Fitbit Charge 6 Fitness Tracker: Limited Edition with Exclusive Health Features

FitBit watches don’t last a lifetime, but they have great features that I use.
This my third FitBit watch over a period of 9 years. This seems to reflect the lifespan of the watch, unfortunately. My last one began to take a really long time to charge. Sadly, one day, it simply quit working. I have come to depend on this watch because of certain features. I wear mine at night, to track my sleep cycles. I do water aerobics, and I don’t have to remove the watch. It’s most definitely water resistant! I appreciate the reminders for me to get up and move. I can quickly read texts as they come in on my iPhone. I also like the reminders. I do use the sleep awake feature. That is, I set the time I’d like to wake up. The watch detects when I am waking up, based on my movement. So, yes, I really do like my FitBit, even though they don’t last a lifetime. Why not an Apple Watch? First, the FitBit is much more affordable. I also have very small wrists, so the FitBit looks better on me. I do buy the maintenance insurance for 2 years for $29.00. That came in handy the time I cracked my screen (I now by screen protectors). Also, my last one died and it was replaced since it was within 2 years. Customer service has never been a problem, now that Google owns FitBit. I’m happy with the watch. I only wish they lasted longer. Still, it’s a lot cheaper than an Apple Watch.

Good improvements over the Charge 5 but broken app
I upgraded from the Charge 5What I like about the Charge 6:- Great price- Sensors to track body activity are more accurate (I don’t have a way to test this but other people in YouTube have and these sensors are really good for a device at this price point with no chest strap)- Same great battery life. I get 6-7 days (I use normal brightness, do not use GPS, have sleep mode programmed, and keep the screen off unless I need to see it).- The home button to return to the time screen is great.- Triple tapping to zoom in is nice- When it works the Google Maps app is really nice. When you launch the phone app it kicks in automatically (need to set it up this way in your Fitbit app) otherwise you have to start the walk on the phone app and then manually connect to the app from your Charge 6. It tells you where to turn and it is nicer/safer than staring at your phone. The connectivity to the Phone app however is unreliable. Lots of retries and fiddling with the bluetooth settings to get it to work. Feels like a beta. I hope this is improved with a future upgrade. I have my Charge device set to 12 hr time format but this app shows 24 hr format at the top which to me is confusing and it may be a bug. I hope this is addressed in a future update.- More exercise modes and more settings/mode- The double tapping for water locking the device seems to work a little better to me than the Charge 5.- The unit’s vibration when alarm goes off seems to be more noticeable than in the Charge 5. Less likely to miss it.- Bluetooth integration with gym cardio workout machines is nice however I don’t have any equipment to test this. I read that there is an issue with the encryption that Google uses. Just be aware that unless you are at a gym that has bought very recent equipment, the machines aren’t likely to support bluetooth. Most hotels I workout in don’t have this either. I don’t really need this but some people may find it useful.What I don’t like:- If you are on iOS you still can’t reply to texts (I know there is an iOS security constraint that doesn’t allow this but come on Google…time to find a workaround)- Like the Charge 5 the GPS is terrible. It drains the battery and it is very inaccurate. I use my iPhone’s GPS tracking synced to my Charge 6 instead and it works great. If you don’t have your phone with you then you are out of luck.- The biggest disappointment is the YouTube Music app. Like the Google Maps it is a remote control for the phone app. I’m a YouTube Music subscriber so I was really looking forward to this but the connectivity to the phone app is very unreliable (like the Google Maps app). You can’t really see your music library, find an artist, and select Shuffle Play. All you can do is use the playback controls. (which I already have in Siri and on my Powerbeats pro earbuds), see a list of your recently played songs, and a couple of Google created playlists that I don’t care to use. I really hope that they improve it in future software upgrades.- Some exercise modes have an Auto Detect and Auto Stop feature. Basically this feature auto starts an exercise mode if the device detects that you are exercising. It sound good but in reality I found it to be more of a nuisance. The device can’t tell if I’m just in a hurry or warming up for a workout. If I’m in the middle of a workout and I slow down to catch my breath, the Charge 6 will ask me if I want to stop which means I’m forced to interact with the device when I don’t really want to. Luckily you can turn this feature off per mode.- When you reach a new target zone the Charge 6 displays the new target zone and the number like the Charge 5 however Google has changed the number/graphic and made it impossibly small to read without stopping and staring or triple tapping which are tedious while you are moving during your routine. I hope Google improves this in a future software update.- When the device is on exercise mode the screens shows the time at the very top. The Charge 5 I believe showed the total calories burned which is far more useful, Not sure why Google messed with this. If I need t know the time I can scroll to it during my workout or I can ask Siri.- I use the timer a lot…it is still limited to 1 hour.The phone app was cool until Google did a complete redesign which a lot of users are unhappy about.I use the app and the web portal to log my food consumption and my weight. IMHO any fitness tracker is worthless if you don’t track both. The app calories data is also broken. The calories left for the day count is incorrect compared to the web portal (there is a difference of hundreds of calories). This to me is unacceptable and It has been broken for months. Not sure what Google is waiting on to fix it. As a workaround if I need to see how many calories I can consume…I just look at the portal on a browser on my mac, iPad or iPhone..In spite of my dislikes overall I do like the Charge 6 and it is a nice upgrade specially for $100. The more accurate sensors are worth the upgrade. That said if you plan to upgrade because of the GPS or the YouTube Music app you may want to hold off.

Why did the Fitbit Charge 6 win me over?1) It holds a charge for a lot longer compared to any watch. I need to charge it only every 7 days or so (depending on which features you keep active) Compared to an Apple Watch that needs charging pretty much every day.2) And it charges back up quickly. Less 1.5 hours and you’re good to go for another 7 days.3) Its size. It is not bulky. I find the watches to feel a bit chunky on me. This is small and comfortable enough that I quickly came to not noticing that I am wearing it. I can sleep with it comfortably (and that’s important for me as tracking my sleep is important to me)And it just looks more discrete on my arm.4) It gives me a lot of health information and easily tracks my running and other fitness without going overboard. Personally I do not need the extent of detail you would find with something like the Garmin.5) It is very user friendly. You don’t need to be a super techy to operate. It’s easy to sync with your phone right out of the box. Then I watched a couple great YouTube videos on the basics to learn even more about all the functions and features.The more I use this the more I like it. It has definitely helped me improved my health. I’ve learnt variables that affect my health that I didn’t know about.I’ve not yet signed up for the free six months of the premium membership because I wanted to see what I get without it. You get loads without it!I won’t go in to all the functions here but take a look at them and see if it gives you what you want. If so, then I would definitely recommend this Charge 6.I find all the functions work well. I’ve not had any problems with any of them. Yes I am very happy with my purchase!

“Seamless Integration: Fitbit Charge 6 Review”I recently upgraded to the Fitbit Charge 6, and it has completely transformed my fitness journey. What sets this device apart is its seamless integration with my Peloton bike, creating a comprehensive workout experience like no other.The Fitbit Charge 6 offers a multitude of features that have enhanced my daily fitness routine. From tracking my steps and heart rate to monitoring my sleep patterns, this device provides invaluable insights into my overall health and well-being. Its sleek design and comfortable fit make it easy to wear all day, ensuring that I never miss a beat in my quest for better health.One of the standout features of the Fitbit Charge 6 is its compatibility with my Peloton bike. By syncing the two devices, I can effortlessly track my indoor cycling workouts and seamlessly record my progress in the Fitbit app. This integration not only keeps me motivated but also allows me to see the bigger picture of my fitness journey.Overall, the Fitbit Charge 6 has exceeded my expectations in every way. Its intuitive features, combined with its ability to sync with my Peloton bike, have truly elevated my fitness experience. Whether I’m hitting the pavement or spinning in the saddle, this device is the perfect companion for achieving my health and fitness goals.