Finest Fitbit health trackers and watches in 2024

In 2024, you may marvel if Fitbit remains to be related. Regardless of getting acquired by Google, Fitbit stays one of the crucial recognizable names within the trade. Fitbit trackers aren’t meant for essentially the most hardcore of athletes, however they’re nonetheless glorious 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That stated, it is a transitional interval from the Fitbit of outdated to no matter Fitbit shall be sooner or later. 2023 particularly was a messy 12 months. There have been a number of Fitbit server outages. I wasn’t impressed with the choice to sundown legacy group 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 time and is required when you purchase new merchandise just like the Fitbit Cost 6 or Google Pixel Watch 2. The Fitbit app additionally acquired a brand new, extra Google-like makeover, which didn’t go over effectively with many customers. (Google has since made changes primarily based 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 workers have been laid off.

You possibly can look to 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 typically go on sale. All of the gadgets include a free trial to Fitbit Premium, the corporate’s subscription service that provides guided exercises, meditations, and entry to extra in-depth metrics. Thus far, 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 should go in with eyes broad 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, in order 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.

It’s acquired a good looking 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 motive we suggest the Pixel Watch 2 over the unique since a minimum of you’ve gotten 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 assist and mail in damaged, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch 2 gadgets for a reduced alternative.

Talking of which, the Pixel Watch 2 is a big replace. All of the Fitbit options that have been lacking at launch with the unique are current, like nightly SpO2, automated exercise monitoring, and irregular excessive or low coronary heart price notifications. The brand new multipath sensor additionally purportedly delivers extra correct coronary heart price 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 fees a lot sooner in comparison with the unique — you’ll be able to go from 0 to one hundred pc in 75 minutes in comparison with 110 minutes. When it comes to companies, Google has additionally now added Calendar and Gmail to its present wearable apps, like Pockets, Maps, House, 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 not want an lively LTE plan in an effort to use emergency calling options. There’s additionally a brand new Security Verify timer that routinely notifies your emergency contacts when you fail to test 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 possibility. 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 overview of the Pixel Watch 2 right here.

The Encourage line hasn’t all the time felt, effectively, impressed. However the $99.95 Encourage 3 is totally different. With a colour OLED show, it’s harking back to the Fitbit Luxe (previously $149.95, now typically round $99.99), simply with a matte black plastic case as an alternative of a metallic one. It’s a fantastic 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 price notifications. The OLED show can be a step up from the Encourage 2’s monochrome display, and you continue to get 10 days of battery life. (Although it’s extra like two to 3 when you allow the always-on show.) 

The Encourage 3 has quite a lot 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, and so they’re typically across the identical worth. 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 an alternative of 10.

Learn our protection of the Fitbit Encourage 3 right here.

The Cost sequence has all the time been in style, 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 encompasses a colour OLED display 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’ve got 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 all the way down to about two if in case you have the always-on show enabled. This is similar subject that we had with the Cost 5, nevertheless it’s pretty typical from Fitbit trackers today.

Altogether, although, you’re getting a hell of quite a bit for the worth. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable you’ll find for beneath $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 price algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with some fitness center tools, and some apps — specifically Google Maps, Google Pockets, and YouTube Music. Whereas YouTube Music works effectively, 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.

When it comes to {hardware}, the Cost 6 additionally encompasses a haptic button as an alternative 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 might depend this as a web optimistic.

You can technically get the Cost 5 at a reduction. Nevertheless, I’d solely try this if it’s considerably cheaper and worth is your predominant 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 useful for walks, and it a minimum of gives some type of music playback.

Learn our overview 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 — and it’s the one Fitbit accessible for minors. It’s a fundamental tracker with a rugged bumper and comes with parental controls. It’s acquired higher battery life than its predecessor however doesn’t include GPS. Additionally, whereas it does have coronary heart price 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 alternative for folks whose predominant precedence is ensuring their children get sufficient day by day train. If you need location monitoring, nevertheless, you’re going to should search for one thing aside from a Fitbit. 

Fitbit formally grew to become 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 time 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 workers 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, when you’re trying to improve to an older Versa or Sense smartwatch, you may wish to see the place the mud settles. Nevertheless, if you need a Fitbit, then go forward. In case you’re not in a rush or are undecided, now shouldn’t be a foul time to take a seat again and observe.

Replace February thirteenth, 12PM ET: Up to date with new info relating to Fitbit and Google.