Whether you’re an elite athlete, an active senior, a busy parent, or just always on-the-go, you want a gadget that helps you reach your goals and keeps you connected, all in one little wearable package. We've narrowed down our six favorite fitness smartwatches—from basic to all-out-bells-and-whistles—so you can find one that works for you. Let’s go!
Our Best Fitness Watch for Athletes & Water Sports
Lovers
iPhone users: Apple Watch Ultra 2
Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a formidable competitor among smartwatches, working seamlessly with your iPhone and other Apple devices to keep you connected, while offering advanced health and safety features for true athletes of every type, especially outdoor adventurers and extreme water sports enthusiasts. Here’s why we think it’s one of the best workout watches for die-hard fitness buffs, water lovers, and athletes:
- Super bright, always‑on retina display (3000 nits)
- Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, ultra-strong titanium case that stands up to the harshest conditions
- Precision dual-frequency GPS for unmatched accuracy
- Depth app, Oceanic+ app for diving, as well as the Tides app for tracking tides
- 100m water resistance, high-speed water sports, recreational scuba dive to 40m
- Reimagined compass (with details like elevation, incline, longitude, and latitude, 3D waypoint view, and more)
- Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, fall/crash detection, siren
- Sleep apnea notifications and sleep tracking
- Vitals app featuring heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, and sleep duration
- ECG, high/low heart rate, irregular rhythm and low cardio notifications, temperature sensing, period/ovulation cycle, and more.
- Battery: Up to 36 hours
Android users: Galaxy Watch Ultra
Infused with Galaxy AI and boasting a stunning titanium design, rock-hard sapphire crystal glass, a rotating bezel and the biggest viewing screen yet on a Galaxy Watch, Android users (especially Galaxy lovers) will appreciate the seamless connectivity across devices, the super-long-lasting battery, as well as an array of fitness-friendly features. Let’s take a closer look:
- Large, vivid display
- Sleep apnea detection
- Energy score with Galaxy AI (measures your body’s readiness for the day)
- Wellness tips
- Fitness tracking with personalized HR zones, heart monitoring, irregular heart rhythm notifications, monthly cycle tracking and more
- Body composition analysis (BIA)
- Fall detection
- Advanced sleep coaching
- IP68 water & dust resistance
- Battery: Up to 60 hours
Our Best Fitness Watch for Staying On-the-Go
iPhone users: Apple Watch Series 10 (46mm or 42mm)
If cliff hanging and extreme water sports aren’t your thing and you don’t need something quite as rugged as the aforementioned Apple Ultra 2 option, this one’s for you. Not only does it have an easy-to-read, wide-angle, OLED display that’s 40% brighter when viewed from an angle, it’s great for tracking your activities and reaching your fitness goals while staying connected to all your favorite devices. This is a fitness smartwatch with plenty of the features you want, minus the over-the-top stuff you’ll likely never use. Here’s a breakdown:
- Wide-angle, OLED always-on retina display (2000 nits)
- Activity and workout tracking
- ECG, high/low heart rate, irregular rhythm, low cardio notifications, temperature sensing, cycle/ovulation tracking
- Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, fall/crash detection
- Sleep apnea/sleep monitoring
- 50m water resistance
- Battery: Up to 18 hours
Android users: Google Pixel Watch 3 (45mm or 41mm)
Featuring a rich, glanceable screen, and an oh-so-sleek design, this fitness watch won’t disappoint. Plus, it has all you need and more to keep you moving and reach your goals. Here’s a quick overview:
- Large, easy-to-read display (2000 nits)
- Morning Brief that summarizes sleep score, readiness, weather and more
- Precise tracking of heart rate, skin temperature, signs of stress, oxygen saturation (SpO2), ECG app and more
- On-wrist tools like guided breathing sessions
- 40+ exercises
- Custom runs and real-time audio and haptic cues
- Performance, pace- and heart-zone tracking and training
- GPS, fall detection, safety check (set the timer and share your location with emergency contacts)
- Battery: Up to 24 hours
Our Best Fitness Tracker for Seniors
Apple Watch SE - 2nd gen (44mm or 40mm)
If you’re a senior (or know one) who wants an entry-level, yet powerful watch for monitoring sleep, boosting health and tracking activity levels, while also staying safely connected to family, this smartwatch is nice solution! It offers an array of impressive features for a great price, including:
- Heart rate monitoring, steps and activity tracking, sleep stage monitoring
- Fall and crash detection
- Medications app on the watch for tracking/managing meds and vitamins, and sending reminders
- Works with Family Setup, so if you have an older parent, family member or friend, they can call, send messages and share their location with you via the watch, even if they don’t use an iPhone
- Battery: Up to 18 hours
Our Best Fitness Watch and Tracker for Kids
Now you can stay connected with your younger kids and keep them entertained—while also encouraging an active lifestyle! The SyncUP KIDS Watch 2 has healthy-living tools and tracking capabilities built in, not to mention a long-lasting battery, water/dust IP68 rating, as well as a big 1.41" AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3 and built-in screen protector—making it a favorite with parents. Kids will love the customizable characters and themes, the built-in microphone, speakers and Bluetooth capabilities, as well as the dual camera setup (5MP Selfie / 8MP World), perfect for taking selfies or capturing the world around them. Check out the features:
- Step counter that lets you set daily step goals, tasks, reminders and rewards for your kids
- Built-in games for fun and entertainment
- Voice and video calling, texts, and voice messages
- Real-time secure location tracking and virtual boundary alerts
- Unlimited number of parent-approved contacts, including emergency contacts
- Designated emergency call button—reach 911 or parent
- Kids' Line Privacy features1
- 2GB SDRAM / 32GB Storage
- Snapdragon Wear 5100 chipset for powerful performance
- Foldable charging dock, charging cable, nylon (blue) and silicon (black) watch bands (all included)
- International roaming 215+ countries (usage rates may apply)
Use the SyncUP KIDS Watch 2 with the T Life app and experience a new level of connectivity with your kids.
As you can see, each of these smartwatches is more-than capable of helping you (and your loved ones) stay connected and entertained while reaching fitness and health goals. Choosing the right one comes down to your particular needs and lifestyle. Still undecided?
You may also be interested in:
- Smartwatch Deals & Offers
- Fitbit vs. Apple Watch: Which Is Right For You?
- Google Pixel Watch 2 vs. Google Pixel Watch
- Our 10 Best Cell Phones for Seniors
- Stay Connected with the Whole Family
Source:
1. https://www.t-mobile.com/privacy-center/our-practices/childrens-privacy-notice