Which fitness wristband

It might not be the prettiest of devices, but the Xiaomi Mi Band 6 does offer a lot of features for your money. This makes for a nice, colourful place to view your stats, and you still get all of the same activity tracking and sleep monitoring features along with the Personal Activity Intelligence metric, which shifts the emphasis away from steps and on regularly raising heart rate through exercise. You can enable continuous stress monitoring and now Xiaomi has added an SpO2 sensor to let you take on the spot blood-oxygen measurements for an extra hit of wellness data.

The Fitbit Charge 4 takes the successful if dated design of the Charge 3 and adds a few key features. Built-in GPS support means you won't need to take your phone out with you on runs, although you may still want to if you're going to take advantage of the all-new Spotify playback controls: the Charge 4 has no onboard storage.

Fitbit has also come up with an excellent new way of tracking your exercise targets, called " Active Zone Minutes ". It's not a new concept, but it's implemented exceptionally well. We found a lot to like in the Charge 4: With dashing good looks, a slew of new features and access to Fitbit's excellent software and community, this is the Fitbit to buy — if your budget allows it. Read our full review of the Fitbit Charge 4.

The Charge 4 is the best Fitbit you can buy, with great features and a sleek design. Despite its age, the Garmin Vivosmart 4 remains an excellent fitness tracker. This last feature calculates your body's overall resources and gives you an idea of when you should be working out — and when you should be resting. Simply put, the Vivosmart 4 is a durable, well-rounded fitness tracker that suffers only from a lack of GPS.

If a Fitbit doesn't appeal but you don't fancy compromising on features, you won't find much better at this price. Read our full review of the Garmin Vivosmart 4. The Galaxy Fit 2 not only boasts a bigger screen than its predecessor, but also offers significantly improved battery life compared, with Samsung claiming it can now last up to 15 days on a single charge with moderate usage. Along with its low price, these iterations make the Samsung Fit 2 a great-value option, especially for anyone with a Samsung phone.

Along with continuous heart-rate monitoring and sleep tracking, the Fit 2 offers workout modes for walking, running, cycling and swimming. Learn more. If you're asking that question, you probably don't need Apple's or Garmin's advanced capabilities, since the inclusion of those features on their respective models would make the choice obvious. In that case, you are best off with a basic Fitbit. Since Google bought Fitbit , the company has debuted several affordable new trackers that I've also tested.

The Charge 4 includes features like built-in GPS that I've seen only in much more expensive trackers. The Zone Minutes metric encourages newbies to explore high-intensity exercise and an "outdoor workout" category for rambling hikes and golf games. Fitbit also has the best sleep-tracking hardware and software I've used.

You should know that the Charge 5 will be arriving later this year, and once we test it, we'll know if it edges out the Charge 4 which should remain available for purchase for another year or so regardless. For several years, one version or another of Fitbit's Versa line has occupied this spot. It has the Fitbit's accessible price that we like, but with Garmin's accurate and granular fitness data added.

The Venu Sq comes in a variety of attractive colors, with a bright and responsive LCD touchscreen that has an always-on option. And while many of its competitors have been offering blood-oxygen monitoring and sleep tracking only as premium features, Garmin has includes those features in its more basic trackers and doesn't require you to subscribe to its paid software service to unlock those features.

You also don't need to pay a subscription fee to access Garmin's advanced metrics through Garmin Connect. Letsfit's smartwatch is a knockoff of the Fitbit Versa, right down to the typeface used on the watch face, but the differences are obvious to anyone who has used and loved a real Versa. The latch is made from cheap plastic, the tracked metrics on the watch face are rudimentary, and the VeryFitPro app is unattractive and not a joy to consult.

However, the tracker is waterproof and the pedometer is reasonably accurate. The battery lasts about one week between charges, and the band is soft and comfortable. If you want an even cheaper, simpler tracker, I like the comfortable, waterproof Xiaomi Mi Band 3 , which also has a long-lasting battery.

If you're willing to spend a little more, look for older Garmin or Fitbit models that came out a year or two ago. Every year, Apple releases a new watch, and every year, we say the same thing : It's not necessary to upgrade if you already have an Apple Watch.

But if you're looking to buy one for the first time, the most recent model is the best one to get. Last year, Apple released two watches, the Series 6 and the SE.

The very existence of the SE irritates me. It's exactly like the Series 5, except without the blood-monitoring tech, ECG, or always-on display. If you can still find an affordable Series 5, get that instead. Like everyone who has found themselves pacing around the kitchen trying to close the red Move ring, I've found Apple's fitness rings are still the most addictive and effective fitness game I've come across.

Is all this a little confusing? Check out our guide to Best Apple Watch for more. For years, I saw no evidence that could convince me that any running watch would ever be better than a Garmin. It's unbelievably light, and the battery lasts for weeks between charges, which is a feature you won't find in any other watch on this list. It also integrates with Strava for mapping your runs and rides, and it uses the same multi-system satellite positioning system as Garmin to trace your route.

In our tests, it was comfortable to wear all day and night, which allowed us to build up a complete picture of our activity and sleeping habits.

Fitness trackers work best when worn every day so they can build up a full picture of your habits and lifestyle, and the Luxe is one that you'll genuinely want to. The Luxe even comes with a free trial of Fitbit Premium, which lets you get even more out of the watch, including more detailed historical data, a wider range of workouts and meditation sessions in the Fitbit app, and the ability to create a personal health report that you can share with a family member or doctor.

There's no on-board GPS though; instead the Luxe needs a connection to your phone, which is its only real drawback. Read our full Fitbit Luxe review. The Fitbit Charge 5 is a fitness tracker built with gym-goers in mind. It boasts on-board GPS so you can track walks, runs and bike rides without carrying your phone, and can start monitoring them automatically when it detects that you're on the move.

It also has dedicated tracking modes for a wealth of indoor activities, from weightlifting to spinning, and you can pick your five favorites for quick access at the touch of a finger. There's also an EDA electrodermal activity sensor, which tracks changes in the conductivity of your skin as it's affected by adrenal activity. It's a novel way of keeping tabs on stress, and was previously only found in the top-end Fitbit Sense. The Charge 5 has an ECG app too, which you can use to monitor for signs of atrial fibrillation that should be investigated by a doctor though this feature wasn't available when the fitness tracker began shipping in September It's all capped off with a bright, crisp color AMOLED display, which is a huge upgrade from the monochrome memory-in-pixel screen of the Charge 4.

The Fitbit Charge 5 isn't quite perfect we particularly miss the ability to control our Spotify playlist from our wrist during a workout but it's a top-notch fitness tracker and well worth considering if you're starting to take your exercise seriously.

Read our full Fitbit Charge 5 review. Oura is an unusual fitness tracker — a smart ring that can be worn on any finger all day and all night — but it works extremely well.

Like the Fitbit Luxe, its jewelry-style design means you'll be happy wearing it for any occasion, which helps it build up a complete picture of your health. Oura is all about balancing activity and rest to make sure you strike the right balance. The ring not only tracks your movement throughout the day, and syncs all the data to the thoughtfully designed Oura app, it's also the best sleep tracker we've tested to date.

That's partly due to the fact it's worn on the finger rather than the wrist, where the blood vessels are much closer to the surface and can be more accurately measured, and partly because it takes much more frequent readings than a watch, so there's no need for software to estimate missing data. Want to know the exact moment you fell asleep, not just when you started trying to drift off?

Oura can tell you, and give you personalized tips on how to sleep better in future. Occasionally we found that our data took longer than expected to sync in the morning, but otherwise the Oura ring is tough to fault. Read our full Oura review. If you're aiming to develop healthier habits, and want a device that will give you a gentle nudge to get there, the Fitbit Inspire 2 could be the best fitness tracker for you.

It's not overly complex, but has all the essential features to keep you moving and motivated, and is extremely simple to use. It's controlled entirely through its responsive touchscreen and single side button, and will monitor your activity and heart rate all day with alerts when you hit your goals. There are over 20 workout modes, and several will start tracking automatically when the fitness tracker detects that you've begun exercising. All of your data is collected together in the extremely user-friendly Fitbit app, where you can see patterns over time, set new targets and if you subscribe to Fitbit Premium find a whole library of video workouts to follow at home.

There's no color screen or on-board GPS for mapping out runs, but the Inspire 2 is a pleasure to use, and ideal for beginners. Read our full Fitbit Inspire 2 review. The Amazfit Bip may look more like a smartwatch than any of the other devices on this list, but as it runs its own software and has a very big focus on fitness, so we've decided to include it in our list of the best fitness trackers.

The Amazfit Bip's design has clearly been influenced by the Apple Watch there's no denying that , and it comes packed with tons of features including GPS, an accurate heart rate tracker, multi-sport tracking, sleep tracking, and estimated VO2 max so you can keep tabs on your fitness over time.

If you're looking for a more watch-like design, the Bip will be up your street. It's lightweight too and other highlights include the always-on display and strong battery life that should last around a month depending on your usage.

However, accuracy issues mean that you could be better off with an Amazfit or Xiaomi tracker. For more in-depth info have a read of our Galaxy Fit 2 review.

Buy from Amazon. It does all the basics and a bit more. Step tracking, sleep monitoring and even workouts — with running, walking, trail hiking, mountain hiking, climbing, cycling, spinning, fitness and cricket. We found step tracking to be generally accurate, and sleep tracking reliably showed time spent in bed, but data on sleep quality and actual time asleep varied hugely from our control devices.

We liked the water drinking and move reminders, and we actually found the heart rate monitor to be generally pretty accurate. Not only is this Android only, notifications were really hard to read. All in all, the Realme Band is a capable budget fitness tracker for Android users, but for a small amount extra you should opt for the Xiaomi or Amazfit and enjoy a far better experience.

Realme Band - Amazon. You also get smartwatch features like notification support and the ability to switch out watch faces on the gorgeous 0. There are no music player controls, payment features or Bixby support, but that's not surprising considering the price. On the swim tracking front, you're relying on the onboard motion sensors to monitor pool time. What's more, its slim design means it's nice and unobtrusive in the pool.

For battery life, you can expect around the seven-day mark depending on usage. If you want a slim, comfortable tracker with decent swim tracking skills, this is definitely one to consider. Read our complete Samsung Galaxy Fit review for more. The Vivosmart 4 is slimmer, sleeker and even better equipped for the gym than its predecessor. It's the best fitness tracker for those looking for deep data, with blood oxygen, energy and stress tracking all part of the mix.

It includes a heart rate monitor, VO2 Max testing which is a great metric for those who like HIIT and CrossFit clases , and automatic exercise detection, so you won't miss out if you forget to start tracking a session. The 'body battery' energy monitoring will give you a better insight into how well prepared you are for your next workout, too. The Vivosmart 4 also packs in Garmin's Move IQ software and rep counting for those who like to lift weights, while the addition of the pulse oximeter sensor means it's even able to help detect sleep apnea.

And the decent accelerometer-based run tracking slightly makes up for the missing GPS support, if you're not too bothered about pinpoint accuracy. Read our complete Garmin Vivosmart 4 review for extra information. The Huawei Band 4 Pro is the only budget tracker on our list that has built-in GPS to make it a useful running and cycling companion.

The feature-packed tracker features a 0. Features-wise, it will count your steps and monitor sleep with a heart rate monitor to power exercise insights like training effect and daily monitoring.

There's an SpO sensor to measure blood oxygen levels and you do have that built-in GPS to better track outdoor activities without your phone. On the smartwatch front, you can view notifications, control music playback and remotely control your smartphone camera.

Add in some pretty solid battery life and you have a cheap fitness tracker that should have appeal to anyone looking for some serious sports features packed into a slim band. If you're in Europe — definitely check that device out.

A gorgeous-looking hybrid smartwatch, don't be fooled into thinking this is style over substance: the Withings Steel HR Sport is a hugely powerful fitness and wellness device masquerading as an analogue watch. The key thing here is the accuracy of the heart rate monitor, which, in our testing, was a top performer. It's designed for continuous wear, and will take a reading from your wrist every minute. However, the fact that it's combined into such a beautifully designed tracker-watch hybrid, and still manages 25 days of battery life, is a huge boon for Withings.

Swim tracking is also present, as well as GPS connection over the phone, meaning you can now more accurately track runs with the help of your smartphone. In short, the Withings Steel HR is a superb fitness tracker — but there are even more powerful devices incoming.

The Apple Watch rings have now become synonymous with the experience, with three tracking goals a core experience of the watch. However, you can see your step count underneath. The Exercise goal tracks those crucial activity minutes to get you the WHO recommended mins a week. The rings fill up as you progress towards your goals, and you can challenge any Apple Watch owning friend to a ring challenge, which awards points for progress over a week. Of course, the Apple Watch does way more than goal tracking.

There are downsides.