The Fitbit Charge 6 is a great fitness tracker option for those who want to stay middle-of-the-road on budget without sacrificing a lot of features. The Charge 6 has a built-in GPS that will free you from the shackles of your smartphone, an intuitive display, more exercise modes than ever before, and a bevy of other perks that solidify this wearable as a fantastic value buy. If you’re an intermediate fitness tracker user and are looking for a model that’ll cover all your bases at a good price, the Fitbit Charge 6 is your answer.
The Fitbit Charge 6 is a shining example of what a mid-budget fitness tracker can be. It offers fantastic value for what you pay, and packs in a lot of the features you’d expect from more high-end fitness trackers like a built-in GPS, 40 exercise modes to choose from, and heart rate connectivity with select exercise machines, just to name a few. It’s a really good upgrade from the budget Inspire 3 (which is also included in this roundup) if you’re interested in more advanced analytics, a bigger display, and the ability to be more hands-free.
While buggy at times, the GPS tracking is actually quite accurate and makes it possible to go on runs or rides without having to take your mobile device along with you. That’s a game-changer if you, like us, are familiar with how annoying it is to work out with a phone in your pocket. Analytics-wise, the Charge 6 covers all the bases, from heart rate, to sleep, to stress, and more. To get the most advanced analytics, you’ll unfortunately need a premium Fitbit subscription, but you may not even need it unless you want the most in-depth tracking possible. Either way, it’s all extremely easy to parse your progress within the updated Fitbit app, which is way more streamlined and brings better features to the table, including focus areas. Just note that since the Google acquisition, you’ll need a Google account to use any of this stuff. Unfortunately, that means you’re locked into using Google-based apps, so Spotify and its ilk are a no-go — YouTube Music and Google Maps are compatible, though. So, be ready to give up some of your go-to apps if you’re not already in the Google ecosystem.
The overall design of the Charge 6 is a highlight, featuring a colorful AMOLED screen that’s easy to navigate once you get used to it. Here, you can choose from one of your Google apps, pick from one of the tracker’s 40 sport modes, see your metrics at a glance, and more. We also like the haptic side button that instantly brings you back to the Fitbit’s clock face. The band feels comfortable to wear all day, which meshes perfectly with its seven-day battery life.
If you can make peace with exclusively using Google-supported apps on your fitness tracker, we think the Fitbit Charge 6 is absolutely worth considering.
