Fitness trackers in test: these are the best trackers of 2020

Comparison of sports wristbands

If you want to play sports or analyze your performance, you should get a fitness tracker. These can be used to record physical activity, pulse and sleep. Netzwelt tested and compared the best fitness trackers.

The temperature is getting higher and higher, and although the spread of coronavirus may continue to limit life in Germany in 2020, you should not exercise irregularly. After all, physical exercise can strengthen your immune system, which is more important than ever during a pandemic. So on this page we have summarized fitness trackers that you can use to record important vital data. Since you should be very careful when running outdoors at this time, we will first summarize some safety instructions for you.

You can find out who we are, how to get test equipment, and how to fund the online world on the Transparency page.

table of Contents

1. Test domain overview

2. Can I run despite the danger of coronavirus?
   

3. Should consider when buying
   

   1. Special feature
      

   2. Comfort
      

   3. application
      

   4. Data exchange between fitness tracker and other devices
      

4. Brand brand
   

   1. Xiaomi
      

   2. Garmin
      

   3. Qualification honor
      

   4. Polar
      

   5. Samsung
      

   6. Fitbit
      

   7. Huawei
      

   8. Tom Tom
      

5. Frequently asked questions about fitness trackers
   

   1. How do I wear a fitness tracker?
      

   2. How accurate is the fitness tracker?
      

   3. How does a fitness tracker measure heart rate?
      

   4. How does a fitness tracker measure blood pressure?
      

6. Can a fitness tracker evaluate my running quality?
   

   1. How does a fitness tracker measure sleep?
      

7. Replace fitness trackers: Smartwatch and other alternatives
   

   1. smart watch
      

   2. Fitness app
      

   3. Fitness tracker without display
      

Can I run despite the danger of coronavirus?

To limit the harm of the new coronavirus, the German government recommends that all citizens stay at home and be isolated from society as much as possible. Still, exercise is especially important for the immune system, and you can even exercise caution. Despite the prohibition of access, personal outdoor sports are generally allowed. However, because there are sometimes different regional rules, you should know the regulations in your location before running on the Internet.

Suitable for isolation: With these apps and gadgets, you can stay healthy article Sports in the home office You also don't have to do no exercise at home. We show you apps and gadgets that will keep you healthy in the Corona Quarantine. Read now

When running, you should also make sure to keep a safe distance of at least two meters from other joggers or passersby. This will reduce the risk of infection. You should definitely avoid parks or all other places where crowds gather. If you live in a house with a garden, it's best to do some exercise there before going out. Currently, exercising at home is preferable to exercising outdoors. For example, AOL fitness studio Les Mills offers nearly 100 videos for free. Regardless, online gyms are currently very good choices to prevent the quarantine area from rusting.

Fitness tracker: take this into consideration when buying

First, features are the focus of fitness trackers. Pay attention to the purpose of wearing and using the sport armband. Features like a pedometer or pulse measurement are undoubtedly essential to daily life. For many, this includes more and more analysis of their sleep. So if you want to get back to health, you should also value reliable sleep tracking.

Fitness Tracker: Functional Range

If you're an ambitious hobby athlete who exercises almost every day, the tracker provides more data depth and more detailed analysis, which may also be interesting. For example, vívosmart4 can measure your VO2max value or perform a pulse oximeter. However, these are only estimates. The PhD professor explained to us the accuracy of the VO2max algorithm. At the request of Lars Donath of Cologne University of Sport, Germany.

"VO2max can theoretically be estimated from data collected by modern fitness trackers, especially from measured heart rate. However, this estimate is never enough to reliably detect performance-related differences Guidelines. However, manufacturers do not disclose their algorithms and therefore cannot make any claims about the accuracy of individual products. "

You should also note that not all fitness trackers have integrated GPS to record running or cycling routes, so it depends on the corresponding signal from the smartphone you are carrying. If you need your phone to listen to music while running or cycling, this purchase decision may have less impact on you. If you can use your smartphone without smart motivation, integrated GPS may be the decisive option.

The fitness tracker is less waterproof than the processing process. Generally, most equipment has a water resistance of 5 ATM. For "ordinary" athletes, this proof must be sufficient, as the tracker can also be worn while swimming or showering. However, if you are a lower-level diver, you should look around for more specialized equipment.

Fitness Tracker: Comfortable

Beyond functionality, design and comfort cannot be ignored. If you have a fitness tracker, you can try it in the store. Because, as already mentioned, sports devices are increasingly stuck overnight, so 24/7 is on the owner's wrist. In addition, when trying, you can also determine if you are allergic to the material of your bracelet.

Fitness Tracker: Application

The companion app that belongs to the fitness tracker cannot be understated in operation and processing. If an application does not display the data recorded by the tracker in an attractive and clear way, it can severely limit the user experience. We added screenshots of the accompanying application to the test report to give you a first impression of the program. Ratings in the app and Play Store also give you an idea of ​​the benefits of supporting software. If you are using an older smartphone, you should also make sure that the application is also compatible with your operating system.

Data exchange between fitness tracker and other devices

If you use other smart devices (such as WLAN scales or similar gadgets) in addition to fitness trackers, it is recommended to exchange data between the devices so that you can better understand your fitness level. However, not every application can share its data with other health platforms. You should consider this when buying a fitness tracker. The following table briefly outlines the compatibility of the most popular platforms.

Note: We have done our best to determine the data in the table. However, compatibility across platforms may change rapidly. For example, Samsung stopped working with Fitbit, Runkeeper and other third-party services in September 2018. If you find an error in the form, please leave us a message. We will then update it.

Fitness Tracker: Brand

Is your heart beating for a brand? no problem! Below we examine the range of fitness trackers from popular manufacturers.

Xiaomi's fitness tracker

At least since Xiaomi officially sold its products in Germany, manufacturers' affordable fitness trackers have become increasingly popular. That's right, because Xiaomi MiBand 4 ranked first in our comparison test, and no other manufacturer currently offers features such as heart rate sensors and OLED displays at such low prices. In addition, the battery life is excellent.

Garmin fitness tracker

American manufacturer Garmin not only owns various navigation systems, but also part of fitness and exercise trackers. Here you can choose devices from the hobby area, such as vívosmart4 and vívofit4 or other professional wearables designed for divers or triathletes.

Honor's fitness tracker

Huawei subsidiary Honor has also been providing fitness trackers in Germany. The current model is called Honor Band 5 and is similar in many respects to the test champion Xiaomi Mi Band 4.

Polar fitness tracker

Polar from Finland also offers more fitness trackers, smart watches and heart rate monitors. You can even find horses' heartbeat belts in this range. In testing, we first looked at the popular A370 fitness tracker. Compared to the previous A360, the biggest innovation is undoubtedly the permanent heart rate measurement, but the battery life will be affected. To this end, you can measure the distance covered by your smartphone's GPS signal, and sleep analysis can also provide more detailed results. The appearance has not changed. Learn more in our review of Polar A370.

Samsung's fitness tracker

Some wearables can be found in stores of Korean manufacturers. In addition to smartwatches that also focus on sports features (such as the Galaxy Watch Active), Samsung also offers a small number of pure fitness trackers. Samsung placed the classic Galaxy Fit next to it. In our Galaxy Fit comparison test, we summarized the most important differences between the two devices for you.

Fitbit fitness tracker

Fitbit is one of the most famous manufacturers of fitness trackers and smartwatches, focusing on exercise. For example, the product portfolio includes Charge 3 or Inspire and Inspire HR. You can read more about the Fitbit Charge 3 in the linked comments. Compared to previous models, the Charge 3 has a touch display and water resistance, and can measure the relative value of SpO2, which is equivalent to a pulse oximeter.

In November 2019, it was announced that Google would take over Fitbit. It remains to be seen how Fitbit will continue to grow after the acquisition. So far, both companies have only guaranteed that user data will not be threatened by acquisitions and will not be used for advertising purposes.

Huawei fitness tracker

Logically, Huawei Band 2 Pro is closely followed by Band 3 Pro. Although the second generation couldn't really convince us, the Band 3 Pro did better in our tests. On the one hand, battery life is improved, especially when operating with both devices integrated with GPS. In addition, notifications can be displayed via Huawei Band 3 Pro.

Since January 2020, the new Huawei Band 4 series has also been launched in Germany. This includes three models. Huawei Band 4 Pro, Huawei Band 4 and Huawei Band 4e. Although the Huawei Band 4e costs only 29.99 Euros, you must learn more about the Band 4 (39.99 Euros) and Band 4 Pro (79.99 Euros).

TomTom's fitness tracker

Unfortunately, the Dutch company TomTom did not have equipment in our tests, but there are only a few options in the fitness tracker market. Many digital fitness wristbands feature an integrated GPS module, which is not surprising when you consider that TomTom primarily serves the navigation system department.

Frequently asked questions about fitness trackers

Even if the fitness tracker is no longer the latest product on the technology market, questions about digital sports bracelets often have the same legal question: How do I wear a fitness tracker? Or how does the device measure my sleep? To answer these questions, we have summarized the most important answers below.

How do I wear a fitness tracker?

Many manufacturers recommend keeping the width of your fingers between your fitness tracker and your wrist. The tape should not be too tight, but there should not be too much arm space. Because some fitness trackers measure your heart rate and get reliable results within 24 hours, you need to keep fit.

During the event, you can tighten the sport armband. So not only can you ensure that your device slips or falls on your wrist when you move your wrist quickly, you can also make sure that your heart rate or pulse is reliably measured.

How accurate is the fitness tracker?

The exact model of a fitness tracker may vary by manufacturer. An important factor is the accuracy and quality of various motion sensors. Most trackers usually contain two important sensors: an acceleration sensor and a gyroscope sensor. The horizontal and vertical and rotational movements recorded by the sensors must then be evaluated accordingly by the algorithm.

The power of the algorithm also determines how accurately the fitness tracker records steps, such as or automatically detects sleep. To improve the algorithm, devices such as the Xiaomi Mi Band 4 have functions for teaching movement.

In addition, you should pay attention to the reliability of the heart rate measurement. Many fitness trackers cannot measure tattoos or thick hair growth with LED lights and sensors. Trackers and fitness watches (such as Polar Ignite) work with optical sensors even in difficult conditions.

How does a fitness tracker measure heart rate?

Generally, fitness trackers have multiple LED lights and optical sensors on the bottom of the housing to measure the user's heart rhythm or pulse. Light is cast on or under the skin. If you have a lot of blood in your veins now, a lot of light will be absorbed and less reflected on the optical sensor. If less blood flows through your veins, more light will be radiated from the LED light back to the optical sensor. Using these measurements and algorithms, the fitness tracker can measure heart rate or pulse.

How does a fitness tracker measure blood pressure?

There are some fitness trackers on the market that function similar to professional sphygmomanometers with a cuff function, such as the Omron HeartGuide. However, these are still exceptions. Blood pressure is then measured in other fitness trackers using methods similar to heart rate and pulse measurements.

Some devices also use LED lights and optical sensors to measure blood pressure. Other bands such as the ASUS VivoWatch BP use electrodes and a red light sensor to determine your blood pressure. However, measured values ​​are more of a guideline. Because there are many test videos displayed on the Internet, many measurements made using this method are still not accurate enough.

Can a fitness tracker evaluate my running quality?

When jogging, speed and distance are not the only important factors, because after many years, you should walk towards the sunset without pain in your knees and joints. Therefore, you should also improve your running quality as an experienced runner, for example, evenly distributing the impact on your feet. You definitely have the opportunity to get support from a fitness tracker.

In this regard, Huawei Band 4e gave us clear purchase recommendations. The fitness tracker can be fixed to running shoes with a foot clip, and the 6-axis gyroscope records valuable information about running. Then you can see the rhythm of the foot, the weight distribution of different parts of the foot and much more. You can also use the Huawei Band 4e as an additional tracker to monitor your heart rhythm.

How does a fitness tracker measure sleep?

To measure sleep, fitness trackers use motion and heart rate. In this way, the fitness tracker can recognize the wrist or arm when walking or running. As a result, the tracker measures, for example, the awake or restless phase. The tracker also considers heart rate to identify different sleep stages. As Fitbit explained in an article, because each sleep phase also changes heart rate variability. The four sleep stages are:

• Fell asleep
• Light sleep stage
• Deep sleep stage
• REM period

Replace fitness trackers: Smartwatch and other alternatives

smart watch

The transition from fitness trackers to smartwatches is now smooth. Fitness trackers often have many "smart" features, such as a weather display or an incoming notification from a smartphone. In general, the biggest differences are in range of function and battery life.

Smartwatches often have applications that work with or provide functionality to the connected smartphone. And because of additional features, the battery life of a smart watch is shorter than that of a fitness tracker, which is limited to certain features. In addition, smartwatches often have larger and higher resolution displays, further reducing battery life.

Seid ihr nun doch auf den Geschmack einer Smartwatch gekommen, haben wir im folgenden Vergleich vier ausgewählte Geräte für euch zusammengestellt. Alternativ könnt ihr euch auch einen größeren Überblicken unichsch verwatch

Fitness-Apps

Doch reicht euch vielleicht nicht auch eine Fitness-App für das Training? Hierbei kommt es darauf an, wie viel Wert ihr auf die Präzision bei der Aufzeichnung legt und was ihr für Sport macht. Geht ihr einmal wöchenichichltururf und zig , könnt ihr sicherlich auch zur einer App greifen. Wollt ihr euch jedoch gewissenhaft mit euren Ergebnissen auseinandersetzen, hilft vor allem ein Herzfrequenzmesserös Coaching-supplier euges der der gauer der gauer Brustgurt ermitteln.

Top 15 Fitness-Apps: Mit Smartphone und Smartwatch in Form bleiben

Zur App-Übersicht

Fitness-Tracker ohne Display

Eine besondere Art der Fitness-Tracker stellen unter anderem der Samsung Charm oder der FitBit Flex 2 dar. Sie kommen ohne Display aus und geben euch lediglich über LED-Leuchten Hinweise. Die Funktionen sind bei diesen Modellen im Gegensach zu noeren fitness geringer. Auf einen Schrittzähler, Distanzmessung und Kalorienverbrauch könnt ihr meistens dennoch zählen.