Should You Still Buy a Fitness Tracker in India or Go for a Smartwatch?
Just a few years ago, fitness bands were everywhere compact, affordable, and focused on health. But in 2025, walk into any Indian electronics shop or scroll through Amazon, and you’ll notice one thing: smartwatches are everywhere, while fitness trackers have nearly vanished.
If you’re unsure whether to buy a tracker or if a smartwatch is now the better choice, this guide explains the current trends and what you can expect in India.
1. Why Fitness Bands Have Nearly Disappeared
Fitness trackers once ruled the entry-level wearables space. Mi Band, Honor Band, Fitbit Inspire all aimed to track health without distractions.
But by 2025:
- Xiaomi hasn’t launched a new band in India for years.
- Fitbit is overpriced and poorly supported post-Google acquisition.
- Realme and OnePlus have moved on to smartwatches.
Meanwhile, smartwatches under ₹3000 now offer color screens, Bluetooth calling, and flashy watch faces. These watches dominate YouTube ads, Flipkart listings, and college campuses alike. Fitness bands just haven’t kept up.
2. Two Different Designs, Two Very Different Experiences
Screen Size and Everyday Visibility
- Smartwatches offer large, bright displays and high customization. They’re made to be noticed and interacted with throughout the day.
- Trackers are lighter and subtler. You’ll barely feel them on your wrist, but the smaller screens limit how much info you can see at once.
Health Monitoring Features: Nearly the Same, With One Catch
Both wearables track steps, heart rate, sleep, and basic workouts. But smartwatches now also promise:
- SpO2 readings
- Stress levels
- Blood pressure estimates
- ECG-like results
Most of these features on budget watches are not medically reliable, but they attract buyers. Trackers may offer fewer metrics, but often give more consistent basic tracking, especially for sleep.
3. How Smartwatch or Fitness Tracker Fit into Daily Life for Users
Calling and Notifications
Smartwatches make daily life smoother:
- See incoming calls and reply from the wrist
- Check WhatsApp and SMS previews without pulling out your phone
- Control music, camera, and even weather updates
Fitness bands generally don’t offer this level of interaction. Some offer basic alerts, but few handle it well.
Charging Routine and Battery Trade-Off
Activity Trackers last much longer often 10 to 20 days between charges. This makes them perfect for people who dislike frequent charging.
Smartwatches in the under ₹3000 segment often need charging every 2-4 days. Once you enable calling or always-on display, even that can drop further. You’ll need to build charging into your weekly routine.
4. Android Watch App Experience Is Still a Weak Spot
Regardless of what you choose, Indian users often deal with buggy apps. Budget smartwatches usually rely on lesser-known third-party apps, many with syncing issues or poor UI.
Fitness trackers used to work well with Mi Fit or Fitbit’s app, but app updates have slowed or disappeared. Even with better battery life, the supporting software is now a weak point across the board.
5. When a Fitness/Activity Tracker Still Makes Sense
A fitness tracker is still worth it if you can find one in these specific cases:
- You want long battery life without any distractions
- You’re buying for an older adult who just wants step tracking and sleep logs
- You prefer something light and invisible on your wrist
- You don’t need phone notifications or touchscreen features
Availability is the real issue. Only 4-5 models from Huawei, Amazfit, outdated Mi Band, or expensive Fitbits; few options are left on Amazon/Flipkart.
6. Where Budget Smartwatches Win by a Mile
For users, smartwatches are:
- Easy to buy, easy to gift
- Packed with screen features like watch face customisation, live weather, raise-to-wake, and vibration alarms
- Social-media ready with aesthetic appeal for Instagram, Facebook, or short video creators
- Ideal for teens, college students, and casual users who want phone-like convenience without pulling out their phones
And they’re everywhere from train commuters in Delhi to shopkeepers in Coimbatore.
7. Side-by-Side Comparison: Fitness Tracker or Smart Watch?
| Scenario | Fitness Tracker | Smartwatch |
|---|---|---|
| Lightweight and non-intrusive | Yes | No |
| Focused on health, not distractions | Yes | No |
| Long trips without a charger | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth calling from wrist | No | Yes |
| Regular call/message alerts | No | Yes |
| Style, screen size, watch faces | No | Yes |
| Easily available under ₹3000 | No | Yes |
| Suitable for elderly | Yes | No |
| Ideal for students or youth | No | Yes |
8. Check Brand, Build, and Support
While there are 500+ smartwatch listings under ₹3000 online, many use exaggerated specs, especially for BP and SpO2.
Before you buy:
- Avoid unknown or no-service brands
- Check for proper strap quality, charging pin strength, and app reliability
- See if the brand offers replacement parts or warranty support in India
9. India’s Shift from Fitness Bands to Smartwatches
Smartwatches dominate today’s market not because they’re always better but because they’re more available, more versatile, and more aligned with how people live and work.
But if your priority is silent tracking, long battery, and zero distractions, and you can still find a fitness tracker from a trusted brand.
