Fitbit et al

Following for advice….
Also  wonder if there is an APP for iPhone to track .
I have family member that has a ring that he  has recommended 
Would that be a better choice ? 

I'm a fitbit (Versa 3--a smart watch) "addict"....have used it continuously since 2016 (starting w/the "smallest" (non-smart-watch version) and working my way up.

I'm a technological dunce. There are a lot of features I don't use. I do not have Premium. I've figured out more things to look at as time went by, but I still consider myself pretty ignorant about how much I could do w/my fitbit watch if I were to take the time (and spend the emotional energy) to learn how to use it.

I track steps, miles, calories, sleep, and heart rate. I also look at its weather feature. I can and do get email on it, which is handy for reading incoming email, but I've never figured out how to send an email w/it or respond to one that has come in ...so I don't use that feature very much.

Each fit bit tracker lasts about 2 years--a couple have "lived" longer than that; one petered out after a year and a half.

You do have to take it off to charge it (it comes with a charger, which you can plug in w/one of those adapters that is a regular plug on one side and a USB port on the other; or you can "plug it in" to your computer; you can also buy a charger separately--I did that so I have one upstairs and one downstairs). My current fitbit needs charging about every 2 1/2-3 days. It takes about an hour (a little more than) to fully charge (and it notifies you (via email) when you get to 21% charge).

I also bought a "fancy" (mesh/metal--comes in gold, silver, and rose gold and costs about $10) bracelet/band to replace the ugly plastic one that comes with it. Looks more like jewelry (altho "fine jewelry" it's not) and it's easier to put on/take off...it's a magnetic close and the magnet is very strong--it's never "slipped off" ....altho I have "banged it off" a couple of times but that's me being clumsy not a design defect. Nothing "presses into" my wrist...the tracker feels perfectly smooth on my wrist.

Reportedly its tracking features are not particularly accurate (news reports put them at +/- 10%), but in my experience they do show trends....I do a 4-5 mile exercise hike 4 days/week and my fitbit shows essentially the same step, mileage and calorie count each time I take a "same" route at about the same pace....so while maybe I don't actually burn 520 calories over a four-mile hike, I do burn 520 "fitbit calories" each time.

It syncs automatically (once you get it set up)...to your phone and/or to the fitbit site on your computer, so I presume it would also sync automatically to an ipad (don't know for sure as I don't use an ipad)--

You can sync it manually, but you don't have to; as noted, it syncs automatically on some prearranged by fitbit schedule--hence my phone (in your wife's case, her ipad) may not be as current as the numbers showing on the fitbit itself....but it's not a long delay (minutes or maybe an hour; I've never really tracked it)....

As noted, I'm "addicted" to my fitbit....I've gotten into the habit of buying a new fitbit device when my old one starts to lose charge (when it gets down to having to be charged every day) so I don't have to "do without" when it finally gives up the ghost--and it will/does give up the ghost after a couple of years or so, or at least every fitbit I've ever owned has done so. Last couple I've used the old one while the new one is charging....that makes up for the hour or so it takes to charge and I don't have to obsess about steps I take when I'm not wearing my fitbit (told you I am addicted).

I stress: I am a technological dunce...I have figured out several fitbit features and ways to make it work over the years, but it's not "intuitive" and there are some things I've just given up on and don't even try (like sending email via the fitbit, for example). It's pretty easy to set up and the one time I had trouble with setting up a new fitbit I called fitbit tech support (which I found by googling) and they walked me through (the problem turned out to be w/my phone)...no charge and it was easy and relatively quick (less than an hour).

I have never used or tried to use any other kind of health tracker....so can't tell you if fitbit is better or worse. I can tell you that I'm happy w/my fitbit(s)...

Hope this helps and that your wife enjoys her fitbit as much as I enjoy mine, if you-all decide to go ahead and buy it.

I used to use Apple Watches once they were introduced. About a year ago when I went to see a dermatologist she pointed out something on my wrist right where my watch is worn. They had to check it, and thankfully it was nothing. However, Not to be a negative Nancy, but she told me that they have seen so many people that have not been as lucky as me with the same issue in the same wrist locations…

Since then I wear a regular watch, for me the information given was not as important.

Take this info however you want, but I think it’s always best to do research, ask questions, be informed and make whatever decision works for you.

I am on my second least expensive Fitbit. Also technically challenged so I don't use/need all the features that come with it. Basically for my steps, calories. I also charge it about once a week. Sometimes I will leave it on the charger when I will be sitting to watch a movie, shower, etc. - mostly when I know I won't be "walking" around for a bit. It does sync with my iPhone. You can add friends to your list - a little incentive to get to your goal.

Edit to add - After my initial purchase, I don't pay to subscribe to anything.  Just want to know if I got to my steps.

I have a Fitbit Inspire. I’ve had it maybe almost 4 years. The charge used to last 8-10 days, now only about 6 days. I use it for steps and sleep.

I have a lot of experience with using various types of HRMs from chest straps linked to Garmin devices to wearables such as my current apple watch. While we are starting to transition out of bike riding I have been a serious bike rider for 35+years, to the point of doing some racing. While I was never very good at racing and enjoyed training rides more than racing I did train using heart rate, this was before power meters that are used today. I have read several articles that compare various brands of wearables and frankly they all scored pretty well and are surprisingly accurate for heart rate. I have also compared my watch to the real measurements in a doctor office of O2 levels and that also seems pretty good but I have not read any actual test of accuracy. My watch will also do EKGs that you send to a doctor but frankly they seem a little flakey. I went with the apple watch over others mainly because we are an apple house with many of our home automation features being controlled by apple home and the watch using Siri can interface with those. We also track most of our exercises using the watch. You mention an iPad so I will guess you also use iPhones, apple health is pretty good at taking data including HR and steps. It will also track stationary exercise such as treadmills surprisingly well. HRM uses light sensors and steps (or distance) use GPS for the most part. You don't need to have the watch band very tight to get a good reading. Somebody talked about a rash with the apple watch, If it is the same as I have seen it is not from the watch but from the band and you can always change bands. I got one just before I was seeing a dermatologist for my normal skin scan and she wasn't worried that it was anything serious, it went away with time and I started to wear my band looser and I do take it off when I shower and clean the band from time to time with peroxide. I never had an issue when I lived in California so it is probably caused by the high humidity of a Florida summer.

To try and answer you specific questions:
Questions that I have floating around my head that people might know:
Presumably you have to take this thing off every so often and give it a charge, how annoying is that?
- I am not worried about tracking sleep so I charge mine on a stand beside the bed at night but most of the time it will charge in an hour or less off your wrist

I assume it has two electrical pads on the back to press into your wrist; how tight does this thing have to be all day and all night?
- Chest strap monitors work this way but wrist wearable use light to measure your blood flow and get the info that way, no current is used and the bands can be fairly loose.

How much trouble is it to sync with an iPad (most likely it will be her iPad)
- Easy, watch is pretty close to plug and play, easy linking the first time then you are good to go and the watch automatically downloads the data.

What happens if you don't sync it, like do you have to do it every day or does it happen by itself if they are close maybe?
- Syncs automatically no fuss no muss.

I see Fitbit's business model is to charge you for a premium subscription...she is not likely to be interested in that, so what does it mean for us if we don't subscribe
- I don't know about Fitbit but there are no other charges for the Apple Watch. There could be 3 party apps that would charge but I don't know why you would need them

I see some of them also have notifications that you have a new text, for instance...I have a feeling that there is a 62% chance that won't work reliably.
- With the apple watch you can get texts, phone calls, emails and about any other notifications that you would want. My Disney AP is on my watch so that is what I use to get into the parks, I also use it to pay when buying groceries or even my boarding pass when flying. It pretty much will take over your life...

In summary I love my Apple Watch but have 0 experience with Fitbit so I can't help you with that brand.

This could be!
It has come up before in the past, as sort of a tool to "remind" her to get up and move. She changed jobs and is no longer behind a desk all day, so I think she stopped being interested at that point.
Lately she's had some stress and also started some exercise and was noticing funny heartbeat patterns, she went to the doctor and talked about it and they are pretty sure it is from the stress and the new (not used to it) exercising. But they were chatting about fitbits and Apple watches.
Yesterday she said she might see about getting an actual HRM from the hospital, like the kind you check out and wear for a day or two.