With spring’s arrival bringing warmer days and renewed motivation for outdoor activity, many people are considering ways to enhance their fitness routines. Whether you’re planning to start walking more, take up running, or try strength training and swimming, having the right fitness tracker can make a significant difference in monitoring your health and optimizing your workouts. Fitness trackers nowadays offer a wealth of features beyond simply counting steps—they monitor heart rate, calories burned, sleep quality, stress levels, and even advanced metrics like VO2 max and blood oxygen levels. To help you choose the best device for your needs, CNET’s wellness and wearables experts have conducted extensive testing over several years, assessing devices in terms of features, price, comfort, storage, and more.
**Best Overall Fitness Tracker: Fitbit Charge 6**
Topping the list is the Fitbit Charge 6, which stands out as a comprehensive yet accessible fitness tracker. It provides a wide array of data points, including heart rate, steps, distance traveled, calories burned, time spent in target heart zones, VO2 max, sleep score, blood oxygen saturation, skin temperature, and stress management scores. The Fitbit Charge 6 supports more than 40 exercise modes ranging from strength training and yoga to cycling and running, with its SmartTrack feature automatically recognizing and recording workouts without manual input.
This device is especially appealing for those who want a reliable, all-around fitness tracker with helpful extras. It has built-in GPS for runners who want to track pace and distance without carrying a phone, and it integrates with YouTube Music for on-the-go tunes (though a YouTube Music Premium subscription is required). After workouts, you can review intensity maps showing where you exerted the most effort along your route. The Fitbit also connects with compatible gym machines to display heart rate during workouts and is water-resistant up to 50 meters, making it swim-friendly.
For users seeking even more insights, Fitbit Premium offers a subscription service ($10 per month or $80 per year) with a full library of workouts, detailed sleep and stress analyses, mindfulness sessions, and curated recipes. However, those who want a fitness tracker with a broader array of smartphone apps—such as messaging, calling, and email—might prefer a smartwatch from Apple or Google.
**Best Heart Rate Monitor: Apple Watch Series 11**
Among smartwatches, the Apple Watch Series 11 won CNET’s Lab Award for the most accurate heart rate monitor, boasting an impressively low average heart rate error of less than 1%. This was determined through rigorous testing by CNET’s wearables expert Vanessa Hand Orellana, who compared the Series 11 with other popular smartwatches and a chest strap heart-rate monitor considered the gold standard.
The Series 11 builds on the strong foundation of the Series 10 with subtle but meaningful upgrades. It offers six additional hours of battery life (officially rated at 24 hours but often lasting up to 30 in real-world use), faster charging, 5G connectivity, and life-saving health alerts such as hypertension notifications. Its sleek, comfortable design makes it versatile enough to wear from workouts to workdays and evenings out, balancing price, features, and aesthetics effectively.
This watch is ideal for Apple enthusiasts eager for deep ecosystem integration and the latest health features without paying for the bulkier Ultra model. It is particularly suited for those upgrading from older Apple Watches who want improved battery life and comprehensive health monitoring, including ECG and blood oxygen apps.
However, if you already own a Series 9 or later, the Series 11 may not be a necessary upgrade since many new features are available on older models. For budget-conscious buyers, the Apple Watch SE 3 offers core health features at a significantly lower price point.
**Best Affordable Apple Watch: Apple Watch SE 3**
The Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple’s most budget-friendly smartwatch, offering most of the core health and fitness features found in pricier models. It has an always-on display, faster charging, and supports 5G connectivity. While it lacks some advanced health metrics like ECG and hypertension alerts, it still includes valuable wellness tools such as sleep tracking, ovulation prediction, and sleep apnea notifications.
Battery life on the SE 3 is shorter, typically lasting a full day including workouts and sleep tracking, but disabling the always-on display can extend it to around two days. The SE 3 is great for first-time smartwatch owners, kids, or those upgrading from older models who want a solid