Best Fitbit fitness trackers and watches in 2024

In 2024, you would possibly marvel if Fitbit remains to be related. Regardless of getting acquired by Google, Fitbit stays one of the vital recognizable names within the business. Fitbit trackers aren’t meant for probably 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That stated, this can be a transitional interval from the Fitbit of outdated to no matter Fitbit might be sooner or later. 2023, specifically, was a messy 12 months.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 sunset legacy community features like challenges or the truth that all Fitbit accounts would require you to log in via Google by 2025. Talking of which, the Fitbit-to-Google account migration started last summer and is required if you happen to purchase new merchandise just like the Fitbit Cost 6 or Google Pixel Watch 3. The Fitbit app additionally received a new, more Google-like makeover, which didn’t go over properly with many customers. (Google has since made changes primarily based on suggestions.) And in January, a lot of Fitbit’s management, together with co-founders James Park and Eric Friedman, left the company as roughly a thousand Google employees had been laid off.

You may have a look at 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 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. To date, it seems Google takes its Pixel Watch lineup significantly, too. With the Pixel Watch 2, the corporate has expanded prolonged guarantee entry and improved replacement options. You simply must go in with eyes broad open.

The existence of the Pixel Watch, now in its third 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 the entire 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 major replace over its predecessors. It lastly looks like Google’s not taking part in catch-up to its rivals. This 12 months, the screens are brighter, the bezels are smaller, and there’s now a 45mm dimension for bigger wrists. The bigger dimension doesn’t look chunky, both. Internally, the processor and well being sensors are the identical as final 12 months, although the third-gen machine has an extremely wideband chip that permits you to unlock Pixel telephones and a few BMW automotive fashions.

It’s received the identical stunning design with a round domed show that appears far more elegant than the squircle Versa or Sense smartwatches ever did. In your wrist, it appears like a watch, not a tracker dressed up as one. The show is a bit fragile for our style, however as of final 12 months, you may get a Most popular Care prolonged guarantee within the US and Canada. That is one cause we suggest the Pixel Watch 3 over the unique since a minimum of you might have a extra reasonably priced fallback ought to one thing occur to your show. Google additionally introduced an possibility the place you may skip buyer help and mail in broken, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch gadgets for discounted replacements.

As for health options, the Pixel Watch 3 is significantly better for runners than it was once. It features a new operating dashboard, superior kind analytics, customized operating exercises, and even AI-generated exercise ideas. It’s additionally launched a brand new metric known as Cardio Load, which measures the depth of your exercises and suggests a goal primarily based in your health targets. It’s conceptually much like Garmin’s Coaching Load. The Day by day Readiness Rating has additionally been revamped and is 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 function 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. For example, you might have offline Google Maps and a Google Residence Tile. You may view your Nest Doorbell digicam feed or management your Google TV out of your wrist, and there’s additionally the choice to document audio with the Recorder app and switch it to your cellphone. With Name Help, you need to use your watch to inform anybody calling you want an additional second to choose up the cellphone.

If all you need is a health tracker that appears like a smartwatch, you may think about the $229 Versa 4 because it’s the extra budget-friendly possibility. However there’s no actual level within the Sense 2 because the Pixel Watch 3 can do all the identical issues — and extra.

Read my full Pixel Watch 3 review.

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 of 2021, solely with a matte black plastic case as a substitute 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 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 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 if you happen to allow the always-on show.) 

The Encourage 3 has a wide range of equipment, together with a clip attachment if you wish to monitor steps discreetly. 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, and so they’re typically across the identical worth. It’ll boil down as to if you assume the Luxe’s nicer case is value buying and selling half the battery life for — the Luxe will get an estimated 5 days as a substitute of 10.

Read our coverage of the Fitbit Inspire 3 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 contains a coloration 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 have now with the Cost 6 is the always-on show. Whereas it’s stunning, 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 in case you have the always-on show enabled. This is similar challenge that we had with the Cost 5, however it’s pretty typical for Fitbit trackers as of late.

Altogether, although, you’re getting a hell of quite a bit for the worth. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable you could find for below $200, and the one different Fitbits able to EKG and EDA readings are the Sense, Sense 2, and the Pixel Watch 2. So except you’re lifeless set on the smartwatch kind 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 gymnasium tools, and some apps — specifically 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 contains a haptic button as a substitute of an inductive groove. It’s not a bodily button, which is just a little disappointing, however it’s extra dependable to date than the inductive groove, so I might depend this as a web constructive.

You may technically get the Cost 5 at a reduction. Nevertheless, I’d solely do this if it’s considerably cheaper and worth is your principal 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 provides some type of music playback.

Read our Fitbit Charge 6 review.

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 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 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. Total, it’s a good selection for fogeys whose principal precedence is ensuring their youngsters get sufficient every day train.

Nevertheless, Fitbit also introduced the $229.95 Ace LTE earlier this 12 months. It’s considerably dearer, however that’s comprehensible given it’s a major improve by way of {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 by way of the Ace Move, which permits calling, messaging, and real-time GPS monitoring for fogeys. Youngsters gained’t have to have their very own smartphone to set it up, and there are not any third-party apps or advertisements on the machine. The whole lot 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 taking part in a bit, they’re inspired to get some bodily exercise to unlock extra taking part in time. There’s additionally a Tamagotchi-like aspect, however except for $35 collectible bands, there are not any microtransactions throughout the video games involving actual cash. (Youngsters can “purchase” extra gadgets by finishing every day quests and partaking in actions.) As for privateness, Google says that solely dad and mom will be capable 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 totally check the Ace LTE but, however we’ll replace this information as soon as we do.

Read 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 time 2023 and new customers might be requested to log into Fitbit utilizing their Google accounts. In 2025, this might be obligatory for everybody. Final 12 months, Google angered longtime Fitbit users by shuttering longtime social features like Challenges and eradicating step streaks. (Step streaks have since been added back 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 about a thousand employees from its {hardware} departments spanning Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. For those who’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, if you happen to’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 desire a Fitbit, then go forward. For those who’re not in a rush or are undecided, now isn’t a foul time to take a seat again and observe.

Replace, December twenty seventh: Adjusted pricing and availability.