You’ve heard over and over that you should strive to get in 10,000 steps a day for your health. It turns out that concept dates back to 1964, when the first fitness tracker was invented.
Since then, wearables to track your steps and overall health have been on the rise, evolving from bulky straps with pesky monitors to sophisticated health trackers, smartwatches, and even sleek rings. Fitbits have become synonymous with fitness trackers, leading the wearable industry and offering a great option for those who want an affordable, top-performing activity tracker housed in a sleek band. The company was acquired by Google in 2021, and Fitbits now include Google apps and services.
Also:The best fitness rings
But with multiple new models available, choosing which Fitbit best suits your needs can feel overwhelming. That’s where ZDNET comes in. Our reviewers have gone hands-on, in-depth testing of every Fitbit model on the market, comparing the different styles, sizes, and features they offer to help you find the best health tracker for you. ZDNET’s pick for the best Fitbit fitness tracker overall is the Fitbit Charge 6 due to its advanced heart rate tracking features, and its Google apps and services integrations. But if you are looking for a slimmer or more affordable fitness tracker, we’ve included many other strong options to consider.
Read on to find which Fitbit tracker best meets your budget and lifestyle.
The best Fitbit trackers of 2023
Pros
- Deeper Google integration
- Heart rate zone insights
- SpO2 and skin temperature tracking
- Built-in GPS
- 6-months free of Fitbit Premium subscription
Cons
- Fitbit Premium subscription required for advanced features
- Music Premium subscription required for YouTube Music controls
FitbitCharge 6 tech specs: Dimensions: 1.52″ l x 0.73″ w x 0.46″ h | Screen size: 1.04 inches | Battery life: 7 days | Call/text notifications: Yes | Water-resistant: 50m | Sleep tracking: Yes | Cycle tracking: Yes
Since Google acquired Fitbit, customers have been anxiously waiting for Google to implement all of its latest and greatest features to the Fitbit tracker. With the release of the Charge 6, Fitbit users can now access Google Maps, Google Wallet, Gmail, Google Calendar, YouTube Music controls, and more.
Made to accommodate to your daily activities and routines, the Charge 6 has several new features that take health and fitness tracking to the next level compared to older models. Quickly glance at your Fitbit to view your heart rate in real-time while working out, or use Google Music playback controls to change your music. Going on a run? Leave your phone at home; the Charge 6 has a built-in GPS to track your location and give you directions if you get lost.
If you are big on tracking your heart rate while working out, the Active Zone Minutes feature will tell you how much time you spend in each heart rate zone. The blood oxygen and skin temperature tracking integration will provide insights into potential wellness changes, often related to illness or menstrual cycles, and let you know whether your body is ready for a workout or needs rest.
Also: Fitbit’s new fitness tracker adds Google features we’ve all been waiting for
The Charge 6 is made of 100% recycled aluminum and includes one haptic button on the left side of the device to control your home screen or view your daily statistics. It comes in three colors: obsidian/black aluminum, porcelain/silver aluminum, and coral/champagne gold aluminum, and is currently available for preorder.
While it is unknown whether these new Google features will trickle down to older Fitbit models, ZDNET smartwatch reviewer Matthew Miller remains hopeful. However, if you believe these new updates will be a game-changer to your health and fitness journey, and you are unwilling to wait, it may be time to upgrade to the Charge 6.
Pros
- Advanced safety feature
- Improved health metric sensors
- Built-in Alexa
- 6-months free of Fitbit Premium subscription
- Improved battery life
- Pay hands-free
Cons
- Android compatibility only
- Pricey
- Need 4G LTE to go offline
- No advanced sports metrics
Google Pixel Watch 2 tech specs: Dimensions: 1.6″ l x .48″ h | Screen size: 1.2 inches | Battery life: up to 24 hours | Call/text notifications: Yes | Water resistance: 50 meters | Sleep tracking: Yes | Cycle tracking: Yes
The Google Pixel Watch 2 is Google’s latest smartwatch, which offers the best of both Google and Fitbit’s worlds. In terms of design, the circular display stands out among the traditional Fitbit rectangular lineup, offering an elegant watch-first feel.
Review: Google Pixel Watch 2: In one key area, it surpasses every other smartwatch
While at first glance, there is not much of a difference between the Google Pixel Watch 2 and its predecessor, Google’s latest smartwatch is made with 100% recycled aluminum instead of stainless steel. It also incorporates improved metric sensors and better battery life, the latter of which was a flaw ZDNET’s smartwatch reviewer Matt Miller pointed out in his initial Google Pixel Watch review.
The Google Pixel Watch 2 also includes “advanced safety features that make it even better than the latest Apple Watch when it comes to keeping yourself and your loved ones safe and secure,” according to Miller. However, he notes the smartwatch still has limited sports metrics tracking and is best for “casual athletes and non-athletes looking to track basic workouts,” since its elegant design was not built for rugged outdoor activities.
Also: The best sports watches
To control your watch, you can swipe or rotate the crown to open Gmail, Google Calendar, or even answer a call. If you are a Google Home App user, you can download the app on your Pixel Watch 2 and control your connected devices from your wrist. The Google Pixel Watch 2 comes in four colors and is priced at $350, just like its predecessor. Keep in mind that If you’d like to make calls, receive texts, or stream music without having your phone nearby, you need to get the 4G LTE model for $50 more.
Pros
- Larger display
- Built-in smart features such as Alexa, Google Maps, and Google Wallet
- Sleep and stress tracker
- Built-in GPS
Cons
- Subscription required for advanced features
- Calls, texts, and music are unavailable offline
Fitbit Sense 2 tech specs: Dimensions: 1.5″ l x 1.5″ w x 0.45″ h | Screen size: 1.58 inches | Batterylife: 6 days | Call/text notifications: Yes | Water-resistant: 50m | Sleep tracking: Yes | Cycle tracking: Yes
If you struggle with stress and sleep, the Fitbit Sense 2 is the best Fitbit for you. This health and fitness smartwatch measures continuous electrodermal activity, or cEDA, which, combined with other metrics like heart rate, heart rate variability, and skin temperature, can flag moments when you might be stressed. By identifying stress patterns in your day-to-day life, your Fitbit can then lead mindfulness and breathing sessions to help you relax and reflect.
The Sense 2 can also help you figure out the root of your restless nights and give you tactics to improve the quality of your sleep. You can also identify changes in your wellness through blood oxygen level or body temperature shifts and receive heart rhythm notifications in case of any irregular activity. The Sense 2’s large display helps you track calories burned, distance, steps, heart rate, weather, and more. The smartwatch has a physical navigation button on the left side of the display to easily navigate through its features, and is priced at $300, slightly less than the original version.
Review: A month with Fitbit’s Sense 2 and Versa 4
While this smartwatch does not have the deepest Google integration, as the Charge 6 does, you can still use some of Google’s most popular apps, including Google Maps and Google Wallet. For smartwatch fans, the Sense 2 is a more affordable alternative to the Apple Watch Series 9, without compromising on the advanced health and wellness features we’ve all come to expect.
Pros
- Long lasting battery life
- Various jewelry-like band options
- Budget friendly without compromising rich features
Cons
- Very small display
- Not equipped with standalone GPS
- No Google integrations
Fitbit Luxe tech specs: Dimensions: 36.30mm l x 17.62mm w x 10.05mm h | Screen size: 0.76 inches | Battery life: 5 days | Call/text notifications: Yes | Water resistance: 50 meters | Sleep tracking: Yes | Cycle tracking: Yes
If stylish wearables are your thing, the Fitbit Luxe offers a suite of elegant bracelet options with all the essential tracking features. Its slim and minimalistic design goes with any outfit, so you never have to worry about taking off your health tracker even in more formal settings.
With the Fitbit Luxe, you can manage stress through guided breathing sessions and get sleep insights and recommendations. Get a comprehensive overview of your body’s vitals with the Health Metrics dashboard, and stay on top of changing trends in your body. Metrics such as breathing rate, heart rate, skin temperature, and blood oxygen can help you identify when you start to get sick or are in need of rest.
Review: Fitbit Luxe review: A nearly perfect fitness band
ZDNET’s Jason Cipriani went hands-on with the Fitbit Luxe and called it a “nearly perfect fitness band,” with its biggest flaw being the incredibly small display, which made it difficult to read a quick notifications or interpret metrics at a glance.
Despite this flaw, ZDNET’s Sabrina Ortiz decided to purchase the Fitbit Luxe herself, and says it’s converted her from a longtime wearable skeptic to Fitbit’s biggest advocate. “I get so many compliments about how tiny the screen is, and if it were any bigger, it would bother me,” she says. Ortiz also says that the Fitbit Luxe is equally as mighty as it is tiny, and that she’s impressed with how it tracks everything from steps and sleep to water intake and workouts on top of a long-lasting battery life and feature-rich app.
Pros
- Fun interface
- Built-in activity tracker
- Durable build
Cons
- Smaller screen
- Black and white screen instead of color
Fitbit Ace 3 tech specs: Dimensions: 1.47″ l x .66″ w x .5″ h | Screen size: 0.96 inches | Battery life: 8 days | Call/text notifications: Yes | Water-resistant: 50m | Sleep tracking: Yes | Cycle tracking: No
The Fitbit Ace 3 is a great choice for parents looking for a smartwatch for their kids that can encourage healthy habits, according to ZDNET reviewer Jason Cipriani. With its waterproof build and durable design, kids can wear their Fitbit Ace during swim lessons, water-based activities, or everyday play. Due to its impressive eight-day battery life, kids can wear the device for an entire week without needing to recharge it.
When Cipriani’s kids went hands-on with the Fitbit Ace, he found them to be more conscious about their daily activities, often comparing their steps to their siblings and looking to meet their hourly goals. Parents who wish to set up a Fitbit Ace for their kids must create a family account, which prevents their child’s data information from being shared with the broader Fitbit ecosystem.
Also: Fitbit Ace: My kids go hands-on
The Fitbit Ace 3 is a great device for kids who love to play and explore to keep track of their well-being. It’s packed with features that are easy to navigate and understand, including changing animated clock faces to keep kids engaged throughout the day and virtual badges to reward kids when they reach their goals. Parents will appreciate the notifications capability that allows them to quickly get in touch with their children and the sleep tracker, which includes bedtime reminders and silent wake-up alarms.
The best Fitbit tracker is the Charge 6 thanks to its advanced heart rate tracking features and Google apps and services integrations. However, there are many other models that are excellent choices depending on your budget and needs. Here is an overview of how the Charge 6 measures up against other Fitbit models.
Fitbit | Price | Screen size | Battery life |
Fitbit Charge 6 | $160 | 1.04 inches | 7 days |
Fitbit Sense 2 | $300 | 1.58 inches | 6 days |
Google Pixel Watch 2 | $350 | 1.2 inches | Up to 24 hours |
Fitbit Luxe | $200 | 0.76 inches | 5 days |
Fitbit Ace 3 | $80 | 0.96 inches | 8 days |
Fitbits come in all shapes and sizes. This is why choosing the best Fitbit for you ultimately depends on what you want in a health tracker. Here are our recommendations based on each Fitbit’s unique features:
Choose this Fitbit… | If you want… |
Fitbit Charge 6 | The most advanced Fitbit to date, with Google Maps, Google Wallet, Gmail, Google Calendar, YouTube Music control integrations and more. |
Fitbit Sense 2 | A high-tech Fitbit that can help you better manage stress and sleep. Including heart rate, blood oxygen, and skin temperature tracking. |
Google Pixel Watch 2 | The best of Google and Fitbit combined in a small, yet elegant smartwatch, made specifically for Android. |
Fitbit Luxe | A slim and minimalistic Fitbit, that brings style to any outfit. |
Fitbit Ace 3 | A kid-friendly Fitbit with a durable build, impressive battery life, and a super fun interface. |
To select the best Fitbits, we consulted colleagues, industry experts, and analysts who have used or tested Fitbits and ultimately selected the best based on the following aspects:
- Design: While fitness trackers were once associated with bulky straps and ordinary displays, the best wearables today are slick, elegant, and function as accessories. This is why we considered the design of each tracker when selecting the best Fitbits overall.
- Features: A health tracker is only as good as the health and fitness features it offers. With these Fitbits, you can better understand sleep patterns, stress levels, heart rate zones, and more while accessing some of Google’s essential apps and services — including Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music Controls.
- Battery life: What’s the point of having a tracker that evaluates your wellness all day, every day, if its battery dies on you mid-day? These best Fitbits all include more than 5 days of battery life, with the exception of the Google Pixel Watch, so you can go about your week, without constantly having to worry about charging.
- Price: Fitbits can range in price considerably, so we look for options that meet a variety of budgets, while still offering the basic essentials of a health and fitness tracker.
All Fitbits are water-resistant to 50 meters, so you can shower, sweat, or wash your hands while wearing your Fitbit. While they’re designed to be swimproof, it is not recommended to constantly soak your Fitbits since water resistance may diminish over time, and not all Fitbit accessory bands are made to get wet.
Ace users should also never wear their Fitbit to go swimming since the Ace is only designed to survive basic splashes and spills. If you ever get your Fitbit wet, make sure you take it off and dry it well before putting it back on.
The Fitbit app is available from the App Store and Google Play to work with your iPhone or Android phone. It works similarly to the Apple Fitness tracker in that it compiles your daily step total, how many calories you burned, and the distance exercised.
The app is free to use, or you can try out Fitbit Premium free for 90 days. With it, you can access customized workouts, mindfulness content, and much more. Keep in mind the Google Pixel Watch, is the only Fitbit that is only compatible with Android.
Right now, Fitbits do not have the capability to track blood pressure. However, Fitbit recently conducted a study on how/if Fitbit devices can estimate blood pressure using pulse arrival time, so it’s a possibility the technology could appear in a future Fitbit down the line.
Also: The best blood pressure monitors
Keep in mind that normally when new tech rolls out, some hiccups might arise. So, even when a new feature is released, I recommend giving it some time to work out the kinks first for more accurate readings.
There are many other Fitbits and health trackers worth considering, especially if budget or style are your main concern. Here are some other great alternatives worth checking out:
Best budget-friendly smartwatch
Fitbit Versa 4
Get to know your body better, connect to Google Maps or Google Wallet, and recognize an irregular heart rhythm with this lightweight fitness smartwatch.
Best budget-friendly Fitbit
Fitbit Inspire 3
A compact Fitbit offering 24/7 heart rate monitoring, sleep tracking, and a five-day battery life — all at an affordable price.
…. to be continued
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