One of the best Fitbits to your health and well being

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

That stated, it is a transitional interval from the Fitbit of previous to no matter Fitbit will probably be sooner or later. 2023, particularly, was a messy yr. 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 through Google by 2025. Talking of which, the Fitbit-to-Google account migration began final summer season and is required when you purchase new merchandise just like the Fitbit Cost 6 or Google Pixel Watch 3. The Fitbit app additionally obtained a brand new, extra Google-like makeover, which didn’t go over properly with many customers. (Google has since made changes based mostly on suggestions.) And in January, 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 possibly can take a look at how Google has dealt with the Nest acquisition as a street 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 inexpensive, particularly since they usually go on sale. All of the gadgets additionally include a free trial to Fitbit Premium, the corporate’s subscription service that provides guided exercises, meditations, and entry to extra in-depth metrics. Up to now, it seems Google takes its Pixel Watch lineup significantly, too. With the Pixel Watch 2, the corporate has expanded prolonged guarantee entry and improved alternative choices. You simply must go in with eyes vast open.

The existence of the Pixel Watch, now in its third era, 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 may handle to construct by itself.

The Pixel Watch 3 is a big replace over its predecessors. It lastly appears like Google’s now not enjoying catch-up to its rivals. This yr, the screens are brighter, the bezels are smaller, and there’s now a 45mm measurement for bigger wrists. The bigger measurement doesn’t look chunky, both. Internally, the processor and well being sensors are the identical as final yr, although the third-gen system has an extremely wideband chip that means that you can unlock Pixel telephones and a few BMW automotive fashions.

It’s obtained the identical 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 style, however as of final yr, you may get a Most popular Care prolonged guarantee within the US and Canada. That is one purpose we suggest the Pixel Watch 3 over the unique since not less than you will have a extra inexpensive fallback ought to one thing occur to your show. Google additionally introduced an possibility the place you’ll be able to skip buyer help and mail in damaged, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch gadgets for discounted replacements.

As for health options, the Pixel Watch 3 is a lot better for runners than it was. It features a new working dashboard, superior type analytics, customized working exercises, and even AI-generated exercise recommendations. It’s additionally launched a brand new metric known as Cardio Load, which measures the depth of your exercises and suggests a goal based mostly in your health targets. It’s conceptually just like Garmin’s Coaching Load. The Each day Readiness Rating has additionally been revamped and is now not locked behind the Fitbit Premium paywall. On the well being entrance, European customers now have Lack of Pulse. If the watch detects you’ve misplaced your pulse, it’ll name emergency companies in your behalf. The characteristic isn’t out there but within the US, although, as FDA clearance remains to be pending.

Moreover, Google has strengthened the watch’s integrations with its personal companies in addition to different Pixel gadgets. As an example, you will have offline Google Maps and a Google House Tile. You possibly can view your Nest Doorbell digicam feed or management your Google TV out of your wrist, and there’s additionally the choice to file audio with the Recorder app and switch it to your telephone. With Name Help, you need to use your watch to inform anybody calling you want an additional second to choose up the telephone.

If all you need is a health tracker that seems to be like a smartwatch, you’ll be able to contemplate the $229 Versa 4 because it’s the extra budget-friendly possibility. However there’s no actual level within the Sense 2 for the reason that Pixel Watch 3 can do all the identical issues — and extra.

Learn our Pixel Watch 3 evaluation.

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

The Encourage 3 doesn’t overcomplicate issues. It’s a health band. You gained’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 charge notifications. The OLED show can also 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 when 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 monitor 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 related, they usually’re usually across the identical value. It’ll boil down as to whether you suppose 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 well-liked, and the $159.95 Cost 6 isn’t any exception. It’s Fitbit’s higher-end health band however simply competes with the dearer Versa 4 on options. It includes 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 have now with the Cost 6 is the always-on show. Whereas it’s lovely, it’s a significant battery drain. The Cost 6 has an estimated seven days of battery life, however that dwindles right down to about two if in case you have the always-on show enabled. This is identical situation that we had with the Cost 5, nevertheless it’s pretty typical from Fitbit trackers lately.

Altogether, although, you’re getting a hell of loads for the value. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable you could 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 lifeless set on the smartwatch type issue, the Cost 6 is the higher general deal. 

In comparison with its predecessor, the Cost 6 additionally provides an improved coronary heart charge algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with some health club tools, and some apps — particularly Google Maps, Google Pockets, and YouTube Music. Whereas YouTube Music works properly, 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 includes a haptic button as a substitute of an inductive groove. It’s not a bodily button, which is a bit of disappointing, nevertheless it’s extra dependable to date than the inductive groove, so I’d depend this as a web optimistic.

You possibly can technically get the Cost 5 at a reduction. Nevertheless, I’d solely do this if it’s considerably cheaper and value is your primary consideration. The haptic button, whereas not what I needed, is much better than the inductive groove and you’ve got extra app choices. Flip-by-turn navigation can also be helpful for walks, and it not less than gives some type of music playback.

Learn our evaluation of the Fitbit Cost 6 right here.

That just about covers the present Fitbit lineup. The one one we haven’t touched to date — 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 primary tracker with a rugged bumper and comes with parental controls. It’s obtained higher battery life than its predecessor however doesn’t include GPS. Additionally, whereas it does have coronary heart charge sensors, it’s not a metric that’s actively tracked for kids. As an alternative, it determines what number of “energetic minutes” they’re getting. General, it’s an honest alternative for folks whose primary precedence is ensuring their youngsters get sufficient each day train.

Nevertheless, Fitbit not too long ago 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 appropriate!) It additionally provides built-in LTE for a $9.99 month-to-month subscription through the Ace Go, which permits calling, messaging, and real-time GPS monitoring for folks. Children gained’t have to have their very own smartphone to set it up, and there are not any third-party apps or adverts on the system. The whole lot can also be managed through 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 aspect, however other than $35 collectible bands, there are not any microtransactions inside the video games involving actual cash. (Children can “purchase” extra gadgets by finishing each 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 kids. Location knowledge is deleted after 24 hours, whereas exercise knowledge is deleted after 35 days. We haven’t had an opportunity to totally take a look at the Ace LTE but, however keep tuned for our forthcoming evaluation.

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 will probably be requested to log into Fitbit utilizing their Google accounts. In 2025, this will probably be necessary for everybody. Final yr, 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. When you’re shopping for a tracker for the primary time and wish it to final you some time, it would make extra sense to go for a Garmin or Amazfit tracker. Equally, when you’re trying to improve to an older Versa or Sense smartwatch, you would possibly wish to see the place the mud settles. Nevertheless, if you understand you need a Fitbit, then go forward. When you’re not in a rush or are undecided, now shouldn’t be a nasty time to take a seat again and observe.

Replace, October twenty second: Adjusted pricing and availability.