The Charge 5 is easily Fitbit’s best tracker, which is enough to make it a safe choice for anyone looking for an activity band.

It covers all the basics – tracking steps, distance, calories burned, hourly activity, heart rate, swim-tracking and advanced sleep; not to mention it has most of the company’s exclusive top-end exercise features too, including Active Zone Minutes.

Its built-in GPS and health measurements mean it closely matches the more expensive Fitbit Versa 3 smartwatch too, though bear in mind that the most comprehensive tracking features are locked behind the paid Fitbit Premium plan.

Our only complaints are very occasional performance stutters, the removal of an altimeter (to count floors climbed) and a few features that Fitbit has been slow to add, but those shouldn’t put you off grabbing the Charge 5, as it’s constantly getting improved upon (thanks to frequent software updates from Fitbit).

If you don’t mind a monochrome display, you can also always check out the older
Charge 4 and save some money too.

Xiaomi’s latest budget fitness tracker isn’t only affordable, it packs in a range of features from basic step counting and heart-rate monitoring, sleep tracking and app notifications, plus new features such as bloody oxygen tracking that take the fight to fully-fledged smartwatches like the Apple Watch.

On top of the 30+ workout modes supported, five now come with automatic workout detection and the Band 6 is rated for swimming and other water-based activities too.

The underwhelming quality of the TPU bands is somewhat at odds with the quality of the tracker itself, but an expansive new 1.5in AMOLED touchscreen makes for a more premium and insightful user experience too.

You will not find better value for money, anywhere – not even in the new Mi Band 7, which we’re currently reviewing, but has jumped in price from its predecessor.

When it comes to design, the Withings Move is so classic and simple that it could pass as an everyday watch. It has the longevity of one too, using a standard watch battery that will last for a whopping 18 months.

On the fitness tracking side, the companion Health Mate app does almost everything you need it to and more, combining basic fitness tracking with sleep tracking too.

If you love the sound of the Move but want that little bit extra, check out the Move ECG too, which takes the same design but squeezes in an electrocardiogram sensor.

The Inspire 2 is the cheapest model in the current Fitbit line-up, making it an excellent entry point to tracking.

It’s still more expensive than rivals like the Xiaomi Mi Band or Honor Band, but Fitbit’s software experience and ecosystem are both excellent, so for some it may be worth paying a little extra – though paying more for a smaller, black-and-white display does sting a little.

It helps that you get 10 days of battery life, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and sleep tracking, while integration with Tile means you shouldn’t ever lose it again either. Just bear in mind that as with all Fitbits, you’ll need to subscribe to the paid Fitbit Premium plan to get every bit of data out of it.

Aside from a lack of GPS, Withings’ ScanWatch is a compelling hybrid tracker, with a classic design and rich tracking capabilities.

The name relates to its ability to more accurately get a read on your heart health than any other tracker here, albeit for a premium that makes it more of a niche proposition.

AFib detection, an SpO2 sensor, and detection of breathing disturbances like sleep apnea are smart inclusions, while the small PMOLED display grants some degree of smartwatch-like functionality on top of its fitness-tracking skillset.

If you can spend a little more, the ScanWatch Horizon offers the same excellent health features in a heftier dive watch design.

If you want a running watch that lasts several days on a charge, tracks your workouts effortlessly, spits out insightful data, and won’t bug you with notifications, the Polar Pacer is it.

The Pacer supports a variety of exercise types but the focus is on running, with GPS tracking and a post-workout ‘running index’ to let you know how you’ve performed across a variety of metrics.

If you’re trying to get into running, or even if you’re already hitting the trails, the Pacer will prove an excellent addition to your kit with strong battery life, a superbly readable display, lightweight construction, and the smarts to show you how you are performing and to help you improve.

If its luxurious design, not to mention the promise of up to 14 days battery longevity, isn’t enough to convince you, the Huawei Watch GT 3 also brings some of the most robust fitness tracking to the series yet.

It may look like a smartwatch, but really it lacks a full smart feature set, and is instead focussed on impressive fitness tracking abilities.

It includes support for over 100 workout types; tracking everything from heart rate and VO2Max, to altitude and pace. The AI-powered running coach and Healthy Living Shamrock are also on-hand to help improve both fitness and well-being too.

Available in a range of designs and two casing sizes (46mm and 42mm), the GT 3 series presents itself as an impressively flexible offering. And if you can afford it, the Watch GT 3 Pro takes the same tracking and jumps to a choice of slick titanium and ceramic designs.

The Fitbit Ace 3 is built to suit childrens’ rough-and-tumble lifestyle, providing both kids and parents with simple but insightful activity and sleep tracking data.

The Ace 3 serves as a way to motivate kids to get more active, but in a roundabout way, could also incentivise the whole family to get fitter together (provided everyone involved has a Fitbit of their own to wear).

Older kids might want to look for a tracker with a little more oomph, however, as the Ace 3 offers a cut-down range of fitness and notification features compared to Fitbit’s ‘adult’ trackers. It counts steps, logs Active Minutes, and monitors basic sleep patterns, but lacks heart-rate tracking.

The Honor Band 6 is one of the cheapest fitness trackers around, even coming in cheaper than Xiaomi’s latest.

Despite that you get a large colour display, 5 ATM water-resistance, both stress and sleep tracking, and a brilliant two-week battery life.

You’ll have to put up with a limited selection of exercises, and there’s no GPS or NFC, but at this price that won’t matter much.

The Fitbit Luxe is essentially an Inspire 2 with a colour AMOLED display. It features the same tracking tech and smart features as its cheaper cousin, but at a higher price to accommodate the full colour screen.

It’s designed to look the part in more ways than one though. The metal body is a step up in sturdiness from the Inspire 2, and it not only comes in a variety of colours but also features a whole host of different swappable bands (sold separately, of course).

That makes this the Fitbit for anyone who cares about style as much as substance, though either the Inspire 2 or Charge 5 will do better if performance is your priority.