enter value/s in increments of 1 between 39 and 1399
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Type
Fitness bands are focused on the specific tasks associated with fitness (steps, sleep, tracking heart rate etc) while smartwatches also include additional productivity and communication features.
Heart rate monitor
Heart rate monitors are a useful barometer of effort for some people and can act as a way to measure your fitness regime more precisely.
Shop Ethical rating
Shop Ethical rates the environmental and social impact of the company (not the product) using independent sources. This rating is not included in our total score. N/A means there is no rating for that company.
Ease of use score
We set up each fitness tracker on Android, iOS and Windows where available and score how easy they are to set up and wear, and how well they track information via the band and via the related app.
enter value/s in increments of i between 39 and 87
Comfort score
We use a panel of six people (3 men and 3 women) and get them to try on each fitness tracker. They rate how easy it is to put on and take off the band, how easy it is to adjust to get the best fit, and how comfortable the band is to use and wear daily. The scores are then averaged.
enter value/s in increments of i between 27 and 85
Step count score
We measure how accurately each fitness tracker measures steps. Accuracy depends on what you put in as your height, weight and, in some cases, pace length, and the technology used by the fitness tracker.
enter value/s in increments of i between 80 and 100
Food tracker
A food tracker built into the smartphone app used by the fitness band means you can log your intake of food throughout the day.
Sleep tracker
A sleep tracker claims to be able to measure when you are active in your sleep.
Milestones
Motivational points in your training regime. Models vary between supplying preset goals and allowing you to customise your milestones.
Notifications
While fitness tracking is the main purpose for these devices, notification of a text or phone call coming in from your smartphone can be very handy.
GPS
Built-in GPS. Some models also include GLONASS (the Russian version of GPS). Models that support GPS and GLONASS should deliver the fastest position identification.
Android app
Whether or not the device works via Android, the smartphone operating system.
iOS app
Whether or not the device works via iOS, the Apple smartphone operating system.
Availability
A Similar model is identical in most aspects except for a few. This means that a majority of its test results are identical so you can reasonably expect to get the same results from the model we tested, but for those aspects which aren't identical, we'll note these as "Not Tested" in the Compare tables.
A Tested model refers to a model that is still current and available in the Australian market. You should be able to order this model through your local retailer, or find it online.
These models can't be found in retailers or online or are no longer manufactured. You may still find them on second-hand websites, or in second-hand dealers. Test methods may change over time, so criteria which can't be directly compared will contain an N/A.
An Identical model is exactly that. Performance characteristics will be identical and the only difference will be something trivial such as colour, which won't have an impact on performance.
These are models we haven't yet tested but that are available.
Included in this review
- CHOICE Expert Rating
- Recommended
- Ease of use score
- Comfort score
- Step count score
- Distance accuracy score
- Resting heart rate accuracy
- Active heart rate accuracy
- Satisfaction score
- Reliability score
- Good points
- Bad points
- Price
- Notifications
- Shop Ethical rating
- Waterproof or resistant
- Android app
- iOS app
- Windows phone app
- Webpage tracker
- Screen
- Digital clock
- Alarm
- GPS
- GLONASS
- Altimeter
- Heart rate monitor
- Sleep tracker
- Session tracker
- Food tracker
- Milestones
- Shares results via social media
- Weight (g)
- Claimed battery life (days)
- Bluetooth
- Warranty (years)