Best fitness watches and trackers in 2025, tried and tested
Whether you’re hitting the gym, running through your local park, or planning a big adventure, a fitness watch or tracker can keep you accountable and motivated, even when times get tough.
Recording all of your sessions and comparing them over time will show you exactly how much you're progressing (or not), which is a great way of pushing you to go harder.
The top fitness watches also have a variety of training plans, meaning they'll tell you exactly what you need to do to achieve a faster 5km run or half-marathon and program your sessions accordingly.
As you wear the watch, the training plan will adapt in real time and it will feel like you have a personal trainer on your wrist, cheering you along to smash your goals.
Ranging in price from £100 to over £900, there's a huge amount of price variation when it comes to fitness watches, which can make it confusing to pick the best one for your needs.
The talkSPORT Shopping team has tested a variety of fitness watches and trackers across different price ranges, digging into what they offer, to uncover which ones are the best value for your money.
How we tested
To find the best fitness watches and trackers, we gave each device a proper trial, wearing each one for at least two weeks to get a real feel for its features and performance.
During this testing period, we all used the watches in a variety of situations, including daily activities, gym workouts, outdoor runs, and casual lunchtime walks.
We paid close attention to features like step tracking, heart rate monitoring, GPS accuracy, battery life, and ease of use.
We also explored how well each watch synced with its companion app, looking at how data was presented and whether it helped us understand progress.
Comfort was another key factor - after all, a watch needs to feel good on the wrist during both workouts and everyday life.
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Best fitness watches and trackers at a glance
- Best overall fitness watch: Garmin Forerunner 165 Music, £289.99 - buy here
- Best for battery life: Garmin Fēnix 8
- Best for value for money: Wahoo Elemnt Rival
- Best for Android users: OnePlus Watch 3
- Best for iPhone users: Polar Vantage M3
- Best running watch: Google Pixel Watch 3
Best fitness watches and trackers tried and tested
- Pros: Lightweight, comfortable for sleep, follow training plans on Garmin Connect app
- Cons: Using the music feature drains battery life
- Rating: 5/5
Garmin is to fitness watches what Hoover is to vacuum cleaners - the name is synonymous with the category.
- Pros: Stylish strap, responsive GPS, tracks 150 activities, syncs with Apple Health and Google Fit
- Cons: Confusing to work out what all buttons do
- Rating: 4.5/5
With a unique greige strap and gold detail around the bezel, I was impressed by the smart appearance of the as well as by its smart features.
Although it's a little heavy and chunky on the wrist, it's packed with abilities to help the wearer improve their fitness and performance in the sports of their choice.
- Pros: Budget-friendly price, large display, touchless transition, sleek design
- Cons: Slightly heavy, no in-built music
- Rating: 4/5
Wahoo may be more commonly known for their indoor trainers and bike computers but they also do a whole host of tech accessories – from heart rate monitors to smartwatches.
With a sleek, understated black and silver design, the Wahoo Elemnt Rival certainly looks the part of a modern sports watch.
Its minimalist appearance, with a simple black bezel and comfortable silicone strap, makes it versatile enough to wear both during training sessions and day-to-day life.
It was a little heavy, but I didn't feel weighed down when I was in the office and typing on my computer keyboard.
- Pros: Great entry-level watch, solid battery life, compact
- Cons: Difficult to read, premium features are behind a paywall
- Rating: 4.5/5
As one of the bigger brands on this list, I had high hopes for device.
Released in October 2023, the Charge 6 is Google's latest offering in the Fitbit family tree, and it's jam-packed with several useful features.
Light as a feather, the Charge 6 fits comfortably around my wrist. Thanks to its compact design, it doesn't feel uncomfortable under jackets or even when sleeping.
- Pros: Ultra lightweight, bright AMOLED display, easy-to-read screen, syncs with Google Pay Wallet
- Cons: Low battery life
- Rating: 4/5
The Google Pixel Watch 3 is one of the most stylish smartwatches I’ve ever worn, with a circular face, bordered by a minimalist bezel.
- Pros: Huge screen display, Voice control functionality, music storage, easy to install apps like Strava and Spotify on the watch
- Cons: Heaviest watch we tested (81g)
- Rating: 4.5/5
OnePlus is a Chinese company based around the mantra of "never settle" and they've definitely not held back on features in this watch.
Having previously tried and been impressed by the OnePlus Watch 2 Nordic Blue Edition, I had some idea of how intuitive the watches are to use.
There are only two buttons on the OnePlus Watch3 with the bottom left being a quick way to start a workout and the top left one helping me to rotate between menus.
- Pros: Super accurate GPS, incredible battery life, high-res display, durable build
- Cons: No music streaming service integration
- Rating: 4.5/5
The is COROS’ mid-range smartwatch, built for anyone who needs state-of-the-art GPS functionality and second-to-none battery life.
Alongside the usual smartwatch features - monitoring your heart rate, displaying your phone notifications, and counting your steps - the APEX 2 Pro sets itself apart with super accurate GPS tracking.
- Pros: Attractive watch and display, long battery life, huge range of features
- Cons: Not as lightweight and compact as some other fitness watches, expensive
- Rating: 5/5
The is the most expensive fitness watch on this list and it is certainly packed with features to help justify that price.
Just opening up the activities menu you are met with a list of options that covers every conceivable type of fitness and outdoor activity, from windsurfing and cross-country to skiing and even fishing.
As I am primarily a runner, I was most interested in using the watch to track and improve my running experience.
- Pros: Accurate GPS tracking, lightweight design, long battery life
- Cons: No music streaming service integration, no contactless payment functionality, no touchscreen
- Rating: 3.5/5
The Pace 3 offers impressive performance tracking and accurate GPS in a budget-friendly package.
Ideal for triathletes, outdoor sportspeople and long-distance runners, this smartwatch stands out with its impressive battery life and GPS capabilities.
The watch also feels super light on your wrist and has a stylish, sleek design.
The Pace 3, like many smartwatches, monitors your heart rate, steps and sleep, giving you a score out of 5 for the latter.
I did find the sleep tracking to be a little subpar. One night it reported I’d gone to sleep an hour before I actually had, but this did seem to be a one-off.
As is the case with the APEX Pro 2, my main concern with the Pace 3 is that it has no music streaming integration, so if you want to listen to music on the go you’ll need to download and transfer your playlists to the watch's storage, which is a bit of a pain.
Furthermore, you can’t use it to make contactless payments or download apps - which might be why this watch is a fair bit cheaper than competitors offering a similar battery life and GPS-tracking capabilities.
A solid option for those looking for a top GPS watch on a budget, you will have to put up with a lack of some of the bells and whistles.
| Weight | 39g |
| Display Size | 30.5mm |
| Battery life | 17 days |
| Memory | 4GB |
Review by Maxim Hancock
Best fitness watches and trackers FAQs
How accurate are fitness trackers?
Sports watches and fitness trackers have come a long way in terms of accuracy, but they are stronger in some aspects of health than others.
When it comes to tracking heart rate, most modern trackers do a solid job, using optical sensors to measure your pulse during workouts and rest.
These sensors use green or infrared light to shine through the skin and into the blood vessels in the wrist.
When the heart beats, the blood flow in the wrist changes, and the sensors detect these changes in blood volume by measuring how much light is absorbed and reflected.
However, features like calorie counting and blood pressure monitoring can be less precise, as they rely on estimates or algorithms rather than direct measurements.
Sleep tracking is another popular feature, and while fitness trackers can provide a good overview of your sleep patterns - such as time spent in light, deep, or REM sleep - the data does vary depending on what watch or ring you use.
Ultimately, fitness trackers are excellent tools for providing general insights into your health and activity but shouldn’t replace professional medical advice.
Are the featured fitness watches in this article compatible with all android phones?
Yes, the fitness watches and smart watches featured in this article are compatible with most Android phones.
They typically connect via Bluetooth and pair with companion apps that you can download from the Google Play Store.
Whether you’re using a Samsung, Google Pixel, or another Android device, you’ll be able to sync your watch to track your fitness data, set goals, and receive notifications.
However, it’s worth checking the specific requirements for each model, as some watches may require newer versions of Android for full functionality.
Do you need a smart phone to use a fitness tracker or smart watch?
While most fitness trackers and smart watches work best when paired with a smartphone, some models can function independently.
Many devices can track steps, heart rate, and workouts without needing to sync with a phone.
However, if you want access to detailed data, GPS tracking, or advanced features like notifications, pairing the tracker with a smartphone is essential.
The companion app not only stores your data but also helps you analyse your progress over time, making it a key part of the overall experience.
Can fitness watches track running on a treadmill?
Yes, most fitness watches and trackers are capable of tracking treadmill runs.
They use built-in sensors, such as accelerometers, to measure your movement and estimate distance.
Some devices even allow you to manually input treadmill settings, like speed and incline, for more accurate tracking.
For the best results, look for a fitness tracker with indoor running modes or advanced algorithms designed for treadmill use.
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