When smartwatches first appeared on the tech scene, many users were lured by the prospect of wearing the high-tech James Bond-like device that could answer calls, respond to texts, coordinate schedules and browse the web. While these features remain crucial, today’s best smartwatches have morphed into small health centers. If you know someone who wears a fitness tracker, you’ve probably heard them say, “Wait a minute — I need to move around.” Or they’ve seen them walk in circles around the workplace to meet athletic goals.
As an outsider, you may feel strange about the world of high-tech fitness pedometers, but with the COVID-19 pandemic keeping us at home and making routine exercise harder, or at least less easy, you may finally feel the urge to jump on the bandwagon. After all, fitness trackers are a great way to hold you accountable for your exercise goals and track your sleep habits, among many other things. We’ve taken the first step by highlighting the best of the best smartwatches so that you can choose to suit your needs.
And vice versa
The Fitbit Versa 2 is a fitness smartwatch that, unlike other Fitbits, can easily fill an Apple Watch void in your life. On the fitness front, we like the Versa 2’s 15 + goal-based activities (along with real-time data) and customizable guided breathing exercises. If you’re already married to a non-Fitbit smartwatch, the Versa 2 is clearly a premium health and fitness tracker first and a smartwatch second, so you might want to reconsider.
The Versa 2 includes Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa, as well as additional deep sleep tools and built-in GPS. Users can also download music from Spotify, view hundreds of apps (from weather forecasts to Strava) and send text using voice replies. If you’re interested in smartwatches, it’s the feature the average user is most eager to have. If you’re looking for a smartwatch primarily for fitness, but want some nice extras, the Versa 2 is a great choice.
Fitbit Sense is a wearable computer.
Fitbit Sense will replace Fitbit Ionic in September 2020. And it does so in grand style – just look at the gorgeous full-color display! There’s no doubt that Sense could replace your current smartwatch, and for many of us, reducing the number of devices we use on a daily basis is a huge benefit. Unlike previous models, this one lets you choose from a variety of virtual assistants: both Google Assistant and Amazon’s Alexa can help.
Sense is packed with cutting-edge health features. It monitors your skin temperature, is compatible with EKG, has a deep sleep tracker, and allows you to record over 20 goal-based activities (and get that data in real time). The device can do almost anything your smartphone can do, from Fitbit payments, text-to-speech, to Spotify and Uber access. Bonus :Sense’s battery lasts about six days on a single charge, while it lasts 24 hours on a 12-minute charge.
The Apple Watch Series 3 is the third generation of the Apple Watch.
There’s no doubt that Apple’s answer to the smartwatch has become a buzzword for all smartwatches, just as Google and Zoom have become buzzwords for search engines and video conferencing platforms, respectively. The Apple Watch Series 3 is a great top-of-the-line smartwatch, but it falls short in a few areas that may be most critical for anyone looking for a fitness tracker.
In many ways, the Apple Watch can replace your iPhone. If you don’t want to pull out your phone, you can use the stunning retina display to access most apps; It can also store music, podcasts and audiobooks, as well as act as a top-notch GPS. The Apple Watch is waterproof, has an optical heart sensor, an emergency call function, and tracks your activity trends. It can work with your training program, or you can look at your “fitness ring,” which is filled based on your activity level, steps taken, and other factors.
What are the drawbacks? Even though the Apple Watch’s pricing tier just dropped, it may still be too expensive for some users. The watch’s main drawback, though, is its battery life: unlike the Fitbit, it needs to be recharged at the end of each day’s use, making sleep monitoring and other features difficult to exploit.
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is a smartwatch from Samsung.
Speaking of great smartwatches, it’s hard to get critics’ praise for Samsung’s Galaxy series. The new Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2 is compatible with Android and iOS phones (ahem, some companies can’t work with others) and lasts up to five days on a single charge. However, the watch’s long-lasting battery isn’t its only benefit. In fact, at Samsung, top-of-the-line craftsmanship meets excellent prices, and while it’s not a “cheap” watch, it’s the ideal compromise for those looking for a long-term partnership.
The Active2 is light and comfortable with advanced fitness features. Thanks to the watch’s smart sensors, you’ll stay on track and get the most out of every mile as you work toward your fitness goals. Do you care about keeping your heart and mind and the rest of your body in good shape? The device is designed to detect high and low heart rates and provide you with essential, detailed information about your night’s sleep and help you track your stress levels. The bottom line: get all the bells and whistles – a fully working smartwatch – without sacrificing battery life, Fitbit-like features, or your cash.
Using Fitbit charging
The Fitbit Charge 4 is described as Fitbit’s “most advanced” tracker, and by all measures, it’s our top pick. While it may not have all the features of a Fitbit smartwatch (or smartwatch in general), it does include a variety of features to help you achieve your health and fitness goals. Unlike many other Fitbits, the Charge 4 has a built-in GPS that allows avid runners and cyclists to more accurately calculate their speed and distance.
Are there any other benefits? The device’s battery life is seven days, which means you can collect a week’s worth of data from a single charge. It also has 24/7 heart rate tracking and deep sleep tracking. While it lacks the software features of a real smartwatch, the Charge 4 supports “tap to pay” and offers users weather, timer and calendar apps. We also like the Charge 4’s simple, unobtrusive design and easy-to-read display.
Pioneer 35 by Garmin
When you hear the word Garmin, you probably think of the first generation of successful GPS devices. One of the best things about the Garmin Pioneer 35 smartwatch is its simple GPS, which keeps track of how far you’ve run, how fast you’ve run and where you’ve gone. Surprisingly, not every Fitbit comes with (good)GPS, so Garmin might be the way to go if you need it.
The pioneer model also includes a large number of additional desirable features. When combined with your smartphone, it tracks your heart rate throughout the day, allows smart notifications, provides real-time tracking and music control, and provides activity tracking throughout the day, including steps, calories, and exercise reminders. Garmin Connect automatically uploads your data to the brand’s free online fitness community, which does challenges, offers insights, and lets you share your progress with your friends if you need a little extra help to reach your fitness goals.
Letsfit smartwatch
Are you looking for something that won’t cost you much? At less than $50, the Letsfit smartwatch is one of the cheapest on the market. While the smartwatch’s features are limited, essentials such as receiving text messages and social media notifications are included. It’s also great value for money, with good battery life, a wide range of smartphone compatibility and the brand’s own Letsfit app.
In terms of daily tracking, you can see your progress in three sport modes: running, walking, and cycling, as well as gain information on your heart rate, calories burned, and distance traveled. While the sleep tracking isn’t as advanced as Fitbit models, you can still see your sleeping patterns and see what needs to be improved. What’s another fantastic feature? The built-in breathing guide program guides you through a series of stress-relieving activities. In short, both you and your wallet will be at ease.