So you want to get a fitness tracker, but aren’t sure which one is the best? You might have a Fitbit Inspire 2 or Garmin Fenix 7 on your wish list. Or perhaps you’ve been thinking of getting an Apple Watch, but aren’t sure which model is right for you. Fortunately, we’ve put together a buyer’s guide to help you find the perfect device for your needs.
Fitbit Inspire 2
The Inspire 2 is a good choice if you want a fitness tracker that is comfortable to wear all day long. But it’s important to keep your wristband clean and tight to ensure accurate heart rate readings. When it comes to wearing it, make sure that you remove it for about an hour every day, but do not forget to clean it first. Also, if you find it irritates your skin, remove it and clean it again.
Another major improvement is an updated user interface. The Fitbit Inspire 2 now features a touch screen that features swipe-up navigation controls for quick access to your daily stats. Swipe upwards to view your step count, distance covered, and calories burned. Swipe downwards to access other features such as apps. The Inspire 2 also has a sleep tracker. You can use it to monitor your sleep as well.
The Inspire 2 comes with a free year of Fitbit Premium, which is worth $9.99 per month. The trial runs for three months, after which you’ll have to enter your payment information for the automatic renewal. However, if you decide to keep it, you can always cancel the membership before it expires. With the Active Zone Minutes metric, Fitbit claims that you should be able to reach 150 minutes in your active zone each week.
The Fitbit Inspire 2 is a great choice for new users looking for a fitness tracker. With robust fitness data, it is perfect for beginners, and comes with a free year of Fitbit Premium membership, which gives you access to hundreds of workout videos, meditation lessons, and more. The Inspire 2 is also the most affordable option in the Fitbit line. While the Inspire is still a great choice, the Charge 4 is a better baseline model.
Garmin Fenix 7
If you are looking for the best fitness tracker to keep track of your health and exercise routine, the new Garmin Fenix 7 is a great choice. It tracks multiple health metrics, including steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned and sleep. The device is also capable of tracking stress levels through heart rate variability, blood oxygen levels, respiration, and menstrual cycles. You can even use it to find out your fitness age using your weight.
The Fenix 7 series is similar to its predecessors, but it features a touchscreen and refined design. It also features improved battery life, solar charging, and the Elevate optical sensor for more accurate heart rate and blood oxygen saturation monitoring. It also has multi-band GNSS and a built-in LED flashlight. It looks like an ideal fitness tracker for everyday use, but it is only available for large wrists.
The Fenix 7 has a smartwatch-like feature that makes it ideal for gym-going. It syncs with your phone and lets you control your music through the watch’s Bluetooth. It supports contactless payments, which means that you can make payments without having to worry about cash. The watch strap is very comfortable, but it is prone to breaking and discoloring over time. You can easily replace the strap by buying an alternative. QuickFit bands are also available for the Fenix 7.
Whether you are hiking or running, the Garmin Fenix 7 is an excellent choice for those who want a comprehensive health tracking system. It tracks your steps, calories burned, and heart rate, but can also track various types of sports. The Garmin Fenix 7 is also capable of tracking your bike’s speed and incline. With this, you can keep track of almost any outdoor activity and still find the perfect training program.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6
The latest version of Xiaomi’s budget fitness tracker range, the Mi Band 6, is a welcome update to the popular Mi Band. Already the best-selling wearable in history, the Mi Band has grown to dominate the cheap tracker category. But with other manufacturers such as Fitbit and Garmin pushing the price even lower, Xiaomi has to be on its toes to stay ahead of the competition. With a bigger display, enhanced workout modes, and blood oxygen measurement, the Mi Band 6 is a well-rounded package.
The Xiaomi Mi Band 6’s touchscreen makes it too small for running and triathlons, but it’s large enough to be comfortable to wear even when doing intensive workouts. The Mi Band 6 tracks sleep duration, but it’s not able to display this information without a companion app. It also doesn’t allow you to track your sleep stats. It’s worth noting, however, that the Mi Band 6’s app is limited to reviewing your wellbeing and fitness data.
Although the Mi Band 6 lacks GPS functionality, it provides basic smartwatch functionality. It also mirrors notifications from your smartphone. However, the notifications aren’t actionable or easy to read. The Mi Band 6 is a solid option for those who don’t need this feature. But if you’re looking for a fitness tracker with a bit more advanced features, consider buying the Fitbit Charge 4. You’ll save a lot of money compared to Fitbit’s Charge 4 and Mi Band’s simplicity.
The Xiaomi Mi Band 6’s screen is very small and hard to see, especially when running outdoors. Despite its narrow screen, the Mi Band 6 is still an excellent choice for anyone looking for a fitness tracker with a low price tag. However, the Mi Band 6’s sensor accuracy isn’t as high as that of pricier wearables. The Mi Band 6’s small size is not comfortable enough for long-distance running. Additionally, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 6 is difficult to fasten tight enough to avoid small movements, which distract from the workout.
Apple Watch
The Apple Watch has been on the market for six years, but it has only recently shifted its focus to health and fitness. The new versions of the Apple Watch include mindfulness tools, improved outdoor cycling features, pilates workout mode, an updated photos app, and a new portrait watch face. However, while it is still far from being the best fitness tracker on the market, it does have some advantages over its competitors.
The Apple Watch tracks your physical activity throughout the day. It has a built-in feature that reminds you to stand up and move around for at least 30 minutes a day. Additionally, it can be set to capture exercise manually or automatically if your heart rate reaches a pre-determined level. The Apple Watch is capable of automatically estimating the energy costs of many physical activities, such as running or cycling. The Human app even lets you know how many calories you’ve burned during your exercise sessions.
Another important feature of a fitness tracker is its ability to monitor sleep. Its three-axis accelerometer is more sensitive while you’re sleeping, so it can provide valuable data that would otherwise be unavailable. Most fitness trackers can show you graphs of your sleep duration and the different stages of sleep. Some even track your REM and deep sleep phases. Apple has also introduced a sleep respiration tracking feature in its watchOS 8 software. The Samsung Galaxy Watch also tracks snoring.
A third-party fitness app can supplement your Apple Watch workout experience. Apple Watch will have an in-built heart rate tracker and GPS, as well as apps that use this technology. The Smart Gym app can help you get in shape by tracking the number of calories burned and the amount of exercise you’ve performed. The more data the Apple Watch collects, the better it can provide insight about your fitness goals. It is easy to create customized workout routines by using the SmartGym app, which is available for free on the Apple Watch.
Withings ScanWatch
The ScanWatch is an advanced fitness tracker from Withings that offers continuous heart scanning, medical-grade ECG, sleep apnea detection, and in-depth activity tracking. It is built to meet your fitness goals and share valuable health information with your doctor. Despite its many health benefits, it is not for everyone. It is a tough and easy-to-use watch that doesn’t require a doctor’s appointment.
The Withings ScanWatch offers many convenient features for those who want to monitor their fitness level from their mobile devices. The ScanWatch is designed to sync data with the Health Mate app on iOS or Android smartphones. It offers notification mirroring, which means you’ll know when to expect an alert from your watch or phone. It is compatible with over 100 different health services, including Apple Health, Google Fit, MyFitnessPal, and Fitbit.
The Withings ScanWatch features an integrated ECG sensor. This allows you to export your results to a physician, if necessary. The device also logs your steps and distance, and it tracks your heart rate and oxygen saturation. All of these features can be useful to your health, and you may even discover a condition that you didn’t know existed. The ScanWatch is not a cheap device, however. It’s not intended for the active exerciser.
Withings ScanWatch fitness tracker offers a 30-day battery and has medical-standard monitoring capabilities. Despite its price, this wearable is compatible with iPhone and Android devices. Withings watches have long been geared toward the medical community, but with the ScanWatch, the medical focus is more aligned with fitness trackers. Its price is comparable to some fully-featured smartwatches.