The best fitness tracker with GPS in 2024

There's no doubt that Polar are one of the top market-leading brands when it comes to fitness trackers and tracking sensors. The Grit X Pro is a step up from previous versions. Naturally, this will monitor your heart rate, but the sensors in the Grit X Pro include an altimeter and barometer - so this is a versatile smartwatch for explorers as well as runners. The GPS compatibility of this smartwatch is seriously impressive, as it will work with Galileo, GLONASS, GPS, and QZSS.

The sizable always-on colour touch screen will help you to track your calories, distance, steps and more. Interesting useful extras include being able to monitor your swimming and even stress levels. Thankfully, that gorgeous colour screen has Sapphire glass with an anti-fingerprint coating - so it'll look just as great as you'll feel after training. The Polar Flow companion app for iOS and Android will let you easily follow up on your stats and, of course, your GPS data for tracking your routes and setting new goals. It doesn't have the fastest touch screen or some of the more exotic sensors to be found with more expensive models though. That said, as a truly capable all-rounder, the Polar Grit X Pro is right up there with the leaders of the pack for solid, useful fitness tracking.

We had to double-check the price of this Amazfit Bip U Pro when we saw the spec sheet. It's a truly impressive and capable piece of fitness tracking kit. Firstly, there are over 60 exercise modes - including running, treadmill, walking, cycling, and swimming. These dedicated modes will keep you on target with your goals and help you develop your stamina. It's water resistant to up to 50 metres too, so swimmers can test their limits all day long without fear of failure. The Bip U Pro will even count your swim strokes. Sleep is monitored too, for when you're recuperating from all that vigorous activity.

Naturally, GPS is present and integrates well with steps, distance, pace, and route tracking. Some excellent extras can be found here, as this smartwatch includes a blood oxygen sensor as well as a Personal Activity Intelligence system that will crunch the numbers for you. It combines heart rate data, activity time and more into a vitality index for a more bespoke insight into your health. Believe it or not, this even has Alexa Built-in, so voice control convenience and smartwatch functionality are very well supported. Unreal, especially at this price.

Even someone who is just dipping their toe into fitness tracking will have heard of Garmin. As the de-facto leader when it comes to advanced sensor and GPS technologies, the company have consistently delivered on their promises. The Venu Sq Music Edition is a rather special little gadget, as the list of tracked metrics is super-impressive. Here we have respiration, steps and calories, distance, intensity minutes; stress, menstruation cycle, hydration, and sleep. If there's a tracker here that is suitable for most activities - even golfing - this is it.

It also comes with TrueUp - a feature that allows you to wear and sync data collected from multiple activity trackers if you have them. Move IQ is another cutting-edge feature, as it can intelligently detect what exercise you're doing based on your movements. Once you're done working out, the Garmin Connect app can use that data to identify familiar exercising patterns - even as selective as using an elliptical machine - and tag them. The training, planning and analysis features here are quite impressive. Garmin Coach will join you on your wrist to keep you on track too. Added smartwatch goodies include Garmin P for contactless payments, and customisations and apps via the Connect IQ store.

Last but certainly not least is the fact that this is the Music Edition of the Garmin Venu Sq. There's enough internal storage space to leave your phone at home. Download your favourite music and playlists right onto your watch. Genius.

The name Fitbit has almost become synonymous with 'fitness tracker'. And for good reason. The brand has led the market when it comes to highly wearable, easily accessible wrist-based tech. The stand-out here is the ECG app, as this can monitor your heart activity in fine detail. Another interesting addition is the EDA sensor for measuring electrodermal activity - in short, it is one of the more accurate measures of how much stress your nervous system is under. Essential for anyone who wants to see how well their mindfulness or exercise is working to bring down their stress levels.

The usual smartwatch functions haven't been left behind though, as you can read texts and emails and keep tabs on your socials via notifications. A brilliant extra is actually a freebie - six months of Fitbit Premium is included. There are a range of benefits here, but a key one for making the most of your data is Readiness Score. This will analyse your stats and advise you on what sort of exercise you should be doing on that day. That's a pretty unique insight, even alongside some of the very capable competition elsewhere on this list. Lastly, alongside the GPS functions for when you're out and about, a health metrics dashboard will give you all of your essential metrics at a glance; keeping the Fitbit Charge 5 every bit as simple and accessible as its peers.

When we reviewed the Honor Band 6, we found it to be lightweight, simple to use and well-built. And the same is true of its more smartwatch-like relative - the Watch GS Pro. Perhaps one of the overlooked requirements for anyone who wants to keep things simple is compatibility with other devices. Here, the GS Pro is Android 5.0+ and iOS 9.0+ compatible, so you can expect this to integrate well with your chosen apps. One step up when it comes to smart functions, though is the addition of a microphone & speaker - so yes, you can answer and make calls on this when paired with your phone.

But, back to the important bit: fitness. The Honor Watch GS Pro will delight most users here as there are all of the main sensors you'll be needing; from heart rate to pulse oximeter; but there's also a barometer which is often removed in favour of the GPS version. Speaking of GPS, this one has Route Back - so not only will you know where you've been, but you'll also be told how to get back if you lose your bearings. Over 100 workout modes are at your command, so you'll never be short of new routines. Sleep and stress tracking are there too, to help you when you're not working out. Charging is the convenient magnetic pin type too, so less fiddling around with cables. Despite the price, this smartwatch has one of the better screen technologies on offer here - as the round touch screen is AMOLED. This tracker is easy to use and stunning to look at - a winning formula.

Not all fitness trackers are smartwatches, and not all smartwatches are great trackers. But, of course, Apple has covered all of the bases with its Apple Watch SE. This is the second edition of the ever-popular wrist gadget with some performance improvements to be had - this one is up to 20% faster than the previous model. Aside from the usual Apple smart device features that all iOS users will be familiar with, we have a sleep monitor, GPS, and a heart rate monitor. The altimeter is always on, so you'll have one less thing to worry about as you scale new heights.

And as we're talking about climbing things, there are some impressive safety features on offer here too. Fall Detection, Emergency SOS, and Crash Detection will work to keep you safe in the event of an incident. But, looking on the brighter side, you have an Enhanced Workout app that will support and monitor your goals and progress. It even does cycle tracking, so this is quite a clever and versatile piece of kit when it comes to fitness. As you'd expect, you can take calls and reply to texts right from your wrist; as well as the usual music and podcast listening. WiFi is there too. When Apple decide to build a new device, they don't cut corners, so not only is this a very capable tracker, it is, of course, a design classic that's built to last.

It's no surprise that Garmin - a brand with a massive range of devices - is back on the list in our high-end category. Top-of-the-line luxury watches that prioritise fitness monitoring are the niche here. Expectedly, the Garmin Fēnix 7X Solar Multisport GPS Watch has a heart rate sensor, pulse oximeter, and more. But it also has a stress and enhanced sleep tracker. The star of the show, fittingly for this list, is the GPS system. Here we have multi-GNSS satellite systems support - so you'll have GPS, GLONASS and Galileo to rely on. Battery life, even with GPS, is more than respectable at 89 hours, but this is continuously topped up by the killer feature of this watch - solar charging. Solar will take this watch's battery life to a staggering 122 hours. And when the sun goes down, you have NFC for convenience.

In terms of design, this is a classic in the making. There are several colours and finishes, but the materials and premium feel really do propel this watch into the luxury category - while keeping it rugged enough to use as your primary fitness tracker. And as for stats, here we have endurance and real-time stamina tracking, training status, advanced performance metrics and 30+ built-in sports apps. It also has the deepest water rating here at 10ATM. Smartwatch-wise, you have Garmin Pay for easy shopping, Connect IQ for apps and customisation, and it works with iOS and Android, Much like the Venu Sq above, this has some brilliant additions for music lovers - as the 16GB storage will come in handy for downloads from Spotify, Deezer, and Amazon Music. There's even a built-in LED flashlight to light your way.

The Garmin Vivoactive 5 presents us with the future of fitness. Whether you're a fitness enthusiast, outdoor adventurer, or a tech-savvy individual, the Vivoactive 5 is a game-changer. With built-in sports apps for running, cycling, HIIT and swimming (just to name a few), this fitness tracker empowers you to power and optimise your workouts. Beyond just fitness metrics, this watch offers comprehensive health statistics, stress tracking, and even body battery energy monitoring. So you can understand when it's time to rest.

In terms of the display, the 30.4mm OLED screen has a resolution of 390 x 390 and is touchscreen, which is a massive bonus for accessibility. Stay connected with smart notifications, control your music, and enjoy a long battery life of up to 11 days.

The Huawei Watch Fit certainly has a few great features to focus on. Starting with the 1.64-inch bright AMOLED display, which is great for accessibility. Not only that, but the Watch Face Store adds a touch of personal flair to your wrist, whether that be by adding a new watch face or new photos. Also, when it's time to stop training and rest up, the Huawei Watch is there to support you, with statistics from TruSleep 3.0 on how long you slept and your sleep score. Plus, for a holistic view of your health, TruSeen 5.0 uses AI technology to track your heart rate 24/7.

With advanced health tracking and over 100 workout modes, this watch will certainly keep you in tune with your wellbeing. And although it's great for all sports, this watch is the best for runners. That's because of the Running Ability Index, which uses our buzzword, built-in GPS, to plan your next running route for you. Clever right?

The Apple Watch Series 9 boasts a sleek and durable aluminium case and is built to withstand the demands of everyday life. The 41mm display provides a crisp and vibrant interface, making it really simple to navigate the multitude of features offered by the watch. Like any fitness tracker with GPS, you can accurately track your outdoor exercises, meanwhile, the sports band ensures a comfortable fit during workouts.

This watch goes beyond simple fitness tracking, offering advanced health monitoring features, such as heart rate monitoring and an ECG app, empowering users to take control of their own wellbeing. In addition, Apple have made their watches even easier to use with Double Tap. A feature for when your hands are full, but you still need to use your watch. Simply double-tap your index finger and thumb together to either answer a call, open a notification or pause a song.

Plus, with the addition of three months free Apple Fitness+, getting fit has never been so accessible.