I’m ready for you, 2025. At least, I hope I am. Whether or not you set new year’s resolutions in a formal way, it’s good to have support for whatever you intend to do. That’s where technology can help.
Read on for scales which can tell you how much weight you’re losing (even if they don’t always quite tell you the answer you want), smartwatches and smart rings that measure your calories burnt and steps taken, and devices for measuring your blood pressure.
The deals highlighted in this post were independently selected by the Contributor and do not contain affiliate links.
Apple Watch Series 10
From $399 from apple.com, from £399 from apple.com/uk
Apple’s watch remains the most advanced smartwatch there is, with lots of health- and fitness-related features. If the Watch spots your heart rate going unusually high or low, it’ll tell you. You can take an ECG or measure your blood oxygen levels on your wrist. And, of course, it’ll help you keep track of the exercise you’ve promised yourself you’ll do this January. The latest Series 10 Watch is the thinnest yet, with the biggest display. It comes in two case sizes and pairs with your iPhone.
Oura Ring
From $349 from ouraring.com, from £349 from ouraring.com
The latest version of the brilliant smart ring is the Oura Ring 4, though the third-gen model is still available and is highly capable. Wear it at night for sleep tracking with excellent detail levels. When you wake up a great feature called Symptom Radar can tell you when you’re getting a cold or flu (or Covid), often before you have a clue that you do. This means you can start taking care of yourself earlier to speed your recovery.
The advice it offers is sharp and insightful, so it quickly becomes essential. Note that for the full effect you need the membership which costs $5.99 a month.
Ampler Stout EBike
$3,459 from amplerbikes.com, £3,190 from amplerbikes.com
Cycling is a great way to get fit, but if you’re put off a daily commute by that horrible hill on the way home, an ebike can persuade you to go the extra mile. Ampler’s bikes are stunning, with great build quality, powerful motors and the ultimate in discretion: the battery is hidden in the bike’s frame. And when you feel you’re up to tackling that hill on your own, you can scale back how much help the bike gives you.
Withings Body Comp Bathroom Scales
$199.95 from withings.com, £179.95 from withings.com
It’s good to weigh yourself: if you’ve just started working out, your weight can go up while your fat content goes down—and muscle weighs more than fat. Scales like these can break down the information into useful detail. The Withings scales can also measure your vascular age and tell you if it tallies with your actual age. Plus, it can tell you about your heart rate, nerve health, and even tell you today’s weather. I’ve tried a lot of smart scales and these are easily the best.
Samsung Galaxy Ring
$399.99 from samsung.com, £399 from samsung.com
Samsung’s take on the smart ring is excellent, with a slick, concave styling that looks and feels great. It comes with a case that charges the ring, though you can expect five days of use between charges. It’s good for sleep tracking and gives you a daily score that represents your energy levels. It isn’t quite as advanced as the Oura Ring but it has a neat advantage: there’s no monthly subscription. Only pairs with Android phones.
Huawei Watch D2
£349.99 from huawei.com
The latest smartwatch from Huawei has a strap that expands, so that you can take blood pressure measurements on it. It’s a big step up from the first model which was clunky and chunky. Here, the strap inflates quietly and gives you a result within a matter of seconds. Other smartwatches and wearables calculate the pressure through optical changes in the skin colour but this offers a coolly different way of doing things. Unlike other devices, like the Aktiia below, the Huawei Watch doesn’t need regular calibration.
Aktiia 24/7 Blood Pressure Monitor
£209.99 from aktiia.com/uk
If you get anxious when a doctor or nurse is taking your blood pressure, Aktiia might be the solution. It’s a simple bracelet you wear all day and night, and it takes multiple blood pressure measurements in the background, so you don’t get tense knowing a reading is happening. It then reports the results to a smartphone app. You need to calibrate the band with a standalone cuff (which is supplied) once a month. The only downside is you can’t action a reading, it does it in the background when you’re sitting still. Not yet available in the U.S.
Apple AirPods Pro 2
$249 from apple.com, £229 from apple.com/uk
Not only are earbuds great to accompany your run, walk or other workout, AirPods Pro 2 offer a cool new extra: a Hearing Test. A five-minute test plays tones which you acknowledge by tapping your iPhone display. At the end it’ll give you an evaluation of how your hearing is doing. Since you can also use the earbuds as a hearing aid, this is a great health benefit.
And, of course, AirPods Pro 2 sound fantastic for playing music, podcasts, or the excellent Time to Walk feature in Apple Fitness+.
Therabody Theragun Relief
$149 from therabody.com, £125 from therabody.com/uk
It’s easy to overdo it when you start a new exercise regime with just that bit too much gusto. Therabody’s extensive range of massage tools will help you overcome achy or overdone muscles. The most sophisticated models in the range include LED lights and haptic feedback. But this model is a great starter: beautifully built and with three attachments.
Withings Sleep Analyzer
$129.95 from withings.com, £129.95 from withings.com
Maybe you want to track your sleep but you don’t want to wear anything to do it, not even a ring? Then the Withings pad that slides under your mattress is a great way to go. It can detect sleep apnea, spot snoring and analyze your cardiovascular health. Discreet but powerful.
