The best smartwatch and fitness tracker deals to shop now

3 days ago 1

Marathon season is right around the corner, and if you've willingly entered yourself into a race this fall, whether it's a 5K, 10K, half, or full marathon, you've probably already begun training for it (or should start doing so as soon as possible). 

A fitness tracker, like a smartwatch, smart band, or smart ring, can help monitor your pace, distance, gains, and recovery. These devices have become more comfortable than ever (as someone who has tested lots of them), and the brands behind them, like Apple, Google, Samsung, or Oura, are putting comfort and wearability at the top of mind. 

Also: The best smartwatches we've tested

These devices, while advanced and helpful, aren't terribly cheap. Luckily, we're in prime deals season: As companies gear up for new product launches, they're discounting older generations (which are, normally, marginally similar to the new product they'll unveil this fall). 

So if you're aiming to maximize your budget while buying a smartwatch, I've rounded up some of my favorite deals to shop on smartwatches -- and included some personal testing experience of my own. 

Want to save more on your favorite tech? Get daily deals straight to your inbox when you sign up for ZDNET Recommends, your one-stop newsletter for the sale.

Best smartwatch and fitness tracker deals 

Apple Watch WatchOS 26
Nina Raemont/ZDNET
  • Current price: $215
  • Original price: $250

While not the latest generation, what the Oura Ring 3 lacks in an extra day of battery life, it makes up for in practically the same software and a significantly more affordable price. The smart ring is the hottest health tracker, and can monitor all sorts of things, whether it's a workout, your night's sleep, your daily stress, or your meals. 

Also: Oura Ring 3 vs Oura Ring 4: Opt for the older, discounted smart ring or the newest?

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  • Current price: $270
  • Original price: $350

Ahead of Google's August product launch (where we'll probably see a new Pixel Watch 4 debut), Google is discounting its third-generation smartwatch by $80. If you're an Android phone user looking to access some of your phone's functionalities around your wrist, the Pixel Watch 3 is your best bet, with Google's longest smartwatch battery life embedded in the device. 

Also: 5 reasons why I'm glad I upgraded to the Pixel Watch 3

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More smartwatch and fitness tracker deals

Best Buy smartwatch and fitness tracker deals

FAQs

How did we choose these deals?

While considering the products on this list, I considered each discounted device's popularity, quality, deal amount, and general deal worthiness, based on my own testing.

Should I buy a smartwatch or a smart ring?

A smartwatch functions as a health tracker and an around-the-wrist companion to your phone. You can answer texts, set timers, ask the smartwatch's AI assistant questions, and more with an Apple Watch, Pixel Watch, Galaxy Watch, or Garmin. It will record your exercise and sleep and deliver that through the smartwatch's health app, as well as on your phone's health app. A smart ring is a little different. It doesn't have a screen, so it won't distract you throughout the day with pings or messages. All of the data it collects is displayed on your phone. If a smartwatch is a lifestyle wearable with health functionalities, a smartwatch is a health-centered wearable. 

Should I buy a health tracker?

If you are an active person who is interested in keeping tabs on your vitals, like heart rate, body temperature, or heart rate variability, or activity, like steps and calories burned, a health tracker is an effective device. With recent medical advancements, health trackers do more than just count steps: they can monitor sleep and shine light on often undiagnosed conditions, like sleep apnea, atrial fibrillation, and more. 

However, some people buy a smartwatch or smart ring and then experience data overload: constantly monitoring their biometrics makes them anxious, or their sleep and activity scores are never where they want them to be, and they end up constantly worrying about this data

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