If you are looking for a new fitness tracker, the Fitbit Charge 4 and the new Fitbit Charge 5 are worth your attention, but which is the best Fitbit for you?
The Charge series has always been focused on training, and
the Fitbit Charge 4 was a real game changer when it arrived in 2020 with its integrated GPS, which allowed users to track runs, walks, and bike rides without carrying their phone. It wasn't the first Fitbit with a GPS chip (the Fitbit Surge and Ionic had theirs, too), but it was by far the thinnest and lightest, making it a great choice for anyone starting out on their run. oh really. It was a difficult act to follow, but e
he Fitbit Charge 5 has even more to offer. Not only does it keep the GPS chip (packaged in a 10% slimmer box), It also has an EDA (electrodermal activity) stress monitor, as seen on the Fitbit Sense, as well as an ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor to check your heart health.
There's also a vibrant new AMOLED display in place of the Charge 4's monochrome display, along with a clever new design that replaces the hard angles of the old watch with softer lines. However,
That doesn't necessarily mean the Charge 5 is the best option for everyone.. Read on for
Find out the main differences between the two fitness trackers and choose the one that's right for you.
Price and release date
- Fitbit Charge 5 currently available for pre-order
- Fitbit Charge 4 often greatly reduced
The Fitbit Charge 4 was released on April 15, 2020, priced at $149.95 / €129.99 / AU$229.95 (same Charge 3 launch price). Nevertheless,
can now be found much cheaper, especially on sales events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday.
The Fitbit Charge 5 is currently available for pre-order, and Fitbit says it plans to start shipping "in the fall," which should mean between September and November 2021. It's priced at $179.95 / €169.99 / AU$269.95, and we're not likely to see any discounts during quite a while yet.
The Fitbit Charge 4 had a plastic casing and was available with a variety of silicone, woven, and leather straps (Image credit: Fitbit) In short, if your budget is tight,
the Charge 4 is the cheapest option and it's unlikely to change anytime soon.
Integrated
- Charge 4 has a plastic case; 5A stainless steel load
- Charge 5 has a more modern and streamlined look
- Additional bands available to purchase separately
Fitbit Charge 4 and Charge 5 are slim devices, with a narrow rectangular casing that sits flush with the band. However, this is where the similarities end.
The Charge 4 has a plastic case with an angular design and a dark color scheme (black, dark blue, and dark purple). The standard edition has a silicone strap with a plastic buckle, and the special edition comes with an additional woven nylon strap with reflective threads embedded in the material.
The Fitbit Charge 5 has a soft Infinity Band strap, making it more comfortable to wear while sleeping and exercising (Image credit: Fitbit)
The Charge 5 has a stainless steel case and is 10% slimmer than the Charge 4. Its lines are softer and smoother (matching those of the Fitbit Versa 3, Sense, Inspire 2, and Luxe) and it comes in three colors: black, moon white, and steel blue. All versions have a silicone Infinity band, which uses a soft buckle and pin instead of a hard buckle, which
it is more comfortable to wear while sleeping.
Additional silicone, fabric and leather straps for both watches are available for purchase separately, but please note that they use different accessories, please
which means you can't use Charge 4 straps with a Charge.5, or vice versa.
Monitor
- Charge 4 has a monochrome display
- Charge 5 has AMOLED color
One of our biggest complaints about the Fitbit Charge 4 is its screen., which can be used perfectly, but does not do justice to the watch.
This is a monochrome OLED touch screen, with a relatively low resolution that limits the amount of training data that can be displayed at once, and makes it difficult to check app notifications, since you can only see a small excerpt of the text.
The Fitbit Charge 5 has a color AMOLED display, with an always-on option so it's easy to see stats at a glance mid-workout (Image credit: Fitbit)
The Fitbit Charge 5's screen is about the same size, but it's AMOLED color, with sharp graphics and animation. It looks a lot like the one on the Fitbit Luxe, in fact it may be the same unit. This is a huge upgrade, bringing the Charge series in line with competing devices like Xiaomi and Amazfit.
watch features
- Both watches show smartphone notifications
- Both are compatible with Fitbit Pay
- Charge 5 does not support Spotify playlists
Neither the Fitbit Charge 4 nor the Charge 5 are full-fledged smartwatches (you'll want the Fitbit Sense or Versa 3 for that), but they still offer a handful of useful features outside of fitness tracking. For example,
both watches can display smartphone notifications and both feature NFC technology for contactless purchases through Fitbit Pay (which could be extremely useful for picking up a water bottle on a hot run. unexpected). Both also have a "smart wake" alarm, which gently vibrates the watch at the optimal time in your sleep cycle, so you wake up refreshed and without disturbing your partner. If you're a Spotify Premium subscriber, you might be surprised to learn that while
Fitbit Charge 4 allows you to control your playlist from your wrist, that feature has been removed for the Charge 5.
Fitness tracking
- Both have GPS on board
- Charge 5 has ECG and EDA sensors
- Charge 5 gives Premium subscribers a readiness score
Fitbit Charge 4 and Charge 5 have a good set of workout tracking modes as well as built-in GPS. This means you'll still be able to keep up with your position and pace during outdoor workouts, even if you opt for the slightly older model. However,
the Charge 5 has a lot more health and fitness tools to offer, including an EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor, as seen on the Fitbit Sense. It uses the conductivity of your skin to assess physiological changes caused by stress. The Fitbit app helps you understand the factors that affect your stress level and take steps to control it.
Another feature taken is an ECG sensor and an app, which allows you to check for signs of atrial fibrillation. This can be an early sign of heart disease, and
Although Charge 5 is not a medical device, if it detects something wrong, you can generate a report using the Fitbit app that you can use and share with your doctor.
Fitbit Charge 5 gives Fitbit Premium subscribers a daily readiness score, with recommendations for workouts or active recovery based on their activity levels, heart rate variability, and sleep patterns (Image credit: Fitbit)
If you're a Fitbit Premium subscriber, Fitbit Charge 5 will also give you a daily fitness score. Each morning, this tells you how energetic and well recovered you are, based on your sleep, recent activity, and your heart rate variability. It also uses this data to suggest activities to try from the Fitbit app's catalog of workouts, meditation sessions, and breathing exercises. For example, if you're well-rested and have plenty of energy, the app might suggest a hard run, but if you're more tired, it might suggest trying active recovery with a gentle yoga session. However, the Readiness Score tool will only be available to Fitbit Premium subscribers, so that additional cost is worth considering in your decision making. Today's best Fitbit Charge 4 deals
