Modern fitness watches are small, smart assistants on the wrist. Measuring heart rate, navigation and a number of sports programs are now standard among smartwatches for athletes. We present to you - in our opinion - the best fitness watches for beginners and professionals who support you in every situation and in all activities. What should the timepieces be able to do? Find out now in our market overview about the current models.

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In the market for fitness watches, there are a number of providers of sophisticated technology Sports Watches and smartwatches – not to mention an almost endless number of different models. Especially beginners who want to buy a fitness watch or a smartwatch for athletes for the first time have to find their way around first. The models differ according to their sports watch functions, the materials used for the case and of course their price range.

The big manufacturers like Garmin, Suunto, Polar, Fitbit, but also the big smartwatch manufacturers like Apple familiar with the Apple Watch and Samsung with the Galaxy Watch usually have wearables in several price categories, different designs and materials and with a diverse range of features. Of course, choosing the best fitness watch depends on the intended use; this is a relatively individual matter in which various questions play a role:

• What is my budget for a smartwatch?
• For which sports and activities do I want to use the fitness clock?
• What value do I attach to the appearance of the sports watch?
• In which ecosystem do I move with my other technical devices?
• What quality and durability do I expect from my gadget?

The purposes of digital fitness smartwatches with sports watch functions are very different. Some athletes only want to wear their smartwatch during workouts, others want to use the watch all day in the office and in their remaining free time. Others would also like to use the timepiece as a smartwatch Journeys and Outdoor watch use. Most fitness watches tend to be worn through the night from dawn to dusk or even during sleep. So what should modern fitness watches do? Which model is the right one for whom? We give you the most important information about current fitness smartwatches.

Video – the best fitness watches

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Overview - the most important functions of fitness watches

• Measuring the heart rate directly on the wrist
• Distance measurement via GPS, GLONASS and Galileo
• Navigation with current map material
• High-resolution color display with reliable touch screen
• Motion sensors for the precise determination of motion sequences
• several sports programs with accurate algorithms - some watches have over 100 for jogging, weight training, cycling, Nordic walking, yoga and many more
• Powerful battery that lasts at least 18 hours
• intuitive operation (even during the workout)

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The key features of fitness smartwatches for athletes

Current fitness watches offer athletes and active people a whole range of valuable functions that can sustainably support exercisers in their workout. The new and current models in particular are much more than just nice toys - these technical gadgets offer a range of functions with extensive health benefits. Basically, when it comes to fitness watches and smartwatches, I would distinguish between a certain basic range of functions and the additional nice-to-have features.

The basic range of functions are the features that every current best sports watch should have. This includes heart rate measurement directly on the wrist and navigation via GPS, GLONASS and Galileo. In addition, many manufacturers and models have additional functions that serve as unique selling points of the respective fitness watch and are usually not that essential or are not yet viewed as such an essential feature.

The two main functions of fitness watches

The most important functions of fitness watches and smartwatches for athletes definitely include the recording of the heart rate on the wrist and precise GPS tracking.

• Heart rate recording directly on the wrist.

Nobody should buy a smartwatch today that doesn't have this function. The connection of a chest strap is still seen as important by some users and manufacturers, but in my opinion it is far too complicated and no longer up-to-date because it Heart rate measurement on the wrist works very reliably on most models.

• Reliable GPS tracking with the smartwatch

The second most important function after heart rate measurement is navigation, which should take place with the help of a built-in GPS, GLONASS and Galileo module. With the help of this function, I can record the fitness distance of the fitness watch during sports and offer, for example, when traveling Hiking, Mountain biking or other activities the possibility to navigate with maps.

Other important functions of smartwatches for athletes

In addition to these features, modern fitness smartwatches ask for a variety of sports programs that make the sports watches multifunctional. Some watches differentiate between a hundred different sport settings. On the other hand, the best fitness watch models have a variety of sensors to recognize and interpret different movements and to include them in the calculation model of calorie consumption, number of steps and the like. For some time now, some manufacturers have also been working on measuring oxygen saturation, although this has not yet become established.

The situation is different with the electrocardiogram: Smartwatches like that are becoming increasingly common Apple Watch Series 4 and the Apple Watch Series 5 the possibility of ECG recording. The Apple Watch for example, it can detect dangerous atrial fibrillation and monitor the wearer's heart rate in the background throughout the day.

Another important feature of the best fitness watches is fall detection, where the smartwatch notices when the wearer falls. This is especially for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurer important. In an emergency, the emergency call can be contacted quickly and help can be obtained. This is also a function that is expanding more and more models.

Table – the main functions of fitness watches, sports watches and smartwatches

My sports watch is my daily companion that I use during my numerous workouts. The sporty smartwatch is used even more than my smartphone. That's why I always use a very current model that meets the latest technical standards. What functions should modern fitness watches and sporty smartwatches have? Below I have put together a clear table for you that lists the most important features of current sports watches.

Smartwatch attributes	Technology used
Main material	Sports watches are often made of titanium, stainless steel, carbon or plastic. Titanium is currently state-of-the-art because it is particularly light and robust.
Cover glass material	Mineral glass is often used in cheaper smartwatches, while more durable materials such as sapphire glass or Corning® Gorilla® Glass are often used in more expensive models. Sapphire glass is particularly scratch-resistant and is often used in high-priced watches.
Bezel material	The bezel of the smartwatch, i.e. the frame around the display, is an important design element and at the same time offers functionality. It is usually made of materials such as stainless steel, titanium or aluminum, depending on the housing material chosen for the smartwatch. Some models also offer ceramic or carbon fiber bezels.
Bracelet material	Depending on the model and features, smartwatch bands can be made of various materials, including leather, metal, rubber, and synthetic fibers such as nylon. Some manufacturers also offer special wristbands that are designed for specific activities such as sports or swimming and have special properties such as sweat or water resistance.
Display	The display of a smartwatch plays an important role as it represents the interface between the user and the watch. Most smartwatches today have a high-resolution display. AMOLED or miniLED displays are often used here, which offer high resolution and color quality. AMOLED displays are characterized by color brilliance and high contrast.
Touchscreen	Most current sports watches and sports smartwatches rely on a reliable touchscreen that enables intuitive and quick operation. Many manufacturers have optimized their touchscreens specifically for use during sports to ensure smooth operation even when sweating or raining.
Color variants of the smartwatch	Modern sports smartwatches and sports watches are not only functional and powerful, but also stylish and available in many colors. The color selection ranges from simple and elegant colors such as white and black to trendy and eye-catching color combinations such as rose gold and white or silver and dark gray.
Clock functions	Today's sports watches have the typical watch functions such as time, automatic summer time change, alarm, timer, stopwatch, sunrise/sunset. In addition to the basic watch functions, many current sports watches offer other practical functions that are particularly useful for sporting activities. These include GPS tracking, heart rate measurement, calorie consumption, pedometer and distance measurement.
Fitness tracking	Fitness tracking is one of the main features of sports smartwatches. Current models offer a variety of functions to monitor the health and fitness of the wearer. These include, for example, measuring energy levels, oxygen saturation and stress levels as well as recording heart rate, ECG, breathing rate and sleep analysis.
Activity features	Activity tracking with pedometer, calorie consumption, floors, distance covered and intensity minutes is now an absolute standard for all sports smartwatches. These functions are now standard on most sports smartwatches. A pedometer is a fundamental part of activity tracking and records the number of steps taken during the day.
Main areas of smartwatch use	The range of sports smartwatches is diverse and tailored to the needs of different athletes. Most smartwatches offer a wide range of sports, from running and walking, hiking, golf and cycling to skiing, snowboarding, cross-country skiing, stand-up paddling, surfing, sailing, rowing and swimming.
Indoor tracking functions	Indoor training has become an important part of daily fitness and many sports smartwatches have recognized this. They offer comprehensive tracking features for workouts such as strength training, cardio, cross-training, stepping, stair climbing, rowing, yoga, Pilates and breathing exercises. Users can also follow training animations directly on the watch to improve their technique and movements.
outdoor features	Most current sports smartwatches also offer a variety of outdoor functions that can be particularly useful for outdoor sports such as hiking, mountaineering or camping. These include functions such as navigation with the reverse function, in which the smartwatch automatically determines the return route and shows the wearer the return route.
Heart rate measurement on the wrist	Optical heart sensors use light to detect changes in blood flow through the skin and measure the heartbeat. Electric heart sensors, on the other hand, use electrodes to measure the heart's electrical signals and create an ECG.
Pulse oximeter	A pulse oximeter is now standard equipment on many modern smartwatches and sports watches. This function measures oxygen saturation in the blood, which is an important indicator of physical fitness and health. For example, by measuring oxygen levels in the blood, the smartwatch can show signs of sleep apnea or other breathing problems.
water resistance	Most current smartwatches offer a water resistance of 5 or 10 ATM and are therefore suitable for swimming, snorkeling, showering and washing your hands. They are therefore not suitable for diving. With some models like that Apple Watch Ultra or some models from Suunto and Garmin can even be scuba diving to 40 meters.
Battery Life	The battery life of a sports smartwatch depends on various factors such as usage intensity, model type and activated functions. In general, smartwatches consume more power than special sports watches. A good sports smartwatch should last at least a whole day with intensive use, i.e. around 18 hours.
Position tracking	Many sports smartwatches today use GPS, GLONASS and GALILEO to precisely determine the wearer's position. GPS is the best known and most widely used standard. GLONASS is the Russian counterpart to GPS and GALILEO is the European satellite navigation system.
Sensors	Typical smartwatch sensors integrated into current sports watch models include an optical heart rate sensor, an electrical heart rate sensor, a pulse oximeter, a barometric altimeter, a compass, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a pulse oximeter, and GPS.
SmartWatch features	Sports watches and sports smartwatches usually have typical smartwatch functions such as telephony, notifications, SMS reply, calendar, weather, music functions, phone search and payment functions. There are some sports watches and sports smartwatches that offer additional special functions in addition to the typical smartwatch functions.
Compatibility	There are essentially two different streams of smartwatches on the market. The first group includes the Apple Watch, previously only with the Apple iPhone compatible. The second group includes smartwatches running the Google Wear OS operating system, which are compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
Connections	Most current sports watches and sports smartwatches connect to the smartphone via Bluetooth® to synchronize data and display notifications. ANT+® is another wireless transmission standard used by some sports watches and fitness trackers to communicate with external sensors such as heart rate monitors or bicycle speed sensors.
Weight	A sports watch or smartwatch usually weighs between 30 and 60 grams. However, there are also models that are slightly heavier or lighter depending on size, material and functions.

What should fitness watches and sports watches be able to do in the future? 

Future fitness watches should also be able to measure blood sugar - without having to make a puncture. This feature is still in progress. It will be interesting to see how the manufacturers want to implement this technically. In the future, the best fitness watches are likely to get many other useful features that they use as smartwatches in daily use in sports, leisure and in the office, as well as Sports watch on travel make it even more indispensable.

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Sports watch ranking: Which are the best fitness watches?

Below we will introduce you to a few selected fitness watches that we consider to be some of the best fitness watches for athletes at the moment. However, the selected watches are only our own opinions - there are numerous other models that you might like.

Ranking	Smart watch model	Description
1.	Apple Watch Incredibly	Outstanding outdoor smartwatch with many sports functions
2.	Apple Watch Series 8	Best all-round smartwatch
3.	Apple Watch Series 7	Sport Smartwatch with precise readings
4.	Apple Watch Series 6	The Apple Watch Series 7 very similar but smaller display
5.	Samsung Galaxy Watch 4	Best all-round smartwatch for Android fans
6.	Garmin Epix 2	Garmin's top outdoor smartwatch with AMOLED and touchscreen
7.	Garmin Fenix ​​7	Similar to the Garmin Epix 2 but without the AMOLED display
8.	Suunto 9 Peak	The Suunto high-end model with an award-winning design
9.	Apple Watch SE 2	Entry-level smartwatch from Apple with fewer features than Apple Watch Series models
10.	Suunto 7	Suunto Smartwatch with AMOLED display
11.	Samsung Galaxy Watch Active	Slimmed down Galaxy Watch for athletes
12.	Garmin Quatix 6	Interesting special watch for sailors and water sports fans
13.	Garmin Fenix ​​6 Pro	Garmin's popular outdoor smartwatch in the cheaper previous version
14.	Suunto 9 Baro	Predecessor of the Suunto 9 Peak
15.	Suunto 5 Peak	Recommended entry-level model from Suunto
16.	Polar Grit	High-end model from the traditional sports watch manufacturer
17.	Garmin Venu	Mid-range Smartwatch model from Garmin with many current functions
18.	Apple Watch Series 4	older Apple Watch Model that can definitely keep up
19.	Garmin Vivoactive 4	Entry-level sports smartwatch for the price-conscious
20.	Suunto 3 Gen2	Inexpensive entry-level model from Suunto
21.	Polar Unit	Entry-level model from Polar

In the following I will introduce you to some models that I also think are very good and that are particularly suitable as fitness smartwatches.

1. Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS Fitness Smartwatch

One of the most popular all-rounders among the best fitness watches is the Garmin vivoactive 4 GPS fitness smartwatch. The sports watch offers heart rate measurement and GPS. Highlights are the battery life of up to seven days and the high water resistance of up to five ATM. The Garmin vivoactive 4 is a fitness watch that athletes can't go wrong with. It is a solid companion in everyday life and when traveling.

2. Suunto Spartan Sports Wrist

Similar to the Suunto 9 Baro (test) is the Suunto Spartan Sport Wrist (Test) a particularly high-quality and well-thought-out fitness watch that is particularly suitable for outdoor fans and adventurers who want to actively discover everything while traveling and on vacation. The most important functions are there - Suunto also offers a very lovingly designed app ecosystem and great support.

3. Polar Vantage M Unisex allround multi sport watch

The Polar Vantage M and the Polar Vantage V are in no way inferior to the two sports watches mentioned above. The fitness watches are capable of over 130 sports, including jogging, swimming and cycling. It is waterproof and robust. The battery lasts up to 30 hours in training mode. The manufacturer also states that the optical pulse measurement on the wrist is particularly precise thanks to Polar Precision Prime.

4. Garmin fenix 6X Pro sport smartwatch

The Garmin fenix 6 Pro (test) Sports smartwatch is a watch that goes far beyond what most athletes need for their daily workout. It is a multifunctional sports watch that can demonstrate its strengths in numerous activities, especially when traveling. The smartwatch also offers a comprehensive navigation program, which of course also supports you during your workout. The high-quality and robust fitness watch also offers activity profiles for numerous sports, optical heart rate measurement and the Garmin Pay payment system. The marine version is also very appealing Garmin quatix 6 (test). 

5. Fitbit Versa 2

With the Fitbit Versa 2, the manufacturer Fitbit also has a high-quality sports watch on the market, which is characterized above all by the well-thought-out sports functions and an extensive app function system. The smartwatch has more than four days of battery life (depending on usage), can store music directly on the watch, is water-resistant to 50 meters and has attractive faces (watch faces).

6. Apple Watch Series 5

For all users who use the Apple-Ecosystem on the move is that Apple Watch a meaningful alternative. It is definitely one of the all-rounders among fitness watches that are continuously and intensively developed. Since the end of 2017 Apple Watch global market leader among smartwatches and fitness watches. We already have the smart watch in detail as Apple Watch Series 4 checked. We also put the watch through the endurance test Sauna, surfing and SUP, swimming, riding, traveling and jogging with the Apple Watch tried out. By the way, one of the little-known highlights is the abundance of exchangeable bracelets like this one Apple Watch Sport loop and the sports armbands. Conclusion: First choice for everyone who also uses iOS devices and Macs.  

7.Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 (test) is also a highly developed smartwatch for athletes and everyone who is active in everyday life and when traveling. It is the first choice for everyone who uses smartphones, tablet computers and all other gadgets in the Android cosmos. The intelligent wearable is in contrast to the Apple Watch round, which many wearers appreciate. In addition, the smart watch is subject to regular updates and receives new functions. The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active is definitely one of the best fitness watches on the market. 

FAQ fitness watches – the most important questions and answers

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Fully motivated to workout with the best fitness watch

My conclusion

I do sports every day - I go jogging several times a week and regularly to the fitness center. Sometimes I'm jogging on the beach, sometimes I'm cycling or I'm on the crosstrainer, treadmill or strength training. And honestly? I could do without anything during training, but never on music, good headphones like that Apple AirPods, Bose QC35 II, the Bose NCH 700 and the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H9 and of course not a fitness watch that records all my activities and gives me a detailed overview of my workouts in smartphone apps. I see my training progress and immediately know what I still need to improve.

On the other hand, a smartwatch can also be extremely useful for athletes in everyday life and when traveling. In the office she reminds me to get up from my desk and move around every now and then. When I travel, I particularly use the navigation functions. A robust sports watch is an important holiday gadget and an essential part of my travel equipment. Current fitness watches are real high-tech devices, so they are much more than just toys that can be nice. And which is the best fitness watch? I have a clear favorite that I always wear. But you have to find your own favorite watch according to your needs - we have now introduced you to a few great models for this.

Which fitness watch do you use or which model would you like to purchase? Share your experiences with us in the comments.

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