Fitbit Charge 6: My Honest Opinion After a Week of Use
Now let’s get down to business. After personally using the new Fitbit Charge 6 for a week, I have some thoughts. I’m not a fitness guru or a technology expert, I’m just someone who is trying to be more active and informed about my health. So if you’re anything like me, you’ve come to the right place.
First Impressions
When the Charge 6 arrived, I was struck by its familiar appearance - it’s similar to the Charge 5, sleek and uncluttered. The packaging is simple too, nothing flashy. What immediately caught my eye was the addition of a physical button on the side. It may seem minor, but it’s a welcome change from the previous model’s touch-only interface. It is now more intuitive and reliable. The strap was comfortable and didn’t cause skin irritation, which always bothers me a bit.
Improved Heart Rate Sensor and Features
Fitbit advertises an improved heart rate sensor and I have to say they are right. I did some interval training and the readings were much closer to my chest strap than the older model. There’s still a slight lag during really intense exertion, but it’s a big improvement.
Heart Rate Broadcasting: One cool addition is the ability to broadcast your heart rate to other devices and apps. We tried out this feature on an exercise bike and it worked just fine. The first pairing was a bit tricky and I had to try it a few times, but after that it worked as it should. This is handy for those who want to keep all their data in one place.
Sport Modes: The Charge 6 has several sport modes. The great thing is that you can select them right on the watch, without having to go into the app. This is a significant improvement over the Charge 5, which had a limited number of modes. Just swipe your finger across the screen until you find what you want. Simple and functional.
Google Integration: Charge 6 features controls for Google Maps, Google Wallet and YouTube Music. Maps gives turn-by-turn directions on your wrist, which is handy for walking. Wallet is useful for quick payments, though pin input is a bit cumbersome; YouTube Music controls are useful for skipping songs, but only available if you have a subscription. A little more versatility wouldn’t hurt.
Magnifier: An unexpected but useful feature is the magnifier. Tap the screen three times to zoom in. This is a very useful feature when it’s hard to see small text.
How it Fits Into My Life
I use Charge 6 mainly to track my daily activity and workouts. The sleep tracking is a top-notch feature that gives me a good idea of when I fell asleep and when I woke up. I don’t really appreciate sleep stage data, but having it is nice to have. The step counter and distance tracking seem accurate enough for my needs. I like having turn-by-turn directions on my wrist when I go for a walk, and Google Wallet is my companion for buying coffee. The heart rate tracking is very helpful during spinning sessions.
Disadvantages
Heart rate recording is useful, but it’s hard to encrypt. Many of the apps I tried didn’t work, which was a bit disappointing. GPS accuracy leaves a lot to be desired, especially when the strap is tight against your arm. You have to loosen the strap significantly to get a reliable GPS signal, which isn’t ideal for heart rate tracking. Battery life is fair, but not far from Fitbit’s claimed seven days, which is more like three to four days of normal use. Finally, there’s the new Fitbit app, but I don’t really like it.
I’ve used several fitness trackers, but the Charge 6 stands out among them. It doesn’t try to be a full-fledged smartwatch, but the fitness tracking is really well implemented in it. Compared to previous Fitbit models, this is a significant upgrade, especially with its heart rate accuracy and additional Google features. If you’re looking for something closer to a smartwatch, with a larger display and more features, something like the Google Pixel watch might be a better option, but it has a higher price tag and shorter battery life. The Charge 6 is an excellent choice.
Final Thoughts
So, who should buy the Charge 6? If you’re looking for a reliable fitness tracker with good heart rate accuracy and smart features, the Charge 6 is the way to go. It’s not perfect, but for its price, it’s a great choice. If you’re still using an older Fitbit or are new to fitness trackers, the Charge 6 will be a worthy purchase. It has a good combination of fitness tracking and everyday convenience. I am quite happy with it and I think you will be too if you are looking for a quality fitness tracker.
