The ten finest health trackers in 2024

Health trackers have come a good distance from the easy bands that tracked steps and little else. Fashionable trackers can monitor every thing out of your coronary heart well being to how effectively you’ve recovered from a tough bout of coaching. They’ve received sensors galore and, in some circumstances, may give smartwatches a run for his or her cash. No matter your health targets are, there’s in all probability a health tracker that may aid you obtain them.

In comparison with another devices, wearables are extremely private, which implies there are a number of further concerns you’ll need to keep in mind earlier than reaching on your pockets. It makes it onerous to say that anyone health tracker is the most effective for everybody. Fortunately, the most effective factor about health trackers in 2024 is that there’s sufficient selection to suit into each type of life-style. 

Proper now, we’re heading into flagship launch season. We’re anticipating to see the newest Samsung Galaxy Watches this month, whereas Google introduced a shock Pixel occasion for August. September can be typically once we see the brand new Apple Watches — and this yr would be the tenth anniversary. When you’ve got gadget FOMO, just a little persistence goes a good distance this time of yr. That mentioned, if you want to change a damaged smartwatch or health tracker proper now, summer time gross sales like Amazon Prime Day are time to hunt for a deal.

Measurement: 46mm w/ 22mm straps / Weight: 34g / Battery life: As much as 14 days / Show kind: OLED touchscreen / GPS: Twin-frequency and 6 GNSS techniques / Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 2.3GB

The Amazfit GTR 4 punches method above its weight. It’s inexpensive at $199 and features a complete array of options you’d anticipate to see on a lot pricier wearables. That features a brilliant OLED display, blood oxygen monitoring, sleep stage monitoring, stress monitoring, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and an offline digital assistant. It’s additionally received a local digital camera distant and a helpful Pomodoro timer inbuilt. And for outside health fans, the GTR 4 additionally has multiband GPS for extra correct GPS monitoring in difficult environments. You may 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 reasonable 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 power to make and take calls over Bluetooth. The one factor the GTR 4 is de facto lacking is contactless funds, however it 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 final yr, you may 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 evaluation of the Amazfit GTR 4 right here.

Sizes: 40mm w/20mm straps / Weight: 38g / Battery life: As much as 11 days / Show kind: 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 change their growing older Fitbit Versa 2 or 3. It’s received the same 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. In fact, you get the fundamentals, like steps and energy burned, however you get an entire 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’ll need to hold your cellphone with you, nevertheless, as this doesn’t have LTE.)

In order for you the choice of onboard music, you’ll be able to shell out $50 further for the Music Version, which comes with sufficient storage for about 500 songs. I wouldn’t advocate it, nevertheless, as you’ll almost certainly have your cellphone on you since this isn’t a real standalone watch.

What I like most about this watch, nevertheless, is it’s one which you could develop with. On high 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’ll be able to monitor coronary heart price, blood oxygen, depth minutes (what number of minutes of reasonable train you get per week), stress, hydration, respiratory price, and menstrual cycles. And the most effective half is Garmin doesn’t lock any of this behind a paywall.

One observe: there’s a Venu 3, which provides a more moderen coronary heart price sensor and nap detection. I favored it fairly a bit, and it ticks off a variety of the suitable containers — apart from value. It’s $450, which places it exterior what I’d contemplate very best for informal customers. The opposite choice 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 system 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 evaluation 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 kind: 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 received 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 price sensor, and an improved memory-in-pixel show that’s barely simpler to learn in low lighting.

Garmin wearables are additionally recognized for offering in depth, in-depth metrics, and the Fenix 7 Professional lineup isn’t any exception. You get wonderful restoration metrics, in addition to useful coaching guides and training applications. The perfect half is Garmin doesn’t cost further for these options. That’s excellent news, as these are costly watches.

I admire how shortly these Fenix 7 watches are capable of choose up a GPS sign. That’s a should if you happen to’re coaching within the lifeless of winter. These watches may also take a beating. All fashions are constructed to military-grade requirements and have as much as 10 ATM of water resistance. Meaning they’re greater than able to a dunk within the ocean.

Though the display is brighter, MIP shows nonetheless aren’t my absolute favourite — the OLED on the Garmin Epix 2 and the Epix Professional are quite a bit simpler on the eyes. It’s admittedly powerful to choose 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 all the way down to is whether or not you prioritize a brighter show, longer battery life, or value.

Personally, I want 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 value. (You can too try our Garmin shopping for information if you happen to’d like much more alternate options.)

That mentioned, I nonetheless assume the usual Fenix 7 lineup is an effective selection — particularly if photo voltaic charging isn’t all that interesting to you. Plus, lots of the new options that launched with the Fenix 7 Professional and Epix Professional have trickled all the way down to the usual line by way of OTA updates. You can too save a pair hundred {dollars} this manner if funds is your principal concern. Usually, the vacation season is correct across the nook, so I like to recommend protecting your eyes peeled for offers as retailers attempt to eliminate outdated stock.

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

Sizes: 8 proprietary sizes, 6-13, sizing equipment wanted / Weight: 4–6g (relies on measurement) / Battery life: As much as 7 days / Show kind: None / GPS: None / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: As much as 328 toes / Music storage: None

The overwhelming majority of health trackers are worn on the wrist, however the $299 Oura Ring isn’t. The good ring is an effective choice for people who find themselves searching for one thing just a little extra discreet. It’s additionally much less distracting than another wrist-based choices, because it lacks a display and doesn’t ahead push notifications. 

Whereas smaller than your common wearable, the Oura Ring nonetheless tracks a ton of metrics, together with coronary heart price variability and physique temperature. The third iteration of the system additionally introduces SpO2 sensors, in addition to all-day coronary heart price monitoring and interval predictions. Since launching, the Oura Ring has additionally added exercise monitoring, blood oxygen ranges, chronotypes to assist visualize your circadian rhythms, and a brand new social characteristic known as Circles. It’s additionally begun rolling out an entire new sleep phases algorithm that it claims is extra correct than earlier than. When you’re searching for some stress aid, the Oura Ring additionally helps you to observe guided meditation periods. 

The Oura Ring tracks typical metrics — similar to steps and energy burned —  however its principal 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’d like a extra hands-off expertise together with your information.

That mentioned, 2024 is shaping as much as be the yr of the good ring. Samsung simply confirmed it’s engaged on a Galaxy Ring that’s launching this month. The Evie Ring is one other respectable good ring that caters to girls with a less complicated characteristic set however a intelligent design. I’m additionally at present testing alternate options from Ultrahuman, RingConn, and Round. Thus far, Oura stays essentially the most full-featured of the bunch, however we’ll need to see how this house settles over the subsequent few months.

Learn my full evaluation of the Oura Ring (Gen 3).

Measurement: 42mm x 24mm x 12.2mm with 16mm straps / Weight: 28g / Battery life: As much as 18 days / Show kind: OLED / GPS: Tethered / Connectivity: Bluetooth / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: None

It’s really onerous to beat the Amazfit Band 7’s $49.99 value — doubly so since you’ll be able to usually discover it on sale for even much less. Carrying the Band 7 seems like a throwback to 2014, which is nice if all you’re searching for is an easy and informal tracker that gained’t break the financial institution.

Nobody goes to go with you on the Band 7’s design, however it’s received 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 choice for sleep monitoring as effectively.

You additionally get an absurd variety of options for the worth. That features Amazon Alexa, steady coronary heart price monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, stress monitoring, superior sleep monitoring, coaching metrics like VO2 max and cargo, irregular coronary heart price alerts, menstrual monitoring, push notifications, discover my cellphone, a digital camera distant, and even a Pomodoro timer. You’re sacrificing contactless funds and must accept tethered GPS, however this can be a honest tradeoff contemplating every thing else you’re getting. It’s not the most suitable choice for hardcore health monitoring, however this can be a nice choice 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, if you happen to’re just a little cautious of a lesser-known model, the $159.95 Fitbit Cost 6 is an honest different. It’s pricier, however you get a variety of what Amazfit is lacking. That features Google providers like YouTube Music, Google Pockets, and Google Maps. Plus, it has built-in GPS and the power to broadcast your coronary heart price with some Bluetooth-compatible fitness center tools.

Learn my full evaluation of the Amazfit Band 7.

Sizes: 37mm with 18mm straps / Weight: 45g / Battery life: As much as 39 days / Show kind:  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 received all of your fundamentals like easy push notifications, timers, and alarms. Plus, you’ll be able to observe steps, sleep, menstrual cycles, and GPS actions straight from the wrist. It appears spiffy on the wrist, and if you happen to like a pop of colour, Withings provides minty inexperienced and pale blue colour choices. It’s additionally received wonderful battery life, with an estimated 30 days on a single cost. I received rather less in testing at round 25 days, however that’s nonetheless significantly better than the overwhelming majority of flagship smartwatches. This additionally appears far more fashionable than beefier multisport watches with related battery life.

Like its identify suggests, the Gentle is a pared-down model of the $349.95 ScanWatch 2. The principle belongings you’re lacking are an EKG sensor for atrial fibrillation detection, a temperature sensor, blood oxygen monitoring, and an altimeter for monitoring elevation. For primary 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 value vary. That mentioned, if you’d 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 the previous few years. It’s onerous to beat the worth, 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, if you happen to’d slightly a platform with a deal with health slightly than wellness, the Vivomove Sport could be the higher transfer over a Withings watch.

Learn my full evaluation of the Withings ScanWatch 2 and Gentle.

Sizes: 41mm, 45mm / Weight: 32g (41mm), 39g (45mm) / Battery life: As much as 18 hours / Show kind: All the time-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 searching for a smartwatch that does health effectively, then iPhone homeowners must look no additional than the $399 Apple Watch Sequence 9. (The LTE model prices $50 extra.) This yr’s updates had been fairly iterative, however the up to date S9 processor makes this the neatest health tracker round for Apple customers.

With watchOS 9, Apple added superior operating metrics and the power to create customized exercises. This yr’s watchOS 10 replace provides larger integration with biking equipment, in addition to customized exercise plans inside Health Plus. Hikers additionally get higher maps and instructions on the wrist. In any other case, the watch is extremely much like final yr’s Sequence 8. That’s nice! Not solely might you save a bit of additional dough by choosing an older mannequin, however you’re nonetheless getting the overwhelming majority of the options that matter. Unique to the Sequence 9 are the forthcoming double-tap gesture, brighter screens, and offline Siri functionality — however these are pretty minor in case your actual focus is health. However if you wish to use Siri to work together together with your well being and health stats, that’s additionally a Sequence 9 unique.

In fact, we even have to handle the Apple Watch ban. As of January 18th, 2024, new Sequence 9 bought by Apple (and ultimately, third-party retailers) can have the blood oxygen characteristic disabled as a result of 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. You may need to contemplate a refurbished Sequence 7 or 8 if blood oxygen sensing is essential to you, nevertheless.

When you’re a first-time purchaser, you too can go for the second-gen Apple Watch SE. It’s barely cheaper at $249, and when you don’t get as many options, it’s introduction to the ecosystem. In any other case, if you happen to’re the kind of athlete who covets a Garmin, you might also need to contemplate splurging on the Apple Watch Extremely 2. It’s dearer at $799, however it does have the brightest display of any Apple Watch, comes with dual-frequency GPS, has diving and mountain climbing security options, and is made from extra sturdy supplies.

Learn my full evaluation of the Apple Watch Sequence 9 and Extremely 2.

Sizes: 40mm, 44mm / Weight: 28.7g (40mm), 33.3g (44mm) / Battery life: As much as 30 hours with AOD, 40 hours with out AOD / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: As much as 50 meters, IP68 / Music storage: 16GB

When you’ve got a Samsung cellphone, that is the most effective full-featured smartwatch for health monitoring. It (and the Watch 6 Traditional) are the primary watches to get Put on OS 4 and One UI 5 Watch, which provides a bunch of well being and sleep monitoring enhancements like temperature-based cycle monitoring, personalised coronary heart price zones, and customized exercises. It additionally has the identical 3-in-1 sensor, which permits physique composition evaluation. That’s a singular characteristic that no different smartwatch in the meanwhile is able to. You can too entry exercise movies from the Samsung Well being app — although the manufacturing values aren’t pretty much as good as Health Plus or Peloton. 

Whereas I want the Traditional general (I imply, rotating bezel!), the bottom Watch 6 mannequin is our choose for normal health monitoring as a result of its lighter weight and smaller measurement. General, it’s much less distracting throughout exercises and extra comfy for sleep monitoring. That mentioned, the Traditional is a really succesful tracker, even when its aesthetic and bigger measurement lend it towards being a greater smartwatch. Nevertheless, if you’d like a extra rugged health watch with really multiday battery life, you could be higher off with the $449.99 Galaxy Watch 5 Professional. The Professional can be getting some new software program updates in One UI 5 Watch, together with turn-by-turn navigation for operating and strolling.

The large factor with the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence is that battery life has improved over final yr. In my testing, I used to be capable of final a whole day with out worrying about battery below varied situations. For instance, on outside GPS runs with the always-on show enabled, I solely noticed a battery drain of three–4 % per mile. Quick charging allows you to get eight hours of battery life on a single cost, and the improved bedtime mode mitigates in a single day battery drain to 10–15 % — even if you happen to activate steady SpO2 sensing, snore detection, and pores and skin temperature monitoring.

Whereas Put on OS 4 and One UI 5 Watch look, really feel, and performance much like Put on OS 3 / One UI Watch 4.5, you now get cloud backups. Google has additionally continued to develop third-party app choices, so there are extra selections than ever. Nevertheless, some options are restricted to Samsung homeowners, making it onerous to wholeheartedly advocate this to non-Samsung Android customers.

Proper now is an effective time to search out the Galaxy Watch 6 sequence, significantly the bottom fashions, on sale. We’re anticipating Samsung to launch the Galaxy Watch 7 at its Unpacked occasion, alongside a rumored new Galaxy Watch Extremely. When you already know you’d slightly prioritize financial savings, preserve an eye fixed out for gross sales on the Galaxy Watch 6 gadgets as retailers look to filter stock. In any other case, it’s possible you’ll need to maintain off if the thought of an Extremely or longer battery life appeals to you.

Learn my full evaluation of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 sequence.

Sizes: 41mm / Weight: 31g / Battery life: As much as 24 hours / Show kind: All the time-on OLED / GPS: Constructed-in GPS / Connectivity: LTE (non-compulsory), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi / Water resistance: 5ATM / Music storage: 32GB

Final yr, the Google Pixel Watch shifted the enjoying discipline for Android smartwatches. Now, the Pixel Watch 2 is right here, and whereas it appears the identical as its predecessor, it’s a major enchancment over final yr.

Underneath the hood, you get a more moderen processor, Put on OS 4, and a brand new multipath sensor. What this interprets to is far sooner charging, zippier efficiency, and battery life that really lasts 24 hours with the always-on show. On the well being entrance, you will have extra correct coronary heart price monitoring, automated exercise monitoring, and the Fitbit Sense 2’s steady electrodermal exercise sensor for stress monitoring. Plus, there are new private security options: Security Test and Security Sign. The previous is a proactive timer that alerts emergency contacts to your location whereas the latter permits you to use emergency options even if you happen to don’t have an lively LTE plan, supplied you will have a Fitbit Premium subscription. (Observe: you continue to want the LTE model of the look ahead to Security Sign to work.)

These are the primary updates, however there are additionally a bunch of tiny fixes and updates right here and there that handle lots of the quirks with the first-gen watch. That mentioned, we nonetheless have considerations by way of sturdiness, repairability, and measurement. The Verge employees has cracked and scratched our gadgets, and Google doesn’t supply any restore choices — simply the Most popular Care prolonged guarantee. (And even then, this can be a new addition with the Pixel Watch 2 that’s restricted to the US and Canada.) And whereas the 41mm measurement is fetching on petite wrists, it might seem too dainty for folks with bigger wrists.

However if you happen to’re searching for alternate options to Google and Samsung, the $299.99 OnePlus Watch 2 is a robust different. You’re giving up LTE, however it’s a handsome-looking watch with surprisingly lengthy battery life and Google Assistant from the get-go.

Learn my full evaluation of the Google Pixel Watch 2.

Sizes: 43mm by 28mm by 10mm / Weight: 18g / Battery life: 4–5 days / Show kind: 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 just helpful if you happen to’re actively coaching for a cardio-intensive sport. If power coaching is your principal type of train, you’re higher off wanting elsewhere. Just like the Oura Ring, this can be a distraction-free tracker that focuses on 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 variety of novel methods to put on its tracker, together with in underwear and arm/knee sleeves. This makes it an interesting choice if you happen to’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 finest appreciated by individuals who go onerous 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 once.

Learn my full evaluation of the Whoop 4.0.

Replace July 1st, 1:38PM ET: Up to date shopping for recommendation for summer time season, added details about the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Watches and Galaxy Ring. Added Garmin Forerunner 165 as a substitute for informal customers. Added OnePlus Watch 2 as a substitute for Android smartwatch.