10 Best Fitness Trackers 2026 in the United States

The Apple Watch SE 3 is a strong choice for those looking for a fitness tracker packed with useful health and safety features. It offers reliable activity and heart rate tracking, along with detailed sleep monitoring that includes sleep scores and apnea alerts, which is quite valuable for users wanting deeper insights into their health. The built-in GPS is accurate and helpful for tracking outdoor workouts without needing your phone. The always-on Retina display makes it easy to glance at your stats or the time without moving your wrist, which works well during exercise.

Battery life supports about 18 hours of typical use, which covers a full day, and it charges quickly—getting 8 hours of use from just 15 minutes of charging. While this is sufficient for daily workouts, heavy users who track activities overnight might need to charge daily. The watch is water resistant, suitable for swimming or sweaty workouts. It connects seamlessly with iPhones and offers extras like emergency fall detection and crash alerts, adding peace of mind.

A few things to consider: while the watch has many sensors, it might feel a bit complex for people not used to smart devices, and some advanced health features require an iPhone to unlock their full potential. Also, the 40mm size fits most wrists comfortably but may be small for larger wrists. This Apple Watch SE 3 fits well for fitness enthusiasts who want a smartwatch that tracks workouts, heart rate, and sleep effectively, provides smart notifications, and prioritizes safety features, especially if you already use an iPhone. It balances functionality with ease of use, though daily charging might be needed if you use all features extensively.

The WHOOP Life fitness tracker offers a comprehensive health and fitness monitoring experience, especially for those serious about detailed insights. It continuously tracks activity, heart rate, sleep, and stress, giving you a well-rounded view of your health. Unique features include on-demand ECG readings to detect heart irregularities and innovative blood pressure monitoring, which many fitness trackers don’t provide. The device is lightweight and waterproof, making it suitable for multi-sport use and daily wear. Battery life lasts up to 14 days, reducing the hassle of frequent charging. Compatibility with smartphones and tablets is broad, allowing easy syncing of your health data.

The WHOOP Life does not offer built-in GPS, so it won’t record routes or distances independently, which may be a limitation for runners or cyclists who want detailed mapping. Additionally, there is no traditional display on the device itself; all feedback and insights are accessed via the companion app, which may reduce convenience for quick checks during workouts. The tracker excels in health metrics and recovery tracking, but lacks features like GPS tracking and an on-device screen.

WHOOP’s membership model requires an annual payment for full service access, which may influence some users' decisions. The WHOOP Life is designed for users focused on deep health insights, long battery life, and recovery optimization.

The Garmin Venu 4 is a well-rounded fitness smartwatch ideal for those who want detailed health insights and reliable activity tracking in a compact, stylish design. Its bright, colorful 1.2-inch round display is easy to read and adds a premium feel with a stainless steel build. The watch covers all core fitness tracking needs: built-in GPS accurately tracks outdoor activities, wrist-based heart rate monitoring provides continuous data, and advanced sleep tracking offers personalized coaching and sleep quality scores. It even uses Pulse Ox readings to assess breathing variations during sleep, with availability depending on the region.

Battery life is very impressive—up to 10 days on a single charge—allowing less frequent charging compared to many rivals. Additional useful features include a built-in flashlight, contactless payments, and smartphone call and text functionality that work well when paired with your phone. The Garmin Venu 4 supports over 80 sports modes, including swimming, making it versatile for diverse fitness routines. It also provides tailored workout plans and training readiness metrics to help you stay on track without overdoing it.

While the watch is designed for swimming, specific water resistance ratings are not detailed here, so caution is advisable for activities involving deep water. Some health features like ECG and Pulse Ox may be limited by region and should not be considered substitutes for medical devices. The watch is very light at 1.2 ounces, which enhances comfort but might feel less substantial if you prefer a heavier watch. Compatibility is strong with both iPhone and Android devices, though some text reply features are exclusive to Android. For those seeking a stylish, feature-rich fitness tracker that balances detailed health monitoring with smart features and long battery life, the Garmin Venu 4 presents a compelling option.