Fitness trackers now offer a wide range of features, from heart health to recovery tracking, rivaling smartwatches. With the variety available in 2024, there’s a tracker for every lifestyle. After a wave of new releases in 2023, including the Apple Watch Series 9 and others, the market will see fewer launches until late summer, allowing for purchase without fear of missing out on newer models.
Quick Overview of the Best Products
| Image | Product | Feature | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Best Overall
|
Amazfit GTR 4
|
|
Check Price |
|
Best for casual users
|
Garmin Venu Sq 2
|
|
Check Price |
|
Best for outdoor athletes
|
Garmin Fenix 7S Pro
|
|
Check Price |
|
Best non-wrist tracker
|
Oura Ring Gen 3
|
|
Check Price |
1. Amazfit GTR 4
The Amazfit GTR 4 is a versatile smartwatch, offering features like dual-band GPS, Alexa compatibility, and a 14-day battery life. It boasts an OLED display, health tracking, and smart connectivity options, minus contactless payments. It’s a strong contender in its price range, especially with its long battery life and sleek design.
Design and Build Quality: The Amazfit GTR 4 sports a classic watch-inspired design with a 46mm aluminum alloy case and a 22mm quick-release strap. It features two physical buttons that, while functional, may not appeal to everyone aesthetically. The watch is waterproof up to 50m, making it suitable for swimming and other water-related activities. Its 1.43-inch AMOLED display is bright and offers an always-on mode.
Fitness and Health Tracking: With over 150 sports modes, the GTR 4 is a versatile fitness tracker. It includes an accelerometer, geomagnetic sensor, gyroscope, heart rate monitor, and an ambient light sensor. The multiband GPS is a high-end feature not commonly found in other models, ensuring more accurate location tracking.
Battery Life: One of the standout features of the GTR 4 is its battery life. Amazfit promises up to 14 days of battery life, which is impressive compared to other smartwatches on the market. However, this is with all advanced monitoring features turned off. With regular use, including always-on display and health tracking, the battery life will be shorter.
Smartwatch Features: The GTR 4 offers a range of smartwatch features, including music playback and storage. However, it lacks support for music streaming services and wireless charging. The app store is mainly native apps, which might limit the variety of third-party applications available.
User Interface: While the GTR 4 is packed with features, the interface can feel bloated, which may hinder the user experience. Navigation and taking full advantage of the watch’s capabilities could be more intuitive.
Price Point: The Amazfit GTR 4 offers a good balance between cost and functionality. It competes well with other smartwatches in its price range, such as the Fitbit Versa series and Huawei Watch GT 3.
2. Garmin Venu Sq 2
The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is an affordable Fitbit alternative with advanced fitness tracking, long battery life, and no subscription fee. It features a bright OLED display, GPS, and health monitoring tools. The Music Edition offers extra music storage for a higher price, but the watch isn’t standalone. Older models like the Venu 3 are pricier but not essential for basic needs, as Garmin regularly updates software across devices.
The Garmin Venu® Sq 2 emerges as a noteworthy contender in the realm of entry-level GPS smartwatches. It boasts a brighter display, enhanced sensors, and an impressive battery life extension, positioning it as a mid-range device that keeps pace with contemporary expectations.
Design and Build Quality: The Venu® Sq 2 maintains a square design, which may appeal to those who prefer a more traditional watch appearance. The build quality is robust, with a comfortable fit that can be worn all day without discomfort.
Display: A significant upgrade from its predecessor is the AMOLED display, which offers vivid colors and crisp clarity. This makes it easier to read in various lighting conditions, a crucial feature for outdoor activities.
Performance and Sensor Accuracy: Users will find the sensor accuracy to be consistently reliable, particularly for heart rate monitoring and GPS tracking. However, some users may find the initial setup process somewhat cumbersome.
Battery Life: One of the standout features is the battery life. The Venu® Sq 2 can last up to 11 days on a single charge, which is a substantial improvement over the previous model.
Fitness and Health Tracking: As a fitness tracker, the Venu® Sq 2 excels. It offers a comprehensive suite of features, including a new HIIT activity profile and improved sleep insights. However, it lacks an altimeter, which may be a drawback for those who require elevation tracking.
Smart Features: The smartwatch functionality includes contactless payments and music controls, although it does not support animated workouts or an extensive range of lifestyle features.
Value for Money: The Garmin Venu® Sq 2 provides a balance between performance and cost, making it an attractive option for those seeking a reliable smartwatch without breaking the bank.
3. Garmin Fenix 7S Pro
The Garmin Fenix 7 Pro series features enhanced heart rate tracking, long battery life with solar charging, and robust build quality. It’s equipped with a bright display, GPS, and extensive fitness metrics. The standard Fenix 7 offers similar functionalities at a lower cost, with potential discounts during the holiday season.
The Garmin fēnix 7S Pro Solar is a testament to the evolution of smartwatches, especially for those who lead an active lifestyle. It’s not just a watch; it’s a versatile tool that caters to the needs of serious athletes and outdoor enthusiasts alike.
Design and Build Quality: The fēnix 7S Pro Solar boasts a robust design that’s built to withstand the rigors of outdoor activities. The high-resolution color touch screen is not only beautiful but also functional, providing clarity in various lighting conditions. The addition of a flashlight and solar charging capabilities are thoughtful touches that enhance its usability in the wild.
Performance and Features: With industry-leading health metrics and smartwatch features, this model stands out for its accuracy and all-day health tracking. The watch excels in everyday use and performs admirably under harsh conditions and extended adventures. The improved heart rate sensor and the new solar charging feature push the boundaries of what’s expected from a GPS watch.
Battery Life: One of the most impressive aspects of the fēnix 7S Pro Solar is its battery life. It offers excellent longevity, which is crucial for those long expeditions where charging opportunities are scarce. The solar charging feature further extends its life, ensuring that you stay connected and on track.
User Interface: The user interface is intuitive and user-friendly, making it easy to navigate through the myriad of features. Garmin’s standard user interface looks great on the high-resolution screen, and the touch functionality adds to the ease of use.
Health and Fitness Tracking: For fitness enthusiasts, the fēnix 7S Pro Solar provides comprehensive tracking features that monitor various health metrics. Whether you’re trail running or backcountry skiing, this watch is your go-to pick for accurate and reliable data.
Drawbacks: While the fēnix 7S Pro Solar is a powerhouse of features, it comes with a hefty price tag, which might be a deterrent for some. Additionally, the companion app could see improvements to match the watch’s high standards.
4. Oura Ring Gen 3
The Oura Ring Gen 3 is a non-intrusive tracker for sleep and recovery, monitoring heart rate and temperature without a screen. It’s lightweight, water-resistant, and offers a week’s battery life. The ring focuses on sleep quality and overall wellness, providing daily readiness, sleep, and activity scores. New features include SpO2 sensors, all-day heart rate, and period tracking. Upcoming smart rings from Samsung and others may offer alternatives without subscription fees.
The Oura Ring Gen3 Heritage is not just a piece of jewelry; it’s a comprehensive health tracker disguised as a stylish ring. With its sleek, minimalist design, it houses advanced sensors that track a variety of health metrics, making it a subtle yet powerful companion for anyone interested in their well-being.
Pros:
- Comfortable and Lightweight: Users report that the ring’s design is comfortable to wear and doesn’t interfere with daily activities.
- Intuitive App: The Oura app is user-friendly, providing insights and data in an easy-to-understand format.
- Battery Life: The ring boasts an impressive battery life, reducing the need for frequent charging.
- Health Insights: It provides a range of health insights, including sleep tracking, activity levels, and readiness scores.
- Women’s Health Features: The ring includes features such as period prediction, catering to women’s health needs.
Cons:
- Price: The Oura Ring Gen3 Heritage comes with a hefty price tag, which may be a barrier for some potential users.
- Activity Tracking: While it does track activity, some users feel that this feature could be improved for more accuracy.
- Subscription Model: Access to all insights requires a subscription, adding to the overall cost.
Unique Features:
- The ring’s sensors measure heart rate, heart rate variability (HRV), temperature, and more, summarizing the data into scores for readiness, sleep, and activity.
- Unlike other wearables, the Oura Ring does not have a display, which means all interactions happen through the app.
- The ring is water-resistant, adding to its durability and allowing for worry-free use during various activities.
Setup and Use: Setting up the Oura Ring involves receiving a free sizing kit to ensure the perfect fit. Users can wear the ring on any finger, although the index finger is recommended for optimal tracking accuracy.