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Smartwatches should be charged at least every two days. And millions of people don’t want a connected watch that will inevitably distract them with applications. The new Fitbit Charge 6 connected bracelet offers an elegant format with battery life requiring only one recharge per week.
With Google’s acquisition of Fitbit, we are seeing more and more cross-integration between the two companies’ products. For example, this year Fitbit’s new device supports Google Music playback controls, Google Maps prompts, and Google Wallet payments.
These features are in addition to all those of Fitbit, including detailed sleep tracking, EDA scans (capture of electrodermal activities to estimate anxiety level), fitness level score, ECG (electrocardiogram) measurements, step tracking and a built-in GPS receiver for outdoor trip tracking.
Corning Gorilla Glass responds perfectly to finger commands (swipes and taps)
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been wearing a silver aluminum Fitbit Charge 6. It is also available in obsidian/black aluminum and coral/champagne gold aluminum for €160.
As for the hardware, Fitbit offers a nice 26 x 21.8mm AMOLED touchscreen color display. It’s made with Corning Gorilla Glass, which looks great and responds perfectly to finger commands (swipes and taps). The aluminum casing surrounds the screen and extends around the rear heart rate sensor, with beautiful curves and an attractive aesthetic. The bracelet is water resistant up to 50 m. So you can wear it 24 hours a day, seven days a week without worrying.
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The heart rate sensor has been significantly improved. Fitbit claims it is 60% more accurate during vigorous activities than older Fitbit devices. The sensor also supports ECG and EDA measurements to detect heart rate irregularities and to monitor stress.
A haptic button instead of a physical button
The Fitbit Charge 6 also lets you share heart rate readings with certain supported gym equipment, including treadmills, rowers, and bikes. Visit this Fitbit support site to see if your equipment is compatible with this feature. Although it’s not listed, my Hydrow rower connected within seconds.
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On the left side of the Charge 6 is a haptic button. On this model, there’s a target area present to help improve your typing accuracy, and it’s better than the lack of a button we saw on the Charge 5. I’m still more of a fan of a button physical, but I understand that for construction and water resistance reasons it is better to use a haptic button.
The Fitbit Charge 6 comes with a silicone band, but there are many other options, including sport bands, Horween leather bands, woven bands, hook and loop bands, and vegan leather bands. The Charge 5 bracelets are compatible with the Charge 6.
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There are no third-party apps available for the Charge 6 bracelet
Navigating the watch’s menus is easy, with swipes and taps providing access to key data and utilities. Google Maps works in conjunction with your connected smartphone’s app, so turns and other key information are displayed on Charge 6 while your phone stays in your bag or pocket. YouTube Music playback controls are also supported for YouTube Premium subscribers, which is convenient during a workout session.
Google Wallet allows you to make payments right from your wrist, but entering the PIN by scrolling up and down one number at a time is a bit tedious. This operation absolutely must be made easier, otherwise I will never use Google Wallet on this bracelet!
Unlike a smartwatch and some other Fitbit devices, there are no third-party apps available for the Charge 6. The main utilities Google, Fitbit and the basic clock are provided on the bracelet. There are almost 30 watch faces to choose from that you can customize according to your preferences.
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Google offers six months of Fitbit Premium service with the purchase of a Charge 6
I tested the Charge 6’s geolocation receiver while running and walking with an Apple Watch Ultra 2 on my other wrist and was very pleased with its accuracy. The Charge 6 supports GPS and GLONASS, while other watches typically support at least five global navigation satellite systems, so it will never be as accurate as specialized GPS sports watches. harsh environments.
Google is offering six months of Fitbit Premium service with the purchase of a Charge 6. Fitbit Premium is required to get today’s fitness score and other advanced features.
Compared to the Charge 5, I am very happy to see the return of floors climbed measurement, improved performance of the heart rate sensor, the side haptic button and Google gadgets (Wallet, Maps and YouTube Music). It’s also $20 cheaper than the launch price of the Charge 5. The Fitbit Charge 6 is much nicer to wear to sleep than my bulkier smartwatches. This experience also leads me to wonder if I really need to have a watch on my wrist all the time.
ZDNET Buying Tips for the Fitbit Charge 6
Although smartwatches are popular and often heavily promoted, having a device on your body that demands your attention may not be the best thing for your mental health.
Google offers the Fitbit Charge 6, a device that collects key health and wellness data in a comfortable format, while minimizing distractions and notifications from third-party apps.
It is very comfortable to sleep with this device on your wrist and the data captured can be used to improve your health and lifestyle.
Source: “ZDNet.com”