Top 5 Smartwatches with Great Fitness Tracking

Looking for smartwatches with great fitness tracking? Here are the top 5 models in 2025, ranked by real-world usability.

Here are 5 smartwatches with great fitness tracking
Here are 5 smartwatches with great fitness tracking (Image via Apple, Fitbit, Amazfit)

Smartwatches have become more than a convenience. They now offer serious tools for anyone serious about their health or staying active. From heart rate checks during workouts to sleep insights and recovery advice, they can keep pace with your day. If you train regularly or want to stay in better shape, the right watch should feel natural. It needs to be accurate, sync smoothly with your apps, and give you info that actually means something.

How We Chose These Smartwatches with Great Fitness Tracking

A smartwatch isn’t a good fitness tracker just because it counts steps. That’s the bare minimum. For this list, we looked for watches that are built to handle serious tracking, including things like precise heart rate counters, real-time GPS accuracy, and recovery tools that give you actual insight into how your body’s doing.

Moreover, we will factor in comfort. After all, a good smartwatch must be something that you can wear for most of the day. Another point that we considered is battery life, the ease of navigating software, and how well each watch connects to platforms like Apple Health, Garmin Connect, and Google Fit.

The entire point of this listicle is to list 5 of the best smartwatches with great fitness tracking that can integrate seamlessly with your daily life without being a headache of its own.

Apple Watch Series 10 

Apple Series 10 is the best option to tie into the ecosystem
Apple Series 10 is the best option to tie into the ecosystem (Image via Apple)

The Apple Watch Series 10 continues to set the benchmark for all-purpose smartwatches with great fitness tracking. It features Apple’s in-house optical heart rate sensor that performs especially well during high-intensity interval training. With added skin temperature monitoring and a body metrics dashboard, it does a good job of tracking your body metrics.

With the iOS 26 update (now in Beta), Apple’s Fitness app offers better recovery insights, detailed running form data, and coaching features that sync with Apple Fitness+. The Series 10 also brings ECG, blood oxygen, and menstrual tracking, with all data neatly integrated into the Health app. For iPhone users, the setup is seamless, and the experience feels tightly connected.

Battery life lasts about a day, which isn’t ideal but manageable with regular charging. The always-on display is bright, fluid, and easy to read in sunlight. While it’s higher end in the price spectrum, the Series 10 remains a top pick for fitness-focused users in the Apple ecosystem.

Garmin Forerunner 965 

Garmin FORERUNNER 965 is one of the best options for endurance athletes
Garmin FORERUNNER 965 is one of the best options for endurance athletes (Image via Garmin)

The Garmin Forerunner 965 is Garmin’s go-to option for users focused on performance. It’s designed for people who run, ride, swim, and want more than basic stats. You get dual-band GPS that locks on quickly and stays accurate even in dense areas or under tree cover. It also tracks your VO2 max, gives you training load insights, and lets you see how much stamina you have left mid-workout.

However, what makes the Forerunner 965 shine is the data depth. Garmin’s recovery suggestions are useful, not gimmicky, and heart rate readings hold steady even during intense workouts. The AMOLED screen is a welcome upgrade: bright, easy to read in sunlight, and smooth to navigate. You’ll get around 20 hours of battery life with GPS turned on or up to a week if you’re using it in regular smartwatch mode.

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 

Galaxy Watch 7 ties well with other Samsung products
Galaxy Watch 7 ties well with other Samsung products (Image via Samsung)

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch 7 can perfectly balance between precise health metrics monitoring and smartwatch functionality. The upgraded in-house BioActive Sensor can track heart rate and SpO2 data sufficiently accurately. Running Wear OS, the Watch 7 supports a wide range of third-party fitness apps alongside Samsung Health’s robust tracking features. Auto workout detection works well, and GPS accuracy is now competitive thanks to the dual-frequency update.

Battery life is modest at two days with regular use. Still, for Android users, this is one of the most complete smartwatches with great fitness tracking you can buy. The Watch 7 is best for Android users who want fitness data and everyday smartwatch convenience.

Amazfit Balance 2 

Amazfit delivers many flagship features on a budget with the Balance 2 smartwatch
Amazfit delivers many flagship features on a budget with the Balance 2 smartwatch (Image via Amazon)

The Amazfit Balance 2 offers surprising performance at a price that undercuts many flagships. It includes all the standard sensors: heart rate, SpO2, and stress tracking, and adds Zepp OS 3.5 and its AI-driven recovery insights. The new Energy Score system evaluates your readiness based on sleep, activity, and HRV.

It supports over 170 sports modes and has 10 ATM water resistance. The battery life is outstanding, with up to 21 days of regular use or 10 days with heavier tracking. The companion Zepp app is not as refined as Garmin or Apple Health, but it’s functional and constantly improving with constant OTA updates.

Fitbit Charge 6 

After Google's takeover Fitbit producs integrate seamlessly with Android
After Google’s takeover, Fitbit products integrate seamlessly with Android (Image via Google)

Technically a fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 6 earns its place here for doing the essentials right. It includes reliable heart rate monitoring, built-in GPS, and VO2 max estimates. Fitbit has long excelled in sleep tracking, and its stress management features are among the best in the industry.

Thanks to Google’s acquisition of Fitbit, you get tighter integration with Google Fit and Android devices, as well as YouTube Music and Google Maps support. The compact AMOLED screen isn’t ideal for heavy app use, but it’s sharp and responsive during workouts. With a battery that lasts close to a week, it’s a solid pick for anyone who wants a reliable, no-fuss fitness tracker.

Comparison Table for Smartwatches with Great Fitness Tracking

Feature / WatchApple Watch 10Garmin Forerunner 965Galaxy Watch 7Amazfit Balance 2Fitbit Charge 6
Heart Rate & GPS AccuracyExcellentBest-in-classVery GoodGoodGood
Fitness & Recovery MetricsStrongAdvancedBalancedAI-poweredReliable
Battery Life (typical use)~1 day7–10 days~2 daysUp to 21 daysUp to 7 days
Software & EcosystemiOS onlyGarmin ConnectWear OS/AndroidZepp OSGoogle Fit
Best ForiPhone usersEndurance athletesAndroid usersBudget-consciousCasual users

If you’re deep in the Apple ecosystem, the Series 10 is your most seamless option. Endurance athletes will get the most out of Garmin’s Forerunner 965. Android users wanting a balance of smart features and fitness data should lean toward the Galaxy Watch 7. For budget-conscious users, Amazfit’s Balance 2 is an excellent option. And for users who want something slim and fuss-free, the Fitbit Charge 6 is a no-brainer.


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