The best fitness trackers
Steps, sleep and a nudge to get moving. Decide how much screen, GPS and battery they really need.
A fitness tracker is one of those presents that quietly changes habits: more steps, earlier nights, a first parkrun. The trick is matching it to how they'll use it, not buying the one with the longest feature list.
Runners want built-in GPS so they can leave the phone at home. Everyone else mostly needs good sleep and step tracking and a battery that doesn't need charging every night. Check it works with their phone, too: one here is Android only.
What matters
- Built-in GPS if they run or cycle without their phone.
- Battery life: from a week to three.
- It must work with their phone (iPhone or Android).
- Any subscription: the extras on some trackers cost monthly after a free trial.
#1 of 5
Best for runners
Garmin Forerunner 55 GPS Running Watch
£149.99 RRP
Built-in GPS tracks pace and distance without taking a phone out, and a charge lasts up to two weeks. The name Garmin is a blend of its founders', Gary Burrell and Min Kao, who started the company in 1989.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to use, with accurate GPS and heart rate, and love that it only needs charging every couple of weeks.
A closer look: Pair it with the free Garmin Connect app and pick a Garmin Coach plan: it sets the week's runs and adjusts as they go, which suits someone training for a first 5K or parkrun. It uses buttons rather than a touchscreen, so it works with wet or gloved hands.
- Built-in GPS
- Up to 2 weeks a charge (20 hours with GPS)
- Free 5K, 10K and half-marathon plans
- Suggested daily workouts
- Phone notifications
Best for: Runners and walkers
- Screen
- Colour, button controls
- Battery
- Up to 2 weeks (20 hrs GPS)
- Built-in GPS
- Built in
- Water resistance
- 5 ATM (swim-proof)
- Works with
- iPhone and Android
#2 of 5
Best value
Xiaomi Smart Band 10 Fitness Tracker
£39.99 RRP
Up to three weeks between charges and a big, bright screen, which is a lot for a budget band. It tracks steps, sleep, heart rate and 150-odd sports, with a proper swimming mode.
What owners say: Owners love the display and the battery life, and find it reliable for swimming, heart rate and sleep.
A closer look: The tracker pops out of the strap, so a second strap in another colour or material turns it from gym kit into something smarter for going out. It sets up with Xiaomi's free app on iPhone or Android.
- Up to 21 days a charge
- 1.72-inch AMOLED screen
- 150+ sport modes
- Swim-proof (5ATM)
- Sleep tracking
Best for: A first tracker
- Screen
- 1.72in AMOLED touchscreen
- Battery
- Up to 21 days
- Built-in GPS
- No
- Water resistance
- 5ATM (swim-proof)
- Works with
- iPhone and Android
#3 of 5
Best all-rounder
Fitbit Charge 6 Activity Tracker
£139.99 RRP
The most complete band here: built-in GPS for runs and rides, Google Wallet to pay for a coffee on the way home, and a colour touchscreen. It can also show heart rate on compatible gym machines.
What owners say: Owners find it keeps them moving and walking more, with accurate step counts and decent battery life.
A closer look: Tracking works without a subscription. It comes with three months of Google Health Premium coaching; after that Premium costs £7.99 a month, so cancel the trial if they don't use it. Charge it every few days rather than letting it run flat.
- Built-in GPS
- Google Wallet payments
- Up to 7 days a charge
- Heart rate on gym machines via Bluetooth
- Water-resistant to 50m
Best for: Doing a bit of everything
- Screen
- Colour AMOLED touchscreen
- Battery
- Up to 7 days
- Built-in GPS
- Built in
- Water resistance
- Water-resistant to 50m
- Works with
- iPhone and Android
#4 of 5
Best screenless
Google Fitbit Air Screenless Activity Tracker
£84.99 RRP
No screen and no clock face: just a light fabric band that tracks sleep, heart rate and activity in the background. At 12g it's easy to forget it's there, which is the point.
What owners say: Owners find it light and comfortable, love charging only once a week, and like the AI coaching.
Heads up: There's no screen at all, so the time and stats are checked on their phone.
A closer look: Five minutes on the USB-C charger gives about a day's battery, so a quick top-up while they shower keeps it going. Three months of Google Health Premium coaching are included; after that it's £7.99 a month if they keep it.
- No screen, 12g with the band
- Up to 7 days a charge
- 5 minutes' charge gives a day
- Heart rate and sleep tracking
- Water-resistant to 50m
Best for: Sleep and all-day wear
- Screen
- None (stats on the phone)
- Battery
- Up to 7 days
- Built-in GPS
- No
- Water resistance
- Water-resistant to 50m
- Works with
- iPhone and Android
#5 of 5
Best for Samsung phones
Samsung Galaxy Fit3 Fitness Tracker
£50–£75 Price range
A big 1.6-inch screen, up to 13 days a charge, and it slots straight into Samsung Health on a Galaxy phone. Half an hour on the charger gets it back to about two-thirds.
What owners say: Owners find it easy to set up and use, with accurate step counts and a lot of features for the money.
Heads up: It only works with Android phones, so it isn't one for an iPhone user.
A closer look: It also works as a remote for the phone's camera and can find a misplaced phone. Some workouts, like walking and running, are recognised and recorded automatically.
- 1.6-inch AMOLED screen
- Up to 13 days a charge
- 100+ workouts, some detected automatically
- Sleep and blood-oxygen tracking
- Swim-proof (5ATM)
Best for: Android and Galaxy phones
- Screen
- 1.6in AMOLED touchscreen
- Battery
- Up to 13 days
- Built-in GPS
- No
- Water resistance
- 5ATM + IP68
- Works with
- Android only
How they compare
| Feature | #1Garmin Forerunner 55 | #2Xiaomi Smart Band 10 | #3Fitbit Charge 6 | #4Fitbit Air | #5Samsung Galaxy Fit3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for runners | Best value | Best all-rounder | Best screenless | Best for Samsung phones | |
| Picked Rating | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.4 |
| Price | £149.99 RRP | £39.99 RRP | £139.99 RRP | £84.99 RRP | £50–£75 Price range |
| Screen | Colour, button controls | 1.72in AMOLED touchscreen | Colour AMOLED touchscreen | None (stats on the phone) | 1.6in AMOLED touchscreen |
| Battery | Up to 2 weeks (20 hrs GPS) | Up to 21 days | Up to 7 days | Up to 7 days | Up to 13 days |
| Built-in GPS | Built in | No | Built in | No | No |
| Water resistance | 5 ATM (swim-proof) | 5ATM (swim-proof) | Water-resistant to 50m | Water-resistant to 50m | 5ATM + IP68 |
| Works with | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android | iPhone and Android | Android only |
| Best for | Runners and walkers | A first tracker | Doing a bit of everything | Sleep and all-day wear | Android and Galaxy phones |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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