If smartphones were at one point in time, the only device we couldn't bear part with, the fitness tracker has now ascended to the same level of importance. It's no surprise given that they've taken up the role of a mobile personal trainer.
Activity trackers not only, well, track one's activities throughout the day, they also serve as holistic health-measuring devices. If you're out to discover a bit more in-depth information about the inner workings of your body, getting one is a smart investment.
But where to start? Here's a list of the latest and greatest activity trackers that have been released in 2020 so far—from the basic all-rounder to the more comprehensive wearable companion.
Coros APEX Pro
Display size: 30.5mm
Weight: 59g
OS: Compatible with iOS and Android
Battery life: Up to 30 days
Water resistant: Yes, up to 100m
GPS: Yes
Heart rate monitor: Yes
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
Outdoor athletes would probably lean towards the Coros APEX Pro. The brand is known for its cycling helmets but its slew of fitness trackers support more than the cycling community. Whether you're out doing triathlons, swimming, hiking or snowboarding, the Coros APEX Pro is a durable companion that takes care of all that heavy lifting of finding out how much effort you're putting in.
Fitbit Charge 4
Display size: 35.8mm x 22.7mm x 12.5mm
Weight: 20g
OS: Compatible with iOS and Android
Battery life: Up to 7 days
Water resistant: Yes, up to 50m
GPS: Yes
Heart rate monitor: Yes
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
Fitbit is pretty much the originator of personal activity tracking. There definitely have been significant updates since the original back in 2013, making it one of the best all-round activity tracker in the market. There are no frills with this one—the display screen doesn't show colours, for one—but is able to identify key health metrics, such as when your heart rate is typically at its peak to optimise efforts during workouts.
Fitbit Versa 3
Display size: 40mm
Weight: –
OS: Compatible with iOS and Android
Battery life: Up to six days
Water resistant: Yes, up to 50m
GPS: Yes
Heart rate monitor: Yes
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
If you're looking for something a bit more of a smartwatch by Fitbit, its latest Versa 3 is the best it has to offer in that segment. Apart from the nifty Google Assistant capability and the choice of hundreds of watch faces to choose from, the Versa 3 lives up to Fitbit's unparalleled activity tracking technology. Keep track of everything from workout intensities to sleep phases to even a cardio fitness level.
Suunto 7
Display size: 50mm
Weight: 70g
OS: WearOS
Battery life: Up to 40 days
Water resistant: Yes, up to 50m
GPS: Yes
Heart rate monitor: Yes
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: No
If you don't mind the bulky appearance and weight (it's easily one of the heaviest in the market), the Suunto 7 is a power-packed smartwatch and activity tracker. It's built with over 70 sport modes and comes with an offline outdoor map so you don't necessarily need to be connected to keep track of where your runs take you.
Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5
Display size: 28mm
Weight: 23.3g
OS: Compatible with iOS and Android
Battery life: Up to 14 days
Water resistant: Yes, up to 50m
GPS: No
Heart rate monitor: Yes
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
Xiaomi's activity trackers are some of the more affordable ones in the market. But it's definitely no slouch. While the Mi Smart Band 5 does not have in-built GPS, it is packed with a host of other capabilities that are typical of activity trackers. What's especially interesting with this latest iteration is that it's able to recognise 11 professional sports, and is able to track and monitor a woman's menstrual cycle and ovulation phases.
Garmin vívosmart 4
Display size: 15 x 10.5 x 223 mm (large)
Weight: 17.5g (large)
OS: Compatible with iOS and Android
Battery life: Up to seven days
Water resistant: Yes, up to 50m
GPS: Yes
Heart rate monitor: Yes
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
Sleek and rather small in size, the latest Garmin activity tracker is an all-encompassing fitness companion that tracks all your activities from day to night. It's able to measure blood oxygen saturation levels and able to detail how much REM sleep you're getting. And you never have to take it off too—it's swim and shower-proof.
Garmin Venu Sq (Music Edition)
Display size: 40.6mm
Weight: 37.6g
OS: Compatible with iOS and Android
Battery life: Up to six days
Water resistant: Yes, up to 50m
GPS: Yes
Heart rate monitor: Yes
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
There's no denying that Garmin is one of the best fitness-dedicated tracking devices out there. With the Venu Sq (Music Edition), you're now able to workout without a smartphone on hand and still enjoy your favourite Spotify playlist that can now be stored within the device itself.
Oura Ring Balance
Display size: None
Weight: 4 – 6g (depending on ring size)
OS: Compatible with iOS and Android
Battery life: Up to seven days
Water resistant: Yes, up to 100m
GPS: No
Heart rate monitor: Yes but not during workouts
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
The Oura Ring is unlike the others on this list based on the fact that it's a ring, but one that does simple activity tracking with the help of a companion app. This is perfect for someone who wants to track their daily activities but would also still like to wear a traditional watch. The Oura Ring does have some limitations (there's no GPS for one) but for something this discreet, it's quite a nifty device.
Apple Watch series 6
Display size: 40mm or 44mm
Weight: 30.5g (40mm) or 36.5g (44mm)
OS: Apple iOS
Battery life: Up to 18 hours
Water resistant: Yes, up to 50m
GPS: Yes
Heart rate monitor: Yes
Automatic workout tracking: Yes
Sleep tracking: Yes
It'd be remiss of us to not include the latest Apple Watch in this list. The Apple Watch series 6 is not only an extension of the iPhone, but it's now more fitness-friendly than ever. It's been recently upgraded with the capability of measuring one's blood oxygen levels for a better understanding of one's overall health, and Apple's most precise activity-tracking metric yet.
