On the most basic level, the best fitness trackers offer GPS connectivity to help you stay on your training course and basic activity tracking. Newer iterations of fitness trackers include advanced smart watches that can do anything from tracking your archery workout to detecting a heart attack, as well as (our personal favorite) smart rings. Smart rings pack a ton (no literally, an absurd amount) of sleep/stress stats and workout/health information into a tiny package you wear on your finger 24/7. Most modern wearables use advanced sensors to track metrics like heart rate, sleep, blood oxygen, and activity with impressive accuracy. While they’re not replacements for medical-grade devices, many are FDA-cleared or clinically validated for certain functions, offering trustworthy smart device health insights for everyday use.
On the flip side, if you are using your fitness tracker for strength training (or hiking or trail running), it would make sense to look for stronger materials. “It’s important to note that I am generally 100 years old and grumpy about this type of stuff, [but] still, the set up on this watch was a bit of a pain,” says Zucker. There are two types of displays found on fitness watches — AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic Light Emitting Diodes) and MIP (Memory in Pixel). AMOLED displays are brighter and perform better in low light, but are not always great under direct sunlight.
The Future of Wearable Technology
With thoughtful selection and consistent use, these health innovation gadgets can provide meaningful improvements to your routine. Whether you rely on a smartwatch, ring, or advanced tracker, the right wearable can support your journey toward better living—guided by your needs, preferences, and data-driven habits. Fitness trackers, which are a subset of wearable technology, focus primarily on helping users monitor and improve their physical activity. Devices like the Fitbit Charge, Garmin Vivosmart, and Xiaomi Mi Band are designed to be worn all day and night, collecting data on movement, heart rate, sleep, and more.
What is a “normal” heart rate?
If you’re looking for a quick overview, these apps offer excellent Apple Watch support. Real-time stress monitoring, Personalized relaxation suggestions, Helping you find calm amidst the chaos. Continuous HR and HRV tracking captures every nuance of your body’s rhythm.
Battery Life
AI is expected to play an even more prominent role in the Apple Watch Series 12, particularly in the areas of fitness and wellness coaching. By analyzing your activity patterns and health data, the watch could deliver personalized workout recommendations and smarter fitness coaching. This deeper integration ensures that the device evolves with your needs, offering tailored insights that make it a more indispensable part of your daily routine. The Apple Watch Series 12 is poised to elevate health monitoring to unprecedented levels. Among its most anticipated features is enhanced blood pressure tracking, which will provide trend analysis over time, helping you better understand your cardiovascular health.
Our Most Cat-Friendly Tracker Yet
If navigation and mapping are important to you, you’ll have to shell out some cash. You can get some basic navigation features like waypoint markers and tracking integrated into your phone without needing to go for top-of-the-line watches. But if you’re going to be using your watch off-grid and want to upload your own .gpx tracks, you’ll need to go for a higher-end Garmin, COROS, or Polar watch. Depending on the brand and the activity being tracked, you will be able to see different data both during the activity and in the activity summary after completion. If the watch supports navigation, and you’re tracking an activity that involves moving, one screen will feature a map with your location. Beyond their personal expertise, GearJunkie has solicited the opinions of fellow runners, hikers, and climbers.
Below is a closer look at the key upgrades expected in this highly anticipated smartwatch. In the 1960s and 1970s, researchers and inventors began to experiment with wearable devices for specific functions. One notable example is the invention of the “calculator watch” in the 1980s. These small wristwatches featured tiny calculators, allowing users to perform basic math directly from their wrists. Around the same time, the early versions of fitness trackers were being developed, though they were primitive by today’s standards.
Key Features & Sensors to Consider
While most will allow text and email messages, and many provide storage for music or access to streaming apps like Spotify, they’re limited in the scope of apps you can add and will not replace your smartphone. The team includes Cory Smith, an online running coach and freelance journalist with over 25 years of running and rock climbing experience. It’s easy to say that this watch is well competitive with top-tier Garmin and COROS options, and we’re excited to see it. HRV tracking has also been expanded to nightly surveying, and integrates with the newly added Suunto Coach functionality — synthesizing your workouts and providing feedback and suggestions. “I was not gentle in my testing, and the Cheetah Pro withstood both ample amounts of sand and gritty rock. That battery does take up some wrist real estate, and the watch itself is a little over 1.5” thick, though we found it easy to get used to.
Are fitness trackers suitable for seniors?
That’s because this brand features a pod-like tracker and a WHOOP Body line to embed the monitor in a wrist strap, swimsuit, boxers, sports bras, shorts, or leggings. The monitor data is viewable on the app instead of the app and face of a wristwatch. It connects exclusively with iPhone devices running iOS 18 or later and syncs with a variety of apps, including many popular health and fitness apps. In certain regions (including the United States and Canada), the Pixel offers electrocardiogram (EKG) monitoring, which detects irregular heart rhythms.
While wearable technology is improving, many devices still face issues with inconsistent tracking accuracy. Alternatively, if you’re looking for the most accurate heart rate readings possible — for example, to help manage a heart condition — consider a chest monitor if your chest or bust will allow. This device straps around your chest and is much more precise than a smartwatch. Despite the screenless monitoring Kristin was enthusiastic about how WHOOP changed her motivations in tracking her health data.
- Most teens at least sometimes feel happy and peaceful when they don’t have their phone, but 44% say this makes them anxious.
- The app offers guided meditation sessions addressing stress reduction, focus improvement, and emotional regulation.
- And even so, she tries to encourage people not to fixate on their REM or how much rest they get in a single night.
- But the Ultra 3 can be used as a dive computer, an emergency siren, and a compass that retraces your steps (ideal for those prone to getting lost mid-hike).
- Wearable devices are more than trendy gadgets—they’re powerful tools for tracking vital health metrics.
- People use wearable technology to track and receive notifications about their heart rate and blood pressure, watch their calorie intake or manage their training regimens.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
Signos makes an artificial intelligence-powered glucose monitoring system designed to help with healthy weight management, the first of its kind to be cleared by the Food and Drug Administration. Entry-level fitness watches tend to cost between $150 and $300 and will typically track in GPS mode for between 20 to 40 hours. The COROS Pace 3 ($229) is at the top of the heap and leverages an energy-sipping MIP screen to do it. The Garmin vívoactive 5 ($300) won’t track for as long, but the sharp AMOLED screen is far better for folks using the watch indoors as much as outdoors. The actual material used for a screen also matters, especially if you’re going to be using it for high-impact activities, or just tend to beat up your belongings. Sapphire glass is one material used by Garmin, Apple, and other watch brands that is incredibly crack and scratch-resistant.
By prioritizing functionality and innovation, the Series 12 aims to solidify its position as a leader in wearable technology. The video below from Tech Town gives us more details on the Apple Watch 12. Researchers are developing sensor-embedded fabrics that can track health metrics like heart rate, respiration, and temperature while generating power from body heat and movement. The technology could be integrated into everyday clothing, yoga mats, wristbands, or even bedsheets, enabling continuous tracking without the need for charging or standalone devices. Smartwatch trends are defined by enhanced sensor technology that brings health tracking closer to clinical accuracy.
Cumulative Stress
From heart rate tracking to stress management, these devices empower you to live healthier. Let’s explore the top options for 2025, their features, and how they can transform your daily routine. Modern wearable technology is peloton app worth it falls under a broad spectrum of usability, including smartwatches, fitness trackers such as the Fitbit Charge, VR headsets, smart jewelry, web-enabled glasses and Bluetooth headsets. Wearables work differently, based on their intended use, such as health, fitness or entertainment. Most wearable technology contains microprocessors, batteries and internet connectivity so the collected data can be synced with other electronics, such as smartphones or laptops. Most connect to your phone, and many offer features for athletes, such as GPS and activity tracking, or for people with heart or lung conditions, such as blood pressure and oxygen saturation monitoring.
Measure & monitor everything
By utilizing a Memory-in-Pixel (MIP) screen, the APEX 4 manages nearly two weeks of power with frequent activity tracking. McLemore found this reliability essential for multi-day backcountry missions where managing power banks is a liability. The COROS APEX 4 ($430) is a purpose-built watch for the mountain athlete who values a bombproof build and robust battery life over the visuals of an AMOLED smartwatch.
But if your weekends take you from the mountains to the shoreline on marathon adventures, a do-it-all option like this is the way to go. A good fitness watch assures your workout is tracked and logged, and helps you reach your fitness goals. We tested the leading devices to find the best of 2026, with winners from Garmin, COROS, Suunto, and more. The inclusion of Touch ID would represent a thoughtful balance between security and usability. For users, this means peace of mind knowing their personal information is protected, while also enjoying the convenience of quick and seamless access to essential features.