The 2 best fitness trackers, and what real users and critics say about them

Time to get in shape for the new year. Photo credit: undrey / 123RF.

In a nutshell: Forget about a gym membership that you’ll stop using after a few weeks – start the new year right with a gadget that will help you stay fit in realistic ways. After parsing through lots of reviews and comments, here are the two best fitness trackers for 2017. Importantly, both support iPhone and Android. One of these will surely be the right choice for you.

Fitbit Charge 2

• US$150
• Pliable and good-looking band in choice of six colors
• Fitbit app can’t pull data into Apple Health

Photo credit: Fitbit.

First launched September 2016, the Fitbit Charge 2 is the top pick of many reviews – as is the identically priced Garmin Vivosmart HR+, making them closely matched rivals with a lot of similar features.

So let’s make a list of where Fitbit’s Charge 2 surges ahead: greater style, a more premium feel, a slimmer band, better-rated companion app, bigger screen, OLED display that’s brighter and has deeper black, interchangeable bands, cardiovascular fitness score, and guided breathing exercises.

Photo credit: Fitbit.

The arch-rivals are identical in quite a lot of ways, such as tracking steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, floors climbed, active minutes, reminders to move, a battery life of five days, optical heart rates monitors, and automatic sleep tracking.

One notable Fitbit omission is GPS. The Charge 2 requires your phone to be nearby if you want GPS tracking and routes information related to your run or ride.

While the Charge 2 doesn’t have a true touchscreen, it can be tapped – firmly – so as to cycle through your main fitness data. The stainless steel button on the side goes through the menu options.

Fitbit’s eponymous app tops Garmin’s in terms of positive reviews in the app store.

Garmin Vivosmart HR+

Verdict