The Charge is refreshed every couple of years or so, and the most significant changes to the device to date can be found in the 2021. A new design, new sensors, and a new price point make for a compelling package. At least for now, it's clear that the basic trackers are prominently featured in the lineup.
You might think I'm just a basic band fanatic because I was so excited to try out the new Charge 5 and give it a proper review, but I'm not alone in my affection for this form factor. One-third of its active users wear a Charge device, according to the company. The company has poured a lot of its best design and sensor tech into the newest version of the popular Wearable.
The Charge 5 and its Premium fitness service continue to lean into stress management, as well as its new looks and functions. This combination is seen by the company as the key to battle the Apples, Peloton, and WHOOPs of the world.
I'm going to take a look at what I thought of the Charge 5 after the first ten days.
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The Charge 5 went up for pre-order in August and the first devices were shipped out in September. The Charge 5 is $30 more expensive than the Charge 4 at $180, which makes it the most expensive tracker of all time. The Charge 5 is available from a number of retailers.
The best Charge 5 deals are available today.
The Charge 5 is one of the best fitness trackers around, and it makes sense for it to stay at the top. Even though it is instantly recognizable as a Charge device, Fitbit made some improvements to its best band.
The Charge 5 looks just as nice as the new Luxe but is a much more capable device.
The design is more refined than the blockier look of the Charge 2, 3, and 4, and it is 10% thinner than previous versions. It now meshes with the design aesthetic of the new devices. The larger, brighter version of the Luxe's screen makes it easy to read indoors or out. The Charge 4 is two times brighter than it is at 450 nits. The new Charge device is better suited to my wrist than previous Charge devices.
The Charge 5 is available in three different colors, including a Platinum case with a Steel Blue band, a Black band, and a Gold band. There is a wide variety of great first-party straps, including the colors mentioned above, as well as Horween leather bands, hook and loop bands, and the sport bands.
| Category | Fitbit Charge 5 |
|---|---|
| Display | 1.04 inches, AMOLED |
| Water Resistance | Up to 50 meters |
| Dimensions | 1.45 x 0.90 x 0.44 inches (36.78 x 22.79 x11.20 mm) |
| Weight | 0.48 ounces (15 grams) |
| Sensors | 3-axis accelerometer, optical heart rate sensor, SpO2, ECG, EDA, ambient light sensor |
| Onboard GPS | ✔️ |
| NFC | ✔️ |
| Always-on Display | ✔️ |
| Fitbit Premium | Free for six months |
| Colors | Steel Blue/Platinum, Black/Graphite, Lunar White/Gold |
The Charge 5 is the same as the Charge 3 and 4 in terms of battery life. While we always want more from our device's batteries, it is good to see that Fitbit was able to maintain the same capacity even as it added features.
This estimate was found to be on target. I was able to get just over six days out of a single charge, and this included using gps mode for four separate workouts and continuous heart rate monitoring.
I didn't enable the always-on display because it has a significant impact on the battery life and it's never been an essential feature to me.
The premium tracker comes with a number of advanced health features, including the ability to take EDA and electrocardiogram scans to measure your heart rhythm, as well as the ability to use a premium watch to measure your health. Both work the same way on the Charge 5 as they do on the Sense watch.
Once you open the EDA app and press the start button, you simply grip the thumb and finger of your opposite hand on the sides of the watch for three minutes, and then you can add how calm you felt. This information can give you guidance on your training and recovery.
You get a ton of smartwatch features with this advanced tracker.
The Charge 5 continues to differentiate itself from its competitors by offering on-deviceGPS and the ability to pay with a credit or debit card. Since it will be running Wear OS 3, it's possible that the next premium watch from Fitbit will use the same payment method as the current one, but it won't be using the same payment method as the current one.
Fast Pair is a feature on the Charge that will take you to the Fitbit app when you power on your Charge 5.
If you can't find the workout you want or you forget to start it, the Charge 5 has Smart Track technology that will detect when you start a workout. It works well, though it sometimes makes funny mistakes, like when it categorizes my lawn as swimming or cycling.
The workout intensity map is something I love. The feature shows you on a map what your pace and heart rate were at different points in your walk, hike, run, or ride. It's nice to have this feature on my watch as well.
The Charge 5 was followed by the Daily Readiness Score. The score is generated by your heart rate variability, activity levels, and sleep data. The goal is to know if you need more rest or if you're ready for activity.
This information can be used to suggest activities, workouts, targets, and fitness goals. It's similar to the readiness and recovery guidance that companies like WHOOP and Oura have been giving their customers for a long time, and it's something that Fitbit Premium customers should benefit from.
It's possible to monitor your Stress Management Score in the app, but you'll need to manually add the tile for it, since it's not on the main screen.
The Stress Management Score is calculated using your own reflections of your stress level, as well as data from yourMindfulness sessions, heart rate, and sleep information. As with most scores, the higher the better, as that means that there are less signs of stress.
If you purchase a Charge 5, you will get a free six months of the service, which will allow you to try out the Premium features.
The long trial period for its Premium service is generous. If you purchase a new Apple Watch, you'll get three months of Apple Fitness+, but you'll get six months with a Charge 5, Luxe, or Sense device.
I've worn a version of the Charge tracker for most of my life, and I'm a fan of it. There is a lot to like about the Charge 5. It's better than the Charge 4 in a lot of ways, and it makes up for the ways in which the Luxe wasn't good.
Once again, Fitbit ships a device with a new proprietary charger and bands.
In the grand scheme of things, my complaints with the Charge 5 are fairly minor, but a few things frustrated me with the newest Fitbit. We are once again faced with a new set of proprietary bands. That means they aren't compatible with the Charge 3 or 4 and those bands and charging accessories won't work with the Charge 5.
It makes sense that the old accessories won't fit the new tracker since the Charge 5 has a different design. Since the Apple Watch Series 7 can still use the same bands and charger as a seven-year-old first- generation Apple Watch, it's kind of a bummer that Fitbit couldn't keep compatibility for longer.
I had a complaint about the new navigation paradigm and the touch screen. When your fingers are wet or sweaty, the Charge 5 just doesn't respond. It's not a big deal with a phone, but it's inconvenient when you work out or swim.
The touchscreen takes getting used to and requires you to be very intentional with your taps and swipes.
In order to return to the home screen, you must either use an "app" screen or double-tap any screen to return home, because there are no buttons to navigate back to the home screen. This was a hit or miss for me. I had the same issue when I reviewed the Luxe earlier in the year, and it was something Tshaka noticed when he filmed his video review.
Tshaka said that it took some getting used to. You have to be very intentional compared to other screens.
The price increase has to be commented on. The Charge 5 retails for $30 more than the Charge 4's initial price, though you can now get a Charge 4 for as little as $50 less.
It's obvious why the new tracker is more expensive, but it's a big jump from one generation to the next. At that price, it's close to the territory of some of the best watches on the market.
The Charge 5 received some important and promised updates just a few months after it was released, including the launch of the Fitbit Daily Readiness Score and the ECG app.
New watch faces and a Find Phone app that lets you track down a connected phone if it's within 30 meters of your position were added in the late 20th century.
It is logical to compare the Charge 5 to the Charge 4 in order to compare the Luxe. Both have the same design language and similar features. The Charge 5 is larger and more expensive than the Luxe and it has better battery life.
The Mi Band 6 is one of the best value-priced fitness trackers around with a similar-sized color touchscreen and battery capacity. It costs over $100 less than the Charge 5.
The Mi Band 6 delivers mixed health and activity tracking results, but it doesn't have the built-inGPS that the Charge 5 does. We're excited to see how the Mi Band 7 improves.
It makes sense to compare the Charge 5 with WHOOP's 4.0 band and subscription service since the Charge 5 is leaning into recovery.
Both devices can track standard and advanced health metrics, but they don't give you as much actionable information as you could if you were serious about improving your health
You may want to look into the new device. It has the same information as BodyBattery, sleep and stress tracking, pulse ox, and water resistance.
It costs more upfront, but it makes up for it quickly by giving you data for free, unlike Premium, which charges a monthly fee.
If you do, you should purchase this.
If you buy this, you should not.
The Charge 5 isn't for everyone. If you don't want or can't afford all those fancy sensors, then you should look at the Luxe or Inspire 2. If you need more from your Wearable, you might want to spend a bit more on the Sense or something similar.
It's fascinating to see how far this tracker has come. The Charge 5 has come a long way in just a few years, from not having a heart rate monitor to having some of the most advanced health sensor on any Wearable.
Has it gone too far? There's not much that this device can't do, and its price point is quickly approaching some of the more popular watches. I'm more comfortable calling the Charge 5 a watch than a tracker. You're going to love the Charge 5 if you're a fan of the company. If your needs are more basic, you might want to look for another place to live.
The changelog should be reviewed.
The article was published in September of 2001. Changes were made in December 2021.
The following changes were made in July 2022,
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