Best Smartwatches & Health Trackers in 2023 : Scientific Recommendations

🟡 Twitter: @QuantifiedRob
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Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
00:51 What Is This Video About?
01:21 Best Health Tracking Devices: Top Picks
02:21 Best Health Tracking Devices: Detecting Sickness Test
05:37 Best Health Tracking Devices: Oura Ring 3 Accuracy
05:37 Best Health Tracking Devices: Whoop Strap 4.0 Benefits
10:53 Best Health Tracking Devices: Fitbit Honorable Mention
11:46 Best Sports Tracking Devices: Heart Rate Test Cycling
13:42 Best Sports Tracking Devices: Heart Rate Test Weight Lifting
15:15 Best Sports Tracking Devices: My Top 2 GPS Picks
19:22 Best Sports Tracking Devices: Conclusions
19:48 Best Sleep Tracking Devices: What Is Sleep Tracking?
20:18 Best Sleep Tracking Devices: Sleep Stage Tracking
24:19 Best Sleep Tracking Devices: Other Sleep Metrics
26:01 Limitations
27:06 Overall Conclusions

Intro:
In this video I'll be sharing with you my top picks for the best smartwatches and health trackers based on actual data, and we'll be discussing a range of different brands and models, including Garmin, Polar, Oura Ring, Whoop, Huawei, Fitbit, and Xiaomi. I'll be covering a range of different features and capabilities, including sports tracking, heart rate tracking, general health tracking, GPS tracking, and battery life. Whether you are a fitness enthusiast, a health-conscious individual, or just someone who wants to track your steps and basic health trends, I’ve got you covered. I've based my recommendations on systematic and scientific measurements I've taken over the last few years, since I believe that all my recommendations should be backed by a lot of data. So sit back, relax, and let’s see if we can find the perfect smartwatch or health tracker for you.

I’ve tested more than 80 smartwatches over the last two-and-a-half years, and I have always tried to share the performance of these watches based on unbiased data and systematic analyses. However, one thing that admittedly lacks in my reviews is a consideration of each person's individual needs, which might make certain aspects of a smartwatch more or less relevant. In this video I would therefore like to share my recommendations taking into account the different real-world use cases you might have, but of course still basing my recommendations on all the data I collected.

[TheQuantifiedScientist]

🔵 Newsletter: www.robterhorst.com
🟡 Twitter: @QuantifiedRob
* Affiliate (paid) links support the channel by earning me a commission on any sale, and it doesn't cost you any more! My opinions are completely my own, and this content is not sponsored.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
👇 $30 off any new WHOOP membership, affiliate* (paid) link, supports the channel!👇
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
👇Amazon Affiliate* (paid) links. Supports the channel, doesn't cost you any more!👇
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬BEST WATCHES▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
($30 off any new WHOOP membership)

👇Amazon general link (any purchase):






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👇 $50/€50 off any Oura Ring

[GiantFrog]

Thank God someone like you exists. I've been trying to do my research and combing through Apple-style marketing infographics from each company really, really sucks. You're insane for gathering so much real, hard data.

[vicapple]

I considered the oura ring but a subscription service on top of a $300 device is a hard pass for me. Great video!

[xinzelyu]

This is so professional, even at the end of the video he mentioned the limitations of the test, this is how a true scientist reviews the products. Also, the flow of the video is really good to follow, it is just like the introduction part, and results analysis part of a paper...

[SNIVY]

The subscription model is really what pushes me away from the Oura Ring. I was interested until I found that they would charge a monthly fee to use it. When I came across them again recently, it would've been something that I put my eye on for getting in a couple months. But now it's probably not going to remain on my radar.

[adaninurs]

People HAVE to subscribe to this guy!! The more famous he is, the more we can put pressure on the smartwatch market to make it accurate!!

[superstarindia]

This dude is honest and transparent right from the thumbnail and that is why he is not getting enough subscribers just because he is not tricking people with clickbaits or making them watch the whole video..In the long run you will win Rob.

[alansnyder]

I'm a runner and a swimmer interested in sleep tracking and health tracking. I've tried the Oura Ring, Apple Watch, and Whoop Strap. My favorite is the Whoop Strap. It is comfortable to wear 24/7 you can even wear it while charging. And even then charging is only once every few days. (3 or 4). The only time I take it off is when taking a shower.

The Apple Watch needs to be charged every day and can only be worn in one place, and the Oura Ring just was not comfortable enough that eventually one day I took it off and never put it back on.

The Whoop Strap has been on constantly for a year and a half.

[TheDevouredEagle]

When talking heads (who most of the time don't know what they're talking about) tell you: "Trust the science™" I wish that the people in charge of such matters were people like Rob 🙏 thanks so much for the info, props for still working even in sickness and even using it as an opportunity 👌. Happy New Year to everyone! 🥳🎊🎉🥂

[prgv]

I'm really glad you mentioned that getting a chest strap is best for HR. In practice the algorithm used to calculate the sports & health metrics is using heart rate data. So getting an older watch with good detailed metrics and a chest strap is a very good option.

[crillybutler]

Hey, Rob! I only have three needs from a health tracker: steps, heart rate, and sleep. I find most trackers are pretty accurate when tracking steps, but wildly inaccurate for tracking heart rate and sleep. Given that I only want these three features, can you make a recommendation to me? Thanks!

[justusschwabedal]

Great video! I suggest to use Spearman Rho instead of correlation. It's more robust against outliers and similarly interpretable. It does ignore biases but these seem to be generally absent in the data.

[annahergt]

Curious why the fitbit wasn’t really talked about or suggested at the end when it had way better sleep tracking scores compared to some of the others you suggested. Any insight? Is it the app/analytics you don’t like? Thanks for this! I’m such a data nerd and this fed my soul.

[os]

Can you re-evaluate Garmin Fenix 7, Epix 2, and Forerunner 955 to see whether they improved after the software updates of the last months?

[yuvrajsehgal]

Can you please make a video for the most overall balanced watches for both Android and Apple users. It's for people who want to track exercise, heart and sleep. In all 3 budget segments.

[LytosOfficial]

I am looking for some kind of device for my dad but with so many options, my head just explodes... He's starting to have heart/blood preassure issues and I would like to buy him something that can track his vitals and call the ambulance automatically in case he's alone or sleeping. Is there any brand/specific device you would suggest?

Thank you for the help.

[dnewman]

Hi, my dad is recovering from a heart attack. I’d love to get him a smart watch/ fitness tracker. He isn’t going to be looking for proper fitness tracking but I’d like something that pushes him to just be a bit more fit and give him a push in the right direction. I’d love something that makes him aware of anything up with his heart too.

I feel like an Apple Watch may be too much charging for him and he’ll end up not wearing it.

Which would you recommend for this circumstance?

[jabbyjay]

Thank you for all of your hard work collecting actual data to use as a reference. Because of hours of watching your videos I noticed you kept saying the best overall for fitness was the whoop strap and I received mine 2 weeks ago. I know people have an issue with the subscription however if you are an avid fitness person you'll easily spend more than $319 (Canadian) on the newest apple or Samsung watch (ultra is $1099 and Samsung 5 pro is $579.99) so essentially you're saving money and have a company dedicated to improving the tracking instead of what app to add next. Thank you again for all these videos

[jdhtejas]

Have you ever done a test on sleep tracking for night shifters? I work in healthcare at night and have tried several watches and none of them seem to be close to being accruate with sleep times etc. when I am sleeping during the day. Even when I sit to chart some nights a few of them have thought I have started to sleep. Might be a good comparison video as there are a ton of shift workers that are also athletes looking for a good combo.

[paulwilson]

Hi Rob, great info as always. Have you tested the Oura sleep beta yet? Maybe a video on it?