Fitbit Charge 2 review

Fitbit is the most well-known company in the world of smart fitness trackers and the launch of a new bracelet is, therefore, a big deal. Let’s speak about the Fitbit Charge 2 (Check on Amazon.com).

Package

In the package, we find the charging cable and the instructions booklet.

Design and Fit

With respect to Fitbit’s old Charge bracelet, this Charge 2 takes a good step forward from a fit standpoint, even if it isn’t a breakthrough moment in terms of design. The plastic of the bracelet is now more sturdy and less rubbery, making it less of a hassle in case of hairy wrists and a lot less of a dirt magnet than in the past. The frame is made of steel and this should ensure good durability. The bracelet is now interchangeable and also very comfortable, and doesn’t get stuck to the clothes and doesn’t give problems during normal work at the desktop. It’s not waterproof, but water-resistant.

Hardware

There are no big changes here. The LE Bluetooth still provides a constant connection to your phone and the very accurate heart-rate sensor is placed on the back of the product. On the left side, there is a physical button to scroll through the menus and tapping the screen will scroll through the items within those menus.

Display

This time around we have a real display (black and white). This is a big leap forward, as it allows us to read the information about our activity, or current workout session, at any time, without having to use the app. The screen is not touch but it is very bright (maybe too much at night) and fully visible in almost any light condition.

Software

You can switch between different ways of use directly from the bracelet. From the main screen, you can read the time and with a tap, you can also count your steps, measure your pulse and much more. Using the physical button you can access the instant reading of your heart rate and then the fitness menu, where you can activate various activities: running, weights, treadmills, free exercise, elliptical, bike and more. It also comes with a stopwatch, some respiration exercises to combat stress and a quiet wake-up alarm clock that will wake you up with a gentle vibration.

Next, we’ll take a look at the software for your mobile phone, which is available for Android, iOS and Windows 10 Mobile. Launching the app you can see a list of all the data collected. The different graphs are very accurate and, compared to the past, you can get more information out of them, as well as being able to set your own objectives. By simply scrolling sideways from the home tab you can see the data from the previous days. Lastly, you can invite and add friends and compare or “joust” with their data.

Notifications alert you of incoming calls, calendar appointments and one messaging app of your choice between Hangouts, Messages, Messenger, Skype or WhatsApp.

Autonomy

The battery provides between 4 and 5 days of life if you use it only for notifications and activity tracking. This goes down to 3 days when you actively workout (the heart rate sensor’s interval goes down from 5 to 1 second and thus consumes much more battery).

Price

The Fitbit Charge 2 is being offered at (Check on Amazon.com), a price in line with what this device offers and what you would expect from Fitbit.

Final Verdict

The Fitbit Charge 2 is basically one of the best fitness trackers whatever your training level. It offers a good number of features, a fantastic app, and a new display, bigger and more practical to use. It’s too bad for the fact that it isn’t waterproof and only one messaging app can send you notifications.