The Fitbit Cost 6 is getting extra Google-y than ever earlier than. Fitbit’s new $160 health tracker inherits most of the options we cherished concerning the Pixel Watch, like coronary heart fee accuracy and Google app help. But it surely is available in a smaller design, with a battery that may last as long as every week, as an alternative of a day. The Cost 6 is offered for pre-order now and can launch on October 12 in 30 international locations.
The Cost 6 shares an identical look to the Cost 5, with a colour touchscreen in a slim strip design. In my evaluation, I known as the Cost 5 the most effective Fitbit you should purchase, and it gained a CNET Editors’ Alternative award for its elegant integration of well being and health options.
However there is a new component to the Cost 6’s acquainted design: the button. Fitbit listened to consumer suggestions and added a button to the aspect of the tracker for navigation. The Cost 5 solely has a touchscreen, so you will need to swipe and faucet to vary settings. I did not discover navigating the Cost 5 very troublesome, however a brand new button ought to make it simpler.
Google’s first smartwatch relied closely on Fitbit’s health monitoring options and interface. The Cost 6 nonetheless runs Fitbit’s proprietary working system, in contrast to the Pixel Watch, which makes use of Put on OS. But it surely helps Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation, Google Pockets for cellular funds, and YouTube Music for playback management. Be aware that you’re going to nonetheless must have your cellphone with you to get turn-by-turn navigation and music streaming, because the Cost 6 would not have built-in LTE.
Fitbit has additionally improved the Pixel Watch’s coronary heart fee algorithms for the low-power Cost 6 processor and says it now has 60% extra correct readings throughout high-intensity exercises like spinning, HIIT, and rowing.
The Cost 6 has extra fitness center health options
This 12 months, Google-owned Fitbit seems to be firmly positioned because the premier health wearable, evidenced by the inclusion of fitness center gear help within the Cost 6. You can see dwell coronary heart fee information from the Cost 6 on the bikes. And treadmills and rowing machines that help Bluetooth Coronary heart Fee Profile. This contains manufacturers like NordicTrack, Peloton, and Tonal. You will additionally have the ability to see the identical real-time coronary heart fee when linked to some Android and iOS health apps like Peloton.
There are additionally 20 new exercise monitoring modes, together with browsing, skating, CrossFit, and HIIT. This brings the whole variety of exercise varieties the Cost 6 can observe to 40. Lately used exercise modes now seem on the high of the app, which ought to prevent having to scroll to search out your regularly used actions.
Additionally new to the Cost 6 are 4 new watch faces and accessibility options like pinch and zoom. The Cost case is now constructed from 100% recycled aluminum, and the Fitbit app has been fully redesigned.
Just like the Cost 5, the Cost 6 is suitable with Android and iPhone. It shares the next sensors:
- Constructed-in GPS.
- EDA, or electrical exercise, sensor for monitoring stress.
- Oxygen within the blood.
- Pores and skin temperature.
You will want a $10-a-month Fitbit premium subscription to entry further particulars like Day by day Readiness Rating, which takes your sleep and exercise information under consideration and recommends workout routines primarily based on how “prepared” you’re. The Cost 6 comes with a free six-month trial of Fitbit Premium, in addition to a one-month trial of YouTube Music Premium.
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Battery life is alleged to last as long as seven days, but when the Cost 6 is something just like the Cost 5 and you employ the always-on show and GPS, you will in all probability must cost it extra usually. I averaged about two full days of Cost 5 use with heavy use.
For now, the longer term seems unsure for Fitbit’s Versa and Sense watches, because it seems like the corporate is specializing in its health tracker lineup and leaving the smartwatch aspect to the Pixel Watch. This is sensible, as a result of Fitbit’s power has all the time been in its trackers, and the Pixel Watch borrows quite a bit from Fitbit’s ecosystem anyway. We’ll need to see how issues change when Google pronounces the Pixel Watch 2, which is confirmed to launch alongside the Pixel 8 on October 4.