Fitbit, Inc. is an American company headquartered in San Francisco, California that produces activity trackers; wireless-enabled wearable technology devices that measure data such as the number of steps walked, heart rate, quality of sleep, steps climbed, and other personal metrics involved in fitness. Even though they were only founded a short time ago, 2007, their name has become synonymous with fitness trackers. Much like Kleenex or Coke, people often use Fitbit to refer to any fitness tracker so I would say they have done quite well at establishing themselves in the market in just over a decade.
Today we are going to be taking a look at one of their mid-tier trackers: the Fitbit Charge 3. I got the Charge 3 after my two year old Xiaomi Mi Band 2 was taken to the briny deep while boogie boarding. On paper this appears to be a huge step up from the Mi Band 2, but so too is the cost. So let’s see how the features stack up and decide if it is a worthwhile upgrade.
Features and Specifications:
There are several versions of the
Fitbit Charge 3 with varying band and color options, as well as some special features. The device in question is the base model which still boasts a 7 day battery life, and the same OLED display and sensors. It is capable of tracking your heart rate 24/7, providing feedback to what cardio zone you are in, and telling you your resting heart rate. It is waterproof to 50 meters so it is suitable for just about any activity you have in mind. Below are some additional specs and features they have listed on their website.
Sensors & Components:
» 3-axis accelerometer
»Optical heart rate monitor
»Altimeter
»Vibration motor
»Relative SpO2 sensor
»NFC (in special editions only)
»Fits wrists from 5.5 to 8.7” in circumference with included bands.
Display:
»Touchscreen 1.57” diagonal, 0.78 x 1.36”
»Grayscale OLED
Battery and Power:
»Battery type: Lithium-polymer
»Charge time (0-100%): Two hours
Radio transceiver: Bluetooth 4.0
Memory:
»Saves 7 days of detailed motion data " minute by minute
»Saves daily totals for past 30 days
»Stores heart rate data at 1 second intervals during exercise tracking and at 5 second intervals all other times
Environmental Requirements:
»Operating temperature: 14° to 113° F
»Maximum operating altitude: 28,000 feet
Smartphone Notifications
Stay connected with call and calendar alerts, text notifications and quick replies, plus notifications from smartphone apps. Quick replies for Android phones are available when your phone is nearby.
Wear Fitbit Charge 3 all day and night to record and reveal your resting heart rate, track heart rate trends over time and follow your progress.
All-Day Calorie Burn
Better understand the total number of calories you burn"all day and during workouts"to manage your weight and stay on track toward your goals.
Automatic Exercise Recognition
Fitbit Charge 3 automatically recognizes exercises like runs, swims, elliptical, sports and more and records them for you in the Fitbit app.
All-Day Activity Tracking
Charge 3 tracks activity like steps, distance, floors climbed, active minutes and calories burned to show how every part of your day impacts your goals.
15+ Goal-Based Exercise Modes
Choose from 15+ exercise modes like run, bike, swim, yoga, circuit training and more, set a goal and get real-time stats during your workouts to keep getting better.
Swimproof
Fitbit Charge 3 is water resistant to 50 meters, automatically tracks your swims and can be worn in the pool or shower.
Real-Time Pace & Distance
Connect Fitbit Charge 3 with your phone’s GPS to see pace and distance on screen during outdoor runs and rides, and use your stats to get better each time.
Sleep Tracking & Stages
See your time spent in light, deep and REM sleep stages and get personalized insights to help you improve.
Learn more.
Cardio Fitness Level
Get a better understanding of your fitness level and see how you can improve over time with a personalized Cardio Fitness Score.
Reminders to Move
Know how long you’ve been active or inactive throughout the day and get personalized reminders to fit in a few extra steps if you’ve been sitting a bit too long.
Guided Breathing Sessions
Fitbit Charge 3 helps you find moments of calm throughout your day with personalized guided breathing sessions based on your heart rate.
Female Health Tracking
Know your body on a whole new level by using Charge 3 with the Fitbit app to track periods, record symptoms, see a predicted ovulation calendar and more.
Apps
With key everyday apps, a quick swipe shows upcoming calendar appointments and lets you check the weather for your morning commute or an outdoor run. Calendar app coming soon.
Customizable Clockfaces
With a variety of clock faces to choose from, Fitbit Charge 3 can be styled for any occasion.
Durable, Lightweight Design
With aerospace-grade aluminum, a smooth-flush case and Corning® Gorilla® Glass 3, Charge 3 is comfortable and durable.
Fitbit Today
Use the daily on-screen dashboard to check your health and activity stats and get the nudge you need to reach your goals.
App Dashboard
Set goals, track progress and get a more complete picture of your health and fitness"from nutrition and hydration to exercise and sleep"all on your dashboard in the Fitbit mobile app.
Wireless Sync
Fitbit Charge 3 can automatically sync to 200+ Android, iOS & Windows devices to show your stats, trends and progress on your Fitbit dashboard. Windows compatibility coming soon.
