Fitbits are a great help for anyone looking to make healthier lifestyle choices but if you’re not sure over which one to get then we’re here to lend a hand.
Even though there’s plenty of competition in the fitness tracking space these days, Fitbit enjoys a certain amount of prestige for being one of the first companies to get people interested in keeping better tabs on their health, and it still puts out great products that are well worth checking out in 2024.
What helps to separate Fitbit devices from the current crop of wearables is how they ease users into establishing a sustainable fitness routine that actually works around their schedule, as opposed to leaning too heavily on daily fitness goals that could lead to burnout.
This is also before recognising the might that Fitbit has behind it since being acquired by Google. We’ve already seen the results of this purchase blossom in the recent Fitbit Charge 6, but with plenty more room for opportunity, the future certainly looks bright for Fitbit. To know which ones are worth buying in the present day however, just keep reading on.
If you’re still on the fence and want to get a better look at what else is out there then you can also take a gander at our similar round-ups for the best smartwatch, best Garmin watch and best running watch.
Best Fitbit at a glance
How we test
We use every Fitbit we review as our primary wearable for at least a week – or longer, if the battery life lasts beyond that point or we need more time to trial its features.
During that time we will test it on a variety of different activities. These will range from basic step tracking, to how well it tracks runs, swims, cycling and more.
For distance tracking, we assess how accurately the device records runs on tracks we know the length of. We also evaluate the level of battery life lost per hour using features such as built-in or connected GPS. To check heart rate accuracy, we compare the results from the wearable to a dedicated HRM strap.
Next we combine the data recorded with our general experience of using the wearable day-to-day, revealing whether the device proved comfortable to wear, alongside any issues we may have encountered with unexpected bugs over the review period.
We then evaluate key metrics including app support, usability and battery life.
Fitbit Charge 6
The best Fitbit fitness tracker
Pros
- Improved design with side button return
- Google services are welcome additions
- Sleep and health tracking both shine
Cons
- GPS performance is very poor
- Sports tracking is basic
- Some features locked behind Fitbit Premium
Ever since Google bought out Fitbit, we’ve long since wondered what a fitness tracker with Google-inspired features might look like and in the Charge 6, those concepts became reality. Simply put, the Fitbit Charge 6 is one of the best devices to have emerged from Fitbit in a long time, making it an easy one to recommend to anyone shopping within its affordable price bracket.
For starters, the Charge 6 is the only non-smartwatch wearable out there that supports Google Wallet, so if you want to pay for a quick post-run coffee or pick-me-up then you can do so without needing to keep your phone to hand.
There’s also support for Google Maps and YouTube Music. While the former requires a connection with your phone to operate, it is possible to store albums and playlists offline via YouTube music, so you can leave your phone at home.
Admittedly, there’s still work to be done on the GPS front, and we’re still not exactly thrilled by the amount of features that are locked away behind Fitbit Premium, but even with those issues, the Fitbit Charge 6 still shines as a great all-rounder.
Full Review: Fitbit Charge 6 review
Reviewer: Conor Allison
Fitbit Sense 2
The best Fitbit smartwatch
Pros
- Physical button is back
- Reliable resting heartrate data
- Strong sleep tracking features
Cons
- Sluggish software
- Missing smartwatch features
- Some new features not available yet
The Fitbit Sense 2 is an all-round smartwatch that has a bit more functionality than a basic fitness tracker. It’s got a thin and light build, an appealing colourful AMOLED touchscreen display, and a physical button on the side.
However, it has to be said that the smartwatch experience here isn’t as well-executed as other brands’ offerings, because the support for certain key apps is lacking (at least at launch, when even the likes of Google Maps and Google Wallet were unsupported), and the performance is a bit laggy too due to an underpowered chipset.
However, the fitness and health features – including in-built GPS, ECG and skin temperature sensors, and blood oxygen tracking – all combine to help give you a strong picture of your overall wellbeing. The watch makes it easy to keep tabs on your sleep and on your stress levels, but if you want to get a deeper look into your athletic training then this one isn’t the strongest.
We found that the Sense 2 could hold up for around six days before needing a charge, though that’s reduced to 3 days if you keep the watch in always-on mode.
Full Review: Fitbit Sense 2 review
Reviewer: Michael Sawh
Fitbit Versa 3
The best affordable Fitbit smartwatch
Pros
- Feature-packed for the price
- GPS is finally here
- Six-day battery with intensive use
Cons
- Fitbit’s apps and app store still need work
- The step count is just too eager
- Still no support for offline Spotify
- Fitbit Premium is essential for getting your money’s worth
The Fitbit Versa 4 is the latest device in Fitbit’s Vera line-up, but we actually preferred its predecessor and that’s the one we’d choose out of the two. Why? Well because the feature list is more or less the same as this one, and actually some have been lost; the newer watch doesn’t have Wi-Fi connectivity or a music player, both of which are present here.
For the price this watch delivers plenty of features and is therefore a tempting proposition, though features such as the GPS and the heart-rate tracking are not highly accurate and even the step counter can be a bit over-generous.
However, if you’d like a Fitbit with some smarter features, and want to save a bit of money, then this is a decent option.
Full Review: Fitbit Versa 3 review
Reviewer: Thomas Deehan
Fitbit Luxe
The best-looking Fitbit
Pros
- Decent-quality AMOLED screen
- Good for resting heart rate monitoring
- Nice straps available
- Works well for sleep tracking
Cons
- Notifications feel cramped
- Connected GPS support isn’t always reliable
- Features hidden behind Premium subscription
- No payment support
Slim and attractive, the Fitbit Luxe is light to wear and has a selection of appealing metallic cases, and equally appealing watch bands, that make it a tab more fashionable to wear compared to standard fitness tracker and smartwatches. The screen is also sharp and bright, and it’s purely touchscreen without any input buttons.
In terms of health monitoring, this watch will gives reliable continuous heart rate sensing and comfortable and accurate sleep tracking too. There aren’t tonnes of additional exercise-tracking options here, but this is a handy little tool for keeping an eye on your day-to-day health and wellness.
You’ll get around five days’ battery life from this wearable before you need to charge it back up, which isn’t brilliant, and it’s fairly slow at recharging too as it takes two hours to go from 0-100%.
This tracker isn’t right for you if you want intensive exercise logging or a host of smart features on your wrist, but it’s still a handsome and helpful little accessory.
Full Review: Fitbit Luxe review
Reviewer: Michael Sawh
Pixel Watch 2
The best Fitbit that’s not a Fitbit
Pros
- Battery life is now workable
- Outstanding HR accuracy
- Design is still great for 24/7 wear
Cons
- Battery life still not great or predictable
- Only available in one case size
- Fitbit Premium required for some stats
It’s no secret that the first-gen Pixel Watch was something of a letdown, but for the Pixel Watch 2, which has Fitbit integration within its UI, Google has gone back to the drawing board and made a smartwatch that’s well worth picking up.
The fact that the Pixel Watch 2 does track your health and fitness via the Fitbit ecosystem helps it to stand apart from similar devices like the Galaxy Watch 6 and TicWatch Pro 5. Plus, if you’re interested in making use of the Fitbit app (which we’ve found to be among the best out there for people at the start of their fitness journey), but you also want a bit more functionality than what traditional Fitbit devices offer, then the Pixel Watch 2 is your best bet.
Running the new Wear OS 4 software right out of the box, the Pixel Watch 2 gives you access to tons of third party apps on your wrist like Calm, Strava and WhatsApp, but it’s the Google integration that’s really worth getting excited about.
As part of the Wear OS 4 upgrade, the Pixel Watch 2 boasts improved versions of Google apps like Google Calendar and Google Maps, so you can get far more information out of the watch than before, all without ever having to reach for your phone.
It also helps that, along with the Fitbit Luxe, the Pixel Watch 2 is easily one of the most fashionable wearables on this list, with a sleek pebble-like design that cleverly hides the bezels surrounding the display.
One of the big issues with the original Pixel Watch – its battery life – has finally been fixed here. Thanks to better battery optimisation, the Pixel Watch 2 can actually reach up to 24-hours of use with the always-on display toggled, which is sure to be great news for anyone who struggled to get through more than a day with Google’s predecessor.
Full Review: Google Pixel Watch 2 review
Reviewer: Conor Allison
Fitbit Inspire 3
Best Fitbit for beginners
Pros
- Now has a colour screen
- Slim design is great for 24/7 wear
- Sttrong feature set for the price
Cons
- Colour screen could be bigger
- Reading notifications can feel cramped
- Fitbit Premium needed some insights
The Fitbit Inspire 3 is a polished wearable that is our top pick for anyone that’s new to the world of fitness trackers and would like a gentle introduction. It improved on its predecessor by including a new colour touchscreen, and the slim form factor makes it feel a lot more premium.
There are limited smartwatch features on the Inspire 3, with no payment support, smart assistant or apps. However, it does manage to pack in a fair amount on the fitness and health tracking front, offering up automatic sleep monitoring, an optical heart rate sensor and infrared sensors to measure blood oxygen.
We also thought that the Inspire 3 shined when it came to the basics; daily step counts were in line with other tracking platforms we used and the reminders to hit your hourly step goals ensure that you’re regularly moving throughout the day.
With up to 10 days of battery life and reliable fitness tracking, the Inspire 3 is the best pick for anyone new to the wearable world. We thought that it offered much better value for money than previous Inspire entries.
Full Review: Fitbit Inspire 3 review
Reviewer: Michael Sawh
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