The best fitness trackers for every level of skill (and motivation)

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You can’t buy motivation. But, you can buy a fitness tracking device that lights a fire under your ass to take more than 500 steps in a day, and that’s not nothing.

The rhetoric around fitness has changed quite a bit over the past few years (as made clear by Every Fashion Brand Ever releasing a line of matching leggings and sports bras). We can thank the self-care revolution for this one. Actively monitoring your fitness progression isn’t just for athletes or people training for their hometown’s 5K — and this was not the case when I was in high school. It’s a building block of wellness that people are baking into their daily groove, just like keeping up with a skincare routine or eating your vegetables. Read more…

More about Fitness Trackers, Mashable Shopping, Tech, Consumer Tech, and Health

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BEST OVERALL

Apple Watch Series 6

Apple’s cutting-edge tech blazes past rivals with ECG, a new SPO2 sensor, and 911 calls from anywhere.

  • Battery life: 18 hours
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Both
  • Water resistant: Yes
  • Tracks: Steps, calories, sports (including underwater), heart rate, ECG, SPO2, time asleep, fall detection, women’s health tracking

$399 from Amazon

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BEST EVERYDAY TRACKER

Fitbit Charge 4

With built-in GPS and the same week-long battery life, you can’t argue with Fitbit’s latest Charge.

  • Battery life: 7 days
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Just GPS
  • Water resistant: Yes

$149.95 from Amazon

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BEST FOR RUNNING

Garmin Forerunner 745

Smarter training insights and better tracking of a runner’s favorite paths make the 745 a true running buddy.

  • Battery life: Up to 7 days
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Just GPS
  • Water resistant: Yes (50 meters)
  • Tracks: Steps, calories, sports (including underwater), heart rate, personal running maps, SPO2, fall detection, recovery, women’s health tracking

$249.99 from Amazon

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BEST SAMSUNG WATCH

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3

Samsung’s latest is a true Apple Watch challenger, featuring better sleep tracking and the beloved rotating bezel.

  • Battery life: 24-36 hours
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Both
  • Water resistant: Yes
  • Tracks: Steps, calories, sports (including underwater), heart rate, ECG, SPO2, VO2 Max, sleep stages, fall detection

$399 from Samsung

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BEST NON-BRACELET WEARABLE

Oura Ring

The chic ring beloved by the NBA tackles sleep troubles with unique sensors for temperature and pulse.

  • Battery life: Up to 7 days
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Neither
  • Water resistant: Yes (100 meters)
  • Tracks: Sleep stages, steps, heart rate, body temperature deviation

$299 from Oura

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BUDGET PICK

Amazfit Bip U

Battery life that runs laps around Apple and more fitness modes than most Fitbits.

  • Battery life: 9 days
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Neither
  • Water resistant: Yes (50 meters)
  • Tracks: Sleep stages, steps, sports (including underwater) heart rate, SPO2, fall detection

$59.99 from Amazon

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BEST FOR STRESS

Fitbit Sense

Fitbit takes on health tracking in a new way by keeping you mindful of stress levels with a novel EDA sensor.

  • Water resistant: Yes (50 meters)
  • Battery life: Up to 6 days
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Just GPS
  • Tracks: Steps, calories, sports (including underwater), heart rate, ECG, SPO2, fall detection, stress levels

$329.95 from Amazon

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BEST INTRODUCTORY FITBIT

Fitbit Inspire 2

Score must-have health features like sleep stage detection and workout recording for under $100.

  • Battery life: 10 days
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Neither
  • Water resistant: Yes (50 meters)
  • Tracks: Steps, calories, heart rate, sleep stages, Cardio Fitness Score, women’s health tracking

$99.95 from Amazon

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BEST FITNESS TRACKER FOR KIDS

Fitbit Ace 2

A cool companion for kids who have a smartphone, the Ace 2 is a bit more advanced — but still fun.

  • Battery life: Up to 5 days
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: Neither
  • Water resistant: Yes (50 meters)
  • Tracks: Steps, distance, in-game movements, time asleep, completed tasks, plus calories burned, body fat, and women’s health tracking at age 13

$69.95 from Amazon

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BEST SMARTWATCH WITH GPS FOR KIDS

Verizon GizmoWatch 2

Verizon’s Apple Watch-like design offers the full smartwatch experience with GPS, fitness tracking, and task scheduling.

  • Battery life: Up to 4 days
  • Built-in GPS/cellular: GPS, cellular optional
  • Water resistant: Splashes fine, but don’t submerge
  • Tracks: Steps, in-game movements, completed tasks, location

$99.99 from Verizon

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