Buying tips for fitness trackers: Healthcare for everyone

Fitness trackers are increasingly used to detect medical problems. The manufacturers of these models, which mostly appear in the form of watches, no longer come only from the health sector. Smartphone manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung and, more recently, Xiaomi have also presented smartwatches that go beyond simply counting steps and calculating calorie consumption.

However, these standard functions are still on board, as well as the sleep analysis, which provides you with a detailed breakdown of your nights in terms of deep sleep, light sleep and REM sleep phases. However, additional sensors and evaluations now give you a broader picture of your fitness and health.

Heart rate and oxygen saturation become standard

Heart health has come into particular focus. Therefore, almost all current fitness trackers and watches measure the wearer’s heart rate – in the case of the angular ones

Fitbit Versa 3
for 230 euros even automatically around the clock. If you like it a little cheaper, you can go to

Fitbit Inspire 2
to grab. The fitness bracelet costs just under 100 euros, but does without GPS and color display, among other things.

For the same price (100 euros) you can also get them

Xiaomi Mi Watch
with round 1.39-inch display as well as heart rate and SpO2 sensor. The latter measures the oxygen saturation of the blood and, in conjunction with the sleep analysis, can also alert you to nocturnal breathing pauses, the so-called sleep apnea. You can see the progress of your breath in the smartphone app.

They are also equipped with an SpO2 sensor

Apple Watch Series 6
from 420 euros, the

Garmin Venu
for 300 euros that

Honor Watch ES
for 100 euros and the

Samsung Galaxy Watch 3
which can be bought from 320 euros. And also the current top watches from Fitbit and Withings, the

Fitbit Sense
for 330 euros as well as the

Withings Scanwatch
for 280 euros, have an SpO2 sensor.

Electrocardiogram on the wrist

The

Apple Watch Series 6
, the

Fitbit Sense
, the

Withings Scanwatch
and the

Withings Move ECG
As a special feature, for 100 euros you have the option of making an EKG directly on the watch. For this purpose, the manufacturers equip the models with a special app directly on the watch, which you can use to take the measurement.

The implementation is very simple and completely harmless: You start the corresponding app on the watch and place your hand on the watch case according to the instructions of the wizard. The measurement takes about half a minute, you can then see the evaluation in the smartphone app as a curve (in the picture: Withings). You will also receive an assessment or evaluation of the measured values ​​and information.

Even more help: recognize and reduce stress

As the

Fitbit Versa 3
and the

Garmin Venu
The Mi Watch also includes a breathing assistant that is supposed to help you calm down with guided breathing exercises in stressful situations. The duration of the exercises can be adjusted.

The Fitbit Sense goes one step further: In the associated smartphone app, it offers a menu item “Stress Management” in which you are informed of your stress level based on your heart rate variability (HRV), physical activity and sleep rhythm.

Under “Mindfulness” there are guided relaxation exercises that use the EDA sensor of the Fitbit Sense. This measures the electrodermal activity, which indicates stress. You can also enter your mood manually in the app.

The sleep analysis also receives an additional measurement with the Fitbit Sense: The watch measures the nighttime skin temperature on the wrist and determines fluctuations.

See also:

The best fitness trackers 2020

PC WELT recommendation: Fitbit Sense

Price:

330 euros

Furnishing:

40.5 x 40.5 millimeter display / heart rate, SpO2 and skin temperature sensors / breathing training against stress / waterproof up to 50 meters depth / 6 days battery life / GPS

Price-performance tip: Xiaomi Mi Watch

Price:

99 euros

Furnishing:

1.39 inch display / heart rate monitor / SpO2 sensor / breathing training against stress / waterproof up to 5 ATM / 16 days battery life