Counting steps used to mean, well, just counting steps. Now our wrists are smarter than we are before coffee, and fitness trackers handle everything from heartbeats to calling us out for not sleeping enough.
If you’re anything like us, you don’t want to be that person at the gym frantically tapping a blank screen, squinting to see if you’ve finished your lap. Always-on displays save the day here, showing real-time stats with a quick glance. No extra taps. No wild wrist-flailing. Just a little sanity.
Fitness trackers with always-on displays keep your heart rate visible and look pretty slick, honestly. They make tracking runs and hikes way less of a hassle.
But before you hit “add to cart” and start imagining your new ultra-fit self, there are a couple things to keep in mind. Battery life drops faster when the screen never sleeps. Some displays are much easier to read outdoors than others.
Screen brightness matters. Comfort does too—no one wants a brick strapped to their wrist. Check the accuracy of the health sensors, and make sure your tracker plays nice with your phone.
We spent way too much time researching and testing fitness trackers with always-on displays to figure out which ones are actually worth wearing.
Best Fitness Trackers with Always-On Display
We’ve all tried squinting at a dead screen during a jog, only to realize our watch is just taking a nap. That’s why we tracked down the best fitness trackers with always-on displays—so we can check our stats without pulling a muscle in our face.
Here are our top picks to keep both our workouts and our sanity on track.
If you want a low-hassle fitness tracker with a bright always-on display, the Inspire 3 keeps us motivated without overwhelming us—or emptying our wallets.
Pros
Always-on color screen is actually easy to check, even when we’re just pretending to work out
Super lightweight—sometimes we forget it’s even there
Sleep, stress, and health tracking made us realize we’re not as healthy as we hoped
Cons
Some features hide behind a paid Premium wall, which feels kind of rude
GPS only works with our phone nearby (giant phone in tiny shorts, anyone?)
Tapping through menus can test our patience and reflexes
Honestly, we all want to check our steps without squinting at a tiny, dark screen. The Inspire 3 nails that with a color display that stays on, even if our attention span doesn’t.
We got instant stats and could actually see who texted us while running (spoiler: mostly spam). The stress and sleep features were both helpful and mildly alarming. Now we get a clear score telling us whether to hit the gym or just nap.
We loved the little buzz on our arm for hitting activity milestones. Unlocking the fancier insights, though, means coughing up for Fitbit Premium after the free trial.
Water resistance means we don’t panic every time we get caught in the rain. The battery outlasted some of our best-laid workout plans.
If you want fitness tracking that doesn’t overcomplicate things or weigh you down, Inspire 3 is a solid choice. It won’t replace a smartwatch, but it gets the job done—and reminds us to relax a little.
If you want to track your fitness and sneakily check the time in meetings, this watch makes showing off your “healthy lifestyle” way easier.
Pros
Display stays on, even when we don’t
Tracks so many exercises, we’re running out of excuses
Battery lasts longer than our willpower on leg day
Cons
Tons of alerts—maybe too helpful with reminders
Touch screen throws a tantrum if our hands are sweaty
Setting up all the dials might eat up your afternoon
The Wontrum tracker feels like it was made for us procrastinators who need a push to get moving. The always-on display lets us check stats without dramatic wrist moves, which is great when pretending to look busy at work.
Swapping watch faces is surprisingly fun, especially if we want our pet’s face everywhere. It keeps tabs on everything from blood pressure to sleep habits. The reminders to drink water and stretch might get annoying, but honestly, we probably need them.
With over 128 exercise modes, this thing tries to log it all—though we still haven’t found “napping” as an option. Charging is quick, and battery life keeps us off the charger for days.
It survives our washing-up mishaps with its waterproof rating. If you want a fitness tracker that lives up to its promises (and keeps nagging you to move), it’s hard to go wrong with this feisty little gadget.
If you want a fitness tracker that doesn’t slack off even when you do, this little gadget gets the job done without breaking the bank.
Pros
Always-on AMOLED screen is bright—even when we’re pretending to work out
Tracks heart rate, SpO2, sleep, and other stats all day (and night)
Tons of fun, customizable watch faces to match our mood, outfit, or questionable life choices
Cons
First-time setup needs patience and a little app hunt
Touchscreen isn’t psychic—there’s a learning curve
Design isn’t ultra-slim, so skinny wrists might find it a bit chunky
We had to give the BSLIZHEN C60 a quick charge and flex our app-downloading muscles before it sprang to life. Once set up, the 1.1-inch AMOLED screen was so vibrant, we kind of wanted to just stare at our wrists and look important.
Wearing this tracker felt a bit like sporting a health monitor from the future. Heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep patterns followed us around like a clingy pet (in a good way).
The sleep and activity reports actually made sense, and quick taps gave us all the info we’re usually too lazy to check. Swapping watch faces is easy, so we never got bored with the same look.
The band is comfy for all-day wear, though it’s not exactly dainty. For anyone who likes getting reminders to stop being a couch potato (guilty), the “move” alerts keep us honest.
If setup doesn’t scare you off, it’s a strong pick.
If you want an always-on fitness tracker that doesn’t need daily charging, the Band 7 hits a sweet spot for features and price.
Pros
Brilliant, easy-to-read always-on display
Wildly long battery life means fewer “Where’s my charger?” moments
Tracks more sports than we’ll ever attempt
Cons
Small size makes reading notifications tough for some
No onboard GPS, so our phones still get dragged along
Step tracker can be a bit generous on bumpy car rides
We noticed right away how sharp and bright the Amazfit Band 7’s AMOLED screen is—even outside in the sunlight while pretending to jog. The always-on feature means we don’t have to flip our wrists like we’re doing a magic trick just to check the time.
The battery life is glorious. We’re talking well past the “charge me every night” crowd—Band 7 laughs at battery anxiety. Two weeks on a single charge? We could forget our charger and still get a few more days.
Tracking-wise, there are more modes than excuses not to work out. From badminton to swimming, this little band tries to keep up. The sleep and heart rate features are solid, though the step count sometimes thinks our wild Zoom gesturing is a power walk.
Alexa is built in, but sometimes she needs a moment (we get it). On the wrist, the Band 7 feels lightweight and comfy, and it doesn’t look like we strapped a space brick to our arm.
If you want reliable tracking without a subscription or constant charging, this is a really good grab—even if you just use the sports modes to track which side of the couch you lounge on.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly fitness tracker that covers the basics and gives you an always-on display, this one’s worth a look—quirks and all.
Pros
Bright color display stays visible all day
Sturdy waterproof design we can wear just about anywhere
Pairing with a phone felt like solving a small puzzle
Notification button isn’t the most intuitive
Tracking accuracy isn’t Olympic-level
The Amzhero Fitness Tracker grabbed our attention with its always-on, colorful screen. Even in sunlight, checking stats was as easy as glancing at our wrist—and it’s nice not having the view disappear every five seconds.
We survived a water balloon ambush with it still ticking, so the waterproofing isn’t just marketing fluff. Linking this thing to our phones took more patience than we expected. Once we made it through, the tracker bombarded us with every alert, step count, and even gentle (sometimes too gentle) suggestions that we should probably go to bed earlier.
We never missed a text, but we did find ourselves pushing a physical button more often than we’d like to wake up the display. Between solid battery life, all the essential health numbers, and a comfy band, we felt pretty equipped for our daily sprints to the fridge.
It’s not as fancy or precise as the top-tier trackers, but for the price, the Amzhero Fitness Tracker gets the job done (and gives our wallets a break).
Looking for a budget-friendly fitness tracker with a bright always-on display and a bunch of features? The Bestinn watch might just fit the bill, as long as you’re not expecting absolute perfection.
Pros
Crisp always-on screen makes time and stats easy to see
Featherweight and comfortable for all-day wear—even at a wedding or just lounging
Huge selection of workout modes to cover pretty much any fitness whim
Cons
Some health readings, especially blood pressure, aren’t always spot-on
Watch face choices feel a bit limited, like digging through a small sock drawer
Connected GPS means your phone tags along for runs
The first thing that stood out about the Bestinn Smart Fitness Watch was its always-on display. It’s bright and easy to read, so there’s no need to squint or tap the screen like a maniac.
The lightweight design almost disappears on your wrist, making it easy to forget you’re even wearing it while you check your steps for the fifth time today.
We had fun scrolling through the huge list of exercise modes. From yoga to badminton, this thing seems to expect you to try every sport at least once.
Notifications buzz in regularly, helping you dodge group chats with a bit more style. Tracking steps, heart rate, and blood oxygen gets way easier—you won’t need to pull out your phone every two minutes.
There were a few quirks. The blood pressure monitor tends to be more optimistic than our doctor.
The watch face library could use more fun options, and if you want accurate outdoor run tracking, you’ll need your phone with you.
For the price, though, this tracker definitely holds its own.
If you want a budget fitness companion and don’t need pro-level stats, the Bestinn Smart Fitness Watch is ready to jump into your daily routine.
Want a fitness tracker that lets you monitor yourself 24/7, make calls, and look sharp? This one’s worth a peek.
Pros
Lets you answer calls right from your wrist—pretty slick
Always-on display is easy to read, even if you’re squinting mid-sprint
Fun design and customizable faces actually bring a little style
Cons
Battery needs charging every 4-5 days, so it’s another thing to plug in
The strap looks cool but attracts lint like crazy
Can’t reply to messages, so those witty comebacks have to wait
The bright, always-on screen grabs your attention right away. Honestly, it’s much easier to read than half the stuff hiding in the fridge.
Swiping through features feels natural, and making calls from the watch makes you feel cooler than you probably are. Call quality is clear enough that even your mom will notice.
We tried a few different sport modes (not all 100+, don’t worry), and it handled everything from walking to our championship-level pacing before dinner.
Sleep tracking gave us daily reminders that we should really go to bed earlier.
Sure, we wish the battery lasted a bit longer, but at least you’re not searching for a charger every night. It’s waterproof, so forgetting to take it off in the shower isn’t a disaster.
If you want a fitness tracker that keeps you connected and adds a bit of polish to your look, this one works.
Trying to track your steps without strapping a spaceship to your wrist? This fitness tracker feels like a safe bet.
Pros
Battery lasts longer than our motivation
Always-on display stays bright, even in the sun
Super comfortable for all-day wear—even if you forget it’s there
Cons
Setting it up is trickier than most IKEA furniture
Doesn’t let you reply to messages
Syncing with the app can get frustrating
Once we put on the Sanorum Fitness Tracker, the always-on display stood out. It’s clear and sharp, and somehow resists smudges—even after a peanut butter breakfast mishap.
The lightweight strap never dug into our wrists, so wearing it to bed was easy.
We took this tracker through rain, showers, even a chaotic dog bath, and it just kept working. The battery lasted about a week—not that we remembered to charge it on time.
It tracked our heart rate, steps, and sleep way better than our memory does.
Setup took us a while, maybe longer than the last season of our favorite show. App syncing sometimes lagged, which made us wish for a fast-forward button.
Replying to messages from the wrist isn’t possible, so you’ll need your phone for that. If you can get past those little annoyances, this tracker handles the basics and looks pretty good for the price.
Want a fitness tracker that actually looks good while reminding you how lazy you’ve been? This one deserves a spot on your wrist.
Pros
Always-on, clear curved display that looks techy and shows your stats at a glance
Loads of health features so you can obsess over heart rate and blood oxygen
Battery life that outlasts our motivation (which is saying something)
Cons
Scratches easier than our pride after skipping leg day
The stock band can wiggle loose during burpees
Some readings aren’t super accurate unless you’re wearing it just right
Let’s talk about the eye candy—the Bestinn Fitness Tracker’s big, curved screen actually makes checking your progress fun (and maybe scrolling through all 150 watch faces a little too often).
You’re not just counting steps; you’re giving your eyes a treat every time you look at your wrist.
The touchscreen feels as smooth as swiping away your excuses.
Health fans, or even casual users, will appreciate the heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep features.
We keep finding reasons to check our vitals, and the sleep graphs actually give us ideas to fix our late-night habits.
Notification buzzes are handy, especially for those of us who never hear our phones.
The silicone band sometimes acts like an overexcited puppy and tries to escape, so we’re careful when running.
And yeah, if you forget to wear it just right, some readings get a little wonky.
Overall, the Bestinn Fitness Tracker is a solid pick for anyone who wants a stylish, feature-packed tracker—without dropping big bucks on a fancy brand.
Buying Guide
When we’re searching for the right fitness tracker with an always-on display, it’s easy to get distracted by all the shiny features. Sure, the fanciest gadget looks cool, but sometimes, extra features just mean more ways to accidentally call your ex—awkward.
So, what should we actually care about?
Display Quality: Always-on shouldn’t mean always-unreadable. Let’s aim for screens that are bright and clear. Who wants to squint more than they already do at bad puns?
Battery Life: Always-on screens love to eat up battery, kind of like we inhale coffee first thing in the morning. Check how long it lasts between charges—nobody wants to spend their day hunting for a charger.
Comfort: If it feels like strapping a tiny robot to your wrist, you’re probably not going to wear it much. Go for something lightweight and comfy, especially if you want to track your sleep and not just your couch naps.
Fitness Features: Heart rate, steps, sleep tracking—those are the basics. Some trackers even watch your stress levels, which, honestly, spike every time you realize you left your tracker at home.
Here’s a quick table to help spot what matters:
Feature
Why It Matters
Display
Easy to read anytime
Battery Life
Fewer charges needed
Comfort
Wear all day, every day
Fitness Tools
Tracks what we care about
Water Resistance
Safe for sweaty workouts
Zeroing in on these essentials makes it way more likely you’ll find a tracker that actually fits your life, not just your wrist.
Hi, my name is Garrett Jones, and I am a tech enthusiast. I enjoy researching the new tech that has been released, and have a vast knowledge of the best tech to purchase.
From a young age, I have always had a big interest in technology, and this blog is an extension of that interest. Through this blog, I hope to provide others with all of the information they need regarding tech options to consider, and things such as compatibility. Some of the different items I will be discussing include headphones, smartwatches, and how to fix common issues.
