As we settle into the new year, keeping fit and eating healthy rank high among personal lifestyle goals. Tracking your health can give you valuable insights into your current fitness level, and provide data that can inform decisions about diet and exercise. This would ultimately lead to a more active and happier life.
The adoption of smartwatches for fitness and as a fashion statement has greatly increased. Investing in a smartwatch to track your fitness is a great way to stay accountable and motivated about your health and fitness goals.
With a smartwatch, you can monitor your heart rate, steps taken, and calories burned throughout the day. You can also set personalised goals and get reminders to stay on track. Many smartwatches also include sleep tracking features, guided workouts, and the ability to sync with your favourite fitness Apps.
We reviewed a few smartwatches in the market that should match your fitness goals:
Oraimo Smartwatch R
The Oraimo brand has been gaining a remarkable presence and appeal among Kenyans. The Oraimo Smartwatch R is light, waterproof and has a battery that can last up to seven days. At only 45g, it makes a great a fashion statement and is suitable for any athlete to use as a daily watch. It contains several features including blood oxygen and blood pressure sensors, and a heart rate monitor. Its waterproof rating is 3ATM and so can’t be used for swimming or in the sauna.
Price: from KES 7,500
Amazfit GTS 2 mini
It is a stylish and compact watch that would complement your dress style. The battery lasts up to 14 days on a single charge and tracks your steps, heart rate and distance covered throughout the day. The watch is light at only 19.5g and only 8.95mm thick. Its waterproof rating of 5ATM is ideal for anyone who wants to use it while taking part in watersports. An interesting thing to note is that the device tracks your fitness throughout the day and performs better than other watches.
Price: from KES 11,000
FitBit Charge 4
With its sleek design and built-in GPS, it has all the features of a starter watch for anyone who wants to track their activities on the go. It weighs only 30g and its sleep tracking feature also helps analyse and improve sleep patterns for a healthier lifestyle. Its biggest advantage is its prolonged battery life, which can last for up to seven days as its monochrome display consumes less power. The Fitbit Charge 4 is among the most feature-packed fitness tracker suitable for several sports.
Price: From KES 16,500
Huawei GT 3
At only 42g without the strap, it’s compatible with both iPhone and Android devices and is unisex. Its elegant style and changeable straps can match your mood whether you are heading to the gym, boardroom or beach. The watch has a durable battery life of up to seven days and uses AI algorithms to filter out noise signals and accurately monitor your heart rate. After a period of use, the watch analyses your historical data and provides a customised plan to improve your athletic performance.
Price: From KES 30,500
Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 Pro.
If you are keen on getting an affordable smartwatch with the best battery life, this could be the one for you. It has a scratch-resistant screen and is the benchmark for Android smartwatches. It only weighs 33g and is a premium health companion for Android phone users. The rugged Watch 5 Pro has an improved, curved sensor for more accurate readings. There is a golfers’ edition with a longer battery life of up to five days. The golfers’ edition is slightly heavier at 46g, but has preloaded golf applications for accurate yardages and record scores at the course.
Price: From KES 44,500
Apple Watch Series 7
We saved the best for last. While it’s limited to only working with Apple devices, these watches have proven to be miles ahead of their competitors with their innovative and essential features that track your activity, noise levels and sleep patterns among others. The 50g watch has an 18-hour battery life, but can last longer if you switch off Bluetooth and LTE.
Price: From KES 52,000
Most smartwatches in the market can easily connect to your smartphone through Bluetooth and have third-party applications that track and analyse your activities. While there are several options in the market, it’s recommended that you research the device you’d like to acquire online and decide if it meets your needs and budget.
