Best fitness trackers and health gadgets for 2023
Tracking information like movement, steps and heart rate are all part of the quantified self movement which has gained enormously in popularity in recent years.
With so many wearables on the market, choosing a fitness tracker or smartwatch can be difficult. The right one for you will be based on your individual needs; whether it’s step counting, sleep tracking or 24/7 heart rate tracking, there’s something for everyone.
We’ve seen quite a few new wearables recently. Read on for our pick of the best, broken down across various categories (this article is updated regularly).
Jump to best
Overall fitness band | For style | For running | For outdoors | Fitness watch | Budget fitness tracker | For the gym | For stress | Smartwatch | Smart scale | Smart blood pressure monitor | For sleep tracking
Article last updated: September 17th 2022
Best fitness band for the average person
Winner
Fitbit Charge 5
Fitbit Charge 5 is an updated version of the company’s flagship activity band. The much loved device takes across pretty much everything from the previous generation, and slaps on some worthy upgrades.
The sleek looking Charge range has been our favourite for a couple of years now. So until something better comes along, the new version is our choice for the average person who does the occasional run here and there – particularly as the price is almost the same.
The device has everything you need for 24/7 activity tracking. The main addition with the fifth generation is a beautiful color display. You still get built-in GPS, something runners and cyclists will appreciate, the functionality will come in handy with many of the exercise modes.
The one sensor that has been dropped on Charge 5 is the altimeter for counting floors climbed. However, most people will not notice this. Particularly as you now have access to some fancy health tracking functionality such as ECG, detailed stress tracking and something called the Daily Readiness Score. The latter is a metric that quantifies how ready you are to exercise that day, i.e. whether you should push all out or skip a day. All of this is in addition to blood oxygen, HRV and more.
The 7 day battery is no different, as is the 5 ATM water-resistance. With GPS switched on, battery life falls to a respectable 5 hours.
Last but certainly not least are the smart features. These have progressed so much that they are starting to blend the line between fitness tracker and smartwatch. In addition to contactless payments, Charge 5 comes with call, calendar, text and smartphone app notifications. There is a host of Fitbit and third-party apps, too, as well as Spotify control.
Think of Charge 5 as Sense, but in the form of a fitness band. The two pack the same health sensors.
Runner up # 1
Fitbit Luxe
A recent addition to Fitbit’s range, this one comes in the form of a discreet band but it packs most of the health and fitness tracking functionality you can find in high-spec smartwatches.
The thing is pretty much on par with Charge 4 as far as health and fitness stats. The only thing that is missing is built-in GPS and an altimeter for counting floors. Also, the battery life is shorter.
But what works in its advantage is the small form-factor and beautiful AMOLED display. All of this is offered at a very respectible price. So if don’t need built-in GPS and can do with Connected GPS, Luxe presents itself as an attractive buy.
Runner up # 2
Garmin Vivosmart 5
Vivosmart 5 is another great option from a well known brand. In additional to all the usual fitness tracking smarts, it comes with a blood oxygen sensor and it keeps tabs on your body’s energy reserves.
The oxygen saturation feature measures your oxygen levels at night, allowing you to better understand your sleep quality. This can potentially be used to identify sleep conditions such as apnea, although Garmin will not diagnose these. You can also check your readings on demand during the day.
Another other novel feature is what Garmin calls Body Battery energy monitoring. This uses a combination of stress, heart rate variability (HRV), sleep and activity data to let you know when to push hard, when to rest.
The other features are fairly standard include the usual step, distance, calories, floors, heart rate and advanced sleep tracking. Like many other Garmin wearables Vivosmart 4 will also keep tabs on your stress, VO2 Max, reps and sets in the gym. No built-in GPS, but there is Connected GPS thanks to a recent software update.
Best for style
Winner
Withings ScanWatch 2
The Withings ScanWatch 2 epitomizes the concept of a hybrid watch, seamlessly blending traditional aesthetics with modern health tracking capabilities. Its design is both elegant and discreet, featuring physical hands on a 0.63-inch grayscale OLED screen. This allows it to maintain the classic look of a traditional watch while providing the functionality of a smartwatch. The dial is protected by sapphire crystal, and the case and crown are crafted from stainless steel, adding a touch of durability and class. Multiple color and design options further enhance its appeal, making it a versatile choice for those who value both form and function.
While the ScanWatch 2 is packed with advanced features like 24/7 body temperature monitoring and heart rate variability, it doesn’t compromise on battery life. The device offers an impressive 30-day battery life, facilitated by the new PowerSense Pro feature that optimizes health measurements to conserve energy. This long battery life is particularly beneficial for continuous health monitoring, including sleep patterns and stress levels.
The introduction of new health metrics, such as menstrual cycle tracking and automatic activity recognition for over 40 different activities, makes the ScanWatch 2 a comprehensive health monitoring tool. It’s not just a smartwatch or a fitness tracker; it’s a hybrid that offers the best of both worlds.
Runner-up
Garmin Vivomove 3
You no longer need to compromise fashion for function. Vivomove 3 is a hybrid watch that comes in a number of different variants. This includes the Vívomove 3/3S (to denote two case sizes – 44mm and 39mm), Vívomove Style and Vívomove Luxe.
Notifications are shown on the beautiful 8.9 mm x 18.3 mm OLED display on 3/3s (24.1 mm x 18.7 mm on Style/Luxe). You can even send quick replies. The watch hands move out of the way when you swipe through your messages, heart rate and more for unobstructed reading.
When the display is off, there is no way of telling that this is anything but a sleek looking traditional watch. Tap firmly on the thing or quickly turn your wrist and the display magically appears.
Packing a heart rate monitor, barometric altimeter, accelerometer, ambient light sensor and Pulse Ox, these watches come packing excellent fitness tracking smarts. There’s also Connected GPS for more precise tracking of outdoor activity and a swim-proof design. Battery life is up to 5 days in smartwatch mode and a further 7 days in with limited functionality.
Best for running
Garmin Forerunner 955 / 965
The Forerunner 955 is a fully featured running and triathlon GPS sports watches. You will find the usual Elevate wrist-based heart rate for 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and GPS and GLONASS coverage. Additionally, the wearable sports a barometer, altimeter, and a compass.
Essential reading: Gone for a run – top GPS watches for running and training
Where the watch stands out most though, is in its detailed analysis of performance. The Forerunner aggregates past training results and then uses that data to evaluate the amount of effort users exert during fitness sessions, i.e. if you are slacking off or overdoing it. It does this through a few different metrics.
Training load looks at users’ exercise activity over the last seven days and compares it to the optimal range for your fitness and recent training history. Training status does the same thing with a more short-term view, and lets you know if you’re training productively, peaking or overreaching. Additionally, the training effect metric tracks and reviews the aerobic and anaerobic benefit of a training session. There are also other advanced dynamics for running, cycling and swimming, including FTP, VO2 max, cadence and others.
Then we have HRV Status and the Training Readiness Score. The first tracks your heart rate variability while you sleep and compares it with a 7 day and long term average. The second spits out a score on a scale to 100, that quantifies how ready you are to train on a particular day.
These features are also available on the 945 LTE. Its cellular abilities are primarily in use for emergency functions. So if you want to make phone calls from your watch, other options such as the Apple Watch are the way to go.
And let’s not forget the Forerunner 965. Essentially the same watch as the 955, only with a fancy AMOLED display.
Best for outdoors
Winner
Garmin Fenix 7 / Epix 2
This is the ultimate outdoor adventuring watch. You can choose between multiple models that vary in size to fit every wrist and every workout. The watch features most things you would want for fitness training plus feature sets for outdoor navigation.
The timepiece is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts who are into multi sports and want to be able to track everything. You can use it for cycling, open water swimming, cross country skiing, climbing, indoor run/bike/swim, hiking and much more.
In addition to heart rate tracking from the wrist, the watch provides advanced running metrics including vertical oscillation and vertical ratio, VO2 max and a recovery advisor. Outdoor navigation includes things like 3-axis compass, altimeter and barometer and TracBack feature.
If you’re not short on cash, the daddy of the bunch is the Fenix 7 Solar Edition. It comes with a transparent solar charging lens that sits on top of the watch face. This converts the sun’s rays into energy which provides you with an additional 10-15% battery juice.
The absolute top of the line is Epix 2. It has the same features as Fenix 7, but with an AMOLED display instead of a memory in pixel display. Those that want to save a few bucks might want to opt for Fenix 6. It lacks the touchscreen capability of the Fenix but has most other features. You can see in detail how the three watches compare in our separate piece.
Garmin has also introduced Pro versions of Fenix 7 and Epix 2 in 2023. , the modifications are rather modest. They pretty much end with flashlight inclusion in all size variants, Gen 5 heart rate sensor, multi-frequency GNSS positioning, more memory and some display enhancements.
Amazon: Fenix 7, Epix 2 | Garmin*
Runner up
Apple Watch Ultra
For the first time, in 2022 we got a Ultra version of the Apple Watch. It is designed for the adventurer types, those into exploration and the great outdoors.
Watch Ultra comes with a larger display (49mm) than the base version, and its screen is the biggest and brightest to date. Other upgrades include a titanium case and action button on the opposite side of the crown. You can program this to trigger certain actions. Everything is more rugged then before, and the buttons have received a revamp so that you can use them with gloves on.
On-board is also dual-band GPS for quicker and more accurate satellite connection, along with mapping abilities such as waypoint tracking. If you get lost activate the 86 decibel siren – its unique sound pattern can be heard 180 meters away.
There is lots to like about Apple’s latest device. It certainly gives the likes of Garmin something to think about.
Best fitness tracker watch
Winner
Garmin Venu 3
Venu 3 is Garmin’s Swiss knife of activity trackers, the company’s main competitor in the all-purpose smartwatch space. Plus it looks great.
The device sets itself apart with a range of features that cater to a broad spectrum of users. One of its most compelling attributes is the flexibility it offers in terms of design and display. Unlike its predecessor, the Venu 2 Plus, the Venu 3 comes in two sizes, allowing for a more personalized fit. Coupled with a lighter weight due to its fiber-reinforced polymer casing, this smartwatch is designed for comfort during extended wear.
Battery life is another area where the Venu 3 excels. It offers up to 14 days of battery life in smartwatch mode with the display always-on. This excellent battery life makes the Venu 3 a reliable companion for those who don’t want to be tethered to a charger frequently.
New features like Sleep Coach, Nap Detection, and Jet Lag Adviser add layers of functionality absent in most Garmin watches. The Sleep Coach, for instance, doesn’t just track sleep patterns but provides actionable insights for improving sleep quality.
Whether you’re a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade, the Venu 3 offers a well-rounded feature set that justifies its position as a top fitness watch recommendation.
Runner-up
Fitbit Versa 4 (& Sense 2)
Versa is Fitbit’s second smartwatch. The device is up to generation four now so has advanced quite a bit since that first iteration a number of years ago.
When it comes to features, this is a timepiece that puts fitness first. It includes most of the things you would expect from a Fitbit device, along with capturing real-time stats on a plethora of different types of activities including swimming. And you’ll be able to keep tabs on all this in real-time on the gorgeous hi-res AMOLED touchscreen.
There is also access to various music streaming services (some of which allow for downloading of tunes), smartphone notifications, Fitbit pay and Alexa built-in. The App Gallery has Strava, Accuweather, Flipboard, Starbucks and more.
Those that want more can opt for Fitbit Sense or Sense 2. That range comes with everything that you can find on Versa 4 plus some additional health tracking smarts in the form of ECG and a galvanic skin sensor. These additions make it a more serious health tracking device.
Best budget fitness tracker
Xiaomi Mi Band 7
While not as comprehensive as some of the other options out there, Mi Band gets the basics right and with its lightweight, slick, water-resistant design, looks good enough to wear during the day, in the office or for an evening function.
The look of the seventh generation tracker is very similar to that of its predecessor. As detailed in our hands-on review, the upgrade in 2022 is the larger AMOLED display which measures 1.62 inches and has an always-on option.
In terms of functionality, you now have an SpO2 sensor that can track blood oxygen continuously, a quadrupling of sports modes, additional performance metrics and more. Plus you get all the great functionality of generation five. This includes the 5 ATM water-resistance and awesome battery life. There are also some non-fitness functions, sprinkled in, such as smartphone messages, Caller ID, weather, alarm and more.
Those looking for a no-frills activity tracker will not be disappointed. The wearables simply does the job and you have a choice of smartphone apps with which to use it.
For info, Xiaomi Mi Band 8 has been out for a few months now in China. We are still waiting for the global version of the device to become available.
Best for the gym
Beast Sensor
To achieve a higher level of measurement reliability, and to perform each possible exercise, the Beast sensor is configured as a small magnet, which enables it to be easily plugged on barbells, dumbbells, kettlebells or gym machines and to the body itself for performing free body exercises.
The device shows you in real-time how much you are pushing, rep by rep, whether you are lifting weights, using a machine or performing bodyweight exercises. You can chose to visualize Speed, Power or Strength and monitor your performance live while working out.
Essential reading: Boost your gym session with one of these gadgets
Beast utilizes something called Velocity Based Training. This takes the guesswork on how much load you should be adding or removing on a particular set. It also tells you if you should move on and try a new exercise altogether by using the measurement of the bar speed and work to understand the force production.
The little gizmo tracks your improvement and helps you train better. Moreover, it gives you an overview of all workout data, keeping a diary of your performance.
Best for stress and meditation
Muse 2
Muse is a headset that gives users real-time feedback on what is happening inside their brain while they meditate. The first generation device detects changes by using seven EEG sensors along the scalp. Muse 2 slaps on a heart rate monitor, accelerometer for body movement and breath for even better tracking. It now provides you with a more holistic view of your sessions.
While you meditate, the headband measures whether your mind is calm or active, and translates that data into sound that you can hear. When you’re calm, you’ll hear the sound of peaceful weather. If Muse senses your mind wandering, you’ll hear the weather sounds get stronger, gently guiding you back to calm.
Muse 2 is as good as it gets right now if you’re looking for a biofeedback meditation headset. It might not be for everyone, but if you have the budget and your aim is to meditate more and improve your focus, the device certainly can help.
Best smartwatch
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple has recently unveiled the Series 8 watch. Unlike some of the previous generations, the jump from Gen 7 is not that big. It is becoming like the few iPhones – they are all very alike.
But don’t let this distract you from the fact that this is, hands down, the best smartwatch you can buy today. Thousands of apps are available for you to install, and everything has a polished feel about it. Plus watchOS 9 comes with some handy upgrades such as respiratory information and additional mindfullness tools.
The main upgrade with Series 8 is a skin temperature sensor. Apple uses this to take measurements at regular intervals while you sleep. In the morning you can view a chart on how this compares to your baseline. Temperature taking is also useful for those who ovulate, as it indicates ovulation via biphasic shift. Users can get retrospective estimates on when they’ve ovulated including notifications and detailed views of their cycles.
Another upgrade is called Crash Detection. If you find yourself in a car crash the feature will automatically alert emergency services and your select contacts.
Unfortunately battery life is still around 18 hours. But now there’s a Low Power mode that you can tap in, which will extend this to 36 hours. With limited functionality, of course.
You don’t necessarily need to opt for the latest generation. There are some great deals to be had on generation 7 and 6. The company also has a cheaper Watch Series SE iteration that was refreshed 2022. It packs the same S8 chip as Series 8, so has 20% quicker processing power than its predecessor.
Best smart scale
Withings Body+
This scale simply does the job. Having one of these in the bathroom means you can make weighing yourself part of your morning ritual, allowing you to track your progress every day, at roughly the same time, in the same state of undress, with no hassle. It configures relatively effortlessly to your network, and then just goes about its work reliably and quietly enough.
Body+ measures weight and BMI, along with fat mass, muscle mass, water and bone mass. The scale has multi-user support and recognition, a free Health Mate app and syncs to the Cloud. It also has both iOS and Android compatibility.
The Patented Position Control Technology delivers highly-precise measurements accurate to .2 pounds. The fat % monitoring and other metrics can sometimes vary, but as mentioned this is the case with all such scales on the market.
If you love gadgets and find tracking your weight useful to help you diet or maintain a healthy weight, you won’t go wrong with the Body+.
Best smart blood pressure monitor
Withings BPM Core
Honored with a CES Innovation Award, Withings Core functions as a BPM, ECG and digital stethoscope. ECG is used to identify atrial fibrillation (AFib), a serious form of irregular heart rhythm that can lead to heart failure and is a major risk for stroke. The digital stethoscope can provide early detection of valvular heart disease. The condition is characterized by damage to one of the four heart valves and may require surgical intervention.
The ability to monitor all three conditions (high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease), with one product definitely sounds like a game changer. You’ll essentially get a complete heart health checkup in 90 seconds.
For now BPM Core is only available for purchase in Europe. US availability is expected later this year. You can check out our full hands-on review on this link.
Omron EVOLV
Omron is one of the most established brands on the home BPM market. Its EVOLV device is a sleek looking one-piece monitor which has no tabletop unit, no tubes and no wires. Because of this the product is highly portable and easy to operate.
Users wrap the entire unit around their upper arm and the blood pressure reading is displayed in bold numbers right on the face of the device. EVOLV provides you with a complete view of your blood pressure with systolic, diastolic and pulse readings. It also detects the appearance of irregular heartbeats during measurement and gives a warning signal with readings.
This is BPM that you can use it completely independently of your smartphone. All you are required to do to take a reading is press one button.
With this device Omron has married their accurate technology with connectivity. In our hands-on review, we found it to be accurate, and the operation to be very smooth, fast and noiseless.
Best sleep tracker
Withings Sleep Analyzer
Withings Sleep Analyzer slips under the mattress from where it tracks all aspects of your nightly (and daily) rest. The company says after 3 days of use, more than a half of users increase their amount of sleep by an average of 48 minutes per night for the next 3 nights. Not bad, as most people are chronically sleep deprived.
The thing lies incognito under your mattress with no buttons to push or need to charge. Jump into bed, and go to sleep. This is exactly what you want – a no hassle tracker that you forget is even there.
The device captures a wealth of stats. Everything from sleep cycles, to interruptions, sleep heart rate, snoring, breathing disturbances and even sleep apnea – it’s all there. In our review we found that it does this accurately even though it lies under a thick mattress. The data it collects automatically makes its way to the app on your phone so is ready to be viewed in the morning.
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