Fitbit had a busy 2022, launching two watches (the Sense 2 and Versa 4) and one health tracker (the Inspire 3). Still, one anticipated tracker skipped the social gathering: the Fitbit Charge 6. We’ve heard a rumor that this flagship health tracker has already arrived on the FCC and will launch in early 2023, however in any other case know little or no about the way it’ll enhance on the Charge 5.
When it involves the best fitness trackers, the Charge 5 has headlined our checklist since its 2021 launch with no shut rivals besides its personal predecessor, the 2020 Charge 4. With simply over a 12 months between them, the Charge 5 made major upgrades to the show, well being sensors, and software program; and each are among the many only a few petite trackers with built-in GPS.Â
In this manner, the Fitbit Charge 6 has loads to show. And given how Fitbit’s 2022 watches just like the Versa 4 truly downgraded some options in comparison with the Versa 3, it isn’t a assure that the Charge 6 will dwell as much as our personal pleasure for it.
Keeping this context in thoughts, here is what we all know in regards to the Fitbit Charge 6, together with when it ought to arrive and which options it ought to hold, in addition to the upgrades we hope to see for Fitbit to retain its wearable crown.
Fitbit Charge 6: Release date and pricing
A 9to5Google (opens in new tab) report gave us scant particulars about what to anticipate from the Charge 6, together with a potential timetable. According to the positioning, the Charge 6 — or a tracker codenamed FB424 with Bluetooth and NFC help — arrived at the FCC on August 24, the identical day Fitbit introduced the Sense 2 and Versa 4.Â
Fitbit doubtless held off revealing the Charge 6 so vacation gross sales of the Charge 5 would not be harm, however we’re all however assured to get the tracker someday in 2023. The solely query is when. Given Fitbit regularly attends CES and has unveiled previous merchandise just like the Blaze on the conference, it is theoretically potential we’ll see the Charge 6 there. Otherwise, most Fitbit merchandise are typically launched in the summertime or fall; the Charge 4 was certainly one of its earliest calendar releases in April 2020.
As for pricing, we have not heard any leaks on the topic, however we do not essentially want a touch. The final three generations of Charges, again to the Charge 3, all value $150 at launch. We doubt Fitbit will make it costlier, and it already has the Inspire 3 for cut price hunters.
Fitbit Charge 6: Design
According to the aforementioned FCC leak, the Fitbit Charge 6 will look “near identical” to the Charge 5, together with the aluminum physique, curved black glass, and strips for ECG readings on both facet of the tracker.Â
So you’ll be able to count on a rounded, pill-shaped 1-inch AMOLED show, distinctly thinner than the blocky look of the Charge 4 and older fashions. It additionally probably will not have any buttons or capacitive faux-buttons, making it touch-only.Â
Our Charge 5 review identified how finicky utilizing the touchscreen may be, particularly as soon as your fingertips get sweaty; however that is pretty industry-standard for health trackers, and Fitbit will doubtless prioritize a uniform look and light-weight design as an alternative of placing a noticeable button on the facet.
Fitbit additionally tried a capacitive button on previous Charge fashions, however these are extraordinarily finicky, which is why Fitbit went again to bodily buttons on the Sense 2 and Versa 4. So we might hope Fitbit both squeezes a bodily button in or nothing.
Our solely different design questions concern colours, proprietary bands, and charging. The Charge 5 got here in Black, Platinum, and Soft Gold, and we hope the Charge 6 returns with a number of playful colour choices.Â
It additionally had its personal set of proprietary bands, making certain Charge 3 and 4 bands would not work with them. We’re hopeful that the unchanged design signifies that Charge 5 bands will work with the Charge 6, so you’ll be able to construct up a wider vary of choices. The identical applies to the bundled charger, since Fitbit additionally deprecated the Charge 4’s charging cable. Let’s hope Fitbit retains issues constant right here.Â
Whatever occurs, Fitbit shipped the final charger with infinity, leather-based, cloth with velcro, and perforated silicone bands, so you need to have a variety of proprietary choices as soon as once more. You simply will not be capable to use industry-standard quick-swap bands.
Fitbit Charge 6: Sensors and options
The Fitbit Charge 5 had a wonderful bundle of sensors and instruments for a health tracker. One of the uncommon fitness trackers with GPS, it additionally had NFC for FItbit Pay, an optical coronary heart charge monitor, blood oxygen monitoring, and the aforementioned strips for taking ECG and EDA readings. You can manually test your coronary heart rhythm and stress ranges by inserting your thumb and index on both strip. And it additionally tracks pores and skin temperature at evening, although with out the Fitbit Sense 2‘s devoted temperature sensor for extra correct readings.
The Charge 6 ought to deliver again all of those options, in addition to different sensors just like the 3-axis accelerometer and ambient gentle sensor. Though it isn’t assured, for the reason that Charge 5 misplaced the Charge 4’s altimeter. Fitbit may at all times take away one thing to make room for a more moderen sensor.
What new sensors or instruments may the Fitbit Charge 6 deliver to the desk? For starters, the Sense 2’s new cEDA sensor, which repeatedly measures your stress ranges with out having to take a guide studying. But we do not know how huge this sensor is and whether or not it might make the Charge 6 too heavy, so there is not any assure.Â
Honestly, we might a lot relatively Fitbit deliver again the altimeter, since that is a necessity for athletes making an attempt to precisely gauge their effort at excessive elevation. It’s not as flashy, however runners and cyclists want it greater than they should understand how harassed they’re.
As for software program, we all know that all the common Fitbit Premium options and studies will probably be out there to Charge 6 house owners, and you need to get a free six-month trial earlier than you need to begin paying for it. Since there is not a lot to say right here, it is extra fascinating to invest what apps, if any, will come to the Charge 6.
The Versa 4 and Sense 2 have entry to Google Wallet, so we assume that the Charge 6 will obtain the identical device, relatively than defaulting to the outdated Fitbit Pay. The tracker nearly definitely will not have a mic or speaker, which suggests no Alexa assistant or Bluetooth calls.Â
In idea, the Charge 6 may get entry to Google Maps turn-by-turn navigation, because it’s coming to the Versa 4 and Sense 2. The Charge 6 is a bit small for an precise map, however may present text-based instructions and vibrate when it is time so that you can change instructions. We suspect Fitbit will not make it out there, however hope the model will shock us.
Unfortunately, one lacking function on the Charge 5 will doubtless keep lacking on the Charge 6. While the Charge 4 had music playback controls, the Charge 5 did not, and for some motive Fitbit eliminated the controls on the Versa 4 and Sense 2, as properly. We will not ask for music storage on a petite tracker, however
Fitbit Charge 6: options we need to see
We’ve already introduced up a few of our wishlist gadgets for the Fitbit Charge 6: Google apps, an altimeter, music playback controls, and a steady EDA sensor. But there are many different instruments we might hope Fitbit contains, although some are extra real looking than others.Â
Improved GPS monitoring
Dual-band GPS and all-systems GNSS monitoring has turn out to be extra distinguished on Garmin and Apple watches, and even Amazfit is bringing dual-frequency monitoring to its inexpensive smartwatches. If Fitbit have been to prioritize this, it might’ve finished so on the Sense or Versa lineups, probably.Â
We’d nonetheless admire a monitoring improve of some variety on the Charge 6, as a result of the model is not recognized for its accuracy on this space. The Charge 5 had some noticeable monitoring points at occasions, dropping your positioning totally or else exhibiting you drifting out of your path for no motive. Hopefully, Fitbit makes an upgraded satellite tv for pc a precedence this time round.
Touchscreen enhancements
We’re typically followers of the Charge 5’s colourful AMOLED show, an enormous improve over the monocolor OLED on the Charge 4. But at 450 nits, it is solely passably readable in direct daylight. Other trackers just like the Amazfit Band 7 hit 500, and that is a less expensive system usually. We’d find it irresistible if the Charge 6 may soar to the favored 1,000-nit normal discovered on many fitness smartwatches, together with the Sense 2 and Versa 4.
Also, if the unchanged design means no bodily buttons, Fitbit must work on making its contact controls a bit extra correct to what customers try to do. For instance, you will attempt to faucet a notification to learn it and the Charge 5 interprets this as you swiping it away. Other occasions, the tracker will not register your swipes in any respect until you are “very intentional,” as our reviewer put it.
Optimizing the battery life
We’re typically fairly impressed with the Fitbit Charge 5’s 7-day battery life for informal use. If you are simply utilizing it to trace well being knowledge, it is dependable. But with GPS monitoring, it lasts simply 5 hours most; or with an always-on show, it’s going to solely final two days at most.Â
We don’t desire the Charge 6 to turn out to be excessively cumbersome, and built-in GPS monitoring is way simpler for smartwatches that may afford the additional battery weight. But I’d love only a couple extra hours of GPS monitoring. And as for traditional battery use, if the Amazfit Band 7 can final 18 days whereas weighing about the identical because the Charge 5, why cannot Fitbit shut the hole a bit?
Better integration with third-party apps and equipment
While there are a number of “Work with Fitbit apps,” most of the best fitness apps do not fall underneath that umbrella. Fitbit purposefully makes issues troublesome if you wish to share knowledge with one other app like Google Fit or Apple Health, forcing you to make use of a third-party app as an middleman or manually export knowledge.Â
Similarly, Fitbit does not help Bluetooth or ANT+ equipment, so you’ll be able to’t join a heart rate monitor strap for extra correct readings. We do not count on this to alter anytime quickly, however hey, perhaps Fitbit will shock us beginning with the Charge 6, and begin catching as much as the competitors right here.Â