I decided to get more serious about my fitness journey shedding a few pounds and generally getting active. I thought tracking progress and staying on top of notifications would help, so I started looking into smartwatches that double as fitness trackers. I wanted something reliable for step tracking, heart rate monitoring, and definitely notifications so I wouldn’t miss anything while exercising. There are so many options out there, from budget-friendly to premium ones with every feature under the sun. Here’s what I found on a few models that stood out across different budgets, plus some tips on what to look for in a smartwatch if you’re on the same journey.
What to Look for in a Smartwatch for Fitness Tracking
Health Tracking Basics: Make sure the watch can handle the essentials—step count, heart rate, calories burned, and possibly sleep tracking. Some even track SpO2 levels and offer guided workouts.
Notification Features: It’s convenient to get call, message, and app notifications on your wrist, especially during workouts.
Battery Life: Fitness tracking, notifications, and GPS can be battery-draining. Look for one that lasts at least a couple of days without needing a charge.
Comfort and Style: Since you’ll wear it all day (and night, if you’re tracking sleep), find one that’s comfortable and suits your style.
Budget: There are quality options across all price points, so you don’t need to splurge to get good features.
Recommendations Based on Personal Testing:
Amazfit Bip U Pro: The Amazfit Bip U Pro is perfect for those who want the basics at a low price. A friend of mine swears by it, especially for steps, sleep, and basic heart rate tracking. It’s lightweight and comfortable, so you barely feel it on your wrist, and it covers the essentials pretty well for casual fitness tracking. The battery life is decent too, easily lasting up to a week, which is a big win for anyone not wanting to charge constantly.
Mi Smart Band 7: The Mi Smart Band series is great for fitness tracking on a budget, and the Band 7 is no exception. I used it for a while and found it handy for tracking steps, workouts, and even oxygen saturation levels. It’s super compact, and the battery lasts about 10 days, which is impressive for a fitness tracker. The app connectivity and notifications are smooth, making it a solid pick if you’re after something lightweight and affordable but still reliable.
Realme Watch 3 Pro: This one was recommended to me by my brother who is really into both fitness and style. The Realme Watch 3 Pro offers a crisp AMOLED display and does a great job with detailed fitness metrics, including sleep analysis and SpO2 monitoring. The display is actually super sharp, making it easy to read even under sunlight, which is useful for outdoor workouts. It also has a speaker and mic for answering calls—a surprisingly handy feature!
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5: The Galaxy Watch 5 is a bit of a splurge, but I tried it out at a store and was blown away by its performance. It feels incredibly premium, with features like body composition analysis, GPS tracking, and stress monitoring. The accuracy is top-notch for both fitness and health metrics, and the screen is beautiful. Battery life isn’t stellar, especially with GPS on, but it’s manageable if you are okay charging it every night or two. If you are looking for something reliable with advanced features, this one is definitely worth considering.
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen): I got to use an Apple Watch SE 2, and for anyone in the Apple ecosystem, it’s fantastic. The fitness features are solid tracking steps, heart rate, and workouts easily. It even has a high/low heart rate alert, which I found handy. The display is sharp, and notifications work seamlessly with an iPhone. The battery life is okay, around a day and a half with moderate use, so it’s a bit of a commitment if you’re not a fan of frequent charging. Still, it’s a great companion for fitness tracking and daily use.
My Takeaway
For my needs—balancing fitness with notifications on a budget I leaned towards the Realme Watch 3 Pro, which offers a bit of style with solid performance and decent battery life. If you’re trying to get fitter while staying connected, a good smartwatch can be a fun and motivating tool. Whether you go for budget or premium, just make sure it has the features you’ll actually use and that it feels comfortable enough for all-day wear.
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I’ve been using the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 for about six months now, and it’s been a great companion for my fitness and daily tasks. The body composition analysis feature is genuinely insightful, especially when tracking progress beyond just weight. GPS tracking is super accurate, which is great for outdoor runs, though it does drain the battery quickly. The stress monitoring and guided breathing exercises are nice touches too, and I’ve found myself using them more often than I expected. That said, I do wish the battery lasted a bit longer—it’s fine for a day, but I’m charging it almost daily if I use GPS or track long workouts. How do you find the Realme Watch 3 Pro’s battery life? Does it hold up better with notifications and fitness tracking turned on, or is it similar to the Galaxy Watch?
The Realme Watch 3 Pro holds up well for its price range. With notifications and fitness tracking turned on, it comfortably lasts around 3-4 days, even with moderate usage. It’s not in the same league as a basic fitness band in terms of battery life, but it definitely performs better than something like the Galaxy Watch 5 when it comes to charging frequency. GPS usage does reduce the battery quicker, but not to the point where it needs daily charging unless used heavily. If daily charging feels like a hassle, this might feel like a more practical option for you.
I do a lot of swimming as part of my fitness routine, so I’m looking for a smartwatch that can handle pool workouts and open-water swims. I know some smartwatches say they’re water-resistant, but not all of them actually work well for swimming.
Do you have any recommendations for a watch with good waterproofing and swim tracking features? How do the Realme Watch 3 Pro and Amazfit Bip U Pro hold up in the water?
Just because a smartwatch is ‘water-resistant’ doesn’t always mean it’s ideal for swimming. If you’re serious about swim tracking, you’ll want a watch with at least 5ATM water resistance (which means it’s safe for swimming, but not diving). Out of the ones I tested:
Amazfit Bip U Pro – It has 5ATM water resistance and actually offers a dedicated swim tracking mode, so it’s great for pool workouts. It tracks laps, strokes, and duration. If you’re looking for something budget-friendly that can handle swimming, this is a solid pick.
Realme Watch 3 Pro – Unfortunately, it’s only IP68-rated, which means it’s okay for splashes and rain but not ideal for swimming. I wouldn’t recommend it if you plan to wear it in the pool often.
If you’re okay spending a bit more, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 and Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) both offer great swim tracking and can even detect different swimming strokes. They’re pricier, but if swimming is a key part of your fitness routine, they might be worth considering!
Most smartwatches I have seen need an app to work properly. I do not mind installing one, but I do not want something that constantly drains my phone battery or asks for too many permissions. How dependent are these watches on their apps? Can they store data on their own if I do not sync every day?
Almost all modern smartwatches and fitness trackers rely on companion apps for detailed insights, firmware updates, and notification settings. However, they can store basic data like steps, heart rate, and workouts internally for a few days usually up to a week before syncing. Budget models like the Mi Smart Band 7 and Amazfit Bip U Pro use lightweight apps that do not significantly drain your phone battery once set up. Premium watches like the Galaxy Watch 5 or Apple Watch have more features and background syncing, which can impact phone battery life a bit more. If you want minimal app involvement, go for a simpler tracker and turn off continuous syncing it will still log your activity and update only when you connect it.
I often wear watches for long hours, and I have small wrists. Some smartwatches look bulky and uncomfortable, especially for sleep tracking. Which of these feels light enough to wear all day and night without being annoying? I want something that does not feel like a heavy gadget.
Weight and size make a big difference when you are wearing a smartwatch for 24 hours. Among the ones I tried, the Mi Smart Band 7 and Amazfit Bip U Pro are the lightest and most comfortable they feel more like slim fitness bands than watches. They do not dig into your wrist during sleep, and the straps are soft enough for extended wear. The Realme Watch 3 Pro is still light but has a larger face, which might feel bulkier if you have smaller wrists. Premium models like the Apple Watch SE and Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 are heavier and more noticeable at night, so if comfort is your priority, a lighter band-style tracker will work better.
I have been thinking of getting a smartwatch mainly to reduce phone distractions while working. I do not really care much about advanced health metrics, but I want good notification handling and at least basic step counting. Are budget models like the Mi Smart Band 7 enough for that, or do I need to look at something pricier?
If your main goal is to cut down phone interruptions and just track steps, the Mi Smart Band 7 is likely sufficient. It handles notifications from most apps reliably you can read messages, see calls, and dismiss alerts without needing your phone. Its vibration is strong enough to catch your attention, and it keeps things simple. The only limitation is that you cannot reply to messages directly from the band, which some higher-end models allow. If you think you might eventually want features like quick replies or more detailed app integration, something like the Realme Watch 3 Pro would be a better step up without jumping to premium pricing.