Everyday walkers
If steps, distance and regular workouts are your focus, start with a comfortable tracker and an app you will use. Which? tests show why accuracy deserves attention alongside the number of advertised sensors.
Who is each option for?
Outdoor runners and cyclists
If you want routes and pace without taking your phone, look for built-in GPS. Garmin describes the vívosmart 5 as using a smartphone’s GPS, while UK Fitbit Charge 6 listings specify built-in GPS.
Swimmers and notification-focused exercisers
For swimming, match the manufacturer’s permitted water use to your activity rather than relying on a rating alone. If calls and messages also matter, check the watch’s phone requirements and whether its charging routine suits you.
What should you check before choosing?
Fitness tracker
Choose it when: Steps and routine workouts matter more than extensive phone features.
Trade-off: A model with connected GPS needs your phone for outdoor route recording.
Built-in GPS wearable
Choose it when: You want to record outdoor routes without carrying your phone.
Trade-off: Built-in GPS does not establish the accuracy of every exercise measurement; Which? tests devices for differences in tracking accuracy.
Smartwatch
Choose it when: Calls, messages or apps matter as much as workout logging.
Trade-off: Phone-dependent features and the charging interval need checking for the exact model.
Smart ring
Choose it when: You prefer a screen-free device and are happy to view activity information in an app.
Trade-off: Ring fit matters, and Oura says detailed insights and personalised guidance require membership.
Once you have chosen a form factor, check the measurements and everyday conditions that matter for your own routine.
| Priority | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Tracking accuracy | Look for independent tests of the steps, distance or exercise measurements you plan to use. Do not treat a list of sensors as an accuracy result. | I want records that are useful for following my routine. Which? reports that some tested trackers over- or understate steps and distance. |
| Outdoor routes | Distinguish built-in GPS from connected GPS, which uses a paired phone. Check which outdoor activities the model records. | On runs or rides without my phone, route recording matters; if I normally carry it, connected GPS may suit my setup. |
| Fit and charging | Check band or ring sizing and comfort during your activities. Read the usage conditions behind a battery-life claim. | I would rather choose a device I can wear comfortably and charge around my exercise schedule than rely on an advertised duration alone. |
| Phone and app | Confirm the supported phone operating system, setup requirements and functions available through the companion app. | My current phone needs to work with the wearable, especially if I want notifications, route views or workout summaries. |
| Swimming | Read the exact model’s permitted-water-use instructions and check for the swimming workout mode you need. A resistance rating alone does not cover every water activity. | If I swim, I need the manufacturer’s guidance to cover my kind of session, not just a water-resistant label. |
| Membership and data | Identify features that require membership. Review app permissions, sharing controls and privacy information before setup. | I want to know what works without an ongoing subscription and how my activity information will be handled. |
Common buying mistakes
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Assuming every tracker has phone-free GPS
A connected-GPS band uses the paired phone for outdoor route recording. Garmin explicitly describes the vívosmart 5 as connecting to a smartphone’s GPS.
If you plan to leave your phone behind, check the exact model for built-in GPS before ordering.
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Reading water resistance as permission for any water activity
Swimming and other water activities can fall under different manufacturer instructions; a resistance number does not settle how a device may be used.
Check the permitted activity and after-use care for your exact model rather than inferring suitability for diving from a swimming claim.
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Choosing by sensor list alone
Which? testing reports that some trackers over- or understate steps and distance or struggle with heart-rate measurement. Fit and app usability also affect whether the device works for your routine.
Seek independent results for the measurements you care about, then consider comfort and how clearly the app presents them.
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Overlooking subscription-dependent features
Google identifies some Fitbit features as Premium-linked, and Oura says detailed insights and personalised guidance require membership.
Check which features remain available without membership, along with the current UK renewal and trial terms.
Access to those features can involve an ongoing membership charge.
Brand and product-line references
Fitbit
The Charge 6 is a compact tracker option for buyers considering phone-free outdoor routes; UK retailer information lists built-in GPS and Android and iOS compatibility.
- Google lists more than 40 exercise modes for Charge 6.
- Google identifies some Charge 6 features as Google Health Premium-linked; check what remains available without membership.
Garmin
The vívosmart 5 is a band-style option for walks, runs and rides when taking a phone is part of the plan.
- Garmin lists outdoor activity tracking using a connected smartphone’s GPS.
- That GPS arrangement does not meet a requirement to record routes without a phone.
Apple
Apple Watch is a smartwatch route for people who want exercise features alongside iPhone-linked functions.
- Apple describes routes and workout metrics among features used with iPhone.
- Check the exact watch model against your iPhone and software before choosing it.
Samsung
Galaxy Fit3 is a band-style activity option; Galaxy watches add smartwatch functions. Their requirements should be checked model by model.
- Samsung lists more than 100 exercises for Galaxy Fit3.
- Samsung’s stated battery duration for Galaxy Fit3 is based on a simulated usage pattern; actual duration can vary.
Oura
Oura Ring 4 offers a screen-free format for people content to use an app for detailed activity information.
- Oura recommends a sizing process before choosing the ring size.
- Oura says detailed insights and personalised guidance require membership, with limited functionality without it.
Joybuy trackers and watches
These Joybuy options cover band-style trackers, a built-in-GPS tracker and smartwatches for different exercise and phone-use routines. Check each variant against the features you need; the list is not a comparison of every wearable type discussed above.
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Fitbit Charge 6, Coral/Champagne Gold, 3 months Google Health Premium
A compact option to consider for outdoor routes without carrying a phone: UK listings identify Charge 6 as having built-in GPS. This variant’s name states a seven-day battery claim and includes three months of Google Health Premium; check the usage conditions and which features require membership afterwards. Confirm the manufacturer’s instructions before using it for swimming.
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Fitbit Inspire 3, Midnight Zen/Black
Consider this tracker for everyday activity and outdoor workouts when you carry a compatible phone. Its listed connected GPS uses the phone for route recording, so it does not meet a phone-free GPS requirement. Check the permitted water use if swimming is part of your routine.
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HUAWEI Band 11, Purple, Polymer Case
This band-style option is relevant to daily activity tracking. If outdoor routes matter, confirm its GPS arrangement before choosing it. For pool sessions, check the exact variant’s permitted water use and care instructions.
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Apple Watch Series 12 GPS 46mm, Space Grey, Navy Blue Sport Band S/M
This GPS smartwatch is an option for an iPhone user who wants exercise tracking alongside watch functions. Check the exact iPhone and operating-system requirements before ordering, and whether the stated charging interval suits your routine. Confirm this variant’s water-use instructions if you swim.
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realme Watch 5 RMW2501, Titanium Silver, 1.97-inch AMOLED, 1 Pack
For outdoor exercise, the product name specifies independent 5-GNSS positioning; it also lists Bluetooth 5.3 calling. Confirm compatibility with your phone and the battery duration under the settings you expect to use. Its IP68 label alone does not establish swimming suitability.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need built-in GPS for walks, runs or cycling?
Choose built-in GPS if you want to record outdoor routes without taking your phone. Connected GPS can serve you when you carry a paired phone; Garmin, for example, specifies smartphone-connected GPS for the vívosmart 5.
Can any water-resistant wearable be used for swimming?
No. Check the exact model’s manufacturer instructions for the kind of swimming you do and follow its after-use care guidance. Do not treat a water-resistance rating as permission for every water activity.
Will a tracker or ring work with my phone?
Check the exact device and the software version on your phone before buying. UK listings identify Fitbit Charge 6 as compatible with Android and iOS; Oura’s setup guidance specifies iOS 16 or later, or Android 10 or later, alongside further setup requirements.
Do I need a subscription for activity features?
It depends on the feature and device. Google identifies some Fitbit features as Google Health Premium-linked, while Oura says detailed insights and personalised guidance require membership. Check what remains available without payment and the current trial and renewal terms.
What should I check before sharing activity data with an app?
Read the provider’s privacy information and review permissions, sharing settings and account controls before syncing. The UK Information Commissioner’s Office has guidance on how organisations handle personal information through connected consumer products; a privacy setting is not a measure of tracking accuracy.