Advanced Fitness Trackers for Sports and Outdoor Activities

The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 in the Active edition is the most affordable representative of the 9th series of the legendary fitness trackers. But affordable doesn't mean bad.

To reduce costs, the model is equipped with a TFT screen instead of an AMOLED panel — the display has a characteristic "squared" shape with a diagonal size of 1.47 inches and a resolution of 320x172 pixels. Of course, the screen supports convenient touch control, but it lacks both an automatic brightness sensor and an Always on Display mode.

The tracker accurately measures pulse, counts steps taken and calories burned, tracks heart rate and blood oxygen saturation in a daily rhythm. The model is also capable of monitoring stress levels and tracking sleep quality. Some complaints note inaccurate recording of sleep start and end times — for other factors, sleep monitoring works without mishaps.

Fans of activities will appreciate 50+ sports training modes. The bracelet can be personalized via an extensive list of available watch faces. Finally, the model is pleased with its energy independence — a full charge of its 300 mAh battery lasts from 9 to 18 days (in active and moderate modes, respectively). The Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Active effectively handles the tasks of activity and health metrics monitoring, and the bracelet is indeed affordably priced.

It has happened! In the anniversary generation of the iconic fitness tracker from Xiaomi, the pesky "chin" in the screen's design is finally gone. Henceforth, the display has symmetrical bezels of equal thickness — about 2 mm on all sides.

The display model still uses an AMOLED matrix, whose size has increased from 1.62 to 1.72 inches (compared to the 9th edition of the bracelet). At the same time, the display's peak brightness increased (from 1200 to 1500 nits). The software shell for the wearable gadget is HyperOS 2.0 with a responsive menu interface and a wide variety of interesting watch faces.

Functionally, the fitness tracker has improved swimming mode, sleep monitoring, and tracking sports activity metrics. The model learned to measure and display maximum oxygen consumption, level of physical exertion, and calculate approximate recovery time after a workout. The sensors on board the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 include a heart rate monitor, pulse oximeter, accelerometer, gyroscope, and light sensor. The model supports around 150 sports activity modes.

Household skills of the bracelet consist of a built-in alarm clock, options for duplicating notifications from a connected smartphone, and controlling the camera and music player. In active usage mode, the fitness tracker needs to be charged every 8 – 10 days, and under moderate use of its features, the battery life comfortably extends up to 3 consecutive weeks.

The debut of the anniversary edition fitness tracker from Huawei took place at the dawn of 2025. The "Tenth" model represents the middle price segment of smart bracelets and is designed to compete with the main rival — Xiaomi Smart Band 10.

The wearable gadget features a rectangular AMOLED display with a diagonal size of 1.47 inches and a resolution of 368x194 pixels. The screen supports an always-on mode (Always On), instantly responds to touches, and impresses with swift animations. The brightness on the display automatically adapts to ambient lighting conditions. With the Always On function, the fitness tracker needs to be charged once every 3 – 4 days, whereas with minimal usage, it will last "afloat" for up to two consecutive weeks.

The model offers about 100 sports training modes — from simple running or cycling to even esports. Special attention is paid to swimming training — the tracker can identify different stroke styles based on AI algorithms. Also, the Huawei Band 10 received an improved sleep monitoring system with meticulous registration of the slightest changes in breathing and pulse.

The bracelet capsule is made from aluminum alloy or reinforced polymer (in pink and black versions). The capsule weighs only 15 g, and the main module's thickness is around 9 mm. The model performs excellently in terms of daily wear and sports training. The data on activity and health collected by the bracelet is transferred to the proprietary Huawei Health mobile application.

Fitbit Inspire 3 — a fitness bracelet styled after the well-known family of Xiaomi Mi Band. The core of the model is a compact plastic capsule, which is intended to be inserted into the groove of the silicone strap.

Compared to its predecessor, the Fitbit Inspire 2, the considered tracker received several quality improvements. Firstly, it is now equipped with an AMOLED display — small (0.7 inches), but with support for showing color images and Always On mode. Additionally, the display supports touch control. Secondly, the model significantly increased its functionality.

The bracelet from Fitbit tracks heartbeat frequency in real-time, determines heart rate variability, measures saturation, takes skin temperature on the wrist, maintains a menstrual cycle calendar, monitors sleep quality. This is in addition to the usual features of a pedometer, calorie counter, and notification duplication from a paired smartphone. The device's memory holds 40 different types of physical activity.

The fitness bracelet's autonomy is up to 10 days of operation. Naturally, in practice, it depends on the intensity of using the various sensors and the Always On mode — under heavy loads, the tracker will stay "afloat" noticeably less. The device's connection with the smartphone is established through the Fitbit app for Android and iOS, although some functions in it like extended sleep analysis and daily readiness assessment for workouts are only available with a paid Fitbit Premium subscription.

Fitbit was one of the first to popularize fitness trackers and continues to prove that smart bracelets are not inferior to smartwatches. A striking example is the Fitbit Charge 6 — a device, which on the outside looks like a fitness tracker but can compete with popular smartwatch models in terms of functionality.

A classic smart bracelet with a small 1.04-inch display, a touch-sensitive side button with tactile feedback, and standard silicone straps. The gadget looks simple and is more suitable for everyday use and workouts. If you need a stylish accessory for a business suit, it's better to choose a model with a leather strap and a more presentable design.

Behind the simple appearance hide advanced capabilities. The bracelet measures pulse, blood oxygen level, body temperature, takes an ECG, counts steps taken and calories burned, monitors sleep and stress levels. With 5 ATM water resistance, it can be used in water, although the manufacturer emphasizes that the device is not entirely waterproof. For precise distance measurements, there is a built-in GPS, and the SmartTrack function automatically recognizes and records workouts.

After Google's acquisition of Fitbit in 2019, the smart tracker gained support for Google services — Google Maps, YouTube Music, and Google Wallet. Managing YouTube Music requires a paid YouTube Premium subscription. Google Maps is more convenient to view on a smartphone, but Google Wallet allows for contactless payment, which is very convenient. This makes the device an excellent choice for Android users looking for an affordable model with NFC.

The battery provides up to 7 days of operation on a single charge. However, features like Always-on Display, GPS, and continuous blood oxygen monitoring reduce this time. With active use of the battery, it will need to be charged every few days, which is a reasonable benchmark. The set includes two straps of different lengths, making the tracker suitable for both women and men.