Fitbit Charge 6 Review: A Fitness Tracker With Smartwatch DNA
Fitbit's latest fitness tracker, the Charge 6, continues to blur the lines between fitness tracker and smartwatch as Google continues to integrate its services into Fitbit products.
In many ways, the Charge 6 mini is closer to a Pixel Watch than the previous Charge 5. For example, using Google Pay for mobile payments, YouTube Music for streaming music, and even Google Maps integration . The trail is quite small.
It's been two years since the Charge 5 launched, so I was excited to see what Fitbit (and Google) would bring to the Charge 6. I tried the new fitness tracker for two weeks and it's ideal for those who don't don't do it. I don't want a full-featured smartwatch.
Fitbit Pay 6
Pixel clock trick
Fitbit Charge 6 looks great, has long battery life, and tracks all the health metrics you need. Google and Fitbit continue to blur the lines between fitness trackers and smartwatches, and the Charge 6 is a great example of Google Wallet, Google Maps and with YouTube Music. .
- The side button is back
- Very good battery life
- Collect lots of health information
- Great design, nice display
- The screen is narrow in some applications.
- Built-in GPS doesn't always track.
- What should I do with all my health information?
Prices, details and availability
Google announced the Fitbit Charge 6 at a Google event in early October. All 6 paid pre-orders began on the same day, with shipping beginning October 12.
The Charge 6 costs $160/£140 and comes in Coral, Porcelain, or Obsidian.
Fitbit Pay 6
- famous name
- Fitbit
- Heart rate monitor
- Yes
- Notification support
- Yes
- battery life
- 7 days
- the discount
- Always on the colorful AMOLED touchscreen
- Health sensor
- Heart rate, SpO2, EDA, ECG
- Mobile payments
- Google wallet
- Exercise mode
- Activity Tracking, Sleep Tracking, Active Zone Minutes, Cardio Fitness Score, Daily Save Score, Stress Management Score
Design and presentation
At first glance, the Charge 6 looks similar to the Charge 5. It has a 1.04-inch vertical color display. The screen is full of vibrant colors and plenty of brightness for quickly checking the time, tracking my progress in daily active minutes, or even seeing my current heart rate.
The aluminum case is available in black, silver or champagne gold on both sides of the screen.
Unlike the Charge 5, which lacks a physical side button, the Charge 6's case resurfaces with a physical button on the left; At least that's what Google and Fitbit say, but no matter how hard I try, I can't press the button and move. However, pressing the side button requires a touch to register.
At the bottom of the Charge 6, you'll find the heart rate sensor and internal charging port.
When you buy a Charge 6, two different sizes of silicone bands are included in the box, and if you're a former or current Charge 5 user and own multiple bands, I have good news: Charge 5 bands and Charge 6 are interchangeable. . So you can easily use your old bracelets on the new tracker
If you liked the design of the Charge 5, you will love the design of the Charge 6 with the addition of a side button. It's a simple design that puts the screen and any information you want or need front and center.
And with more bands and designs to choose from on the Fitbit website, you're sure to find the look that's right for you.
main Features
Of course, the Charge 6 does everything you'd expect from a Fitbit. During intense exercise, you can track your heart rate, which is 60% more accurate than the Charge. The Charge 6 tracks your sleep and exercise, monitors your heart rate and pulse, and has an electrocardiogram. (ECG)). It can measure your body's stress level using the built-in EDA app which provides breathing exercises.
The Charge automatically recognizes up to 6 workouts and can connect to compatible gym equipment to display your heart rate and sync your workout stats.
It's everything Fitbit is known for, except for the heart rate and stress tracking features that the company has been developing for years.
The integration of Google apps and services sets the Charge 6 apart from previous models. Most importantly, there is a Google Wallet app, Google Maps, and a standalone YouTube Music app.
I did my testing with an iPhone 15 Pro Max paired with the Charge 6, so I wasn't sure if the new apps would be available and, if so, how they would work.
Setting up Google Wallet was pretty simple. I had to log in with my Google account. Then they told me to set a PIN on the Charge 6 so people couldn't access it and use it to buy stuff. Then, after entering some card verification information which presented me with the cards I had previously linked to my Google Wallet account, they added to the Charge 6.
Setting up Google Maps was a little different. After opening the Google Maps settings page in the Fitbit app, I was prompted to launch the Google Maps app on my iPhone and link my Google account. I can then decide whether I want the Charge 6 to display navigation instructions when I'm walking, cycling, or driving.
YouTube Music was like Google Maps because I had to install the entire iPhone app on my phone. After installation, I was able to select playlists from my YouTube Music account and control playback directly on the Charge 6.
Essentially, the Charge 6's Google Maps and YouTube Music apps give you more information and control than mirroring apps on your phone. This is perfect for someone who doesn't want a big smartwatch.
Navigating the watch and apps is done by continuously tapping and swiping on the touchscreen and using the side buttons. I found apps like YouTube Music difficult to use due to the screen size, which limited the number of buttons and controls visible at once.
That example aside, I found navigating the Charge 6's operating system, using its various apps, and reading all my health data, including notifications synced from my phone, flawless . Sometimes tight, but usually soft.
Exercise and performance
Fitbit is a pioneer in the fitness tracking space, so it's no surprise to see Apple and Samsung offering health and fitness features in their smartwatches as small as the Charge 6 (and the Charge 5, by the way). double
When you wear the Charge 6, instead of measuring your heart rate with your Apple Watch every 10 minutes, you monitor your heart rate 24/7 (when you're not exercising). Load up to 6 high and low heart rate tracks and notify you when it goes out of any range. There's also an ECG app that you can use to take a quick ECG to check your heart rate, and if the app detects a problem, it will direct you to your doctor.
While you sleep, the Charge 6 tracks your SP02 or blood oxygen level, your skin temperature, and the number of breaths you take per minute.
In addition to sensors and recordings, a Fitbit Premium subscription gives you access to additional health metrics and features, such as your Fitness Score, which combines your daily activity and sleep history to know how tough you are or easy. According to Fitbit, you should push yourself every day based on your body's signals.
I tried tracking the Fitbit's readiness score several times, pinching myself when it said my body was relaxed and ready for a test, but found it all over the place, as did the Garmin's body battery feature . That day, my preparation was level one . Yes, one. I worked a lot the day before, but woke up feeling rested.
The more you wear the tracker day and night to track your sleep with Fitbit protection, the more accurate your fitness score will be. My Fitbit usage typically lasts between one and two weeks, with big gaps in between.
Charge 6 has built-in GPS for fitness tracking without the need for a nearby smartphone GPS connection. However, I did several runs with the Charge 6 and none of them used the GPS feature to track my route. It's disappointing.
Barring hacking, the Fitbit Charge 6 collects more health data about me and my body than I need every second. Fitbit does a good job of giving me this, but I still don't know how to explain it. I have the same problem with all fitness trackers.
battery life
Fitbit says the Charge 6's battery should last 7 days with average use. In my testing, with the always-on display feature turned off, the battery lasted 6 days. During this time, I drove four times with the GPS on.
After enabling the always-on display feature, the Charge 6's battery life dropped to 4 days.
Both results are much better than charging the watch every night or night, as most smartwatches do.
the trial
Fitbit and Google are slowly blurring the line between smartwatch and fitness tracker, and with the Charge 6, it looks like the line is about to end. The Charge 6 has many of the basic features that smartwatch users love: notifications, directions, music controls, and mobile payments, but it's a bit smaller and costs half the price you'd pay. Good smart watch.
If you're looking for a fitness tracker designed with smartwatch DNA, the Charge 6 is as good as it gets.
