The best fitness trackers of 2024: Tested and reviewed

Check out our full review of the Fitbit Inspire 3.

Who it's for:

If you don't want a small smartphone on your wrist at all times, the Fitbit Inspire 3 is a simple, easy-to-use pick for a fitness tracker. Whether you're low-tech and need something for basic health and fitness metrics, or you just don't want to spend a small fortune on a smartwatch, the Inspire 3 offers everything you need and nothing you don't. It has a comprehensive suite of health and fitness tracking features, a slim, low-profile design, and a straightforward user interface that makes it a great pick for most people. And, at sub-$100, it's budget-friendly, too.

Why we like it:

During testing, reviewer Sam Stone mentioned that nearly every function worked perfectly. From step tracking to sleep monitoring to automatically detecting workouts, Stone said that "The Fitbit Inspire 3 fit seamlessly into my existing workout routine, and seeing some analytics even pushed me to work harder in some cases."

Stone noted that the battery life of the Inspire 3 was a bit shorter than advertised, and he also had some slight issues with the SmartWake feature and heart rate monitoring during incredibly sweaty workouts, though neither were dealbreakers. Potential buyers should also note that the Inspire 3 does not include GPS functionality like the Fitbit Charge 6 (which we're currently testing).

"Sure, there are one or two kinks that could be worked out," said Stone. "But overall it’s an incredible device that is super helpful for someone hoping to get into a fitness routine, or push themselves that much further at the gym.

Check out our full review of the Whoop 4.0.

Who it's for:

For people interested in in-depth sleep and recovery tracking, the Whoop 4.0 gives more data points than any user could wish for. The sleek tracker measures your daily activity strain, heart rate, sleep quality, and more to give you a daily recovery score. You'll fill out a questionnaire each day that helps you see how different factors (like alcohol and stress) impact your overall recovery. This tracker doesn't have a screen, which means fewer distractions during the day, but it does require a $239 per year membership, which adds up in comparison to other trackers that are a one-and-done purchase.

Why we like it:

During testing, reviewer Sam Stone didn't mind the lack of a screen with step and heart rate tracking that most other fitness trackers tout, and was instead able to stay more focused on his workouts while testing the Whoop 4.0. Stone also noted that Whoop's habits journal helped him note the effect of alcohol on his sleep and habits that affected his mental health. Though Stone mentioned that parsing through all the data that Whoop offers was "akin to taking the SAT," he also says that the Whoop 4.0 "is a fitness band that is built to create a workout routine that will stick."

Check out our full Oura Ring review.

Who it's for:

Known for its sleep tracking features — including a negative temperature coefficient sensor that scans while you snooze — the Oura Ring is a low-profile fitness tracker that gives users in-depth info about their sleep, workouts, recovery, mindfulness, and more. Sleep tracking is where this device shines though, and Mashable Senior Editor Chris Taylor says "I was mostly impressed with the quality of sleep tracking." If you care more about wellness and health tracking than workout-specific tracking, Oura is where it's at.

Why we like it:

Taylor says he found himself booting up the Oura app nearly every morning to check on his sleep quality. "You get not just a sleep score out of 100, but also a readiness score and a short paragraph that reviews your progress and predicts how you're going to face the challenges of the day, such as working out."

Oura also claims it can tell users when they're getting sick before symptoms even show up, and says it can predict menstrual cycles accurately based on temperature variability. Though Mashable staff hasn't tested those last two features, Oura is definitely at the top of its game when it comes to wellness and prediction features.

Check out our full review of the Apple Watch Series 9.

Who it's for:

If you're already knee-deep in the Apple universe, the Apple Watch Series 9 will easily integrate into your lifestyle. The Precision Finding feature is ideal for iPhone users who are constantly losing their phones, and it comes with 64 GB of storage, making it great for folks who like to store a lot of music on their watch. If you have a Series 6 or earlier Apple Watch, we recommend springing for the Series 9 upgrade. "But if you already have a Series 8, or even a Series 7, there are few reasons to upgrade right now," says Mashable Senior Editor, Stan Schroeder.

Why we like it:

Though it doesn't look much different than its predecessor, the Series 9 comes with a solid screen improvement from the Apple Watch Series 8, making it easier to read in direct sunlight and causing less squinting when looking at it in the dark, according to Schroeder. He also notes that Apple's latest watch features an impressive new A15 bionic chip, a 64-bit dual-core processor, and a four-core Neural Engine — bringing up to 30% faster performance than the Series 8. It's worth noting that the Apple Watch Series 9 is currently being sold without a blood oxygen sensor, due to an ongoing patent dispute.