Finest Fitbit health trackers and watches in 2025

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In 2025, you would possibly 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 probably the most hardcore of athletes, however they’re nonetheless wonderful gadgets for monitoring total exercise in addition to monitoring sure well being and wellness metrics like EKGs and blood oxygen ranges.

That stated, it is a transitional interval from the Fitbit of outdated to no matter Fitbit will probably be sooner or later. 2023, particularly, was a messy yr. There have been a number of Fitbit server outages, and I wasn’t impressed with the choice to sunset legacy community features like challenges or the truth that all Fitbit accounts will quickly require you to log in via Google. Talking of which, the Fitbit-to-Google account migration started in 2023 and is required if you happen to purchase newer merchandise just like the Fitbit Cost 6 or Google Pixel Watch 3. The Fitbit app additionally bought a new, more Google-like makeover, which didn’t go over nicely with many customers. (Google has since made changes based mostly on suggestions.) And in 2024, a lot of Fitbit’s management, together with co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman, left the company as roughly a thousand Google employees had been laid off.

You’ll be able to have 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 inexpensive, particularly since they typically go on sale. All of the gadgets 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. To date, it seems Google takes its Pixel Watch lineup critically, too. With the Pixel Watch 2, the corporate expanded prolonged guarantee entry and improved replacement options. You simply must go in with eyes vast open.

In the event you’re not useless set on a Fitbit particularly, take a look at our guide to the best fitness trackers and watches.

The existence of the Pixel Watch, now in its third era, 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 all the 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 big replace over its predecessors. It lastly seems like Google’s now not enjoying catch-up to its rivals. This yr, the screens are brighter, the bezels are smaller, and there’s now a 45mm dimension for bigger wrists. The bigger dimension doesn’t look chunky, both. Internally, the processor and well being sensors are the identical as final yr, although the third-gen machine has an extremely wideband chip that means that you can unlock Pixel telephones and a few BMW automotive fashions.

It’s bought the identical lovely design with a round domed show that appears far more elegant than the squircle Versa or Sense smartwatches ever did. In your wrist, it appears 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 well-liked Care prolonged guarantee within the US and Canada. That is one purpose we advocate the Pixel Watch 3 over the unique since no less than you have got a extra inexpensive fallback ought to one thing occur to your show. Google additionally introduced an choice the place you may skip buyer help and mail in broken, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch gadgets for discounted replacements.

As for health options, the Pixel Watch 3 is significantly better for runners than it was once. It features a new operating dashboard, superior type analytics, customized operating exercises, and even AI-generated exercise strategies. It’s additionally launched a brand new metric referred to as Cardio Load, which measures the depth of your exercises and suggests a goal based mostly in your health targets. It’s conceptually just like Garmin’s Coaching Load. The Each day Readiness Rating has additionally been revamped and is now 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 providers in your behalf. The characteristic isn’t accessible but within the US, although, as FDA clearance continues to be pending.

Moreover, Google has strengthened the watch’s integrations with its personal providers in addition to different Pixel gadgets. As an example, you have got offline Google Maps and a Google Dwelling Tile. You’ll be able to view your Nest Doorbell digital camera feed or management your Google TV out of your wrist, and there’s additionally the choice to report audio with the Recorder app and switch it to your telephone. With Name Help, you should 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 may contemplate the $229 Versa 4 because it’s the extra budget-friendly choice. However there’s no actual level within the Sense 2 because the Pixel Watch 3 can do all the identical issues — and extra.

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

The Encourage 3 doesn’t overcomplicate issues. It’s a health band. You received’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 fee 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 3 if you happen to 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, they usually’re typically across the similar value. It’ll boil down as to if you assume 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.

Finest Fitbit health tracker

The Cost sequence has all the time 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 costlier Versa 4 on options. It includes 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 now have with the Cost 6 is the always-on show. Whereas it’s lovely, it’s a significant battery drain. The Cost 6 has an estimated seven days of battery life, however that dwindles right down to about two if in case you have the always-on show enabled. This is identical problem that we had with the Cost 5, however it’s pretty typical for Fitbit trackers as of late.

Altogether, although, you’re getting a hell of rather a lot for the value. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable you could find for beneath $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 useless 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 fee algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with some fitness center tools, and some apps — specifically Google Maps, Google Pockets, and YouTube Music. Whereas YouTube Music works nicely, I’m not stoked that it requires a further $11 month-to-month subscription. That stated, it’s higher than nothing, as Fitbit discontinued onboard music some time again.

By way of {hardware}, the Cost 6 additionally includes 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 rely this as a web constructive.

You might technically get the Cost 5 at a reduction. Nonetheless, I’d solely try this if it’s considerably cheaper and value is your foremost consideration. The haptic button, whereas not what I needed, is much better than the inductive groove and you’ve got extra app choices. Flip-by-turn navigation can be useful for walks, and it no less than gives some type of music playback.

The $179.99 Fitbit Ace LTE isn’t actually a conventional health tracker, although it does observe energetic minutes. As an alternative, 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 lovable one.

As an alternative of rigorously monitoring well being stats, the Ace LTE tracks “energetic minutes,” which fill a cute progress meter referred to 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 in your child’s avatar (referred to as an Eejie) that lives within the watch, in addition to its little home. It’s also possible to unlock totally different video games and digital objects 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 by the Fitbit Ace app (slightly than the usual messaging and telephone apps). As of November 2024, that features different members of the family 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 get pleasure from it however aren’t obsessive about it — although they’ve been identified to run laps up and down the hallway to earn extra recreation time.

Google says the Ace LTE is finest suited to youngsters aged 7 to 11, and that sounds proper. My oldest is 10 now, and he or she’s been utilizing an Ace LTE for a couple of yr. As soon as she hits center faculty, I feel she’ll be annoyed that she will’t use it to speak to her pals. However for now it’s nice. We lately bought 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 wonderful too.

— Nathan Edwards, senior critiques editor

Must you even purchase a Fitbit proper now?

Fitbit formally grew to become 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 will probably be requested to log into Fitbit utilizing their Google accounts. In 2025, this will probably be necessary for everybody. In February 2023, Google angered longtime Fitbit users by shuttering longtime social features like Challenges and eradicating step streaks. (Step streaks have since been added back 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 about a thousand employees 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, if you happen to’re trying to improve to an older Versa or Sense smartwatch, you would possibly need to see the place the mud settles. Nonetheless, if you realize you need a Fitbit, then go forward. In the event you’re not in a rush or are undecided, now will not be a foul time to sit down again and observe.

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