The Fitbit Charge 5 and the Fitbit Luxe are two of the best Fitbits you can buy today. A step up from the Inspire range, they're perfect for someone who doesn't want a big smartwatch, but is looking for something a little more minimalist and elegant. If you're trying to decide between the Charge 5 and the Luxury, we're here to help you make the right decision.
In the end, it all comes down to your priorities. Looking for a slim, stylish Fitbit that you can wear every day, with any outfit, and help you adopt healthier habits? If so, the Fitbit Luxe is probably the right device for you.
Alternatively, if you're looking for something to track your workouts (be it running, cycling or hitting the gym), the Fitbit Charge 5 is likely the one to go for. It's also a great option if you're trying to manage your stress levels or manage your heart health. However, it is also more expensive than the Luxe thanks to its additional features.
Those aren't all the differences, so read on to find out everything you need to know about the Charge 5 and Luxury.
Filter: 19mm AMOLED
Battery: Autonomy of 5 days
The first one is free: 6 months
electrocardiogram app: No
GPS: No
Fitbit Luxe comes with some of Fitbit's top wellness features, including sleep tracking, continuous heart rate monitoring, numerous training profiles, and daily fitness score. It doesn't last as long as the Charge 5, though, and it doesn't have GPS.
For
- Sleek and attractive design
- Bright and sharp AMOLED screen
- Impressive heart rate monitoring
Versus
- Small screen limits visible data
- Fitbit Premium required for full experience
- SpO2 monitor not yet activated
Filter: 21,9mm AMOLED
Battery: Battery life of more than 6 days.
The first one is free: 6 months
electrocardiogram app: Yes
GPS: Yes
Slightly larger and more expensive than the Luxe, the Fitbit Charge 5 makes up for its higher price with a few extra features, like built-in GPS for leaving your phone at home during runs, an ECG app to monitor your heart more effectively, and a higher battery time.
For
- GPS on board
- Excellent heart rate monitoring
- Clean and simple interface
- Contactless payments
Versus
- no music control
- Limited on-screen training data
- Missing some features at launch
Price and release date
- Fitbit Charge 5 is more expensive
- Fitbit Luxe is cheaper, with fewer features
The Fitbit Luxe launched in July 2021, priced at $149,95 / £129,99 / AU$199,95. Since then, it has been reduced to €109,95 / €109,99 / AU €199,95.
The Fitbit Charge 5 launched in September 2021, priced at $179,95 / £169,99 / AU$269,95. Now it's €149.95 / €129.99 / AU€199.95
In short, if you're on a tight budget, the Luxe is the most affordable option. Not really much going on now though, both have dropped in price.
Design and display
Integrated
- Both have a stainless steel case.
- Both are available with a silicone strap.
- Luxe can also be purchased with a stainless steel bracelet
The Fitbit Luxe is the sleeker of the two devices thanks to its slimmer design and optional attached stainless steel strap, but the Charge 5 is also an attractive fitness tracker.
Both the Fitbit Charge 5 and Luxe have a sleek stainless steel case, with a soft silicone Infinity Band as standard, and are available in Lunar White with a soft gold stainless steel case or black with a steel case. stainless with graphite The Luxe also comes in Orchid Pink with a platinum stainless steel case, and the Charge 5 comes in Steel Blue with a platinum stainless steel case.
There's a special edition Fitbit Luxe with a soft gold-tone stainless steel link band from jewelry designer Gorjana.
If you want something completely different, Fitbit also sells additional straps for both watches, including metal. leather patterns, woven fabric and perforated silicone.
Monitor
- They both have an AMOLED screen
- Adjustable brightness or "always on"
Both the Fitbit Charge 5 and Fitbit Luxe have a bright AMOLED display, which can dynamically darken and brighten based on ambient lighting conditions. Both watches also have an "always on" mode, although using it will reduce the battery life of the watch.
(*two*)
Both the Fitbit Charge 5 and Luxe have a color AMOLED screen, with an always-on option to make it easier to see stats at a glance in the middle of a workout (Image credit: Fitbit)The Fitbit Charge 5's screen is bigger, measuring 1,04 inches diagonally compared to 0,74 inches on the Fitbit Luxe. This allows you to see more data at once and read more than one WhatsApp text or notification before you decide to dismiss it or open it on your phone.
Features
Smart watch features
- Both receive smartphone notifications
- Charge 5 supports contactless payments
- no music streaming
Neither the Fitbit Charge 5 nor the Luxe are full-fledged smartwatches (you'll need the Fitbit Versa 3 or Fitbit Sense for that), but they still provide plenty of tools you'll find useful throughout your day.
For example, both will send smartphone notifications to your wrist, so you never miss an incoming call, text, or WhatsApp message. The Charge 5 also offers Fitbit Pay, which lets you make contactless purchases using just your fitness tracker, but it's worth noting that neither device lets you control your phone's music player or stream songs from a service like Spotify.
Both devices also have a Do Not Disturb mode, so alerts won't distract you when you need to focus. They also have a sleep mode, which prevents them from giving alerts during times when you're likely to be sleeping.
It's complemented by smart alarms, which wake you up during light sleep so you don't wake up groggy. The silent alarm function will gently vibrate the watch on your wrist, avoiding disturbing your partner.
fitness tracking
- Both offer training tracking
- Only the Charge 5 has built-in GPS
- Charge 5 also has ECG and EDA sensors
Both watches can measure your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) while you sleep and measure your heart rate throughout the day. However, only the Charge 5 will give you alerts if your heart rate
While the Charge 5 and Luxury can track workouts, only the Charge 5 has built-in GPS, allowing you to track your route, distance, and pace while you run, walk, or bike outdoors. , without the need to connect to your phone. . .
The Fitbit Luxe only has connected GPS, which means it uses your phone's location tracking. This is less accurate than onboard GPS and means you can't keep track of your routes and pace unless you have your phone with you.
The Fitbit Charge 5 also has an EDA (electrodermal activity) sensor, which allows it to detect small changes in skin conductivity caused by adrenal activity, a useful way to estimate stress levels. The more EDA responses that are measured over a period of time, the more likely you are to be stressed.
This is a feature only offered by Fitbit Charge 5 and Fitbit Sense, and it works best if you also have a Fitbit Premium subscription, which gives you access to a variety of guided breathing and meditation sessions that can help you relax.
The Charge 5 also has an ECG (electrocardiogram) sensor, though it wasn't enabled at launch. We will test it once unlocked and update this article accordingly.
The Charge 5 can send you personalized health and wellness reminders for things like drinking more water or finding time to exercise, and if you're a Fitbit Premium subscriber, the Fitbit Luxe and Fitbit Charge 5 will soon give you a daily fitness score. also.
Each morning, it tells you how energetic and recovered you are, based on your sleep, recent activity, and heart rate variability. It also uses this data to suggest activities for you to try from the Fitbit app's catalog of workouts, meditations, 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 it's worth factoring that additional cost into your decision-making.
This feature was not available at the time of writing, but we will test it soon.
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