Fitness trackers are increasingly being bought by customers who don't want smartwatches but want the ability to track their activity nonstop.
With the aid of fitness trackers, customers can keep an eye on their health and even measure body fat without breaking the bank. Users can also have a better control of their diet and put in more physical activity per day so that they reach specific goals. Here's a roundup of the best fitness trackers that caught the attention of technophiles this year.
Fitbit Charge HR
When it comes to syncing with various operating systems on mobile devices and tracking heart rate, the Fitbit Charge HR is a good option. It's capable of pairing with iOS, Android and Windows Mobile devices and comes with a continuous heart rate tracker. It also has exercise tracking features and monitors steps taken.
The device, however, does have a few pain points that have been outlined in reviews including one by TechRadar, which points out that the Fitbit Charge HR is not waterproof and its step tracking is a "little wrong." Fortunately, these minor faults in its operation don't appear to overwhelm its positive aspects, namely that the fitness tracker comes with an affordable price tag and has a battery that lasts for four days.
Samsung Gear Fit 2
Samsung brought out the Gear Fit 2 this year and it was soon catching the eyes of those who wanted to update their old fitness tracker. The company ensured that the new tracker would be able to pair with all Android devices running KitKat (4.4) or later.
TechRadar states that there were also "improvements at nearly every turn" on the device. Among the other big changes on the device is built-in GPS, which allows people to leave their phones at home when they need to jog and track their progress. The Super AMOLED display is also wider and has an ergonomic curve that allows for a more comfortable fit when the Gear Fit 2 is placed around the wrist. Also, the design has been improved as bands can be swapped out. Core functions such as heart rate tracking and sleep tracking are similar to what is provided by other fitness trackers.
Microsoft Band 2
In the second iteration of Microsoft's Band fitness tracker, the company slightly changed the design and included a curved screen, which resulted in it fitting better around the wrist. Additionally, a new clasp was provided for the Microsoft Band 2 and the battery was placed behind it.As for its core features, it includes heart rate tracking, sleep tracking and tracking of daily activities such as the number of steps taken. There are also 11 sensors on board the device including GPS. The tracker can be used with the Microsoft Health app to create workouts and even compare metrics against others. The Microsoft Band 2 can be paired with Android, iOS and Windows Mobile devices.
As fitness trackers continue to improve along with the accuracy of the data they output, the day is not very far off when sophisticated sensors arrive on these devices and they are used for more than activity tracking.
