The Garmin Vívoactive 6 (£307.99) is the best all-round fitness tracker if you want a full smartwatch experience with AMOLED display and comprehensive sport modes. However, if you’re prioritising value, the Google Fitbit Inspire 3 (£99.95) delivers solid daily tracking, sleep monitoring, and heart rate data without the premium price tag. Your choice depends on whether you need advanced features or just reliable health basics.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall: Garmin Vívoactive 6
Price: £307.99
Best for: Serious fitness enthusiasts wanting a full-featured smartwatch
The Vívoactive 6 combines smartwatch functionality with dedicated fitness tracking. Its AMOLED display is sharp and responsive, the battery lasts 11 days, and you get 30+ preloaded sports apps covering everything from running to golf. Built-in GPS, blood oxygen monitoring, and stress tracking make this a complete health companion. The silicone band is comfortable for all-day wear and workouts.
Best Value: Google Fitbit Inspire 3
Price: £99.95
Best for: First-time fitness trackers and everyday health monitoring
The Inspire 3 strips away unnecessary complexity and nails the essentials: 24/7 heart rate tracking, sleep quality scores, and activity logging. It’s lightweight enough to forget you’re wearing it, syncs effortlessly with the Fitbit app, and the battery manages 10 days between charges. There’s no GPS built-in, but it pairs with your phone’s location for outdoor runs. This is the tracker that doesn’t overcomplicate fitness.
Best for Running: Google Fitbit Charge 6
Price: £159.95 (available in Obsidian, Coral, and Porcelain)
Best for: Runners and active users wanting GPS and detailed workout metrics
The Charge 6 splits the difference between the Inspire 3 and premium smartwatches. Built-in GPS means you don’t tether to your phone, and the larger screen shows route maps and real-time pace data. You get 40+ exercise modes, SpO₂ tracking, and smart notifications. Battery lasts 7 days, which is solid for a GPS device. The aluminium case feels more durable than plastic competitors.
Best Budget Option: Amazfit Bip 5
Price: £59.00
Best for: Budget-conscious buyers wanting lightweight daily tracking
The Amazfit Bip 5 is refreshingly affordable and genuinely useful. Its 1.9-inch AMOLED display is surprisingly vivid for the price, battery stretches to 9 days, and it covers the basics: heart rate, sleep, 100+ activity modes, and SpO₂ measurement. No GPS on-device, but it pairs with your phone. Lightweight design makes it ideal for all-day comfort.
Best Premium Smartwatch: Google Fitbit Versa 4
Price: £199.95
Best for: Users wanting a smartwatch with strong fitness credentials
The Versa 4 adds smartwatch features—app notifications, contactless payments, voice assistant—while maintaining Fitbit’s health-tracking reputation. Built-in GPS, 6-day battery, and Fitbit’s proven sleep and stress algorithms. It’s pricier than the Charge 6 but justified if you want a true wearable OS, not just a fitness band.
Best for Kids and Teens: Hypergear Activ8 Smartwatch
Price: £62.99
Best for: Young users starting their fitness journey
The Activ8 offers step counting, activity goals, and game-based motivation for younger wearers. Durability and water resistance are built for rougher use. It’s not feature-rich, but that’s intentional—simplicity keeps kids engaged without overwhelming them.
Quick Comparison
| Product | Price | Best For | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| Garmin Vívoactive 6 | £307.99 | Full smartwatch experience | AMOLED display + 30+ sports apps |
| Google Fitbit Inspire 3 | £99.95 | Everyday health tracking | 10-day battery, no GPS needed |
| Google Fitbit Charge 6 | £159.95 | Runners needing GPS | Built-in GPS + route mapping |
| Amazfit Bip 5 | £59.00 | Budget-conscious buyers | AMOLED screen under £60 |
| Google Fitbit Versa 4 | £199.95 | Smartwatch + fitness | Contactless payments + fitness focus |
How We Chose
- Battery life matters: We prioritised trackers offering 7+ days between charges. Daily charging defeats the purpose of a wearable; you’ll forget it or stop using it.
- Price-to-feature ratio: We compared actual functionality against cost. The Inspire 3 at £99.95 does 80% of what premium models do; the Vívoactive 6 at £307.99 is only justified if you need smartwatch OS features or 30+ sport modes.
- GPS practicality: GPS adds £50-100 to cost but only matters if you run outdoors regularly and don’t want phone dependency. For casual walkers, phone-paired tracking is sufficient.
- Display quality: AMOLED screens (Vívoactive 6, Bip 5) are more readable outdoors and use less power than basic LCDs, but add expense. For notifications-only use, LCD is acceptable.
The Bottom Line
The Garmin Vívoactive 6 (£307.99) is best if you want a proper smartwatch that doubles as a serious fitness companion—justified for gym enthusiasts or runners. For most people, the Google Fitbit Inspire 3 (£99.95) is the smarter buy: it tracks sleep, heart rate, and daily activity reliably, charges every 10 days, and costs a third of the premium options. If running outdoors is central to your fitness, the Fitbit Charge 6 (£159.95) adds GPS without the smartwatch complexity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best fitness trackers under £100?
The Google Fitbit Inspire 3 (£99.95) is the clear winner at this price point, offering 24/7 heart rate, sleep quality scoring, and 10-day battery life. For £59, the Amazfit Bip 5 delivers surprising AMOLED screen quality and 9-day battery, though it lacks on-device GPS. Both are genuinely capable trackers, not compromised budget models.
Do I need GPS on a fitness tracker?
Not unless you run outdoors regularly and dislike carrying your phone. Phone-paired GPS (available on most trackers) is accurate enough for casual runners and walks. Built-in GPS justifies the £40-60 premium only if you’re recording detailed route maps or training for races. Swimmers and gym-only users don’t need it at all.
Which fitness tracker has the longest battery life?
The Google Fitbit Inspire 3 and Amazfit Bip 5 both reach 10 and 9 days respectively—the longest of these options. The Garmin Vívoactive 6 manages 11 days despite its AMOLED screen, thanks to efficient power management. In contrast, smartwatches with full operating systems (Fitbit Versa 4, Garmin Vívoactive 6) typically drop to 6-7 days when actively using GPS.
Can fitness trackers work without a smartphone?
Most trackers sync to your phone for detailed app data, but they still record steps, heart rate, and sleep independently. The Garmin Vívoactive 6 and Fitbit Charge 6 can upload data via Wi-Fi if your router is connected, making them semi-independent. However, you’ll lose real-time notifications and immediate data access. For full functionality, a smartphone pairing is recommended.
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