The Verge just dropped their comprehensive 2025 fitness tracker buying guide, spotlighting budget champion Amazfit Active 2 as their top overall pick. The guide covers 11 categories spanning $50 bands to $1,000+ premium watches, emphasizing that modern trackers now rival flagship smartwatches for health monitoring capabilities.
The Verge's annual fitness tracker roundup reveals a market where budget devices are punching way above their weight class, with the $99.99 Amazfit Active 2 snagging the coveted 'best overall' crown.
The Chinese brand's latest tracker delivers what senior reviewer Victoria Song calls "outsized value," packing GPS tracking across five satellite systems, AI-powered coaching through Zepp Coach, and a surprisingly premium design with stainless steel construction. At under $100, it undercuts established players while offering features that were premium-only just years ago.
Apple maintains its iPhone dominance with the Watch SE 3, which finally brings an always-on display to the entry-level lineup. The $199 device (down from $249) includes the same S10 processor found in flagship models, plus 5G connectivity on cellular versions. Song notes this makes it harder to recommend the pricier Series 11 unless you specifically need EKG functionality.
The Android premium battle gets more interesting with Samsung's Galaxy Watch Ultra taking the Samsung phone category despite what Song describes as copying "a bit too much from Apple." The $529.99 device (reduced from $649.99) features dual-frequency GPS and sleep apnea detection, but its AI health features proved "hit-or-miss" in testing.
Google's Pixel Watch 4 claims the broader Android crown with significant battery improvements - lasting 45 hours on first charge compared to 32 hours from its predecessor. The watch showcases Wear OS 6 with integrated Gemini AI, though voice commands remained inconsistent during testing.
The guide reveals how AI integration is becoming table stakes across price points. Even the budget Amazfit Band 7 at $49.99 includes Amazon Alexa support and VO2 max tracking - features that cost hundreds just a few years back.
For non-wrist alternatives, Oura's Ring 4 scores highest with expanded sizing options and improved algorithms. The $349 smart ring now spans sizes 4-15, addressing fit complaints from previous generations. Recent ceramic versions reduce scuffing concerns that plagued standard titanium models.
The premium outdoor category sees Fenix 8 adding smartwatch features like call handling and voice assistants to its rugged multisport foundation. Starting at $749.99, it directly challenges Apple Watch Ultra and Galaxy Watch Ultra with superior battery life reaching 29 days on largest models.
