Whether you're embarking on a new fitness journey or seeking deeper insights into your workouts, a fitness tracker can be a game-changer. These wearables, often smartwatch variations, offer a fun, data-driven approach to exercise without breaking the bank. From feature-packed options rivaling top smartwatches to simpler models focusing on step counting and heart rate, budget-friendly fitness trackers cater to every need and wrist size.
TL;DR – The Best Budget Fitness Trackers:
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Our Top Pick
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See it at Amazon
See it at Amazon
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Contributions by Kevin Lee
Our Top Pick
See it at Amazon
Product Specifications
Size: 39.3mm x 18.6mm
Thickness: 11.75mm
Battery life: 10 days
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2
Tracking: Swim, sleep, steps
Water resistance: Up to 50m
PROS: Bright AMOLED touchscreen, Long battery life
CONS: Some more advanced features require a subscription
Fitbit continues to lead the budget fitness tracker market with the Inspire 3. For under $100, you get a vibrant AMOLED display and a comfortable, durable band perfect for sleep. The 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) minimizes charging needs. Navigation is easy via touchscreen and two buttons.
The Inspire 3 excels at fitness tracking, offering 24/7 heart rate monitoring, step counting, blood oxygen measurement, and movement reminders. Automatic exercise tracking is a bonus for forgetful users, and sleep monitoring provides valuable insights. Basic smartwatch features include phone notifications and a find-my-phone function (via Bluetooth), though music storage and contactless payments are absent.
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Product Specifications
Size: 46.53mm x 21.63mm
Thickness: 10.95mm
Battery life: 21 days
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2
Tracking: Swim, sleep, steps
Water resistance: Up to 50m
PROS: Over 150 sports modes, Impressive 21-day battery life
CONS: Tracking isn't always 100% accurate
The sub-$50 Xiaomi Smart Band 9 packs a punch. It boasts a sleek design, comprehensive health monitoring, and rivals Fitbit in features. It includes a pedometer, heart rate monitor, blood oxygen saturation monitor, and sleep monitoring. Over 150 fitness modes, from running to swimming, provide detailed workout data (though accuracy might not match higher-end devices).
The Smart Band 9 boasts a remarkable three-week battery life (with moderate use) and a bright 1.62-inch AMOLED display (1200 nits). While lacking physical buttons, its touchscreen is responsive. Smartwatch features include call and message notifications and music control, though phone pairing can be finicky.
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Product Specifications
Size: 43.27mm x 32.49mm
Thickness: 10.8mm
Battery life: 21 days
Connectivity: Bluetooth
Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, SpO2
Tracking: Swim, sleep, stress
Water resistance: Up to 50m
PROS: Accurate built-in GPS, Large, full-color AMOLED display
CONS: No NFC
An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro features a larger, rectangular 1.74-inch AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS. It retains 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and support for over 150 sports modes. However, many modes only track heart rate and time.
Smartwatch features include music playback and phone notifications (no replies), but NFC is absent. Despite this, the sub-$100 price point makes it a stylish option with a bright screen, user-friendly interface, and impressive battery life.
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Product Specifications
Size: 37.3mm
Thickness: 12.2mm
Battery life: 18 days
Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.2
Sensors: Heart rate monitor, SpO2
Tracking: Swim, period, sleep
Water resistance: Up to 50m
PROS: Tons of tracking including stress and sleep, Amazon Alexa and other smartwatch features built-in
CONS: No built-in GPS
The $50 Amazfit Band 7 offers remarkable value. Its large 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display makes data viewing easy, while the band remains slim and comfortable. The 18-day battery life (28 days in battery saver mode) is a significant advantage.
It supports over 120 sports modes (with automatic recognition of four), and its 50m water resistance makes swimming possible. Health monitoring includes heart rate, blood oxygen, and stress, along with sleep tracking. Smartwatch features include notifications and Amazon Alexa integration.
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Product Specifications
Size: 40mm x 34mm
Thickness: 10.7mm
Battery life: 18 hours
Connectivity: Cellular (optional), 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3
Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, accelerometer
Tracking: Swim, sleep, period
Water resistance: Up to 50m
PROS: Huge selection of apps, Special safety features, like crash detection and built-in GPS
CONS: Fewer sensors than other Apple Watch options
The Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) offers a budget-friendly entry into the Apple ecosystem. It utilizes the same S8 SiP chipset as the Series 8, providing speedy performance. Features include an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection (including swimming), and 32GB of storage for apps from the App Store.
As a full-fledged smartwatch, it supports calls, messages, contactless payments, and music streaming. Crash detection is a valuable safety feature. It's slim, comfortable, and boasts decent battery life (for an Apple Watch).
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Product Specifications
Size: 45mm
Thickness: 12mm
Battery life: 14 days
Connectivity: Bluetooth, 802.11n
Sensors: Heart rate monitor, GPS, temperature
Tracking: Swim, sleep, stress, energy
Water resistance: Up to 50m
PROS: Highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitor, Helpful Body Battery feature
CONS: Limited app selection compared to other smartwatches
Garmin's Venu 3, while the priciest on this list, is worth the investment for serious fitness enthusiasts. It offers extensive tracking for various activities (including swimming, cycling, and golf), utilizing highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring, ECG, blood oxygen, temperature, and other sensors. Animated workouts are included.
The standout feature is the Body Battery, providing insights into energy levels based on activity, stress, and sleep. It's a smartwatch with a bright AMOLED display and up to 14 days of battery life (reduced with always-on display and automatic workout detection). Smartwatch features include calls, smart assistants, and text replies (when paired with compatible phones). App selection is more limited than Apple or Google watches.
Choosing a fitness tracker involves more than just step counting and sleep tracking. Consider hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy. Higher prices often mean more features (heart rate monitoring, GPS, OLED displays). However, many affordable trackers provide ample health data.
Your needs determine the right tracker. The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffices for basic step tracking, heart rate checks, and timekeeping. Many budget options include color displays, long battery life, sports modes, sleep tracking, blood oxygen sensors, and phone notifications.
For runners, bikers, and hikers, GPS support is advisable. For broader functionality beyond fitness and health, a smartwatch offers larger screens, storage, app access, and call/text capabilities. Active individuals may also want to consider a good pair of earbuds.
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