Wearable tech is all the rage these days. Now that people are getting more and more into health and fitness, smartwatch makers are scrambling to create the perfect device for busy individuals looking to track their health on their wrist. If you’re looking for a good fitness watch that offers all of the functions to help you with your fitness goals, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best fitness watches that are currently on the market.
What to Look for in a Fitness Watch
Long Battery Life
Since you’re probably going to want to track an entire day’s activities, a battery that lasts at least 24 hours on one charge is ideal. Most fitness smartwatches offer up to five days of battery life, but that’s an optimistic figure for those with additional features such as built-in GPS or audio speakers and microphones for answering calls. Such features will drain the watch’s battery faster, so aim for a smartwatch that has at least 24 hours of battery life even when using all features.
Water Resistance
Fitness buffs sweat more on a daily basis. And if you’re using a smartwatch to track things such as calories burned, steps taken, and other fitness tracking metrics, then you’re going to need a smartwatch that can deal with all of that sweaty moisture.
Most smartwatches these days are water-resistant, but it’s best to check the fine print before buying because some are not equipped to withstand showering or swimming. For those who run or engage in watersports for their workouts, a water-resistant or waterproof smartwatch is pretty much a requirement.
Companion App
Most smartwatches have a companion app that shows synced data. But ideally, choose a smartwatch that has an app with a good variety of fitness features, such as food and daily water intake logging, weight loss charts, and more. Some apps, such as the Fitbit companion app, also allows you to scan barcodes, which is highly useful for calorie counters who regularly log their meals.
Fitness Tracking
A fitness smartwatch should have the capability to track your fitness efforts, right? That kind of goes without saying. But there are some fitness watches that only track steps, and ideally you would want something that tracks much more, such as distance, calories burned, active minutes, and stationary time.
Other fitness trackers such as the Fitbit Blaze offers Multi-Sport Tracking, which tracks stats specific to whatever sport or fitness activity you’re engaging in.
Heart Rate Monitor
Most smartwatches come with built-in heart rate sensors that allow you to track your continuous heart rate. Since tracking your beats per minute can help you monitor your weight loss progress, optimize your exercise routines, and even manage your stress levels, a heart rate monitor is an ideal feature for any fitness smartwatch.
Sleep Tracking
Tracking your sleeping habits is an important part of your overall health, so go for a fitness smartwatch that features built-in sleep tracking. There are smartwatches that don’t have this feature but allow you to download a third-party sleep tracking app, but the problem with this is that the apps usually require you to hit a button for it to start tracking your sleep, and you’ll have to hit that button again when you wake up to tell it to stop. But you won’t always immediately fall asleep once you hit that button, so it may lead to inaccurate readings.
If possible, choose a fitness smartwatch that has this all built in. All you would have to do is wear it, and it’ll automatically track your sleeping and waking hours.
Smartphone Notifications
While not essential in tracking or managing your fitness efforts, the ability to display your notifications is a handy feature to have in any smartwatch. It would allow you to stay on top of all important calls or text messages during instances when it would be hard to reach for your phone, such as when you’re working the stationary bike at the gym or going for a run in the park.
Best Fitness Watches – Methodology
This list was compiled after researching the latest fitness watches available on the market, taking into account each’s features, price range, and popularity among consumers. Each watch has been selected based on its key features, including battery life, display type, app control, water resistance, and health monitoring capabilities. We also considered each watch’s design, user interface, and compatibility with other devices — such as smartphones and fitness apps. We attempted to include a mix of watches at different price points — from budget-friendly options to high-end models with advanced features to fit the needs of users such as personal trainers, athletes, and hikers.
Best For Marathoners: Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS Smartwatch
With its features, the Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS Smartwatch deserves its spot on every marathoner’s wishlist. The smartwatch contains more than 25 GPS and indoor sports apps, technology that records training metrics and recovery insights, and a built-in GPS to keep track of your time, distance, pace, and speed. The Garmin Forerunner 165’s goal is to help you see your stats even when you just woke up, finished a race, or went for a quick swim.
Key features:
- Battery Life: Up to 11 days
- Display Type: AMOLED
- App Control: Yes
- Swimproof: Up to 50 meters
- Sleep Tracking: Yes
- Notifications: Yes
- Music Storage: No
- Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Garmin Forerunner 165 lets you specify your goals and then recommends workouts tailored just for you. Additionally, Forerunner 165 features Garmin Pay, letting you make contactless payments on the go.
The Garmin Forerunner 165 is a smartwatch that allows you to experience convenience anytime and anywhere! Each feature is added with you in mind, so you can rest easy that this Garmin smartwatch will be a good purchase.
Best for High Performers: Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 GPS Smartwatch
This is the latest watch design by Garmin and offers advanced training features for high performers looking to go the distance. It can monitor your hill score, which tracks your climbing performance over time, and can provide real-time stamina updates. Its 24/7 monitoring capabilities will keep you informed of your mental and physical health at all times. You can even track your favorite sports with activity profiles, such as soccer, football, and more.
Key features:
- Battery Life: Up to 10 days
- Display Type: AMOLED
- App Control: Yes
- Swimproof: Up to 100 meters
- Sleep Tracking: Yes
- Notifications: Yes
- Music Storage: Yes
- Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
But the Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 can help high performers in other areas as well. You can receive smart notifications directly from your phone. Its battery life can last an astounding 10 days in smartwatch mode and up to 20 hours in GPS mode. Overall, this watch allows for peak performance at all times.
Best for Apple Users: Apple Watch Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular is the ultimate fitness watch for Apple users. With its seamless integration with Apple devices, users can easily track and monitor their fitness data, receive notifications, and access Siri voice commands all from their wrist. This watch offers advanced fitness tracking features, including heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen monitoring, and ECG readings. It also has a variety of workout modes, including swimming, yoga, and cycling.
Key features:
- Battery Life: Up to 36 hours
- Display Type: OLED Retina
- App Control: Yes
- Swimproof: Water-resistant up to 100m
- Sleep Tracking: Yes
- Notifications: Yes
- Music Storage: Yes
- Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
The addition of cellular connectivity means that you can leave your phone at home while still being able to make calls, send texts, and stream music directly from your watch. Overall, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular offers unparalleled convenience and functionality, making it the best fitness watch for Apple users.
Best Budget-Friendly: Fitbit Inspire 3
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a budget-friendly fitness watch that offers a range of features to help you track your fitness and achieve your health goals. It’s a great option for anyone looking for a reliable, affordable device to monitor their activity and improve their overall health.
Key features:
- Battery Life: Up to 10 days
- Display Type: OLED
- App Control: Yes
- Swimproof: Water-resistant up to 50m
- Sleep Tracking: Yes
- Notifications: Yes
- Music Storage: N/A
- Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
The Inspire 3 offers 24/7 heart rate monitoring, activity tracking, and guided breathing sessions to help manage stress. It also features automatic workout detection, sleep tracking, and a variety of goal-based exercise modes. With up to 10 days of battery life on a single charge, the Inspire 3 is a convenient and practical option for anyone looking to stay on top of their health and wellness without breaking the bank.
Best for Runners: Garmin Forerunner 955
The Garmin Forerunner 955 is considered the best watch for runners due to its advanced features that are specifically designed to enhance their performance. The watch offers advanced running dynamics, including cadence, ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and stride length. It also provides accurate GPS tracking and a range of metrics such as VO2 max, training load, and recovery time.
Key features:
- Battery Life: Up to 2 weeks
- Display Type: MIP
- App Control: Yes
- Swimproof: Water-resistant up to 100m
- Sleep Tracking: Yes
- Notifications: Yes
- Music Storage: Up to 1,000 songs
- Heart Rate Monitor: Yes
Runners can take advantage of the watch’s race predictor feature, which estimates their finish time based on their current training. The Forerunner 955’s long battery life, rugged design, and compatibility with external sensors make it the perfect tool for serious runners looking to improve their performance.
Fitness Watch Comparison Chart
| Watch Model | Battery Life | Display Type | App Control | Swimproof | Sleep Tracking | Notifications | Music Storage | Heart Rate Monitor |
| Garmin Epix Pro Gen 2 GPS Smartwatch | Up to 10 days | AMOLED | Yes | Water-resistant up to 100m | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS Smartwatch | Up to 11 days | AMOLED | Yes | Water-resistant up to 50 meters | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 GPS + Cellular | Up to 30 hours | OLED Retina | Yes | Water-resistant up to 100m | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fitbit Inspire 3 | Up to 10 days | OLED | Yes | Water-resistant up to 50m | Yes | Yes | N/A | Yes |
| Garmin Forerunner 955 | Up to 2 weeks | MIP | Yes | Water-resistant up to 100m | Yes | Yes | Up to 1,000 songs | Yes |
Fitness Watches: Frequently Asked Questions
A fitness watch is a wearable device that tracks fitness and health-related metrics such as steps taken, heart rate, calories burned, and distance traveled. It can also track sleep, monitor stress levels, and provide notifications. Fitness watches often have companion apps that allow users to set goals, track progress, and analyze data.
It depends on the specific fitness watch. Some fitness watches are designed to be water-resistant and can be worn while swimming, while others are not. It’s important to check the specifications of the watch to determine its water-resistance rating and whether or not it’s safe to wear while swimming.
The accuracy of heart rate monitors on fitness watches can vary depending on the type of sensor and the quality of the watch. Optical sensors are commonly used in fitness watches, and they can provide accurate readings, but they may be affected by factors such as skin color, motion, and ambient light. Chest strap heart rate monitors tend to be more accurate but can be uncomfortable for some users.
It depends on the specific fitness watch. Some fitness watches have music storage and can play music or connect to streaming services through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. However, not all fitness watches have this feature, and those that do may require a separate subscription or purchase to access certain services.
Fitness watches use motion sensors and heart rate monitors to track sleep. They detect when the wearer is moving less, indicating that they are likely asleep, and may also track the wearer’s heart rate during sleep to estimate the amount of time spent in each sleep stage.
Individuals with pacemakers should consult with their doctors before using fitness watches or any other wearable technology. While most fitness watches are safe for use with pacemakers, certain models that use magnetic charging or have strong magnets in their sensors could potentially interfere with the pacemaker’s operation. It is best to consult with a doctor before using a fitness watch if you have a pacemaker.
Finding the Best Fitness Watch
In selecting the perfect smartwatch, you need to be in tune with your preference and needs. As the fitness watch market continues to invent and innovate, think about your lifestyle, fitness goals, and which features you require.
Remember to prioritize essential aspects such as battery life, smartphone compatibility, and durability. Additionally, delve into community reviews and expert opinions to make a better and more informed decision.
Ultimately, invest in a smartwatch that will blend right into your daily routine, helping your productivity and well-being. So, before you make that purchase, take a moment to think about what matters most to you in a fitness watch, and let your choice reflect them.
