The Best Fitness Trackers and Watches, Tested

The Series 8 was all about advanced health monitoring and tracking everything from steps to blood oxygen levels, but the Series 9 is taking it one step further – and making it ‘magical’ too.

Yes, the latest release features a brand-new double tap function that allows you to control certain aspects of your watch in an instant. By raising your wrist and touching your fingers together, you can answer calls, view your most used widgets on the watch face, and start and stop music. Impressive stuff.

The watch itself is super comfortable and lightweight, making it the perfect choice for both in and out of the gym. Apple has also made the straps using mainly recycled materials; a change that we love to see.

While there’s been no improvements in the battery life (18 hours and 36 hours on low power mode) since the last release, when you consider the brighter display, the new ECG feature, and the consistent heart rate and activity readings, it's difficult to argue this isn’t a top-tier smartwatch.

This Apple-esque Amazfit design gives pricier models a run for their money. The touchscreen is bright and responsive, it has built-in GPS, a mega two-week battery life and it supports music playback.

Fitness-wise, you get 60 workout modes with comprehensive post-workout summaries, plus deeper health insights via the user-friendly Zepp app. There’s sleep and stress monitoring, third-party integration with apps such as Apple Health and Strava, and smart functions including email notifications, to-do lists and alarms.

Thanks to its petite size and flexible strap, this watch didn’t get in the way during exercise or sleep. Sure, the design could be more robust and the pre-set heart rate zones needed adjusting, but for under £70, it’s a reliable buy.

With five predecessors, Fitbit certainly knows a thing or two about activity trackers – and with a load of new features, the Charge 6 is a step up from the 5.

Aesthetics-wise, it looks pretty much the same; however, the Charge 6 boasts a haptic button on the side, meaning you don’t need to rely solely on touchscreen for navigation – useful after those extra sweaty sessions. The waterproof feature also comes into play here, as well as in the pool. Did we mention it tracks up to 40 different sport modes, compared to the six on the previous model?

It claims to have the most accurate heart rate monitor yet, which you can connect to treadmills, rowers and bikes via Bluetooth for extra visibility. As well as heart rate, it can flag any irregular heart rhythms with an ECG monitor, and there are electoral dermal activity (EDA) sensors that measure stress levels, plus personalised sleep data to help with stress management.

No pockets for your phone? Worry not, thanks to another new software feature – simply link up your Google account to use Google Pay and Maps on the go. This is great if you already have a Google account but will take some extra setting up if not. It’s also compatible with YouTube music to keep your tunes pumping day-to-day (well, across a seven-day battery life period, at least).

Not your typical rugged Garmin, the Vivomove Trend combines smartwatch functionality with a traditional analogue design. Just flick your wrist to access notifications and view fitness stats, including heart rate, blood oxygen, sleep and stress levels (there’s also plenty more on the Garmin Connect app, from hydration to respiration tracking).

It’s the first Garmin to support wireless charging – no need to rummage around finding the right adaptor – and a quick 15-minute charge will give you up to 24 hours of battery.

If you’re after a discreet watch you can wear from the office to the gym, it’s a top choice. The touchscreen was tricky to navigate with sweaty hands and we missed third-party app integration, but these are minor quibbles. It scored top marks for step count and distance accuracy in our tests.

The Series 8 has everything we've come to expect from an Apple Watch – countless workout modes, GPS and cellular connectivity, ECG and blood oxygen monitors and fall detection – but there are some exciting upgrades from its predecessor.

Our experts rated the detailed sleep tracking data with its intricate graph showing how long you've spent in light, heavy and REM sleep. They also liked that you can clearly see what HR zone you’re in while on the move (although this data is only available for aerobic exercise).

Other beefed-up features include a skin temperature sensor for deeper health insights, a ‘Backtrack’ button within the Compass app to help you retrace your steps if you get lost, and automatic car crash detection via the new-and-improved accelerometer, although we hope that never proves necessary.

The price point is a tad punchy, and, like many Apple products, the battery life (18 hours or 36 on low-power mode) isn’t the best. But when you consider the bright, responsive touchscreen, robust operating system and in-depth health and fitness tracking capabilities, it’s a total winner.

Good things supposedly come in small packages, but Samsung’s Android answer to the Apple Watch is the exception to that rule. Yes, it’s bulky but the stylish timepiece will look just as good draped across your wrist at a dinner party as pounding the pavement on your weekly 5k.

Most importantly, it’s rammed with mod cons to help you sweat, sleep and recover better. We’re talking a bioactive sensor for measuring heart rate, blood oxygen levels and even body composition, detailed workout screens with heart rate zones, and a sleep coach to monitor the quality of your snoozing and improve your kip — a feature that had our testers in raptures.

With a sapphire crystal display and titanium casing, the Watch5 Pro is supposedly twice as durable as other models, making it a solid choice for those with a penchant for rough-and-tumble workouts. Throw in advanced GPS features such as the ‘Route Workout’ function to plan running, hiking and cycling routes, a ‘Track Back’ feature to stop you getting lost and a decent 80-hour battery life, and it’s the ideal companion for all your outdoorsy adventurers. More of a gym rat? Fret not — it provides over 90 workout modes with the option to track individual exercises from deadlifts to tricep dips.

Overall, it's a worthy contender for anyone rocking an Android, but it hits different for Samsung Galaxy users, who can enjoy a seamless smartwatch experience and extra features including ECG and blood pressure measurement.

We had high expectations when Google’s debut smartwatch landed on our desks – and it didn’t disappoint. Featuring Fitbit’s top-qual health-tracking tech, it provides all the fitness and recovery insights you need to sweat and sleep better. We’re talking step tracking, continuous heart rate monitoring, speedy GPS, sedentary alerts, ECGs and a decent 41 workout modes, spanning everything from circuits to swimming (the watch is waterproof up to 50 metres, FYI).

Our experts rated the detailed in- and post-workout data screens – these can be customised to reveal your most important metrics, including duration, cals burned, average BPM and heart rate zones. They also appreciated the useful recovery data. This is particularly insightful with a premium subscription, thanks to guided mindfulness sessions, a stress management score and – our favourite feature – a daily readiness score to let you know whether to smash a workout or prioritise recovery. You get premium access free for the first six months with the watch, then it’s £7.99 a month.

We loved the sleek circular design and flexible active strap, which didn’t get in the way when we were lifting weights, stayed firmly in place during bouncy HIIT sessions, and didn’t chafe when things got sweaty. It felt comfy to sleep with and looked good whether in the gym or at the office. The display was crystal clear and mega responsive, and scrolling through the menu was a breeze thanks to the tactile digital crown on the side of the watch.

Fitness tracking aside, the Pixel is a fully-fledged smartwatch, with all the features you’d expect from a Google design – Gmail integration, Google Calendar, Google Wallet, Google Maps for step-by-step directions and Google Assistant for sending messages and voice queries.

Like our Apple and Samsung winners, the battery life (up to 24 hours) is mediocre, but this small, well-made watch is a solid first attempt from Google. It’s a great shout for anyone on Android who's in the market for a simple yet reliable smartwatch-come-tracker.

This sleek, user-friendly gadget makes light work of tracking activity, but the headline is the extensive sleep and health data it provides. There’s an ECG app to monitor heart rhythm, a stress response assessment and a handy smart alarm, which wakes you up during your optimal stage of sleep. Its battery holds up well, too, offering at least five days’ training per charge.

An excellent all-rounder, this waterproof Fitbit was designed with all activities in mind — from cycling to swimming — but customisation of fitness data is limited, including what you see while exercising.

This timepiece does way more than just logging workouts, although it impressed our experts in that department, too. It tracks 41 activities and shows detailed in-workout stats on its crystal-clear screen, including heart rate zones.

Beyond classic Fitbit health monitoring – blood oxygen, heart rate viability and breathing rate – the Sense 2 has a continuous EDA sensor that sends notifications to alert you when your body is under stress and mindfulness sessions to help you relax. We rated the extensive sleep data via the Fitbit app and liked the ‘daily readiness score‘, which tells you when to go hard and when a rest day is in order.

This watch is let down by its lack of third-party apps, music playback and a voice assistant, but it does offer six days of battery life and has a fast-charging feature. If you’re in the market for a holistic tracker to monitor your health and wellbeing and you’re not bothered about the lack of smart features, this is your guy.

Like to have all your tech in one place? The face of this slick Huawei device opens up to reveal a set of true wireless earbuds, so you never have to endure a silent gym sesh or commute home again. The watch is packed with health and fitness features, including 80 workout modes, GPS, sleep tracking and blood oxygen measurements and offers a decent three-day battery life. The dinky earphones have responsive touch controls, active noise cancellation and a handy ‘find my buds’ feature plus three sets of tips for the perfect fit.

Our experts applauded the innovative design, raving about the clear, responsive touchscreen and comfortable leather strap. It is on the bulky side (hardly surprising given that it houses a pair of headphones) but we loved the classic, high-end finish.

Our audiophile described the sound quality as ‘basic’, saying that the ANC was lacking and there was some sound leakage. We also found the headphones slid around a bit during high-intensity exercise, but if the convenience of having your buds on your wrist appeals, this is your guy.

It’s also worth noting that though the buds are compatible with Android and iOS, iPhone users won’t have access to all its functions. It’s not waterproof either, so keen swimmers should look to one of our best waterproof fitness watches.

Comfortable and stylish, this fitness watch can take you from the office to the running track. Although not a touchscreen, the buttons are responsive, and the widgets are fully customisable – including several watch faces, so you can pick what works for you.

The in-workout data screens are particularly detailed, so ideal for fitness enthusiasts who are hungry for stats on their performance. Fully waterproof, it’s also the ideal companion on your run, swim or cycle, lasting an impressive two weeks before it needs to be charged.

We did find the app and watch took a while to sync and the low-quality graphics made it feel a little budget, however it would serve well as an entry-level watch for new runners.

Runners, meet your new best friend. This nifty watch provides dual-band GPS, precise heart rate monitoring and in-depth running stats, including Vo2 max estimation and predicted race times. It also has an AI-powered running coach that generates a bespoke training plan — based on your gender, height, weight and fitness — to help you smash your goals.

This stylish, easy-to-use wearable has an impressive 14-day battery life (seven days with heavy usage) and offers wireless charging — handy if you run out of juice on the go. Training and recovery recommendations based your weekly exercise load, sleep tracking and stress monitoring finish off an excellent running tool.

This good-looking Honor straddles the line between ultimate gym accessory and dashing timepiece. It has a bright, responsive touch screen, dual-frequency GPS and is fast charging (just five minutes lasts an entire day). It’s rammed with health tech, including continuous heart rate, stress and blood oxygen monitoring, you can take calls on the go, and there are over 100 workout modes.

It's great for anyone on Android who wants a techy smartwatch that looks the business; however, it’s not compatible with iOS, so Apple users will have to look elsewhere. It doesn’t support contactless payments or third-party apps, either.

Upping your mileage in 2024? Look to the Polar Pacer, a lightweight, no bells-and-whistles watch designed to support your best running efforts. It was an instant hit with our testers, who praised the easy-to-read screen that displays all your key metrics, including distance, pace, duration and cadence. Best of all, it clearly shows what HR zone you’re in while on the move — a useful tool for more focused training.

If you’re into your stats, you’ll appreciate the in-depth insights available via the Polar Flow app, from the energy sources (fats, carbs or proteins) you used during a session to how much quality sleep you’re getting. It will even tell you if you need to ramp up your efforts or are going too hard, suggesting workouts and recovery based on your previous sessions.

It features handy fuel reminders, guided meditation and a series of fitness tests to help you monitor your progress, plus it tracks a head-spinning 130 activities from weightlifting to skiing.

Our testers didn't find the app particularly user-friendly, and the watch lacks a touchscreen, but the control buttons were easy enough to use, even with sweaty hands. For newbies in the market for a reliable running companion, this watch is tough to top.

If you’re after a fuss-free watch for tracking your daily activity, look to the Vivosmart. It offers all the stats you need, from steps, calories and heart rate, to sleep quality, stress and hydration. There’s even a ‘body battery’ feature that analyses your data, helping you decide whether to go hard in the gym or rest up.

It lacks in-built GPS, and the small screen size makes it harder to read than other watches here, but it’s a very capable gadget for the price. It’s waterproof up to 50m, has a battery life of up to seven days, plus it’s comfy to wear and simple to use.

This clever bit of kit scored highly on ease of use and style. The watch comes with an extensive list of pre-set workouts, which are ideal if you’re lacking inspiration, as well as in-app running plans if that's more your style.

Automatic tracking means you don’t have to faff around setting it up on your way to the gym, while continuous HR monitoring and an all-day graph displayed on your app will help you meet your goals.

Battery life was up to 14 days, and we appreciated the fast charge of 1 hour and 4 minutes – helpful for those spontaneous activities.

This fitness tracker lost out to others when it comes to smartwatch functionality, such as responding to messages and storing photos, and there is currently no way to access your wallet in the UK. However, for fitness and value for money, we were impressed.

If your weekly fitness regime changes like the weather, this is the watch for you — the Polar Ignite 2 can log 130 different exercises. But, despite this wide portfolio, we found it delightfully straightforward to use.

Its GPS tracking was ideal for mapping our runs and precise heart rate monitoring helped show which heart rate zone we occupied during sweaty WODs. Notifications from our phone came through promptly and we were able to read messages on the 1.7-inch screen, as well as pausing, playing and skipping our music.

The touchscreen being slightly unresponsive and a bit hard to see in some lights were our main gripes, alongside the fact the tracker didn’t always recognise when we were starting to exercise.