I did not want to spend $200 on a fitness tracker I might stop wearing after two weeks. But the $30 ones on Amazon looked like they came from a cereal box. I just wanted step counting, sleep tracking, and something that would not embarrass me at the gym.

I tested four trackers under $60. Two were surprisingly good.

Best Overall: Xiaomi Mi Band 8

It costs about $45 and does everything a $150 Fitbit does. Step counting is within 3% of my phone’s pedometer. Sleep tracking catches deep, light, and REM with reasonable accuracy — it correctly identified the nights I slept poorly. The display is bright AMOLED, visible in direct sun. Battery lasts 10 to 14 days on a charge. The band is comfortable enough that I forget I am wearing it.

What it does not do: built-in GPS (uses phone GPS), payment features, or onboard music. If you want any of those, you need to spend more. For pure activity and sleep tracking, it punches way above its price.

Best With GPS: Amazfit Band 7

About $50, and the standout feature is built-in GPS — unusual at this price. If you run or bike and want route tracking without carrying your phone, this is the one. The app is slightly more cluttered than Xiaomi’s, and the sleep tracking is less detailed, but the GPS accuracy is solid. Battery lasts about 8 days with GPS used once daily.

The Rest

I tried two no-name Amazon brands in the $25-35 range. One died after three weeks. The other had step counting that was 20% off — it counted steps while I was typing. Spend the extra $15 and get the Xiaomi.