Pre-orders for the Fitbit Charge 5 are now available. And about time, after weeks of leaks and rumors. The new tracker will be available soon, but in the meantime, here’s what you should know about its design, features, release date, and price.
With its compact design and clean rectangular display, the Fitbit Charge series falls between the Inspire and Versa lines, offering a wide range of features for such a compact gadget.
A slew of new features and old favorites, such as onboard GPS, make the Charge 5 carry on the Charge series’ heritage as a workout-friendly watch.
The Fitbit Sense introduced an EDA stress monitoring sensor, among the other notable features of this new Charge device.
- Optimize your workout routine with a Daily Readiness Score that reveals if you’re ready to...
- Get a daily Stress Management Score showing your body’s response to stress and take steps to...
- With the Health Metrics dashboard, track SpO2, heart rate variability, skin temperature variation...
Availability and price
Pre-orders are open now, and it’s expected to start shipping between September and November 2021
It costs less than $200 for those looking for a slightly more advanced but not budget-busting device. Given the hardware improvements, the price rise seems fair.
The Fitbit Charge 5 is now available for pre-order through Fitbit and several third-party retailers. According to the company, Fitbit hasn’t said when the watch will go on sale, but it will be sometime within autumn. Because Fitbit is headquartered in the United States, we anticipate it to begin delivering between September and November 2021.
Fitbit allowed itself some leeway in case of delay caused by a worldwide semiconductor scarcity and logistical issues. Which was, of course, induced by the coronavirus epidemic.
The Charge 5 has a redesigned look that includes a stainless steel casing rather than a plastic one. Also, a high-resolution color screen with EDA and ECG sensors.
In terms of pricing, the Charge 5 falls between the Luxe and the Versa 3, which sounds about right.
Design
The Fitbit Charge 5 has had a redesign that includes softer lines and a new metal casing. Since the release of the Fitbit Charge 4, Fitbit’s designs have developed, and the Charge 5 follows the same ‘Biologic Industrial Design Language’ as the Sense, Versa 3, Inspire 2, and Luxe. Sleek, round edges, soft silicone, and delicate colors inspired by nature are all part of this new package.
The Charge 5 features a stainless steel casing with a silicone Infinity Band with a soft loop and tang instead of a harsh plastic or metal clasp. It’s also 10% thinner than its predecessor, thanks to the miniaturization of its components.
Similar to the Fitbit Luxe, the Charge 5 has a small yet beautiful color AMOLED display. The Charge 4’s display is considerably better than the previous model’s black-and-white display. Compared to the Huawei Band 3 Pro and Xiaomi Mi Smart Band 5, its display looked outdated.
The Charge 5 also has ambient light detection, which allows the screen to brighten and fade based on the lighting conditions. Also, an always-on mode, which allows you to see your data at a glance when exercising.
- EDA Scan app detects electrodermal activity which may indicate your body's response to stress and a...
- Assess your heart for atrial fibrillation –a heart rhythm irregularity- and easily share results...
- An on-wrist skin temperature sensor tracks yours each night so you can see how it varies. You can...
Features
Fitness tracking
The Fitbit Charge 5 features a variety of exercise tracking modes. Plus, integrated GPS, so you can track your runs, bike rides, and walks without having to take your smartphone.
Similar to the Fitbit Sense, the Fitbit Charge 5 has integrated an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor to monitor for signs and symptoms of atrial fibrillation (irregular heart rhythm). This may be an early indication of heart disease, aka the “silent killer,” since it has few symptoms at first.
If you have concerns about your ECG reading, you can share them with your doctor via the Fitbit app.
Stress monitoring
An EDA sensor, which measures changes in your skin’s conductivity as a reaction to stress, is another function borrowed from the Fitbit Sense.
With Fitbit at the helm of Google’s smartwatch initiatives, it seems that the firm is betting big on fitness bands.
Daily Readiness score
The Fitbit Charge 5 introduces the Daily Readiness score, available on the Dashboard on all Fitbit devices.
This new score assesses your fitness for training and is designed for individuals who wish to challenge themselves.
As with the Stress Management and Sleep scores, the Daily Readiness score is based on three factors: activity/exercise, sleep length and quality, and heart rate variability (HRV), which is measured during deep sleep. When you improve your fitness, you establish a personal baseline.
The Charge 5 will recommend a workout time and intensity based on this score.
It will suggest customized exercises from the Fitbit Premium library, which might include a lung-busting HIIT session when your body is ready to go, active recuperation, or even mindfulness.
The method is similar to the Whoop Strap 3.0, which determines when to exercise using Recovery and Strain ratings. Fitbit’s version seems to be more generalised despite being targeted at serious athletes.
Should I buy a Fitbit Charge 5?
The short answer is, yes! Fitbit’s latest fitness tracker outperforms even its own highly-praised smartwatch, let alone the other wearables.
Alternatively, you can check out the rest of the range in our Fitbit comparison article.
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Last Updated on September 3, 2021
Maygen is a multifaceted writer, proofreader and an experienced smartwatch industry writing and editing professional.
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