Shopping for a smartwatch that can actually improve your fitness routine? This guide compares the top performers, breaks down what matters for different activities, and helps you find the right fit for your goals and budget.
We’ve tested leading models including Apple Watch, Garmin, Samsung, Fitbit, and others across running, swimming, strength training, and sleep tracking. Here’s what actually holds up in real-world use.
Our Top Fitness Smartwatch Picks at a Glance
| Smartwatch | Price Range | Battery Life | Water Resistance | GPS | Heart Rate Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Series 10 | $399-$499 | 18 hours | 50m | Yes | Excellent |
| Garmin Forerunner 965 | $699 | 23 days (watch mode) | 5 ATM | Yes | Excellent |
| Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 | $299-$349 | 40 hours | 50m | Yes | Very Good |
| Fitbit Sense 2 | $249 | 6+ days | 5 ATM | Yes | Very Good |
| Google Pixel Watch 3 | $349-$399 | 24 hours | 5 ATM | Yes | Very Good |
| Amazfit Balance | $229 | 14 days | 5 ATM | Yes | Good |
| Whoop 4.0 | $239/yr | 5 days | IP68 | No | Good |
This gives you the quick picture. Let’s get into how we tested and what makes each device worth considering.
How We Test Fitness Smartwatches
We don’t rely on manufacturer claims. Every watch here spent at least two weeks on our wrists during running, lifting, cycling, swimming, and sleep.
Testing Process
Heart Rate Accuracy: We compared smartwatch readings against chest strap monitors during rest, steady-state cardio, and high-intensity intervals. The best devices stayed within 5% of chest strap readings across the board.
GPS Precision: We ran known distances and checked recorded tracks. Some watches use multi-band GPS, which matters if you run in cities with tall buildings or on forested trails.
Battery Life: We tested claimed battery life under real conditions, not lab benchmarks. This means always-on display, GPS tracking sessions, and background sensors all factored in.
Sleep Tracking: We cross-referenced sleep stage detection against professional equipment where possible, focusing on deep sleep, REM, and light sleep accuracy.
What We Prioritize
Our rankings weigh fitness features more than general smartwatch functions:
- Health and workout tracking accuracy: 35%
- Battery life during GPS tracking: 20%
- Software ecosystem and app integration: 15%
- Comfort and wearability: 15%
- Value for money: 15%
Best Overall Fitness Smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10 takes the top spot for most people. It combines solid fitness tracking with the best smartwatch ecosystem, though it requires an iPhone.
Key Specifications
The Series 10 comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes with a thinner design than previous versions. It includes the S10 chip, always-on altimeter, water temperature sensor, and depth gauge for swimming. Battery life is 18 hours—most people charge it nightly.
Fitness Tracking
The Workout app covers over 100 activity types, from running and cycling to rowing, kickboxing, and wheelchair workouts. The watch detects when you start exercising and prompts you to begin tracking.
The Vitals app monitors overnight health metrics including respiratory rate, wrist temperature, blood oxygen, and heart rate variability. Runners get built-in GPS with distance and pace tracking, plus cadence and stride length data.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Best fitness app ecosystem with HealthKit integration; accurate heart rate during most workouts; easy interface; large library of fitness apps; automatic workout detection; sleep tracking works well.
Cons: Battery needs daily charging; only works fully with iPhone; expensive; proprietary charger.
Price and Value
Starting at $399 for the 42mm aluminum case, it’s a premium price. But if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem, the integration with iPhone, Health app, and Apple Fitness+ creates a seamless experience. Android users should look elsewhere—many features don’t work or work poorly with Android phones.
Best Fitness Smartwatch for Running: Garmin Forerunner 965
For serious runners and triathletes, the Garmin Forerunner 965 is in a different league. Garmin built its name on precision GPS sports watches, and this is the best one they’ve made.
Key Specifications
The Forerunner 965 has a 1.4-inch AMOLED display with Gorilla Glass 3. It uses multi-band GPS—the most accurate consumer GPS in a watch—plus barometric altimeter, compass, and gyroscope. Battery life is remarkable: up to 23 days in watch mode, 31 hours with GPS on, and 58 hours in UltraTrac mode with reduced sampling.
Running Features
This watch delivers advanced running dynamics: ground contact time, vertical oscillation, and stride length. PacePro gives grade-adjusted pace guidance for courses, helping you maintain even effort on hills. ClimbPro shows gradient information for upcoming climbs so you can manage effort strategically.
It supports triathlon mode, automatic multisport transitions, and training readiness scores based on sleep, recovery, and training load.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Exceptional GPS accuracy in tough environments; battery that lasts through ultramarathons; detailed running metrics; strong Strava integration; recovery recommendations.
Cons: Expensive at $699; bigger than everyday watches; basic smart features compared to Apple; learning curve for casual users.
Price and Value
At $699, it’s not cheap. But for runners training seriously—especially those racing or prepping for specific events—the GPS accuracy, training insights, and battery reliability justify the cost. Casual walkers or occasional gym-goers won’t need this level of detail.
Best Fitness Smartwatch for Swimming: Apple Watch Series 10
The Apple Watch Series 10 wins for swimming due to its dedicated water features and accurate swim tracking.
Swimming Capabilities
Apple added a water temperature sensor and depth gauge to the Series 10, making it useful for pool and open water swimming. It automatically detects swim workouts and identifies stroke types: freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly. The watch tracks laps, distance, pace, and stroke count accurately.
For open water swimmers, the depth gauge works to 6 meters. Water Lock prevents accidental screen activation underwater. After swimming, the speaker ejects water using sound vibrations.
Workout Ecosystem
Beyond swimming, the watch tracks kayaking, rowing, and surfing. The Workout app includes pool swim and open water swim types with customizable intervals and rest periods.
Water Resistance
Rated to 50 meters (5 ATM), the Series 10 handles swimming pools, showers, and water sports. High-velocity sports like water skiing or diving exceed the rating.
Best Budget Fitness Smartwatch: Amazfit Balance
The Amazfit Balance delivers solid fitness tracking at a fraction of the premium prices—a great choice if you don’t want to spend $400+.
Key Specifications
The Balance has a 1.5-inch AMOLED display, 14-day battery life, dual-band GPS, and over 150 sports modes. It includes optical heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen sensing, stress tracking, and sleep analysis. The watch weighs just 35 grams—comfortable for all-day wear.
Fitness Tracking Performance
Amazfit improved heart rate accuracy significantly in recent years, and the Balance is their best version yet. It tracks running, cycling, swimming, strength training, and more. GPS locks on quickly and stays accurate for a watch in this price range.
The Zepp app provides post-workout analysis, though it’s not as deep as Garmin’s training ecosystem or Apple’s health integration.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Battery lasts 14+ days; affordable at around $229; lightweight and comfortable; good feature set for the price.
Cons: App ecosystem isn’t as polished; some accuracy trade-offs versus premium models; limited smart features on Android; lesser-known brand.
Price and Value
At $229, you get most of the fitness tracking capabilities of watches costing twice as much, with some compromises in precision and ecosystem depth. If you want reliable workout tracking without the premium price, this works well.
Best Premium Fitness Smartwatch: Garmin Fenix 8
The Garmin Fenix 8 is the most capable multisport watch available—no matter the price.
Key Specifications
The Fenix 8 comes in 43mm, 47mm, and 51mm sizes with AMOLED or MIP solar-charging display options. It has multi-band GPS, speaker and microphone for voice commands, topographical maps, and advanced training features. Battery reaches 29 days in watch mode and up to 150 hours in expedition GPS mode with solar charging.
Premium Features
What sets the Fenix 8 apart is its outdoor and training toolkit. It includes topographic maps with trendline popularity routing for trails, surf activity tracking with tide data, and ski resort maps. Training readiness, load focus, and recovery recommendations give professional-level guidance.
Build quality is exceptional—titanium bezel, sapphire crystal, and 10 ATM water resistance handle extreme conditions.
Pros and Cons
Pros: Best GPS accuracy available; incredible battery life; comprehensive sports and outdoor features; premium build; detailed training analytics; maps and navigation.
Cons: Very expensive at $699-$1,299; complex interface; bulkier case; price limits who should consider it.
Price and Value
The Fenix 8 costs $699-$1,000+. For serious athletes, outdoor enthusiasts, and consistent trainers, the features and durability justify it. Everyone else can save money with simpler options.
Key Features to Consider
Beyond brand names and prices, here are the factors that actually matter when choosing a watch.
Battery Life
Battery matters hugely for fitness tracking. Marathon runners, all-day hikers, and anyone who forgets to charge need longer battery. Apple Watch needs daily charging. Garmin Fenix 8 can go weeks.
Consider your activities: casual workouts drain less battery than GPS tracking. Check “GPS battery life” specs, not just standby time.
Heart Rate Accuracy
Optical heart rate sensors improved a lot but still vary during high-intensity movements or when worn loosely. For most people, Apple, Garmin, and Samsung sensors work fine. For HIIT, CrossFit, or exercises with lots of arm movement, chest straps are more reliable.
If accurate heart rate matters for your training (zone-based training, HRV tracking), check if the watch connects to Bluetooth chest straps.
GPS and Tracking
Built-in GPS means you don’t need your phone for runs and rides. But not all GPS is equal. Single-band GPS works fine in open areas but struggles in cities or forests. Multi-band (dual-frequency) GPS, in premium Garmin and some Samsung watches, locks on faster and stays accurate in tough spots.
Water Resistance and Swim Tracking
If you swim, check water resistance carefully. “Water resistant to 50 meters” (5 ATM) works for pools and showers but not high-velocity water sports. Some watches detect strokes automatically; others need manual workout start.
Ecosystem Integration
Your phone’s operating system determines smartwatch functionality. Apple Watch only works fully with iPhones. Samsung Galaxy Watch works best with Samsung phones but functions with other Android devices. Garmin and Amazfit work with iOS and Android but with varying feature sets.
Check compatibility with apps you use—Strava, TrainingPeaks, MyFitnessPal—before buying.
Sensors and Health Monitoring
Beyond heart rate, fitness smartwatches offer different health sensors:
- Blood oxygen (SpO2): Measures blood oxygen, useful for altitude and sleep tracking
- ECG/Heart rhythm: Detects irregular heartbeats, on Apple Watch and Samsung Galaxy Watch
- Skin temperature: Tracks overnight temperature changes, on Apple Watch Series 10 and Fitbit Sense
- Stress tracking: Estimates stress from heart rate variability
These vary significantly—decide which matter for your goals.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which smartwatch has the most accurate heart rate?
Garmin devices (especially Forerunner and Fenix series) give the most consistent heart rate accuracy across workout types, with Apple Watch close behind. For highest-intensity activities, chest straps outperform any optical sensor.
How long do fitness smartwatches last?
With normal use, a quality fitness smartwatch lasts 3-5 years before battery degradation becomes a problem. Apple Watch batteries are typically rated for around 500 full charge cycles. Garmin devices often last longer since they don’t need daily charging.
What is the best fitness tracker for the money?
The Amazfit Balance at around $229 offers the best feature-to-price ratio. iPhone users who want more ecosystem integration should consider Apple Watch Series 10. Android users might prefer Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 or Garmin Forerunner 265.
Do I need GPS in my fitness smartwatch?
Built-in GPS is essential for accurate distance tracking during outdoor activities without your phone. If you mainly do gym workouts, swimming, or indoor activities where your phone tracks movement, GPS matters less.
Can fitness smartwatches replace fitness trackers?
Yes. Apple Watch, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and Garmin watches all provide core tracking features—steps, heart rate, sleep, workouts—that fitness trackers offer, plus additional smartwatch capabilities.
Which brand is best for fitness tracking?
Garmin leads for pure fitness tracking accuracy and training analytics. Apple Watch has the best overall user experience and app ecosystem. Samsung Galaxy Watch balances both well for Android users. Your priorities and phone ecosystem determine the right choice.
Conclusion
The “best” fitness smartwatch depends on your needs, budget, and phone ecosystem.
Choose Apple Watch Series 10 if you want the best overall experience with strong fitness tracking, seamless iPhone integration, and a huge app library. The trade-off is daily charging.
Choose Garmin Forerunner 965 if running is your main fitness activity and you want professional training insights, exceptional GPS accuracy, and battery that lasts through long events.
Choose Amazfit Balance if you want reliable fitness tracking on a budget with excellent battery life and don’t need premium ecosystem integration.
Choose Garmin Fenix 8 if you want the most capable multisport device available regardless of price, with premium build and comprehensive outdoor features.
Choose Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 if you’re in the Android ecosystem and want a versatile smartwatch with solid fitness tracking and Samsung health features.
The most expensive option isn’t always the right one. Consider how you’ll actually use it—tracking daily steps and casual workouts needs far less sophistication than training for marathons. Focus on features that match your fitness goals, verify phone compatibility, and pick a device you’ll actually wear.
A watch only helps your fitness journey if you use it consistently. Whether that’s a $229 Amazfit or a $1,000 Garmin matters less than wearing it daily to stay active.
