Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Health & Fitness Tracker
The Fitbit Charge 5 is a feature-packed advanced health and fitness tracker designed for people who want to monitor their health metrics in real-time while staying active. It offers a wide range of health-focused features, including heart rate tracking, sleep analysis, stress management, and even an ECG (electrocardiogram) app to detect irregular heart rhythms.
The Fitbit Charge 5 is a fitness tracker that can monitor stress, physical readiness, heart health, and overall well-being. It has a color touch-screen display, built-in GPS, and skin temperature tracking. The Charge 5 can track over 20 different workout types, including cycling and yoga, and is water resistant for swimming. It also has a heart rate monitor that uses PurePulse technology to track your current and resting heart rate.
The Charge 5 has a battery life of up to seven days and can receive smartphone notifications for calls, texts, emails, WhatsApp, and Gmail. Here’s a breakdown of its pros and cons, pricing, lifetime, benefits, and where to buy:
- Optimize your workout routine with a Daily Readiness Score that reveals if...
- Get a daily Stress Management Score showing your body’s response to...
- Track your heart health with high & low heart rate notifications and a...
- With the Health Metrics dashboard, track SpO2, heart rate variability, skin...
- See your real-time pace & distance without your phone using built-in GPS...
- Optimize your workout routine with a Daily Readiness Score that reveals if...
- Get a daily Stress Management Score showing your body’s response to...
- With the Health Metrics dashboard, track SpO2, heart rate variability, skin...
- See your real-time pace & distance without your phone using built-in GPS...
- Includes a 6-month Premium membership complete with personalized insights,...
- This Exciting Bundle/Kit Includes: Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Fitness &...
- REDEFINE YOU ROUTINE – Optimize your activity and routine with Daily...
- FIND YOUR CALM – Understand how your body reacts to stress with a daily...
- TRACK TRENDS IN YOUR WELLNESS – See important changes in your wellness...
- LEVEL UP YOUR HEALTH & FITNESS – Transform your insights into impact with...
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- Made to keep up with you, Pixel Buds Pro 2 have up to 30 hours of listening...
- The first Google Tensor chip in an earbud, the Tensor A1 chip powers twice...
- EXCLUSIVE BUNDLE INCLUDES: 1x Fitbit Charge 5, 1x Charging Cable, 1x...
- SLEEP TRACKING & SLEEP STAGES Automatically Tracks How Long You Sleep Each...
- WATER RESISTANT You’re Covered to 50m, So Dance in the Rain if That’s...
- CALL, TEXT AND APP NOTIFICATIONS See Calls, Texts & Smartphone App...
- BUILT-IN GPS See Pace & Distance on Your Wrist — No Phone Needed. Active...
Pros of Fitbit Charge 5
- Advanced Health Features:
- ECG (Electrocardiogram): The Charge 5 is one of the few fitness trackers at this price point that includes an ECG feature. It helps detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm that could indicate a serious health issue.
- Daily Readiness Score: This feature helps you understand whether your body is ready for a workout or if you need more recovery. It combines data from your activity, sleep, and heart rate variability to give you a score.
- Stress Management Tools: With a stress management score, you can monitor how well your body is handling stress throughout the day based on heart rate variability and other metrics. It includes a guided breathing session to help reduce stress levels.
- Sleep Tracking: Provides detailed insights into your sleep stages (light, deep, and REM), and gives you a sleep score based on the quality of your sleep. It also includes a smart wake feature that helps you wake up at the optimal point in your sleep cycle.
- Built-in GPS:
- Unlike previous models of the Fitbit Charge, the Charge 5 comes with built-in GPS, which is perfect for runners, cyclists, and outdoor enthusiasts who want to track their activities without carrying their phone.
- OLED Color Touchscreen:
- The Charge 5 features a bright, easy-to-read AMOLED color touchscreen that provides clear visibility of your stats, even in direct sunlight. The touchscreen is sleek and more vibrant than the grayscale displays of previous Charge models.
- Slim Design:
- The Charge 5 has a sleek, lightweight design, which makes it comfortable to wear all day long and even at night for sleep tracking. It is smaller and more elegant than many other fitness trackers, which is an advantage if you prefer a subtle, non-bulky device.
- Health and Fitness Data Sync:
- Syncs your data with the Fitbit app (available for iOS and Android) to provide an in-depth look at your daily activity, calories burned, sleep, heart rate, steps, and more. It’s an easy-to-use app that keeps track of all your fitness metrics in one place.
- Up to 7-Day Battery Life:
- The Fitbit Charge 5 boasts an impressive battery life of up to 7 days, depending on usage, which is fantastic for a tracker with so many advanced features.
- Water Resistance:
- It’s water-resistant up to 50 meters, meaning you can wear it in the pool, while swimming, or in the shower without any problems.
- Contactless Payments (NFC):
- With Fitbit Pay, you can make contactless payments from your wrist, which is a convenient feature if you want to leave your wallet or phone behind while exercising or on the go.
Cons of Fitbit Charge 5
- No Music Storage or Streaming:
- Unlike some other fitness trackers or smartwatches (like the Fitbit Versa or Apple Watch), the Charge 5 doesn’t have onboard music storage or support for music streaming services like Spotify. You can control music from your phone, but you can’t store music directly on the tracker.
- Limited Third-Party App Support:
- The Charge 5 offers some features like ECG and guided breathing, but it doesn’t have the broad app support that full-featured smartwatches like the Apple Watch or Samsung Galaxy Watch offer.
- Basic Notification Support:
- While you can receive notifications (texts, calls, app alerts) on the Charge 5, it has limited interaction with them compared to a full smartwatch. You can view them, but you can’t respond or interact with them as extensively as on more advanced smartwatches.
- No Speaker or Mic:
- The Charge 5 lacks a built-in speaker or microphone, which means you cannot take calls or use voice assistants (like Siri or Google Assistant) directly on the device. You’ll need to have your phone with you to access these features.
- Limited Customization for Watch Faces:
- The Charge 5 offers limited customization options for the watch face. You can choose from a few pre-set designs, but you don’t have the same level of customization as you might find on some higher-end fitness trackers or smartwatches.
Pricing
The Fitbit Charge 5 is priced in the mid-range for fitness trackers, typically around:
- $129.95 – $149.95 (standard price)
- Fitbit Charge 5 often goes on sale or is bundled with other Fitbit products at a discount, so it’s possible to find it for $120 or less during promotions.
- Premium Membership: Fitbit offers a Premium subscription to unlock extra features like advanced sleep tracking, personalized workouts, and guided programs. The Premium subscription is $9.99/month or $79.99/year.
Lifespan
The lifespan of the Fitbit Charge 5 typically depends on how often you use it and how well you take care of it. Here’s what you can expect:
- Battery Life: The battery typically lasts 4-7 days per charge, but like any rechargeable device, the battery’s performance may degrade over time. After about 2-3 years of use, the battery might need to be replaced, especially if you notice shorter battery life.
- Device Durability: The Fitbit Charge 5 is designed to last for several years, especially if it is taken care of properly. The device is water-resistant and durable, but like any electronic device, it can wear down if exposed to extreme conditions (e.g., rough handling or extreme heat).
Benefits of Fitbit Charge 5
- Holistic Health Tracking:
- Fitbit Charge 5 is excellent for people who want to monitor various aspects of their health. Whether it’s your heart health with ECG and heart rate tracking, stress levels with the Stress Management Score, or sleep quality, the Charge 5 offers in-depth health monitoring.
- Motivation to Stay Active:
- With features like step counting, active zone minutes, and the ability to track workouts (running, biking, yoga, etc.), the Charge 5 helps keep you motivated to stay active and hit fitness goals. The app also provides reminders to move if you’ve been inactive for a while.
- Health Monitoring on the Go:
- The Charge 5 helps you track and manage your health metrics conveniently, allowing you to monitor your well-being without needing to go to a healthcare provider for routine measurements like heart rate or ECG.
- Convenient Smart Features:
- Features like Fitbit Pay, smartphone notifications, and built-in GPS make the Charge 5 a convenient, low-maintenance way to manage both your health and smart needs while on the go.
Where to Buy Fitbit Charge 5
- Amazon:
- Amazon is one of the best places to buy the Fitbit Charge 5 due to its competitive pricing, fast shipping options, and access to customer reviews.
- Fitbit Official Website:
- You can purchase the Charge 5 directly from Fitbit’s website, which sometimes offers exclusive deals or bundles, including a trial of the Fitbit Premium membership.
- Best Buy:
- Best Buy offers the Fitbit Charge 5 both online and in physical stores. They may also have promotional discounts, especially during the holiday season or annual sales.
- Walmart:
- Walmart is another good place to find the Fitbit Charge 5, often at competitive prices, and offers both online ordering and in-store pickup.
- Target:
- Target also carries the Fitbit Charge 5, with options for in-store pickup or delivery.
Is Fitbit Charge 5 Worth Buying?
Yes, the Fitbit Charge 5 is definitely worth buying, especially if you’re looking for a health-focused fitness tracker with advanced features at a reasonable price. Here’s why:
- Advanced Health Monitoring: The Charge 5 offers features that you don’t usually find in fitness trackers in this price range, like ECG (electrocardiogram) for heart health, a stress management score, sleep tracking, and daily readiness scores to guide your workout and recovery. These features are particularly useful for users interested in comprehensive health data.
- Built-in GPS: Unlike its predecessors, the Charge 5 has built-in GPS, which is a major benefit for outdoor runners or cyclists who don’t want to carry their phone.
- Sleek Design & Display: With a color AMOLED display, the Charge 5 is not only functional but stylish. It’s slim, lightweight, and comfortable to wear all day.
- Long Battery Life: It offers up to 7 days of battery life, depending on usage, which is impressive for a device with such advanced features.
- Water Resistance: You can wear it while swimming or in the shower, as it’s water-resistant up to 50 meters.
If you’re mainly interested in tracking your fitness, sleep, heart rate, and overall health, the Charge 5 is a solid choice. However, if you’re looking for more smartwatch-like features (like music storage or the ability to make calls), you might want to consider something like the Fitbit Sense or a smartwatch from Apple or Samsung.
What is the Difference Between Fitbit Charge 5 and 6?
As of my knowledge cutoff in October 2023, Fitbit Charge 6 has not been officially released. The Fitbit Charge 5 is the latest model in the Charge series, so there is no official comparison available yet. However, Fitbit Charge 6 may introduce new features, improved battery life, better sensors, or a more refined design—based on the typical progression of Fitbit models.
Some possible upgrades for a future Fitbit Charge 6 could include:
- Enhanced sensor accuracy (e.g., heart rate, SpO2, and ECG).
- New features for mental health tracking, possibly expanding the stress management tools.
- Improvements in battery performance or faster charging.
- Refined design, such as a larger display or more customizable watch faces.
We’ll have to wait for official announcements from Fitbit for the most accurate and detailed comparison once the Charge 6 is released.
Are There Issues with Fitbit Charge 5?
While the Fitbit Charge 5 is generally well-reviewed, some users have reported a few issues:
- Syncing Problems: A small number of users have experienced issues with syncing the Charge 5 to the Fitbit app. These syncing issues can sometimes be resolved by restarting the device or resetting the Bluetooth connection.
- Battery Life: While the Charge 5 is advertised to last up to 7 days, some users find that battery life degrades over time or is shorter than expected, especially if using the built-in GPS frequently.
- Display Issues: Some users have reported screen brightness issues, where the display is hard to read in direct sunlight, although the AMOLED display is generally praised for its vibrancy. It can be a minor issue for those who do a lot of outdoor activities in bright light.
- Heart Rate Sensor Accuracy: Though the heart rate monitor is generally accurate, a few users have reported it being inconsistent, particularly during high-intensity workouts or exercises involving wrist movement (like weightlifting).
- Lack of Music Storage: If you’re looking for a fitness tracker with music storage or the ability to stream music without a phone, the Charge 5 might fall short. It’s designed as a fitness tracker rather than a full smartwatch, so this can be a disappointment for some users.
How to Change Time on Fitbit Charge 5?
To change the time on your Fitbit Charge 5, follow these steps:
- Sync with the Fitbit App: The time on your Charge 5 automatically adjusts when you sync it with the Fitbit app on your phone. Make sure your Fitbit Charge 5 is synced with the app and that your phone’s time settings are correct.
- Change Time Zone:
- Open the Fitbit app on your phone.
- Tap on the Account icon (your profile picture) in the top left corner.
- Tap on App Settings > Time Zone.
- Select your correct time zone if it’s not already set correctly.
Once the time zone is set correctly in the app, your Fitbit Charge 5 should automatically adjust the time.
- Manually Set Time: There is no option to manually set the time directly on the Charge 5 device itself, as it syncs time from your phone.
Is Fitbit Charge 5 Good for ECG?
Yes, the Fitbit Charge 5 is good for ECG monitoring. The device includes an ECG app that can record your heart’s electrical activity, helping you detect signs of atrial fibrillation (AFib), which is an irregular heart rhythm that may lead to more serious complications if left untreated.
- How the ECG feature works:
- You’ll need to place your fingers on the side sensors of the Charge 5 for about 30 seconds to take an ECG reading.
- The ECG app will show you the result in real-time on the device and send it to the Fitbit app where you can view your results.
- If AFib is detected, Fitbit will recommend that you follow up with a healthcare provider.
While the ECG feature is a helpful tool for detecting AFib, Fitbit Charge 5 is not intended to replace professional medical equipment. It’s a useful tool for monitoring heart health, but you should always consult a doctor if you have concerns about your heart health.
Can Fitbit Charge 5 Make Calls?
No, the Fitbit Charge 5 cannot make or receive calls. It is a fitness tracker, not a full-fledged smartwatch.
However, you can receive call notifications on your Charge 5 when connected to your phone via Bluetooth. You can see who is calling, but you will need your phone to answer the call. The Charge 5 does not have a speaker or microphone, so you can’t make calls directly from the device.
If you’re looking for a fitness device that can make and receive calls, you would need to consider a smartwatch like the Fitbit Sense or other models from Apple or Samsung.
Conclusion
The Fitbit Charge 5 is a solid choice if you’re looking for a health and fitness tracker with a broad range of features like ECG, built-in GPS, stress management, and sleep tracking—all within a sleek and lightweight design.
- Worth buying: Yes, especially if you want to monitor your health (heart rate, sleep, stress) and stay motivated with fitness goals.
- Differences between Charge 5 and 6: As of now, the Charge 6 hasn’t been released, but you can expect possible improvements in sensor technology and features.
- Issues: There are some minor syncing and battery life concerns, but overall, it’s well-regarded.
- ECG: Yes, it’s effective for heart health monitoring, particularly AFib detection.
- Call functionality: No, you can only receive notifications for calls, but cannot make or answer calls directly on the device.
If you’re looking for a tracker that focuses on fitness and health with a variety of features and a long battery life, the Fitbit Charge 5 is an excellent option. However, if you need more smartwatch features like music storage or call-making capabilities, you might want to look into other devices.
Conclusion
The Fitbit Charge 5 is an excellent choice for those looking for a sleek and affordable fitness tracker with advanced health features. It offers solid heart health tracking, sleep analysis, stress management tools, and built-in GPS—features that are typically found in higher-end smartwatches.
While it doesn’t offer the same smartwatch capabilities (e.g., music storage, third-party apps, or full notifications), it excels as a health and fitness tracker for anyone looking to improve their physical and mental well-being. At a competitive price point, it provides a lot of value, making it a solid choice for active individuals who want to take their health monitoring to the next level.
Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Health & Fitness Tracker