This guide explores affordable fitness trackers, offering a range of options from basic step counters to feature-rich smartwatches. We'll examine key features and help you choose the best fit for your needs and budget.
TL;DR – Top Budget Fitness Trackers:
Our Top Pick: Fitbit Inspire 3 See it at Amazon
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 See it at Amazon
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro See it at Amazon
Amazfit Band 7 See it at Amazon
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) See it at Amazon
Garmin Venu 3 See it at Amazon
Contributions by Kevin Lee
- Fitbit Inspire 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker
The Fitbit Inspire 3 offers excellent value. For under $100, it boasts a bright AMOLED display, comfortable design, and a 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display). Features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, automatic exercise tracking, and sleep monitoring. While it lacks music storage and contactless payments, it provides essential fitness tracking capabilities and basic smartwatch notifications.
- Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra-Cheap Fitness Tracker
Priced under $50, the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 packs impressive features. It includes a 1.62-inch AMOLED display, a remarkable 21-day battery life, and over 150 sports modes. While accuracy might not rival high-end devices, it provides valuable workout insights. It also offers basic smartwatch features like notifications and music control, though pairing can be finicky.
- Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Pro model features a larger 1.74-inch AMOLED display and built-in GPS for accurate workout mapping. It retains the 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and numerous sports modes. While lacking NFC, it offers a stylish design, responsive interface, and long battery life for under $100.
- Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with Health Monitoring
The Amazfit Band 7, at around $50, offers a large 1.47-inch AMOLED display, 18-day battery life, and over 120 sports modes with smart recognition. It includes comprehensive health monitoring (heart rate, SpO2, stress, sleep) and basic smartwatch features like notifications and Amazon Alexa integration. However, it lacks built-in GPS.
- Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch
A more affordable Apple Watch, the SE (2nd Gen) utilizes the same S8 SiP chipset as the Series 8, offering speedy performance. It includes a heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection, and 32GB of storage for apps. It functions as a full smartwatch, enabling calls, messages, contactless payments, and music streaming, along with safety features like crash detection.
- Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
The Garmin Venu 3, while the most expensive on this list, provides highly accurate fitness tracking. It features a GPS, heart rate monitor, ECG, blood oxygen, and temperature sensors, along with animated workouts and the insightful Body Battery feature. It also offers smartwatch functionality, though app selection is more limited than Apple or Google watches.
Choosing Your Fitness Tracker:
Consider your needs and budget. Basic trackers suffice for step counting and heart rate monitoring, while GPS is beneficial for outdoor activities. Smartwatches offer broader functionality, including app access and communication features. Remember to evaluate hardware quality, comfort, software, and tracking accuracy when making your decision.
