Finest Fitbit health trackers and watches in 2024

In 2024, you would possibly marvel if Fitbit continues 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 essentially the most hardcore of athletes, however they’re nonetheless wonderful 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 previous to no matter Fitbit can be sooner or later. 2023 particularly was a messy yr. There have been a number of Fitbit server outages. I wasn’t impressed with the choice to sundown legacy neighborhood options like challenges or the truth that all Fitbit accounts would require you to log in by way of Google by 2025. Talking of which, the Fitbit-to-Google account migration began final summer time and is required if you happen to purchase new merchandise just like the Fitbit Cost 6 or Google Pixel Watch 2. The Fitbit app additionally obtained a brand new, extra Google-like makeover, which didn’t go over effectively with many customers. (Google has since made changes based mostly 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 staff have been laid off.

You may look to 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 usually 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. Up to now, it seems Google takes its Pixel Watch lineup severely, too. With the Pixel Watch 2, the corporate has expanded prolonged guarantee entry and improved alternative choices. You simply should go in with eyes vast 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 obtained 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 appears to be like 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 purpose we advocate the Pixel Watch 2 over the unique since a minimum of you will have a extra reasonably priced fallback ought to one thing occur to your show. Google additionally introduced an possibility the place you possibly can skip buyer help and mail in damaged, out-of-warranty Pixel Watch 2 gadgets for a reduced alternative.

Talking of which, the Pixel Watch 2 is a major replace. All of the Fitbit options that have been lacking at launch with the unique are current, like nightly SpO2, computerized exercise monitoring, and irregular excessive or low coronary heart fee notifications. The brand new multipath sensor additionally purportedly delivers extra correct coronary heart fee 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 possibly can go from 0 to one hundred pc in 75 minutes in comparison with 110 minutes. By way of providers, Google has additionally now added Calendar and Gmail to its present wearable apps, like Pockets, Maps, Residence, and Google Assistant.

Google has additionally beefed up private security options. For those who get the LTE model of the watch and have a Fitbit Premium subscription, you now not want an energetic LTE plan as a way to use emergency calling options. There’s additionally a brand new Security Examine timer that mechanically notifies your emergency contacts if you happen to fail to examine in when the timer goes off.

If all you need is a health tracker that appears to be like like a smartwatch, you possibly can take into account 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 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 at all times felt, effectively, impressed. However the $99.95 Encourage 3 is completely different. With a coloration OLED show, it’s harking back to the Fitbit Luxe (previously $149.95, now usually round $99.99), simply with a matte black plastic case as an alternative of a steel one. It’s an awesome 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 fee notifications. The OLED show can also 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 a few if you happen to 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 costume it up a bit. 

To be trustworthy, the Encourage 3 and Luxe are fairly related, and so they’re usually across the identical value. 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 collection has at all times been standard, 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 includes 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 now have with the Cost 6 is the always-on show. Whereas it’s stunning, it’s a serious battery drain. The Cost 6 has an estimated seven days of battery life, however that dwindles right down to about two if in case you have the always-on show enabled. This is similar challenge that we had with the Cost 5, but it surely’s pretty typical from Fitbit trackers nowadays.

Altogether, although, you’re getting a hell of rather a lot for the worth. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable you could find for underneath $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 useless 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 fee algorithm, Bluetooth compatibility with some gymnasium gear, and some apps — particularly 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.

By way of {hardware}, the Cost 6 additionally includes a haptic button as an alternative of an inductive groove. It’s not a bodily button, which is a bit of disappointing, but it surely’s extra dependable up to now than the inductive groove, so I might depend this as a web optimistic.

You may technically get the Cost 5 at a reduction. Nonetheless, I’d solely try this if it’s considerably cheaper and value is your important consideration. The haptic button, whereas not what I needed, is much better than the inductive groove and you’ve got extra app choices. Flip-by-turn navigation can also be useful for walks, and it a minimum of affords 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 up to now — and the one one which I haven’t examined myself — is the $79.95 Ace 3. That’s Fitbit’s tracker for youths. It’s a fundamental tracker with a rugged bumper and comes with parental controls. It’s obtained higher battery life than its predecessor however doesn’t include GPS. Additionally, whereas it does have coronary heart fee sensors, it’s not a metric that’s actively tracked for youngsters. As an alternative, it determines what number of “active minutes” they’re getting. Total, it’s a good alternative for folks whose important precedence is ensuring their children get sufficient every day train.

Nonetheless, Fitbit simply introduced the $229.95 Ace LTE. It’s considerably dearer, however that’s comprehensible given it’s a major improve when it comes to {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 allows calling, messaging, and real-time GPS monitoring for folks. Children gained’t must have their very own smartphone to set it up, and there aren’t any third-party apps or adverts on the gadget. All the things can also 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 ingredient, however except for $35 collectible bands, there aren’t any microtransactions inside the video games involving actual cash. (Children can “buy” extra objects 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 check the Ace LTE but, so keep tuned for our forthcoming overview. (However if you happen to’re impatient, it’s out there for preorder now and hits cabinets on June fifth.)

Learn our hands-on with the Fitbit Ace LTE.

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 can be requested to log into Fitbit utilizing their Google accounts. In 2025, this can be obligatory for everybody. Final yr, 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 couple of thousand staff from its {hardware} departments spanning Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest. For those who’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, if you happen to’re trying to improve to an older Versa or Sense smartwatch, you would possibly need to see the place the mud settles. Nonetheless, if you understand you desire a Fitbit, then go forward. For those who’re not in a rush or are undecided, now just isn’t a nasty time to sit down again and observe.

Replace Could thirtieth, 12:50PM ET: Up to date with new details about the Fitbit Ace LTE.