10 Best Fitness Trackers and Smart Devices That Stand the Test of Time

I’ve worn fitness trackers for over six years now. Started with a basic Fitbit, moved to an Apple Watch, tried a Garmin for running, and even slept with an Oura Ring for a few months. Some of these devices changed how I train. Others ended up in a drawer after two weeks. The fitness tracker market in 2026 is flooded with options, and most of them aren’t worth your money.

This list covers the 10 fitness trackers and smart devices I’d actually recommend. I’ve broken them into categories: budget bands, mid-range smartwatches, serious running watches, and smart rings. Each one gets a real review, not a spec sheet copy-paste. If you’re spending $50 or $500, you should know exactly what you’re paying for and whether it fits your lifestyle.

One thing I’ve learned after years of testing: the best fitness tracker isn’t the one with the most sensors. It’s the one you’ll actually wear every day. Battery life, comfort, and a companion app that doesn’t annoy you matter more than having 150 workout modes you’ll never use. I’ll be honest about which devices deliver on their promises and which ones fall short.

Fitbit Luxe

The Fitbit Luxe is the tracker I’d recommend if you care about how a wearable looks on your wrist. Most fitness bands look like, well, fitness bands. The Luxe doesn’t. It has a stainless steel case, a slim profile, and comes with a Gorjana gold bracelet in the Special Edition that could pass for actual jewelry. I’ve seen people wear it to dinner without anyone realizing it’s a fitness tracker.

Under that polished exterior, the health tracking is solid. You get heart rate monitoring, sleep stage tracking, SpO2, stress management, and skin temperature readings. The AMOLED display is bright and easy to read, even outdoors. Battery life sits around 5 days, which is decent for this size. Fitbit’s app remains one of the best in the business for making sense of your data without overwhelming you with charts.

The downside: there’s no built-in GPS. You’ll need your phone nearby for accurate distance tracking on runs or walks. If GPS matters to you, skip ahead to the Fitbit Charge 6. But if you want a fitness tracker that doesn’t scream “I’m tracking my steps,” the Luxe is the one to get. At $147 (down from $199.95), it’s a good deal for what you’re getting.

• Jewelry-style design with a stainless steel case and Gorjana gold bracelet option
• Tracks heart rate, sleep stages, SpO2, stress, and skin temperature
• No built-in GPS, so you’ll need your phone for distance tracking

Fitbit Charge 6

If the Fitbit Luxe is the style pick, the Charge 6 is the performance pick. This is Fitbit’s most capable band-style tracker, and it addresses the Luxe’s biggest weakness: there’s a built-in GPS here. You can leave your phone at home on runs and still get accurate distance and pace data. That alone makes it worth the extra money for runners and cyclists.

The Charge 6 also packs features you’d normally find in full-sized smartwatches. ECG heart health readings, an EDA stress sensor, and a Daily Readiness Score that tells you whether to push hard or take it easy. Google integration is a big plus too. You get Google Maps turn-by-turn directions on your wrist, Google Wallet for contactless payments, and YouTube Music controls. I found the heart rate monitoring on gym equipment via Bluetooth to be a nice touch. It syncs directly with compatible treadmills and bikes, so you don’t need a chest strap.

At $140, the Charge 6 is one of the best values in fitness tracking right now. It does 90% of what a $300+ smartwatch does in a lighter, longer-lasting package. Sleep tracking is on par with what Fitbit does best. My only complaint: some of the advanced health features require a Fitbit Premium membership ($9.99/month), which feels like a tax on a device you’ve already paid for. But the free tier is still plenty for most people.

• Built-in GPS with 40+ exercise modes for serious training
• Google Maps, Wallet, and YouTube Music controls on your wrist
• ECG and EDA sensors, though some features need a Premium subscription

Xiaomi Smart Band 9

Under $50 for a fitness tracker with an AMOLED display, 21-day battery life, and 150+ workout modes. That’s the Xiaomi Smart Band 9, and it’s the reason I tell people not to overspend on fitness tracking if they’re just starting out. Xiaomi has been making the best budget bands for years, and the Smart Band 9 continues that streak.

The display is the biggest upgrade from previous models. At 1200 nits peak brightness, you can read it under direct sunlight without squinting. The aluminum alloy frame gives it a more premium feel compared to the all-plastic Band 8. You get heart rate monitoring, SpO2, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and water resistance down to 50 meters. For a device that costs less than a decent lunch for two, that’s a lot of health data.

The catch? No GPS. You’ll need your phone for distance tracking. And the Xiaomi companion app, while improved, still isn’t as polished as Fitbit’s or Garmin’s. But if you’re looking for a budget fitness band that handles the basics well and lasts three weeks on a single charge, the Smart Band 9 is hard to beat. I’d recommend this to anyone who wants to track steps, sleep, and workouts without spending $150+. It’s also a solid pick if you tend to lose or break things, because replacing a $48 band doesn’t sting.

• 1.62-inch AMOLED display at 1200 nits, readable in bright sunlight
• 21-day battery life with 150+ workout modes and 50m water resistance
• No GPS, so you’ll need your phone for outdoor distance tracking

Apple Watch SE 2

If you’re an iPhone user, the Apple Watch SE 2 is the fitness tracker to buy. I say “fitness tracker” loosely because this is a full smartwatch, but it handles health and fitness tracking better than most dedicated trackers in this price range. And unlike the bands on this list, it gives you a proper app ecosystem. Strava, AllTrails, Smartgym, Nike Run Club: they all work here, and they work well.

The SE 2 is Apple’s budget option, and “budget” for Apple means $319 for the GPS + Cellular model. You get heart rate monitoring, workout tracking, sleep tracking, Crash Detection, and emergency SOS. The cellular version means you can leave your iPhone at home and still take calls, reply to texts, and stream Apple Music during a run. That freedom alone makes it worth the extra cost over the GPS-only model for me.

What you don’t get compared to the Series 10: no always-on display, no blood oxygen sensor, no ECG, and no temperature sensing. For most people, those omissions won’t matter. The SE 2 covers the basics well and gives you the full Apple Watch experience. Battery life is about 18 hours, which means daily charging. That’s the trade-off you make for a smartwatch over a fitness band. If you want something that does everything, including answering calls, paying for coffee, and tracking your run, the SE 2 is it. If you’re also a student looking at an iPad, the Apple ecosystem sync between devices is a big plus.

• Full Apple Watch experience with GPS + Cellular at a lower price
• Crash Detection, emergency SOS, and heart rate notifications for safety
• 18-hour battery life means daily charging, but you get a proper app ecosystem

Samsung Galaxy Ring

Smart rings are the newest category in fitness tracking, and the Samsung Galaxy Ring is the one to watch. It’s a titanium ring that tracks your sleep, heart rate, skin temperature, and daily activity without anything on your wrist. If you’ve ever found wrist-based trackers uncomfortable for sleeping, this solves that problem.

The sleep tracking is where the Galaxy Ring shines. Samsung’s AI-powered analysis gives you a Sleep Score and Energy Score each morning, plus a “sleep animal” chronotype that maps your sleep patterns to behavioral profiles. It auto-detects walking and running, and you get up to 7 days of battery life. The biggest selling point over the Oura Ring: no subscription fee. Samsung doesn’t charge a monthly membership to access your health data, which I appreciate.

The trade-off? The Galaxy Ring can’t replace a wrist-based tracker for serious workouts. It doesn’t log most gym exercises, and the small form factor limits how many sensors Samsung can fit inside. It works best as a sleep and recovery tracker that you wear alongside a smartwatch or on its own if you’re more of a casual mover than a gym regular. At $399.99, it’s expensive for what it does, but the no-subscription model saves you money over time compared to the Oura Ring. You’ll want to use Samsung’s sizing kit before ordering to get the fit right.

• AI-powered sleep tracking with Sleep Score, Energy Score, and chronotype analysis
• No subscription required, unlike the Oura Ring, with 7-day battery life
• Limited workout tracking, best suited for sleep and recovery monitoring

Garmin Vivosmart 5

The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is a no-frills fitness band for people who want Garmin’s tracking quality without paying for a Garmin watch. It’s a band-style tracker, similar in shape to the Fitbit Charge 6, but with Garmin’s superior ecosystem behind it. If you already use Garmin Connect for other activities, the Vivosmart 5 fits right into your existing setup.

What I like about this device: sleep tracking. Garmin does sleep stage analysis well, and unlike Fitbit, you don’t need a paid subscription to see detailed sleep data. The Body Battery feature is genuinely useful. It shows your energy levels throughout the day based on sleep quality, stress, and activity, so you know whether to hit the gym or take a rest day. You also get SpO2 monitoring, stress tracking, and up to 7 days of battery life. It’s water-resistant for swimming, which most budget bands can’t claim.

The downside: it’s a dated design. The display is smaller and less vibrant than the Fitbit Charge 6, and the touchscreen can feel sluggish compared to newer trackers. There’s no built-in GPS either. At $149.99, it’s $10 more than the Charge 6, which offers more features. I’d pick the Vivosmart 5 if you’re already locked into Garmin’s ecosystem. Otherwise, the Charge 6 gives you more bang for your buck. It’s a solid device, just not the standout it used to be.

• Garmin Connect ecosystem with Body Battery energy monitoring and sleep stages
• 7-day battery life with water resistance for swimming
• Dated design with a smaller display and no built-in GPS

Garmin Lily 2

The Garmin Lily 2 takes a different approach to fitness tracking. Instead of looking like a tech gadget, it’s designed to look like a piece of jewelry. The signature feature is a patterned lens that hides the display until you tap it. When the screen is off, it just looks like a stylish watch. When you tap, a bright touchscreen appears with your data. It’s a clever design that I haven’t seen anyone else pull off this well.

Under the surface, you get the full Garmin health suite: heart rate monitoring, SpO2, Body Battery, sleep tracking, stress monitoring, and women’s health features including menstrual cycle and pregnancy tracking. The aluminum bezel and metal case feel premium, and the silicone band is comfortable for all-day wear. Battery life is about 5 days, and it’s water-resistant to 164 feet. You also get music controls, phone notifications, and calendar widgets, so it doubles as a basic smartwatch.

At $299.99, it’s expensive for what’s technically a limited-feature tracker. You don’t get built-in GPS, and the small display makes it harder to read detailed workout stats. I’d recommend the Lily 2 specifically to people who want a fitness tracker that transitions from the gym to a dinner party without looking out of place. If you prioritize screen size and workout features over aesthetics, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 below is a better pick at a lower price.

• Hidden display with patterned lens that looks like jewelry when the screen is off
• Full Garmin health tracking: heart rate, SpO2, Body Battery, and women’s health
• No GPS and small display, priced at a premium for the design

Garmin Venu Sq 2

The Garmin Venu Sq 2 is my pick for best value GPS smartwatch in 2026. At $163.45 (35% off from $249.99), you get a proper AMOLED display, built-in GPS, 25+ sports apps, and 11 days of battery life. That battery life number is the killer feature. The Apple Watch SE lasts 18 hours. The Venu Sq 2 lasts 11 days. If you hate charging your watch every night, this is the device to buy.

The AMOLED display is bright and includes an always-on mode, so you don’t need to flick your wrist to check the time. The square design is practical; it gives you more screen area for reading workout stats compared to round watches in this price range. You get Garmin’s full health tracking: Body Battery, sleep score, stress tracking, SpO2, heart rate, and hydration tracking. Garmin Connect is the best fitness app I’ve used for long-term data analysis, and all of this comes without a subscription.

Compared to the Apple Watch SE, the Venu Sq 2 can’t run third-party apps, take calls, or make payments. But it gives you a week and a half of battery, free access to all health features, and Garmin’s training analysis that’s hard to beat. If fitness tracking and battery life are your priorities over smartwatch features, the Venu Sq 2 is the smarter buy. If you’re someone who stores data on external SSDs and cares about having reliable tech that just works, this Garmin fits that mindset.

• AMOLED display with always-on mode and 11-day battery life
• Built-in GPS with 25+ sports apps and Garmin’s Body Battery energy monitoring
• No third-party apps or cellular, but the best value for battery and fitness tracking

Polar Pacer Pro

If you’re a runner and you want a watch built specifically for running, the Polar Pacer Pro is the one I’d point you to. At 41 grams, it’s one of the lightest GPS watches on the market. You barely notice it on your wrist during a long run, which is exactly the point. Polar built this for people who train seriously and want data-driven feedback without a bulky watch weighing them down.

The Pacer Pro includes a barometric altimeter for accurate ascent and descent tracking, which is a big deal for trail runners and hill training. Battery life is strong: 35 hours in GPS training mode, 7 days as a daily watch, and up to 100 hours in power save mode. The built-in running test calculates your VO2Max and sets custom training zones based on your actual fitness level, not generic formulas. Polar’s training programs are structured and science-backed, which I prefer over the “just go run” approach most trackers take.

At $290.29 (down from $349.95), the Pacer Pro is pricier than the Garmin Venu Sq 2 but cheaper than comparable Garmin running watches like the Forerunner 265. The trade-off: Polar’s ecosystem is smaller than Garmin’s, with fewer third-party integrations and a less active community. But the actual training tools are on par, and some runners I know swear the heart rate accuracy is better on the Pacer Pro. If running is your primary sport and you want a lightweight watch that takes training data seriously, this is a strong pick. You might also want to pair it with a good webcam for streaming your runs if you’re into live fitness content.

• Ultra-light at 41g with GPS and barometric altitude for serious runners
• 35 hours in training mode with VO2Max testing and structured training programs
• Smaller ecosystem than Garmin, but strong on heart rate accuracy and training tools

Oura Ring 4

The Oura Ring 4 is the most polished smart ring on the market, and it’s the one I’d pick if sleep and recovery tracking are your top priorities. The sensors are smaller and more accurate than the Ring 3, tracking heart rate, respiratory rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature, and movement throughout the day. It auto-detects 40 different exercise types, which is more than the Samsung Galaxy Ring offers.

Where the Oura Ring 4 stands out is the companion app. It doesn’t just show you numbers. It interprets your data and gives you personalized recommendations. Sleep regularity scores, cardiovascular age tracking, and trend analysis help you spot patterns over weeks and months, not just overnight. The women’s health features are a strong differentiator too: cycle insights, pregnancy tracking, and fertile window estimates are built directly into the app.

The catch: it costs $499 for the ring, and then there’s a $5.99/month membership fee after the first free month. That’s the deal-breaker for many people, and I get it. The Samsung Galaxy Ring doesn’t charge a subscription. But Oura’s data analysis and health insights are deeper than Samsung’s, and the 8-day battery life edges ahead too. You’ll need to order a sizing kit first because Oura Ring 4 sizes don’t match standard ring sizes. If you’re willing to pay for the best sleep tracking available in a ring form factor, the Oura Ring 4 is it. If subscription fees bother you, go with the Samsung Galaxy Ring instead.

• Best-in-class sleep and recovery tracking with personalized health insights
• Women’s health features: cycle, pregnancy, and fertility tracking built in
• $499 plus $5.99/month subscription makes it the most expensive option on this list

How to Choose the Right Fitness Tracker

After testing all of these devices, I’ve found that most people overthink the fitness tracker decision. You don’t need 150 workout modes if you only run and do yoga. You don’t need cellular connectivity if your phone is always nearby. And you definitely don’t need a $500 smart ring if you’re just trying to hit 10,000 steps a day.

Here’s how I’d break it down by use case. If you want the cheapest way to start tracking your health, get the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 for under $50. If you want the best band-style tracker with GPS, get the Fitbit Charge 6. If you’re an iPhone user who wants a full smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE 2 is the right call. If battery life and GPS matter more than apps, the Garmin Venu Sq 2 at 35% off is a steal. If you’re a serious runner, the Polar Pacer Pro. And if sleep tracking is everything to you, the Samsung Galaxy Ring (no subscription) or Oura Ring 4 (better data) depending on how you feel about monthly fees.

The worst thing you can do is buy the most expensive tracker and stop wearing it after a month because it’s uncomfortable or the battery dies every day. Pick the one that fits your lifestyle, not the one with the longest spec sheet. Your fitness tracker only works if you actually wear it.

Frequently Asked Questions