Fitness trackers have revolutionized the industry by motivating users to increase levels of activity by rewarding with digital badges, or by reminding users to move at regular intervals by tracking sedentary durations.
They can go as far as provide animated cardio, strength, and yoga workouts to motivate users, in addition to VO2 max estimates, sleep stages, and stress tracking. Furthermore, heart rate, blood oxygen levels, temperature, and activity can be monitored as well, including fall detection which improves opportunities to stay fit.
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Fitbit Inspire 3
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a great first choice when it comes to fitness tracking. This device is efficient because it is light weight and is low maintenance which makes it simple to use in terms of data viewing without the hassle more sophisticated equipment brings, like Apple Watches or Samsung Galaxy Gear S4.
Like other fitness trackers, it tracks sleep heart rate, basic workouts, has some smartwatch features, and offers notifications when paired with Premium membership. In addition, it’s GPS utilizes a Bluetooth connection to wirelessly track outdoor workouts by transmitting information directly from a phone.
While the previous version of Inspire had some good features, the new Inspire surely stands out the most with its colorful touchscreen display paired with expanding capabilities. This screen excels at displaying important information like tracked activities and the overall stats. Regardless of how appealing the aspire is, it still lacks a click button. Performing any functions must be done through swipes and taps. At times this can be troublesome as getting water on your hands or display can create obstructions displeasing to your experience with the device.
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Amazfit Band 7
The compact tracker is ensured to have impressive features such as 120 sports modes, a 5 ATM waterproof rating, heart rate and oxygen monitoring, and most importantly the 1.47 inch AMOLED display paired with a smartwatch-grade processor. With normal usage of the device, the battery will last 18 days and only 12 when constantly using the display. The device also has an always-on AMOLED feature alongside the already mentioned always-on screen ensuring the user a pleasant experience.
The device also provides an impressive amount of supported workout modes like running outside where the GPS accuracy is extremely high. The smartphone’s GPS is used for accurate readings. On the other hand, bike mode does not provide accurate measurements for distance and lacks advanced elements like cadence that are needed for riding a cycle.
Tracking sleep patterns on this device is superb thanks to features such as automatic time zone switching and automatic wake up/sleep tracking. Sadly, tap-to-pay functionality via NFC, Bluetooth call answering speakerphone, music files storage, and music playback are not available. However, most people would not consider these functions as essential for an everyday tracker. One practical feature that is lacking, however, is actionable notifications. You cannot respond directly to notifications, so you have to open your phone and swipe through to reply. Also, clearing notifications from this device does not remove them from your phone unless they are deleted from both devices.
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Garmin Forerunner 165
Garmin’s most advanced training and fitness devices have trickled down to more affordable options like Forerunner 165. This makes this model an ideal choice for runners who want guidance without spending excess money. In addition to the most elementary functionalities, Forerunner 165 provides daily workout suggestions, Body Battery monitoring, and other features that can greatly enhance performance. There are also pre-defined modes for cycling, pool swimming, strength training, and even women’s health monitoring, including menstrual cycle tracking.
The (5)-button layout, combined with the satisfying user experience, helps when browsing the insights on both the device and app. Features such as sleep scores, heart rate variability measurements, the weather forecasting app, previous night heart rate variability analysis, nap detection, and even a blood oxygenation sensor claiming to detect early signs of illness are all available. The user can navigate menus whilst using gloves due to the chemically strengthened screen and fibre reinforced polymer bezel and the rugged construction.
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Coros Pace Pro
Coros are stepping into the higher end of the market with the release of their new pace pro, placing themselves firmly in competition with established brands such as Garmin’s Forerunner 265 and Polar Vantage M3. Some of the key advantages this wearable offer over its competition include, but are not limited to: offline maps, an AMOLED touch screen that is responsive and fast, dual band GPS, (32)GB of music storage, and compatibility with ECG sensors.
Where others fail, Coros’ Pace Pro Watch shines. With an impressive 1500 nits, the display is fully usable under direct sunlight and the smart sensor suite allows for comprehensive tracking, bringing smartwatch usability to a whole new level. Track everything from your deepest breaths with an optical heart rate monitor to ultrasound Assisted measurements using barometric altimeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, electronic compass, and pulse oximeter (SpO2)!
Coros developed an app with the same name as the device that enables easer route and workout creation. Her Pace Pro app also features triathlon plans, distances running, workouts library, and so on. Most significantly on the hardware side, the device includes a standard USB-C charging port which is much deeper than regular versions, meaning no fuss when using the device. Not to mention, the requisite adapater is included in the package!
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Withings ScanWatch 2
A traditional looking watch with a twist? Withings shows you exactly that, Alongside their traditional time keeping ability, the centerpiece in the smart device category is their TempTech24/7 module, capable of monitoring changes in body temperature around the clock. Knowing a customer’s personal health and fitness data gives users unparalleled insight.
The ScanWatch 2 is able to track sleep as well as provide workout metrics for most popular exercises. When teamed up with the Withings Plus subscription service, the device is able to provide customized fitness improvement scores and also offers workout plans and recipes for getting into shape.
The ScanWatch 2 also has massive drawbacks. Its advanced set of features is quite basic compared with Garmin or Polar devices, making it less suitable for hardcore athletes, while more casual users may find the functionality overly complex. Lastly, you must accept the terms of using the service when syncing it with the phone and agree to allow access to the accelerometer, GPS, and cellular data for the Withings app.