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Title: The best fitness trackers for 2025

Date: Fri, 09 May 2025 09:01:27 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-fitne...

Fitness trackers are a solid option if you really want to hone in on
tracking, well, your fitness. Some of the best fitness trackers also include
additional sensors to track things like stress, sleep and other advanced
health metrics. Sure, you could opt for the best smartwatch, but if youΓÇÖre
not interested in all of the extra features they offer, a fitness tracker
might be a better (and more affordable) option.

Accurate workout and activity tracking is what fitness trackers do best; most
include a pedometer to track your steps throughout the day. They might not
look as glamorous as an Apple Watch, but they do a particular job well.
WeΓÇÖve researched and tested a good selection of the most popular fitness
trackers out there to help make your decision a little easier.

Table of contents

Best fitness trackers and watches for 2025

What do fitness trackers do best?

When to get a smartwatch instead

Other fitness trackers we tested

Fitness tracker FAQs

Best fitness trackers and watches for 2025

What do fitness trackers do best?

The answer seems simple: Fitness trackers are best at monitoring exercise, be
it a 10-minute walk around the block or that half marathon youΓÇÖve been
diligently training for. Obviously, smartwatches can help you reach your
fitness goals too, but there are some areas where fitness bands have proven
to be the best buy: focus, design, better battery life, durability and price.

When I say ΓÇ£focus,ΓÇ¥ IΓÇÖm alluding to the fact that fitness trackers are
made to track activity well; anything else is extra. They often donΓÇÖt have
the bells and whistles that smartwatches do, which could distract from their
advanced health tracking abilities. They also tend to have fewer sensors and
internal components, which keeps them smaller and lighter. Fitness trackers
are also a better option for those who just want a less conspicuous gadget on
their wrists all day.

Battery life tends to be better on fitness trackers, too. While most
smartwatches last one to two days on a single charge, fitness bands offer
between five and seven days of battery life ΓÇö and thatΓÇÖs with all-day and
all-night use even with sleep tracking features enabled. Many fitness
trackers also slot nicely into your existing ecosystem, syncing seamlessly
with your smartphone, other fitness apps and cloud storage to keep all your
data in one place.

When it comes to price point, thereΓÇÖs no competition. Most worthwhile
smartwatches start at $175 to $200, but you can get a solid smart band
starting at $70. Yes, more expensive bands exist (and we recommend a few
here), but youΓÇÖll find more options under $150 in the fitness tracker space
than in the smartwatch space.

When to get a smartwatch instead

If you need a bit more from your wearable and donΓÇÖt want to be limited to a
fitness or activity tracker, a smartwatch may be the best buy for you. There
are things like on-watch apps, alerts and even more robust fitness features
that smartwatches have and the best fitness trackers donΓÇÖt. You can use one
to control smart home appliances, set timers and reminders, check weather
reports and more. Some smartwatches let you choose which apps you want to
receive alerts from, and the options go beyond just call and text
notifications. Just make sure your smartwatch is compatible with your Android
or iPhone, however, before purchasing, as not all of them work with both
operating systems.

But the extra fitness features are arguably the most important thing to think
about when deciding between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. The latter
devices tend to be larger, giving them more space for things like GPS,
barometers, onboard music storage and more. While you can find built-in GPS
on select fitness trackers, itΓÇÖs not common.

If youΓÇÖre someone whoΓÇÖs seriously training ΓÇö say for a race or an
endurance challenge ΓÇö a dedicated running watch may be worth considering.
These often provide more in-depth cardio analytics, recovery insights, and
real-time pace data that go beyond what standard trackers can deliver.

Other fitness trackers we've tested Fitbit Inspire 3

The Fitbit Inspire 3 strips out all the luxury features from the Charge 6 and
keeps only the essential tracking features. You wonΓÇÖt get built-in GPS
tracking or Fitbit Pay or Spotify control but you do get solid activity
tracking, automatic workout detection, smartphone alerts and plenty more. The
updated version has a sleeker design and includes a color touch display and
connected GPS, the latter of which lets you track pace and distance while you
run or bike outside while you have your phone with you. When compared to the
Charge 6, the Inspire 3 is more fashionable, too. Its interchangeable bands
let you switch up the look and feel of your tracker whenever you want, and
itΓÇÖs slim enough to blend in with other jewelry you might be wearing. We
were also impressed by its multi-day battery life: Fitbit promises up to 10
days on a single charge, and that checked out for us. After four days of
round-the-clock use, the Inspire 3 still had 66 percent battery left to go.

Fitness tracker FAQs How long do fitness tracker batteries last?

The battery life of fitness trackers can vary depending on the model and its
features. On average, most fitness trackers last between five to seven days
on a single charge. Basic models with limited features could stretch up to 10
days or more. However, more advanced trackers with features like continuous
heart rate monitoring, GPS, or always-on displays may need recharging after
one to three days. If you're using GPS or streaming music through your
fitness tracker, you'll find that this drains the battery faster. By using
these features less, or turning them off, you'll extend battery life.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/wearables/best-fitne...
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