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These expert-tested fitness watches will help you smash your goals smartwatch to track calories
Whether you’re looking to level up your fitness routine in 2024, or you want a trusty sidekick to monitor your health habits, investing in one of the best fitness or sports watches can help you stay motivated and smash your goals.
Don't just take our word for it – studies have shown that the best fitness trackers can improve both your motivation levels and daily activity. Beyond standard activity tracking, today’s new-gen models can do it all, from taking calls and playing music to monitoring your heart rate, tracking sleep and keeping tabs on your stress levels.
But how do you find the right one for you? Wearable tech is uber personal, so it’s important to choose something that’s relevant to your lifestyle. If you’re not going to use fancy features such as built-in GPS, for instance, what’s the point in shelling out for it?
To give you a helping hand, our expert editorsstrapped on the best of the best fitness watches to find the ones worth your time.
Overwhelmed by all the choice? Fret not – we've listed all the specs alongside each device, to help you decide whether it's worth buying for you. These are the main ones to keep an eye out for.
You should demand fitness tracking from your fitness tracker? Go figure. But it’s not quite that simple. The least you should expect from modern devices is accurate data on your number of steps, distance covered, total sleep and heart rate, as well as your estimated calorie burn.
Some fitness watches will go further and offer an in-depth look at your sleep, including how long you spend in light, heavy and rapid eye movement (REM) phases, and a few can show which heart rate zone you were in at different points during your workout.
The popularity of open water swimming rivalled that of banana bread during lockdown, and the health trend has lasted a lot longer than its carb-y counterpart.
If you want to record your swimming sessions, you’ll need a fitness watch that's water resistant. If you prefer a swimming pool to a lake or the sea, and want a bit more data on your time in the water, some models can track your distance covered and how many lengths you swim, while others can automatically detect which stroke you're using.
Many fitness trackers nowadays will last a few days on a full charge but models rammed with smart features, such as the Apple Series 8, will need charging more frequently.
For those of you who are a tad forgetful, many models have power-saving algorithms and can last for an entire day after charging for just five minutes. Not bad!
An untimely notification can throw a spanner in the works of any good workout, with the irresistible urge to check your phone turning a short break between hip thrusts into a social media scrolling session. Thankfully, many sports watches can sync with smartphones, displaying calls and messages as they arrive. This way, you’re saved from falling into an Instagram hole.
Fitness trackers will sync to a smartphone to display your key health stats on an app. While some will just provide an easy-to-read alternative to your fitness watch's screen, others will offer additional features such as being able to log what you eat.
The Fitbit products featured in this list come with 12 months of free access to Fitbit Premium, which usually costs £7.99 a month. The brand describes it as a resource that can provide guided programmes and workout regimes to help you 'stay active, sleep well, manage stress and more.'
Our team put more than 40 of the best fitness watches to the test, to bring you this edit of the best of the bunch.
The top performers were all accurate when measuring steps taken and distance travelled, and provided useful stats when worn during running, CrossFit workouts, dance and tennis sessions. They looked good, felt comfortable and didn’t run out of juice too quickly.
Apple has gone and done it again. We were impressed with Series 8, which added a bunch of in-depth health monitoring features, but the brand’s latest drop has taken things one step further, claiming to be smarter, brighter, and mightier than its predecessor. But what did our experts think?
Put simply, they loved it. While many of the features are the same as the series 8, there are some exciting new additions. Most notable is the double tap – simply raise your wrist and tap your thumb and forefinger together to answer calls, start and stop music, or just see your most used widgets. It makes using your smartwatch easier than ever as its completely handsfree (and so can be done effortlessly mid-workout, too).
There’s also a new ECG function for monitoring your heart rate and rhythm, a handy phone locator feature, and accurate activity and health metric readings. Plus, you can now choose a case and strap that are mainly made from recycled materials, highlighting Apple’s efforts to move towards carbon neutral.
Sadly, the battery life is still as disappointing, lasting ‘up to’ 18 hours and up to 36 hours in low power mode. However, for a watch that seems to work almost like magic with its fancy double tap control, we think it's worth the price tag.
This watch scored points for ease of use with its sleek and familiar design. By now, Fitbit has got step and activity tracking down, but we particularly enjoyed the workout summary that was easily accessible after a run.
As we know, sleep is a huge part of the health puzzle, and this watch provides piles of data on the quality of your slumber. Late night Netflix bingers, we’re looking at you. Other lifestyle features such as an EDA scan and stress response assessment (looming deadlines anyone?) were fool-proof to use.
Water babies can also rejoice as this tracker not only survived a dip but proved fully waterproof. It won’t die on you, either – with an impressive five- to seven-day battery life, it can go from the office to the gym and even to the dance floor (cardio is cardio, we’re not judging).
We've also reviewed the shiny new Fitbit Charge 6 further down, if you want an even fancier line-up of features.
Combining sleek style and advanced health tech, the GT4 is Huawei’s most impressive offering yet. Although the fashion-forward device looks more like a traditional timepiece than a fitness watch, it’s still practical, comfortable and brimming with features to help you meet your health goals.
It comes in seven different styles and two sizes to suit all tastes. Our favourite was the smaller 41mm design, which looked delicate and chic when draped across our tester’s wrist. There are also no fewer than 25,000 watch faces to choose from, including plenty of personalised options. Good looks aside, the GT4 impressed us with its second-to-none health and fitness tracking. TruSeen tech provides an accurate insight into calorie burn, heart rate, blood oxygen levels and even stress monitoring, while enhanced TruSleep tech will help you get your best night’s sleep yet with in-depth reports and personalised recommendations. It also offers advanced menstrual cycle tracking, with period and ovulation predictions based on personal physiological indicators. The watch is compatible with both Android and iOS devices (although some features are only available on Android), the GPS is extremely accurate, and the seven-day battery life (up to 14 days with the larger 43mm model) trumps its Apple, Samsung and Google competitors. It’s no wonder the likes of Olympic gold medallist Sir Mo Farrah and fitness icon Pamela Reif are fans.
Garmin is renowned for its impeccable running tracking, but it was the array of health features that really stood out with this clever bit of kit. It offers heaps of stats including heart rate, stress, respiration and hydration tracking, along with a ‘body battery’ monitor to help you decide whether to have a rest day or push harder.
You can track over 25 sports, choose from a variety of pre-set workouts (ideal when you’re lacking inspo), or create your own. Plus, the watch can store up to 500 songs, so you can soundtrack your morning 5K sans phone.
Beyond the extensive health and recovery insights, this watch boasts smartphone notifications, contactless payment, Spotify playlists and a workout screen that’s a cinch to navigate. It’s an excellent all-rounder at a mid-range price.
If your approach to health and fitness is more holistic, this is the watch for you. The Sense 2 is big on stress management (something we’re probably all in need of right now), with an EDA sensor that measures tiny electrical changes in your skin to work out how stressed you are. Impressive, huh?
Our tester loved the daily readiness score, which uses your data – including sleep, heart rate and skin temp – to tell you if your body is up for some exercise. If it is, there are 41 modes to choose from and a handy in-workout display that gives the lowdown on your performance.
The screen was a tad glitchy when scrolling, and it can’t compete with the likes of Apple or Samsung when it comes to smart tracking, but this Fitbit is a top choice for those looking to live more mindfully.
Combining cutting-edge fitness tracking tech with in-depth health stats, this sleek Samsung beauty was an instant hit with our testers. Not only does it offer over 90 workout modes, but dedicated gym bunnies can also track individual exercises from bicep curls to squats.
The bioactive sensor measures heart rate, blood oxygen levels and even body composition, and there’s a sleep coach to help you understand your slumber and catch more Zs.
This champ is a strong choice for anyone on Android, but it’s the absolute dream for Samsung users, who can enjoy added features including blood pressure and ECG measurement. It provides all the data you need on a neat, responsive screen and takes just 30 mins to go from 0% to 45% (handy if you’re running low ahead of a big sesh).
Designed with runners in mind, the latest addition to Garmin’s popular Forerunner series keeps a detailed record of your pace, distance, time and speed. Stats are displayed on the bright screen, which can be customised to show the data that matters most to you – a real standout feature.
As is customary for Forerunners, this tracker is controlled using a series of buttons along the edge of the watch face. The absence of a touchscreen may alarm some, but our expert found the buttons responsive, making it easy to scroll through data mid-workout.
Running aside, the Forerunner will track your daily activity levels including step count and distance travelled, as well as monitoring your sleep stats. It will also record the likes of swimming sessions, HIIT and Pilates.
However, with the data on offer and the affordable price point, we’d most recommend this to entry-level runners looking to ramp up their training.
The new Fitbit Charge 6 has landed and we’re mega impressed. Like the top-rated Charge 5 above, it provides built-in GPS, heart rate monitoring, EDA and ECG sensors, plus sleep, stress and menstrual tracking. What sets it apart, you ask? A host of exciting new software features...
The Charge 6 gives you more than 40 sports modes on the tracker itself (compared to just six on the Charge 5), it allows you to set up pace alerts without having to reach for your phone and can sync with gym equipment from the likes of Peloton and NordicTrack to monitor your fitness in real time. Neat, huh?
The most significant development, however, is its seamless integration with Google. The Charge 6 can be paired with Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions when connected to a phone – seriously handy if you lose your way when out for a run or hike. It also supports Google Wallet, so you can tap, pay and go without having to carry your chunky phone, and it allows you to control music playback via YouTube Music.
Another stand-out feature is the haptic button on the side, which means you don’t have to solely rely on a touchscreen when navigating with sweaty hands. In terms of battery life, you’ll get up to seven days of juice and the device is waterproof up to 50 metres for sweat-soaked sessions and swims alike.
The highly anticipated Pixel watch comes packed with smart features and in-depth fitness tracking courtesy of FitBit. But does it live up to the hype? That’s a big fat 'yes', according to our testers. They were huge fans of the delicate domed screen and glossy body. The screen was bright and responsive and the digital crown on the side of the watch turned smoothly.
Good looks aside, there’s integration with Gmail and Google Calendar, Google Wallet for contactless payments, Google Maps for turn-by-turn directions and Google Assistant for voice queries and sending messages – testers found the voice recognition impressively accurate and much easier than tapping out messages on the teeny screen.
Then there’s the Fitbit-quality health stats, which span everything from continuous heart rate monitoring and sleep tracking to built-in GPS and 40 exercise modes. Our experts particularly liked the detailed post-workout stats and rated the sleep data, with sleep stages, breathing rate and heart-rate variability recorded. Plus, the neat design didn’t get in the way of our sessions and the rubber strap felt comfy to sleep with.
The battery life is a bit of a downer (but the Apple and Samsung models above aren’t much better) and it isn’t the most durable watch, so outdoorsy type should look elsewhere. Still, it’s a stellar choice for Android users who want a stylish, full-featured smartwatch and fitness tracker in one.
What sets this new model apart from its contemporaries is its sleek hybrid design, which combines all the essential sporting functionality with a classic watch face, hands and strap. It’s also (importantly) comfy to wear during exercise.
It’s aimed at the more casual exerciser who wants the benefits of a smartwatch, but loves an analogue look. Just swipe on the watch face to locate the LED touchscreen where you’ll find easy-to-read notifications for texts, calls and calendar reminders.
But don’t think that means this isn’t up to Garmin’s usual standard. It tracks your heart rate, sleep, menstrual cycle and hydration, as well as measuring blood oxygen, stress levels and breaths per minute. Plus, it has the added safety benefits of incident detection and live location tracking.
In other words, it’s a powerful piece of equipment – it just likes to look a little more unassuming.
This Apple drop is all about in-depth health monitoring, and we’re big fans. There’s a blood oxygen monitor and the ability to take an ECG, plus REM, deep and core sleep tracking.
There’s also a skin temperature sensor – handy for period and fertility tracking – and car crash detection, which will contact emergency services if you’re unresponsive. Fitness-wise, new metrics include heart rate zones, running power and customised interval workouts.
Okay, so it doesn’t come cheap, and the battery life is mediocre, but the Series 8 offers a seamless smartwatch experience like no other. It’s slick, responsive and its cellular tech means you can pretty much run your life from your wrist. In short, it’s got it all.
Data nerds will rate this GPS watch, which provides tonnes of metrics from your training sessions, as well as in-depth sleep info. Our tester raved about the display, which clearly shows what heart rate zone you’re in while on the move, and loved the fitness tests, which measure Vo2 max (the number that describes your cardiorespiratory fitness) for monitoring progress.
Based on your performance, it gives you daily workout suggestions and tells you when you need to ramp up the pace or slow things down. Not in the mood for running? Fret not, as the watch can log over 130 different activities.
Unlike the many bulky (read: ugly) running watches out there, this one is lightweight and comfy to wear. It lacks a touchscreen, but the buttons are responsive and easy to press with sweaty hands.
This sleek timepiece-turned-tracker can record a whopping 130 different activities, and we found it was the perfect partner for a spot of cardio.
While it didn’t stop us from becoming a sweaty mess by the end of gruelling endurance work, it did break our session down into precise heart rate zones, showing how hard we'd been working during different sections of our runs and rides.
It also goes further than most when tracking your nightly snooze, letting you know how much light, deep and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep you’re getting.
Not being able to customise our individual activity level targets was a bit disappointing, and the screen can be difficult to see during some activities, but the overall performance was still impressive.
Yanar was our former Fitness Group Testing Manager. She managed health and fitness product testing across all the magazines, overseeing all testing processes and ensuring our lab and panel tests are conducted to the highest standards. Yanar spent 15 years as a health and wellness content editor and writer for national titles such as Runner’s World, Men’s Health and Women’s Health. Yanar is a Level 3 qualified PT, trained yoga teacher and a registered yoga therapist. She has been into fitness and wellness her whole life. After many years running races and marathons, she now trains and competes in CrossFit and Olympic lifting. She passionately advocates strength training for women to build a stronger mind and body for life.
Jodie is our Health and Fitness product tester. She runs tests on a wide variety of products, including gym leggings, walking boots, fitness trackers and more. Jodie has managed the testing for 577 products to date, including working with over 600 panellists.
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