Fitbit Charge 6 Review: Revolutionizing Fitness Tracking with Voice Control

Key Takeaways

The Fitbit Charge 6 redefines the concept of a fitness tracker by seamlessly merging health and fitness functionalities with the versatility of a smartwatch. It offers a host of innovative features, including the integration of popular Google applications such as Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music.

The Fitbit Charge 6 offers a versatile and comfortable fitness tracking experience with the added benefits of smartwatch-like features. It boasts excellent battery life, lasting up to 7 days on a single charge, and includes an accurate heart rate sensor and over 40 exercise modes. However, the small screen may hinder certain tasks and the compatibility with music apps is limited.

Many individuals prefer smartwatches due to their versatility compared to standalone fitness trackers. While the Fitbit Charge 6 may not classify as a smartwatch, it aims to offer more than just fitness tracking. Equipped with Google apps, the Charge 6 finds a sweet spot as a middle ground option. Personally, I belong to the group that opts for a smartwatch rather than a fitness tracker. Having separate wearables for everyday use and exercise is not ideal for me. Despite smartwatches slightly lagging in fitness tracking capabilities, I've always gravitated towards them. The concept of a fitness tracker incorporating smartwatch features is highly enticing. The Charge 6 endeavors to be a "Pixel Watch Lite," but can a couple of Google apps suffice?

The Fitbit Charge 6 is a remarkable device that seamlessly combines the functionalities of a fitness tracker and a smartwatch. With an extensive range of health and fitness features, this device is designed to empower you on your wellness journey. Additionally, it offers convenient access to popular Google services like Maps, Wallet, and YouTube Music, further enhancing your daily life.

Heart Rate Monitor with Optical Color Screen

Notification Support included

Battery Life of up to 7 days

Integrations with Google Maps, Google Wallet, YouTube Music

Health sensors for ECG, EDA, SpO2

IP rating of 5 ATM

Dimensions of 1.52" L x 0.73" W x 0.46" H

Available colors in Black, Silver, and Champagne Gold

Priced at $159.99

Mobile payments supported

Workout detection and 40+ exercise modes available

Pros include the excellent battery life and the enhancement provided by Google apps.

Accurate heart rate sensor

Over 40 exercise modes

Cons Screen is small for some tasks

Limited music app compatibility

Amazon Fitbit Best Buy

Hardware and Design

The Fitbit Charge 6 evokes a sense of familiarity when you hear its name. Over the years, the iconic Fitbit design has remained largely unchanged. It boasts a sleek, band-like form of consistent width, complemented by a compact vertical display positioned atop your wrist. However, there are noteworthy nuances that distinguish this device.

The Charge 6 is housed in a sleek matte aluminum casing, available in black, silver, or "Champagne Gold." I opted for the gold model, but if you're expecting a rich golden hue, you'll be disappointed. It actually boasts a subtle and light gold shade. On each of its long sides, there are shiny metal strips specifically designed for ECG and EDA scanning.

Now, let's talk about the sides. The Charge 6 reintroduces a "physical" button on the left side. Unlike a traditional button that clicks, this one provides haptic feedback to let you know when it has been pressed. It serves as a convenient means to wake the screen and return to the home screen while navigating the software. The button performed admirably, and the haptic motor provided a satisfying tactile experience.

Joe Fedewa The screen size is a drawback. It's noticeably small, which is understandable since it's not a smartwatch per se, but it aims to perform various smartwatch functions. The limited screen real estate somewhat limits the user experience. As an example, activating or deactivating the "Water Lock" feature requires a "Firmly double tap," which often necessitates significant force. It would greatly enhance usability if the screen itself matched the size of the display glass.

I was incredibly impressed by the Charge 6's battery life. Despite only charging it to 70% on Monday before I had to head out, it managed to last the entire week. From constant notifications, various activities tracked throughout the week, and sleep tracking every night, the battery was still at 20% when I woke up on Friday morning. While I didn't have the always-on display enabled, I still consider this to be pretty outstanding. In essence, I only needed to charge it once a week.

Joe Fedewa

Lastly, I found the Fitbit Charge 6 to be extremely comfortable to wear. Its low-profile case features smooth corners, and the accompanying silicone band is delightfully soft. I could hardly even feel it on my wrist when I was sleeping. To add to the convenience, Fitbit provides two sizes of bands in the box, which is a thoughtful addition. Overall, the design of the Charge 6 closely aligns with my expectations for a fitness tracker. It essentially becomes imperceptible when it's not in use.

Google Apps and Fitbit OS

The standout feature of the Charge 6 is the integration of Google apps into Fitbit OS. Following Google's acquisition of Fitbit in 2021, this feature was previously only available on the Pixel Watch. On the Charge 6, users can now access three Google apps directly—Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music—and a Google account is required to sign into the Fitbit app.

To access Google Maps and YouTube Music, users simply need to swipe left or right from the clock face. However, to use Google Maps for navigation, the user must initiate it from their phone. The Charge 6 will then display turn-by-turn directions and provide an activity summary for walking or biking directions. This inclusion of Google Maps on a fitness tracker is a welcome addition and performs impressively.

The YouTube Music applet serves as a remote control, providing convenient features such as playing, pausing, skipping, and browsing music. However, it is limited in its integration with the Charge 6, as it is the only music app compatible. This proved to be inconvenient for me as a user of Spotify, as there is no universal media controller for other music playing on my phone. In essence, it's either YouTube Music or nothing when it comes to compatibility.

Google Wallet functions similarly on smartwatches. Adding a card to the Charge 6 was effortless since I already had cards in Google Wallet. To use it, you need to swipe down from the clock face and manually open Wallet as NFC is not always active. Although it can be a little irritating to enter the four-digit pin on a small screen, it's only necessary once every 24 hours.

My first encounter with the Fitbit OS was quite impressive. Despite accidentally knocking the small screen a few times, the OS handles it well. Navigating through swipe gestures and the side button was trouble-free. Everything I wanted to do was just a couple of swipes away, making the interface simple yet not condescending or limiting.

Joe Fedewa

Prior to receiving the device, I had a particular curiosity about notification mirroring. As someone who frequently utilizes this feature on my smartwatch, I was eager to see how it would translate to the Charge 6. Surprisingly, the experience on the Charge 6 is quite similar to that of a smartwatch, albeit slightly limited due to the smaller screen. Every notification from your phone can be effortlessly sent to the Charge 6, accompanied by a selection of quick replies and actions.

The lack of variety in Fitbit's watch faces was disappointing. None of them appealed to me, and customization options were limited, especially when it came to colors. I also found it unfortunate that there was no weather information readily available on the watch. It would have been great to have a dedicated weather app or watch face displaying temperature.

The Fitbit Charge 6 stands out as a fitness tracker that offers smartwatch capabilities. Although I don't heavily rely on apps on my smartwatch, having Google Maps, Wallet, and notification support almost made me consider replacing my smartwatch entirely. The only app I truly missed was Google Assistant. Considering its price at $160, this fitness tracker is certainly a great value.

Health and Fitness

Joe Fedewa

The Charge 6 blurs the line between a smartwatch and a fitness tracker, but its main focus remains on fitness. With a wide range of over 40 exercise modes such as running, biking, walking, HIIT, strength training, and even dancing, it caters to various workout preferences. Besides tracking your steps, distance, calories burned, and Active Zone Minutes during workouts, it also provides insights into your heart rate zones.

In terms of health features, the Charge 6 incorporates an ECG app that can identify irregular heart rhythms and alert you about potential atrial fibrillation. Additionally, it includes an EDA sensor to evaluate your stress levels by measuring your skin's electrical changes. It also monitors your blood oxygen saturation (SpO2), sleep quality, and offers a Daily Readiness Score to gauge your overall well-being.

Starting an activity on the Charge 6 is a breeze with just a few swipes and taps. What impressed me the most was its ability to automatically recognize activities. It accurately detected when I was walking or biking, and it even credited me with a "Sport" session while playing pickleball. However, automatic workouts don't provide as much detailed information compared to manual ones. For instance, GPS tracking is not available for automatic workouts. Nevertheless, this feature has been more dependable on the Charge 6 compared to other devices I've used, making it a reliable backup option.

When it comes to GPS, the accuracy of the location tracking during workouts pleased me. It did take a bit longer to connect than what I'm used to, but the results were more precise compared to my Galaxy Watch 5. This is exactly what I expected from a comprehensive fitness tracker, and it was satisfying to have that confirmed.

The Charge 6 places a significant emphasis on sleep tracking as part of its health and fitness features. However, I often find myself unsure of how to utilize this data. It provides interesting information about sleep phases, sleeping heart rate, and oxygen variation through the heart rate sensor, SpO2 pulse oximeter, and the new machine learning algorithm. However, the sleep scores mainly reflect the duration of my time in bed rather than the quality of my sleep. Sleep tracking doesn't hold much value if you don't analyze it alongside other health and fitness data for correlations. Simply activating "Sleep Mode" before going to bed and examining graphs every morning doesn't yield significant results.

It's worth noting that some of the top health and fitness features are only accessible through Fitbit Premium. Free users won't have access to the extensive sleep-tracking information mentioned earlier. Fitbit Premium is also necessary for personalized workouts, the Daily Readiness Score, and Fitbit's workout library. Although the Charge 6 includes six months of free Premium, it will cost $10 per month after that if you decide to continue using it.

Should You Buy the Fitbit Charge 6?

In terms of functionality, Fitbit's Charge 6 is undeniably focused on fitness tracking. With its user-friendly design and simplicity, this device is ideal for all my activity tracking requirements. It strikes the perfect balance by offering a more streamlined experience compared to multifunctional smartwatches, while still providing comprehensive health and fitness features, making it a trustworthy companion.

Joe Fedewa

In my opinion, the Fitbit Charge 6 ranks among the top fitness trackers available for purchase. Upon reflecting on my review, I struggle to find many downsides. While it is true that the screen is compact, it is important to remember that the Charge 6 is not intended to function as a smartwatch. This realization is a significant advantage in favor of the Charge 6.

At a price of $160, the Charge 6 is positioned as the top model in Fitbit's tracker lineup, costing $60 more than the Inspire 3. Going up to Fitbit's smartwatch range, the Charge 6 is $40 cheaper than the Versa 4 and $140 less than the more advanced Sense 2. However, if you desire Google apps along with your Fitbit experience, your only current alternative is the $350 Pixel Watch 2 or an older Pixel Watch.

For those looking to purchase a Fitbit, this decision becomes rather simple. The Charge 6 offers many health and fitness features found in more expensive Fitbit devices, while also incorporating some notable features from the Pixel Watch. In my honest opinion, most individuals do not require a fully-fledged smartwatch, making the Charge 6 an incredibly suitable choice.

The experience is greatly improved with just a few essential "smartwatch apps" and strong notification support. Also, the need for daily charging is replaced with a weekly charging requirement, which is quite remarkable. This is the first time I truly envision myself utilizing a fitness tracker for more than just tracking fitness. The Charge 6 is nearly on par with a smartwatch, and that is indeed an intelligent choice.

Fitbit Charge 6

The Fitbit Charge 6 is a hybrid of a fitness tracker and a smartwatch, offering a wide range of health and fitness features. It also includes Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music for added convenience and entertainment. With a heart rate monitor, an optical color screen, and notification support, it provides a seamless user experience. The battery life can last up to 7 days, and it integrates with Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music. It also incorporates ECG, EDA, and SpO2 sensors for health monitoring. The device has an IP rating of 5 ATM and measures 1.52" L x 0.73" W x 0.46" H. It is available in Black, Silver, and Champagne Gold, and priced at $159.99. It also supports mobile payments and has workout detection capabilities. With over 40 exercise modes, it caters to different fitness needs. The Fitbit Charge 6 can be purchased from retailers like Amazon, Fitbit, and Best Buy.