Finest Fitbit health trackers and watches in 2025

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In 2025, you may surprise if Fitbit remains to be related. Regardless of getting acquired by Google, Fitbit stays one of the vital recognizable names within the trade. Fitbit trackers aren’t meant for probably the most hardcore of athletes, however they’re nonetheless wonderful units for monitoring general exercise in addition to monitoring sure well being and wellness metrics like EKGs and blood oxygen ranges.

That mentioned, this can be a transitional interval from the Fitbit of outdated to no matter Fitbit might be sooner or later. 2023, specifically, was a messy 12 months. There have been a number of Fitbit server outages, and I wasn’t impressed with the choice to sundown legacy neighborhood options like challenges or the truth that all Fitbit accounts will quickly require you to log in by way of Google. Talking of which, the Fitbit-to-Google account migration began in 2023 and is required when you purchase newer merchandise just like the Fitbit Cost 6 or Google Pixel Watch 3. The Fitbit app additionally received a brand new, extra Google-like makeover, which didn’t go over properly 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 corporate as roughly a thousand Google staff had been laid off.

You’ll be able to take a look at how Google has dealt with the Nest acquisition as a street 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 reasonably priced, particularly since they typically go on sale. All of the units 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 substitute choices. You simply need to go in with eyes broad open.

In case you’re not lifeless set on a Fitbit specifically, take a look at our information to one of the best health trackers and watches.

The existence of the Pixel Watch, now in its third technology, 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 major replace over its predecessors. It lastly appears like Google’s now not taking part in catch-up to its rivals. This 12 months, 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 12 months, although the third-gen machine has an extremely wideband chip that lets you unlock Pixel telephones and a few BMW automobile fashions.

It’s received 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 seems to be like a watch, not a tracker dressed up as one. The show is a bit fragile for our style, however as 2023, you may get a Most popular Care prolonged guarantee within the US and Canada. That is one purpose we suggest the Pixel Watch 3 over the unique since not less than you’ve a extra reasonably priced fallback ought to one thing occur to your show. Google additionally introduced an choice the place you’ll be able to skip buyer help and mail in damaged, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch units for discounted replacements.

As for health options, the Pixel Watch 3 is a lot better for runners than it was. It features a new operating dashboard, superior type analytics, customized operating exercises, and even AI-generated exercise options. It’s additionally launched a brand new metric known 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 companies in your behalf. The characteristic isn’t out there but within the US, although, as FDA clearance remains to be pending.

Moreover, Google has strengthened the watch’s integrations with its personal companies in addition to different Pixel units. As an illustration, you’ve offline Google Maps and a Google Residence 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 file audio with the Recorder app and switch it to your telephone. With Name Help, you should utilize your watch to inform anybody calling you want an additional second to choose up the telephone.

If all you need is a health tracker that appears like a smartwatch, you’ll be able to 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, properly, impressed. However the $99.95 Encourage 3 is totally different. With a colour OLED show, it’s paying homage to the Fitbit Luxe of 2021, solely with a matte black plastic case as a substitute of a metallic one. It’s an amazing throwback to traditional Fitbits for individuals who solely need the fundamentals.

The Encourage 3 doesn’t overcomplicate issues. It’s a health band. You gained’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 charge notifications. The OLED show can also be a step up from the Encourage 2’s monochrome display, and you continue to get 10 days of battery life. (Although it’s extra like two to 3 when you allow the always-on show.)

The Encourage 3 has quite a lot 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 gown it up a bit.

To be sincere, the Encourage 3 and Luxe are fairly related, they usually’re typically across the similar worth. It’ll boil down as to whether you suppose the Luxe’s nicer case is value 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 collection has all the time been fashionable, 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 encompasses a colour OLED display 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 serious battery drain. The Cost 6 has an estimated seven days of battery life, however that dwindles right down to about two in case you have the always-on show enabled. This is similar difficulty that we had with the Cost 5, nevertheless it’s pretty typical for Fitbit trackers nowadays.

Altogether, although, you’re getting a hell of quite a bit for the value. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable you will discover 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 until you’re lifeless set on the smartwatch type issue, the Cost 6 is the higher general deal.

In comparison with its predecessor, the Cost 6 additionally provides an improved coronary heart charge algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with some health club gear, and some apps — specifically Google Maps, Google Pockets, and YouTube Music. Whereas YouTube Music works properly, I’m not stoked that it requires an extra $11 month-to-month subscription. That mentioned, it’s higher than nothing, as Fitbit discontinued onboard music some time again.

By way of {hardware}, the Cost 6 additionally encompasses a haptic button as a substitute of an inductive groove. It’s not a bodily button, which is a bit disappointing, nevertheless it’s extra dependable to date than the inductive groove, so I might depend this as a internet constructive.

You could possibly technically get the Cost 5 at a reduction. Nonetheless, I’d solely do this if it’s considerably cheaper and worth is your important consideration. The haptic button, whereas not what I wished, is much better than the inductive groove and you’ve got extra app choices. Flip-by-turn navigation can also be helpful for walks, and it not less than presents 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 a substitute, 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 cute one.

As a substitute of rigorously monitoring well being stats, the Ace LTE tracks “energetic minutes,” which fill a cute progress meter known as a Noodle that runs across the face of the watch. Lively minutes earn time with the Ace LTE’s built-in video games that, mixed with actions, unlock customizations in your child’s avatar (known as an Eejie) that lives within the watch, in addition to its little home. You can even 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 way of the Fitbit Ace app (relatively than the usual messaging and telephone apps). As of November 2024, that features different relations 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 few day’s value 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 fitted to youngsters aged 7 to 11, and that sounds proper. My oldest is 10 now, and she or he’s been utilizing an Ace LTE for a few 12 months. As soon as she hits center faculty, I feel she’ll be annoyed that she will be able to’t use it to speak to her buddies. However for now it’s nice. We lately received 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 advantageous too.

— Nathan Edwards, senior evaluations 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 might be requested to log into Fitbit utilizing their Google accounts. In 2025, this might be necessary for everybody. In February 2023, Google angered longtime Fitbit customers by shuttering longtime social options like Challenges and eradicating step streaks. (Step streaks have since been added again 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 a few thousand staff from its {hardware} departments spanning Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. In case 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, when you’re trying to improve to an older Versa or Sense smartwatch, you may wish to see the place the mud settles. Nonetheless, if you realize you desire a Fitbit, then go forward. In case you’re not in a rush or are undecided, now just isn’t 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.