is a senior reporter focusing on wearables, health tech, and more with 13 years of experience. Before coming to The Verge, she worked for Gizmodo and PC Magazine.
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In 2025, you might wonder if Fitbit is still relevant. Despite getting acquired by Google, Fitbit remains one of the most recognizable names in the industry. Fitbit trackers aren’t meant for the most hardcore of athletes, but they’re still excellent devices for tracking overall activity as well as monitoring certain health and wellness metrics like EKGs and blood oxygen levels.
What I’m looking for How we test Collapse Fitness trackers allow you to track your health and activity. We conduct a mix of real-life testing, including napping and sleeping with them, taking them out on runs, walks, and hikes, and working out at the gym. We also evaluate how easy fitness trackers pair with iPhones and Android devices, their durability, accuracy, battery life, and performance. In cases where we test models designed for children, we test them on our own children and incorporate their feedback. Battery life Collapse Fitbits tend to have longer battery life than more advanced smartwatches. Most are estimated to last around five days, but we’ve found that some features like an always-on display can drastically impact the time between charges. So I’m looking to see what you can realistically expect with “average” use. Feature set Collapse Most Fitbits share the same basic feature set like steps, timers, and notifications. However, not every model is capable of EKG or real-time stress tracking. The same goes for built-in GPS. Does the feature set make sense given the price? Is it missing something that it shouldn’t be? Price Collapse Fitbit has often been a more affordable alternative to smartwatches, but this space has changed quite a bit in the last few years. There are more options than ever, so does this device offer good value? Who is it for? Collapse This encompasses a lot, but especially in terms of the overall form factor. If it’s for a casual user, is the design versatile enough for a variety of occasions? If it’s aimed at kids or athletes, are the straps durable enough?
You can look at how Google has handled the Nest acquisition as a road map to how things are going. The Googlefication of Fitbit will continue, but there are reasons to stick with its trackers in the meantime. Fitbit trackers are relatively affordable, especially since they often go on sale. All the devices also come with a free trial to Fitbit Premium, the company’s subscription service that adds guided workouts, meditations, and access to more in-depth metrics. So far, it appears Google takes its Pixel Watch lineup seriously, too. With the Pixel Watch 2, the company expanded extended warranty access and improved replacement options. You just have to go in with eyes wide open.
If you’re not dead set on a Fitbit in particular, check out our guide to the best fitness trackers and watches.
Best Fitbit smartwatch
The existence of the Pixel Watch, now in its third generation, has thrown a wrench into Fitbit’s smartwatch lineup. Technically, it’s a Google product, but Google owns Fitbit, so they’re all Google products now. Fitbit powers all of the Pixel Watch’s health and fitness features. But really, this is the smartwatch that Fitbit never could manage to build on its own.
The Pixel Watch 3 is a significant update over its predecessors. It finally feels like Google’s no longer playing catch-up to its rivals. This year, the screens are brighter, the bezels are smaller, and there’s now a 45mm size for larger wrists. The larger size doesn’t look chunky, either. Internally, the processor and health sensors are the same as last year, though the third-gen device has an ultra wideband chip that allows you to unlock Pixel phones and some BMW car models.
The 45mm watch (top) doesn’t appear that much larger than the 41mm (bottom) when worn on the wrist. Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge
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