The amount of Fitbit smartwatches and fitness bands nowadays can boggle the mind when choosing your next device.
That’s why we’ve set up this guide: to try and compare the top Fitbit models.
The Fitbit Sense 2 and Charge 6 boast are in a tier of their own in features, including health tracking with ECG and advanced stress tracking.
In many ways, this choice is about which things you want to track, as other Fitbit trackers offer a more simple experience (like the Fitbit Inspire 3) compared to the in-depth monitors of your heart rate, sleep stages, and even body temperature and stress levels.
As announced in August 2024, we should also mention that Google won’t be producing any future Fitbit smartwatches – and that means your best bet if you prefer the watch form factor is the Pixel Watch range. This leverages the Fitbit platform for all tracking and is the most advanced way to enjoy the platform.
Read on for our guidance – all based on years of reviews and testing.
- Buy the best: Top fitness trackers reviewed
- Top choices: Best smartwatches for your needs
Fitbit comparison chart
| Device | GPS | HR | ECG | Swim | Battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fitbit Charge 6 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 7 days |
| Fitbit Sense 2 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 6 days |
| Fitbit Charge 5 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 7 days |
| Fitbit Luxe | No | Yes | No | Yes | 5 days |
| Fitbit Versa 4 | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | 6 days |
| Fitbit Inspire 3 | No | Yes | No | Yes | 10 days |
| Fitbit Ace 3 | No | Yes | No | Yes | 8 days |
| Google Pixel Watch 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 days (45mm) |
Google Pixel Watch 3
The best Fitbit smartwatch
The Pixel Watch 3 is a Fitbit in its own right, with the core tracking experience powered by the Google-owned company’s algorithms and stylings.
The key difference between the third-gen Pixel Watch and a Fitbit smartwatch like the Sense 2 (below) is that it runs on Wear OS 5, rather than the Fitbit OS. That means it offers the full selection of apps from Google’s suite (including Maps, Gmail, Calendar, and Home) and third-party offerings from the Google Play Store.
The Pixel Watch 3 is available in a 41mm and – for the first time – a larger, 45mm circular case with a domed screen, and it’s one we consider to be on par with the Apple Watch in terms of sartorial versatility. It’s a great-looking watch, made slightly better by its brighter display (now with a peak brightness of 2,000 nits) and more edge-to-edge display than its predecessors.
- Google Pixel Watch 3 vs. Pixel Watch 2
The ace up its sleeve is that Fitbit underpins the entire tracking experience. The Fitbit app is where you’ll view everything, including the 24/7 heart rate data, Health Metrics Dashboard information, sleep tracking with stages data, Daily Readiness Score, and the all-new Cardio Load/Target Load.
However, battery life remains the big trade-off for this extra power and features – at least when you compare the Pixel Watch devices to other Fitbit models.
The 41mm version can only last around 24-30 hours with the always-on display enabled, and, though the 45mm version bumps that to a relatively healthy two-day battery life, it’s still only a fraction of something like the Fitbit Versa 4.
With the significantly larger price tag, too, it’s not an automatic recommendation. But this is comfortably – and we can’t emphasize this enough – the best way to experience the Fitbit platform in 2024, with our testing finding the tracking to be largely very accurate.
- Read our extensive Google Pixel Watch 3 review
Pros
-
Finally in two case sizes -
Two-day AOD battery life (45mm version) -
Still excellent HR tracking
Cons
-
Not much of an upgrade for 41mm users -
No dual-frequency GNSS -
Stress tracking remains baffling
Fitbit Charge 6
The most advanced Fitbit tracker
The Charge 6 is Fitbit’s flagship wristband, but not much has changed from the previous generation release in 2021.
The stainless steel case and AMOLED display are still present, as is the sensor array that provides insights into skin temperature, daily stress (EDA sensor), heart rhythms (ECG), blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), and location tracking (GPS).
While it may look and act almost identically to the Charge 5, there are a couple of significant additions here to be aware of.
- Fitbit Charge 6 vs. Fitbit Charge 5
One is the return of the side button, last seen in the Charge 4, and this makes interacting with the device a much more pleasant experience.
It’s also handy for quickly firing up things like Google Wallet – another new feature that helps bolster the Charge 6’s smart credentials. It’s joined by Google Maps, too, which delivers very solid (if a little cramped) turn-by-turn navigation.
We’ve now had time to review and live with the device for a while – and, while we do generally recommend it, it’s important to understand the Charge 6’s blind spots, too.
If you want the chunkier, more male-friendly form factor – or features like ECG – it’s a no-brainer. The Charge 6 brings Fitbit’s platform to your wrist in a sleek and easy-to-wear package made even better with the reintroduction of the side button.
Yet, we found the GPS accuracy hugely problematic in our testing, undermining a huge part of its USP. And, if you’re not interested in ECG, is it worth paying more for?
- Read our in-depth Fitbit Charge 6 review
Pros
-
Still offers great sleep tracking -
Google Maps and Google Wallet good additions -
The button is back
Cons
-
Built-in GPS is problematic -
Our strap broke after two days -
Lacks an altimeter
Fitbit Inspire 3
The best Fitbit fitness tracker
We love the new Inspire 3 – and it’s a massive update from the under-loved Fitbit Inspire 2 – and probably the best fitness tracker money can buy (not just the best Fitbit tracker).
The color screen elevates the whole experience while not destroying the battery life, with 10 days on offer between charges. We got over a week in our testing with heavy use.
SpO2 also debuts on the Inspire 3 for the first time, which is now ubiquitous across the whole range. Fitbit packs a temperature sensor, too, offering the full range of Health Metrics dashboard features.
Add in the new continuous scanning for heart rhythm problems and Active Zone Minutes, top sleep tracking (including the new sleep profiles), and not-too-shabby workout tracking – the Inspire 3 is extraordinarily complete as a fitness tracking device.
And you can get some excellent deals on it too.
- Check out our full Fitbit Inspire 3 review
Pros
-
Powerful health/fitness features -
A good looking band -
Brilliant battery life
Cons
-
Double the price of budget options -
Small screen
Fitbit Versa 4
Best Fitbit smartwatch
The Versa 4 is the revamped version of Fitbit’s smartwatch, and, with an excellent six days of battery life and a mid-range price tag, it’s a solid alternative to the Pixel Watch 3.
The key to understanding the Versa 4 is that it unlocks the main Fitbit experience in a smartwatch form factor. You get brilliant sleep tracking, heart rate data, and the Health Metrics dashboard – and it’s a decent workout partner.
There’s no ECG here, but it will still scan for irregular heart rate events using the PPG sensor.
Fitbit has added a tactile button to the case, which makes the watch easier to use, and it’s lighter too.
However, the Versa 4 is not a groundbreaking smartwatch. While it does basic notifications and supports Google Wallet and Google Maps, things like watch faces feel clunky. What’s more, there are zero apps or third-party experiences.
In short, it’s a great Fitbit and an average smartwatch, and thus comes recommended to those who value the strengths of Fitbit over techy features.
- Check out our extensive Fitbit Versa 4 review
Pros
-
Welcome return of the side button -
Very friendly UI -
Great sleep tracker
Cons
-
No music features -
No third-party app support -
Mixed HR accuracy
Fitbit Sense 2
Best for stress tracking
Fitbit’s flagship health watch goes all-in on stress tracking. The EDA sensor reads stress responses via the palm and is now continuous. It’s called the Body Response Sensor and can offer a much more detailed look at stressful feelings, and it will prompt you for manual feedback on how you feel.
If you’re concerned about stress, it can provide an interesting touchpoint in taking control of your feelings. However, we found it wasn’t actionable enough, and didn’t connect the dots between stress and our behaviors and habits, such as stress, nutrition, and sleep.
The Fitbit Sense 2 is lighter and thinner than its predecessor and still packs in the ECG sensor found on the original Sense.
We tested the Fitbit Sense 2 and found that it’s still an excellent health watch – even though problems persist as a smartwatch. Most Fitbits will now scan for heart rhythm issues using the HR sensor, and even the Inspire 3 now packs SpO2 and temperature sensing.
It means that the Sense 2 feels hard to justify at this price point; especially when the Google Pixel Watch 3 does the same stuff – with Google apps, services, and a rich, modern feeling device. There’s also the Versa 4, which offers broadly the same features (without ECG/EDA) for less cash.
- Read our Fitbit Sense 2 review
Pros
-
ECG and top health features -
Improved design with a button -
A week of battery life
Cons
-
Stress tracking didn't impress -
Poor OS and no apps -
Expensive
Fitbit Luxe
Best Fitbit for style
The Fitbit Luxe offers a more luxurious stainless steel case and a color AMOLED display, both of which are a huge visual step up from the Inspire range.
It’s something you might want to wear, and, while the look and feel are Luxe, the price tag is reassuringly affordable.
It comes in white, black, or pink, and there’s also a special edition with a gold link bracelet. It’s not exclusively for women, but quite obviously marketed that way.
In terms of features, there’s nothing exclusive to Luxe, but plenty of top features filter down the Fitbit range. It’s not as advanced as the Charge 6 (with no GPS, for example) but trumps the Inspire range with its SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen.
There’s also a new drive towards mindfulness, and it will keep tabs on stress using a daily stress score. That feature is rolling out across Fitbit devices. That’s on top of sleep, heart rate, and steps – everything you expect from Fitbit.
In short, the Luxe puts the best parts of the Fitbit experience in a nicer, sleeker, and more stylish package. What’s not to like about that?
- Check out our in-depth Fitbit Luxe review
Pros
-
Slim, comfortable design -
A nice, vibrant color screen -
Fitbit OS-inspired user interface
Cons
-
Heart rate accuracy for exercise -
Some insights require Fitbit Premium -
No really groundbreaking new features
Fitbit Ace 3
The best Fitbit for kids
The Fitbit Ace 3 is aimed at kids aged six and up, with the latest generation featuring a modular design that utilizes a bumper to keep the display a little more protected as kids run around and play.
The Ace 3 puts move reminders at its core, reminding kids to get those 250 steps per minute on their way to 60 minutes of active time each day.
It’s still a monochrome display, so no color options here. And the main features are still step tracking, sports monitoring, and sleep insights. There’s no heart rate monitor, but it does boast swim-proof 5ATM water resistance.
Bedtime reminders and silent alarms help parents instill a settled sleep schedule, with timers and ”race the stopwatch’ features also built into the watch.
The larger tracker also means a battery life boost, and it will now last eight days between charging, up from six days on the previous generation.
Fitbit Ace LTE
In full disclosure, we’ve not fully tested this yet – as it’s only out in the US for now. But the Fitbit Ace LTE is a kid-friendly smartwatch for children aged 7 and up.
It features six games and encourages kids to move for at least 60 minutes daily to unlock more playtime.
The watch includes safety features, such as device location and voice calls, available through a $9.99/month subscription. Parents can monitor their child’s activity via the Fitbit Ace app.
But it’s pricey. At $229.95, you need to pay an extra $9.99 monthly for the location services. But it’s getting rave reviews online – and is, at last, a proper feature-rich kids watch from a true wearable brand.
This article was first published in December 2015. However, we update it frequently to reflect the newest Fitbit devices, ensuring we’ve tested the latest and greatest devices available to buy.
The post Best Fitbit 2024: Every model compared appeared first on Wareable.
