This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia, which closed in 2021.

Five Fitness Trackers And How They Differ

So You Want To Track Your Fitness? This Wearable Tech Breakdown IS For You
Vector fitness app on the screen of mobile phone and tracker on the wrist - illustration in flat style
venimo via Getty Images
Vector fitness app on the screen of mobile phone and tracker on the wrist - illustration in flat style

Wearable tech is fun. It can also be pretty confusing when you’re in the market for one. Do you go for functionality -- or something more fashionable? Rubber or steel? Sleep tracker or no sleep tracker? And with the prediction that there will be more than 68.1 million wearable devices sold by the year’s out -- the market’s only getting more saturated. Here -- we’ve pulled together the best and worst bits in wearable tech right now.

Jawbone Up 3, $249

Best for: It doesn’t just measure physical activity but offers tips on how to improve fitness and sleep patterns. And you get to buddy up with friends so you can track (or stalk) their activity.

Worst for: Just for fitness, it has no smartwatch functionality which means there’s no way to be alerted for incoming calls, texts and emails.

Bonus bit: Delivers resting heart rate which is good to know for general overall health.

Fitbit Surge, $349

Best for: People wanting a fitness tracker with some of the functions of a smartwatch.

Worst for: Unlike the Apple Watch -- the screen’s backlight isn’t intuitive -- so you’ll have to tap the screen to check the time.

Bonus bit: It shows how active you’ve been over the course of each hour with a series of dots that light up for every minute. The more dots that are stacked up per minute, the more active you’ve been.

Huawei Talkband B2, from $229

Best for: Its stylish, sleek leather strap and being a wearable you actually -- er, want to wear.

Worst for: Unfortunately you’ll only get updates for incoming calls -- so no texts or emails.

Bonus bit: The removable bluetooth earpiece lets you take calls hands and wire-free. Plus it syncs with both Android and iPhone devices.

Sony Stainless Steel SmartWatch 3, $399

Best for: Runners who want to track their activity without having to lug their smartphone with them.

Worst for: It doesn’t track heart rate.

Bonus bit: Its built-in GPS function offers accurate route information and you can listen to music offline (and without your phone) via Bluetooth headset.

GolfBuddy, $279.95

Best for: The golf nut we all know who wants to slice shots off their game. It comes preloaded with 37,000 fee-free global courses.

Worst for: In golf mode, you’ll only get eight hours of battery life.

Bonus bit: The Dynamic Green View function shows you the green no matter what angle you’re approaching from.

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost Australia. Certain site features have been disabled. If you have questions or concerns, please check our FAQ or contact support@huffpost.com.