The Best Fitness Tracker In Australia 2024: The Most Accurate Health And Fitness Monitoring Devices [Updated Monthly]
Fitness and health monitoring devices are the hottest trending products in 2024, and for good reason. Thanks to leaps forward in medical-grade sensors, battery life, and computing power, the time is right to buy.
That said, the Aussie fitness tracker market is cluttered with cheap knockoffs and dodgy internet sellers. Even well recognised brands are rushing to put out subpar product that is not worth your hard earned dollars. This is where we come in…
If you are thinking of purchasing a new smartwatch, our list (updated monthly) will help you make the best choice with a focus on health monitoring accuracy, build quality, and overall value for your money.
Walkabout FitBand XP: Editor’s pick for best health monitoring product – $150.00 at Mifo.com.au
Where to buy the Walkabout FitBand XP health monitoring band in Australia
The best all day fitness band including heart rate monitor, stress levels, sleep, and physical fitness come from a brand that is new to Australia. But don’t let that scare you off, as this professional grade body function tracker is easily one of the best we have ever tested.
Walkabout FitBand XP: Editor’s Choice Rating 4.7 out of 5.0
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$150.00 tax inclusive at Mifo.com.au – free 2-day delivery ►
Why the FitBand XP is the best all around health tracker for daily health monitoring
- Advanced health and wellness monitoring. With six distinct medical sensors and a number of other instruments, the FitBand XP provides an absurd amount of data about your body 24/7. That adds up to a much better understanding of your own body (did we mention it also measures stress levels?). Data is seamlessly stored and analysed for opportunities to improve your daily routine.
- The best health band for active lifestyles, period. The Walkabout FitBand XP comes with a bevy of features that improve the tasks of the day immensely, beginning with its form factor. Weighing in at what feels like a few grams, the XP feels supremely comfortable, which is critical given our next point on battery life.
- Absurd battery life. The FitBand XP can be used continuously for 10 days, a feat we tested over several weeks. With rigorous use beyond what most users will experience, we were able to squeeze about 9 days of battery life out before using the included magnetic USB charging cable with rapid charge function. Nearly every other fitness tracker on the market costing 2-3 times more have just a third of the battery life.
- Australia-based customer support. We have been continuously disappointed with health tracking products in the past, even from tech giants like Whoop. Part of that disappointment comes with poor or absent customer service. We tested Walkabout on several occasions with questions and every time received proper replies within an hour. That demonstrates commitment to Australian market and contributes greatly to our award of Editor’s Pick.
Fitbit Charge 6: A decent fitness tracker with comfort problems – $232.89 at Amazon.com.au
Where to buy the Fitbit Charge 6 in Australia
While the first versions of the Fitbit Charge were less than perfect, the Google-owned tech giant is finally finding its stride. And if the astronomic price tag doesn’t scare you, then the Charge 6 may be the smart watch product you have been waiting for.
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Why Fitbit gets our moderate approval for the Series 6
- Style that comes at a cost. Fitbit have engineered a product that looks and feels simply spectacular to wear. The numerous band and bezel styles are complemented by a large format touch screen that is sharp and easy to read. The materials look and feel absolutely superb. If that matters to you, and you are willing to pay for it, you will not be disappointed.
- Built by Fitbit, for everyone. Unlike some other brands, the Fitbit Charge 6 is designed to work seamlessly with a variety of devices, not just within a single ecosystem. This makes it a versatile choice for anyone, regardless of whether you use an Apple, Android, or other devices. Fitbit has done a great job of making the Charge 6 experience seamless, including finding lost devices and multi-point connectivity. This product is designed with a wide range of devices in mind.
- Some impressive technical specs. Fitbit has made significant strides in battery life and processing speeds with the Charge 6. Updates have been substantial, ensuring that this version stands out from its predecessors. The Charge 6 offers robust performance and longevity, making it a reliable companion for everyday use.
- Built for health and tailored for you. One technical area where Fitbit excels is in the powerful diagnostic kit contained in the Charge 6. The medical-grade sensors are accurate and capture a surprising amount of data. To truly take advantage of that information, you will need to ensure apps and devices are fully compatible with Fitbit’s health software, and be comfortable with Fitbit holding on to your data.
Whoop 4.0: Comfort and accuracy with annoying subscription plan – $379.00 at Amazon.com.au
Where to buy the Whoop Strap 4.0 in Australia
The famed Whoop strap has big bucks for big marketing, but has been surpassed in recent years by cheaper competitors with more health sensing power. The price is high, and the included app is polished. But the biggest problem is the subscription plan, which signs you up for a lifetime of monthly fees with no real benefit compared to other brands offering the same service at no cost.
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How Whoop stumbles on features and price
- Comfort and design is well thought out. The Whoop Strap 4.0 is designed for 24/7 wear, with a sleek and lightweight design that doesn’t get in the way. Made from high-quality materials, it’s both durable and comfortable on the skin.
- Comprehensive app experience. The Whoop app offers detailed insights into fitness, recovery, and sleep. Its user-friendly interface makes understanding your data easy, with features like strain coaching and sleep optimization being particularly valuable.
- Recurring fee is a big downer. A downside is the recurring fee required to access Whoop’s health monitoring services. Unlike other fitness trackers, Whoop operates on a subscription model, adding significant ongoing costs.
- Device cost is high for a no screen fitness tracker. The initial cost of the Whoop Strap 4.0 is high, making it a considerable investment. Combined with the subscription fee, this premium device may be too costly for some users despite its advanced features.
Garmin Vivoactive 4: Solid but pricey health tracker – $340.99 at Amazon.com.au
Where to buy the Garmin Vivoactive 4 smartwatch in Australia
If you aren’t price sensitive, Garmin may be the brand for you. This rugged smartwatch comes with fewer features than the Walkabout Watch 2, but offer a more generalist approach to the format.
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Why Garmin makes the list of best smartwatch products for health
- Good overall quality for the smartwatch category. Since smartwatches were invented, we have lamented at poor battery life, dropped calls, and pairing fiascos. Garmin has included top quality chipsets and firmware, and we were pleased with the overall experience.
- Rugged features for travel and recreation. Inbuilt GPS functionality allows the Garmin Vivoactive 4 to connect and transfer data without a smartphone device. This means added streaming and location capabilities that may be critical when out on the road. Unfortunately these features drain battery rapidly, resulting in only 4-5 hours of continuous use when active.
- Excellent marks for feature quantity, but usability suffers. While it is clear Garmin want you to have every recreational feature at your disposal, the exhaustive feature list comes at a cost. The size and weight of the device is noticeable and can get uncomfortable on all but the largest of wrists. Coupled with a complex setup and user interface, and we were frustrated more than once when attempting to initiate a feature or setting.
Apple Watch Series 7: A health tracking watch that lives up to the Apple name – $599.00 at Amazon.com.au
Where to buy the Apple Watch Series 7 in Australia
While the first versions of the Apple Watch were less than perfect, the American tech giant is finally finding its stride. And if the astronomic price tag doesn’t scare you, then the Series 7 may be the smart watch product you have been waiting for.
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Why Apple gets our approval for the Series 7
- Massive style that comes at a massive cost. Apple have engineered a product that looks and feels simply spectacular to wear. The numerous band and bezel styles are complemented by a large format touch screen that is sharp and easy to read. The materials look and feel absolutely superb. If that matters to you, and you are willing to pay for it, you will not be disappointed.
- Built by Apple, for Apple. If you live and breathe the Apple ecosystem there is no better smartwatch than the Series 7. But if you ever interact with non-Apple devices, the high price tag may start to seem less than ideal. Apple have done a good job of making the Series 7 experience seamless within their own walled garden, including finding lost devices and multi-point connectivity. But buyer beware, as this product was designed with Apple only devices in mind.
- Some mediocre technical specs. We were somewhat surprised to find Apple have not met other manufacturers when it comes to battery life and processing speeds. In typical Apple fashion, updates have been incremental. This is, after all, the 7th version of the Watch released to date.
- Built for health, but may not work for you. One technical area where Apple shines is in the powerful diagnostic kit contained in the Series 7. The medical grade sensors are accurate and grab a surprising amount of data. To truly take advantage of that information you will need to ensure apps and devices are fully compatible with Apple’s health software, and be comfortable with Apple holding on to your data.
Runners-up: Best Bands For Health Monitoring
There are many, many fitness tracking bands in the Australian market. And while we attempt to test as many as possible for our readers, some units simply don’t make the cut. Here’s a quick peek at health monitors that didn’t make the list.
Fossil Gen 5 Carlyle – $298.00 at Amazon.com.au
Fossil is well known for affordable yet stylish timepieces, so we were not surprised to find them entering the smartwatch space. While the Carlyle is just fine in a number of categories, it fails to excel in any one. What we end up with is a jack of all trades that is not useful for specialized needs.
Fitbit Versa 3 – $349.95 at Amazon.com.au
Fitbit are known as a producer of simple, easy to forget you are wearing fitness trackers. In our opinion, they should stick to the simpler is better model and away from the smartwatch space. The Versa 3 is not particularly good at anything other than basic smartwatch functions, and adds an unnecessary accessory if your primary concern is health tracking. Perhaps in another generation or two they can improve on the model, until then buyers should avoid.
Samsung Watch 4 – $395.00 at Amazon.com.au
The Samsung Watch 4 is an admirable attempt at a movement oriented, powerful smartwatch. But a clunky interface, lack of usable features, and strange design choices prevent us from recommending the Watch 4. Samsung have notably improved on products as they mature, and perhaps their smartwatch category will follow suit.