(checked 2026-10-10)
Wirecutter's top pick for four years running: simple, light and consistently near the top of its step and distance tests, with about nine days per charge. The screen is small and the band fiddly, and about 1 in 7 Amazon ratings are 1 or 2 stars, often over units that stop working or syncing.
Subscription: Optional: Google Health Premium $10/mo or $100/yr (Wirecutter); PCMag says some metrics require it
Top complaints
- Stops working, holding a charge or syncing
Amazon's review summary says some owners report it stops working completely, won't hold a charge, stops syncing or takes forever to sync, and breaks after about six months.
- Tiny screen and fiddly band
Wirecutter says the slim buckle band can take a few tries to close, the tang is flimsy, and the touchscreen sometimes triggers the wrong mode. PCMag says the tiny text can be hard to read.
- Unhappy with the move to Google Health
Several Wirecutter readers say the new Google Health app is less accurate for sleep and harder to use than the old Fitbit app, and dislike Google's data terms. PCMag notes the change upset many longtime Fitbit fans, and also lists minor accuracy issues and some metrics needing a subscription.
What owners love
- Accurate for years
Wirecutter says it has ranked near the top for step count and distance across four years of tests, placing second in a 10,000-step test this year.
Source: Wirecutter (fitness trackers) - Longest battery of Wirecutter's picks
Rated for 10 days; it lasted nine in Wirecutter's 2026 test with near-daily workouts. PCMag calls it the longest battery in the Fitbit lineup.
- Simple and light
Wirecutter praises the uncluttered interface and 0.32 oz weight, and PCMag likes the color touchscreen with an always-on option.
- You struggle to read small text
- You want built-in GPS
- You dislike the Google Health app or Google's data terms
- A simple tracker with a screen for steps and heart rate
- About a week or more between charges
- Beginners (PCMag's pick)
Scores (tap for why)
What experts say
- Wirecutter (NYT): Top pick, best fitness tracker (updated 2026-10-01). The flaws are a band that's hard to adjust and a touchscreen that isn't always responsive.
- PCMag: Best for beginners, 4.0/5: long battery and a simple interface, but tiny text, minor accuracy issues, and some metrics that need a subscription.
- Tom's Guide: Also tested: similar to the Air but with a display. Tom's Guide thinks the Xiaomi Smart Band 10 is better value unless you want to stay with Fitbit/Google Health.