Best fitness trackers and health gadgets for 2026

Tracking movement, sleep, heart rate and recovery has become a normal part of everyday life for millions of people. The problem in 2026 is not finding a wearable that tracks these things, but choosing between an increasingly wide range of watches, bands, smart rings and screenless trackers.

With so many options, the right device really comes down to what you want to track and how you want to wear it. Some people want a full smartwatch on their wrist, while others would rather have a small band or ring quietly collecting data in the background.

We’ve seen quite a few new wearables this year, so this guide brings together our current picks across the main categories. We update it regularly as new devices arrive.

Jump to best

Overall fitness band | For style | For running | For outdoors | Fitness watch | Budget fitness tracker | For stress | Smartwatch | Smart ring | Smart scale | Smart blood pressure monitor | For sleep tracking

Best fitness band for the average person

Winner

Fitbit Edge

The Fitbit Edge is now the obvious Fitbit pick for the average person. It effectively takes over where Charge 6 left off, but does so with a larger 1.34-inch AMOLED display, a lighter body and a proper physical side button.

There are some useful hardware upgrades as well. Built-in GPS remains, but Edge brings back the barometric altimeter that disappeared from Charge 6, so floors climbed are part of the equation again. You also get ECG, SpO2, skin temperature, HRV, sleep tracking and Daily Readiness, alongside Google’s newer health and coaching features.

Battery life is rated at up to seven days, although using the always-on display cuts that significantly. The main omission compared with Charge 6 is NFC payments, so anyone who relies heavily on Google Wallet may actually prefer the older model.

At its normal price, though, Edge is the more sensible buy. Charge 6 is still worth considering when heavily discounted, but Edge finally feels like the proper next-generation Fitbit fitness band people have been waiting for.

Amazon

Runner up

Garmin CIRQA

Garmin CIRQA takes a very different approach to Fitbit Edge. There is no screen at all, with the band designed to quietly collect health, sleep and activity data in the background and leave the analysis to Garmin Connect.

Despite the stripped-back design, there is quite a lot going on underneath. CIRQA tracks heart rate, HRV, Pulse Ox, skin temperature, stress, sleep and Body Battery, while also providing Garmin features such as Training Readiness, Training Status, VO2 max and recovery time. Battery life is up to 10 days, and there is no required subscription.

It also fits perfectly into the wider Garmin ecosystem. CIRQA can act as your primary wearable for sleep and everyday health tracking while a Garmin watch or Edge handles workouts, GPS and more detailed training data. You can wear it on the wrist or upper arm, and it can broadcast heart rate to compatible Garmin devices.

Fitbit Edge remains the better all-round choice if you want a screen, built-in GPS, ECG and on-wrist interaction. CIRQA is the more interesting alternative if you would rather forget you are wearing a tracker at all, particularly if you already use Garmin hardware.

Amazon | Garmin

Best hybrid

Winner

Withings ScanWatch 2

The Withings ScanWatch 2 epitomizes the concept of a hybrid watch, seamlessly blending traditional aesthetics with modern health tracking capabilities. Its design is both elegant and discreet, featuring physical hands on a 0.63-inch grayscale OLED screen. This allows it to maintain the classic look of a traditional watch while providing the functionality of a smartwatch. The dial is protected by sapphire crystal, and the case and crown are crafted from stainless steel, adding a touch of durability and class. Multiple color and design options further enhance its appeal, making it a versatile choice for those who value both form and function.

While the ScanWatch 2 is packed with advanced features like 24/7 body temperature monitoring and heart rate variability, it doesn’t compromise on battery life. The device offers an impressive 30-day battery life, facilitated by the new PowerSense Pro feature that optimizes health measurements to conserve energy. This long battery life is particularly beneficial for continuous health monitoring, including sleep patterns and stress levels.

The addition of health metrics, such as menstrual cycle tracking and automatic activity recognition for over 40 different activities, makes the ScanWatch 2 a comprehensive health monitoring tool. It’s not just a smartwatch or a fitness tracker; it’s a hybrid that offers the best of both worlds.

Withings

Runner-up

Garmin Vivomove Trend

Garmin’s Vivomove Trend is a great choice. It keeps the basic idea that makes the Vivomove range interesting, with real analogue hands sitting over a hidden touchscreen that only appears when you need it.

Health tracking includes continuous heart rate, Pulse Ox, stress, sleep score and Body Battery. There is also connected GPS for outdoor workouts, Garmin Pay and 5 ATM water resistance, so it does considerably more than its traditional watch appearance suggests.

Battery life is up to five days in smartwatch mode, with another day available in watch-only mode. It also supports wireless charging with compatible Qi pads, which remains an unusual feature for a Garmin watch.

This is still not the Garmin to buy if running metrics or detailed training analysis are your priority. But for someone who wants Garmin health tracking without wearing something that looks like a sports watch, the Vivomove Trend remains one of the better options.

Amazon | Garmin

Best for running

Garmin Forerunner 970

The Garmin Forerunner 970 is the current high-end choice in Garmin’s running range. It takes the familiar Forerunner formula and adds a sapphire lens, AMOLED display, Elevate Gen 5 heart-rate sensor, ECG, skin temperature tracking and a built-in LED flashlight.

Where the watch really earns its place is in the training analysis. Garmin combines training load, Training Status, Training Readiness, HRV Status, recovery information and daily suggested workouts to give you a much better idea of whether you should push harder or back off.

The 970 also adds newer running metrics such as Running Tolerance, projected race time and pace, while Running Economy and Step Speed Loss are available with compatible accessories. Multi-band GPS, maps and Garmin’s usual navigation tools make it just as useful when the route gets more complicated.

It is not cheap, and the older Forerunner 965 remains a very strong alternative if you do not need the newer sensor, flashlight or additional metrics. But if you want the most complete running-focused Garmin, the 970 is the one to get.

Amazon | Garmin

Best for outdoors

Winner

Garmin Fenix 9 range

The Fenix 9 range remains Garmin’s most complete option for outdoor and multisport use. There are multiple sizes and versions to choose from, with the watches covering everything from everyday fitness and running to hiking, climbing, skiing, open-water swimming and long-distance endurance events.

You get Garmin’s full set of training and recovery tools, including VO2 max, Training Readiness, Training Status, HRV Status, recovery time and detailed running dynamics. Mapping and navigation are also a major part of the package, with multi-band GPS, topographic maps, a 3-axis compass, altimeter, barometer and TracBack.

The standard Fenix 9 comes in 43mm, 47mm and 51mm sizes, all with AMOLED displays. Battery life varies significantly by size, with the largest model lasting up to 29 days in smartwatch mode.

The Fenix 9 Pro range adds a titanium case, brighter AMOLED displays and a 1.5-inch screen on the 51mm version. There are also Pro Solar models in 47mm and 51mm sizes, which switch to a MIP display and can stretch battery life much further.

Those who want to stay connected away from their phone can opt for Fenix 9 Pro versions with built-in inReach. These add LTE and satellite connectivity for messaging, voice calls, LiveTrack and SOS functionality, although an active inReach plan is required for those features.

Amazon | Garmin

Runner up

Apple Watch Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is a more substantial outdoor watch than the Ultra 3 it replaces here. The basic 49mm titanium design remains familiar, but Apple has pushed battery life, health tracking and endurance use further.

Normal battery life is now rated at up to 50 hours, increasing to 84 hours in Low Power Mode. For long events, Max Extended Workout mode can stretch workout tracking to as much as 45 hours while continuing to collect GPS data.

Apple has also introduced its new Health Sensing System, more frequent heart-rate and HRV measurements and a Readiness score. Precision dual-frequency GPS remains one of the Ultra line’s strengths, while 100 metre water resistance and recreational diving support to 40 metres make this much more than simply a larger Apple Watch.

The Ultra 4 still makes the most sense for iPhone users. Garmin remains stronger for some areas of training analysis and navigation, but Apple has narrowed that gap while keeping the smartwatch side considerably richer.

Amazon

Best fitness tracker watch

Winner

Garmin Venu 4

Venu 4 is Garmin’s Swiss Army knife of activity trackers, and the company’s main competitor in the all-purpose smartwatch space. Plus it now feels more complete thanks to a few practical upgrades.

The device sets itself apart with a feature set that suits a broad range of users. Like its predecessor, the Venu 4 comes in two sizes, with 41mm and 45mm options allowing for a better fit across different wrists. The move to a metal case also gives it a more premium feel, while the bright AMOLED display keeps Garmin’s polished smartwatch look intact.

Battery life remains one of the main reasons to pick the Venu 4 over many mainstream smartwatches. The 45mm model offers up to 12 days in smartwatch mode, while the 41mm version manages up to 10 days. With the always-on display enabled, the 45mm model drops to around 4 days, which is still solid for a watch with this type of screen.

The built-in LED flashlight is the most obvious hardware addition. It may sound minor, but it is the sort of feature that becomes useful quickly, whether for early runs, travel, night walks, or simply finding something in the dark.

New tools such as Health Status, Lifestyle Logging, Sleep Alignment and Sleep Consistency add more depth to Garmin’s wellness tracking. Health Status watches for changes in your usual patterns, while Lifestyle Logging helps connect habits such as caffeine and alcohol with sleep and recovery. Garmin Fitness Coach also broadens the fitness side with adaptive heart-rate based plans across more than 25 activity types.

Whether you are a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade, the Venu 4 offers a well-rounded feature set that justifies its position as a top fitness watch recommendation.

Amazon | Garmin

Runner-up

Google Pixel Watch 5

The Google Pixel Watch 5 is now a much better runner-up here than Fitbit Versa 4 or Sense 2. Google’s attention has clearly shifted away from those older Fitbit smartwatches, with Pixel Watch now carrying the company’s more advanced health and fitness features.

Pixel Watch 5 combines Google’s latest heart-rate and GPS technology with sleep tracking, recovery and health insights, plus adaptive coaching through Google Health. It also covers more than 50 activity types and brings Gemini much deeper into the everyday smartwatch experience.

Battery life still cannot compete with Garmin Venu 4, but it can reach up to around 40 hours depending on the model and usage. Fast charging helps, and the overall experience is considerably more capable than the old Fitbit Versa and Sense platform.

Garmin Venu 4 remains my pick if fitness tracking and battery life come first. Pixel Watch 5 is the stronger alternative for Android users who want a fuller smartwatch experience alongside Google’s health ecosystem.

Amazon

Best budget fitness tracker

Xiaomi Mi Band 11

The Xiaomi Smart Band 11 continues Xiaomi’s habit of squeezing an impressive amount of hardware into a very inexpensive fitness tracker. It keeps the familiar 1.72-inch AMOLED format, but the display now reaches up to 2,000 nits and the body has slimmed down to just under 10mm.

The more useful upgrade is on the health side. Smart Band 11 adds HRV tracking during sleep and uses an upgraded optical sensor for heart rate and blood oxygen measurements. You also get sleep tracking, stress monitoring and more than 150 sports modes.

Battery life remains rated at up to 21 days, which is excellent for something this small. GPS is still connected rather than built in, so runners need to bring their phone if they want a mapped route.

The upgrades from Smart Band 10 are not huge, but that is almost beside the point. For someone buying a cheap fitness band today, Smart Band 11 gives you a lot of tracking for very little money.

Amazon, Xiaomi

Best for stress and meditation

Muse S Athena

The Muse S Athena has moved well beyond what Muse 2 was doing. It still uses EEG to monitor brain activity, but Athena adds fNIRS sensing to track changes in blood oxygenation in the brain, giving it another way to look at mental effort and cognitive workload.

During guided sessions, Muse can provide real-time feedback based on your brain activity. Athena also generates cognitive and recovery-style scores, while the app lets you dig into brainwave and blood-flow data rather than reducing everything to a single wellness number.

Sleep tracking remains one of Muse’s more unusual strengths because it measures brain activity directly rather than estimating sleep stages from wrist movement and heart rate. It can identify light, deep and REM sleep, while Muse’s sleep tools use the EEG signal for features such as sleep assistance and deep-sleep stimulation.

It is still a fairly specialised device and some features sit behind a subscription. But if you specifically want EEG-based meditation, cognitive tracking and sleep analysis rather than another wrist wearable, Muse S Athena is now the more interesting option.

Amazon | Muse

Best smartwatch

Apple Watch Series 12

The Apple Watch Series 12 puts much more emphasis on health sensing than last year’s model. Apple has redesigned both the optical and electrical heart-rate hardware, with background heart-rate readings now taken far more frequently throughout the day.

HRV collection has also become much more frequent, feeding into Apple’s new Readiness score. This looks at recent activity, training load, sleep and vitals to give you an idea of how prepared your body is for the day, and unlike many readiness scores it can change as new data comes in.

The S11 chip also pushes Apple Intelligence further onto the wrist, with Siri AI and new audio-based features. The usual ECG, sleep apnea notifications, Blood Oxygen, sleep tracking, temperature sensing and safety features remain part of the package.

Battery life stays at up to 24 hours, or up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode, so this is still something you will charge far more often than a Garmin. Series 12 comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with aluminium, titanium and ceramic versions available.

For iPhone users who want the strongest mix of smartwatch functions, health tracking and apps, Series 12 remains the default recommendation.

Amazon

Best smart ring

RingConn Gen 3

RingConn Gen 3 remains my pick here, although the arrival of Oura Ring 5 has made this a much closer contest. RingConn’s biggest advantage is still straightforward: you buy the ring and get access to its core features without having to keep paying for a subscription.

As noted in our RingConn Gen 3 vs Oura Ring 5 comparison, RingConn also gives you up to 14 days of battery life, a universal charging case, vibration alerts and Vascular Trend tracking. Sleep, HRV, resting heart rate, stress and recovery remain its main strengths.

Oura Ring 5 is the stronger choice if software and interpretation matter more than ownership cost. It is slimmer than its predecessor, its app remains more polished, and Oura does a particularly good job of turning sleep, recovery and health data into something useful.

That makes the choice fairly simple. RingConn Gen 3 offers the better overall value and avoids an ongoing fee, while Oura Ring 5 has the more mature software experience. Both sit comfortably among the best smart rings available right now.

Amazon

Best smart scale

Withings Body Smart

The Withings Body Smart scale offers a balanced mix of affordability and functionality, making it a solid choice for those looking to monitor a variety of health metrics. With a sleek design and user-friendly interface, the scale provides accurate weight measurements down to two decimal points. It also offers a range of other health metrics like body fat percentage, muscle mass, and more, although these should be taken as estimates rather than precise measurements.

Connectivity is seamless with both Wi-Fi and Bluetooth options, and the scale can store up to 16 weigh-ins if it can’t sync wirelessly. The device is powered by four AAA batteries, which should last up to 15 months, although the lack of a rechargeable battery might be a downside for some. The scale can recognize up to eight users, making it suitable for family use.

In summary, for a retail price of just $99, the Withings Body Smart scale delivers on its promises. As we note in our hands-on review, it’s a reliable, accurate, and easy-to-use tool for anyone looking to keep a closer eye on their health. While it may not have all the advanced features of its pricier counterparts, it offers great value for the money.

Amazon | Withings

Best smart blood pressure monitor

Withings BPM Core

Honored with a CES Innovation Award, Withings Core functions as a BPM, ECG and digital stethoscope. ECG is used to identify atrial fibrillation (AFib), a serious form of irregular heart rhythm that can lead to heart failure and is a major risk for stroke. The digital stethoscope can provide early detection of valvular heart disease. The condition is characterized by damage to one of the four heart valves and may require surgical intervention.

The ability to monitor all three conditions (high blood pressure, atrial fibrillation and valvular heart disease), with one product definitely sounds like a game changer. You’ll essentially get a complete heart health checkup in 90 seconds.

You can check out our full hands-on review on this link.

Withings

Omron EVOLV

Omron is one of the most established brands on the home BPM market. Its EVOLV device is a sleek looking one-piece monitor which has no tabletop unit, no tubes and no wires. Because of this the product is highly portable and easy to operate.

Users wrap the entire unit around their upper arm and the blood pressure reading is displayed in bold numbers right on the face of the device. EVOLV provides you with a complete view of your blood pressure with systolic, diastolic and pulse readings. It also detects the appearance of irregular heartbeats during measurement and gives a warning signal with readings.

This is BPM that you can use it completely independently of your smartphone. All you are required to do to take a reading is press one button.

With this device Omron has married their accurate technology with connectivity. In our hands-on review, we found it to be accurate, and the operation to be very smooth, fast and noiseless.

Amazon | Omron

Best sleep tracker

Withings Sleep Analyzer

Withings Sleep Analyzer slips under the mattress from where it tracks all aspects of your nightly (and daily) rest. The company says after 3 days of use, more than a half of users increase their amount of sleep by an average of 48 minutes per night for the next 3 nights. Not bad, as most people are chronically sleep deprived.

The thing lies incognito under your mattress with no buttons to push or need to charge. Jump into bed, and go to sleep. This is exactly what you want – a no hassle tracker that you forget is even there.

The device captures a wealth of stats. Everything from sleep cycles, to interruptions, sleep heart rate, snoring, breathing disturbances and even sleep apnea – it’s all there. In our review we found that it does this accurately even though it lies under a thick mattress. The data it collects automatically makes its way to the app on your phone so is ready to be viewed in the morning.

Amazon | Withings