The best fitness smartwatches can do more than count steps; they can also track your health with pinpoint accuracy. They can also throw in premium extras you won't find on a basic fitness band. We're talking about built-in GPS and NFC, offline music support, smart assistants, and more. If you're new to fitness watches, all those features can feel overwhelming.
I've tested dozens of smartwatches and fitness trackers over the years, and I can tell you precisely what you need to search for and anticipate when you start your shopping voyage. Manufacturers like Google, Samsung, Mobvoi, and beyond combine smartwatch features with fitness tracking specs. The key is finding the right mix for your lifestyle. Whether you're a dedicated runner, weekend hiker, or someone who wants a little motivation to stay active, these fitness smartwatches are worth your attention.
Michael Hicks is Android Central's resident smartwatch geek, having reviewed or tested dozens of wearables from Samsung, Google, Apple, Garmin, Fitbit, Coros, Polar, Withings, Amazfit, and others. He spends his free time running or hiking while wearing several watches at once, testing which is most accurate.
At a glance
Best fitness watch
The Garmin Venu 3 includes a mic and speaker for calls, smart assistant support, robust sleep tracking with nap detection, and fitness coaching beyond what any other company offers.
Best fitness smartwatch
Whether you love or hate Fitbit Premium, the Pixel Watch 3 is fantastic because it's a proper Wear OS smartwatch with health and fitness tech that makes it irresistible.
Best budget fitness watch
Most of the best fitness watches are expensive. The COROS Pace 3 delivers exceptional value, offering top-tier training tools at a budget price, especially appealing to serious runners.
Best for smarts and battery
Don't sacrifice battery life for performance. The Galaxy Watch Ultra lasts two to three days, boasts a rugged casing, and offers more accurate health tracking.
Best for health
Another fitness-focused model, the Sense 2, offers more than the best health sensor suite: thanks to Google's acquisition, it offers Google Maps and Wallet in addition to its Fitbit software.
Best all-around alternative
With the biggest battery and fastest Snapdragon chip on this list, the TicWatch Pro 5 lasts 2–3 days per charge (or even longer with Essential Mode), challenging the Watch 5 Pro. You can even get recommended recovery times.
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Best for runners
This Garmin watch skips the most typical smart features. Instead, its vibrant AMOLED display delivers in-depth training metrics for running, swimming, and cycling, all with no subscription required.
Best for beginners
Most of the best fitness smartwatches cost over $300. But if you're looking for something closer to $100, Amazfit has packed a lot of essentials into this attractive budget package.
Best for iPhone users
Maybe the best fitness watch on this list, the Apple Watch Ultra 2, has the downside of its iOS exclusivity and excessive price tag. Still, this watch is a top contender.
Best overall
We could list the best Garmin watches since they offer different models with the same core training, health data, and recommendations to help athletes improve. Our choice is the Venu 3 since it's the closest option to a "mainstream" smartwatch. Garmin made the Venu 3 model lighter and slimmer than most bulky Garmins. It also has a Spotify playlist, built-in mic, voice assistant commands, microphone, and speaker.
With Garmin's updated Body Battery, you can track your heart rate, blood oxygen (SpO2), HRV-based stress levels, and nighttime skin temperature trends. You can even see how your energy changes after a drink or meditation. The Sleep Coach offers tailored advice to help improve your test.
The Venu 3 also estimates your recovery time after workouts, factoring in your fitness level and intensity. With the Workout Benefit screen, you'll see how each session impacts your VO2 Max and whether it's time to ramp things up or take it slow. You can build custom indoor workouts from thousands of exercises, complete with animated guides to show you the right moves.
Our Venu 3 review called the watch a "tightrope walk between casual smarts and serious fitness," and for good reason. It doesn't have the app ecosystem of an Apple or Galaxy Watch. Garming added a two-week battery life, better GPS satellite accuracy, more reliable heart rate data, and Garmin Coach tools to help you where a mainstream smartwatch can't.
Best fitness smartwatch
The Google Pixel Watch 3 ranks as our second favorite Android smartwatch. Don't let the familiar design fool you; under the hood, it's a meaningful upgrade over the Pixel Watch 2.
Like its predecessor, the Watch 3 blends Google smarts with Fitbit's health expertise. It adds continuous electrodermal activity (cEDA) tracking for stress, nighttime skin temperature, and SpO2 monitoring, and passive AFib detection to monitor your heart. You also get six months of Fitbit Premium for detailed insights, but even after it expires, you still have access to your core health data.
The Pixel Watch 3 offers reliable fitness tracking, similar to the previous model. Google made the watch available in two sizes, 41mm and a larger 45mm model. The displays are also larger with slimmer bezels, making it feel like an A-tier device. Google fixed the battery issues on the Watch 3 satisfactorily, as it lasted for more than the rated 24 hours when we reviewed it.
Google claims the Pixel Watch 3 has the "most accurate heart rate for running " as a fitness watch. When we took it for a standard 10K run, it stayed within 1 bpm of dedicated fitness trackers like the COROS armband. It was equally responsive during a 10-mile ruck with numerous hills and valleys. The Pixel Watch 3 offers reliable health and sleep tracking, plenty of workout modes, and enriched battery life and displays.
Best budget fitness watch
In our review, we named the COROS PACE 3 the best budget-friendly running watch of the year, and we're still not convinced anything else has stopped it. COROS might not have Garmin's name recognition, but it delivers powerful training features in a slimmer, more affordable package.
The PACE 3 delivers impressive, accurate GPS tracking, making it a great companion for outdoor athletes. It gives reliable data on training load, workout effects, and recovery time. And if you're just getting started, it's built-in running test estimates your VO2 Max and helps tailor your training from the ground up.
One of the greatest things about COROS, in general, is how it releases new software for all its watches, not just the expensive ones. A few months ago, COROS added a wellness check feature, custom workouts, personalized marathon training plans, HRV-based stress tracking, turn-by-turn map navigation, and a running form analysis tool to the PACE 3. We can expect the release of more tools in the next few months.
Best of all, it's lighter than most smartwatches without a band. The band itself can be uncomfortable to fit and hard to swap out, but overall, this is a fitness watch you'll hardly notice while running.
Amazfit is a good choice for a cheap, wearable, balanced fitness tracker emphasizing traditional smarts like voice assistants. But for serious, frugal athletes, we recommend the COROS PACE 3 as the starting point and end of your search.
Best fitness smartwatch for battery
Most of our favorite fitness smartwatches repeat the same pattern of having a poor battery life. If you use GPS tracking, you must charge the watch daily. Like its spiritual predecessor, the Watch 5 Pro, the Ultra has the same battery size. Still, its more power-efficient processor and latest OS give it an evident boost in battery life.
The good news is that the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra lives up to Samsung's estimations in our Galaxy Watch Ultra review. You get three days of sleep tracking, continuous heart rate and blood oxygen monitoring, and even dual-band GPS tracking.
Samsung's latest design update may not be for everyone. Some users will appreciate the changes, while others might miss more traditional elements. We still wish Samsung had included a proper crown to complete the smartwatch experience. While expensive, it's an excellent buy if you can find it at a discount. Its fitness and health tracking features are comparable to those of Garmin. You also enjoy four years of Wear OS updates and a durable build that holds up well in harsh conditions.
Best for health tracking
Resembling the original Sense, which struck a delicate balance between fitness and smartwatch tools, the Fitbit Sense 2 tips more toward the fitness side of the smartwatch spectrum. That's why we have the Pixel Watch 2 listed above it. Nevertheless, the Fitbit Sense 2 could be your top choice. It works with Android and iOS users and can last for days rather than hours.
The Fitbit Sense 2 skips some important smartwatch features like Google Assistant, music storage, and a wide selection of third-party apps. Still, Google's purchase brought useful perks such as Google Maps and Google Wallet. The first is especially impressive, offering turn-by-turn guidance for running and riding. You also get a built-in mic and speaker for taking Bluetooth calls or using voice assistants like Alexa or Siri, making it a capable fitness-first smartwatch with just enough smart functionality.
Our Fitbit Sense 2 reviewer noted that despite the "baffling" cutbacks in smart features, he valued the new and improved interface, a light version of Wear OS. The new physical button for selecting widgets is much more trustworthy than the last generation's capacitive touch button. The AMOLED display remains bright and readable, too.
The Fitbit Sense 2 has a six-day battery life with regular use, though it's only rated to last five hours with GPS tracking. It may not be a top choice if you're a "serious" athlete compared to a Garmin watch, but it should be plenty for casual fitness tracking and easily beats the Pixel Watch 2.
Best all-around alternative
The Mobvoi TicWatch Pro 5 might not be the top pick in any fitness category, but it performs well across the board in areas where Google, Samsung, and Garmin typically lead. We included it here because it strikes a solid balance, especially if you like the Galaxy Watch 5 Pro but want something faster, newer, and more affordable.
Like the excellent TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra GP, the TicWatch Pro 5 has a massive battery, a MIL-STD-810G rating, and a dual-layer display that enables a low-powered "Essential Mode." Nonetheless, it has added a top-tier Snapdragon Wear chip with twice the RAM, quadruple the storage, and a new temperature sensor. This large watch has the same impressive three-day battery life as its predecessor, now paired with much-improved Wear OS 3.5 software. It lacks Google Assistant, but runs Wear OS 4, bringing additional features and refinements. However, it still lacks support from Google Assistant, which remains a notable omission.
Our TicWatch Pro 5 review commends the watch's "incredible performance" and "better than expected" health tracking across heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature. Its fitness app calculates your VO2 Max and tells you how long it will take to recover after a workout, something most smartwatches either lack or charge for. Otherwise, you can rely on other Wear OS fitness apps like Strava.
The TicWatch Pro 5 Enduro and the Pro 5 are electronically identical, with the distinction between a Sapphire Crystal Glass screen and a refreshed rotating crown. The upgrades don't justify spending $350 on the Enduro when the TicWatch Pro 5 is often on sale for $75 to $125. If both watches sell at full price, the Enduro is the better pick. But more often than not, your wallet will thank you for choosing the Pro 5, and you can put those savings toward some nicer bands instead.
Best for runners
During our tests, the Garmin Forerunner 265 won the title of best running watch. However, it's not a typical smartwatch. Like our top pick, the Venu 3, the watch has a stunning display and music storage apps. Unfortunately, the watch doesn't have a speaker or mic, and the plastic on the case (not aluminum) is on the plain side for the same price.
We're including a second Garmin on our best fitness watch list because the Forerunner 265 delivers training tools that few others match. Runners, cyclists, and swimmers benefit from precise coaching, recovery insights, and detailed post-workout analysis that push them ahead of the pack. Unlike many other Forerunner models that rely on low-resolution, non-touch MIP displays, the 265 features a vibrant AMOLED display. It's easy to read; whether you're tracking intervals or checking a message mid-run, Garmin is a great option.
Our Garmin Forerunner 265 review goes in-depth on the laundry list of features you get to help you before, during, and after a run. Where most lifestyle watches tell you to hit your daily targets without context, the Forerunner 265 can track your tiredness and training load during the last week to show you your present training readiness. Based on that capacity, it'll adjust your automated daily proposed workout, or tell you not to work out. After your run ends, you'll see how your aerobic and anaerobic fitness has improved, with a suggestion of how long to wait before your next run.
If that sounds like a lot, believe it or not, I'm just scratching the surface! Unless you want to upgrade to the Forerunner 965 for full-color maps and real-time stamina tracking, the Forerunner 265 offers the best fitness watch experience possible. You won't find a speaker and mic on the Venu 3; it has a more tailored feature set.
There is also the more affordable Forerunner 165, which has the same GPS/HR accuracy as the 265, for $200 less. However, it forgets some key data points we love, like training load and status.
Best for beginners
If you're shopping for your first smartwatch, it's easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of options and their sometimes steep prices. But don't worry. Many brands build watches specially with beginners in mind, meaning you don't need every high-end feature to get started. That's where the Amazfit GTR Mini shines: it delivers essential health and fitness tools at a much lower price than most picks on our list.
Even though Zepp OS is limited, it's very easy to use and understand, and its simplicity helps the watch last for two weeks per charge (or one with heavy use). The watch also has "120 sports modes" that cover a full range of exercises and sports. The GTR Mini can automatically detect seven core sports modes: running, cycling, treadmill, rowing machine, walking, indoor walking, and elliptical.
Our Amazfit GTR Mini reviewer applauded the watch's capacities and beautiful AMOLED display. It's 326ppi matches many of the other picks on this list, and its 36g weight (with strap) makes it much more comfy for daily wear and sleep tracking.
Upgrade to the Amazfit T-Rex Ultra or Amazfit Cheetah Pro for higher-quality fitness tools, including the Zepp Coach AI, to guide your fitness routine. The Cheetah Pro includes a built-in mic and speaker for Bluetooth calling and support for Amazon Alexa, making it a solid option for smartwatch users who want voice control. Still, at this point, it faces tough competition in the $300-$400 range. If you're more focused on the essentials and want to save some cash, the Amazfit GTR Mini is hard to beat.
Best for iPhone users
As an Android-focused site, we don't typically focus as much on Apple devices that our readers can't use. However, we reviewed the Apple Watch Ultra 2 to see how the other side handles health and fitness tech. We came away very impressed, as you'd expect, with such a high price tag!
The Apple Watch Ultra 2 features a rugged titanium case, a sapphire crystal that peaks at an impressive 3,000 nits, and 10ATM water resistance designed to handle high-speed water sports and recreational diving. It's built to Military-grade MIL-STD-810H durability standards and includes a rotating crown and dual buttons for reliable tactile control during workouts. Inside, you'll find a full suite of advanced health sensors that deliver deep insights into your fitness and wellness. Battery life is rated for up to 12 hours with continuous GPS, 36 hours with typical use, and up to 60 hours in low-power mode.
Regarding software, the last two updates (watchOS 9 and 10) added many valid fitness-tracking data and watch faces. During runs, you can see your heart rate activity zones, running power, stride length, elevation, vertical oscillation, and more on your wrist. At the same time, cyclists can connect to Bluetooth accessories for cadence or power metrics. You can also count on cellular waypoints added to the Copass app to retrace your steps to call or send a text. You can also make emergency calls.
In practice, it does very well for heart rate, GPS, and elevation precision compared to other brands like Garmin. However, you won't find daily workout recommendations on this pricey watch (beyond what's officially available through Fitness+), a daily readiness score, or recovery recommendations; plus, its SpO2 sensor was disabled due to legal issues. So we've kept it low on this list, but still recommend it over the more generic Series 9.
How to choose
The ultimate fitness smartwatch has numerous sporting and workout modes that you can apply to the real world, such as comprehensive health and workout tracking functionalities. It provides valuable feedback and analytics from which you can benefit. Getting a wearable with a heart rate monitor and as many other sensors as you need for health, sleep, and stress tracking is essential.
It would be nice to have Google Wallet support, but it's not a dealbreaker when picking your next smartwatch. What really matters is having a device that acts like a personal health and fitness coach, guiding your workouts, tracking your progress, and helping you stay on top of your goals. A great fitness smartwatch should do all that; the best ones make it feel effortless.
The Garmin Venu 3 is the best fitness watch for most athletes. You have a little of everything, including an attractive design, solid fitness features, and a few extra smartwatch perks. But it sits closer to the fitness side than the "smart" side, even with its mic/speaker and music storage. A Galaxy or Apple Watch will serve you better if you need fitness tools but don't want to make them the focus of your watch.
If fitness is your top priority, it's worth looking at brands like Garmin, Fitbit, or Polar, brands that are all known for their health-first approach. These fitness-focused watches skip the extra, battery-draining apps in favor of features that actually support your training. You'll get daily workout suggestions, recovery insights, and tools that help you improve over time. By comparison, most lifestyle smartwatches simply remind you to close your rings or hit step goals without offering much deeper guidance.
Your preferences are your own, but whichever way you lean, these picks should guide you toward a healthier body or your next PR.
