Fitbit Devices Compared: 2023 Fitness Trackers and Smartwatches

The best Fitbit smartwatches and fitness trackers compared

The terms “fitness tracker” and Fitbit have been synonymous for a long time. Such was the importance of the US company’s products in this market segment. Models like the Fitbit One were still worn on the body at that time, but they still contributed to Fitbit being the market leader in the field of wearables in 2016. Six years later, Fitbit’s range has expanded considerably.

In our major Fitbit comparison, we present you with a market overview of all models that Fitbit offers in 2022. If we have reviewed the corresponding model which we linked in our detailed article. We assess all the other models based on our expert opinion from many years of fitness tracking, smart band tracking, and more. So here goes nothing!

Jump to:

1. Buying advice: which Fitbit is best for me?
   1. Smartwatch or fitness tracker?
   2. Fitbit and its premium subscription
   3. Is it still worth buying older models?
2. The best Fitbit smartwatches
   1. Fitbit Sense 2: top model in all respects
   2. Fitbit Versa 4: budget smartwatch alternative
3. The best Fitbit trackers
   1. Top model: Fitbit Charge 5
   2. All-rounder: Fitbit Luxe
   3. For the inspired: Fitbit Inspire 3
   4. For kids: Fitbit Ace 3
4. Other accessories & scales

Buying advice: Which Fitbit is the best for me?

Smartwatch or fitness tracker?

At the beginning of your Fitbit search, the inevitable question arises: do you prefer a smartwatch or a fitness tracker? While many manufacturers blur the lines, with Fitbit you can (still) familiarize yourself quite well by the design. The Sense and Versa smartwatches are square, while Fitbit’s fitness trackers are all rather elongated. At the same time, the range of functions differs.

For example, Fitbit’s smartwatches allow you to use the integrated speakers and microphones to handle phone calls. Unfortunately, there are no models with an LTE module for independent reception. In terms of fitness trackers, the Charge 5 now bridges the gap with the smartwatch in terms of functionality. However, we will look at the exact differences later.

Fitbit and its premium subscription

A major drawback that concerns Fitbit: Some functions are only available with a premium subscription. These mainly include mindfulness features like the daily readiness score, sleep monitoring tools, and the stress function. With a premium subscription, you also get detailed data displayed in the app and can be further motivated through games and competitions.

Regardless of your Fitbit model, Fitbit Premium costs either $9.99 a month or $79.99 a year. For the annual subscription, the monthly cost can be broken down to approximately $6.60. In our reviews, we strongly criticized Fitbit’s Premium option, since a high cost would be associated with the recommended retail price after several years of use. Whether you are willing to pay another $240 to activate all of its functions after three years, is of course up to you.

Is it still worth buying older models?

You can sometimes find offers for older Fitbit models online. You should make sure that the respective model is still supported by software updates. The easiest way to do this is to contact Fitbit support. If the update warranty is still there, there are no arguments against older Fitbits apart from the lesser amount of functions!

The best Fitbit smartwatches

Fitbit Sense 2: top model in all respects

As the successor to the Sense, Fitbit released the Sense 2 in the summer of 2022. The most relevant innovation for everyday use is probably the new button, which is now no longer capacitive. Instead, you have to press down a “real” button and are thus a bit better protected against incorrect inputs during sports. We were able to try out the Sense 2 at the IFA 2022 in Berlin, where the button cut a good figure. More info can be found in our hands-on on the Fitbit Sense 2.

Apart from that, not much has changed with the Sense 2. You’re still buying a fancy smartwatch that now has some new features with features like step-by-step navigation and Google Wallet. Unfortunately, Fitbit still hasn’t gotten around to offering multiple case sizes, and Fitbit Premium is still a big vice for buyers: inside the Sense 2. If you want more information about the Sense series, be sure to read Stefan’s long-term review of the Fitbit Sense.

Fitbit Versa 4: Budget smartwatch alternative

The fourth generation of the Fitbit Versa 4 was released in September 2021. According to the MSRP, the compact smartwatch costs $229.95 and comes with a physical button.  The capacitive button of the Versa 3 caused great dissatisfaction in its review with not only us at nextpit, but many other users. Therefore, the button on the Versa 4 is definitely a very welcome innovation.

The Versa 4 tracks your workouts via a heart rate monitor, a pulse oximeter, and an accelerometer. However, you have to make do without the built-in ECG and the stress measurement using the cEDA sensor of the Fitbit Sense 2.

As with all new Versa models, you can listen to music without a smartphone, accept calls on the go, and answer messages. Once again, there is a high-quality display with always-on function, compatibility with Fitbit Pay, and numerous watch faces to try out. Personal impressions from everyday sporting life with the smartwatch can be found in our detailed review of the Fitbit Versa 4 on NextPIt.

The best Fitbit trackers

Top model: Fitbit Charge 5

What the Sense is to Fitbit’s smartwatches, the Charge series is to fitness trackers. The Charge 5 is similar to the most expensive Fitbit model and is abundant in features. Thus, there is an integrated ECG, the EDA scan function for stress measurement, integrated GPS, a long battery life of seven days, and Fitbit Pay compatibility.

The differences lie mainly in the design and the smart functions. Although you can receive and answer notifications, you can only accept calls via the fitness tracker and make them via your smartphone. If you are interested in the Fitbit Charge 5, I would recommend reading Stefan’s review of the Charge 5 from last year. By the way, you will have to pay $129.95.

Newest Charge model

The Fitbit Charge 6 is the latest Google fitness tracker. It seems that they have listened to the criticism from Charge 5 customers and are bringing back the sorely missed hardware button. In addition to the almost 20 fitness workouts gained, the Charge 6 has also received a new heart rate sensor. According to the company, this should now be 60% more accurate than its predecessor. Our test will show to what extent we can trust the statement.

Furthermore, the Charge 6 has important health tools such as an electrocardiogram (ECG) and a skin temperature sensor, which is also immensely important for tracking female menstruation. A topic that Camila has dealt with in connection with the Apple Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch. In any case, the upcoming test seems to be very exciting.

All-rounder: Fitbit Luxe

The Fitbit Luxe has by far the best name. Please scroll up and check the author’s name! With a recommended retail price of $129.95, it is a bit more price-conscious than the Charge and is often recommended to female users in buyer’s guides due to the smaller case and changeable wristbands. Functionally, however, the model is more comparable to the Fitbit Versa 2.

This means you receive heart rate monitoring, blood oxygen saturation monitoring, and a battery life of up to five days. However, you will have to live without integrated GPS, which can be annoying when jogging, since you always have to carry your smartphone with you. You can read about all the features of the Fitbit Luxe here.

Fitbit Inspire 3: Pretty tracker for the fashion-conscious

In addition to new versions of its smartwatches, Fitbit also introduced a new fitness tracker with the Inspire 3 in the summer of 2022. The small gadget is aimed at particularly fashion-conscious users with numerous different wristbands. In our nextpit test of the Inspire 3, however, we found some drawbacks that you should consider when buying.

While the new OLED display is convincing and the battery life is sufficient for seamless tracking of your daily life, you have to do without GPS, NFC, Quick-Charging, and music control. Considering the MSRP of just under $100, these are drawbacks that you do not have to accept with other manufacturers. In addition, you have to buy the Fitbit Premium for the full range of features.

For kids: Fitbit Ace 3

The Fitbit Ace 3 is a $69.95 fitness tracker for children, marking your entry into 2023 with this fun-looking device. It is visually and size-wise suitable for children’s wrists and shines with a solid battery life of eight days despite its mini case. However, you should not expect too much in terms of tracking ability.

As its highlights, Fitbit introduced a “Yellow Minions Special Edition Wristband” in one size on its homepage. However, a closer look reveals that the heart rate sensors are installed, but cannot be activated. So it’s up to the accelerometer to log your kids’ activities. Again, you can read more about the model on Fitbit’s homepage.

Other accessories & scales

When it comes to accessories, I’m afraid I have some bad news for you: there is no Minion wristband for adults, not even in the “rogue black” color variant. Instead, you can look forward to a wide variety of straps. You can choose between fabric, leather, silicone, and unfortunately, only for the Luxe model – metal. The price of the bands ranges between $24.95 to 99.95.

Check out the Fitbit store on Amazon*

If you have lost the included charging cable, you can also get a replacement in the Fitbit online store. The Aria Air, Fitbit’s own smart body scale, is also an interesting addition. It has a $49.95 price tag and allows you to synchronize BMI data and progress directly into the Fitbit app. It syncs via Bluetooth and families don’t have to buy multiple models thanks to the presence of multi-user support.

If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably still looking for a suitable companion for your wrist. In this case, you can find the best smartwatches in the our comprehensive article, and nextpit also has an overview of the best fitness trackers from numerous brands.

How did you like this overview and which model do you wear on your wrist? Let us know in the comments!

Note: This article was updated on October 02, 2023. Existing comments were retained.