
You can customize which show up on your device and change them whenever you want.
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The Vivosmart 5 tracks all-day heart rhythm and activity, plus sleep data and workouts, and we’ve always appreciated how many workout profiles Garmin has to choose from. It does support connected GPS, though, so you can map outdoor runs and bike rides as long as you bring your phone with you. It has a lot of the same features as the Charge 5, except for a built-in GPS.
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But its attractive design is only part of its appeal - Garmin knows how to track fitness, and the Vivosmart 5 is proof that you don’t need to drop hundreds on one of the company’s in-depth fitness watches to get a capable device. It’s thinner than the Fitbit Charge 5 and fits in a bit better with bracelets and other jewelry you might wear regularly.

Runner up: Garmin Vivosmart 5Ī more subtle-looking fitness band alternative is the $150 Garmin Vivosmart 5. Built-in GPS remains the star of the show here - it's fast and accurate, making the Charge 5 the best option if you want a focused do-it-all wearable fitness watch. The former lets you pay for coffee or groceries with a swipe of your wrist, while the latter helps map outdoor runs, bike rides and other activities. Those are on top of existing features that were carried over from the Charge 4 - most notably, Fitbit Pay support and built-in GPS tracking. The Charge 5 has EDA sensors for stress level tracking and it will eventually support ECG measurements and Daily Readiness Scores (the latter is only for Fitbit Premium subscribers). That display, along with a thinner design, make Charge 5 feel more premium than its predecessor. It also has a full-color AMOLED display - a big improvement from the smaller, grayscale screen on the previous Charge 4. That means it has a slightly lower profile on the wrist and lasts days on a single charge while tracking activity and monitoring your heart rate, step count and sleep. First and foremost, it's not a smartwatch. Best overall: Fitbit Charge 5įitbit's Charge 5 has everything most people would want in a fitness tracker.

While you can find built-in GPS on select fitness trackers, it’s not common.

The latter devices tend to be larger, giving them more space for things like GPS, barometers, onboard music storage and more. Some smartwatches let you choose which apps you want to receive alerts from, and the options go beyond just call and text notifications.īut the extra fitness features are arguably the most important thing to think about when deciding between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. You can use one to control smart home appliances, set timers and reminders, check weather reports and more. There are things like on-watch apps, alerts and even more robust fitness features that smartwatches have and the best fitness trackers don’t. If you need a bit more from your wearable, you’ll likely want a smartwatch instead. Yes, more expensive bands exist (and we recommend a few here), but you’ll find more options under $150 in the fitness tracker space than in the smartwatch space. Most worthwhile smartwatches start at $175 to $200, but you can get a solid fitness tracker starting at $70. When it comes to price point, there’s no competition. While most smartwatches last one to two days on a single charge, fitness bands offer between five and seven days of battery life - and that’s with all-day and all-night use even with sleep tracking features enabled Fitness trackers are also a better option for those who just want a less conspicuous device on their wrists all day.īattery life tends to be better on fitness trackers, too. They also tend to have fewer sensors and internal components, which keeps them smaller and lighter.

They often don’t have the bells and whistles that smartwatches do, which could distract from their health tracking abilities. When I say “focus,” I’m alluding to the fact that fitness trackers are made to track activity well anything else is extra. Obviously, smartwatches can help you reach your fitness goals too, but there are some areas where fitness bands have the upper hand: focus, design, battery life and price. The answer seems simple: Fitness trackers are best at monitoring exercise, be it a 10-minute walk around the block or that half marathon you’ve been diligently training for.
