Purchasing a fitness tracker has never been more difficult. It might be challenging to sort among the many models available from well-known, reliable manufacturers in order to locate the ideal one. Even I, who reviews smartwatches and tech for NBC Select, find it difficult to decide which to suggest to friends and family. I’ll bombard you with a list of inquiries if you ask for a suggestion. Which phone do you own? Do you anticipate wearing this item every day? To sleep, even? Would you like to use it to send texts? Do you frequently run outside?
Fortunately, I can highly suggest the Fitbit Charge 6 to everyone who has never had a smartwatch before or to people who believe that less is more. It is a compact, user-friendly watch that is less expensive than the majority of its competitors without sacrificing any important features.
Is the Fitbit Charge 6 on sale for Black Friday? | How did I test the Fitbit Charge 6? | What is the best use case for the Fitbit Charge 6? | Why should I trust NBC Select?
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What is the
Fitbit Charge 6
?
Fitbit Charge 6
- Small, light and comfortable
- Long battery life
- Beginner-friendly app
- Cannot turn it off
- Some data needs a subscription
A tiny fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 6 ($159.95) can measure your heart rate, daily steps, distance traveled, exercise, calories burnt, sleep patterns, menstrual health, and other wellness indicators. When connected to a smartphone, it also displays notifications for emails, calls, and texts. It features a vertical touchscreen, a changeable wristband, and is smaller than the majority of fitness trackers available on the market.
The Fitbit Charge 6 is an improvement on the Charge 5 from 2021. The two goods are almost the same from the outside. Released in 2023, the Charge 6 features a new side button on the left that, when pressed, takes you to the home page or, if you’re exercising, provides options to finish your activity. Additionally, the brand claims that its heart rate sensor is more accurate than the Charge 5’s.
There are internal modifications as well. There are 41 exercise modes available (up from 20), including brand-new ones like HIIT and strength training. Controls for YouTube Music, Google Maps navigation, and Google Wallet are also new to the Charge 6. Additionally, some home gym equipment, such as the newest versions from Peloton, Concept 2, Tonal, Nordictrack, and others, can be connected to the Charge 6 via Bluetooth. The device will show your heart rate on the screen after it is connected.
To use the Charge 6, you must have a Google account. The app will guide you through the process of moving your Fitbit data into a Google account if you already have one.
26mm touchscreen display; 15g weight (without band); 7-day battery life; built-in GPS; sleep monitoring (excluding naps); heart-rate monitor with EKG; water resistance (up to 50 meters); and optimal compatibility with the Fitbit app (iPhone or Android)
Is the Fitbit Charge 6 on sale for Black Friday?
Indeed, there is a Black Friday deal on the Fitbit Charge 6. It is currently at its lowest price ever, 38% off. This is a temporary holiday offer that will probably expire on Cyber Monday or earlier.
How I tried the Fitbit Charge 6
For the past three weeks, as well as intermittently since its 2023 release, I have been wearing the Fitbit Charge 6, which I received from the brand. I only removed it to charge it during the three-week test period, which was often done in the evening after a few days of use. I wore it for both indoor and outdoor activity, mostly running and strength training. I used the Charge 6 to gauge my pace and distance while I was jogging. In order to compare data and statistics between the two devices, I also wore the Apple Watch SE on my other wrist.
Editor of NBC Select updatesFor almost three weeks, Mili Godio also used the Charge 6 to track her walks and gym sessions (Fitbit also offered her a model to try). She intermittently used a different Fitbit device, the Charge 5, for the previous two years before attempting the Charge 6.
Our experience with the Fitbit Charge 6
One of the greatest fitness trackers for new users, people who wish to increase their level of activity, and those who do not currently possess a wristwatch is the Charge 6. It is easy to use, discrete, comfy, and doesn’t overburden you with information.
What we like
Design that is friendly
The Charge 6 is far less noticeable on my wrist than a device like the Garmin Forerunner 165 ($249) or Apple Watch SE ($249). Unlike other wearables, it doesn’t interfere with my sleep and doesn’t get trapped on long sleeves.
The Charge 6 is one of the few wearables that Godio frequently wears; the majority of the others she has tested are either too large or have too much info for her preferences. After three weeks of continuous use, I have to concur: compared to other data-heavy trackers, the Charge 6’s interface is straightforward and less intimidating. Instead of attempting to divide itself into sections and display as much text as possible, each app occupies the entire screen and never displays too much text at once. Considering the tiny 26-millimeter screen (in contrast to the 40- to 46-millimeter screens seen on most smartwatches), this is a wise decision.
Simple-to-use application
The Fitbit app also has a user-friendly interface.
In my experience, the Fitbit app is structured more like a health app than an exercise program. Other apps, such as Garmin Connect and Apple Fitness, place more emphasis on individual workout data, which can be overwhelming for beginners like Godio, who find graphs with metrics like average power, cadence, and vertical oscillation unhelpful. The home screen displays your steps, active zone minutes, mileage, calories burned, and sleep score.
Life of the battery
The Charge 6’s battery lasts a long time. In comparison to entry-level smartwatches like the Apple Watch SE ($249) and Google Pixel Watch 2 ($349), I was able to use it for an average of five days before needing to charge it.
However, when it is in the always-on display mode, its battery life drastically decreases. In my experience, this feature reduces power life to roughly a day, thus I mostly left it off even though it’s handy for checking the time regularly.
Potential drawbacks to keep in mind
It cannot be turned off.
The Charge 6’s inability to be turned off, in contrast to all the other fitness trackers I’ve tried, can deplete battery life. However, after ten minutes of inactivity, it switches to power-saving mode.
Despite its name, charging the Charge 6 is also not very convenient. In my experience, the provided USB-A charging cable is around 20.5 inches long, which is shorter than other brands’ cables, and it has weaker magnets that frequently pop out of position when compared to something like the charging puck on the Apple Watch SE. Additionally, it is proprietary, thus a wireless charger cannot be used with it.
To view some data, you must have a Fitbit subscription.
The only way to access your daily readiness score, sleep profile, sleep information, and stress management information is to be a Fitbit Premium user, which costs $10 per month. This is a little annoying, but there are rivals that provide a lot of sleep and preparedness information without charging extra, such as the Apple Watch SE ($249) and the Garmin Forerunner 165 ($249). $10 a month quickly adds up, and people I know keep their wearables for at least three years.
A longer list of tracking capabilities that are exclusive to subscribers may be found here.
Not ideal for real-time exercise data
The Charge 6’s small screen and approachable design make it unsuitable for users who wish to read a lot of statistics while working out.
My Apple Watch SE can quickly display five customisable data fields while I’m running. Mine is configured to display my heart rate, rolling mile pace, average mile pace, miles finished, and workout duration.
However, the Charge 6 just displays the time right now, how long I’ve been working out, and one important parameter in the middle. You can tap the screen to cycle through different metrics in the key center spot, but I do not want to tap my wrist incessantly while running I prefer to know everything at a glance.
I don t think Fitbit should change this the screen is too small to show a ton of data at once. This is just another example of how the Charge 6 is better for beginners than data fiends like me.
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Who is the Fitbit Charge 6 best for?
The accessible design and small screen of the Charge 6 makes it a great fit for people who want something slim and casual to wear. Its simple interface is an option for beginners, but anyone planning their next half-marathonmight be better off with a larger smartwatch.
Why trust NBC Select?
Harry Rabinowitzis a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including guides to fitness tracking devices,running shoesandworkout earbuds.
Mili Godiois an updates editor at NBC Select who covers a wide range of topics across skin care, wellness and pet care, including guides toscar treatments,dog food brands, andsunscreen for sensitive skin.
Rabinowitz and Godio tried the Fitbit Charge 6 for three weeks after the brand sent them each a model to try out. Rabinowitz tracked his exercise, sleep and everyday metrics, and compared them to other wearables at a similar price point.
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