This guide explores affordable fitness trackers, offering a range of options from basic step counters to feature-rich smartwatches. We'll examine key features and help you choose the best fit for your needs and budget.
TL;DR – Top Budget Fitness Trackers:
Our Top Pick: Fitbit Inspire 3
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
Amazfit Band 7
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
Garmin Venu 3
Contributions by Kevin Lee
- Fitbit Inspire 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker
Our Top Pick: Fitbit Inspire 3
The Fitbit Inspire 3 delivers impressive features at an affordable price. Its bright AMOLED display, comfortable design, and 10-day battery life (reduced with the always-on display) make it a convenient daily companion. Key features include 24/7 heart rate monitoring, SpO2 tracking, sleep monitoring, and automatic exercise tracking. While it offers basic smartwatch features like notifications and a "find my phone" function, it lacks music storage and contactless payment capabilities.
- Xiaomi Smart Band 9: Best Ultra-Cheap Fitness Tracker
Xiaomi Smart Band 9
The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 punches above its weight, offering a 1.62-inch AMOLED display, exceptional 21-day battery life, and over 150 sports modes for under $50. It provides comprehensive health tracking (heart rate, SpO2, sleep), although accuracy might not match higher-end devices. Its touch interface is responsive, and it includes basic smartwatch features like notifications and music control. Note that phone pairing can be finicky.
- Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with GPS
Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro
An upgrade to the Smart Band 9, the Pro model boasts a larger 1.74-inch AMOLED display and a surprisingly accurate built-in GPS. It retains the 24/7 heart rate and SpO2 monitoring, sleep and stress tracking, and numerous sports modes of its predecessor. While it lacks NFC, its bright screen, user-friendly interface, and long battery life make it a compelling option under $100.
- Amazfit Band 7: Best Budget Fitness Tracker with Health Monitoring
Amazfit Band 7
For just $50, the Amazfit Band 7 offers a 1.47-inch always-on AMOLED display, excellent 18-day battery life (28 days in battery saver mode), and extensive tracking features (over 120 sports modes, sleep, stress, menstrual cycle). It includes smartwatch features like notifications and Amazon Alexa integration but lacks built-in GPS.
- Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): Best Budget Apple Watch
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen)
This budget-friendly Apple Watch utilizes the same S8 SiP chipset as the Series 8, providing speedy performance at a lower cost. It includes an optical heart rate sensor, built-in GPS, automatic workout detection (including swimming), and access to the extensive App Store. It also offers smartwatch features like calls, messages, contactless payments, music streaming, and safety features (crash detection).
- Garmin Venu 3: Best Budget Fitness Tracker for Workouts
Garmin Venu 3
While the most expensive on this list, the Garmin Venu 3 justifies its price with highly accurate GPS and heart rate monitoring, along with a comprehensive suite of fitness and health tracking features (over 30 sports apps, sleep, stress, energy monitoring). Its Body Battery feature provides insightful data on your body's energy levels. It also includes animated workouts and basic smartwatch functionality. App selection is more limited than Apple or Google smartwatches.
Choosing Your Fitness Tracker:
Consider your needs and budget. Basic trackers like the Xiaomi Smart Band 9 suffice for step counting, heart rate monitoring, and timekeeping. For runners and hikers, GPS is crucial (Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro). For comprehensive smartwatch features beyond fitness tracking, an Apple Watch SE is a strong contender.
