The Best Fitness Trackers in 2025: A Detailed Guide to Smartwatches, Rings and Wearables

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The Best Fitness Trackers in 2025: A Detailed Guide to Smartwatches, Rings and Wearables

As fitness technology continues to evolve, 2025 is shaping up to be a revolutionary year for the best fitness trackers. From advanced smartwatches that monitor everything from heart rate variability to stress levels, to compact fitness rings that provide 24/7 insights, the market is rich with tools to help you track, analyse, and optimise your health and performance.

Whether you’re a runner, a hybrid athlete, or someone simply looking to become more active, finding the right tracker can make a huge difference in staying consistent and motivated. But with so many options out there, choosing the best fitness tracker in 2025 can feel overwhelming.

In this guide, we’ll walk through the top fitness trackers of 2025, looking at smartwatches, wristbands, chest straps, and rings. We’ll assess them based on accuracy, features, battery life, usability, and integration with other tools—so you can find the perfect companion for your fitness journey.

What to Look for in a Fitness Tracker in 2025

Today’s fitness trackers go far beyond step counting. The best ones combine heart rate tracking, sleep analysis, GPS, VO2 max estimation, readiness scores, and more, often powered by AI and machine learning.

When choosing a fitness tracker, it’s important to consider:

  • Accuracy: Especially for heart rate, calorie burn, and GPS.
  • Battery Life: No one wants to charge a device every day.
  • Form Factor: Comfort matters—wristbands, rings, and chest straps suit different preferences.
  • App Ecosystem: Integration with training software (like Strava or Apple Health) adds value.
  • Data Insights: Good trackers translate data into meaningful recommendations.

Now let’s explore the top performers in each category.

Smartwatches

Apple Watch Ultra 3

Apple has remained a powerhouse in the smartwatch market, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, launched in early 2025, is their most rugged and feature-rich version yet.

It’s designed for endurance athletes, triathletes, and outdoor adventurers. It includes dual-frequency GPS, an always-on retina display, and new sensors for skin temperature, blood oxygen saturation, and stress monitoring. Apple’s Fitness+ integration is seamless, and the redesigned Activity Rings now provide recovery insights based on heart rate variability and sleep trends.

Battery life has improved significantly, offering up to 60 hours in low-power mode—a massive upgrade from previous generations.

Best for: iPhone users, triathletes, and those wanting a premium all-in-one smartwatch.

Reference: Apple Newsroom. https://www.apple.com/newsroom

Garmin Forerunner 965 Pro

Garmin continues to lead the way for serious endurance athletes. The Forerunner 965 Pro, released in mid-2025, builds on the 955 with improved AMOLED display and even more accurate multi-band GPS tracking.

Garmin’s reputation for fitness-first functionality shines here. The watch supports advanced training load analysis, suggested workouts, recovery time, and race prediction features. It’s also integrated with TrainingPeaks and Strava.

It has excellent battery life too, lasting up to 23 days in smartwatch mode and 42 hours in GPS mode.

Best for: Runners, cyclists, triathletes, and Android users wanting top-tier fitness insights.

Reference: Garmin Official Website. https://www.garmin.com

Garmin Vivoactive 5

If you’re after a versatile, mid-range fitness smartwatch that doesn’t compromise on key features, the Garmin Vivoactive 5 is a fantastic choice. It offers a sleek AMOLED display, all-day health monitoring, and built-in sports apps tailored to both gym workouts and outdoor activities.

What sets it apart is its comprehensive fitness and wellness tracking, including stress tracking, sleep insights, Body Battery energy monitoring, and guided breathwork sessions. It also supports animated workouts for strength, cardio, yoga, and Pilates—making it ideal for users who like visual guidance.

With GPS, heart rate monitoring, and up to 11 days of battery life in smartwatch mode, it’s more than capable of supporting hybrid athletes and casual fitness enthusiasts alike.

Best for: Everyday athletes and users looking for all-in-one tracking in a sleek and reliable package.

Reference: Garmin Vivoactive 5. https://www.garmin.com/en-GB/p/893644

Samsung Galaxy Watch 7 Pro

For Android users who want a balance of fitness and lifestyle features, the Galaxy Watch 7 Pro is a compelling choice. It now includes a BioActive Sensor 2.0, capable of measuring heart rate, ECG, blood pressure, body composition, and blood glucose trends.

Its fitness tracking features are well-rounded and have improved sleep tracking algorithms, personalised coaching, and automatic workout detection for over 100 activities.

Battery life sits at around 80 hours, depending on use.

Best for: Android users seeking a balance between health, productivity, and smart features.

Reference: Samsung Newsroom. https://news.samsung.com/global

Fitness Rings

Oura Ring Generation 4

The Oura Ring Gen 4 has cemented itself as one of the best fitness and recovery rings on the market. The discreet design fits snugly on your finger, making it perfect for 24/7 wear. The new version includes continuous heart rate tracking, skin temperature sensors, and SpO2 monitoring.

Its strongest features lie in sleep tracking, recovery scores, and readiness insights. Oura’s AI-powered app offers daily suggestions based on your physiological state, making it popular among both recreational and elite athletes.

Battery life ranges from 4–7 days, and the ring is water-resistant up to 100m.

Best for: Sleep optimisation, minimalist wearers, and athletes focused on recovery.

Reference: Oura Health. https://ouraring.com

Ultrahuman Ring AIR

The Ultrahuman Ring AIR is gaining attention in 2025 as a strong Oura competitor. It’s lighter and thinner than previous versions and focuses on metabolic health and movement readiness. It integrates with Ultrahuman’s glucose monitoring system and provides real-time insights into how lifestyle choices affect recovery and performance.

This ring also excels in tracking stress, body temperature, and HRV, while offering personalised biofeedback through its companion app.

Battery life lasts around 6 days, with wireless charging.

Best for: Biohackers and athletes interested in metabolic health and glucose monitoring.

Reference: Ultrahuman Official Website. https://ultrahuman.com

Chest Straps and Arm Bands

Garmin Heart Rate Monitors: Precision Tracking for Every Athlete

Garmin continues to lead in heart rate monitoring technology, offering a range of devices tailored to various fitness needs.

Garmin HRM-Pro Plus: This advanced chest strap monitor provides real-time heart rate data and captures running dynamics, making it ideal for serious athletes. With onboard memory, it stores data during swims or activities without a connected device. The redesigned battery compartment allows for easier battery replacement, enhancing user convenience.

Garmin HRM-200: A versatile and comfortable heart rate monitor, the HRM-200 offers accurate heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV) data. It’s compatible with a wide range of Garmin devices and fitness apps, ensuring seamless integration into your training regimen.

Garmin HRM-600: The latest addition to Garmin’s lineup, the HRM-600 features a rechargeable battery and a detachable module, allowing the strap to be machine-washed. It introduces new metrics like ‘Step Speed Loss,’ providing deeper insights into running efficiency.

These Garmin heart rate monitors offer reliable and precise tracking, catering to both casual fitness enthusiasts and professional athletes.

Polar H10 Heart Rate Monitor

For those who demand maximum accuracy, especially during interval training or strength workouts, the Polar H10 remains the gold standard. While newer in 2025 versions are available, this tried-and-tested monitor remains extremely reliable.

It uses ECG-style monitoring for unmatched heart rate precision, and integrates with major fitness apps and devices. It’s especially useful for HIIT, CrossFit, and cycling, where wrist-based sensors may lag.

Best for: Athletes needing high-accuracy heart rate data during intense training.

Reference: Polar Global. https://www.polar.com

Wahoo TICKR X 2nd Gen

Wahoo’s updated TICKR X chest strap now supports real-time running dynamics, including cadence, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation. It stores up to 50 hours of workouts without needing a phone nearby and has improved Bluetooth and ANT+ connectivity.

It’s compatible with Zwift, Peloton, Strava, and most major platforms.

Best for: Data-driven runners and cyclists.

Reference: Wahoo Fitness. https://www.wahoofitness.com

Wrist-Based Fitness Trackers

WHOOP 5.0 Strap

WHOOP has been a favourite among serious athletes for years, and the WHOOP 5.0 continues that legacy. It focuses entirely on recovery, strain, and sleep rather than steps or calories. WHOOP tracks HRV, resting heart rate, respiratory rate, and now includes skin temperature and blood oxygen sensors.

The companion app provides strain scores, detailed sleep metrics, and readiness guidance, helping you know when to push and when to rest.

Unlike most wearables, WHOOP uses a subscription model, which includes device access and software.

Best for: Recovery-focused athletes and those training for performance.

Reference: WHOOP. https://www.whoop.com

Fitbit Charge 6

The Fitbit Charge 6, released in early 2025, brings Google’s AI integration and new health tracking features. It includes 24/7 heart rate tracking, ECG, skin temperature, stress management, and automatic exercise recognition.

It’s more affordable than smartwatches but still offers detailed insights via the Fitbit app. Battery life reaches around 7 days, and it integrates with both Android and iOS.

Best for: Casual users wanting good tracking at a lower cost.

Reference: Fitbit. https://www.fitbit.com

Which Fitness Tracker Is Best for You?

The best fitness tracker in 2025 depends on your goals, lifestyle, and budget. If you want an all-in-one smartwatch with premium features, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 or Garmin Forerunner 965 Pro are top-tier choices. If recovery, sleep, and minimalism are your priorities, the Oura Ring or WHOOP Strap may be better fits.

For data junkies or those with specific training goals, chest straps like the Polar H10 or Wahoo TICKR X offer unbeatable accuracy. And if you’re after affordability without sacrificing performance, the Fitbit Charge 6 still holds strong.

Ultimately, the best tracker is the one that helps you stay consistent, measure what matters, and support your health in a sustainable way.

References