Fitbit Charge vs Fitbit Charge 2 Review: Which Fitbit Is A Better Buy?
Many different Fitbit Charge models have come out and picking one can be hard. Today we will review the Fitbit Charge vs Fitbit Charge 2 to help you decide which is best for you.
Many different Fitbit Charge models have come out and picking one can be hard. Today we will review the Fitbit Charge vs Fitbit Charge 2 to help you decide which is best for you.
Fitbit has been a staple in the activity tracking world since 2008 when it unveiled its first tracker, simply the Fit. The fit was a simple device that could be clipped onto your pants and would track your steps, travel, sleep, and calories burned. Since then the company has come a long way and now offers more than five different devices, all with their own feature sets. Those features more advanced and accurate than the first clip-on device.
No Fitbit line has been more iconic than the Charge line of devices. These simple wristbands with a black and white display have a long battery life, easy to read screen, and are affordable.
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The ’s first charge model.
With a simple design, yet sensor filled body it quickly built up popularity. The Fitbit Charge is capable of tracking your daily steps, exercise, activity, sleep, floors climbed, hourly activity, and the amount of time that you stay stationary.
Fitbit also released the Charge with the ability to display notifications on the small screen of the device. That way you don’t have to take out your phone to see what is going on. Users enjoy the simple and small screen that keeps the device discrete.
Compared to some other options on the market it doesn’t look like you are wearing a sci-fi device on your arm.
The battery life for the original Fitbit Charge averages out to between 7 and 10 days depending on how much you use the screen and whether or not you use the notifications feature.
Stats can be synced wirelessly via Bluetooth to your phone and via a dongle to your PC. It supports Windows and Mac computers and both Android and Apple phones.
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The took the original design and added to it.
One of the great features of the Fitbit Charge 2 is that it can track all of the stats of the Fitbit Charge and more. Now it also features the ability to track heart rate and more accurately track other stats. Heart rate allows for the calories burned to be more accurately tracked as well as sleep to be better tracked.
Appearance wise, the Fitbit Charge 2 is slightly bigger than the previous device with a much bigger screen. Instead of a single line, the screen takes up much of the front of the device. You can now see the time, date, and some states displayed on the front without having to tap a button or the screen.
A very loved feature of the Fitbit Charge 2 is the interchangeable bands. The bands that come with many Fitbits can irritate skin, not feel comfortable, be the wrong size, or have any number of problems.
The Charge 2 was the first Charge to allow you to swap out the bands so you can not only feel comfortable but show off your own style.
For those that want to practice calming techniques, the can guide you through breathing exercises using the heart rate and movement sensors built-in to the device. These can help you to lower your heart rate, relax, and return to inner calm.
Fitbit Charge vs Fitbit Charge 2
When it comes to comparing the Fitbit Charge vs Fitbit Charge 2, the is obviously the newer device. When comparing the two you can tell that it is newer simply by looking at it. That being said, the simple design of the original Fitbit Charge is attractive to many who want a simple display but the device is simple. With the Fitbit Charge you can’t swap out wristbands and the number of stats you can track is slightly less.
The larger screen of the Fitbit Charge 2 allows you to better see the screen during the day and in general. With that better view you can see the time easier as well as the notifications. Introducing a larger screen, Fitbit also gave users the ability to select from different watch faces so that they can see the information that they want to without having to touch a button.
When it comes to battery the is a clear winner. You have the ability to last up to 10 days on a single charge. This is in part due to the fact that the Fitbit Charge 2 tracks your heart rate which can eat at the battery.
Heart rate is a relatively important stat to track if you are looking to truly get a view of your fitness activity. Heart rate allows you to not just see how much activity you did but how intensive it was and how you performed during said activity.
Another major fitness feature is that the Fitbit Charge 2 will partner with your phone to not only track your performance on a run but will use the phone’s GPS to map the run. You can get more information about your running than ever before.
Want to wake up on time without having to wake up your partner? Maybe you don’t like blaring alarms? The Fitbit Charge 2 allows you to set a vibrating alarm that wakes you up peacefully from sleep. You can set the alarm on your phone through the app quickly and then sync the device to ensure that it is set.
The main way to sync your Fitbit Charge 2 is with Windows, Android, and iOS devices. It can sync via the charging cable or via Bluetooth. All of the stats are sent to the Fitbit app. Like with the Fitbit Charge, the stats can be viewed from the website, allowing you to analyze your daily performance.
Fitbit Charge vs Fitbit Charge 2: Which Fitbit Is A Better Buy?
When you look at the Fitbit Charge and the Fitbit Charge 2 there are circumstances under which you might want to buy either one. In most cases we recommend buying the due to the more accurate technology and the expanded features. Especially because of the added ability to track heart rate. Due to the ability to change out wristbands this also makes it a top contender in the fitness tracker world.
On the other hand if you are not interested in tracking heart rate, want a less obvious device, and a longer battery life you may be more interested in the Fitbit Charge. The wins in another category of the Fitbit Charge vs Fitbit Charge 2, it has a lower price point. The Fitbit Charge starts at $89 while the Charge 2 starts at $154.
In the end which device you want comes down to what you are looking to get out of it. In many cases you will find that you get more bang for your buck when it comes to the Fitbit Charge 2. It is the device we would recommend to most users and it outperforms its predecessor in many ways.
