood oxygen monitoring, and an altimeter for monitoring elevation. For fundamental health monitoring, you don’t actually need these sensors. That’s why I feel 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 will get from different watches within the $350 worth vary. That mentioned, if you would 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 prior to now few years. It’s laborious 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 brilliant lighting, and battery life was considerably shorter than different hybrid analog watches at round 5 days. Nonetheless, in case you’d somewhat a platform with a deal with health somewhat 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 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

When you’re on the lookout for a smartwatch that does health properly, 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 comfy watch than in years previous. It’s thinner and lighter, plus there’s a bigger show. When you’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 supplies 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 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 Sensible Stack. For instance, in case you’re in a loud cafe questioning what music’s taking part in, the Sensible 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.

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 characteristic disabled resulting from an ongoing patent battle with medical system 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 completely makes use of the accelerometer somewhat than the blood oxygen sensor. You would possibly need to think about a refurbished Sequence 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is vital to you, nonetheless.

When you’re a first-time purchaser, you may as well 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 introduction to the ecosystem. In any other case, in case you’re the kind of athlete who covets a Garmin, you might also need to think about splurging on the Apple Watch Extremely 2. It’s dearer at $799, but it surely does have the brightest display screen of any Apple Watch, comes with dual-frequency GPS, has diving and climbing security options, and is fabricated from extra sturdy supplies. There’s additionally a fetching new black coloration.

Learn my full overview 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 disillusioned 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 choose the Galaxy Watch 7 myself, I can’t say it’s the perfect 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 selection for wearability. It’s simply extra comfy for sleep monitoring and lighter general. Simply bear in mind 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 observe. As all the time, some options, like EKGs and sleep apnea detection, are restricted to Samsung homeowners. That makes this tough to wholeheartedly suggest this to non-Samsung Android customers.

But when the Extremely doesn’t float your boat, now is an efficient time to seek out the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence, notably 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 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 achieved taking part in catch-up.

There are actually too many updates to name each out individually, however general, they fall into two buckets: refinement and growth. The {hardware} is usually 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 kind of good, particularly in case you choose bigger screens with out sacrificing wearability.

Battery life can be higher. There’s a brand new battery-saver mode that kicks in if you hit 15 % 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, but it surely’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 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 Every day Readiness Rating and a brand new Cardio Load metric, which gauges how intensely you’ve been exercising. For European customers, you may as well get the brand new Lack of Pulse characteristic, which calls emergency companies in your behalf if it detects you now 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 helpful in case you get a whole lot of packages or visitors. When you have Google TV, you need to use the watch as a distant. Now that the watch has an extremely wideband chip, it might probably additionally now unlock your Pixel telephone. You can too 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. When you’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, but it surely’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 sort: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: As much as 10 meters / Music storage: None

The Whoop 4.0 shouldn’t be for the informal fanatic. Not solely does it include an costly month-to-month subscription, however the info it offers is simply helpful in case you’re actively coaching for a cardio-intensive sport. If power coaching is your essential 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 prior to now week. 

Whoop additionally offers a whole lot of novel methods to put on its tracker, together with in underwear and arm/knee sleeves. This makes it an interesting possibility in case you’re a type 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 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, October twenty first: Adjusted pricing and availability.