Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker?

They’re both connected devices you wear on your wrist. So what’s the difference? Scroll down to find out what they do.

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If you’re thinking of buying a wearable, then it’s important to work out whether you want a smartwatch or fitness tracker. So we’ve got a breakdown of what they do.

What’s a fitness tracker?

A fitness tracker does what it says on the tin. It helps you keep an eye on your health and fitness by tracking your steps, monitoring your workouts and keeping you motivated. Fitness trackers tend to have fewer features than smartwatches, but they’re more effective if you’re mostly concerned about your health. They check your heart rate, see how many calories you’ve burned and understand your sleep quality. Some fitness trackers are even waterproof so you can keep track of your laps in the pool.

What’s a smartwatch?

You wear a smartwatch on your wrist, just like a normal watch. But it can do loads more than just tell the time. In fact, a smartwatch is more like a tiny smartphone than a watch. It can send texts, emails and social media notifications straight to your wrist, and even give you directions to your meeting. Just like a smartphone, you can customise your smartwatch to suit your lifestyle by downloading apps. So you can catch up on the news, play games or listen to music on the go. You can even switch up the style of some smartwatches. But bear in mind that different smartwatches will have different features, and you’ll probably need to connect it to your smartphone for many of the features to work.

What’s best for me?

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are both connected devices, but they both offer something a little different. If you want something that mostly tracks your health, then a fitness tracker is the one for you. Check out our range of fitness trackers, smartwatches, or even Apple Watches, and choose one that suits your health needs. But if you like everything in one place and want more features, go for a smartwatch. Choose one that’s compatible with your phone – and your style of course. We've got lots to choose from online, but if you can't make up your mind, pop into one of our stores and we can help you find one that’s best for you.