Are you struggling to keep track of your workout routines and how much progress you’ve made compared to the past? If yes, you need a smartwatch to take care of these worries.
Fitness watches have become a norm of gym life as they provide a lot of utilities for professional athletes, weightlifters, CrossFit athletes, and bodybuilders. They allow you to keep track of your performance and offer ways to enhance it to the next level.
In this article, we will review the top fitness watches and do:
- An in-depth study of the 8 best smartwatches for weight lifting, including their specs, pros, and cons.
- Put these watches against each other on a grand comparison table.
- What factors should be considered when buying the best smartwatch for weight lifting?
- And finally, give answers to some frequently asked questions regarding the best smartwatches for exercising.
Best Weight Lifting Smartwatches
- Best Overall Smartwatch: Samsung Galaxy Watch 4
- Best iOS Smartwatch: Apple Watch Series 7
- Best Sports Smartwatch: Garmin Venu 2
- Best Budget iOS Smartwatch: Apple Watch SE
- Best Innovative Smartwatch: Fitbit Versa 3
- Best Entry-Level Sports Smartwatch: Garmin Forerunner 45
- Best Budget Smartwatch: Fitbit Charge 5
- Best Gym Smartwatch: Amazfit GTS 2
Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 — Best Overall Smartwatch
Specs
- Dimensions: 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 mm
- Weight: 30.3 g
- Display: Super AMOLED
- Resolution: 450 x 450 pixels
- Automatic Workout Tracker: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- GPS: Yes
- Battery Life: 40 hours
Samsung has provided some of the best smartwatches in the past year, and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is no different. It also comes with attractive features and accessories, but this time it has provided multiple upgrades that make it one of the best smartwatches for fitness and training.
The Galaxy Watch 4 offers two methods for tracking weight training. You can either do it by using the catch-all-circuit training option or individual exercises.
The watch provides rep counting along with on-screen guidance. It can also let users select niches like bench press, arm curls, pull-ups, lateral raises, and more. Some of the essential features of the Galaxy Watch 4 include:
- Accelerometer
- Wireless payments
- Multiple body sensors
- Heart rate and SpO2 monitoring
Bottom Line
The Galaxy Watch 4 is an all-in-one option that can handle all of your needs. The wide range of functionality and compatibility with all platforms makes it one of the best smartwatches for exercising.
You might want to also take a look at the Best Apps for Samsung Galaxy Watch You Must Have.
Apple Watch Series 7 — Best iOS Smartwatch
Specs
- Dimensions: 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm
- Weight: 32 g
- Display: Retina LTPO OLED
- Resolution: 484 x 396 pixels
- Automatic Workout Tracker: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Compatibility: iOS
- GPS: Yes
- Battery Life: 18 hours
The Apple Watch Series 7 is a more refined version of its earlier version of Series 6. It follows the predecessors’ steps while upgrading the much-needed sectors of the old watch.
The new watch has become a fitness partner that sits right on your wrist. It can capture all of your movements, exercises, and all other activities. The watch presents activity rings that let you have a better look at your performance to keep you motivated at all times.
Besides this, it comes with a bigger and better display to search, communicate, write, and send messages right from your watch. Another major upgrade from the previous versions is the integration of fast charging.
Bottom Line
If you are an Apple fan and have an iOS compatible device, the Apple Watch Series 7 is the best smartwatch to track workouts. It has a big display with a vast range of functionality that can help enhance your performance in the gym.
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Garmin Venu 2 — Best Sports Smartwatch
Specs
- Dimensions: 45.4 x 45.4 x 12.2mm
- Weight: 49 g
- Display: AMOLED
- Resolution: 416 x 416 pixels
- Automatic Workout Tracker: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- GPS: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 11 days
The Garmin brand needs no introduction when it comes to providing top-of-the-line smartwatches and has introduced some of the most valuable features for athletes to track their performance.
The Venu 2 is a part of the premium sports line of the Garmin watches. It comes packed with handy features at an inexpensive price tag. It has a stylish circular display with a beautiful AMOLED screen.
The watch is compatible with both Android and iOS devices. Besides this, the Venu 2 allows integration with multiple fitness apps, making navigating sports and activity tracking options easy. Some of the notable features of the Venu 2 include:
- Heart rate monitoring
- More than 25 preloaded sports apps
- Animated workouts and Garmin coaching
- Music storage
- Wireless payments
- Bright AMOLED display
Bottom Line
The Garmin Venu 2 has enough features and functionality to satisfy many people. It tracks all of your sports activities and then provides performance charts in real-time. It makes it easier for athletes to check how they are performing under different conditions.
While on the subject, you might want to read Best Smartwatches With NFC (Contactless Payments).
Apple Watch SE — Best Budget iOS Smartwatch
Specs
- Dimensions: 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm
- Weight: 36 g
- Display: Retina LTPO OLED
- Resolution: 448 x 368 pixels
- Automatic Workout Tracker: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, Cellular connectivity
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Compatibility: iOS
- GPS: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 18 hours
Apple has always delivered premium features and elegant designs. The Apple Watch SE follows the same design as the other Apple wearables and comes in two different sizes providing more options for weight lifters.
The Apple Watch SE is lightweight and has a physical rocker, making navigating apps easier when you have sweaty hands. The watch has been designed for fitness freaks and provides multiple workout apps along with a heart rate monitor to keep track of your performance in the gym.
Some of the notable features of the Apple SE watch include:
- Optical heart rate sensor
- Fall detection
- Non-LTE and LTE Options
- Water-resistant
- 32 GB Storage
Bottom Line
If you have an iOS device but are on a budget, the Apple Watch SE is the best option. It has all the functionalities tracking your workouts and other benefits like a heart rate sensor.
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Fitbit Versa 3 — Best Innovative Smartwatch
Specs
- Dimensions: 40.4 x 40.4 x 12.4 mm
- Weight: 40 g
- Display: AMOLED
- Resolution: 300 x 300 pixels
- Automatic Workout Tracker: Yes
- Connectivity:
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- GPS: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 6 days
The Fitbit Versa 3 is a little expensive compared to its earlier versions, but it justifies the price by introducing new features into the smartwatch. It now comes with a SpO2 sensor, integrated GPS, a bigger screen, and even supports the Active Zone Minutes metric.
The Fitbit versa allows users to track six different exercises and workouts right from their watch. Additionally, when they are not in the gym, they can use the new updates to track their outdoor activities like running, swimming, biking, and more.
Some of the notable features of the Fitbit Versa 3 include:
- Built-in GPS
- Active Zone Minutes
- Heart rate tracker
Bottom Line
The Fitbit Versa 3 has come with much-needed upgrades compared to its predecessors. These new features have made it easier for athletes to keep track of their activities and workouts.
Garmin Forerunner 45 — Best Entry-Level Sports Smartwatch
Specs
- Dimensions: 42 x 42 x 11.4 mm
- Weight: 36 g
- Display: Transflective
- Resolution: 208 x 208 pixels
- Automatic Workout Tracker: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- GPS: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 7 days
The Garmin forerunner 45 is an entry-level smartwatch for tracking workouts and can be a good choice for fitness lovers. It provides a minimalist and lightweight design while packing a vast functionality inside the small form factor.
The watch comes with six pre-existing sports modes that can be controlled via a dedicated app. The forerunner 45 also provides the Garmin coach with excellent training plans for your body.
Besides this, there is also a body battery that can monitor your body’s energy levels and inform you of the perfect time for working out and resting. Some of the notable features of the watch include:
- Heart rate monitoring
- GPS tracking
- Garmin coach,
- Smart notifications
- Incident detection
- Long-lasting battery
Bottom Line
If you have just started working out and are new to the gym the Garmin forerunner 45 provides an excellent array of functions at an inexpensive price. The watch comes with the Garmin Coach feature that can provide user-oriented workouts to boost their performance.
Fitbit Charge 5 — Best Budget Smartwatch
Specs
- Dimensions: 36.7 x 22.7 x 11.2 mm
- Weight: 28 g
- Display: AMOLED
- Resolution: 0.86″ x 0.58″ px
- Automatic Workout Tracker: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth v4.0, NFC
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- GPS: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 7 days
The Fitbit Charge 5 is the successor of the Fitbit Charge 4, and it comes with a whole new set of features and functionalities. The new watch comes with a premium aluminum case with a beautiful AMOLED display that attracts users from a distance.
The watch has been designed for fitness lovers and provides 20 preset sports modes for tracking multiple exercises and an auto-detect mode for automatically detecting activities. Besides this, it offers additional app features like ECG and EDA.
Some of the more noteworthy features of the Fitbit Charge 5 include:
- Daily readiness score
- Skin temperature tracking
- Waterproof
- Built-in GPS
Bottom Line
The Fitbit Charge 5 provides a great line of features at a small price tag. It comes equipped with numerous functions to help athletes improve their performance while working out.
Amazfit GTS 2 — Best Gym Smartwatch
Specs
- Dimensions: 42.8 x 35.6 x 9.7 mm
- Weight: 24.7 grams
- Display: AMOLED
- Resolution: 348 x 442 Pixels
- Automatic Workout Tracker: Yes
- Connectivity: Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi
- Water Resistance: 5 ATM
- Compatibility: Android, iOS
- GPS: Yes
- Battery Life: Up to 7 days
The GTS 2 comes with top-of-line features from Amazfit. It comes equipped with a real-time heart rate monitor, sleep tracker, SpO2 monitor, stress monitor, more than 90 sports modes, and much more.
The watch utilizes the hardware efficiently and provides remarkable results in tracking gym activity. It hosts more than 12 workout modes useful for people who love the gym and want to keep track of their performance.
Besides this, some additional features of the watch include:
- Water-Resistant
- 3 GB internal storage
- Sleep Tracking
- Ability to create custom watch faces
- Voice Commands
Bottom Line
The GTS 2 is one of the best smartwatches from Amazfit. It comes with premium features and a sleek design. It can be considered one of the best weight lifting smartwatches.
Comparison Table: Best Weight Lifting Smartwatches
Products | Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 | Apple Watch Series 7 | Garmin Venu 2 | Apple Watch SE | Fitbit Versa 3 | Garmin Forerunner 45 | Fitbit Charge 5 | Amazfit GTS 2 |
Dimensions | 44.4 x 43.3 x 9.8 mm | 45 x 38 x 10.7 mm | 45.4 x 45.4 x 12.2 mm | 44 x 38 x 10.7 mm | 40.4 x 40.4 x 12.4 mm | 42 x 42 x 11.4 mm | 36.7 x 22.7 x 11.2 mm | 42.8 x 35.6 x 9.7 mm |
Weight | 30.3 g | 32 g | 49 g | 36 g | 40 g | 36 g | 28 g | 24.7 g |
Display | Super AMOLED | Retina LTPO OLED | AMOLED | Retina LTPO OLED | AMOLED | Transflective | AMOLED | AMOLED |
Resolution | 450 x 450 pixels | 484 x 396 pixels | 416 x 416 pixels | 448 x 368 pixels | 300 x 300 pixels | 208 x 208 pixels | 0.86″ x 0.58″ Px | 348 x 442 Pixels |
Automatic Workout Tracker | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | Bluetooth, ANT+, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC, Cellular connectivity | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi, NFC | Bluetooth, Wi-Fi | Bluetooth v4.0, NFC | Bluetooth 5.0, Wi-Fi |
Compatibility | Android, iOS | iOS | Android, iOS | iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS |
Battery Life | Up to 40 hours | 18 hours | Up to 11 days | Up to 18 hours | Up to 6 days | Up to 7 days | Up to 7 days | Up to 7 days |
Water resistance | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM | 5 ATM |
Dirt resistance | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Shock resistance | No | No | Yes | No | No | Yes | No | No |
GPS | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Heart Rate Traction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Blood Oxygenation traction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Stopwatch | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Price | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
Buying Guide: How to Choose the Best Weight Lifting Smartwatch
Although smartwatches come with numerous elements, some play a more important role than others when picking the best smartwatch for weight lifting. Let’s take a look at them.
Compatibility With Other Apps
There are a lot of fitness apps on the market, and each of them provides a particular aspect of utility. So when you are buying a new smartwatch from the market, make sure that it is compatible with multiple fitness apps.
This will help you easily keep track of your fitness activities and sync them across all apps. In this way, when you need specific data, you can easily extract it and use it to enhance your health routine.
Display and Design
This factor is not as important as the others but sometimes can affect your workout speed. The best smartwatch to track workouts usually comes with a big display, navigation buttons, and adjustable/changeable straps.
Having a big display helps you easily keep track of multiple things. Navigation buttons can be handy when your fingers are drenched in sweat, and it becomes impossible for you to use the touch panel.
It is common to have accidents in the gym, so when buying a watch, make sure it has changeable straps if needed to work out without worrying.
Good Performance
Another critical aspect of the best smartwatch for exercising includes good battery life. Make sure the smartwatch you are about to buy has long-lasting battery life. In our opinion, a good smartwatch should at least last you five days of battery before recharging.
Heart Rate Monitoring
Heart rate plays an essential role in improving your performance, and you need to monitor it closely. So, whenever you try to get a new smartwatch, lookout for one with heart rate monitoring.
Elevating your heart rate during your workout can help you achieve better results in a bit of time. A smartwatch with heart monitoring functionality will inform you when you have to push yourself and when you have to slow down to get some rest.
Did You Get What You’re Looking For?
Keeping track of your workouts and progress becomes a lot more convenient if you have one of the best smartwatches for weight lifting on your side. We hope this list has helped you find that perfect watch for your workout routine.
In our opinion, the following three are the best smartwatches for weight lifting:
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Weight Lifting Smartwatches
In our opinion, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 is the best smartwatch for weight training. It comes equipped with some of the best activity-tracking features, including heart rate, SpO2, and other body sensors.
Yes, many smartwatches come with activity tracks that can help you keep track of your performance while working out. Besides this, some smartwatches even provide animated workouts, profiles, coaches, and other features to help users keep their fitness in check.
According to studies, using a fitness tracker while weight lifting can help improve your performance. Trackers like pedometers and other wearable devices can help push your goals every day and can even help in establishing a smart fitness routine.
No, a Fitbit has not been designed to act like a smartwatch as it is a wireless wearable technology with the sole purpose of providing a fitness monitor to users. Unlike the smartwatches that offer other functionalities, they can only track your activities.
A smartwatch is designed to keep track of your fitness activities and provide other day-to-day functions like delivering notifications and updates. On the other hand, a fitness tracker can only keep track of your exercises and health.
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