Now is the time to buy a fitness tracker. Thanks to the Black Friday sales, you can snap up some of the top-rated models without draining your bank account, and you could even save money on some of the latest models. The issue here is not the price, though, but rather the sheer array of available deals.
Many retailers will shout about huge discounts, but won’t actually reduce the price much lower than the fitness tracker has been selling for all year, whereas others will offer genuinely compelling deals. To save you the hassle of sifting through the offers yourself, the Live Science team has done it for you, considering both the quality of the product and the value of the deal itself.
Our top three picks cover a range of different fitness tracker styles. The tough, highly functional Garmin Instinct has seen its price cut by a significant 33% at Amazon, bringing its cost down to $168.10. Another firm favorite of ours, the elegant Fitbit Luxe, is now 38% off at Amazon, saving you a decent $50. If you’ve picked up the excellent Google Pixel 7 or 8 this year, we’d suggest pairing it with the Google Pixel Watch. With a whopping 43% off at Amazon, it's great value.
If you want to gather more information before you buy, we’ve curated a list of the best fitness trackers for you, which we’ve created based on our extensive testing process and thorough research methods.
Black Friday deals quick links
- Amazon Fitbits, Galaxy Watches and more
- Amazon Garmin deals for less this Black Friday
- Best Buy wearable tech deals
- Walmart smartwatches & fitness trackers for less
- Target fitness trackers on offer
Black Friday Garmin deals
Garmin Instinct 2S | Was: $299.99 Now: $199.99 at Best Buy
Engineered for endurance and long battery life, the Garmin Instinct 2S is a perfect gadget for every outdoor adventurer. This beautifully crafted smartwatch comes with all-day health monitoring, built-in sports apps and multiple global navigation satellite systems. And right now, it's available with a tasty 33% discount at Best Buy.
Garmin Forerunner 255 Multisport | Was: $349.99 Now: $249.99 at Walmart
Garmin Forerunner 255 Multisport is designed with marathon runners in mind, and it shows. This sleek fitness tracker is equipped with multi-band GPS, a handy race widget and a multitude of cardiovascular tracking features. The cherry on top? Right now, you can get it at Walmart with a hefty $100 discount.
Garmin Epix 2 | Was: $799.99 Now: $499.99 at Best Buy
The Garmin Epix 2 packs in all of the Garmin hi-tech solutions, including highly accurate multi-band GNSS technology, TopoActive mapping and built-in sports apps. Equipped with a brilliantly clear AMOLED screen and 30 hours of battery life, the Epix 2 model sits high-up in our list of favorite running watches. The best part? It's now 37% off at Best Buy.
Tom’s Guide: ★★★★ | TechRadar: ★★★★½
Garmin Instinct Was: $249 Now: $168 at Amazon
Constructed to U.S. Military standard 810G for thermal, shock and water resistance, the Garmin Instinct is a smartwatch you can rely on. This rugged beauty comes with a built-in 3 axis compass, barometric altimeter, multiple global navigation satellite systems, and up to 40 days of battery life. And right now, you can snap it up for 33% less at Amazon.
Garmin Forerunner 935 Was: $467.99, Now: $269.99 at Walmart
Save nearly $200 on the high-performing Garmin Forerunner 935. This premium GPS running/triathlon watch comes with a built-in barometer, altimeter and electronic compass, and thanks to a range of advanced health tracking features, it helps you fine-tune your training and recovery to elevate your exercise performance.
Black Friday Fitbit deals
Fitbit Inspire 3 Advanced Fitness & Health Tracker Was: $99.95 Now: $69.95 at Amazon
If you're after a powerful smartwatch to match your colorful activewear, look no further than Fitbit Inspire 3. This sleek-looking tracker can track a multitude of health metrics, including your stress levels, menstrual cycle and sleep quality. On top of that, it comes with a 6-month Premium Fitbit membership. The Inspire 3 model is truly one of our favorite trackers, and right now you can get it $30 cheaper at Amazon.
Fitbit Charge 6 Was: $159.95, Now: $99.95 at Amazon
Hot off the press, the Fitbit Charge 6 is packed to the brim with hi-tech solutions to help you get the best out of your workouts. This elegant fitness tracker comes with more than 40 exercise modes, built-in GPS, superb Bluetooth connectivity, all-day activity tracking and 7 days of battery life. It's not common to see the latest Fitbit model with a hefty 38% discount, so make sure you take advantage of this deal while it lasts.
Fitbit Versa 4 Was $198, Now $169.99 at Walmart
The Fitbit Versa 4 in a beautiful copper rose color is now $28 cheaper at Walmart. This elegant fitness tracker comes with a range of sleep tracking features, more than 40 exercise modes, a built-in GPS mode and up to 6 days of battery life.
Live Science: ★★★½ |Tom's Guide: ★★★ |Tech Radar: ★★★ |T3: ★★★
Fitbit Luxe Was: $129.95 Now: $79.95 at Amazon
The Fitbit Luxe may rock a truly sleek look, but this fitness tracker is much more than a simple eye-candy. Equipped with a vibrant display, multitude of health tracking features, superb connectivity and up to 5 days of battery life, the Luxe model can make a huge difference to your exercise performance. Amazon has just slashed its price by a whopping 38%, so make sure you get yours while the stocks last.
Black Friday Apple Watch deals
Apple Watch SE (2nd Gen) Was: $249 Now: $179 at Amazon
Let's be honest, we don't need to introduce you to this flagship Apple smartwatch. Equipped with an array of health monitoring features, superior durability, crash detection and seamless connectivity, the SE model is one of the best fully customizable fitness trackers on the market. Good discounts on Apple products are hard to find, so make sure you don't miss this great offer from Amazon.
Live Science: ★★★★ | Tom's Guide: ★★★½ | Tech Radar: ★★★★ | T3: ★★★★
Apple Watch Series 9 Was: $399 Now: $329.99 at Amazon
Packed to the brim with hi-tech solutions, the new Apple Watch Series 9 is a real powerhouse. This beautifully crafted smartwatch is equipped with advanced health tracking features, multiple safety features and the bright, Always-On Retina display that is easy to read, even when your wrist is down. And right now, Amazon is offering it with an attractive 17% discount.
Other Black Friday fitness tracker deals
Amazfit Bip 3 Pro Smart Watch | Was: $69.99 Now: $54.99 at Amazon
With a solid 21% discount, the already budget-friendly Amazfit Big 3 Pro smartwatch is now even cheaper at Amazon. Equipped with an easy-to-read display, extensive auto sleep and fitness tracking, as well as heart rate reports and oxygen level monitoring, this fitness tracker offers great value for money.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 5 Pro | Was: $449.99 Now: $349.99 at Amazon
Samsung's premium Galaxy Watch 5 Pro is now 22% cheaper on Amazon, saving you a round $100. With a multitude of health monitoring features, advanced workout tracking and superb connectivity, this smartwatch can transform your workout routine in no time. And thanks to a sapphire crystal glass display and titanium frame, the Galaxy Watch Pro 5 will resist even the most challenging weather conditions.
Google Pixel Watch Was: $349.99, Now: $199.99 at Amazon
Google may have a monopoly on Internet search engines, but that's not the only great product that came out of this brand - its Pixel Watch can easily compete with the biggest names in the smartwatch industry. Boasting sleek looks, high-octane performance and a scratch-resistant Corning(R) Gorilla(R) Glass display, this fitness tracker will become invaluable not only to your exercise performance, but also day-to-day life. The cherry on top? The Google Pixel Watch is now 43% cheaper at Amazon.
SAMSUNG Galaxy Watch 4 Was: $329.99, Now: $270.43 at Amazon
Snap up the top-quality Galaxy Watch 4 with a tasty 18% discount at Amazon. This flagship Samsung smartwatch comes with a range of advanced health and workout tracking features, a built-in GPS, fall detection and superb Bluetooth connectivity that allows you to tap into the convenience of Google services right from your wrist.
3 things to consider when you buy a fitness tracker
With such a mind-boggling variety of fitness trackers on the market, picking the right model may come as a real challenge. To help you narrow down your choices, here are three things to consider when buying a smartwatch.
First and foremost, you need to ask yourself what it is that you need your fitness tracker to do. Some premium models may be packed with cool-sounding solutions, such as GPS tracking and topographic maps, but if you’re more of a gym rat than an outdoor adventurer, these features will not add any value to your life. Moreover, most affordable fitness trackers are just as accurate at measuring your health stats as the pricier models.
Next thing to take into account is durability. Your smartwatch needs to withstand the demands of your day-to-day life. If you’re passionate about rock climbing or enjoy camping in the woods (or, by that matter, you have an energetic toddler to keep up with), you may be better off investing in a smartwatch that can take some bashing around. Otherwise, you may end up spending some serious money on replacing the damaged parts.
Lastly, the ease of use. Big, rugged smartwatches may look fabulous on your wrist, but if they keep catching on your clothes, or get in the way of your work duties, they may prove to be rather impractical. Similarly, small and elegant fitness trackers go well with a range of different attires, but if you have to strain your eyes to read their display, they will cause you a great deal of frustration.
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Anna Gora is a health writer at Live Science, having previously worked across Coach, Fit&Well, T3, TechRadar and Tom's Guide. She is a certified personal trainer, nutritionist and health coach with nearly 10 years of professional experience. Anna holds a Bachelor's degree in Nutrition from the Warsaw University of Life Sciences, a Master’s degree in Nutrition, Physical Activity & Public Health from the University of Bristol, as well as various health coaching certificates. She is passionate about empowering people to live a healthy lifestyle and promoting the benefits of a plant-based diet.
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