The 5 Best Smartwatches for Health & Performance Tracking
Sleep tracking, HRV monitoring, and recovery insights — these are the smartwatches that actually help you perform better. We tested them all.
Why a Smartwatch Matters When You Quit Drinking
When you stop drinking, your body starts recovering fast. Better sleep, lower resting heart rate, improved HRV — but you can only see these gains if you track them. A good smartwatch turns invisible progress into visible motivation.
We tested five of the best health-focused wearables over 90 days, tracking sleep quality, heart rate variability, workout performance, and recovery metrics. Here's what we found.
What We Looked For
Every device on this list was evaluated on: sleep tracking accuracy, HRV monitoring, battery life, build quality, and value for money. We prioritized wearables that give actionable health insights — not just step counts.
The Verdict
If you want the deepest fitness data and longest battery life, go with the Garmin Venu 4. If you're deep in the Apple ecosystem, the Apple Watch Series 11 is unbeatable for daily convenience. For sleep-obsessed optimizers, the Oura Ring 4 is the gold standard. Serious runners should look at the Garmin Forerunner 965, and if recovery is your primary focus, the WHOOP 4.0 delivers unmatched strain and recovery data.
Our Top Picks
Garmin Venu 4
The Garmin Venu 4 is the ultimate fitness-first smartwatch. With continuous HRV tracking, advanced sleep analysis, Body Battery energy monitoring, and up to 11 days of battery life, it gives you the deepest health insights of any wearable we tested. The AMOLED display is sharp and readable in direct sunlight.
Pros
- Exceptional HRV and sleep tracking accuracy
- 11-day battery life
- Body Battery energy monitoring
- Built-in GPS with multi-band support
- Works with Android and iOS
Cons
- No cellular option
- App ecosystem not as rich as Apple
- Higher price point
Apple Watch Series 10
If you are in the Apple ecosystem, the Series 11 is the best smartwatch you can buy. Sleep tracking has improved significantly with sleep stages, respiratory rate, and wrist temperature monitoring. The ECG and blood oxygen sensors add medical-grade health monitoring.
Pros
- Seamless iPhone integration
- FDA-approved ECG and blood oxygen
- Excellent sleep stage tracking
- Huge app ecosystem
- Crash and fall detection
Cons
- 18-hour battery life is limiting
- Requires iPhone
- Sleep tracking less detailed than Garmin
Oura Ring
The Oura Ring 4 is the most comfortable sleep tracker we have ever tested. Worn on your finger, it tracks sleep stages, HRV, body temperature trends, and readiness scores with remarkable accuracy. If sleep optimization is your primary goal, nothing beats this.
Pros
- Most accurate sleep tracking available
- Incredibly comfortable to wear 24/7
- No screen means no distractions
- 7-day battery life
- Tracks body temperature trends
Cons
- Requires monthly subscription ($5.99/mo)
- No real-time workout display
- Limited smartwatch features
- Sizing can be tricky
Garmin Forerunner
Built for serious runners and endurance athletes, the Forerunner 965 delivers elite-level training metrics including Training Readiness, HRV Status, and Race Predictor. The touchscreen AMOLED display and 23-day battery life make it a powerhouse for anyone who trains hard.
Pros
- 23-day battery life in smartwatch mode
- Advanced training metrics and race predictor
- Full-color maps and navigation
- Training Readiness score
- Multi-band GPS accuracy
Cons
- Bulkier design may not suit smaller wrists
- Premium price
- Overkill if you do not run regularly
WHOOP 4.0
WHOOP takes a unique approach: no screen, no buttons, just pure data. It continuously monitors strain, recovery, and sleep performance, giving you a daily recovery score that tells you exactly how hard to push. The membership model includes unlimited coaching insights.
Pros
- Continuous strain and recovery monitoring
- No-screen design eliminates distractions
- Excellent community and coaching features
- Waterproof and ultra-lightweight
- Sleep performance percentage is motivating
Cons
- Subscription required ($239/year)
- No GPS or music storage
- No display for real-time stats
- Less useful without consistent training
Affiliate Disclosure: UNDRNK is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. All opinions are our own and based on independent testing.