Should I buy a smartwatch or a fitness tracker?

Choosing between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker comes down to what you want to do from your wrist. A smartwatch is the better choice if you want apps, notifications, calls, payments, navigation, and health tracking in one device. A fitness tracker is better if your priority is tracking activity, sleep, and wellness in a lighter device with longer battery life.

In short: choose a smartwatch for connectivity and versatility. Choose a fitness tracker for simplicity, comfort, and longer battery life.

This guide compares smartwatches and fitness trackers across price, battery life, features, fitness tracking, and everyday use to help you decide which one is right for you.

Smartwatch vs. fitness tracker at a glance

Feature	Smartwatch	Fitness tracker
Typical price	Generally higher, with budget and premium options available	Generally more affordable
Battery life	Often 1–3 days, though some models last longer	Often several days to more than a week
Main purpose	Connectivity, apps, notifications, health, and fitness	Health, wellness, activity, and sleep tracking
Display	Larger touchscreen with more information and apps	Smaller, simpler display designed for quick stats. Screenless fitness tracker options are also available.
Notifications	Calls, texts, emails, app alerts, and more	Basic call and message notifications on many models
Apps	Often supports downloadable apps and services	Usually relies primarily on a companion app
GPS	Common, especially on mid-range and premium models	Available on some models; may use connected GPS
Health and fitness	Tracks activity and health, often with more advanced features	Focuses on core activity, heart rate, sleep, and wellness tracking
Best for	People who want an extension of their smartphone on their wrist	People who want simple, lightweight health and fitness tracking

What’s the difference between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker?

Both smartwatches and fitness trackers can monitor activity, track workouts, measure heart rate, and provide notifications. The biggest difference is what happens beyond fitness tracking.

A fitness tracker is typically smaller, lighter, and focused primarily on health and wellness data. It is designed to track things like steps, workouts, heart rate, and sleep while offering longer battery life and fewer distractions.

A smartwatch does all of that while adding more connected features, such as apps, calls, messages, contactless payments, music controls, navigation, and a larger display.

The choice isn’t necessarily about which device is better. It’s about whether you want a health-focused tracker or a more versatile extension of your smartphone.

GPS: built-in vs. connected

GPS is worth considering if you run, walk, cycle, hike, or exercise outdoors.

Built-in GPS lets your smartwatch or fitness tracker record your route, distance, and pace without requiring your phone. Connected GPS uses your smartphone’s GPS instead, so you’ll need to carry your phone during workouts.

Built-in GPS is common on smartwatches and available on some fitness trackers. If phone-free outdoor activity tracking is important to you, look specifically for a model with built-in GPS.

Why choose a fitness tracker

A fitness tracker is the better choice if your main goal is to build healthier habits without adding another screen demanding your attention. We discuss everything you need to know about fitness trackers in our fitness and activity tracker buying guide, but here are some highlights.

Choose a fitness tracker if you want:

• Long battery life with less frequent charging
• A lightweight, comfortable device for all-day and overnight wear
• Step, workout, heart rate, and sleep tracking
• A simpler, less distracting experience
• A more affordable wearable

Fitness trackers are especially useful for people who primarily want to monitor their activity and wellness while reviewing more detailed data in a companion app.

Best for: simplicity, sleep tracking, everyday activity, comfort, and battery life

Why choose a smartwatch

A smartwatch is the better choice if you want your wearable to do more than track your health and fitness. You can learn all about smartwatches in our smartwatch buying guide, but here are some of the key things to note.

Choose a smartwatch if you want:

• Calls, texts, and app notifications on your wrist
• Apps, music controls, navigation, and voice assistants
• Contactless payments
• A larger display for viewing information
• Advanced health and fitness features
• More customization and smartwatch functionality

A smartwatch can act as an extension of your smartphone while still tracking workouts, activity, heart rate, and other health metrics.

Best for: connectivity, productivity, apps, and all-around functionality

Smartwatch or fitness tracker: which one should you buy?

The right choice depends on what you want from your wearable every day.

Buy a smartwatch if you want:

• An extension of your smartphone on your wrist
• Calls, messages, notifications, and apps
• Contactless payments and navigation
• A larger screen and more interactive features
• Health and fitness tracking alongside productivity and connectivity tools

A smartwatch is the better all-around device if you want one wearable that can handle fitness, communication, apps, and everyday convenience.

Buy a fitness tracker if you want:

• A simpler device focused on health and activity
• Longer battery life
• A lightweight design that’s comfortable to wear all day and night
• Step, workout, heart rate, and sleep tracking
• Fewer notifications and distractions
• A more budget-friendly option

A fitness tracker is the better choice if you primarily want to monitor your health and fitness without the extra apps and smartphone-style features.

The bottom line

Buy a smartwatch if you want more connectivity, apps, and everyday functionality. Buy a fitness tracker if you want simple health and fitness tracking, longer battery life, and fewer distractions.

You can explore a wide selection of smartwatches and fitness trackers at Best Buy Canada to find the wearable that best fits your lifestyle.