The best Fitbits for your fitness and health

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In 2025, you may marvel if Fitbit continues to be related. Regardless of getting acquired by Google, Fitbit stays one of the recognizable names within the business. Fitbit trackers aren’t meant for essentially the most hardcore of athletes, however they’re nonetheless glorious units for monitoring total exercise in addition to monitoring sure well being and wellness metrics like EKGs and blood oxygen ranges.

That stated, this can be a transitional interval from the Fitbit of outdated to no matter Fitbit shall be sooner or later. 2023, specifically, was a messy yr. There have been a number of Fitbit server outages, and I wasn’t impressed with the choice to sundown legacy neighborhood options like challenges or the truth that all Fitbit accounts will quickly require you to log in through Google. Talking of which, the Fitbit-to-Google account migration began in 2023 and is required in case you purchase newer merchandise just like the Fitbit Cost 6 or Google Pixel Watch 3. The Fitbit app additionally obtained a brand new, extra Google-like makeover, which didn’t go over nicely with many customers. (Google has since made changes primarily based on suggestions.) And in 2024, a lot of Fitbit’s management, together with co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman, left the corporate as roughly a thousand Google workers had been laid off.

You possibly can take a look at how Google has dealt with the Nest acquisition as a highway map to how issues are going. The Googlefication of Fitbit will proceed, however there are causes to stay with its trackers within the meantime. Fitbit trackers are comparatively reasonably priced, particularly since they usually go on sale. All of the units additionally include a free trial to Fitbit Premium, the corporate’s subscription service that provides guided exercises, meditations, and entry to extra in-depth metrics. Thus far, it seems Google takes its Pixel Watch lineup critically, too. With the Pixel Watch 2, the corporate expanded prolonged guarantee entry and improved substitute choices. You simply need to go in with eyes huge open.

In the event you’re not lifeless set on a Fitbit specifically, take a look at our information to the most effective health trackers and watches.

The existence of the Pixel Watch, now in its third technology, has thrown a wrench into Fitbit’s smartwatch lineup. Technically, it’s a Google product, however Google owns Fitbit, in order that they’re all Google merchandise now. Fitbit powers the entire Pixel Watch’s well being and health options. However actually, that is the smartwatch that Fitbit by no means may handle to construct by itself.

The Pixel Watch 3 is a major replace over its predecessors. It lastly looks like Google’s not enjoying catch-up to its rivals. This yr, the screens are brighter, the bezels are smaller, and there’s now a 45mm measurement for bigger wrists. The bigger measurement doesn’t look chunky, both. Internally, the processor and well being sensors are the identical as final yr, although the third-gen system has an extremely wideband chip that permits you to unlock Pixel telephones and a few BMW automobile fashions.

It’s obtained the identical stunning design with a round domed show that appears far more elegant than the squircle Versa or Sense smartwatches ever did. In your wrist, it seems like a watch, not a tracker dressed up as one. The show is a bit fragile for our style, however as 2023, you will get a Most popular Care prolonged guarantee within the US and Canada. That is one cause we advocate the Pixel Watch 3 over the unique since a minimum of you have got a extra reasonably priced fallback ought to one thing occur to your show. Google additionally introduced an possibility the place you’ll be able to skip buyer assist and mail in damaged, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch units for discounted replacements.

As for health options, the Pixel Watch 3 is a lot better for runners than it was. It features a new working dashboard, superior type analytics, customized working exercises, and even AI-generated exercise options. It’s additionally launched a brand new metric known as Cardio Load, which measures the depth of your exercises and suggests a goal primarily based in your health objectives. It’s conceptually just like Garmin’s Coaching Load. The Day by day Readiness Rating has additionally been revamped and is not locked behind the Fitbit Premium paywall. On the well being entrance, European customers now have Lack of Pulse. If the watch detects you’ve misplaced your pulse, it’ll name emergency companies in your behalf. The characteristic isn’t obtainable but within the US, although, as FDA clearance continues to be pending.

Moreover, Google has strengthened the watch’s integrations with its personal companies in addition to different Pixel units. As an illustration, you have got offline Google Maps and a Google Dwelling Tile. You possibly can view your Nest Doorbell digital camera feed or management your Google TV out of your wrist, and there’s additionally the choice to file audio with the Recorder app and switch it to your telephone. With Name Help, you need to use your watch to inform anybody calling you want an additional second to select up the telephone.

If all you need is a health tracker that appears like a smartwatch, you’ll be able to contemplate the $229 Versa 4 because it’s the extra budget-friendly possibility. However there’s no actual level within the Sense 2 for the reason that Pixel Watch 3 can do all the identical issues — and extra.

The Encourage line hasn’t at all times felt, nicely, impressed. However the $99.95 Encourage 3 is totally different. With a coloration OLED show, it’s harking back to the Fitbit Luxe of 2021, solely with a matte black plastic case as a substitute of a steel one. It’s a fantastic throwback to basic Fitbits for individuals who solely need the fundamentals.

The Encourage 3 doesn’t overcomplicate issues. It’s a health band. You gained’t get built-in GPS, contactless funds, or digital assistants. Nonetheless, what it lacks in smarts it makes up for with Fitbit’s superior sleep monitoring, stress administration options, and irregular coronary heart charge notifications. The OLED show can be a step up from the Encourage 2’s monochrome display screen, and you continue to get 10 days of battery life. (Although it’s extra like two to a few in case you allow the always-on show.)

The Encourage 3 has a wide range of equipment, together with a clip attachment if you wish to observe steps discreetly. There’s even a gold or silver mesh strap if you wish to costume it up a bit.

To be trustworthy, the Encourage 3 and Luxe are fairly related, and so they’re usually across the similar worth. It’ll boil down as to if you suppose the Luxe’s nicer case is price buying and selling half the battery life for — the Luxe will get an estimated 5 days as a substitute of 10.

Greatest Fitbit health tracker

The Cost collection has at all times been well-liked, and the $159.95 Cost 6 is not any exception. It’s Fitbit’s higher-end health band however simply competes with the dearer Versa 4 on options. It contains a coloration OLED display screen plus an EKG and EDA sensor. You additionally get built-in GPS, NFC funds, and SpO2 sensors — the one factor you’re actually lacking is a digital assistant.

The one qualm we have now with the Cost 6 is the always-on show. Whereas it’s stunning, it’s a significant battery drain. The Cost 6 has an estimated seven days of battery life, however that dwindles all the way down to about two when you’ve got the always-on show enabled. This is identical problem that we had with the Cost 5, however it’s pretty typical for Fitbit trackers nowadays.

Altogether, although, you’re getting a hell of so much for the worth. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable yow will discover for below $200, and the one different Fitbits able to EKG and EDA readings are the Sense, Sense 2, and the Pixel Watch 2. So except you’re lifeless set on the smartwatch type issue, the Cost 6 is the higher total deal.

In comparison with its predecessor, the Cost 6 additionally provides an improved coronary heart charge algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with some gymnasium tools, and some apps — particularly Google Maps, Google Pockets, and YouTube Music. Whereas YouTube Music works nicely, I’m not stoked that it requires an extra $11 month-to-month subscription. That stated, it’s higher than nothing, as Fitbit discontinued onboard music some time again.

When it comes to {hardware}, the Cost 6 additionally contains a haptic button as a substitute of an inductive groove. It’s not a bodily button, which is a bit disappointing, however it’s extra dependable to date than the inductive groove, so I might depend this as a internet optimistic.

You might technically get the Cost 5 at a reduction. Nonetheless, I’d solely try this if it’s considerably cheaper and worth is your essential consideration. The haptic button, whereas not what I wished, is much better than the inductive groove and you’ve got extra app choices. Flip-by-turn navigation can be helpful for walks, and it a minimum of gives some type of music playback.

The $179.99 Fitbit Ace LTE isn’t actually a conventional health tracker, although it does observe lively minutes. As a substitute, it’s a smartwatch with a mixture of kid-friendly video games and actions and considerate, family-oriented communication options. It’s a walled backyard, however an cute one.

As a substitute of rigorously monitoring well being stats, the Ace LTE tracks “lively minutes,” which fill a cute progress meter known as a Noodle that runs across the face of the watch. Energetic minutes earn time with the Ace LTE’s built-in video games that, mixed with actions, unlock customizations to your child’s avatar (known as an Eejie) that lives within the watch, in addition to its little home. You can too unlock totally different video games and digital gadgets by connecting totally different watch straps.

With a $10/month subscription, you get real-time location monitoring and each voice and textual content messaging to preselected contacts via the Fitbit Ace app (somewhat than the usual messaging and telephone apps). As of November 2024, that features different relations with Ace LTE watches, in addition to a household group chat between dad and mom and children.

I like that the Ace LTE is constructed extra like a cross-platform smartwatch for adults than different child watches we’ve used, just like the plasticky Garmin Bounce. It makes use of the identical charger because the Pixel Watch 3, and will get a couple of day’s price of battery on a cost. My youngsters take pleasure in it however aren’t obsessive about it — although they’ve been recognized to run laps up and down the hallway to earn extra recreation time.

Google says the Ace LTE is greatest fitted to youngsters aged 7 to 11, and that sounds proper. My oldest is 10 now, and she or he’s been utilizing an Ace LTE for a couple of yr. As soon as she hits center faculty, I believe she’ll be pissed off that she will’t use it to speak to her pals. However for now it’s nice. We not too long ago obtained one for our 8-year-old, and it’s wild that they will textual content one another from their watches. It additionally means my 8-year-old can spam the group chat with emoji, however that’s high-quality too.

— Nathan Edwards, senior opinions editor

Must you even purchase a Fitbit proper now?

Fitbit formally turned a part of Google in 2021. Nothing modified in a single day, however technically, it’s Fitbit by Google now. The Fitbit-to-Google migration began in earnest in the summertime of 2023, and new customers shall be requested to log into Fitbit utilizing their Google accounts. In 2025, this shall be obligatory for everybody. In February 2023, Google angered longtime Fitbit customers by shuttering longtime social options like Challenges and eradicating step streaks. (Step streaks have since been added again and expanded to Android.) In the meantime, the Versa 4 and Sense 2 weren’t as feature-rich at launch in comparison with their predecessors, main some to really feel that Google purposefully did this to place the highlight on its Pixel Watch. There have been additionally a number of main server outages in 2023.

There’s some pressure right here and the way forward for Fitbit {hardware} is murky. Particularly given the truth that Google laid off a couple of thousand workers from its {hardware} departments spanning Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. In the event you’re shopping for a tracker for the primary time and need it to final you some time, it’d make extra sense to go for a Garmin or Amazfit tracker. Equally, in case you’re trying to improve to an older Versa or Sense smartwatch, you may wish to see the place the mud settles. Nonetheless, if you recognize you desire a Fitbit, then go forward. In the event you’re not in a rush or are undecided, now shouldn’t be a nasty time to take a seat again and observe.

Replace, July seventh: Added Fitbit Ace LTE as greatest Fitbit for teenagers, changing Fitbit Ace 3. Adjusted pricing and availability.