Fitness trackers to help reach your goals
Need some help keeping your workout routine on track? Try using a fitness tracker to stay on top of your goals. Fitbit, Apple and others offer products that can help you track your progress to remain motivated, as well as highlight areas that need improvement. They’re also packed with helpful features for monitoring your sleep patterns, and some even let you know when you should be taking a rest day. So read on if you’re looking for the best fitness tracker 2023 has to offer.
There are dozens of dedicated fitness tracker options to choose from that come in the form of wristbands, shoe insoles with activity-tracking features and smartwatches. Below are three of CNET’s top fitness trackers based on price, form and function.
Each requires a mobile app to track your progress and some let you see phone notifications on your wrist. For the full list, check out our roundup of the best fitness trackers at cnet.co/3nouosm.
Fitness tracking is great for keeping you motivated, but remember that not even the most advanced activity tracker will do the work for you. Still, no matter your health and fitness goals, any one of the activity trackers here will help you achieve peak performance.
BEST ALL-AROUND FITNESS TRACKER: FITBIT CHARGE 5
The Fitbit Charge 5 improves on earlier Charge models by adding a color screen and an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) app on top of the already-strong fitnessand sleep-tracking Fitbit is known for. There’s a built-in GPS so you can track outdoor workouts without your phone, plus a blood-oxygen sensor. With the recent addition of a new Daily Readiness Score, the Charge 5 can also tell you if your body is up to taking on a workout, or if you should take a rest day. But many of Fitbit’s most useful features, like this score, are only available as part of Fitbit’s $10-a-month Premium service. Without a
Premium subscription you can still use the Charge 5 for fitness and health tracking, it just won’t give you the most in-depth metrics and trends over time. The battery should last you at least four full days and it’s compatible with iPhone and Android.
MOST STYLISH FITNESS TRACKER: FITBIT LUXE
If you’re looking for a fitness band that’s discreet (and more affordable), you may consider the Fitbit Luxe. You won’t get the built-in GPS or mobile payment options, but it has health- and fitness-tracking essentials, including heart-rate monitoring, automatic workout detection and a detailed sleep analysis.
This fitness band is also the closest thing to jewelry we’ve worn so far, especially if you pair it with the Gorjana link bracelet. You can also swap out the bands for more traditional silicone ones if you’re worried about sweat or using it to track swims. The biggest downside is that for some people, the screen and text may be too small to read without a lot of effort (or glasses).
BEST SMARTWATCH CROSSOVER FOR IPHONE USERS: APPLE WATCH SE
The Series 8 may be a little more sophisticated, but the $249 Apple Watch SE has everything you need in a fitness tracker with added smartwatch features. Both watches share the same variety of exercise modes, sleep tracking, heart-rate monitoring, ability to detect irregular heart rhythms and cardio fitness notifications.
There’s also a redesigned new Compass app to help prevent you from getting lost on your next run. The Apple Watch SE is compatible with dozens of fitness apps like Strava, Nike Training Club and Apple’s own Fitness+.
It lacks the Series 8’s ability to take an ECG, measure wrist temperature and monitor blood oxygen.
But for those who just need some extra motivation to close their Activity Rings, the Apple Watch SE has plenty to offer at a lower price than the Series 8.