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A fitness tracker is a slim band built to count your steps, sleep and heart rate for days on a charge. A smartwatch is a tiny computer on your wrist that also tracks fitness. That’s the short version. The line blurs more every year, though, so here’s how to tell which one you actually want.
| Fitness tracker | Smartwatch | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Slim band | Bigger watch-style screen |
| Battery | About 5 days to 2 weeks or more | About 1 to 2 days (Apple, Samsung, Google), up to weeks for some others |
| Apps | Few or none | App stores, maps, music, payments |
| Notifications | Basic alerts | Read and reply to messages |
| Sleep tracking | Excellent, comfortable in bed | Good, but charging can get in the way |
| Price | Lower | Higher |
What a fitness tracker does best
Trackers like the Fitbit Charge 6 and Xiaomi Smart Band are made to disappear on your wrist. They’re light, comfortable to sleep in, and they last a week or more. You get steps, heart rate, sleep stages, workouts and simple notifications. Some, like the Charge 6, even have built-in GPS. For most people who mostly want health stats, that’s everything.
What a smartwatch does best
A smartwatch like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch adds a bigger screen, real apps, message replies, calls, tap-to-pay, maps and music. Safety features like fall detection are more common on smartwatches too. The trade-off is battery life and price.
The in-between options
Long-battery watches from Garmin and Amazfit blur the line. They look like smartwatches, last weeks like trackers, and skip most third-party apps. If you want a watch-style screen without daily charging, look there first, starting with our list of smartwatches with the longest battery life.
And if you don’t want anything on your wrist at night, a smart ring does the tracker job from your finger.
Which should you get?
Get a fitness tracker if you mainly want steps, sleep and heart rate, you hate charging, or you’re on a budget. Get a smartwatch if you want to leave your phone in your pocket more, you want apps and payments, or safety features matter. Our fitness tracker buyer’s guide and smartwatch gift guide have specific picks for both.
FAQ
Is a smartwatch better than a fitness tracker?
Not better, just different. A smartwatch does more, while a fitness tracker lasts longer and is more comfortable for sleep tracking.
Can a fitness tracker show text messages?
Most can show notifications. Replying is limited or not possible on most trackers.
Do fitness trackers have GPS?
Some do, like the Fitbit Charge 6. Many use your phone’s GPS instead.
Which is better for sleep tracking?
Usually a fitness tracker or smart ring, because they’re comfortable in bed and don’t need nightly charging.
Which costs less?
Fitness trackers generally cost less than full smartwatches.
