The Best Smartwatches And Fitness Trackers For You

A smartwatch or a fitness tracker, or both? Today, many smartwatches double as fitness trackers and there are a lot of models for you to choose, varying across different segments and price ranges. But at this time, these are the best offerings you can get for yourself.

The best all-around: Apple Watch Series 4

The Series 4 is undoubtedly the pick for those who want the best device, but of course, it comes with a corresponding price, ranging from Rs 28,605 to Rs 107,269. It’s stylish enough for a night hang out and still durable enough to accompany its owner during workouts.

If you prioritize health features, the Series 4 tracks your activities accurately. Meanwhile, in medical terms, it has got FDA approval for taking ECG readings. In addition, the Watch Series 4 offers the LTE option for separate connectivity with the ability to survive the pool, stream music, and it’s compatible with Apple Pay. And just like with any Apple product, you will get seamless, intuitive experience.

However, if you can also go with Android, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is a great alternative at half the price (Rs 14,303). Its battery can last two days and it just looks gorgeous on your wrist. The watch is better at tracking general activities rather than in-depth metrics, but most users won’t have a problem with that.

At Rs 21,453 – Rs 25,029, you can get the Galaxy Watch with a larger battery lasting 3 to 5 days, along with the standalone LTE.

The best fitness smartwatch: Polar Vantage M

At only Rs 20,023, you will get a device that can survive a week on a single charge, featuring precise built-in GPS and providing excellent data on your heart rate. Pairing with the Polar Flow app, the watch will give you in-depth training metrics, help you easily and deeply understand each of the workouts contributes to your entire progress.

Besides, its transflective display helps you see things clearly in case you’re outside. It lacks music storage and NFC payments but it shows notifications and tracks sleeps.

In addition to the Polar Vantage M, you can also consider the Fitbit Ionic, which delivers decent fitness values. This device costs Rs 19,308, offering a 7-day battery life, on-wrist workouts, built-in GPS, NFC payment, and onboard music storage. This is also a great companion for outdoor runners because it automatically stops at stoplights. Its platform, however, won’t provide as much insight as the Garmin or Polar and there are not as many apps for you as on the Watch Series.

The best Android-friendly smartwatch: Fossil Sport

There are many Wear OS watches on the market, but the Fossil Sport is probably the best offering. Packing the Snapdragon 3100 processor inside, the watch well delivers notifications and tracks activities. Though it has a short battery life, the Fossil Sport comes with rapid charging. And you can choose from 28 straps to fit your own style.

Besides, also consider the Fitbit Versa, which is stylish, delivers notifications, and tracks casual fitness quite well. Its price is only Rs 14,303 and it works with Android smartphones. Its app portfolio is limited but still meets your basic needs.

The best hybrid smartwatch: Garmin Vivomove HR

If you care about the look and need only basic functionality rather than advanced features, this watch is worth considering.

As a hybrid watch, the Garmin Vivomove HR packs solid fitness tracking as well as basic notifications in its analog design. Its battery life is not really good either. Due to the requirement for red pulse oximeter LEDs, the device may lack the latest metrics Garmin tracks, but it does offer all the detailed exercise metrics such as average pace and cadence. Also, it lets you track exotic activities such as snowshoeing.

Another good choice for this category is the Misfit Path, which is stylish with the appearance of a traditional watch. Its price is extremely affordable, Rs 10,727 and there’s no need to charge it. While the Misfit Path lacks the touch screen, it buzzes each time there’s a notification. And though it doesn’t show notifications, you are able to assign the device to correspond with the most frequent apps or contacts. For instance, when the watch buzzes and its hands move to the 3 o’clock position, it means a certain person is calling.

The best non-wrist tracker: Motiv Ring

This one will now display notifications, but as a minimalist ring that acts a fitness tracker, we can give it a pass. The Motiv Ring tracks your heart rate, active minutes, and steps. With a recent update, the device now offers biometric two-factor authentication.

If you're into the minimalist vibe, also consider the Oura Ring that tracks your activity and sleep.

The most affordable fitness tracker: Fitbit Inspire HR

You don’t have to pay much for this device, just Rs 7,151. However, this fitness tracker still offers quite the same tracking benefits as a Watch Series, including smartphone notifications, five-day battery life, and continuous heart rate monitoring. While its design is not really sleek, you can swap out the bands whenever you want a classier look.

If you really don’t want to spend, consider the Inspire, which costs Rs 5,005. Another option is the Garmin Vivosmart 4, at Rs 9,296, whose screen interface is wonky and you cannot swap straps, probably a frustration during workouts. But it offers almost the same features as well as stress tracking and good battery life.

Another option for you to choose is the Charge 3 from Fitbit, at Rs 10,727, which is a solid device in this segment with connected GPS through the phone and a water-resistant design. Additionally, with apps on a monochrome OLED display, you may sometimes forget if it’s a smartwatch or a tracker.