Best Smartwatches for Fitness Enthusiasts in India (2021)

Last Updated on August 31, 2021 by Rupesh Patil

Are you looking for the best smartwatches for fitness tracking? Then you might have a lot of questions in your mind, ranging from their features to design and pricing. Is a fitness tracker better or a smartwatch? Which features to look out for? Which smartwatches are more accurate in fitness tracking metrics? In this article, we will list all the best smartwatches that are good at fitness tracking. We will also explain why we chose those smartwatches and which features should you focus on.

We know that there’s no single smartwatch that can satisfy everyone’s needs, so we have different recommendations for everybody, depending on their needs, budget, and personal preferences. We’ve listed options from brands like Apple, Fitbit, Garmin, Huami Amazfit, Samsung, and Suunto. Assuming that you need a fitness tracker or a smartwatch with good activity and health tracking accuracy, let’s get started.

Best Smartwatches for Fitness Enthusiasts in India in 2021

1. Huami Amazfit GTS 2 Mini – ₹6,999
2. Fitbit Charge 4 – ₹9,999
3. Huami Amazfit GTS 2 – ₹12,990
4. Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music – ₹23,999
5. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 – ₹24,000
6. Garmin Forerunner 245 – ₹24,990
7. Apple Watch SE – ₹29,900
8. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 – ₹29,990
9. Fitbit Sense – ₹29,999
10. Suunto 5 – ₹32,000
11. Garmin Instinct Solar – ₹37,990
12. Apple Watch Series 6 – ₹40,990
13. Suunto 7 – ₹42,000
14. Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar – ₹99,899

Note: The smartwatches listed above are listed in order of their pricing. We will explain which ones are better in which aspects later in the article.

Best Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches Available to Buy in India in 2021

If you want the best fitness tracker that also functions as a smartwatch, then you need to consider devices that have advanced operating systems that allow you to install third-party apps, third-party watch faces, and Wi-Fi connectivity. They should also have all the possible sensors, a microphone, a loudspeaker, and should be able to display notifications from your smartphone. They should also allow you to take actions on notifications such as replying to messages. By far, the best smartwatch operating systems are Apple’s watchOS, Fitbit OS, and Samsung’s Tizen OS. Here are the best smartwatches that you can buy for fitness tracking:

1. Fitbit Sense – ₹29,999

The Fitbit Sense has all the features that you can find on the Fitbit Charge 4, and some more. It has a proper smartwatch styling with a good-looking design and a big (1.58-inch) OLED screen. The Fitbit Sense is filled with sensors, including an accelerometer, barometer, ECG, gyro, GPS, heart rate monitor, and even a temperature sensor. It can track all types of activities and workouts, including running, swimming, mixed workout. And it does all of those with good accuracy. ECG can offer enough information to those who have heart-related issues. It can also track stress and sleep and can offer breathing exercises.

In terms of smart features, it can show you notifications from your smartphone and you can even reply to messages. It can answer your questions via Alexa or Google Assistant. You can take calls directly on the Fitbit Sense, thanks to its microphone and speaker. It has built-in storage and Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, which means you can play music on it directly and listen to it via Bluetooth earphones while on the go. It lasts 6 days on a single charge. It is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance. The only thing we don’t like about it is its pressure-sensitive side button.

Also Read: Best Smartwatches in India (2021)

2. Apple Watch Series 6 – ₹40,990

While not as accurate as smartwatches from Fitbit and Garmin, the Apple Watch Series 6’s accuracy is still good enough for most people. However, it only works with iPhones, which is its biggest drawback. So, you should only consider it if you are an iPhone user. It has the best integration with the iPhone, which means it works well with various Apple services like Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple TV, AirPods, and Homekit smart controls.

Coming to actual fitness tracking, it has an accelerometer, barometer, ECG, GPS, gyro, a heart-rate monitor, and SpO2 sensor. It lacks the skin temperature sensor that is found on the Fitbit Sense, though. It can track your activities, sleep, workouts, swims, heartbeat, and oxygen saturation levels with good accuracy. It has a variant with LTE connectivity as well, which means you can leave your phone behind and still access your messages, emails, music streaming, and more. It comes in two screen sizes (1.57-inch and 1.78-inch), three case material options (aluminium, stainless steel and titanium), and has various band options (silicon, fabric, leather, and metal). We would advise you to go with the cheapest one, though, because all versions get the same features.

The Apple Watch Series 6 has a beautiful and bright LTPO OLED screen, IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, a powerful dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 32GB internal storage, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, and UWB. It runs watchOS 7 and will get at least 5 major operating system updates. It has Siri for voice commands and dictation. It has thousands of apps, so you’ll find something for every scenario. On a single charge, it can last 2-3 days. It has wireless charging, too, but it only works with Apple-certified Qi wireless chargers. Also, it is not compatible with standard 20mm or 22mm watch straps.

3. Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 – ₹29,990

The Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is the best smartwatch for most Android smartphone users. It has fairly decent activity, fitness, and sleep tracking. It is IP68-certified for dust and water resistance, which means take it to the beach or the pool for tracking swims. It also features a barometer and GPS, which means it can track your hikes, runs, and cycling with good accuracy. Its ECG can help in tracking heart irregularities. Other sensors like accelerometer, gyro, heart-rate monitor, and SpO2 sensor are present as well. It is compatible with standard 20mm watch straps.

Its 1.2-inch or 1.4-inch OLED circular display can show time, activity and health stats, and notifications from the smartphone. It runs Tizen OS 5.5 and features Exynos 9110 dual-core processor, 1GB RAM, 8GB storage, Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi b/g/n, and NFC. It works with both Android smartphones and iPhones. It also comes in a 4G LTE version, which means you can get messages, emails, and calls (loudspeaker/Bluetooth) even when you leave your smartphone at your home or inside the car. It lasts 2-3 days on a single charge, and it charges wirelessly via Samsung-certified Qi wireless chargers.

4. Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2 has almost all the features that are present on the Galaxy Watch 3, including a big and bright OLED screen, accelerometer, barometer, ECG, gyro, GPS, and a heart-rate monitor. However, it lacks an SpO2 sensor. It uses the same Exynos 9110 processor but features just 768MB RAM (1.5GB in LTE version), and 4GB storage, which might not hold as many songs for offline playback as the Galaxy Watch 3 can. It is IP68-certified, too, for dust and water resistance.

The Galaxy Watch Active 2 has a microphone and loudspeaker, which means that you can take calls on it directly. It has Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC as well. It lacks the physical rotating bezel, but you can adjust with its digital touch bezel. It can charge wirelessly and lasts 2-3 days on a single charge. It is compatible with standard 20mm watch straps.

5. Apple Watch SE

The Apple Watch SE is a great smartwatch for most iPhone users. In comparison, it lacks ECG, SpO2 sensor, UWB, and an always-on display mode. It has the same design (aluminium), same 1.57-inch or 1.78-inch OLED display, same IP68 rating, and the same battery life as the Apple Watch Series 6. Its workout-tracking accuracy is among the best in the industry. It uses a one-year-old Apple S5 dual-core processor but has the same 1GB RAM and 32GB storage as that of the Apple Watch Series 6. It has all the Apple services such as Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, and works well with Apple TV, HomePod, and AirPods.

It has an accelerometer, barometer, GPS, gyro, heart-rate monitor, Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, and NFC. It has a mic and loudspeaker, too, which means you can take calls. It also comes in an LTE variant, so you can leave your smartphone at home while going on a run or hitting the gym and still be able to check your messages and take calls. It works just as well as the Apple Watch Series 6 with an iPhone. It runs watchOS 7 and will get five years of OS updates. If you have an iPhone and can’t afford the Apple Watch Series 6, you should consider the Apple Watch SE due to its lower pricing.

Best Smartwatches For Fitness Enthusiasts, Hardcore Workouts, Competitive Training In 2021

1. Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music – ₹23,999

If you’re into hardcore workouts and competitive sports, the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music might be the perfect starting point for your needs. It has excellent activity tracking accuracy, built-in storage for listening to music, a transflective display for good visibility under hard sunlight, and 7-day battery life. It has an accelerometer, barometer, compass, gyro, GPS, heart-rate monitor, SpO2, and even a thermometer. It comes with 15 workout apps, and you can download more from Garmin’s Connect IQ store. Be it cycling, golfing, hiking, running, rowing, snowboarding, skiing, or swimming, it can track it all.

It has a 1.2-inch transflective screen, which has great visibility under direct sunlight. It has IP68 certification for dust and water resistance. It has Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth 5.0, and it is compatible with both Android and iPhone. It can show notifications, but you can’t reply to most of them (unless they’re SMSes). The Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music features extensive outdoor and indoor workout analysis so that you can look at it and work on them to improve your performance. It can last up to 7 days on a single charge in mixed usage mode.

2. Garmin Forerunner 245 – ₹24,990

If you are a competitive runner and if you want a fitness tracker or a smartwatch that can help you in improving your performance, the Garmin Forerunner 245 is a great choice. Yes, it lacks an OLED screen, Wi-Fi, and offline music playback that’s found on most other smartwatches in the price segment, but the one thing that it does the best is it can track your runs and hikes or most other indoor and outdoor workouts with clinical accuracy and offer you in-depth analysis that you can learn and improve your performance.

It has a 1.2-inch transflective colour display and an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. The Garmin Forerunner 245 can last up to 7 days on a single charge. It has an accelerometer, compass, GPS, gyro, and a heart-rate monitor. It can connect to Android smartphones and iPhones via Bluetooth. It also features incident detection, so if anything unfortunate happens to (such as an accident or fainting) you while you’re on the run, it uses your smartphone to send an SOS message and location to emergency contacts. It is a great smartwatch for tracking various activities such as running, cycling, hiking, gym, golf, and more.

3. Garmin Instinct Solar – ₹37,990

The Garmin Instinct Solar is for those who spend a lot of time training outdoors. It features solar charging, which improves battery life. The Garmin Instinct Solar has extremely tough build quality, complete with an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and shock and thermal resistance (MIL-STD-810G rating) so that it can work even in the most gruesome and tough environments. It lacks Wi-Fi and relies solely on Bluetooth to connect to your Android or iPhone. It can show notifications as well.

If you are in the military or police force, this is the best smartwatch for you. It even features stealth mode, night vision mode, Jumpmaster mode, and a dual-position format display. It can track multiple indoor and outdoor sports. It even features hunting and fishing modes. However, its display is monochrome (black and white). And that’s for a reason: battery life. It can last up to 24 days on a single charge. It features an accelerometer, barometer, compass, GPS, gyro, a heart-rate monitor, and an SpO2 sensor.

This smartwatch is suitable for those who are into hardcore physical training, competitive sports, military, and other tactical taskforces.

4. Suunto 7 – Best Wear OS Smartwatch For Hardcore Training ₹42,000

If you are a competitive trainer or an enthusiast who wants a smartwatch for extremely accurate results but doesn’t want to miss out on a colour display and apps, you should look at the Suunto 7. It runs Google’s Wear OS and features all your favourite apps, including Gmail, Google Maps, Google Calendar, Google Assistant, Google Keep, Spotify, Play Store, Uber, Adidas Running, Strava, and more. It also features thousands of brilliant watch faces that are extremely customisable. It works with both Android smartphones and iPhones.

In terms of activity, fitness, and workout tracking, the Suunto 7 can track your cycling, runs, hikes, gym and indoor workouts, swims, sleep, and heart rate. It also offers body resources that can help you in knowing the best time for working out. On top of what other Wear OS smartwatches can do, the Suunto 7 can offer additional features like route planning, battery saving GPS mode, low-power always-on sport display, popular starting points and points of interest on your running or hiking route.

It has a 1.4-inch AMOLED display with 1,000 nits brightness in outdoor mode, metal body, IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, and the ability to use standard watch straps. It has an accelerometer, barometer, compass, GPS, gyro, heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, and NFC. In terms of connectivity, it features Wi-Fi b/g/n, Bluetooth, and can make mobile payments via Google Pay. It can last 1-2 days with typical mixed-use and up to 12 hours in GPS mode.

5. Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar – ₹99,899

The Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar is at the epitome of activity and fitness tracking. It is extremely costly, but features clinical tracking accuracy, extremely tough build quality, and is only for those whose main job requires them to be extremely fit. It has a 1.3-inch colour transflective display and it can charge itself through solar power for long battery life. It has 32GB of onboard storage for storing offline music, offers running and training guidance, and can last up to 14 days on a single charge.

The Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar has IP68 (for dust and water resistance) and MIL-STD-810G (shock and thermal resistance) ratings. It comes with over 80 activity, sports, and training apps, including runs, cycling, climbing, hiking, mountain biking, surfing, golfing, backcountry skiing, swimming, and more. It offers deep insights into your performance so that you can improve yourself.

It runs Garmin’s own OS and has apps for Amazon Music, Spotify, Deezer, Strava, Komoot, Accuweather, and more. It is compatible with both Android smartphones and iPhones. It has an accelerometer, barometer, compass, dual-GPS, gyro, heart-rate monitor, SpO2 sensor, and a thermometer. It features both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. It can last 21 days on a single charge with mixed usage.

Best Affordable Fitness Trackers in India (2021) with Good Accuracy

1. Huami Amazfit GTS 2 Mini – ₹6,999

The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini is the cheapest fitness tracking smartwatch that we would recommend to anyone who wants accurate results. It has a brilliant 1.55-inch OLED display with an always-on display mode. It looks really classy and comes in a variety of colours. You can even replace the straps with any standard strap. The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini comes with brilliant watch faces and 30+ always-on display patterns.  It can last anywhere between 7 and 14 days, depending on how heavily you use it.

It has a metal case and it can track runs, workouts, cycling, swimming, sleep, and heart rate. It features an accelerometer, barometer, compass, gyro, GPS, heart-rate monitor, and SpO2 measurement. It can track over 70 types of workouts and sports and display notifications from your smartwatch. It is IP68 certified for dust and water resistance. The Amazfit GTS 2 Mini has a loudspeaker and a microphone, allowing you to take calls. It has Bluetooth connectivity, but it lacks onboard storage and Wi-Fi.

Also Read: Best Fitness Bands in India (2021)

2. Fitbit Charge 4 – ₹9,999

The Fitbit Charge 4 is the best fitness tracker for most people. And that’s because it is pretty accurate in terms of activity tracking such as cycling, hikes, running, swimming, and even workouts in the gym. Since it has a built-in GPS, you don’t need to rely on a smartphone. It can track sleep and naps as well. Of course, it has a built-in heart rate monitor, for tracking your activity and wellness. It is water-resistant, too, which means you don’t need to worry about it even when you’re in the shower or in the swimming pool.

It has a simple design and good build quality. The Fitbit Charge 4 has a rectangular 1-inch monochrome OLED display to show time, activity and fitness stats. It can even show notifications from your smartphone, offer you guided workouts and breathing sessions, and nudge you to be more active. At just ₹9,999, it can do most things that people expect from a fitness tracker. It can last up to a week on a single charge. There’s no onboard storage for offline music playback, though.

3. Huami Amazfit GTS 2 – ₹12,990

The Amazfit GTS 2 is a more complete smartwatch when compared to the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini. It has an even sleeker and more premium design, a larger (1.65-inch) AMOLED display, 3GB of onboard storage for offline music, and Wi-Fi connectivity. It is compatible with both Android and iOS. It can show notifications, play music, control the camera, and track your activities and sleep.

The Amazfit GTS 2 has an accelerometer, barometer, gyro, GPS, heart-rate monitor, and SpO2 measurement. The smartwatch can track runs, cycling, indoor and outdoor workouts, swims, and more. It can track over 90 workout types and its battery can last 7-14 days on a single charge. It can take calls, thanks to Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, a loudspeaker, and a microphone. Its workout-tracking accuracy is decent and it offers excellent value for money.

Which Fitness Band Suits Your Needs?

Everyone has different needs from an activity and fitness tracker, but we think that they can be broadly categorised into three types listed below:

1. Basic Fitness Tracking: If you want to improve your health and lifestyle a bit, you can start by tracking your steps, a bit of running, and sleep. For such basic fitness tracking features, even cheaper fitness trackers like the Mi Band 4 and the Mi Band 5 would suffice. If you want a bit more accuracy, you can look at fitness bands and smartwatches like the Fitbit Charge 4 or the Amazfit GTS 2 Mini that are listed in the section above.
2. Complete Fitness Tracking With Smartwatch Apps And Notifications: If you want something more than just basic activity and fitness tracking, you need a fitness band or smartwatch that can track your runs, outdoor workouts, gym (indoor) workouts, swimming, cycling, and sleep quality. Such devices need to have an accelerometer, barometer, compass, gyro, and GPS. You can look at our list of
3. Competitive Training & Advanced Workout Tracking: If you are a hardcore fitness enthusiast or a competitive sports professional, regular smartwatches and fitness bands might not cut it for you. You need a smartwatch or a fitness tracker that has high accuracy, long battery life, as many sensors as possible, workout guidance tools, and in-depth post-workout analysis. If you are a runner, you can look at the Garmin Forerunner 245 and the Garmin Vivoactive 3 Music. If you are a cop or military personnel, you should consider the Garmin Instinct Solar that can charge itself via solar power and has some extremely high-end tracking and analysis features. For hiking, skiing, surfboarding, and other extreme sports, you can consider the Garmin Instinct Solar, Garmin Fenix 6X Pro Solar, or the Suunto 7.

Which One Is Better? Fitness Tracker Or Smartwatch?

Most smartwatches have fitness tracking features that are usually found on fitness bands. If you don’t need a big screen for seeing notifications from the smartwatch and dedicated apps for music streaming and other things, then you can spend less and get yourself an affordable fitness band. Those devices are compact, lightweight, and last weeks on a single charge.

If you want a device that can not only track your activity and fitness but also show you notifications from the smartwatch and let you use apps without a need to take out your smartphone from the pocket, then you should look at full-fledged smartwatches like the Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6, Fitbit Sense, Samsung Galaxy Watch Active 2, Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, and the Suunto 7.

Powerful Fitness And Health Tracking: Which Features To Look Out For?

For those who want extremely accurate fitness and health tracking, be it for sports enthusiasts or competitive trainers and players, smartwatches should have as many sensors as possible, tough build quality, workout guidance, in-depth post-workout analysis, and long battery life. They should also display important metrics (such as step cadence, speed, heart rate, and more) right on the screen while working out.

In terms of sensors, such fitness bands and trackers should have the following sensors:

1. Accelerometer
2. Altimeter/Barometer
3. Compass
4. Gyrosensor
5. GPS
6. Heart Rate Sensor
7. SpO2 Max Measurement
8. VO2 Max Measurement

A combination of these sensors is capable of tracking things like climbing, cycling, hiking, rowing, running, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, weight training, yoga, and more.