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Every active person these days likes to know where they stand with their health and fitness. There are a ton of fitness trackers and smartwatches for us to choose from. Some of the best ones that come to mind are the Apple Watch Series 5, the Samsung Galaxy Watch, or a FitBit, and that’s for a good reason.
However, there are plenty of other options that may be the best one for you depending on what you need. In this list, we are going to break down the best activity watches on the market in 2021.
View The Best Activity Watches Below
1. Xiaomi Mi Band 4
The Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is a slick and stylish tracker that comes with a ton of handy features for activity seekers. Whether you’re running, working out, swimming, or you just want some basic health monitoring, this Xiaomi Band 4 was built for all of it.
It comes with a heart rate monitor with alerts, and sleep tracking. It’s water-resistant up to 50 meters and is lightweight enough that you won’t notice it on your wrist when working out or being active.
The screen has a large display and is enough to show a good amount of texts before you need to scroll down to continue reading. There are two versions of this watch, the international and the Chinese version. So when buying, make sure you’re getting the right language so you can get past the setup screen.
It has an impressive battery, as it can last for up to 20 days without needing to be charged. It may not be the most durable watch you’ll find for hardcore activities, but it’s comfortable enough and it’s reasonably priced. It may be a good introduction activity watch if you’re looking to try one out.
Pros:
+ Large display screen
+ Lightweight and comfortable
+ Health monitoring
+ Water-resistant
+ 20-day battery life
Cons:
– Not the most durable
– Need to make sure you get the right version
Why We Like It – As far as a beginner activity watch goes, the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 is a decent choice given its affordability and basic functions. For fitness tracking, while you’re working out, along with messaging, and a comfortable fit, this would be a good budget option.
2. LETSCOM Smart Activity Tracking Pedometer
If you want a fitness tracker and smartwatch without spending a ton of money, the LETSCOM smart activity watch is a reliable choice. It has a large display screen and a single button navigation formula which is easy to use and simple. You can receive messages and calls on your watch and connect it to your phone.
This smart activity tracker has a lot of features that you want in a smartwatch including a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, a pedometer, calorie counter, built-in GPS, and a ton of useful alarms and stopwatch capabilities for your workouts.
It’s reasonably priced and offers a stylish yet comfortable fit, along with durability which will help it last through a variety of workouts for an extended period of time. It has a battery life that’s substantial enough so that you don’t need to worry about charging it all the time. You only need to charge it every 10 days for about 2.5 hours before you get another week and a half of juice. On standby mode, it will last for up to 45 days.
For the money, LETSCOM may be one of the better options as an affordable fit watch that lets you handle all your messages without using your phone.
Pros:
+ Fitness tracking
+ Long battery life
+ Built-in GPS
+ Affordable
+ Large display screen
Cons:
– Slightly less durable
Why We Like It – LETSCOM makes a lot of reliable and affordable entry-level products. Their smart activity watch is no exception and it is an excellent choice for someone who’s looking to buy their first, or a complimentary smartwatch, for fitness tracking and health monitoring.
3. L8star Fitness and Activity Tracker
The L8star Fitness and Activity Tracker is highly comparable to the first two options on our list. It has all of the necessary features that you would want in a fitness watch without being super expensive.
It has a lot of features that make it great for workouts and overall health tracking. A heart rate monitor, sleep tracking, built-in GPS, pedometer, calorie counter and more. It also has a remote camera operator so you can take pictures without being at the helm of your camera.
It comes with a bright 1.3″ display which is larger than the industry standard. That will make reading messages and checking your data much easier. It has an impressive 30-day battery life and charges up within a little over an hour before it’s ready to go again.
It fits into the budget-friendly category for fitness trackers and smartwatches, which makes it another great option for someone’s first activity watch purchase.
Pros:
+ Large display
+ Fitness and sleep tracker
+ GPS
+ Great battery life
+ Stylish and comfortable
Cons:
– No music control center
– Sometimes it’s finicky with setting adjustments
Why We Like It – This tracker is kind of like a Fitbit, Samsung Galaxy Watch and an Apple Watch Series 5 combined into one without paying the high-ticket price tag. It has a ton of handy features, and it’s comfortable enough and looks pretty good. It’s a great purchase for the price.
4. Fitbit Versa 2 Health & Fitness Smartwatch
Along with the Apple Watch Series (including the Series 5), the Fitbit was one of the first smartwatches to be designed specifically for fitness and health monitoring. So far, we have mostly been focusing on the best fitness watches in the budget category. The Fitbit Versa 2 Health& Fitness Smartwatch isn’t in the budget category, but you might be surprised that they are not priced astronomically either.
The Fitbit Versa 2 comes with a ton of features that will make it stand out among most of the competition. It’s basically a smartphone on your wrist. It’s Alexa enabled, compatible with Spotify and Apple Music, and Pandora if you live in the US.
A large display screen with brighter and deeper colors lets you check all of your messages, calls, emails, weather, and much more. It has impressive sleep monitoring, letting you know your sleep quality based on the heart rate monitor. It can even measure your REM sleep cycles.
It’s exceptionally comfortable, and a little more attractive than many other smartwatches. If you’re looking for a fitness tracker to go above and beyond and provide you with a ton of fun and useful features, this Fitbit may be the right way to go.
Other Fitbit trackers include The Fitbit Inspire, (and Fitbit Inspire HR), the Fitbit Charge, and Fitbit Charge 3. Different Fitbits look different and do different things. For example, the Fitbit Inspire HR and Fitbit Charge 3 may look similar, but they do differ.
For example, the Fitbit Charge 3 has a higher battery life at seven days, whereas the Fitbit Inspire HR averages on 5. The Inspire HR is slimmer, too. Keep this in mind if you decide to shop for a Fitbit.
Pros:
+ Heart rate monitor and sleep tracking
+ Bright and clear display screen
+ Compatible with various music streaming sources
+ Comfortable, lightweight, and durable
+ Loads of useful features
Cons:
– Higher price
Why We Like It – A Fitbit is an excellent investment for anyone looking for the best fitness watch. It was originally designed to track your health and fitness habits. It also provides all of the things you want in a smartwatch such as messaging, calls, and music navigation.
5. Letsfit Smart Watch Fitness Tracker
The Letsfit Smartwatch is another budget-friendly fitness tracker that has all of the necessary features you want. It will count your calories, steps, workout effectiveness, and much more. The heart rate monitor can keep track of your heart rate for 24 hours when you’re working out or when you’re sedentary.
It has a sleep tracker that’s on par with most other fitness watches, so you can make the necessary tweaks to your sleeping pattern if you’re not quite getting the quality you need. Unlike some of the other budget smartwatches, it has a music control center where you can listen to your favorite pump-up tunes.
An IPX8 waterproof rating will allow you to keep it on when you’re showering or working out in the rain. The battery life is pretty impressive, boasting 10-days of life easily. All it needs is a quick charge to get it back to full steam. As far as many of its owners are concerned, this may be one of the best fitness watches for the money spent.
You can change the faces and skins to your specific style requirements, so you don’t have to settle for the typical smartwatch style digital face. You can switch between analog or digital, or download your own customized faces as well.
Pros:
+ Excellent battery life
+ Heart rate and sleep tracker
+Lightweight and comfortable fit
+ All expected smartwatch features
+ Affordable
Cons:
– Not the most attractive display in comparison to others.
Why We Like It – The customization features are really nice. It’s also durable and water-resistant, so you can get it wet without having to worry about anything. It looks great and does everything you would want your Fitbit or Apple Watch to do.
6. YAMAY Smart Watch
The Yamay Smartwatch is very similar to many others in the budget category, but it has a few more features than you may expect. It’s also quite comfortable and stylish, not unlike the Fitbit Versa 2. The band is made of smooth and comfortable silicone instead of resin which is a cheaper, but widely used material for smartwatch bands.
You can set your alarms and notifications on your phone. Once you sync up your watch with the app, it will buzz right on your wrist instead of only on your phone. It has all the messaging and phone call capabilities that you’d want from a smartwatch.
It has exceptional fitness tracking capabilities. With 14 workout modes, it will accurately send you information based on the type of workout you’re doing. An IPX8 waterproof rating and a 50-meter water-resistance depth will let you sweat as hard as you need to, without damaging the casing.
It comes with a bright and large display, like any good fitness tracker, so you won’t have to strain at all to check the heart rate monitor, sleep information, messages, or other info. It’s fairly priced and would make an excellent choice for anyone’s first smartwatch or fitness tracker.
Pros:
+ Comfortable silicone band
+ Bright and large display
+ 7-10 day battery life
+ Sleep tracking
+ IPX8 Waterproof
Cons:
– Learning curve
– Need to hook up to the app
Why We Like It – Ths smartwatch comes with more features than you expect for the money you pay. It has a reliable battery life and is a fairly attractive looking watch for all of your activity tracking, no matter what type of workout you’re in the middle of.
7. HalfSun Fitness and Activity Watch
HalfSun is another excellent choice for an affordable yet fully loaded fitness tracker. It may be one of the best products for activity tracking in this exact price range. Along with most of the other watches we’ve talked about so far, it has a ton of smartwatch features that you may not expect.
It has a 1.3″ display screen with a bright and clear font. It comes with a heart rate monitor, a sleep tracker, messaging and call alerts, easy-to-use intuitive setup, and a comfortable fit. One thing it has that many other fitness trackers don’t have is a blood pressure monitor. This additional feature is just another way to make sure you’re getting the most out of your health and fitness tracker.
When you go for a run or a bike, or a swim, you can switch between the various sport modes to achieve accurate information about your workouts. It has an IPX7 waterproof rating as well, which will let you get it wet without worrying about damage.
Also, a built-in GPS can track your route on a run and send it to your smartphone when you’re done. It has a respectable battery life of 3-5 days with a quick charge to get it back up and running.
Pros:
+ Good battery life
+ Comfortable
+ Tons of fitness tracking features
+ Blood pressure monitor
+ Affordable
Cons:
– Finicky app connection
Why We Like It – The additional features, like the blood pressure monitor, will make it stand out among the competition. It’s easily affordable and does everything else that you’d want a fitness tracker for. It is, perhaps, one of the best options for the money.
8. FITFORT Activity Tracker Watch
Probably the most budget-friendly option on our list, the FITFORT is a great option for all of your fitness tracking needs. It comes with a calorie counter, pedometer, heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, 14 different workout modes, and an IPX8 waterproof rating.
There’s not a lot that differentiates this watch from many of the other best fitness trackers on our list, but it’s really impressive for the amount of money you’ll spend on it. It has a decent battery life and charges up quickly. It does have a slightly slimmer screen compared to many of the other latest smartwatches which may make it a little tougher to navigate using your fingers.
Overall, it’s a simple and effective budget-friendly option that will keep track of all of your vitals 24 hours a day.
Pros:
+ Decent battery life
+ Budget-friendly
+ Heart rate monitor
+ 14 workout modes
+ GPS
Cons:
– Slimmer screen
Why We Like It – This is a simple yet effective watch that puts it into the category of the best fitness trackers. It’s lightweight and comfortable and you can count on it to keep track of all the info you need when you’re working out, sleeping, or just going through your daily life.
9. Lintelek Fitness Tracker
The Lintelek Fitness tracker is one of the more attractively designed affordable watches on our list. It has every little feature you would want from calorie counting to smartphone notifications. A 1.3″ touch screen LCD touch screen with 2.5D hardness glass makes for a pleasurable navigation experience.
A Nano TPU strap with a matte finish and a convex design allow the watch head and strap to sit comfortably on the wrist without irritation. It also features an IPX8 waterproof rating to keep it safe from any moisture.
Like the best fitness trackers, it will record all of your necessary vitals, and you can choose between the eight sport modes depending on what your favorite thing to do is. The 10-day battery will keep you going after a quick and easy 2-hour charge, so you don’t miss a beat.
It comes with music control, messages, and calling, and even breathing training to help you let go of some of that unwanted stress in your life. It’s delightfully affordable and works with both Android and Apple devices.
Pros:
+ Comfortable and intuitive design
+ GPS tracking
+ 8 sport modes
+ Great battery and quick charge
+ Durable and tough
Cons:
– Need to set up with the app
Why We Like It – The design is what makes this one of the best fitness trackers available. Also, it’s really affordable. You get pretty much everything you need in one smartwatch without paying the price of a Fitbit versa.
10. ANCwear Fitness Tracker Watch
The ANCwear watch is one of the best fitness trackers you can get for this price. It’s lightweight and comfortable, has a heart rate and blood pressure monitor, tracks your sleep and keeps your GPS location available at all times. You can get your smartphone notifications directly on your watch, and it has a nicely visible and easy to read 1.3″ screen.
It’s not a perfectly accurate monitor for your vitals, but for the amount of money it costs, it will give you a fairly reliable idea of where you’re at. You would still need to check in with your doctor for more professional results.
The biggest plus of this watch is the comfort and durability factor. It has a strong enough waterproofing that will allow you to sweat, workout in the rain, or swim without damaging it.
It’s compatible with both Android and Apple devices. For the features, reliability, exceptional comfort, and price, this may be the best option for a budget-friendly activity tracking watch.
Pros:
+ Comfortable fit
+ Super affordable
+ Relatively accurate monitoring info
+ Easy to set-up
+ Decent battery
Cons:
– Some models are defective
Why We Like It – It’s one of the more affordable fitness trackers you will find. It has impressive quality and durability. It’s an excellent option for anyone who is looking for basic fitness information on a day to day basis.
Activity Watch Buyer’s Guide
Special Mentions
Other watches worth looking into, especially if you can afford the higher price tag, including the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. These watches will do everything a fitness tracker will do, but more.
The Apple Watch Series 5 can be paired to your iPhone so, if you like having you phone notifications on your arm, these could be the best for you. The Samsung Galaxy Watch is similar, just with Android. Garmin is also another great brand, particularly as a GPS tracker.
What to Look For in the Best Activity Watches
Features
From going through our list, you can tell that all of the best trackers are going to have similar features. You can spend a little extra money and have more firepower on your wrist for sure, but that may not be 100% necessary. You’ll just have to ask yourself what is most important to you.
You’ll likely need no more than a heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, messaging and call capabilities, GPS, a decent battery life, smartphone notifications, easy-to-use interface, and music control. Those would be some of the basics that you’ll want to make sure you have. If you want a little more under the hood, be prepared to pay for it.
Durability
Since you’re looking for a watch for more than just telling the time, you’ll want to make sure it can handle a little bit of abuse. You can ensure that it will stand up to what you throw at. It should be made out of strong materials, such as stainless steel, resin, silicone, and strong enough glass on the watch face.
Also, a high enough water-resistance rating doesn’t hurt. Anything above IPX6 will likely be fine unless you’re going surfing or diving. In which case, go for something with a little more water-proofing to ensure it will handle the pressure.
Price
Price is important for most people. If you’re not in the tax bracket that can afford the latest and most advanced smartwatch on the market, and most of us aren’t, then you can settle for a lower-priced fitness tracker and still get everything you need.
Luckily, a ton of companies out there are able to provide almost the same level of quality products for a much lower price. Don’t be fooled into thinking that paying a higher price tag for an item automatically makes it better. Check buyer reviews of the products and make your decision based on the information you find.
Style
You want your watch to help you look good right? One of the biggest complaints from people who are looking for a fitness tracker is that they don’t necessarily look that great. A lot of brands have realized this and started to create customizable watch faces for you to choose from.
That means you don’t need to settle for the simple digital display anymore. You can choose from a variety of different models, including analog styled faces, color changes, and themes. The possibilities are endless as long as you have a watch with the built-in capabilities.
User-Friendliness
User-friendliness can be a huge selling point for the best brands. As most fitness tracker watches are made with exactly the same features, one way to stand out from the pack is to make your watch the easiest and the most fun to use.
Again, this is one where you’re going to have to trust other buyers who are commenting on the interfaces. If people are typically saying its a lot of fun to use, then that’s a great sign. If not, then maybe look for your next option.
Battery Life
Nobody wants a watch that can’t last more than a couple of hours or days before needing to be recharged. The better your battery’s life, the less often you’ll need to charge it, and the more you can simply enjoy all of the neat features your watch has. A good battery will give you close to about 10 days when it’s constantly tracking your health and fitness.
Comfort
One thing that may be a little easier to forget is the comfort factor. We get so wrapped in looking for the best features and the coolest gadgets, that sometimes comfort slips our minds. But remember, you’re planning on wearing this watch all the time. The best fitness tracker will be basically unnoticeable on your wrist and you’ll be able to wear it for weeks without needing to take it off.
Even when you’re showering, completing daily chores, and working out, you want to have a comfortable band with a non-irritable watch head that will allow you to forget about it until you need to check your health signs.
Display
It’s nice to have a clear and bright display on a larger screen. Especially as you get older, you’ll want to be able to see all your stats without straining. When you’re working out, you won’t necessarily want to stop what you’re doing to check your stats. A large, bright, easy to navigate display can make all the difference in your user experience for a wide variety of activities.
Warranty
A warranty is really important when it comes to products like fitness trackers or any other device that requires a lot of back end technology. Because there are so many moving parts, you’ll want to make sure you’re covered with a good warranty that can replace or repair your watch if anything goes wrong. Even on some of the best budget-friendly options, a good warranty can help you avoid the hassle of getting something replaced.
Conclusion
Now you’re ready to buy the best fitness tracker for you. As we mentioned above, there are a lot of factors that will go into what makes one the best for you over another. Fitbit style watches (including the Inspire HR and Charge 3) can be a ton of fun to play with and they keep track of your health information. Hopefully, you’ll get the most out of your purchase and you’ll truly get the best results from your new watch.
