The Easy Way to Use Your Smartwatch for Women s Health Tracking
Best Smartwatches for Tracking your Health in 2024 Revealed
The best smartwatches for health tracking are perhaps the height of convenience - accurate GPS tracking, heart rate monitoring, and even sleep tracking are all a flick of the wrist away - but not all great smartwatches are created equally. Some are great for keeping up with socials and messages, while others can be classed as the best fitness trackers for health monitoring.
With the latest and greatest smartwatches for health tracking, enthusiasts can be warned about early illnesses, symptoms of serious conditions such as heartbeat irregularity, and even stress signs that greatly impact our health and well-being.
The best smartwatches for health tracking at a glance:
Best overall: Fitbit Versa 4 Fitness - View on Amazon Best Samsung health-tracking smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Watch5 Pro - View on Amazon Best Apple Watch for health tracking: Apple Watch Series 8 - View on Amazon Best Garmin smartwatch for health tracking: Garmin Venu 2 - View on Amazon
Health tracking can be a critical and often useful gauge for your fitness progression, urging you not only to take certain lifestyle choices into question but also to keep you pushing for the absolute best body performance - an essential tool for marathons or any form of intensive exercise.
We've compiled the latest and greatest (and most affordably priced) technology from a wide range of top brands, giving you an insight into just what kind of technology is available at your budget. So, save yourself the endless internet doom-scrolling and find the best the internet has to offer in seconds. Below, see the best smartwatches for health tracking.
The best smartwatches for health tracking of 2024
All prices are correct at the time of writing. Prices, stock and deals are subject to change without notice.
Best overall smartwatch for health tracking
Amazon/FitbitRrp: 169.00
Price: 169.00
Fitbit has been dominating the smartwatch market for years now, so it's little wonder that the Versa 4 fitness smartwatch is potentially one of the most impressive, yet affordable health-tracking tools we've come across.
With more features than most smartwatches on the market, Fitbit's Versa 4 has practically anything and everything you want from a smartwatch. GPS? Check. Heart rate tracking? Check. Blood oxygen monitoring? Absolutely.
From sleep and stress tracking to heart rate and skin temperature variation tracking, even blood-glucose monitoring - there really isn't much this smartwatch can't do. Fitbit has truly gone above and beyond to deliver a health-tracking watch that does everything, and we couldn't be happier.
Pros
- Excellent array of features
- Affordable smartwatch
- Perfect for health tracking
Cons
- Some features require a subscription
Rrp: 169.00
Price: 169.00
Best value Apple smartwatch for health tracking
Amazon/AppleRrp: 399.00
Price: 399.00
We're also fond of Apple's smartwatch range, and the series 9 is a clear reason why. This model features unique double-tap controls that allow you to navigate the watch without even touching it. Combine that with its impressive water resistance and it's clear this is every swimmer's best friend.
We also want to note that the Series 9 features 64 GB storage, so you're unlikely to ever run out of space.
As for the downside, the battery life is definitely a bit disappointing. While 18 hours sounds good on paper, and you're unlikely to have it ever run out during the daytime when out and about, you will need to top it up every evening.
Pros
- Brilliant waterproofing
- Great storage capacity
- Unique double-tap controls
Cons
- Outclassed in terms of battery life
Rrp: 399.00
Price: 399.00
Best Samsung health-tracking smartwatch
Amazon/SamsungRrp: 429.00
Price: 345.99
Samsung's top-of-the-line Watch 5 Pro is the pinnacle of smartwatch technology right now - built for even the toughest of long-distance excursions and the most accurate total body tracking from heartbeat irregularities to blood pressure tracking - alongside a huge array of health and wellbeing tracking for peace of mind, it's simply an excellent Samsung smartwatch.
What puts the Samsung Watch 5 Pro in front of the competition most of all is its unbeatable battery life of over 80 hours, which is practically unheard of for such a slim watch design, it's just that good. If you want the very best the market has to offer, look no further. This is easily one of the best smartwatches for health tracking.
Pros
- Incredibly powerful smartwatch
- Plenty of health-tracking features
- Excellent battery
Cons
- Some reviewers found the BP, ECG and heart rate readings were a little inaccurate
Rrp: 429.00
Price: 345.99
Best Garmin smartwatch for health tracking
Garmin/AmazonRrp: 349.99
Price: 239.00
Perhaps the pinnacle of Garmin smartwatch technology currently, the Garmin Venu 2S is a simply excellent smartwatch, perfect for those who need a tough, versatile smartwatch with plenty of fitness and health features ready to go.
In terms of health tracking features, Garmin's Venu 2S has plenty; heartbeat irregularity warnings, blood-oxygen saturation, body battery monitoring (perfect to gauge if you're quite ready for the next workout), stress monitoring - this excellent Garmin smartwatch puts your health before any fancy tech features, and for that, it's more than deserving of being on our list.
Of course, Garmin doesn't quite knock it out of the park compared to its Apple and Samsung competition - often screens become overcrowded with an excess of information that is largely unnecessary for your daily health tracking. Pick your display readout wisely to avoid this situation.
Pros
- Stunning display
- Good array of health tracking
- Widely compatible with Apple and Samsung
Cons
- One reviewer found the silicone strap to irritate the wrist a little - not good if you suffer from sensitive skin
Rrp: 349.99
Price: 239.00
Best Apple Watch for health tracking
Amazon/AppleRrp: 669.00
Price: 669.00
The Apple Watch Series 8 is far and beyond one of the best Apple smartwatches on the market right now - a sharp screen, an endless array of health tracking applications from heart rhythm irregularity tracking to menstrual cycle tracking - there's really not much the Apple Watch can't handle.
Syncing perfectly well with the Health tracking app, get a huge amount of health advice at the touch of a button - it's just that fantastic.
Pros
- Excellent smart features
- Stylish and comfortable
- Great for health tracking
Cons
- Weaker battery than Samsung Watch 5 Pro
Rrp: 669.00
Price: 669.00
Best high-end health tracking smartwatch
Amazon/GarminRrp: 650.00
Price: 650.00
Perhaps one of the most impressive smartwatches on the list, Garmin's fnix 7S Solar is a wonder of modern technology - solar charging, hundreds of tech programs and features for every sport on the surface of the earth, and about as much health tracking to boot.
With advanced blood-oxygen sensors, morning reports on your sleep, stress tracking, hydration and respiration tracking, it's just perfect for keeping you in the know about your own body.
At over 500, it's definitely on the pricier side, but we still think the Garmin fnix 7S is more than worth it.
Pros
- Stunning, practical design
- Incredibly tough
- Mind-blowing solar charging
- Myriad of health tracking features
Cons
- Watch size is quite large, so not great for small wrists
Rrp: 650.00
Price: 650.00
Best easy-to-use smartwatch for health tracking
Amazon/FitbitRrp: 269.99
Price: 219.00
You can never really go wrong with a Fitbit, and the Fitbit Sense 2 is a great example of that. It has the usual suite of tracking features you expect to see, but we're especially keen on the inclusion of stress tracking for helping to know when you need to take a step back.
It's especially great for how easy it is to use. It takes minimal setup, and from there you can use it for payments, calls, texts, and more. Plus, the included 6-month membership is a nice bonus.
Pros
- Very accurate
- Stress tracking is a great feature
- Simple to use
Rrp: 269.99
Price: 219.00
Best hybrid Garmin smartwatch
GarminPrice: 259.99 (was 279.99)
For those looking for the classic simplicity of an analogue watch, with the option to explore the latest and greatest smart features, the Garmin Vivomove Trend might just be for you.
As we explored in our hands-on Garmin Vivomove review, the Vivomove trend offers users a much more simplified smart experience, combining analogue and smart features for a seamless hybrid experience. Track hydration, sleeping, running speeds and heart rate at a touch with this simple, yet brilliant smartwatch.
Designed with absolute elegance in mind, this beautifully styled watch is perfect for formal occasions, as well as the sweat-inducing post-work run. A great example of the best smartwatches for health tracking.
Pros
- Gorgeous classic design
- Simple to use
- Great battery life
Price: 259.99 (was 279.99)
Best smartwatch display for health tracking
Amazon/AppleRrp: 248.00
Price: 248.00
This 2nd generation Apple Watch SE sports a brilliant display that's easy to read and understand at a glance. It's always on, which might not be to everyone's tastes, but there are plenty of customisation options to truly make it your own. We just wish it had a few extra trackers.
A nice addition is the fall and crash detection that helps out in emergencies, so it's an extra bit of peace of mind.
Pros
- Easy to adjust and customise
- The screen is clear and readable at all times
- Fall and crash detection provides an extra sense of safety
Cons
- Fewer features than some other smartwatches
Rrp: 248.00
Price: 248.00
Best budget health tracking smartwatch
Amazon/FitbitFor the barebones of health and fitness tracking - that's heart rate monitoring, step counting, calories burned and message notifications - Fitbit's Inspire 2 is one of the best budget smartwatches on the market.
Tough and reliable, whilst remaining incredibly subtle in its design - the Fitbit Inspire 2 isn't going to blow you away with an array of features, but what it does do, it's quite brilliant at.
Pros
- Incredibly affordable
- Great basic health and fitness tracking
- Light and comfortable
Cons
- Not nearly as sophisticated as higher-end models
The best smartwatches for health tracking FAQs
How accurate are smartwatch health trackers?
According to the Heart Rhythm Society, the modern smartwatch is an accurate and reliable source of heart rate tracking - possibly the most important part of health tracking on a smartwatch - so you can rest assured your heart health can be tracked with a great deal of precision.
Can smartwatches detect heart problems?
Modern smartwatches from Apple, Samsung, Fitbit and Garmin have heart irregularity detection - that is, they're able to detect if your heart is not beating at a normal pace.
However, this is not a suitable substitution for expert medical advice, if you have any concerns you should absolutely consult your GP or physician.
Apple versus Samsung: Which has the best smartwatch?
There's no definitive answer to this question - both have their strengths and weaknesses - Samsung watches have better battery life, whilst Apple's apps are considered easier to use and organised in a more visually appealing style - it's anybody's game.
Are smartwatches harmful to health?
While a great smartwatch can be a fantastic exercise motivator and a powerful tool for fitness monitoring - it should be said that such an attachment to smart devices can lead to body-image issues, unhealthy obsessions with health and can reinforce obsessive thoughts.
If you already suffer from such issues, it might be best if you steer clear of smartwatches altogether.
Ryan Houghtonis a commercial content writer for Whats The Best, known best for his expertise in gaming, with a particular soft spot for PC gaming, audio tech, televisions and smartphones.
Diligently writing for Whats The Best for almost two years, there are very few tech products Ryan hasnt had his hands on to review; televisions, headphones, folding phones and even LEGO, if its nerdy, hell be there.
His well-versed history as one of the resident techies at Whats The Best has kept him keen to uncover the very best deals, savings and offers for those in need of a cracking deal to upgrade their setup.
In his downtime, Ryan most likely has his nose buried in a fantasy book, or his eyes glued to a screen whilst playing a tough-as-nails Soulslike or leisurely RPG, indulging in most forms of escapism where possible.
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18 Best Health Tracking Smartwatches in 2023
Where do you begin in your search for the best health tracking smartwatches? Inevitably, we know were going to suggest the Apple Watch 7. But theres so much more on offer than an Apple Watch. In fact, the best all depends on what you want!
Features to consider in a health tracking smartwatch
Looks
The best health-tracking smartwatches are ones that you find aesthetically pleasing. Do you like square or rounded watch faces? How about physical buttons or a full touch screen? Maybe youd prefer something bigger or perhaps something subtle thats barely noticeable? Do you want a minimal health band or a full-size, fully-featured health tracker?
Health Features
What fitness tracking metrics are you interested in? Heart/Cardio rate? Sleep tracking? Blood pressure? Blood oxygen? Temperature? Perhaps you need multiple sports modes. If you menstruate, some watches will monitor your cycle for you. Lets take a closer look at the health-tracking capabilities smartwatches can offer:
Sedentary lifestyle
Are you a bit lazy? We all love to sit down. But, any current health-tracking smartwatch will alert you if youre spending an excessive amount of time sitting motionless during the day. When people spend their days slumped over laptops, they are more likely to develop serious health problems such as diabetes, obesity, and even die young.
If you want proactive notifications that buzz your wrist when youve been sitting motionless for too long, your choices include any Apple Watch and the Fitbit smartwatches. You can use any wristwatch to establish objectives for yourself and follow your own schedule. Unfortunately, third-party applications may fill the void left by the lack of this functionality in Googles Wear OS.
Blood glucose
For diabetics, seeing their blood sugars with a quick look at their wrist is no longer a far-fetched fantasy.
In reality, for many individuals with diabetes, carrying a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) sensor that can now send near-real-time data to a wristwatch is becoming a cornerstone of daily treatment.
However, while market leader Dexcom and others race to keep up with changing consumer technology, its still a little haphazard as to which CGM is compatible with which generation of iPhone or Android phone. Those who use do-it-yourself (DIY) diabetes solutions are always coming up with new methods to use current technologies for customized data viewing.
According to sources, both the Apple 7 and Samsung 4 smartwatches may feature glucose sensors, but these are simply rumors; similar claims have been made in the past but never materialized.
Blood pressure
High blood pressure that is uncontrolled may cause a variety of health problems, including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, renal disease, eyesight loss, and dementia. Its essential to keep track of our blood pressure, but testing may be inconvenient. Isnt it true that if health monitoring watches could measure blood pressure, everything would be so much easier?
Blood pressure monitors are becoming more common in smartwatches, which have historically incorporated a range of health-tracking features.
Blood pressure-monitoring smartwatches make your life simpler by enabling you to check your blood pressure at any time. It allows you to collect blood pressure readings straight from your wrist, anywhere, and whenever you choose, without the need for separate BP equipment.
Calories
We all know that eating a balanced diet is beneficial to our physical and mental health. While we may have the best of intentions when it comes to adhering to our diets, its all too easy to lose track of time or get sidetracked. Calorie counting, establishing good eating habits, meal planning, and adhering to a schedule all require a great deal of thought and effort.
Health tracking smartwatches, thankfully, offer applications that can measure and record your calorie consumption for each meal, making calorie tracking a snap. There are also applications that provide a variety of nutritional data, including food products as well as the number of calories in a normal portion. We all know that eating a balanced diet is beneficial to our physical and mental health.
Atrial fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a condition in which the heart beats irregularlyIf youve never heard of atrial fibrillation, its a cardiac abnormality in which the hearts upper chambers flutter instead of beating normally, causing the organ to pump blood less effectively and raising the risk of clotting. This may lead to coronary artery disease or possibly a stroke. The good news is that when this disease is detected early enough, therapies such as medications or surgical procedures may help to reduce the risk of damage.
Your wristwatch requires an electrocardiogram (ECG) feature to effectively identify the symptoms of atrial fibrillation, which captures the small electrical impulses produced by your heartbeat. This function is included in the most current smartwatches from Apple, Samsung, Fitbit, and Withings, and it may detect atrial fibrillation symptoms and alert you to seek medical attention.
Sleep apnea
The breathing of people with sleep apnea stops and starts throughout the night. Without treatment, it may lead to high blood pressure, increased risk of stroke, and problems focusing. While these side effects may have long-term ramifications, this disease is often ignored. Wristwatches are a lifesaver when situations like these arise.
Choose a watch with a blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) sensor if youre worried about this. Youll be able to keep a better tab on your sleep cycle if you do this.
The Sensor detects the number of Oxygen molecules bound into each Hemoglobin cell. The maximum is 4 per cell, which would read as 100% SpO2. The reading we get is the average of all Hemoglobin cells detected by the sensor.
Fitbit is working on an app that can diagnose sleep apnea using sensor data, but it is not available yet.
Respiratory issues
Wearables are increasingly coming equipped with a SpO2 sensor, also known as a pulse oximeter, which may detect breathing problems as a potential indication of lung illness. Because the sensor can really only detect one of many indicators, its not as accurate or precise as an ECG feature for detecting atrial fibrillation.
One of your choices if youre seeking to identify these kinds of issues is the new Apple Watch 7, which has a blood oxygen sensor as part of its design. Another smartwatch with a heart rate sensor is the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, which runs on Wear OS, and the TicWatch Pro 3, which is also running Wear OS.
Open the Samsung Health app on your Galaxy Watch 4 from the app gallery, choose Blood Oxygen from the list, and then follow the on-screen instructions. Its usual to get a reading of between 95 to 100 percent, although this varies from person to person because of individual differences. While these sensors are improving, they arent quite up to the level of precision seen in medical equipment. If you get a reading that seems to be outside of these ranges, consult your doctor to be sure.
Stress
In these difficult times, its critical that we all keep an eye on our stress levels. High blood pressure, infertility, insomnia, and an increased risk of heart attack are all possible side effects of stress.
The Sense 2, Fitbits newest smartwatch, is primarily focused on stress management. By measuring the amount of electrical activity in your skin using an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor, you can determine how concerned you are. Because this is not a built-in Fitbit feature, you must open the EDA Scan app from the watch to get a reading.
Stress-relieving functions are available on other smartwatches. The Apple Watch 7, for example, comes with Apples own Breathe app, which encourages users to practice deep breathing and meditation on a regular basis. The Apple Watch has an EDA sensor, but its not as direct or as well-designed as the one in the Fitbit Sense 2.
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GPS
If youre very outdoorsy, consider if you need GPS and offline maps. Maybe music storage and control are important to you. Again, the best health tracking smartwatches are the ones that do exactly what you want and need.
Smart features
Are you looking for bells and whistles? If so, what smart features are important? Notifications for calls, messages, and social media? How about being able to make and take calls on the go from your wrist? Do you have smart home assistants like Alexa or Google Assistant? Maybe you have Hue lighting. All these things can be controlled via your smartwatch, if thats what you want it to do.
Some of these modern assistance features also add to the smartwatchs safety features, too.
In fact, its worthwhile you check out our article on the best Samsung Galaxy smartwatch apps or the best apps for Apple Watch if youre an Apple lover.
Price
Youll be pleasantly surprised to learn that price doesnt have to govern your choice, thanks to the plethora of brands and options available. The best health tracking smartwatches arent necessarily the most expensive. For example, you can even get an Apple Watch on a budget. Or, you can go for a lesser-known brand that offers an abundance of features.
So, once you have an idea of what you want, then comes the time to start shopping! Lets take a look at some of the best health smartwatches available today.
Table of Contents
Top Health Tracking Smartwatches:
1. Apple Watch Series 8
Fall 2022 saw the much-anticipated release of the Apple Watch Series 8, now available for sale. It is only likely that this new release is most compatible with iPhone. Like in the Apple Serie 7, the 8 focuses on making minor updates in many different areas, rather than major updates every couple of years. Apple is consistently striving to improve all components of their smartwatch technology like health tracking, user experience, and design.
Apple Watch OS9 coupled with a Series 8 smartwatch gives you a rather comprehensive health and lifestyle tracking tool. Sleep tracking is one of these areas, which is now enhanced by a new skin temperature sensor. This sensors will give users night time skin temperatures variations, and therefore also insights into cycle and ovulation tracking.
The overall workout tracking was enhanced with OS9 updates, and gives you a simple visual display of your daily activity through three colored rings: one for calories burned, another for more intense activity throughout the day, and one other for how many times youve moved per hour. These rings can keep you on track with the daily stats, but also by letting you set weekly goals of different types.
The Apple Series 8 is an all-out health tracking smartwatch created with the reliability of the brand and its previous smartwatches. And other features getting people excited about this model include fast-charging capabilities, crack- and dust-resistance, and crash detection.
2. Apple Watch Ultra
You can easily call the Apple Watch Ultra the most feature-packed and comprehensive smartwatch ever. The Ultra also has a price point to reflect the upgrade. If youre concerned about heart health tracking on a smartwatch, then you can look to the Ultras added blood oxygen app (not available on SE), and ECG app.
If your health and workout tracking centers around swimming, diving, or any other watersports, then the 100m underwater rating will also be a nice feature (the best rating of Apples smartwatches.
Apples Ultra even has the added skin temperature sensor that you can also get in the new Series 8. The sensor enhances sleep tracking and menstrual health tracking.
The Ultra is sold as an all-out adventure smartwatch which shows in its design from the case to the bands. And lastly, the Ultra comes out on top for its safety features when compared to other models. Otherwise, youll be able to enjoy the great features of OS9 as youd get in the Series 8.
The GPS was improved on the Ultra as compared to the 7 and 8, and offers dual-frequency GPS. And if you think that is impressive, wait for the battery life. Not only does the Ultra have fast charging, but also boasts a 36-hour battery life. Youll seldom need to worry about losing health tracking stats to charging time with this smartwatch.
3. Apple Watch Series 7
The Series 7 is possibly the most minor upgrade in the Apple Watch series with few additional features to date.
The new Apple Watch Series 7 is a wonderful health and fitness tracking smartwatch. It offers an accurate heart rate monitor with an additional ECG feature that further monitors heart health and an accurate GPS.
Apples Fitness+ capabilities also make this one of the ultimate fitness smartwatches on the market today. From here, you are assisted through 11 workout types with the ability to display your metrics on your screen, or a second screen, and with specially curated playlists. And with more workouts added every week, you can discover something new each time on Fitness+.
It has 32GB of memory built-in for music storage. Use it for your workout music or podcasts, and there are some cool features like a noise meter and menstrual cycle tracking.Plus, there are some awesome third-party app integrations to truly customize your experience.
Battery life is no better, but it does charge 33% faster.
It has a sleek and instantly recognizable design and The screen has an always-on feature, so youll never miss any information. It comes in two new sizes to Apple Watches, 41mm and 45mm. You can compare it to other Apple models here. Theres also a cool new green color.
Though its worth noting, older devices in the Apple Watch series are also still great offerings in their own right.
The Apple Watch 7 is available on eBay, Amazon or Apple Directly. For more buying options and deals see here.
Advantages
- Always-on screen, never miss information
- Lots of memory
- Comfortable design
Disadvantages
- The always-on feature drains the battery
- Always-on could be a pain at night
- Arguably not different enough from the Apple Watch 6
- Same battery life
- Fitness+ feature is a monthly subscription charge
There are many options out there, catering for all fitness levels from casual gym-goers keeping an eye on calories to serious athletes who need accurate analytics. Theres something for everyone, and here we bring you our pick of the best health tracking smartwatches.
4. Fitbit Sense 2
The Fitbit Sense 2 is among the best fitness trackers on the market right now, and it builds on the Versa lines popularity with numerous innovative new features. Its goal is to empower you to take control of your health by assisting you in understanding your mind and body and making improvements to ensure your mentaland physicalwell-being and it succeeds.
The Sense 2 is a true wrist assistant with the ability to connect to Google Assistant or Alexa. This is helpful for athletes or anyone working out and needing things to happen quickly like weather updates. This also makes them useful in emergency situations as the feature is voice-activated.
Like many of the top smartwatches and fitness trackers, it has an ECG sensor to identify indications of atrial fibrillation, but its the stress monitoring feature that truly stands out. Its something that everybody can gain from and use every day not just in a medical emergency. Although many of the tools for managing stress (such as guided meditation and mindfulness lectures) are only available to Fitbit Premium users, the Sense 2 comes with a 6-month free trial, so you can get a lot of use out of them even if you dont decide to continue your membership.
Fitbit Premium is like a fitness guide or assistant on your wrist. Some of the guided workouts are aimed at keeping you at ease or more mindful, some are aimed at keeping your heart rate up, while others are focused on yoga and flexibility. Many of them are celebrity-guided or endorsed!
The pay app is also a great way to get trends of your activity or health, through features like the PDF Wellness Report, the Daily Readiness Score, or the Sleep Score Breakdown. The Sense 2 is at a low enough price point for the app to make sense money-wise.
Senses fitness monitoring capabilities are also amazing, especially if youre interested in training with heart rate zones. There are various activity monitoring choices, and once youve completed your workout, the watch and Fitbit app will offer you a set of exercise-specific metrics.
Advantages
- A true, top-brand, health-focused watch
- Affordable Apple Watch alternative
- Introduction of mental well-being features
- Alexa and Google Assistant compatibility
- Currently on sale
Disadvantages
- Many aspects require Fitbit Premium
5. Fitbit Charge 5
Fitbit is the brand that immediately comes to mind when thinking about the best health tracking smartwatches. With over 10 versions offering you the ability to monitor your body and health, its no wonder. The latest Charge 5, specifically, is a brilliant halfway house between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker.
Smartwatch features include notifications for texts and calls and various compatible notifications (like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Facebook, including Messenger). You can now use it for Fitbit Pay, which is handy. There are many useful apps you can sync to your Charge 5, including Uber, Google Maps, news and your local weather.
On the health side, itll track things like steps, distance, floors climbed, and calories burned and provide data on sleep patterns and workout analysis. Women can monitor their menstrual cycles and trends, and it will keep an eye on your heart rate round the clock. Its got a built-in GPS so it can track your location while exercising. There are 15 workout types to choose from between running, weights, swimming, yoga, and others to measure your activity accurately. When youre done or need a moment to relax, an EDA sensor, which measures changes in your skins conductivity as a reaction to stress, is another function borrowed from the Fitbit Sense. Furthermore, the Fitbit Charge 5 introduces the Daily Readiness score, available on the Dashboard on all Fitbit devices.
This new score assesses your fitness for training and is designed for individuals who wish to challenge themselves.
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Advantages
- Always on colour touch screen
- Waterproof
- Sleek design
- Great health features
Disadvantages
- Spotify no longer available
- Lack of customisation of clock faces
6. Fitbit Versa 3
The Fitbit Versa 3 addresses our main complaint about the Versa smartwatch series. If you want to leave your phone at home, the Versa 3 now includes embedded GPS to measure the distance and speed of your walks, runs, bike rides, or hikes in real-time. Fitbit also brought new features such as new celebratory animations, and a tool that detects snoring and ambient noise at night for select Fitbit Premium customers in mid-2021.
This is another of Fitbits models which hosts Google or Alexa Assistants, allowing you to change music, answer a call, or ask about the weather, just with your voice. This can also be handy in pulling up your own health stats from the Fitbit App.
The Versa 3 is a strong candidate for the finest fitness tracker on the market, particularly considering its low price and extensive fitness tracking features, which include a SpO2 sensor for monitoring blood oxygen levels while sleeping.
Its a lovely wearable that can perform a lot of the same things as the Sense, with the exception of stress management and advanced heart monitoring.
.As weve come to expect from Fitbit products, performance is outstanding. On a dim screen, the battery lasts roughly 6 days, but its cut in half if the display is set to always-on.
The GPS isnt bad. The heart rate monitor is somewhat more accurate than the Versa 2. Of course, Alexa is on board to assist you, and thanks to Googles acquisition of Fitbit, a software upgrade means Google Assistant is there too.
Advantages
- Gorgeous
- Less expensive than the Sense
- Reliable performance
- 6 day battery life
Disadvantages
- Non-physical side button can be a pain
- GPS is OK at best
7. Garmin Vivosmart 4
Garmin is known for making serious fitness tracking devices that are incredibly popular. The Garmin Vivosmart 4 doesnt disappoint; it does all the jobs youd expect from a fitness tracker; steps, floors climbed, calories burned, heart rate, plus sleep and workouts as well as monitoring all-day stress. It can withstand water up to 50m.
However, where this tracker shines is its health-tracking features. It goes beyond standard sleep monitoring, offering advanced REM analysis. It can tell you blood oxygen saturation levels overnight if used with the Pulse Ox wrist sensor. The Vivosmart 4 offers a breathing timer that pairs nicely with the all-day stress monitoring function. Finally, theres a body battery function that enables you to maximize your activities based on your energy levels.
A couple of frustrations; firstly, a lack of GPS. Secondly, you cant customize it with a replacement band. Theres no way of replying to notifications if youre an Apple user, but Android users can enjoy this feature. This is a great choice if youre more concerned with fitness data over the smartwatch features.
Advantages
- Lightweight design
- In-depth health and fitness analysis
- Body Battery monitors energy levels
- Compatible with both Android and iOS
Disadvantages
- Doesnt have GPS
- Cant replace the band
- The screen can be tricky to navigate
8. Garmin Venu 2 Plus
The Garmin Venu 2 Plus is now one of the greatest Garmin watches available. It amazingly effectively crosses the smartwatch-running-watch divide, blending complex exercise tracking capabilities with necessary daily applications to produce a wristwatch for all situations. It is also one of the only smartwatches from Garmin to include a microphone which enables you to answer and receive calls and also use your phone voice assistant.
Like many current wearables, the Venu 2 Plus emphasizes wellness with all-day stress monitoring and a running Body Battery energy score that reminds you to take care of your mental health. Furthermore, you can keep track of your daily steps, stairs climbed, calories burned, and sleep patterns.
The onboard GPS is exceptionally precise, offering measurements with a minuscule margin of error and building highly detailed maps that illustrate your shifting speed during your training session, as youd expect from Garmin, a firm that established its reputation in reliable satellite navigation.
This is pretty important on the Venu 2 Plus as it uses Garmins Assistance and Incident Detection features with GPS (as well as the Garmin Connect app). These are features that can come in handy for a number of reasons: they can access your emergency contacts, they can tell those people where you are, and Incident Detection can detect serious falls.
Some argue that Incident Detection from Garmins running smartwatches is a bit too sensitive and touchy, and therefore goes off too frequently. But some are able to look past this in the name of safety and possible real falls.
Gym-goers will like the fact that this is the first Garmin gadget to have muscle map images, which allows you to plan workouts based on the amount of training load for each major muscle group. Even the tiniest details make a difference. Unlike some other sports watches weve seen lately, the Venu 2 doesnt accidentally register steps during a spin class, and the always-on screen makes it simple to see which heart rate zone youre in during intense workouts.
Underwater heart rate tracking, stroke type identification, and pool metrics will help swimmers, while golfers will find the Venu 2 Plus to be as competent as many specialist golf watches.
A super-sharp AMOLED display with excellent resolution displays all the features on one screen, making it easy to view large amounts of data without having to use the Garmin Connect app on your phone. With this watch, youll have a sports watch thats stylish and comfortable enough to wear all day long. The features work together to create a sports watch thats both stylish and functional.
Advantages
- High-res AMOLED display
- Superb GPS accuracy
- Incredible focus on wellness
Disadvantages
- Limited third-party app support for a smartwatch
- Only a handful of small design changes from the original Venu
9. Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
Its only fair to include the Apple Watchs biggest rival on the list, what with Android boasting 2.5 billion users worldwide. The latest Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is one of the best health smartwatches out there.
Samsung isnt making it easy for Apple with this smartwatch. The Galaxy Watch 4 is not only a beautiful device, but it has some great health and fitness tracking features. It offers the same always-on feature, but its optional. The sleep tracking accuracy rivals Fitbit, and it has advanced workout tracking capabilities. Itll tell you post-workout data like time elapsed, distance, total step count, and calories burned.
The safety features can be another thing that helps it stack up against its competitors, like fall detection or SOS messaging to assigned contacts. And since the Galaxy watches are an intuitive piece of watch tech, those safety and assistance features make it appealing for teens, seniors, those who are ill, or those who often work out alone. You can even store pertinent medical stats that could be useful to your emergency contacts and first responders.
You never know when you would need something like fall detection or SOS messaging in a health-tracking smartwatch, but you might not want to find out either. So it could be good to have just in case!
For those fitness enthusiasts, the Galaxy 4 also has a running coach with seven programs, designed to improve endurance or speed up your time. Furthermore, Samsung developed a new health sensor for the Galaxy Watch 4. A pulse oximeter (PPG), a heart rate monitor (ECG), and a bioelectric impedance analyzer (BIA) form a three-in-one sensor that is closer to the skin than the previous Galaxy Watchs separate health sensors.
BIA is the most significant. A quick BIA reading can be accomplished by pressing your fingers on the crown buttons for roughly 15 seconds without letting your fingers rest on the skin adjacent to your watch.
The results of a body composition analysis, when conducted correctly, will provide you with insight into how dietary and exercise modifications affect your internal makeup instead of just your weight.
Samsung delivers this device in several colors depending on the size. The 40mm comes in Black, Pink Gold, and Silver Aluminum cases, whereas the 44mm comes in Black, Green, and Silver case colors.
Maybe the biggest surprise from Samsung was the decision to no longer make the watch compatible with iPhones.
Advantages
- Work-out tracking is automatic
- Beautiful design with many colours and materials to choose from
- Wear OS gives better app selection
- More cost-effective than the Apple Watch
Disadvantages
- No improvement to battery life
- No longer available to iPhone users
10. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 improves on its predecessor by adding a digital rotating dial, a larger version, an inactive ECG, and an LTE option. It also boasts a wrist assistant. This means the Galaxy Active 2 can work with your smartphone giving the watch control over stuff like your camera, the social media apps to which youre logged in, and voice-activated translations.
Samsungs Active 2 is not only a great fitness watch with these assistance features but also a solid travel companion. Do so many things hands-free while youre on the go and keep things simple!
The Active 2s resemblance to its predecessor is arguably for the best: the Active 2 maintains the thinner, more basic, and contemporary design of its predecessor. Its almost likely a more attractive design than the Galaxy Watchs girthy shape, which is more comparable to conventional watches more masculine look.
Its small enough to wear on a run yet has enough features and capabilities to compete with the Apple Watch 6. The Active 2s additional capabilities, though, come at a price its marginally more expensive than its predecessor, reducing the watchs affordability advantage against Apples devices.
Advantages
- Small update from the original version
- Big price jump considering
Disadvantages
- 2 day battery life
- Beautiful design
11. Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 7 and 7 Pro
This is the latest in the Xiaomi line, which is expanding rapidly! Both the Mi Band 7 and smart band 7 Pro are advanced low-priced trackers, but packed with a load of features you more commonly find on much more expensive devices. Including blood oxygen sats, all-day stress monitoring, and a pulse oximeter.
Both have a bold and bright display thats highly responsive if a little small in size, although the 7 pro is 50% bigger which is noticeable.
You wont find on-board GPS on the 7 but you can link it to your phone (so, unfortunately, you cant leave it at home). The 7 pro however, does have a GPS on board which gives it much more insight for tracking fitness and training activities.
Advantages
- Affordable
- Subtle design
- Packed with features
Disadvantages
- No contactless payments on Global version
- No on-board GPS for the 7
12. Honor Band 6
The Honor Band 6 is a low-cost fitness tracker with a large screen and basic smartwatch features from Huawei. With a SpO2 console and stress reduction facilities, it offers more than a bare-bones experience for those looking to improve their health.
Advantages
- Affordable
- Packed with features
Disadvantages
- Accuracy is questionable, but expected for a budget tracker
13. Garmin Fenix 6 Pro
The Garmin Fenix 6 Pro is for anyone looking for a serious sports watch.
The quick spec is that its a 47mm by 14.7mm watch with interchangeable bands, Gorilla Glass protecting the display, and best of all, reliable GPS Services. As with Garmins Venu 2, the Fenix watches also host Incident Detection and Assistance. The Fenix 6 Pro has you covered in emergencies with the ability to detect falls, a sudden stop in your bike ride or run, and by contacting your loved ones immediately.
The Assistance and Incident detection, along with a monster battery life-itll stay with you for weeks or months-make it is a reliable and a safe health tracking watch. The design features make the Fenix 6 reliable and durable.
Check out everything we know about the Garmin Fenix 7.
14. NDUR Smart Watch
The new NDUR smartwatch is a fully-featured health-focused watch. It measures your heart rate 24/7 and also features the ability to measure your blood pressure. The blood pressure algorithm is relatively new and most other watches are yet to introduce this feature. Even though it is not intended to replace a medically certified blood pressure monitor, it could still be helpful for a lot of people.
On top of it being a great tracker, it is also an excellent fitness tracker for many sports activities and could help you maintain a balanced, healthy life.
Advantages
- Great looking, functional health watch
- A cheaper alternative compared to top brands
- Good interface
- Focus on endurance and staying active
- US support and 6 month replacement warranty
Disadvantages
- Relatively new
- Functionality not as robust as the top brands
The Ndur Smartwatch is available on eBay.
15. Yamay Health Smartwatch
Yamay is making great headway into this niche with its flagship blood pressure tracking watch that offers an array of features for health and fitness tracking. Its a great watch and a very popular choice as well for health-tracking fanatics who dont want to spend hundreds of dollars on a top brand.
The Yamay blood pressure smartwatch provides 24/7 tracking for your heart rate, SPO2, sleep, and sports activities. It also monitors your stress levels and gives you suggestions on when to relax or breathe. When paired with your phone it will show you all your notifications. For women, its got all the female-related tracking features currently available. Indeed its a smartwatch that focuses on tracking health.
Advantages
- Popular health smartwatch
- Blood pressure tracking
- App compatibility
Disadvantages
The Yamay Blood Pressure Smartwatch is available on eBay Check price.
16. Withings Move
The Withings Move is an affordable option to acquire a nostalgic, classic watch design. It comes in four different colors: black, blue, pink, and green, so you may pick the one that best matches your mood. It offers seamless synchronization, so you can use the Health Mate app on your smartphone to see all of your data and patterns.
The Withings Move model has ten pre-programmed workouts and can track your activity throughout the day. You may also utilize the Moves sleep monitoring feature to keep track of your sleep. Your Sleep Score is determined by the length and frequency of your light and deep sleep cycles, as well as the number of interruptions, depth, and regularity with which you wake up. You can set a Smart Wake-UP time for yourself so that you can feel energized and ready to tackle the day.
The battery life on the Move is up to 18 months. Yes, you read that right: 18 months! Its water-resistant up to 50 meters, so you may rock it in the shower, tub, or pool. On the downside, it lacks a heart rate monitor and GPS, and the plastic shell is easily scratched.
Advantages
- Incredible battery life
- Budget watch with lots of fitness features
Disadvantages
17. Coros Pace 2
The Coros Pace 2 is currently the lightest GPS sports watch on the market. It weighs only 29 grams and features a high-quality, quick-drying, and comfortable nylon band that is perfect for everyday usage. With a full GPS battery life of 30 hours, the Pace 2 has a 20% longer battery life than its predecessor. If you need your battery to last even longer, switch to UltraMax for nearly half the power consumption. Coros Pace 2 may track your exercise and sleep for up to 20 days if you dont utilize GPS mode regularly.
On Pace 2, there are 14 pre-programmed sport modes. It records your jogging, riding, swimming, strength training, and other physical activity. If you wear your Coros Pace 2 to bed, it will keep track of your sleep cycles, duration of sleep, time spent awake, heart rate range, and average heart rate. You can set bedtimes, wake-up hours, and alarms to ensure that you wake up rested and ready to face the day.
Pace 2 features a continuous heart rate monitor, an always-on altimeter, and a thermometer, allowing you to keep track of your health and wellness at all times. It also comes with an easy-to-use app. It lacks a touchscreen, though, and instead has two keys and a scrolling wheel. You wont be able to download, stream, or play music either.
Advantages
- Lightweight on the wrist
- Crisp high-res display
Disadvantages
- When not using the backlight, the screen is hard to read
- Apps arent very sophisticated
18. Apple Watch SE 2
Lets finish where we started, with Apple.
The Apple Watch SE 2 is a terrific timepiece if the Apple Watch Series 8 and Ultra are out of your financial range. The Apple Watch SE 2 has comprehensive activity, health, and sleep tracking, as well as fall detection, cash detection and emergency SOS, noise monitoring, an always-on altimeter and compass, and all-day battery life.
Your movements are tracked by advanced sensors. Hundreds of training profiles are accessible, including running, walking, yoga, cycling, HIIT, and dancing. It also links to the right workout equipment, allowing you to keep track of your progress at the gym or wherever youre working out. Activity rings highlight all of the ways you move throughout the day using three fundamental metrics: move, exercise, and stand. Friendly competitions, personalized instruction, and ad incentives will keep you coming back to the gym.
Apple Music is a service that allows you to listen to music, podcasts, and audiobooks on all of your Apple devices. Its available in a number of colors and band materials, letting you totally customize it. It can last up to 18 hours on a single charge. On the downside, it lacks an always-on display as well as applications for ECG and Sp02 monitoring.
Compare prices and choose your favorite merchant on the table below.
Advantages
- Identical to the more expensive Apple Watch 7
- Excellent for iPhone and Mac users
Disadvantages
- No always-on dusplay
- Same Apple issue with poor battery life
The best health smartwatches Summary
This is a review of the best health tracking smartwatches available as we know them. There is a bounty of smartwatches for fitness and health monitors out there to choose from, so you have to do your research. Some people look for single task wristband health monitors but our recommendation (unless your need is very specific) is to get a health watch that does just that and more. To avoid being bogged down by choice, start with a list of features and functions you want from the watch and start from there. The best watch will be the one that ticks those boxes.
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Last Updated on January 13, 2023
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