Health trackers are a stable possibility for those who actually need to hone in on monitoring, nicely, your health. A few of the greatest health trackers additionally embrace further sensors to trace issues like stress, sleep and different superior well being metrics. Certain, you could possibly go for the perfect smartwatch, however for those who’re not interested by all the further options they provide, a health tracker may be a greater (and extra inexpensive) possibility.
Correct exercise and exercise monitoring is what health trackers do greatest; most embrace a pedometer to trace your steps all through the day. They won’t look as glamorous as an Apple Watch, however they do a specific job nicely. We’ve researched and examined a wide selection of the most well-liked health trackers on the market to assist make your choice a little bit simpler.
Desk of contents
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Finest health trackers and watches for 2025
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What do health trackers do greatest?
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When to get a smartwatch as an alternative
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Different health trackers we examined
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Health tracker FAQs
Finest health trackers and watches for 2025
What do health trackers do greatest?
The reply appears easy: Health trackers are greatest at monitoring train, be it a 10-minute stroll across the block or that half marathon you’ve been diligently coaching for. Clearly, smartwatches may help you attain your health objectives too, however there are some areas the place health bands have confirmed to be the perfect purchase: focus, design, higher battery life, sturdiness and worth.
After I say “focus,” I’m alluding to the truth that health trackers are made to trace exercise nicely; anything is further. They usually don’t have the bells and whistles that smartwatches do, which might distract from their superior well being monitoring talents. Additionally they are likely to have fewer sensors and inside parts, which retains them smaller and lighter. Health trackers are additionally a greater possibility for many who simply need a much less conspicuous gadget on their wrists all day.
Battery life tends to be higher on health trackers, too. Whereas most smartwatches final one to 2 days on a single cost, health bands provide between 5 and 7 days of battery life — and that’s with all-day and all-night use even with sleep monitoring options enabled. Many health trackers additionally slot properly into your present ecosystem, syncing seamlessly together with your smartphone, different health apps and cloud storage to maintain all of your knowledge in a single place.
In relation to worth level, there’s no competitors. Most worthwhile smartwatches begin at $175 to $200, however you will get a stable sensible band beginning at $70. Sure, costlier bands exist (and we suggest a couple of right here), however you’ll discover extra choices below $150 within the health tracker area than within the smartwatch area.
When to get a smartwatch as an alternative
In case you want a bit extra out of your wearable and don’t need to be restricted to a health or exercise tracker, a smartwatch could also be the perfect purchase for you. There are issues like on-watch apps, alerts and much more strong health options that smartwatches have and the perfect health trackers don’t. You should utilize one to manage sensible dwelling home equipment, set timers and reminders, test climate stories and extra. Some smartwatches allow you to select which apps you need to obtain alerts from, and the choices transcend simply name and textual content notifications. Simply be certain that your smartwatch is appropriate together with your Android or iPhone, nevertheless, earlier than buying, as not all of them work with each working techniques.
However the further health options are arguably an important factor to consider when deciding between a health tracker and a smartwatch. The latter gadgets are usually bigger, giving them extra space for issues like GPS, barometers, onboard music storage and extra. Whereas yow will discover built-in GPS on choose health trackers, it’s not widespread.
In case you’re somebody who’s critically coaching — say for a race or an endurance problem — a devoted working watch could also be price contemplating. These usually present extra in-depth cardio analytics, restoration insights, and real-time tempo knowledge that transcend what normal trackers can ship.
Different health trackers we've examined
Fitbit Encourage 3
The Fitbit Encourage 3 strips out all the posh options from the Cost 6 and retains solely the important monitoring options. You gained’t get built-in GPS monitoring or Fitbit Pay or Spotify management however you do get stable exercise monitoring, automated exercise detection, smartphone alerts and many extra. The up to date model has a sleeker design and features a colour contact show and linked GPS, the latter of which helps you to monitor tempo and distance when you run or bike outdoors when you have your telephone with you. When in comparison with the Cost 6, the Encourage 3 is extra modern, too. Its interchangeable bands allow you to change up the feel and appear of your tracker everytime you need, and it’s slim sufficient to mix in with different jewellery you may be sporting. We have been additionally impressed by its multi-day battery life: Fitbit guarantees as much as 10 days on a single cost, and that checked out for us. After 4 days of round the clock use, the Encourage 3 nonetheless had 66 p.c battery left to go.
Health tracker FAQs
How lengthy do health tracker batteries final?
The battery lifetime of health trackers can range relying on the mannequin and its options. On common, most health trackers final between 5 to seven days on a single cost. Primary fashions with restricted options might stretch as much as 10 days or extra. Nonetheless, extra superior trackers with options like steady coronary heart price monitoring, GPS, or always-on shows may have recharging after one to a few days. In case you're utilizing GPS or streaming music by your health tracker, you'll discover that this drains the battery sooner. By utilizing these options much less, or turning them off, you'll lengthen battery life.
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