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 liked concerning the Pixel Watch, like coronary heart price accuracy and Google app assist. Nevertheless it is available in a smaller design, with a battery that may last as long as per week, as an alternative of a day. The Cost 6 is out there for pre-order now and can launch on October 12 in 30 international locations.
The Cost 6 shares an analogous look to the Cost 5, with a colour touchscreen in a slim strip design. In my evaluation, I known as the Cost 5 the very best Fitbit you should purchase, and it gained a CNET Editors’ Selection award for its elegant integration of well being and health options.
However there is a new ingredient to the Cost 6’s acquainted design: the button. Fitbit listened to person suggestions and added a button to the facet of the tracker for navigation. The Cost 5 solely has a touchscreen, so you may 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, not like the Pixel Watch, which makes use of Put on OS. Nevertheless it helps Google Maps for turn-by-turn navigation, Google Pockets for cell funds, and YouTube Music for playback management. Notice that you’re going to nonetheless must have your telephone 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 price 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 tools assist within the Cost 6. You can see dwell coronary heart price information from the Cost 6 on the bikes. And treadmills and rowing machines that assist Bluetooth Coronary heart Charge Profile. This consists of manufacturers like NordicTrack, Peloton, and Tonal. You will additionally be capable to see the identical real-time coronary heart price when related 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 entire variety of exercise sorts the Cost 6 can observe to 40. Lately used exercise modes now seem on the prime of the app, which ought to prevent having to scroll to seek out your often 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 comprised of 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 Every day Readiness Rating, which takes your sleep and exercise information under consideration and recommends workout routines based mostly on how “prepared” you might be. 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 claimed to last as long as seven days, but when the Cost 6 is something just like the Cost 5 and you utilize the always-on show and GPS, you may most likely must cost it extra usually. I averaged about two full days of Cost 5 use with heavy use.
For now, the long run appears to be like unsure for Fitbit’s Versa and Sense watches, because it looks like the corporate is specializing in its health tracker lineup and leaving the smartwatch facet to the Pixel Watch. This is smart, as a result of Fitbit’s power has all the time been in its trackers, and the Pixel Watch borrows loads from Fitbit’s ecosystem anyway. We’ll need to see how issues change when Google broadcasts the Pixel Watch 2, which is confirmed to launch alongside the Pixel 8 on October 4.