Smartwatches & fitness trackers
Our buying guide explains the most important features in a wearable device, and the differences between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker.
Our buying guide explains the most important features in a wearable device, and the differences between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker.
Do you want a simple band that counts steps, or a tiny smartphone for your wrist? The difference between a fitness tracker and a smartwatch is how much they can do.
Fitness trackers count steps and track your heart rate, but often can’t do much more. This allows their batteries to last for multiple days.
Smartwatches are more versatile. As well as fitness tracking, they usually run apps and have nifty features like contactless payment. Some smartwatches require a phone to connect to, while others can work independently.
Even a high-end smartwatch is primarily a fitness device at its core. You can track steps, altitude, heart rate and calories to set personal fitness or weight-loss goals based on your height, weight and other biometric data.
Before you fork out for a watch that needs regular charging and software updates, think about all the ways you might use it. Here are some features to look for that you may not have considered:
Make sure your watch will integrate with your phone. There are two main operating systems for smartwatches: Apple’s watchOS and Google’s Wear OS. Other watches have their own custom operating systems, such as Samsung’s Tizen.
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Since wearable devices go everywhere with you, it’s important they can withstand the elements. Ingress Protection (IP) ratings indicate how resistant a device is to solids, such as dust, and water.
IP ratings have two numbers. The first relates to solids and has a maximum rating of 6. The second relates to water and goes as high as 8. An X rating means it hasn’t been assessed for that type of protection.
Examples:
Most smartwatches can manage a couple of days of full functionality before needing to recharge, while basic fitness trackers last longer. Our test measures the time it takes for a device’s battery to go from 100% to 0%. It’s important to note that battery life changes significantly depending on the functions you use. For example, having GPS on can halve a device’s battery life.
Chargers tend to be manufacturer-specific, so you’re unlikely to be able to borrow a friend’s if you forget yours or it breaks.
You aren’t the only one interested in what your device collects and shares. Collecting your data is big business, but companies aren’t always clear about what they’re doing with your information. There are also questions about how long your information is stored. For more, see our article about online privacy.
We've tested 75 smartwatches and fitness trackers.
Find the right one for you.
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