There's never been a better selection of fitness trackers, but with choice comes confusion. Here is our list of the top 5 fitness trackers you can buy this year.
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1. Fitbit Charge 4
Take charge with the best fitness tracker you can buy
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: Yes
Battery life: Up to 7 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS
$99.95
REASONS TO BUY
+On-board GPS+Fitbit Pay+Spotify controls
REASONS TO AVOID
–No color screen
The Fitbit Charge 4 might look almost identical to the Charge 3, but there's one very important difference that makes it the best fitness tracker around today: built-in GPS, so you can track your runs and walks and leave your phone at home. There's also Fitbit Pay for contactless payments, and if you do decide to take your phone along, you can control your Spotify playlist from your wrist.
It also includes a new feature called Active Zone Minutes. This is a measure of any activity faster than a brisk walk, and is based on recommendations from various health organizations. It's essentially a simple type of heart rate training, encouraging you to spend time at different levels of exertion based on your age and fitness (as measured by the watch).
The Fitbit Charge 4 lacks a color screen, but its icons and menus are well laid out and easy to understand. Whether you're looking for sleep tracking, the weather forecast or breathing exercises, it's only a couple of swipes away.
Slim, neat and packed with features, the Charge 4 bridges the gap between activity bands and serious running watches, and is truly a fitness tracker for everyone.
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2. Fitbit Inspire 2
A gentle nudge towards a healthier lifestyle
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: No
Battery life: 10 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS
$80.40
REASONS TO BUY
+Sleek design+Simple to use+Great battery life
REASONS TO AVOID
–No GPS
If you're aiming to develop healthier habits, and want a device that will give you a gentle nudge to get there, the Fitbit Inspire 2 could be the best fitness tracker for you. It's not overly complex, but has all the essential features to keep you moving and motivated, and is extremely simple to use.
It's controlled entirely through its responsive touchscreen and single side button, and will monitor your activity and heart rate all day (with alerts when you hit your goals). There are over 20 workout modes, and several will start tracking automatically when the fitness tracker detects that you've begun exercising.
All of your data is collected together in the extremely user-friendly Fitbit app, where you can see patterns over time, set new targets and (if you subscribe to Fitbit Premium) find a whole library of video workouts to follow at home.
There's no color screen or on-board GPS for mapping out runs, but the Inspire 2 is a pleasure to use, and ideal for beginners.
3. Amazfit Bip
A watch-style fitness tracker packed with features
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen: Yes, black and white
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: Yes
Battery life: 1 month
Compatibility: Android/iOS
$102.80
REASONS TO BUY
+Stylish design+Excellent companion app
REASONS TO AVOID
–Auto-pause feature doesn't work–Finicky UI
The Amazfit Bip may look more like a smartwatch than any of the other devices on this list, but as it runs its own software and has a very big focus on fitness we've decided to include it in our list of the best fitness trackers.
The Amazfit Bip's design has been influenced by the Apple Watch (there's no denying that) and it comes packed with tons of features including GPS, an accurate heart rate tracker, multi-sport tracking, sleep tracking and VO2 max features too.
If you're looking for a more watch-like design, the Bip will be up your street. It's lightweight too and other highlights include the always-on display and strong battery life that should last around a month depending on your usage.
4. Garmin Vivosmart 4
Tells you how much energy you do (or don’t) have
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: No
Battery life: 7 days
Compatibility: Android/iOS
$74.99
REASONS TO BUY
+Slim design+Long-lasting battery
REASONS TO AVOID
–Small screen–No GPS
Garmin specializes in serious running watches, but the Vivosmart 4 is made for more casual use, with a focus on everyday fitness rather than intense training.
The screen is smaller than most Garmin devices, but is still capable of showing plenty of information about your wellbeing and workouts. The monochrome display is clear, and uses less power than a color equivalent.
There's also an innovative feature called body battery that helps you learn when exactly is the best time to exercise depending on how much energy you have. This is great for those who are just as interested in their recovery and general wellbeing as they are clocking up the miles.
5. Fitbit Charge 3
Feature-packed, and great for all but serious athletes
SPECIFICATIONS
Screen: Yes
Heart rate tracker: Yes
Waterproof: Yes
Activity tracking: Yes
GPS: No
Battery life: Six days
Compatibility: Android/iOS
$164.99
REASONS TO BUY
+Light design+Big screen
REASONS TO AVOID
–No onboard GPS–Not a color screen
Although it's now been superseded by the superb Charge 4, the Fitbit Charge 3 is still among the best fitness trackers, and has seen some hefty price cuts in recent months.
It has a more lightweight design than the Charge 2 that came before it, and offers a lot of insight into your overall health. The display is bigger and clearer than a lot of other fitness trackers on this list, though it's still a black and white screen.
There's no onboard GPS, like some other trackers on this list have, but it's waterproof and offers a full fitness suite including a heart rate tracker. You can track GPS by pairing your phone with the tracker too.
You have to spend a bit extra on this than other fitness trackers you can buy in this same list, but if you enjoy the whole Fitbit app and experience and would also like access to notifications and Fitbit's fantastic sleep tracking, you'll want to opt for this as it's one of the company's best trackers ever.
(sources: techradar.com, pcmag.com)