Best health wearables of 2024

For when you want better sleep, accurate heart-tracking, or to chill out.

Author

Erin Hunter
December 10, 2024

The Livelong Newsletter

Hi everyone,

Before we know it, wearable devices could become as common as cell phones. In 2024 alone, more than half a billion devices could be shipped worldwide.

Whether it is getting more deep sleep, aiming higher in your fitness goals, or becoming better at managing stress, there’s a wearable device for everyone. Here’s how to choose the right one for you. 🧘

In this article

  • How do wearables promote longevity?

  • Key features to look out for.

  • The best wearables of 2024, by category.

  • Innovative new options.

Key Takeaways

  • 📈 Wearables allow you to actively manage your wellness by observing how lifestyle impacts health/fitness over time.

  • 🏆 Look for a device that calculates the health metrics that are linked to longevity.

  • ♥️Less obvious benefits make them ideal for actually progressing in your health journey.

How do wearables promote longevity?

Rapid improvements in smart-tracking technology make smart watches, rings, and other wearable devices more accurate and transformative than ever before.

image credit: freepik

First, let’s quickly define ‘wearable.’ Broadly-speaking, wearable technology is any type of electronic device that is worn on the body.

Some of the main buckets of health wearables include smart watches, fitness trackers, GPS running watches, and non-wrist health trackers (although there are probably hundreds of different kinds of niche wearables).

  • 🥊 Fitness watches and fitness tracker rings are among the most popular (and debated).

Wearables show the state of a person’s health in real-time

Wearables such as smart watches and smart rings use highly-sensitive technology to get feedback on natural physiological processes (think heart rate) and turns it into measurable electrical signals.

Over time, certain patterns may emerge from the data, like worse quality sleep when drinking alcohol close to bedtime. 🍷

Wearables offer a proactive approach to slowing aging

The device calculates health metrics that reflect the quality of daily habits.

♥️ While it may not be flashy, calculating heart rates or daily sleep patterns can be vital to reducing health risks down the line.

Estimates suggest that 80% of aging is caused by lifestyle and other external influences.

  • The good news? wearables hold people accountable for their lifestyle.

Moreso, people can tailor different fitness routines, treatments, therapies, or lifestyle decisions to their lives and get real feedback on the effectiveness.

What are the best wearables?

🏋️ It depends on your fitness and health goals. 

Most people want wearables to improve overall health, so choose a device that targets the key pillars of lifestyle medicine — mainly recovery (sleep), stress management, and fitness.

Core health metrics should include some (or all) of the following:

  • Sleep tracking, sleep stage, and performance

  • Heart rate and heart rate variability (HRV; measures stress)

  • Respiration rate (measures number of breaths per minute)

  • Blood oxygen level (measures lung function)

  • Stress (chronically high stress could impact immune function)

  • Body temperature (changes mark inflammation/illness)

  • Menstrual cycle (for biological females)

  • Activity (measures fitness)

  • VO2 Max (cardiorespiratory fitness)

Other factors to consider: Comfort, budget, usability, battery life, accuracy and precision, water resistance.

Recommendations are based on three pillars of longevity.

  • Fitness

  • Sleep

  • Stress Management

💪 Fitness trackers:

The most effective fitness trackers offer “a better idea of how you move your body throughout the day,” according to the New York Times.

The Times adds that “They’re useful for people who want to set goals to increase daily movement and gain a better picture of their health.”

  • Fitbit Charge 6

  • Amazfit GTR 4

  • Apple Watch Series 

  • Garmin Venu Sq 2

The Fitbit Charge 6 is an affordable option with skin temperature detection features, and updated heart rate tracking and activity auto-detection (it can automatically tell if you are biking v. swimming). It also holds a week-long charge, writes Wired.

The Amazfit GTR4 is a functional and holistic fitness tracker with a litany of features, including Amazon Alexa compatibility, while products in the Apple Series, such as the Apple Watch 8, have heart-tracking capabilities that “outstrip its competitors,” Live Science writes.

The Garmin offers core recovery and health tracking features that are not blocked behind a paywall, writes The Verge.

  • A fall detection feature, built-in fitness coach, and long battery life make it a good option for advanced fitness enthusiasts.

💤 Sleep trackers:

 “The best sleep trackers measure sleep phases, sleep quality, total amount of sleep and sleep disturbances. These devices give you a look into your overall sleep health,” according to CNET.

  • Whoop 4.0 Band

  • Oura Ring Gen 3/4

These are considered some of the best wearable sleep trackers for different reasons. The Whoop 4.0 Band offers insight into stress, strain (total daily exertion), recovery, and sleep, with helpful tools and guidance to improve sleep quantity/quality.

Oura is widely considered one of the most accurate sleep trackers.💪

  • It tracks sleep stages via calculating light vs. deep sleep vs. REM sleep, respiration, HRV, and body temperature.

  • The user-friendly format makes it good for building on progress, and the minimalist-design prioritizes comfort—especially the Gen4.

🪷 Stress Management Trackers:

  • Oura Ring Gen4

  • Fitbit Sense 2

  • Amazfit Balance

Considered one of the top stress management tools because of its comprehensive layout and practical, data-driven guidance, the Oura Ring uniquely tells you when you need slow down.

After all, no one wants to experience burnout.

The Fitbit Sense 2 uses electrodermal activity (electric skin changes) to track and manage stress levels. Guided breathing, sleep tracking, longevity-related health tracking features, and personalized insights make it a holistic option for stress management.

The Amazfit Balance is an affordable watch with accurate tracking of stress-related metrics, including HRV, heart rate, breathing rate, and sleep.

Whether it’s for fitness, sleep, stress, or simply because the scientist in you LOVES data, the choice is yours.

Any option gives you more insight into your unique biology, and we’re wildly excited to track innovations for further self-optimization.

Note: Our selection of trackers are based on multiple reviews from first and secondary sources.

Innovative wearables

Beyond smart watches and smart rings, we are most excited about these breakthroughs.

Livelong gift guide

This holiday season, give the gift of health with our hand-selected assortment of products. Find something for every health and longevity journey.

LIVELONG BOOKSHELF • Essentials

Longevity books to add to your 2025 bookshelf

The value of taking care of yourself now is a lifetime of health and better living. These essential longevity books will kickstart your path.

☝️ Find your next transformative read here.

Catch our latest podcast episode on Youtube 👇

We can’t wait to cover more trending topics in longevity in our next newsletter. Stay tuned.

Longevity Media LLC

Be your own expert. Optimize your health. Look beyond conventional.

Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health care professional before starting any exercise, wellness, or health program. Nothing in our content, products or services should be considered, or used as a substitute for, medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Livelong is a media company and not a medical provid

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