Fitness trackers have been around for a long time, but they’ve really hit their stride (ha!) over the last few years. We’ve seen a rise in popularity with leading brands including Garmin, Fitbit, and even Samsung. A good fitness tracker no longer just counts steps. It can now provide a lot of useful metrics and data, from heart rate, to stress levels, to blood oxygen saturation, and more. Others add in smartwatch features to provide even more bang for your buck. We take a look at the best fitness trackers Samsung has to offer.
Fitness trackers vs smartwatches: What’s the difference?
Before we get into it, let’s talk about an important distinction: smartwatches vs fitness trackers. As far as Samsung’s wearable portfolio goes, the only two that fit the profile of a traditional fitness band — with their smaller, vertical displays — are the Samsung Galaxy Fit and Galaxy Fit 2.
Samsung’s Active series of wearables blurs the lines between the two. They have large screens and prioritize apps and notifications, but aren’t big or heavy, and are built for the fitness-minded. On the other hand, the regular Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Watch 3 are all-out smartwatches with tracking features.
Which Samsung fitness tracker is right for me?
Samsung launched its wearable division back in 2013. It’s gone through a few iterations and name changes since then, and its current crop of fitness trackers and smartwatches are some of the best you can get. Of course, they all have their share of pros and cons that we’ll dive into a little later. Here are some quick recommendations if you’re in a hurry:
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the best Samsung smartwatch the company has to offer. Despite being slimmer and less bulky than the Galaxy Watch, it’s still a pretty big watch. It’s ideal for anyone looking for a watch with fitness tracking features, instead of the other way around.
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 is the best Samsung fitness tracker you can get right now. It blurs the line between a fitness band and a smartwatch, without compromising on either aspect.
- The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is a cheaper Galaxy Watch Active 2 alternative. It doesn’t have as many fitness features, but it’s still a decent fitness tracker if you’re on a budget.
- The Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 is the best cheap fitness tracker currently available from the company. It’s not as feature-packed as the Samsung smartwatches on this list, but it is significantly cheaper than the rest of Samsung’s offerings.
The best Samsung fitness trackers
- Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active
- Samsung Galaxy Fit 2
Editor’s note: We will update this list of the best Samsung fitness trackers regularly as new devices launch.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3: The best Samsung smartwatch
The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 succeeds the 2018 Galaxy Watch and brings a host of improvements across the board to make it one of the best smartwatches you can get right now. The much-loved rotating dial returns in its original, physical form but is more aesthetically pleasing. One of the biggest issues with the Galaxy Watch was its chunky design, and the Galaxy Watch 3 goes a long way in fixing it.
Outside of hardware and design, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 may not be the best wearable you can buy in any one particular category. Garmin and Fitbit watches are more accurate with fitness and health, and Wear OS has a better app ecosystem. But the Galaxy Watch 3 is so well rounded that it comfortably provides the best overall experience.
That said, the Galaxy Watch 3 will set you back a fair bit too. It’s a hundred dollars more expensive than the Galaxy Watch at launch, and is primed to take on the Apple Watch 5. If the hefty starting price doesn’t push you away, the Watch 3 is likely to be the new king of the Android smartwatch hill for a while.
Pros:
- Fantastic display and the rotating bezel
- Thinner, lighter design
- Two-day battery life
- Advanced running metrics can be super helpful
- Useful sleep tracking and insights
Cons:
- GPS and HR sensor can be inaccurate
- No MST with Samsung Pay
- Big price increase over original Galaxy Watch
- The setup process for non-Samsung phones is a pain
- Third-party app support is lacking
Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3.
Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 specs:
- GPS: Built-in GPS
- Heart rate sensor: Yes
- IP rating: 5ATM, IP68
- Display: 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch AMOLED
- Battery life: ~2 days
- Storage: 8GB
- RAM: 1GB
- Samsung Pay: Yes (no MST)
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2: The best Samsung fitness tracker
The Galaxy Watch Active 2 is Samsung’s latest and greatest fitness tracker with all the bells and whistles. The slick design benefits from a beautiful curved glass AMOLED display and premium build quality. The touch-enabled bezel, on the other hand, is ideal for quick operation on the move.
The attractive body houses a slew of great health-tracking features, ranging from heart rate monitoring (that alerts you if it falls within certain ranges), to GPS, to some of the best sleep tracking around. There’s also a Galaxy Watch Active 2 LTE model for those that want a watch that’s independent of their phone.
It’s not perfect, of course. The two-day battery life isn’t the best, but it’s not bad compared to most Wear OS watches, and you can charge it with a compatible Galaxy phone thanks to Qi wireless charging. The heart rate monitoring and GPS aren’t the most accurate either. There is a wealth of smart functionality though, and the Galaxy Watch Active 2 provides a great middle-ground between a fitness tracker and smartwatch.
Pros:
- Sleek, premium design
- Sharp AMOLED display
- Touch-enabled bezel for quick navigation
- Both Bluetooth and LTE variants available
- ~2-day battery life
- Fantastic sleep tracking
Cons:
- No MST payments with Samsung Pay
- Tizen app ecosystem lacking compared to Wear OS
- Heart rate, GPS, altimeter sensors can be wonky
- Setup process still needs work
Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 specs:
- GPS: Built-in GPS
- Heart rate sensor: Yes
- IP rating: 5ATM, IP68
- Display: 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch AMOLED
- Battery life: ~2 days
- Storage: 4GB
- RAM: 768MB (Bluetooth), 1.5GB (LTE)
- Samsung Pay: Yes (no MST)
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active: A cheaper option
If you like the Galaxy Watch Active 2 but don’t need all the new features and want to save some cash, look no further than the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active. This wearable is a toned-down version of the Galaxy Watch. It uses the Tizen OS and offers most of the features found on its larger sibling.
The biggest omission is Samsung’s iconic rotating crown. Without it, you have to navigate the wearable using its 1.1-inch AMOLED touchscreen (there are worse fates). With the Exynos 9110 CPU, 768MB of RAM, and a 230mAh battery under the hood, the Galaxy Watch Active will have no problem running apps downloaded from the Galaxy App store for almost two days straight.
If you own a Galaxy S10 or S20 smartphone, you can also wirelessly charge the Galaxy Watch Active on the back of the handset. Being Qi-compatible also means that you should be able to charge the Samsung fitness tracker on any of your existing wireless chargers. Unfortunately, this watch suffers from the same problems as the Galaxy Watch Active 2: its heart rate and GPS monitoring can’t be trusted all that much.
Pros:
- Lightweight and unobtrusive on the wrist
- Clean, unassuming style
- Crisp AMOLED display
- Tizen software trumps Wear OS
Cons:
- Blood pressure monitoring is a dud
- No rotating bezel or LTE version
- Irregular fitness tracking
- No MST payment with Samsung Pay
- Slow charging
Check out our full review to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Watch Active.
Samsung Galaxy Watch Active specs:
- GPS: Built-in GPS
- Heart rate sensor: Yes
- IP rating: 5ATM
- Display: 1.1-inch AMOLED
- Battery life: ~1 day
- Storage: 4GB
- RAM: 768MB
- Samsung Pay: Yes (no MST)
Samsung Galaxy Fit 2
Samsung’s latest fitness tracker, the Galaxy Fit 2, is a worthy successor to the Galaxy Fit. There are a lot of key upgrades across the board, starting with a higher resolution and larger screen. Samsung claims that you can get the battery of the Fit 2 will last for as long as three weeks, more than double what was possible with its predecessor. It also has
It retains some features of the Galaxy Fit, including activity tracking, auto sleep tracking, 5ATM water resistance, IP68 for dust and water resistance, and more. The biggest omission is active heart rate monitoring. The Fit 2 isn’t as durable as the Fit either. All said and done, the Galaxy Fit 2 is one of the cheapest fitness trackers around, which also gets the job done.
Pros:
- Fantastic AMOLED display
- Small, lightweight design
- Low price point
- Three-week battery life
- Samsung Health offers plenty of social features
Cons:
- No connected GPS
- No active heart rate monitoring
Samsung Galaxy Fit 2 specs:
- GPS: No
- Heart rate sensor: No
- IP rating: 5ATM, IP68
- Display: 1.1-inch AMOLED
- Battery life: 21 days
- Storage: 32MB
- Samsung Pay: No
Why you should trust the editor?
Not only does Jimmy Westenberg love wearables, he loves helping people find the right devices to suit their needs. He’s been our resident fitness reviewer at Android Authority since 2016 and has reviewed dozens of fitness products and other wearables in that time.
Through his rigorous testing of fitness products and deep knowledge of health devices and services, you can rest assured knowing Jimmy will give you honest recommendations.
The best Samsung alternatives
Didn’t find what you’re looking for in this list? No worries, there are plenty of fantastic fitness trackers to choose from. Head here to see the full list of the best fitness trackers out there, or see below for a summary.
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