The 10 Best Fitness Trackers

With no screen, the Fitbit Air is a tiny, light sensor pebble in a soft hook-and-loop band. It tracks steps, heart rate, blood oxygen and sleep, and it's meant to flag possible signs of an irregular heartbeat. A charge lasts up to a week, and a quick top-up adds about a day. Core tracking is free, but the health coach needs a paid plan. It uses your phone for GPS, and automatic workout detection waits a while before logging.

Runners can leave the phone at home with the Fitbit Charge 6, a slim band with a color screen and built-in GPS. It tracks heart rate, blood oxygen and skin temperature, and a heart-rhythm app can check for signs of an irregular heartbeat. It also shows map directions and pays at the register. The battery lasts up to a week, less with heavy GPS use. Syncing can fail, the battery can fade, and units can die after some months.

A big color screen and weeks of battery on a light band are the draw of the Xiaomi Smart Band 10. It tracks steps, heart rate, blood oxygen and sleep, with more than 150 sport modes and no subscription. There's no GPS, so outdoor distance comes from your phone. It's an import, and Xiaomi doesn't sell its bands in U.S. stores, so warranty help can be limited. Step counts can be uneven, and syncing with Apple Health can be spotty.

Sleep data is the strength of the Amazfit Helio Strap, a screenless sensor pod in a soft hook-and-loop strap. It tracks heart rate, sleep and workouts in Amazfit's free app with no subscription for any feature, and a charge lasts up to 10 days. It handles swimming but not diving. It can miss or mislabel workouts, the small charger is easy to lose, and with no screen, you check the time and your stats on your phone.

For iPhone owners, the Apple Watch SE 3 covers the fitness basics: built-in GPS, heart rate alerts, sleep tracking and activity rings for daily goals. It's swimproof, and many third-party running, cycling and gym apps run on it, so you can keep the app you already use. Battery is the big limit, at up to 18 hours, so most people charge it daily and plan sleep tracking around that. It works only with an iPhone.

Runners, cyclists and gym regulars get a round fitness watch with built-in GPS in the Garmin vivoactive 6. The battery lasts up to 11 days in smartwatch mode. Training tools include pace guidance for runs and a sleep coach, and Garmin's free app shows long-term trends, with an optional paid plan for extras. Heart rate readings could be better, and the GPS is less precise among tall buildings. It's pricey.

Beginners and older adults who want steps, heart rate and sleep without fuss can start with the Fitbit Inspire 3, a slim, light band with a color screen. It also tracks blood oxygen and stress and nudges you to move after sitting. A charge lasts up to 10 days, and it's swimproof. PCMag named it the best tracker for beginners. It's a 2022 design with no GPS of its own, the screen is small, and premium insights cost extra.

Light titanium makes the Oura Ring 4 simple to wear to bed, and it tracks sleep, heart rate, temperature trends and activity. A charge lasts about a week, and it's safe in the shower and pool. Order the free sizing kit first, since its sizes don't match standard ring sizes. A monthly membership kicks in after the first month, and the app shows much less without it. Step counts can be irregular, and the battery can fade.

A paid membership is the core of the Whoop 5.0, a screenless band. A year of the plan comes with the sensor, a knit band and a battery pack that charges it while you wear it. Whoop scores strain, sleep and recovery daily and suggests how hard to train, which appeals to athletes who follow a plan. The seller rates the battery at two weeks or more. It won't work without the plan, so the cost returns every year.

Built-in GPS lets the Amazfit Bip 6, a low-cost smartwatch with a big screen, map runs and rides without your phone. It offers more than 140 sport modes, Amazfit claims up to two weeks per charge with typical use, and it's swimproof. The companion app needs no subscription. It's bigger on the wrist than a band, Bluetooth pairing can drop, and some units stop working after a while.