The perfect Fitbit trackers and smartwatches in contrast
This detailed Fitbit wearables comparability reveals you the most effective health trackers and watches to purchase this 12 months. We’ve detailed hyperlinks for the fashions we have now examined. We price all the opposite fashions based mostly on our professional opinion from a few years of health monitoring, smartwatches, and extra. So, let’s get began!
Shopping for recommendation: Which Fitbit is the most effective for me?
Smartwatch or health tracker?
At the start of your Fitbit search, the inevitable query arises: do you favor a smartwatch or a health tracker? Whereas many producers blur the strains, with Fitbit you may (nonetheless) familiarize your self fairly nicely with the design. The Sense and Versa smartwatches are sq., whereas Fitbit’s health trackers are all somewhat elongated. On the identical time, the vary of capabilities differs.
For instance, Fitbit’s smartwatches let you use built-in audio system and microphones to deal with cellphone calls. Sadly, there are not any fashions with a mobile modem for impartial reception. When it comes to health trackers, the Cost 5 now bridges the hole with the smartwatch by way of performance. Nonetheless, we’ll take a look at the precise variations later.
Fitbit and its premium subscription
A serious downside that issues Fitbit: Some capabilities are solely accessible with a premium subscription. These primarily embrace mindfulness features just like the every day readiness rating, sleep monitoring instruments, and the stress operate. With a premium subscription, you additionally get detailed knowledge displayed within the app and could be additional motivated by means of video games and competitions.
Fitbit Premium options comparability
| Options | Free Fitbit app | Fitbit Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Every day Readiness Rating | ➖ | ✔️ |
| Exercise movies and audio classes | Exercise preview solely | ✔️ |
| Exercise monitoring | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Coronary heart price and Energetic Zone Minutes monitoring | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Actual-time metrics | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Sleep rating and sleep particulars | Rating solely | Rating particulars |
| Sleep profile | ➖ | ✔️ |
| Stress administration rating and particulars | Rating solely | Rating particulars |
| Mindfulness classes | Mindfulness overview solely | ✔️ |
| Wellness report | ➖ | ✔️ |
| Well being metrics developments | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Weight metrics monitoring | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Blood glucose monitoring | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Menstrual well being monitoring | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Meal and water recording | ✔️ | ✔️ |
| Recipes and meal suggestions | Recipes overview solely | ✔️ |
No matter your Fitbit mannequin, Fitbit Premium prices both $9.99 a month or $79.99 a 12 months. For the annual subscription, the month-to-month value could be damaged all the way down to roughly $6.60. In our evaluations, we strongly criticized Fitbit’s Premium possibility, since a excessive value could be related to the really helpful retail value after a number of years of use. Whether or not you’re prepared to pay one other $240 to activate all of its capabilities after three years, is in fact as much as you.
Is it nonetheless price shopping for older fashions?
You may typically discover gives for older Fitbit fashions on-line. You need to be sure that the respective mannequin continues to be supported by software program updates. The easiest way to do this is to contact Fitbit support. If the replace guarantee continues to be there, there are not any arguments towards older Fitbits other than the lesser quantity of capabilities!
The perfect Fitbit smartwatches
Fitbit Sense 2: High mannequin in all respects
Fitbit Sense 2 full review on nextpit
The Fitbit Sense 2 is a light-weight, stylish, and sensible sports activities watch, nevertheless it’s extra of an important health tracker than an actual smartwatch. There are nearly no apps, and linked performance is pretty restricted.
When it comes to sensors, the Fitbit Sense 2 may be very nicely geared up and gives quite a few choices resembling pulse measurement, GPS, SpO2, HRV, EDA, or ECG. Though accuracy ranges are sometimes not notably good, this could suffice for a lot of customers in on a regular basis life.
Nonetheless, it is unlucky that Fitbit’s closed ecosystem would not permit exterior sensors to be paired, and it is also unlucky {that a} subscription is required to entry many options.
All in all, the Fitbit Sense 2 gives few new options in comparison with its predecessor. If you would like extra info on the Sense vary, learn our Fitbit Sense review.
Good
- Haptic button is vastly improved
- Nonetheless stylish wanting and really mild
- Easy and snappy operation
- Google Pockets accessible by way of an replace
Unhealthy
- Many options are hidden behind a paywall
- Reasonably correct sensors for pulse measurement and GPS
- Closed ecosystem
- Just one mannequin accessible for all wrist sizes
- Nonetheless no Google Maps help
Fitbit Versa 4: The funds various
Fitbit Versa 4 full review on nextpit
Fitbit has renewed its vary of linked watches with the Fitbit Versa 4, which advantages from improved Google compatibility. It is a compact smartwatch with a bodily management button. The capacitive button on the Versa 3 had prompted quite a lot of dissatisfaction, and never simply at nextpit. That is why the Versa 4’s button is such a welcome innovation.
When it comes to design and ergonomics, the Versa 4 is mild and skinny, with a shiny OLED display. The interface and utility are user-friendly. The Versa 4 tracks your exercises with a coronary heart price monitor, pulse oximeter, and acceleration sensor. Nonetheless, you may must do with out the built-in ECG and cEDA stress measurement of the Fitbit Sense 2.
When it comes to linked capabilities, the Versa 4 can be nearer to a health tracker than a real smartwatch. Battery life is great, even when the recharging time is somewhat lengthy.
Nonetheless, the Versa 4 lacks music playback, linked capabilities, and new options in comparison with the Versa 3. What’s extra, some options are solely accessible with a premium subscription.
Good
- Good design
- Excellent show
- Strong battery life
- Dependable auto-tracking
Unhealthy
- No music operate
- Hardly any sensible options
- Hardly any improvements
- Full performance solely with a subscription
The perfect Fitbit health trackers
Fitbit Cost 6: The highest-of-the-range mannequin
Fitbit Charge 6 full review on nextpit
The Fitbit Cost 6, the model’s newest linked wristband, gives quite a few options resembling coronary heart price measurement, navigation by way of Google Maps, and a local utility for Google Music.
The Cost 6 is well-designed, with a high quality display and premium end. Ergonomics are nicely thought-out, though the bracelet can depart strain marks on the wrist.
The health tracker additionally gives complete very important knowledge monitoring. Nonetheless, it has just a few shortcomings, resembling inaccurate GPS, disappointing battery life, and a excessive value.
Good
- Good design with an excellent show
- Straightforward to put on and is comfy
- Accommodates many health capabilities
- Lastly in a position to cross very important knowledge to third-party producers
Unhealthy
- Battery life disillusioned within the overview
- Inaccurate GPS module with a ten% deviation
- Nonetheless too costly and with a premium subscription
- Leaves “chew marks” on the wrist
Fitbit Luxe: The go-anywhere mannequin
The Fitbit Luxe is, as its title suggests, the model’s luxurious health tracker. Priced between $130 and $200, it is somewhat extra reasonably priced than the Cost 6, and it has a smaller casing and optionally available wristbands. Functionally, nonetheless, this mannequin is somewhat similar to the Fitbit Versa 2 and is subsequently somewhat behind the instances.
This implies you may profit from capabilities resembling pulse measurement, oxygen saturation monitoring, and a five-day battery life. You’ll, nonetheless, must do with out the built-in GPS, which may typically be a nuisance when jogging, as you may nonetheless want your smartphone. Learn our Fitbit Luxe launch news to seek out out extra.
Fitbit Encourage 3: For the fashion-conscious
Fitbit Inspire 3 full review on nextpit
The Fitbit Encourage 3 is a compact health tracker with many options, resembling pulse and blood oxygen measurement, sleep, and health monitoring. Nonetheless, it has just a few drawbacks in contrast with the competitors, resembling a comparatively quick battery life and impractical ergonomics.
What’s extra, some options are solely accessible with a Premium subscription, which significantly will increase the tracker’s value. The Fitbit Encourage 3 can be restricted by way of connectivity, missing GPS and NFC for contactless funds. Regardless of a fantastic OLED coloration display and dependable very important knowledge measurement, the premium subscription and lack of core performance make the Encourage 3 much less recommendable than different fashions.
Briefly, though the Fitbit Encourage 3 gives a compact design and attention-grabbing options, its excessive value and limitations make it much less enticing than different choices in the marketplace.
Good
- Good, compact, and light-weight
- Fairly OLED show with AoD
- Strong battery life
- Good function set
Unhealthy
- No GPS, no NFC, no Fast Charging, no music management
- Full function set is offered solely with a premium subscription
- Operation by way of squeezing is awkward
- Comparatively costly even and not using a subscription
Fitbit Ace 3: The health tracker for youths
The Fitbit Ace 3 is a health tracker for youths that prices $79.00. It is tailored to youngsters’s wrists by way of look and measurement and shines, regardless of its mini-casing, with a strong eight-day battery life. However do not count on an excessive amount of in the best way of monitoring.
Certainly, Fitbit presents on its home page a “Minions Particular Version yellow bracelet” in a single measurement. However a more in-depth look reveals that coronary heart price sensors are built-in, however can’t be activated. So it is as much as the accelerometer to document your youngsters’s actions. To search out out extra about this mannequin, go to the Fitbit web site.
Different equipment
So far as equipment are involved, I am afraid I’ve obtained some unhealthy information: there isn’t any Minion bracelet for adults, not even within the “mischievous black” coloration variant. Alternatively, you may stay up for all kinds of straps. You may select between cloth, leather-based, silicone, and, sadly just for the Luxe mannequin, metallic. Costs vary from $19.95 to $99.95.
In case you have misplaced the included charging cable, you can too get a alternative within the Fitbit on-line retailer. The Aria Air, Fitbit’s personal sensible physique scale, can be an attention-grabbing addition. It has a $49.95 price ticket and lets you synchronize BMI knowledge and progress instantly into the Fitbit app. It syncs by way of Bluetooth and households do not have to purchase a number of fashions because of the presence of multi-user help.
If you happen to’ve made it this far, you are most likely nonetheless on the lookout for the appropriate health tracker or smartwatch. If that’s the case, try our choices of the best smartwatches and fitness trackers.
Has this comparability of the most effective Fitbit health trackers and smartwatches helped you? Which mannequin would you select?
Article up to date in April 2024 with extra evaluations. Present feedback have been preserved and could seem out of context.
