Compare the wearables we actually recommend
A flat side-by-side of the five wearables that come up most often in our reader mail. For a fuller buying guide with use-case picks, see best fitness trackers, best sleep trackers, and best health trackers.
| Feature | Fitbit Charge 6 | Garmin Vivosmart 5 | Apple Watch SE 3 | Withings ScanWatch 2 | Oura Ring Gen 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MSRP (USD) | $159.95 | $149.99 | $249.00 | $349.95 | $299 + $5.99/mo |
| Continuous heart rate | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| ECG / single-lead EKG | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| SpO2 (blood oxygen) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Sleep stages (multi-signal) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Battery life (manufacturer) | 7 days | 7 days | 18 hr | 30 days | 7 days |
| Battery life (real-world) | ~6 days | ~6 days | ~14 hr | ~25 days | ~5 days |
| Subscription required for full data | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Works on iOS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Works on Android | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Raw data export | Limited (Google Takeout) | Yes (Garmin Connect) | Yes (Health export) | Yes (CSV / API) | Yes (API + CSV) |
| FDA-cleared ECG | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
What to look at first
- Subscription required? Oura and Whoop are subscription products. Fitbit, Garmin, Withings, and Apple are not (Fitbit gates "Premium" insights but the headline metrics are free). If you're cost-sensitive, this is the most important row.
- FDA-cleared ECG? If you care about atrial fibrillation screening, Apple's Series watches, Withings, and Fitbit all hold ECG clearances. The SE line does not, and neither does Garmin on the Vivosmart.
- Battery life vs. screen. Apple Watch is a great watch and a battery-life compromise. Vivosmart 5 and Charge 6 give you a week between charges; ScanWatch lasts a month because it has no LCD.
- Raw data export. Garmin and Withings are the most generous. Apple is good via Health. Fitbit is awkward (requires Google Takeout). Oura has the best API.