Fitbit is one of the biggest names in the fitness tracker scene. And that’s because they design the best fitness trackers in the world.
When you look at the brand’s production timeline, you’ll notice that they always design high quality stuff, with the new model always better than the previous.
They’re good with the basics, with the likes of Fitbit One, Fitbit Zip, and Fitbit Ace to show for it. They’ve even designed advanced models in the course of the years, with the best examples including Fitbit Versa Special Edition and Fitbit Charge 3.
Fitbit has even gone as far as making smartwatches. And although they don’t match up to Apple Series Watch and Garmin Vivosmart just yet, they’re quite functional nonetheless.
When it comes to price, Fitbit has tried as best as it can to be as reasonable with pricing as possible. It has cheap models for budget buyers, the original Flex being the best example. It has mid-priced models also, an example being the Standard versa, which is popular among women for its health tracking ability. Then there’s the pricier model, the Ionic, which has had mixed reviews over the years.
From the look of things, it’s obvious that Fitbit spoils you for choice as much as they can. The question is, which one of their Fitbit should you choose? In this guide, we walk you through the best models in their product line, which we strongly believe will pique your interest.
Let’s get to it.
Best Fitbit Reviews 2020
1. Fitbit Charge 3
Fitbit Charge 3 is one of the best fitness trackers the brand has ever built. It’s don’t a complete makeover of the Charge 2. But it’s a more improved model that performs better than the latter. And let’s be honest. Charge 2 is good in many ways, but it’s NOT a waterproof Fitbit.
Its upgrade, the Fitbit Charge 3, is an impressive choice to consider if you go for swimming exercises. And that’s because it’s water-resistant up to a depth of 50 meters. Also noted as 5 ATM, you’d have to about 163 feet deep with Charge 3 to destroy it with water. With this rating, you don’t even have to bother taking it off when going to the shower.
Love goal-based workouts? No problem. Fitbit includes them in this model and even integrates them with more than 15 exercise modes so you can get the most out of your training session. Whether you’re a runner, a swimmer, a yoga fanatic, or a cyclist, you can use the modes to set goals, work on them, and receive notifications once you hit your target.
Then there’s the heart rate monitor. Built to run 24/7, this premium, combined with real time heart rate zones, helps you to optimize your workout intensity in the shortest time possible. It even goes as far as tracking calories burned, and this may be useful in helping you create a good meal plan.
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2. Fitbit Blaze Smart Fitness Watch
Fitbit Blaze, one of the best options for men that want to stay active, is – at its very foundation – a fitness tracker, not a smartwatch. This 6th edition, which appeared after the Alta and Charge HR, can monitor active minutes and count steps, distance covered, and even floors climbed.
Blaze isn’t the sleekest of Fitbit’s design. And we aren’t about to say it looks as good as the brand’s latest editions. However, it has a number of premium features for the price, including Smart Tracking, onscreen workouts, cardio fitness levels, connected GPS, and more.
As men’s smart fitness watch, the Blaze includes a continuous Pure Pulse heart rate monitor, which not only helps with calories counting but also let you know your heart rate. And moreover, it also features heart rate zones, which easily fills you in on your workout’s intensity.
The Blaze remains the most powerful multisport tracker to this date. Choose a sports mode, from gym sessions and cross training to cycling and cardiovascular workout, and then display the stats on the display. And with the integration of Smart Tracking, you still get credit for every workout – even if you forget to log it yourself.
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3. Fitbit Inspire HR
The Fitbit Inspire HR can survive the deepest pool in the world because it’s water-resistant up to 50 meters in depth. Waterproof to such a big depth, you can use this fitness tracker for pool exercise and track stats like laps and strokes on the go. And when you aren’t swimming yet, you can use it even in rainy or inclement weather to track running, walking, and biking stats, not to mention that you don’t have to take it off in the shower.
Fitbit Inspire HR features quite an intuitive heart rate monitor. This 24/7 premium, combined with heart rate zone, let’s you optimize your workout intensity so you can get the most out of it. In addition to showing calories burned, the sensor even goes as recording your resting heart rate and displays it accordingly.
Thanks to the SmartTrack technology, Inspire HR can track and record workouts automatically. It only takes a few minutes to detect activities, like walking, swimming, and biking. This one even counts steps and monitors your sleeping pattern.
Inspire HR doesn’t include an onboard GPS. So if you want to track accurate pace and distance while running or cycling, you’ll need to connect it to your phone’s GPS. It has 5 days battery life, not the best we’ve seen in a Fitbit model but it isn’t bad either.
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4. Fitbit Ace 2 Activity Tracker for Kids
The original Ace was the first kids’ focused Fitbit the company ever built. But while it looked as sleek as the Fitbit Alta model, it wasn’t nearly as robust. It was basic at its core, not to mention that it wasn’t waterproof either.
To give the Ace some touchups, Fitbit created a new upgrade, the Fitbit Ace 2, so older kids could have a more robust activity tracker. Quite frankly, they nailed its design really well. Ace 2 sports a clear screen, a unique design, an improved charging system, a friendly plastic body, additional watch faces that appeal to younger audience, and it’s cheaper than the original model.
Instead of navigating the tracker by tapping, kids can interact with this device by swiping the screen, thanks to the touch sensitivity and responsiveness. And like the rest of the models in this guide, Fitbit Ace 2 is a waterproof fitness tracker with a 5 ATM rating. Such a special gift for older kids that love to swim.
When it comes to fitness and activity tracking, it’s important to remember that your kid gets only the basics from this waterproof device. It can track active minutes, sleep stages, and steps. However, it lacks the heart rate monitor and it doesn’t include an onboard GPS.
Fitbit has an age limit of 12 years and above for the Ace users. But they’ve cut this down with this upgrade, allowing children as young as 6 years of age to wear and get the most out of it.
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5. Fitbit Versa 2
We have to agree that Fitbit’s original Versa didn’t make the cut nearly as much as we would expect. If anything, the Ionic, though bulky and looking somewhat ugly, would probably be a better option if we put the two on the table. The Versa 2 is the upgrade, and it’s one of the best Fitbit for men who need something that’s truly a smartwatch – well, almost a truly smartwatch.
Versa 2 sports a lightweight aluminum case with smoother edges and a beautiful front. The standard edition features a simple silicone strap, which you can replace with a bevy of different styled straps if you like. Like the original, it has a button on the left for navigation. And the display is touch sensitive and very responsive. Thanks to the aluminum build, Versa 2 is lightweight yet sturdy, a model you can wear all day long without noticing the weight.
Fitbit Versa 2’s fitness performance is commendable overall. This will track active minutes, steps you take, distance travel, resting and active heart rate, sleep, calories burned, and the floor you climb.
You get 15 workout modes to start and continue your fitness journey. Whether you are into biking and running or you prefer weightlifting and yoga, Charge 2 has it all for you. Plus, it even includes goal-based exercises, which lets you exercises on your very own terms.
Fitbit Versa 2’s heart rate sensors are better than the original. Currently running on Fitbit OS 4.1.1, the heart rate tracking is a lot more improved compared to what you get from the Fitbit Versa version. And while perfect isn’t always the best word to use when referring to a heart rate monitor, Versa 2 might just be close to that.
Although the lack of onboarding GPS makes it rather unreliable when it comes to distance and route mapping, especially when cycling. Still, you can use the connected GPS feature; establish a connection with your phone and track accurate pace and distance data.
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6. Fitbit Flex 2
Fitbit Flex 2 is quite different from the other models in the best waterproof Fitbit series. And the reason is as simple as not having a screen to display workout stats. From our perspective, this one is for people who don’t mind using a fitness tracker alongside a smartphone. Because it only works once paired with the Fitbit App.
From a design standpoint, Flex 2 is plain black, slim, and definitely well built. And it’s one of the lightest model the brand has ever built. It sports an IP68 rating, which translates to a water-resistant depth of 50 meters. Also built for swimming, you can use this device to track laps and strokes and monitor your results via the app.
Moreover, Fitbit Flex 2 also proves quite effective in tracking steps, distance, calories burned, and active minutes.
While the SmartTrack feature automatically recognizes and logs workout for you, it doesn’t do so for swimming. You have to turn the swim tracking to active in the app before you can use this one in the pool.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. Are Fitbit’s smart watches as advanced as Apple Watch Series?
We know for sure that the Ionic was the brand’s first smartwatch ever. But it couldn’t compare to the Apple Watch Series because of limited smartwatch features. And even after launching some stylish smartwatches like the Versa Editions, we still don’t think Fitbit is there yet.
At this point, none of the Fitbit’s models in the market is as advanced as the Apple Watch Series. But we think they are pretty close.
2. Can I use any Fitbit to track all activities?
There’s no one-size-fits-all Fitbit fitness tracker. Each model features a different build, includes different premiums, and performs differently.
For example, if you would like to track swim workouts, like laps and strokes, you should consider a waterproof Fitbit like the Charge 3 or the Ionic Adidas Edition. And if you’re interested in an all-day activity tracker that can track female health, then you should for the like of the Versa Special Edition.
Just to set the record straight, it’s important to determine what you’d like to track before you spend on a Fitbit.
3. Are Fitbit watches waterproof?
There’s honestly no such thing as a waterproof fitness tracker. From what we know so far, Fitbits have IP67 and IP68 ratings. This denotes the extent to which the device can survive in water.
To put it terms you can understand, a Fitbit can be either splash/sweat proof or water-resistant. All IP67 rated Fitbits are splash or sweat proof, able to withstand only a little amount of spills. All the IP68 rated models are water-resistant up to 50 meters in depth, which is to say that they can standup to water up to a depth of 163 feet, not beyond.
