From elite athletes, to new moms, to active seniors, and beyond— you want a gadget that helps you reach your goals and helps keep 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 Working Out & Athletes
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 fitness buffs and athletes:
- Lightweight, corrosion-resistant, ultra-strong titanium case that stands up to the harshest conditions
- Super bright, always‑on retina display (3000 nits)
- Dual-frequency GPS for unmatched accuracy
- ECG, high/low heart rate, irregular rhythm and low cardio notifications, temperature sensing, period/ovulation cycle, and more.
- 100m water resistant, high-speed water sports, recreational scuba dive to 40m
- Precision dual-frequency GPS
- 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 tracking
- Battery: Up to 36 hours
Android users: Galaxy Watch6 (Classic)
Boasting 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:
- Fitness tracking with personalized HR zones, heart monitoring & irregular heart rhythm notifications, monthly period, ovulation cycle and fertility windows
- Body composition analysis (BIA)
- Improved sensor accuracy, fall detection
- Advanced sleep coaching
- IP68 water & dust resistance
- Battery: Up to 40 hours
Our Best Fitness Watch for Newbies
iPhone users: Apple Watch Series 9
If cliff hanging isn’t your thing and you don’t need something quite as rugged as the aforementioned Apple option, this one’s for you. It lets you track your activities and reach your basic 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:
- Always-on retina display (2000 nits)
- ECG, high/low heart rate, irregular rhythm, low cardio notifications, temperature sensing, cycle/ovulation tracking
- Emergency SOS, international emergency calling, fall/crash detection
- 50m water resistant
- Battery: Up to 18 hours
Android users: Google Pixel Watch 2
Featuring Custom 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and an oh-so-sleek design, this fitness watch won’t disappoint. Plus, since Fitbit is now under the Google umbrella, you’ll get all the Fitbit-friendly perks you need to get moving and reach your goals. Here’s a quick overview:
- Always-on display with customizable watch face
- Precise tracking of heart rate, skin temperature, and signs of stress
- On-wrist tools (and Fitbit app tools) like guided breathing sessions
- Pace- and heart-zone training to track zones and get feedback
- Safety check (set the timer and share your location with emergency contacts)
- Battery: Up to 24 hours
Our Best Fitness Tracker for Seniors
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, while also encouraging an active lifestyle! The SyncUP KIDS Watch has healthy-living tools and tracking capabilities built in, plus it's durable and boasts customizable characters and themes that kids will love. Just download the SyncUP KIDS app (from the App Store or Google Play) to get a new level of connectivity. Here are just a few things it offers:
- Step counter that lets you set daily step goals, tasks, reminders and rewards for your kids
- Splash-friendly and water-resistant design
- Long-lasting battery
- 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
As you can see, each of these smartwatches is more-than capable of helping you (and your loved ones!) stay connected 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#section2