Back in the mid 2010s, fitness trackers were simple bands that quietly logged your steps, sleep, and calories burned – with no buzzing notifications or bright displays to tempt you away from the moment. Remember the Jawbone UP?
Fast-forward to 2025, and the best smartwatches and fitness trackers have essentially become miniature smartphones, complete with apps, alerts, and vibrant AMOLED screens. But not everyone wants another glowing gadget on their wrist.
Whether you’re cutting back on screen time or craving something more discreet, these five fitness trackers keep things simple and your focus where it should be. From CrossFit and Hyrox favorites like Whoop bands to discreet, comfortable wellness trackers like the Oura Ring, there’s something for everyone looking
Withings Scanwatch 2
Pros
- Elegant design – traditional-watch look with discreet smart features.
- Comprehensive health tracking – ECG, body temperature, and sleep analysis are all supported.
- Outstanding battery life – up to a month per charge.
- Solid app support – the Withings Health Mate app clearly visualises your data and syncs reliably.
Cons
- No built-in GPS – requires a phone connection to map workouts.
- Limited smartwatch extras – no third-party apps or full notification replies.
- Small sub-display – text and metrics can be hard to read at a glance.
If you like the idea of a smartwatch but can’t face another screen, the Withings ScanWatch 2 strikes a perfect balance. It looks like a classic analogue timepiece, complete with real hands and a stainless-steel case, yet quietly tracks your health in the background.
A small monochrome sub-display provides just enough information – steps, heart rate, notifications – without ever feeling intrusive. Beneath the surface, it packs sensors for ECG, blood oxygen, temperature, and overnight breathing tracking, among others.
Battery life stretches to around 30 days, meaning you can go weeks between charges (and certainly longer than an Apple Watch). For most people, it’s the sweet spot between style, substance, and simplicity.
Polar Loop
Pros
- Subscription-free – all features are included with the purchase.
- Truly minimalist – no screen or alerts to pull your attention away.
- Strong tracking pedigree – built on Polar’s proven heart-rate and activity-monitoring tech.
- Good stamina – around eight days of battery life and weeks of stored data.
Cons
- No glance feedback – you’ll need to open the app to view your stats.
- Dependent on the companion app – the companion app, stuffed with information, isn’t easy to read at first glance.
- New to market – long-term performance and durability still need proving, although Polar is a known brand.
If you want a screen-free tracker that slips seamlessly into everyday life, the Polar Loop is one of the most straightforward options available. We’re in the process of reviewing the Polar Loop at the moment, but it’s shaping up to be a decent subscription-free Whoop alternative.
Announced fairly recently, this minimalist band focuses purely on movement, heart rate, sleep, and recovery, all viewable through the Polar Flow app. There are no buttons, no notifications, and no glowing pixels to distract you. The design is slim, lightweight, and water-resistant, with a battery that lasts up to eight days on a single charge.
The Polar Flow app is a little cluttered at first, reminiscent of older internet websites, but the quantity of data you can mine from the app is first-rate. Anyone who’s used a Polar watch or one of their best heart rate monitors like the Polar H10 should feel right at home here.
Crucially, Polar’s approach is subscription-free, so you pay once for the hardware and keep full access to your data.
Whoop MG
Pros
- Completely screen-free – no display, or even buttons.
- Detailed health insights – tracks strain, sleep, ECG, and blood pressure insights in one place.
- Excellent app support – the companion app delivers clear analytics and tailored coaching advice.
- Strong battery life – up to two weeks on a single charge suits everyday wear.
Cons
- Subscription required – most features sit behind a paid membership tier.
- Premium pricing – total cost over time can exceed many rivals.
- No built-in GPS – outdoor workouts need to be tracked with a phone.
If you’re serious about monitoring recovery, strain, and sleep without the constant lure of a display, the Whoop MG is one of the most advanced screen-free options around.
Designed for 24/7 wear, it tracks heart rate, variability, temperature, and blood pressure estimates, all viewable through the Whoop app.
There’s no screen, no alerts, and no distractions – just detailed health insights when you choose to check them.
With around two weeks of battery life and continuous monitoring, it’s ideal for people who want to optimise performance and recovery without the noise.
The main trade-off is cost: while the hardware is sleek and durable, you’ll need a Whoop membership to unlock its full set of metrics. Whoop Peak and Whoop One memberships come with the Whoop 5.0, a tracker without medical-grade heart health features.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
Pros
- Discreet design – compact, comfortable, and screen-free.
- No subscription required – all features are available straight out of the box.
- Strong ecosystem integration – pairs effortlessly with Samsung Health.
- Premium build quality – durable titanium construction.
Cons
- High upfront cost – more expensive than most screen-free fitness bands.
- Fit-dependent accuracy – data quality can drop if the ring isn’t sized correctly.
- Limited compatibility – works best within Samsung’s ecosystem.
- No on-device feedback – all stats must be checked through the app.
Samsung’s first smart ring brings fitness tracking into an even more discreet form. The Galaxy Ring slips onto your finger like any piece of jewellery, yet quietly monitors sleep, heart rate, and temperature in the background. It even boasts automatic workout tracking, picking up that you went for a run without having to tinker in the app.
Everything syncs through Samsung Health, where you can view detailed insights and trends across your day. Battery life typically lasts around a week, and unlike rivals like the Oura below, there’s no subscription required to unlock data. AI-powered features analyse your sleep and offer actionable advice based on your chronotype.
The design is sleek and comfortable, with multiple sizes available to ensure a precise fit. For Samsung smartphone users in particular, it’s a seamless, distraction-free way to keep tabs on wellbeing without adding to screen fatigue.
Oura Ring 4
Pros
- Stylish and discreet – minimalist titanium design.
- Comprehensive health tracking – detailed sleep, readiness, and recovery metrics with improved sensor accuracy.
- Good battery life – up to eight days per charge with continuous monitoring.
- Excellent companion app – clear insights and trend tracking over time.
Cons
- Subscription required – advanced metrics sit behind a monthly membership, like many of its rivals.
- Fit-sensitive accuracy – must be sized correctly to ensure reliable readings.
- Limited for sport-specific data – lacks GPS or advanced training metrics for athletes and power users.
The Oura Ring 4 is arguably the most refined screen-free fitness tracker you can buy in 2025. It looks like a simple titanium band but like the Samsung Galaxy Ring, hides a suite of advanced sensors that track heart rate, sleep stages, recovery, and temperature changes.
Instead, the Oura app handles everything, showing readiness and sleep scores in clear, easy-to-read charts. Battery life reaches around eight days, and the ring is comfortable enough to wear day and night. Automatic exercise tracking extends beyond walks and runs to up to 40 different exercises, and the subscription boasts a suite of ever-evolving wellness features.
Oura’s latest generation ring improves accuracy through upgraded sensors and new motion algorithms, making it more reliable than ever. It can even help you predict when you’re getting sick. It’s a seriously impressive piece of kit: we even rated it TechRadar’s Health and Fitness Device of the Year.
However, while the experience feels premium, you’ll need an ongoing subscription to access full analytics, and precise sizing is vital for consistent data.
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