Whether you're a professional sportsperson or an amateur who has just started taking their fitness seriously, using the right tools can significantly make a huge difference to the effectiveness of your exercise program. Fitness watches and fitness trackers naturally come into the picture, but how do you choose the best fitness tracker that's right for you?
In this article, we will discuss your options.
Do you know, worldwide, the global smartwatch market size is expected to grow from 42.5 billion in 2025 to 92 billion in 2034, at a CAGR of 9%, with reports stating approximately 156.5 million connected watches were shipped worldwide. The Apple Watch Series remains the largest seller of smartwatches, competing fiercely with Garmin Forerunner, Samsung Galaxy Watch, and other Android and iOS-compatible devices.
Nevertheless, smartwatches are all the rage right now, and among them, sports watches are increasingly grabbing all the attention.
Key Takeaways
- Fitness watches are now essential training tools, offering heart-rate tracking, heart rate monitor, dual frequency, GPS, heart rate, and performance data to improve workouts.
- Fitness watch demand is exploding worldwide, with billions in revenue and strong competition across brands.
- Choosing the right fitness watch depends on criteria like sensors, heart rate tracking, heart rate monitoring, battery life, comfort, display quality, heart rate monitor, dual frequency GPS and app compatibility.
- The year's best fitness tracker models offer different strengths: Samsung for comfort, Huawei for battery, Apple for iOS users, Garmin for outdoor athletes, and Withings for health data.
- These fitness watches act like mini personal trainers, helping with calorie tracking, heart rate, sleep, heart rate monitoring, distance, speed, and recovery.
- Battery life varies significantly, from multi-week durability to daily charging depending on GPS multisport and feature use.
The Popularity of the Sports Watch
Unlike traditional watches, the smartwatch syncs with a mobile phone and does more than just show the time; it is more of a sports coach than a timepiece!
With more and more people desiring to stay healthy and fit, training watches are coming in very handy and are an invaluable choice for people looking to stay fit and healthy.
In many ways, these watches complement your smartphone. You can install apps on them, they are equipped with a GPS function, offer storage for music as well as a whole suite of tasks which both the newbie sportier and professional athletes will find very useful, like:
These fitness watches also come equipped with advanced heart monitors, long battery life, touch screen, blood rate monitor, and resting heart rate monitoring, making it easier for you to stay on top of your fitness goals.
But with so many watch brands out there, how do you go about selecting the best training watch for your needs?
In this article, we will cover the top 5 sports watches out there.
Tips for Choosing a Sports Watch
Rather than relying on exercise machines, why not take advantage of modern technology? With the numerous features they come with, running watches serve as more than just connected wristbands. In fact, they are increasingly becoming an indispensable tool in all types of sports.
A great fitness watch will help optimise your exercise training just like a personal trainer. It can help you:
Calculate the distance covered (using the GPS function)
Measure your heart rate
Lose weight
Burn excess calories
Many training watches designed for extreme sports have an altimeter, a compass, a barometer, advanced GPS accuracy, as well as a thermometer.
Most mobile phone manufacturers, including Samsung, Sony, Huawei, Apple and Nokia, are in a race to offer the most competitive products in this rapidly growing market.
Whether you use IOS or Android, keep these criteria in mind when choosing a watch:
- Display - Check whether your smart watch has an LCD screen, a transflective screen, OLED screen
- Fitness features - Check how well your fitness device tracks metrics like steps, calories, distance, heart rate, recovery, and sleep.
- Processor Speed - A faster processor indicates smoother navigation and more responsive tracking.
- Inbuilt sensors - Make sure your smartwatch includes essential sensors such as:
VO2 Max
Pedometer
Gyroscope
Heart rate monitor
Camera (optional)
GPS chip
SpO2 sensor
Other Important Considerations
• Sports coach applications for guided workouts
• Wireless connectivity like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC
• Battery charging options: micro-USB, magnetic cable, or wireless charging
• Battery autonomy — does it last up to 3 days or more?
• Water resistance, often up to 50 meters
• Look and design, including thickness, strap material, and colour options
These factors will help determine the value, RRP, and long-term performance of a watch.
Does your training coach have to use exercise machines? Well, not if he has a smartwatch! You can also check out the home fitness equipment you can buy to complement your fitness watches.
Top 5 Sports Watches of the Year
There are just so many connected watch brands out there, we cannot mention them all. But here's a list of the ones we think are the best.
1. Samsung Galaxy Watch 8
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 is a recent version and a part of the 2025 lineup. With it being 11% thinner than the Galaxy Watch 7, it is the slimmest Galaxy Watch yet. Its sleek profile ensures you can wear it all the time, even when you are sleeping or doing your workouts.
Touted as the “most comfortable Galaxy Watch ever”, the Galaxy Watch 8 with the Dynamic Lug System sits comfortably on your wrist, with minimal gaps offering greater stability and a snug fit. It is so weightless that you will barely notice you are wearing it.
Features
- The Watch 8 runs Google Wear OS 6 along with Samsung's custom One UI 8 Watch interface, optimising the user interface and providing users access to better updates and more app variety, making it a strong contender among today’s health fitness wearable options..
- The new Multi-Info Tiles and Now Bar provide easy access to health metrics, weather, events and more – all in a single, quick look, quite similar to features found in best fitness trackers.
- The built-in S Health app tracks the optical heart rate, resting heart rate, heart rate monitoring, heart rate tracking, blood oxygen, and physical activity of the wearer and comes with new health features that enable one to live a healthier life.
- For instance, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 8 features a new Running Coach that trains you for marathons and provides you with personalised plans—making it comparable to top models like the Garmin Fenix Pro, Garmin Forerunner Music, and other health fitness tracker devices with dual-frequency GPS support.
- Another intuitive feature that Samsung has introduced for the first time ever in its smartwatch is the Antioxidant Index, which detects the antioxidant and carotenoid levels present in your body and recommends a healthy diet.
- For outdoor lovers, the premium Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is the right choice. Available in four titanium finishes, the new Titanium Blue offers the longest battery life days and the most robust performance in the lineup.
Pros
- Enhanced durability
- The watch feels light on the wrist
- Has NFC active for payments
- Bright display with great visibility even in sunlight
- LTE telephone service
- Works with most Android phones, and even iPhones to some extent
- Attractive design and intuitive interface
Cons
- Battery life is good, but you need to charge daily if you have heavy GPS usage
- The new straps may not be compatible with older Galaxy Watch bands.
- Since it is a premium watch, it can be a bit heavy on the pocket
- The watch doesn’t have a rotating Bezel, which has quite a loyal following
Bottom Line: The Samsung watch sits right at the top of the pack, as one of the best options for Android users.
2. Withings ScanWatch2
Released on September 5, 2025, by Withings, the ScanWatch 2 is equipped with the advanced HealthSense 4 operating system for comprehensive health monitoring. Capable of tracking 35 biomarkers, the watch provides precise insights into overall wellness.
Compatible with both iOS and Android, the watch has a battery life of up to 35 days on a single charge, keeping you connected longer.
Features
- The AI-powered Vitality Indicator combines heart rate variability, sleep quality, respiratory patterns, and oxygen saturation to estimate energy and fatigue levels.
- Sleep tracking is enhanced with REM sleep monitoring for persons with sleeping disorders (for example, persons suffering stress, anxiety, or even depression).
- ScanWatch 2 comes with one month of Withings+, providing full access to AI-driven health tools, professional cardiologist reviews through the Cardio Check Up, and the Vitality score.
- Available in a 42 mm model in blue and silver, ScanWatch 2 combines AI-driven insights and preventive health monitoring to go beyond a traditional fitness tracker.
With ScanWatch 2, we are harnessing the latest in predictive AI to go beyond simple tracking. When powerful technology is combined with user-friendly design and seamless data sharing, it can turn everyday measurements into meaningful, proactive healthcare that truly impacts outcomes.
Éric Carreel, Founder and President of Withings.
Pros
- Has a very long battery life
- Tracks a wide range of health metrics
- The Withings+ subscription provides you with advanced health insights
- Provides real-time notifications
Cons
- Does not have built-in GPS
- The Withings Plus is a paid version with a lot of features being locked behind this paywall
- It uses a proprietary charging cradle, making it incompatible with other charging pads.
- Priced at around 494 SGD, it is expensive
3. Apple Watch Series 11
On September 9th, 2025, Apple announced the release of Series 11, the latest in the Apple Watch series. With its release, Apple has discontinued the Apple Watch SE 2, Apple Watch Series 10, and Apple Watch Ultra 2.
The Apple Watch Series 11 offers 5G cellular capabilities, delivering faster performance and higher data throughput for music, podcasts, and app downloads. To improve reception in areas with weak coverage, it has a redesigned cellular antenna that supports multiple bands and can simultaneously use both system antennas when required.
Features
- The Apple Watch Series is smartwatch is designed to be the ultimate health and fitness companion, and helps alert users to the potential signs of chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) and offers new sleep insights through the Sleep Score feature while supporting heart rate, sleep tracking, heart rate monitoring, heart rate tracking, resting heart rate, and an optical heart rate sensor comparable to the best fitness tracker and best fitness trackers on the market.
- Designed for up to 24 hours of excellent battery life and featuring Ion X glass with double the scratch-resistance, the Series 11 is convenient for all-day and all-night wear. Titanium models retain their sapphire crystal front, the industry’s most scratch- and crack-resistant display material.
- With watchOS 26, users get more motivation to stay active, healthy, and connected. Features include Workout Buddy powered by Apple Intelligence, new watch faces, an innovative wrist-flick gesture, and other personalisation options to help users make the most of their Apple Watch experience and compete among fitness trackers' best options.
- The Apple Watch has a lightweight and sleek design and is of exceptional durability, ready to be with you throughout the day—whether you are at the gym, swimming, or running.
With powerful new health features — hypertension notifications and sleep score — plus longer battery life, a more scratch-resistant glass display, and 5G cellular, all in a thin and comfortable design users love, Apple Watch Series 11 is an indispensable companion that supports users’ health, fitness, safety, and connectivity throughout the day and night.
Stan Ng, Apple’s vice president of Apple Watch and Health Product Marketing.
Pros
- Apple Watch 11 has FDA-approved alerts for hypertension
- Battery lasts over 24 hours and charges quickly
- Improved cellular connectivity with 5G support
- The display screen is twice as scratch-resistant
- Includes a new sleep feature
- UI works seamlessly with iOS
Cons
- Uses the same processor as previous models
- Only minor design changes
- Lacks dual-band GPS
- Gesture controls remain limited to preset actions
4. Huawei Watch GT6 Pro
Huawei recently launched the GT6 Pro, which is ideal for sports enthusiasts who are looking for a top fitness watch. The wristwatch is just perfect for sports, and comes with:
GPS chip
Heart rate monitor
Excellent battery life
Digital Compass
Gyroscope
Accelerometer
Features
- The large, bright 1.47-inch AMOLED screen is a highlight of this watch and offers 3000-nit visibility and a premium look that blends well with both workout gear and formal wear.
- Where the watch excels is in the health and fitness tracking department. It offers heart rate and blood oxygen (SpO₂) monitoring, along with sleep and stress tracking, plus a new emotional well-being feature. It also supports ECG readings, which provide valuable insights into heart health.
- Battery life remains a major advantage, often reaching 9–14 days of excellent battery life depending on usage. Sleep insights are clear, helpful, and easy to understand, and new cycling metrics like virtual power add depth.
Pros
- Up to 21 days of battery life
- 100+ sports modes
- Premium materials are used, like a titanium frame and sapphire glass
- Bright AMOLED display
- Advanced health features (ECG, SpO₂, skin temperature, HRV, stress, sleep)
- Accurate dual-band GPS
Cons
- Limited smart features compared to Apple/Garmin
- The Huawei Health app can be buggy or clunky
- No LTE / Wi-Fi on-watch
- May not fit small wrists
- Some user reports of build issues
5. Garmin Fenix 8 Pro
Garmin’s latest GPS watch offering is the Fenix 8 Pro, a premium fitness watch with built-in LTE support and satellite connectivity to handle voice calls and text messages without needing a paired phone. Unlike other watch series that have only one-way emergency satellite messaging, Garmin has a two-way satellite communication facility.
- The device also delivers LiveTrack location sharing, weather updates, and on-wrist satellite communication via Garmin's InReach service, ensuring reliable GPS connectivity even in remote areas. This Garmin Forerunner-class technology places it much ahead of many Android and iOS-compatible devices and fitness trackers.
- The watch is available in AMOLED and MicroLED display variants, with the 51mm AMOLED variant lasting up to 27 days while the micro-LED version provides up to 10 days on a charge, while rivals can last for one- or two-day max. For those comparing price, rrp, or life days, this is one of the best options out there.
The Fenix 8 Pro has a full suite of tools for performance, navigation, health, and wellness. These include:
- built-in support for running, cycling, swimming, climbing, skiing, golfing, and watersports
- VO₂ max, endurance score, hill score, and recovery time
- structured training plans and suggested workouts tailored to your goals
Pros
- It has its own inReach LTE and satellite subscription service
- It allows for real-time location sharing even without a phone
- Has a long battery life
- It is very durable, thus making it ideal for outdoors
- The micro-LED display has an ultra-bright display at ~4,500 nits
Cons
- At $1598 plus, the Garmin Fenix 8 Pro is an expensive fitness watch
- To use satellite imaging features, you need to take their subscription service
- The watch might feel a bit heavy on thinner wrists
- Some users report random reboots and bugs
Discover these other sports gadgets for the keen sportsperson.
So what are you waiting for? Go grab one of those and make the most of your training! Let your watch be your personal trainer! Do you want to add additional fitness equipment to your training schedule? See what other fitness equipment is out there to use in gyms.
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