With the Charge, Fitbit delivers another solid product that does a good job tracking your step and sleep activity. But it doesn't advance the category in any notable way, falling short of being a "must-have" upgrade and instead serving as a placeholder until much more capable Fitbit models arrive.
The Fitbit Charge is a wristband model meant to replace the recalled Fitbit Force, and CNET says it definitely "improved the band for the better" with its "comfortable design." PC Advisor likes the "stronger" clasp, which Tom's Guide says no longer feels like "I'm going to amputate my wrist when trying to connect its two sides." But the real elephant in the room is whether the band still causes a serious rash and, while Wareable reported the band was "comfy" and left their wrist "scab free," Yahoo Tech ended up with irritated skin.
Aside from the improved comfort not much has really changed with the Charge. Mashable notes you "still can’t completely submerge" it, though PC Advisor says that it's at least "OK against accidental exposure to water" like splashes and sweat. The app is also still good (but not great), with Tom's Guide calling it "easy to use" but "not the best."
There's a lot more competition in the fitness tracking space now, making the Fitbit Charge a harder sell for those not already invested in the Fitbit ecosystem -- and even for those who are. For just $30 more you can pick up the Fitbit ChargeHR, which offers all of the same features as the Charge plus heart rate tracking, the better to compete in a crowded marketplace.
The Fitbit Charge is a wristband model meant to replace the recalled Fitbit Force, and CNET says it definitely "improved the band for the better" with its "comfortable design." PC Advisor likes the "stronger" clasp, which Tom's Guide says no longer feels like "I'm going to amputate my wrist when trying to connect its two sides." But the real elephant in the room is whether the band still causes a serious rash and, while Wareable reported the band was "comfy" and left their wrist "scab free," Yahoo Tech ended up with irritated skin.
Aside from the improved comfort not much has really changed with the Charge. Mashable notes you "still can’t completely submerge" it, though PC Advisor says that it's at least "OK against accidental exposure to water" like splashes and sweat. The app is also still good (but not great), with Tom's Guide calling it "easy to use" but "not the best."
There's a lot more competition in the fitness tracking space now, making the Fitbit Charge a harder sell for those not already invested in the Fitbit ecosystem -- and even for those who are. For just $30 more you can pick up the Fitbit ChargeHR, which offers all of the same features as the Charge plus heart rate tracking, the better to compete in a crowded marketplace.