Finest Fitbit health trackers and watches in 2024 Leave a comment

In 2024, you would possibly surprise if Fitbit continues to be related. Regardless of getting acquired by Google, Fitbit stays one of the vital recognizable names within the trade. Fitbit trackers aren’t meant for essentially the most hardcore of athletes, however they’re nonetheless wonderful units for monitoring total exercise in addition to monitoring sure well being and wellness metrics like EKGs and blood oxygen ranges. 

That stated, this can be a transitional interval from the Fitbit of previous to no matter Fitbit shall be sooner or later. 2023 specifically was a messy 12 months. There have been a number of Fitbit server outages. I wasn’t impressed with the choice to sundown legacy neighborhood options like challenges or the truth that all Fitbit accounts would require you to log in by way of Google by 2025. Talking of which, the Fitbit-to-Google account migration began final summer season and is required in the event you purchase new merchandise just like the Fitbit Cost 6 or Google Pixel Watch 2. The Fitbit app additionally received a brand new, extra Google-like makeover, which didn’t go over nicely with many customers. (Google has since made changes based mostly on suggestions.) And in January 2024, a lot of Fitbit’s management together with co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman left the corporate as roughly a thousand Google staff had been laid off.

You may look to how Google has dealt with the Nest acquisition as a highway map to how issues are going. The Googlefication of Fitbit will proceed, however there are causes to stay with its trackers within the meantime. Fitbit trackers are comparatively reasonably priced, particularly since they typically go on sale. All of the units include a free trial to Fitbit Premium, the corporate’s subscription service that provides guided exercises, meditations, and entry to extra in-depth metrics. To this point, it seems Google takes its Pixel Watch lineup significantly, too. With the Pixel Watch 2, the corporate has expanded prolonged guarantee entry and improved substitute choices. You simply should go in with eyes large open.

The existence of the Pixel Watch, now in its second technology, has thrown a wrench into Fitbit’s smartwatch lineup. Technically, it’s a Google product, however Google owns Fitbit, so that they’re all Google merchandise now. Fitbit powers all the Pixel Watch’s well being and health options. However actually, that is the smartwatch that Fitbit by no means might handle to construct by itself.

It’s received a lovely design with a round domed show that appears far more elegant than the squircle Versa or Sense smartwatches ever did. In your wrist, it seems to be like a watch, not a tracker dressed up as one. The show is a bit fragile for our tastes, however with the Pixel Watch 2, now you can get a Most popular Care prolonged guarantee within the US and Canada. That is one cause we suggest the Pixel Watch 2 over the unique since a minimum of you’ve a extra reasonably priced fallback ought to one thing occur to your show. Google additionally introduced an choice the place you’ll be able to skip buyer help and mail in damaged, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch 2 units for a reduced substitute.

Talking of which, the Pixel Watch 2 is a big replace. All of the Fitbit options that had been lacking at launch with the unique are current, like nightly SpO2, computerized exercise monitoring, and irregular excessive or low coronary heart fee notifications. The brand new multipath sensor additionally purportedly delivers extra correct coronary heart fee knowledge for vigorous actions, plus there’s a brand new cEDA sensor and pores and skin temperature sensor. The latter two add proactive stress monitoring.

Inside, there’s additionally a brand new Qualcomm Snapdragon W5 processor and Put on OS 4. That makes for zippier efficiency and longer battery life, too. The Pixel Watch 2 simply lasts 24 hours with the always-on show enabled and no battery-saving options. The watch additionally prices a lot quicker in comparison with the unique — you’ll be able to go from 0 to 100% in 75 minutes in comparison with 110 minutes. By way of companies, Google has additionally now added Calendar and Gmail to its current wearable apps, like Pockets, Maps, Residence, and Google Assistant.

Google has additionally beefed up private security options. In case you get the LTE model of the watch and have a Fitbit Premium subscription, you now not want an lively LTE plan to be able to use emergency calling options. There’s additionally a brand new Security Test timer that routinely notifies your emergency contacts in the event you fail to verify in when the timer goes off.

If all you need is a health tracker that seems to be like a smartwatch, you’ll be able to think about the $229 Versa 4 because it’s the extra budget-friendly choice. However there’s no actual level within the Sense 2 for the reason that Pixel Watch 2 can now do all the identical issues — and extra.

Learn our assessment of the Pixel Watch 2 right here.

The Encourage line hasn’t all the time felt, nicely, impressed. However the $99.95 Encourage 3 is totally different. With a coloration OLED show, it’s paying homage to the Fitbit Luxe (previously $149.95, now typically round $99.99), simply with a matte black plastic case as a substitute of a metallic one. It’s an amazing throwback to traditional Fitbits for individuals who solely need the fundamentals.

The Encourage 3 doesn’t overcomplicate issues. It’s a health band. You received’t get built-in GPS, contactless funds, or digital assistants. Nonetheless, what it lacks in smarts it makes up for with Fitbit’s superior sleep monitoring, stress administration options, and irregular coronary heart fee notifications. The OLED show can be a step up from the Encourage 2’s monochrome display screen, and you continue to get 10 days of battery life. (Although it’s extra like two to a few in the event you allow the always-on show.) 

The Encourage 3 has a wide range of equipment, together with a clip attachment if you wish to discreetly observe steps. There’s even a gold or silver mesh strap if you wish to gown it up a bit. 

To be sincere, the Encourage 3 and Luxe are fairly comparable, they usually’re typically across the identical value. It’ll boil down as to whether you assume the Luxe’s nicer case is price buying and selling half the battery life for — the Luxe will get an estimated 5 days as a substitute of 10.

Learn our protection of the Fitbit Encourage 3 right here.

The Cost collection has all the time been in style, and the $159.95 Cost 6 is not any exception. It’s Fitbit’s higher-end health band however simply competes with the dearer Versa 4 on options. It encompasses a coloration OLED display screen plus an EKG and EDA sensor. You additionally get built-in GPS, NFC funds, and SpO2 sensors — the one factor you’re actually lacking is a digital assistant.

The one qualm we now have with the Cost 6 is the always-on show. Whereas it’s lovely, it’s a serious battery drain. The Cost 6 has an estimated seven days of battery life, however that dwindles all the way down to about two you probably have the always-on show enabled. This is similar concern that we had with the Cost 5, nevertheless it’s pretty typical from Fitbit trackers as of late.

Altogether, although, you’re getting a hell of quite a bit for the value. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable you’ll find for underneath $200, and the one different Fitbits able to EKG and EDA readings are the Sense, Sense 2, and the Pixel Watch 2. So until you’re useless set on the smartwatch kind issue, the Cost 6 is the higher total deal. 

In comparison with its predecessor, the Cost 6 additionally provides an improved coronary heart fee algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with some gymnasium tools, and some apps — particularly Google Maps, Google Pockets, and YouTube Music. Whereas YouTube Music works nicely, I’m not stoked that it requires a further $11 month-to-month subscription. That stated, it’s higher than nothing, as Fitbit discontinued onboard music some time again.

By way of {hardware}, the Cost 6 additionally encompasses a haptic button as a substitute of an inductive groove. It’s not a bodily button, which is a bit disappointing, nevertheless it’s extra dependable up to now than the inductive groove, so I’d depend this as a internet optimistic.

You may technically get the Cost 5 at a reduction. Nonetheless, I’d solely try this if it’s considerably cheaper and value is your foremost consideration. The haptic button, whereas not what I wished, is much better than the inductive groove and you’ve got extra app choices. Flip-by-turn navigation can be helpful for walks, and it a minimum of presents some type of music playback.

Learn our assessment of the Fitbit Cost 6 right here.

That just about covers the present Fitbit lineup. The one one we haven’t touched up to now — and the one one which I haven’t examined myself — is the $79.95 Ace 3. That’s Fitbit’s tracker for teenagers. It’s a fundamental tracker with a rugged bumper and comes with parental controls. It’s received higher battery life than its predecessor however doesn’t include GPS. Additionally, whereas it does have coronary heart fee sensors, it’s not a metric that’s actively tracked for youngsters. As an alternative, it determines what number of “lively minutes” they’re getting. General, it’s an honest selection for folks whose foremost precedence is ensuring their children get sufficient day by day train.

Nonetheless, Fitbit simply introduced the $229.95 Ace LTE. It’s considerably dearer, however that’s comprehensible given it’s a big improve when it comes to {hardware} and software program. For starters, it has the identical guts because the Pixel Watch 2. (The chargers are additionally suitable!) It additionally provides built-in LTE for a $9.99 month-to-month subscription by way of the Ace Go, which allows calling, messaging, and real-time GPS monitoring for folks. Youngsters received’t must have their very own smartphone to set it up, and there are not any third-party apps or advertisements on the machine. Every thing can be managed by way of the separate Fitbit Ace app, which works on each iOS and Android.

To encourage extra exercise, the Ace LTE makes use of a collection of 3D video games. After enjoying a bit, they’re inspired to get some bodily exercise to unlock extra enjoying time. There’s additionally a Tamagotchi-like factor, however other than $35 collectible bands, there are not any microtransactions throughout the video games involving actual cash. (Youngsters can “purchase” extra objects by finishing day by day quests and partaking in actions.) As for privateness, Google says that solely mother and father will have the ability to view location and exercise knowledge for youngsters. Location knowledge is deleted after 24 hours, whereas exercise knowledge is deleted after 35 days. We haven’t had an opportunity to check the Ace LTE but, so keep tuned for our forthcoming assessment. (However in the event you’re impatient, it’s out there for preorder now and hits cabinets on June fifth.)

Learn our hands-on with the Fitbit Ace LTE.

Fitbit formally turned a part of Google in 2021. Nothing modified in a single day, however technically, it’s Fitbit by Google now. The Fitbit-to-Google migration began in earnest in summer season 2023 and new customers shall be requested to log into Fitbit utilizing their Google accounts. In 2025, this shall be obligatory for everybody. Final 12 months, Google angered longtime Fitbit customers by shuttering longtime social options like Challenges and eradicating step streaks. (Step streaks have since been added again and expanded to Android.) In the meantime, the Versa 4 and Sense 2 weren’t as feature-rich at launch in comparison with their predecessors, main some to really feel that Google purposefully did this to place the highlight on its Pixel Watch. There have been additionally a number of main server outages in 2023.

There’s some rigidity right here and the way forward for Fitbit {hardware} is murky. Particularly given the truth that Google laid off a few thousand staff from its {hardware} departments spanning Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. In case you’re shopping for a tracker for the primary time and need it to final you some time, it would make extra sense to go for a Garmin or Amazfit tracker. Equally, in the event you’re trying to improve to an older Versa or Sense smartwatch, you would possibly wish to see the place the mud settles. Nonetheless, if you desire a Fitbit, then go forward. In case you’re not in a rush or are undecided, now will not be a foul time to sit down again and observe.

Replace Might thirtieth, 12:50PM ET: Up to date with new details about the Fitbit Ace LTE.