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Other fitness trackers to consider
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Photography: Adrienne So
Garmin Instinct 3 for $400: Garmin’s Instinct line doesn’t have as many high-end features as the Fenix 8, but it’s popular because it’s cheaper and has a cool, chunky retro aesthetic that I love. This year’s updates include the built-in flashlight and a new reinforced bezel, which is nice considering I still managed to improve the Fenix and Epix watches a bit. For more information, see our guide to Best Garmin Watches.
Apex 4 Choirs for $429: Coros is the king of affordable watches for extreme sportsmen (and women), and the Apex 4 is the company’s alpine watch that Kilian Jornet recently used in his Elevation States project. Battery life is forever. It has five specialized climbing modes and vertical GPS, and can automatically detect climbing routes. I love this watch for climbing.
Fitbit Charge 6 for $100: This tracker has been our best overall pick for over a year, and it’s still the best and most cost-effective way to use Fitbit’s premium health tracking software. However, it launched in 2023 and is starting to get a little long.
Nomadic choirs for $349: Coros also offers a sports watch specific to fishermen with sports modes for fishing. A new feature called Adventure Journal also lets you record voice memos and pin locations while you hike and run so you can remember where bathrooms, campsites, or great spots to pick berries are.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $699: I no longer recommend last year’s Watch Ultra 2, as the significantly extended battery life (up to 42 hours instead of 36 hours) plus satellite communications are reason enough for any outdoor enthusiast to just get a Watch Ultra 3. You definitely shouldn’t buy it at full price. But that East compatible with WatchOS 26so if you can find it on sale significantly, I won’t think you’re stupid for going for it.
Garmin Venu X1 for $800: Garmin’s Venu line straddles a strange niche. It has a polymer case, a nylon strap and a huge 2-inch AMOLED screen, ideal for displaying integrated maps. It has speakers and a mic for taking calls, and much of the fitness feature of the Fenix, but without the sleek, durable metal bezel or insane battery life. It works well; it’s just hard to look at it and not think that it’s plastic and costs twice as much as the Apple Watch.
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Photography: Julian Chokkattu
OnePlus Watch 3 for $300: My kingdom for a smartwatch that can last more than a day! THE OnePlus Watch 3 (9/10, WIRED recommends) can last five days on a single charge. OnePlus now includes many of the health features that are now standard, such as fall detection, a skin temperature sensor, irregular heart rate notifications, and an electrocardiogram. This is another great choice if you want a smartwatch that’s also a good fitness tracker.
Suunto Run for $249: I like the lightness and finesse of this watch (36 grams), especially in the Lime version, now sold out. It has a bright AMOLED screen, two weeks of battery life and precise dual-frequency satellites. But Suunto’s software is clunky and difficult to navigate compared to that of Garmin, Coros or Apple. Offline maps are also not supported.
Amazfit Bip 6 for $80: Amazfit’s trackers are improving so quickly! Like the Active 2, the Bip 6 is a gorgeous little watch, boasting a bright, large, and responsive AMOLED display, over a week’s battery life, and 140 sports modes. I still find the Zepp tracker and app ridiculously inaccurate at times, but they are cheap, comfortable and work well. However, for just $20 more, I’d just buy the Active 2 instead.
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 for $60: I was shocked at how much I loved this small, affordable fitness group. The 1,200 nit screen is clear and bright, and the touchscreen is responsive. The aluminum casing is sturdy and tracks your steps and heart rate with reasonable accuracy. However, there is simply no comparison between the user experience of the Mi Fitness app and that of Fitbit, especially at this price. (Again.)
Photography: Julian Chokkattu
Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra for $380: Your eyes have not deceived you. Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra (7/10, WIRED Review) is a direct rip-off of the Apple Watch Ultra, but aimed at Samsung phone owners. It even has the Quick button (which Apple calls an Action button) and the Double Pinch feature (which Apple calls Double Tap). Apple’s Watch is better, with more sports, a better interface, and better all-around algorithms like Training Load and Vitals. However, what the Galaxy Watch Ultra doIt works well, and Samsung has the resources to catch up quickly. It has a sapphire crystal dial rated at 10 ATM, an IP68 ratingand can withstand altitudes up to 9,000 meters (nearly 3,000 feet) and temperatures up to 130 degrees Fahrenheit. It also has backcountry navigation features, dual-band GPS, a compass, and breadcrumbs, which Samsung calls Track Back and Apple calls Backtrack (this is getting ridiculous). Battery life, however, is only enough for two days and changes. This is the 2025 model, which added more storage and a new color, but you can buy the 2024 model for even less.
Buyer Beware
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Evie Movano Ring for $269: Evie announced an upgraded version of the Movano, with an AI chatbot trained by a medical journal and improved sleep and heart rate tracking. I tested it and unfortunately did not find enough offer to reconsider my previous opinion (4/10, WIRED Review). THE smart rings market has exploded sinceand many new rings have explicitly women-centric features. It just doesn’t offer enough features to be an attractive product at the moment.
Nowatch B for $399: This beautiful tracker claims to measure your reactions to stress every minute. Unfortunately, this uses a ton of battery power; you need to charge it for three hours and recharge it every two days. This is ridiculous, especially since a Fitbit tracks your stress pretty quickly. We have been in contact with Nowatch and will test again once the company refines its algorithm.
Amazfit T-Rex 3 for $280, Amazfit Helio Ring for $200, And Amazfit T-Rex 3 Pro for $400: We’ve tried everything in the Amazfit range, including the smart ring. I have no complaints about the manufacturing quality…the balance is a dupe for the Samsung Galaxy Watch if you don’t look too closely: WIRED reviewer Simon Hill and I found the features somewhat limited. Reviewer Brent Rose also found the T-Rex 3 Pro to be a hilarious and wicked dupe for a Garmin Fenix 8. The Active 2 is the only Amazfit watch I like right now.
Compare the 14 best fitness trackers
FAQs
Activity tracker vs smart watch
The categories may overlap considerably, but fitness trackers as we consider them here are health-focused. I’m less concerned about whether a fitness tracker can replicate all the features of your smartphone than whether the suite of health features is robust and accurate; if he can follow several activities; and whether it stays in place and is secure during multiple fitness activities. We also include fitness trackers that are not wearable on the wrist, including the Whoop, smart rings, heart rate monitorsand glucometers.
Some wrist fitness trackers offer the ability to read emails and control music, but the screens are often smaller and less bright. However, battery life is often much better, which makes a difference, especially if you track your sleep over time. If, however, you’re more interested in being able to access apps without having to take out your phone, you might want to think about getting a smartwatch. (If you don’t want any notifications, get one smart ring instead.) Don’t see anything that exactly matches your style here? Check out our Guide to the best smart watches.
My tracker doesn’t work! What should I do?
Here are some ways to easily cure your (or your device’s) ailments:
- Make sure it fits. Optical sensors won’t work if your device slides freely around your wrist. You can personalize most devices with new bands. Make sure it sits an inch above your wrist.
- Wash it! I’m horrified by the number of people who tell me their fitness trackers give them a rash on their wrist. Wipe it down with a little dish soap and water after a sweat session.
- Come out of the cover of the trees. Does your device use multiple satellite positioning systems to track your location when you begin an outdoor workout? This is much harder to do if you’re under power lines, trees, or even (gulp) indoors.
- Establish a routine. There’s nothing more frustrating than opening your tracker’s app and discovering it’s running out of battery before you go to bed last night. Keep your app updated regularly. Check if your tracker is connected to your phone, and keep the chargers everywhere.
A study published in December 2024 discovered that many smart watch bands contain high levels of PFHxA, which is a “chemical forever” which can affect your immune, thyroid, kidney and reproductive systems. How do you know if your group has PFHxA?
- Check to see if the bracelet is labeled as “fluoroelastomer.” Fluorinated synthetic rubber is the material with the highest levels of PFHxA.
- Check if the company has tested its products. For example, Garmin watches I don’t have PFAS.
- If you’re not sure, most trackers allow you to swap out your bands for ones made of silicone, metal, leather, or other materials. Companies often have their own exclusive accessories; If you need ideas on what to look for, check out our Best Apple Watch accessories guide.
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