Fitbit Charge 5 Review: Technicolour tracker

At the end of August, Fitbit unveiled its revamped Charge 5 fitness tracker. Since then, I've had the opportunity to exam out the redesigned tracker for a couple weeks and, so far, it's one of my favourite the company has released.

The Charge five boasts several significant changes both externally and internally. On the surface is an all-new blueprint that borrows heavily from Fitbit'southward recently released Luxe tracker. Inside, the Charge five now offers electrodermal action (EDA) and electrocardiogram (ECG) apps, but like the Fitbit Sense smartwatch.

"…I will say that I prefer the Luxe to the Charge 5, but the new Charge is even so a significant improvement over the Charge three/four."

In fact, as an intermittent Fitbit Sense user, I felt right at home on the Charge 5. While some of the smartwatch's 'smarter' features were missing, the Charge 5 managed parity on most fitness tracking features.

Nonetheless, while the Charge 5 is good, it'south non perfect. I experienced a few issues with some of the functionality of my review unit, merely nothing I'd consider a deal-breaker for most people. The worst bug I encountered was a problem with the alarm. I am a series snoozer, merely the Charge 5 has made an effort to pause that addiction by simply not stopping the alarm when I press snooze.

Fitbit confirmed to me that the issue is a touch sensitivity bug and that the visitor'southward working on a fix. Although, if you don't utilize the Charge five equally an alarm clock (or if you don't use snooze) you won't see the issue.

Fresh new look

Fitbit Charge 5 without bands

Permit'due south kick things off with the most noticeable change: the new design. The Charge 5 boasts a significantly upgraded look compared to previous Charge trackers. It's a welcome change, especially compared to the Charge 3 and 4, which kept the same design.

More than just looking nice, the Charge 5 looks much more modern. When I tried the Accuse 3 and 4, it felt like I had some unsightly bundle of technology strapped to my wrist. The Accuse five, on the other manus, offers a sleek, subtle artful. It's not flagrantly techy like other trackers, and I felt similar I could go away with wearing information technology to a fancy occasion with the right strap.

As far as looks go, I will say that I prefer the Luxe to the Accuse 5, merely the new Charge is still a significant improvement over the Charge three/four.

Technicolour dream clock

Fitbit Charge 5

The other pregnant new visual feature with the Accuse 5 is its splendid new color AMOLED display. Information technology's a huge footstep upwards from the boring monochrome OLED panel on past versions of the tracker.

Unfortunately, the color screen doesn't add a lot to the Charge experience across looking nicer. That's not necessarily a bad thing, although I do think that Fitbit could have put together some nicer clock face options to highlight the feature.

The default confront, 'Continuum,' does a pretty solid chore showing off the Charge 5 brandish thanks to the series of lines on the left side of the face. The lines display progress for various health metrics, such equally steps taken or activities completed. Equally the lines fill up, the color shifts from blueish to yellowish.

Nonetheless, other clock face options available in the Fitbit app have less colourful elements on display. Most pick i or two master colours for the clock face or for a health metric, and that's about it. It's a minor complaint, just I'd love to encounter Fitbit offering more fashionable, colourful clock face options in the future.

New navigation, old bug

Every bit much as I like the new Charge 5 pattern and screen, it, unfortunately, suffers from the same navigation issues as the Fitbit Luxe. Like the Luxe, the Charge 5 ditches the inductive side push seen on previous Accuse devices. Although, at least the Accuse five replaces the side button with the electrical sensors for the EDA scan app, rather than putting nothing there like the Luxe.

I was never a big fan of the button, but it did provide a convenient fashion to navigate the device (pressing it would have you back to the previous screen). Without the button, Fitbit offers a new swipe-based navigation. Users can swipe the screen either upward, downward, left or correct to move between different screens. It works but doesn't experience great on such a small display.

"As with the Sense, I didn't detect the EDA particularly helpful."

Fitbit as well added a double-tap gesture that takes you to the main clock screen. Over again, this works, but it doesn't feel slap-up. Plus, there were a few times where the double-tap would activate whatever pick was on screen instead of going back.

Again, a small-scale issue, but I worry that some people might struggle. This is especially true for people coming from older Fitbit trackers that had the button or less tech-savvy people.

EDA, ECG and more than

Fitbit Charge 5 alarms

As mentioned in a higher place, the refreshed Charge v pattern paved the way for new internal features like the EDA and ECG scan apps. EDA specifically requires ii metal strips, one on each side of the tracker.

Accuse 5 users can access EDA scans by swiping from the clock face up to the EDA browse folio (on my Charge five, that's either ane swipe left or five swipes correct). Once on the EDA screen, users can tap to outset a scan, which involves holding the Charge 5 with your pollex on one metal strip and index finger on the other. The Accuse 5 walks users through the process stride by step.

If you've had a chance to try the EDA browse on Fitbit'southward Sense smartwatch, the feel is very similar here (although the Sense lets y'all do shorter one-minute scans compared to the three-infinitesimal scan on the Charge 5). You effectively concur the tracker for the duration of the scan and focus on your breathing, then the tracker gives you feedback on your stress responses and lets you log how you feel. The data all gets sent to the Fitbit app on your phone to review later on.

As with the Sense, I didn't find the EDA particularly helpful. Perhaps it's because I'chiliad a relatively laid-back individual, but I just rarely logged a high number of stress responses. It was as well rare that taking the time to do an EDA browse was helpful. Still, if you're a stressed individual, access to the EDA scan might be a welcome feature.

Fitbit Charge 5 and Fitbit app

Unfortunately, the other major new features Fitbit touted, ECG and Daily Readiness, weren't available when writing this review. Both features are slated to 'come up soon' to the Charge v. ECG is already available on the Sense, and I'm sure it'll work similarly on the Charge 5, while Daily Readiness volition come to the Charge five, Sense, Versa 3 and two, Luxe and Inspire 2 devices in a time to come update.

As usual, I'd recommend confronting buying a product based on the promise of future features. If you're interested in Daily Readiness or ECG capabilities, at least wait for them to arrive before pulling the trigger on the Accuse v.

Solid battery life despite the changes

Fitbit Charge 5 charger

I've also been impressed with the battery life then far on the Accuse 5. I completed a full accuse on the tracker when I first set it up on September 9th, and in the two weeks since then, I've only had to recharge it once. As I write this, the Charge v sits at 39 per centum battery, which will carry me through at least i more twenty-four hour period, if not more.

Fitbit promised seven days of battery life on the Charge 5 despite making the tracker x percentage thinner than the Charge 4. I was wary of the change, just and so far, the battery life has proven as good every bit, if not better than, the Charge 4.

"The only matter I missed from the Sense on the fitness side was the altimeter for stair tracking."

I volition note, however, that using GPS features tin can significantly touch on the bombardment. If y'all're the type of person to utilize GPS capabilities oft, you lot likely won't go the full 7 days out of the Charge five battery.

And, when y'all exercise take to accuse the Charge 5, you no longer demand the cool plastic clip that previous models used. Similar the Luxe, the Charge 5 connects to the charger using magnets. I practice with the magnets were a picayune stronger since it'south piece of cake to crash-land the Charge 5 off the charging connector, but I'll still accept this over that awful prune-on charger.

A great all-round tracker

Fitbit comparison

Whether or not the Charge v will work for you comes downwards to what you desire out of tech on your wrist. Coming from the Fitbit Sense smartwatch, I found I didn't miss some of the more advanced smart features like on-wrist Google Banana or calls. Bluntly, I but didn't feel a need to use any of those things, and I appreciated the actress bombardment I got on the Charge v compared to the Sense.

At the same fourth dimension, if whatever of those smart features are things you value, the Charge 5 probably isn't the right choice for you. The just thing I missed from the Sense on the fitness side was the altimeter for stair tracking. Nevertheless, that goes the other fashion too, with the Charge 5 only really offer built-in GPS as an advantage over the slightly less expensive Fitbit Luxe.

In other words, I'd break downward Fitbit's electric current offerings similar this: If you desire the ultimate in fitness tracking and smart features, the Sense is the best choice (and too the nearly expensive at $399.95). Alternatively, you lot could consider the Versa 3 or 2. I'g not familiar enough with either watch to advocate for them, but I think if I were to put out the extra coin for a Fitbit smartwatch, I'd go for the pricier Sense to brand sure I get everything the company has to offer.