Fitbit’s latest Charge-series watch, the Fitbit Charge 3, is here. What are people saying about this one? Is it a worthy successor to the Charge 2? Does it live up to the Fitbit name? And, most importantly, is it worth its $150 price tag? We’ll talk about all that and more in today’s review roundup!
What’s New?
What makes this new Fitbit, well, new? There are a ton of iterative upgrades that we’re happy to see. Firstly, you’ll notice right away that this entry is lighter than the Charge 2. It’s about 20% lighter, to be exact. That’s nothing to scoff at, as you can barely even tell you’re wearing it at this point. That’s a great trait for a fitness tracker, so we’re not complaining. The screen is significantly larger this time, and it’s very easy to read. It’s an OLED screen, and it suffers from very little glare in sunlight.
The side button is actually just a haptic feedback knob now instead of a true, physical button. That allows the Fitbit Charge 3 to be waterproof up to a depth of 50 meters, which is nothing short of excellent.
Features
The standard suite of fitness tracker features are here, of course. Swim tacking is excellent, as you would expect, as is running and other activity trackers. The watch has no built-in GPS, but it can pair with your phone to offer that functionality. Between the lack of GPS and the haptic button, ample space has been freed up within the tracker for battery size. The battery certainly doesn’t disappoint: most estimates clock it as lasting for a week or more. That’s a critical aspect for a fitness tracker!
The Charge 3 even offers a few smartwatch-like features. Fitbit promises that the tracker will sport some full apps soon, including weather and timers. These are apps that make sense for what the Charge 3 is trying to be. That said, don’t expect to see Facebook on it.
Is the Fitbit Charge 3 Worth it?
As for the bottom line, this is an excellent fitness tracker. By bringing pitch-perfect weight and size to the table and offering just enough features, this is a tracker that knows its niche. It doesn’t try to be everything to everyone, and it does its job at a good price.
It’s hard to not recommend this fitness tracker to those who are serious about exercise. If you’re looking for a smartwatch, of course, this isn’t for you. However, if you find yourself in the market for a fitness tracker, this is one of the best out there.
