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Top 18 Health & Fitness Gadgets That Play Nicely With Apple Health

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Saturday, December 13th 2025 at 16:16 GMT by CNET

A Curated Guide to the 18 Best Health‑and‑Fitness Gadgets That Play Nicely With Apple Health, Apple Watch, and iPhone

If you’re an iOS user looking to supplement your Apple Watch or iPhone with a second device that will feed data into Apple Health, you’re in luck. CNET’s recent roundup of “18 health and fitness devices that sync with Apple Health, Apple Watch, and iPhone” distills the most popular, feature‑rich gadgets into a handy reference list. Whether you’re after a sleep tracker, a heart‑rate sensor, a smartwatch competitor, or something more niche like a posture‑correcting strap, there’s an item in the list that fits the bill. Below is a comprehensive, yet digestible, overview of each device, its standout features, and how it integrates with the Apple ecosystem.

1. Oura Ring

A sleek, minimalist ring that offers an in‑depth look at sleep, readiness, and activity. Its multi‑sensor design captures heart‑rate variability, body temperature, and movement, feeding granular metrics to Apple Health. Oura’s “Readiness Score” is especially useful for planning workouts or days off. The ring’s battery life lasts about a week, and its app lets you see trends over time.

2. Withings ScanWatch

This hybrid smartwatch blends analog charm with modern sensors. It’s a certified heart‑rate monitor, continuously tracks ECG, and can spot atrial fibrillation. When paired with the Withings Health Mate app, all data syncs into Apple Health. The watch’s “Smart Alarm” nudges you to wake at a time when your body is most rested.

3. Fitbit Charge 5

Fitbit’s newest mid‑range band offers built‑in GPS, stress tracking, and a daily “Sleep Score.” Unlike many Fitbit models, Charge 5 pushes raw data to Apple Health via the Fitbit app, giving you a unified view of steps, calories, and sleep. Its “Daily Readiness” feature uses heart‑rate variability and activity data to advise how hard you should train that day.

4. Garmin Forerunner 45

Garmin’s entry‑level GPS watch is a favourite for runners. It logs distance, pace, cadence, and integrates with Garmin Connect. From there, you can import workouts into Apple Health. It’s lightweight, has a bright display, and offers a “Recovery Time” metric that tells you when you’re ready for another run.

5. Polar H10 Heart‑Rate Sensor

A chest‑strap heart‑rate monitor that’s the gold standard for accuracy. It pairs via Bluetooth to the Polar Beat app, and then the app can push data to Apple Health. Whether you’re using it for interval training or long runs, the H10 provides precise heart‑rate zones and training load metrics.

6. Whoop Strap 4.0

Whoop is all about recovery. It tracks heart‑rate variability, resting heart rate, sleep stages, and offers a “Readiness” score every morning. The subscription‑based model sends data to the Whoop app, which can then sync with Apple Health. The strap’s battery life is impressive, lasting up to five days on a single charge.

7. Wahoo TICKR and TICKR FIT

These are two variations of a chest‑strap heart‑rate monitor. The TICKR offers an optional GPS module, while the TICKR FIT is a wrist‑mounted version that uses optical sensors. Both sync via Bluetooth to the Wahoo Fitness app and then export data to Apple Health. They’re popular among triathletes for their durability and accuracy.

8. Polar Grit X

Designed for multisport training, the Grit X offers GPS, heart‑rate monitoring, and a rugged, water‑resistant case. It syncs with Polar Flow and can send data to Apple Health. The watch’s “Training Load” graph helps you gauge how intense your sessions are over time.

9. Jabra Elite 75t (Bluetooth Headphones)

While primarily a headphone, the Jabra Elite 75t come with a “Hear Control” feature that tracks ear health and can log usage patterns. The app sends audio‑related metrics to Apple Health, which can be useful if you’re interested in how often you listen to music or podcasts and at what volume.

10. Spire Stone

A small, adhesive patch that tracks breathing and movement. Its app provides insights into your stress levels and can push data to Apple Health. The device is marketed as a “personal health coach,” offering real‑time prompts to slow down and breathe when you’re stressed.

11. BioStrap

A wrist‑mounted patch that measures heart‑rate, respiratory rate, and blood‑oxygen saturation. It’s ideal for people who need continuous monitoring but don’t want a full smartwatch. Data is uploaded to the BioStrap app, then to Apple Health.

12. Apple Watch Series 9

The flagship smartwatch from Apple naturally fits the bill. It offers GPS, ECG, blood‑oxygen tracking, and an ever‑expanding set of health sensors. Because it runs iOS, all data is automatically available in Apple Health.

13. Withings Body+ Scale

A smart scale that tracks weight, body‑fat percentage, lean mass, and bone mass. It also measures heart‑rate during the first 30 seconds of weight‑lifting. All metrics sync to the Health Mate app and then to Apple Health. The scale’s “Body Mass Index” trend graph is handy for long‑term tracking.

14. Garmin Venu 2

A GPS watch with a colorful AMOLED display and built‑in music controls. It tracks workouts, heart‑rate, and even offers “Stress Tracking.” It integrates with Garmin Connect, and the app can export data to Apple Health. The Venu 2’s “Pulse Oximeter” feature measures blood‑oxygen levels on demand.

15. Samsung Galaxy Watch 5

While a Samsung product, the Galaxy Watch 5 offers a comprehensive health suite: heart‑rate monitoring, ECG, sleep tracking, and a “Stress” meter. It runs Wear OS and can sync data to the Samsung Health app, which in turn can push to Apple Health via the Health app.

16. Garmin Vivosmart 5

A fitness band that tracks steps, sleep, heart‑rate, and offers “Body Battery” to measure energy. It syncs to Garmin Connect and can push data to Apple Health. Its sleek design and long battery life make it a popular choice for everyday wear.

17. Fitbit Inspire 2

A more affordable Fitbit band, the Inspire 2 focuses on activity, sleep, and daily reminders. It shares data with the Fitbit app, which can export to Apple Health. The Inspire 2’s “Active Zone Minutes” metric highlights how much time you spend in cardio zones.

18. Withings Pulse Oximeter

A pocket‑sized pulse oximeter that measures oxygen saturation (SpO₂) and heart‑rate. When paired with the Health Mate app, the readings are automatically logged into Apple Health. It’s ideal for people who want to keep an eye on respiratory health.

How These Devices Work With Apple Health

Almost all the gadgets in the list come with their own companion app—Fitbit, Garmin Connect, Polar Flow, Whoop, Withings Health Mate, etc. The process is simple:

1. Pair the Device with its App – Use Bluetooth to connect your hardware to its native app.
2. Authorize Apple Health Access – In the app’s settings, grant permission for data to be exported to Apple Health.
3. Sync Automatically or Manually – Depending on the app, you can set up automatic daily syncs or tap a “sync now” button.

Once synced, all your metrics—steps, heart‑rate, sleep stages, oxygen saturation, and more—populate the Apple Health dashboard. From there, you can create custom “Health Reports” or integrate with other health‑management tools like MyFitnessPal or Strava.

Takeaway

CNET’s roundup is a solid starting point for any iOS user looking to expand their health data ecosystem. Whether you want a dedicated sleep monitor, a chest‑strap for precise heart‑rate tracking, or a second smartwatch that complements the Apple Watch, there’s a device that will talk to Apple Health. The real advantage is the ability to view all your health data in one place: a single dashboard that lets you see trends, set goals, and share information with healthcare providers if needed.

If you’re ready to take your fitness data to the next level, pick a device that fits your primary focus—sleep, running, recovery, or overall wellness—and you’ll find that the Apple ecosystem is more than ready to host it. Happy tracking!