Fitbit Premium is an upgraded version of the basic Fitbit OS app that you can purchase within the app. It gives more in-depth insight on your body so you can take advantage of Premium's health and fitness tools like Daily Readiness Scores, advanced sleep and stress insights, and a 90-day view of your Health Metrics dashboard. Certain features on different Fitbit wearables require a Premium membership for access. Be sure to read the fine print before purchasing, so you know what those features are in advance.

Some wearables like Fitbit Sense come with a six month trial of Fitbit Premium (for new members only), while others do not. Keep in mind that you don't need a Fitbit Premium membership to utilize your Fitbit; it's an additional service to provide deeper, more personalized insight to the health and fitness data collected by your wearable. The basic Fitbit OS app is free.

On top of Daily Readiness Scores, advanced stress and sleep insights, and a 90-day view of your Health Metrics Dashboard, Fitbit Premium grants subscribers access to even more pre-loaded workouts and mindfulness sessions (200+), as well as blood glucose trends, and advanced skin temperature details (Sense only). If you own the Sense and subscribe to Premium, you'll get a deeper look at your sleeping skin temperature variation with a minute-by-minute breakdown.

Additionally, members can access Premium challenges that make reaching fitness goals more fun, Stress Management Score breakdowns, and a Wellness Report. A Wellness Report is a downloadable PDF summary of your activity, sleep, heart rate, weight, and menstrual health stats fo the past month, plus your annual trends.

If you're someone who loves in-depth looks at your stats as well as personalized guidance, Fitbit Premium is for you. If you just want the basics when it comes to health and fitness tracking, the free Fitbit OS app should serve you just fine. It's not that expensive to upgrade to a month of Premium for $9.99. You can always test it out and cancel if it's not your thing.

To get the most out of your Fitbit, you want to wear it as much as possible. This means all day, all night while you sleep, and through every workout. Every Fitbit purchase comes with both a small and large band. There are no XL bands for the most recent Fitbit models, so make sure your Fitbit will fit comfortably by measuring your wrist before buying.

Why do you need to measure your wrist before buying a Fitbit?

Fitbit bands come in two standard sizes, small and large. An extra-large band size used to be available for past models, but is no longer available for the current Fitbit lineup. It's a little strange that there's no medium or regular size. Does that mean your normal-sized wrist is actually a large? How small is small? How large is large?

Fortunately, Fitbit breaks down wrist sizes based on their circumferences (the distance around the outside of your wrist) and ties those with the different product sizes. This makes it easy to buy a Fitbit and know that it will fit your wrist properly, even if you can't try it on.

How do you measure your wrist?

It's easy to get an accurate wrist measurement so you can ensure the Fitbit you choose will fit properly.

If you have a printer, you can click on the Fitbit model below to download individual sizing tools customized for the device you're interested in. Simply print, cut it out, and use it to see which size fits your wrist best. The circumference of each band size for the individual model is also listed below.

If you do not have a printer, don't worry. Find a piece of string, wrap it around your wrist about two fingers below your wrist bone. Once you've done that, measure how long the piece of string is. Once you have that information, you're ready to match your wrist size with a Fitbit band size.

Which Fitbit size matches your wrist size?

All current Fitbit models come with both small and large band sizes. These band sizes accommodate most wrists, and each Fitbit band is fully adjustable. Make sure your band isn't too tight; wear the band loosely enough so that it can move back and forth on your wrist.

To get a better fit during exercise, try moving the band higher on your wrist (2-3 finger-widths above your wrist bone). You want it to be secure, but not too tight. Fitbit heart rate sensors work best when they maintain contact with your skin. Lower the band on your wrist and loosen it after workouts.

Try this on for size

Your Fitbit needs to be comfortable to wear. Otherwise, you won't enjoy using it. Using these tips will ensure you pick the right Fitbit size for your wrist. After your Fitbit has been fitted, you're ready to start working towards your health and fitness goals!

Our top equipment picks

As a team that works remotely, we understand the necessity behind getting to the gym, and we've tested all the fitness tech that we can find to figure out the best Fitbit for kids. Finding a fitness tracker that works for your little one is a great way to introduce a healthy, active lifestyle into your kids' lives. Our favorite kiddie Fitbit is the Fitbit Ace 3. It's tailor-made for kids aged six and up.

Best overall: Fitbit Ace 3

The latest kiddie fitness tracker from Fitbit is the Fitbit Ace 3. It improves upon its predecessor with longer battery life and more customization options. The Fitbit Ace 3 has motivating challenges to get your kiddo moving. There are virtual badges and tons of customizable clock faces. Made for swimming, the Fitbit Ace 3 is water-resistant up to 50 meters. Not only does the Fitbit Ace 3 track fitness, but it also tracks sleep, an important component for overall health. It also provides sleep reminders and a silent alarm.

Kids can challenge friends and family members to step competitions in the Fitbit app and cheer them on as well. The app has parental controls and a kid view. If your child owns a smartphone, they will get notifications right on the Fitbit Ace 3.

Eight-day battery life means that you could theoretically go on a week-long vacation and not even have to charge your child's Fitbit Ace 3. It comes in three different color options: Cosmic Blue/Astro Green, Black/Sport Red, and Special Edition/Minions Yellow. The special Minions edition even has its own clock face. The silicone band is comfortable, durable, and secure, so your child can easily wear it around the clock. You can buy more than one band and swap them out for different looks.

Fitbit's Ace 3 is motivating for the younger set. Kids will love the look and the fun interactions.

Still great: Fitbit Ace 2

The Fitbit Ace 2 is a great Fitbit for kids because Fitbit has geared it toward them specifically. It has an excellent feature set, comes with a durable band, and is relatively inexpensive.

The Fitbit Ace 2 is for parents of children aged six and older who want to buy their child a fitness tracker. It may be overly complicated for anyone younger, and they may not appreciate its benefits.

The Fitbit Ace 2 may be for kids, but that doesn't mean it's a simple plaything. It boasts practical features that its Fitbit counterparts have, offering your child a meaningful foray into tracking their fitness progress. It tracks steps and active minutes during other exercises. Plus, it monitors sleep so that your kid can learn not only good exercise habits but also great sleep habits as well.

To add a spark of fun and some friendly competition, your child will earn badges for achieving milestones. Additionally, they'll receive daily celebration messages for reaching goals. Got a kid that likes to lay on the couch all weekend? Reminder to Move will encourage your child to stay active throughout the day with friendly reminders.

With its 5-day, rechargeable battery, your kid won't have to put down their Ace 2 very often. Also, since it's shower-proof, they can wear it all day and night. There are 10 clock faces to choose from and two band colors, so your child can add their own sense of style, and the band size is adjustable for little wrists. You can buy more Fitbit Ace 2 bands and swap them out for different looks.

If your child is under 13, you'll create a Family Fitbit account, which offers two views — one for you and one for your kid. You can view all of your child's progress, and your child can access their account through Fitbit's secure "Kid View," which shows them their progress, badges, and more. Kids can also go toe-to-toe with friendly step challenges to win virtual trophies with their friends.

Fitbit's Ace 2 tracker is made kid-friendly with the same iconic design as Fitbit Alta, but with animations and more, all geared toward children.

For older kids: Fitbit Inspire 2

The Fitbit Inspire 2 has a slightly higher price than the kid-friendly Fitbit Ace 2 and Fitbit Ace 3. Of course, it's not strictly for kids, so it doesn't have that "kiddie" look. It's simpler-looking and slimmer. This makes it great for older kids and teens. The Fitbit Inspire is fully water-resistant, so they can certainly take it to swimming lessons or swim team. It tracks steps, distance, calories burned, and much more, and it has up to a 10-day battery life. It even has female health tracking, which is helpful for tweens and teens who need to track periods.

For young people with a smartphone, the Inspire 2 has text, calendar, and smartphone app alerts. It even has guided breathing sessions for stressed-out kids. The Fitbit's sleep tracking can help your child form good sleep habits from a young age. Choose from three different colors: Black, Lunar White, and Desert Rose. The band is removable, so your child can personalize the look with different bands.

This is an adult Fitbit at a reasonable price point, perfect for tweens and teens who don't want a "kiddie" fitness tracker.

Bottom line

The Fitbit Ace 3 has the features your child needs, and the Fitbit lineup is easily the best around when it comes to fitness trackers. The price tag may be a big ask, but it's an investment in your child's fitness habits which will hopefully last a lifetime. Thanks to its hardy build, the tracker itself should last years.

All devices in the Fitbit family can track steps, but if you're a serious runner, you might be looking for a little bit of detail. With so many Fitbit models, each with slight variations on their available features, it can be tough to figure out the best Fitbit for runners. We've done the research, and the Fitbit Ionic is truly the best overall — and not just because of the higher price tag. See our rundown of the Ionic below, as well as Fitbit's other fitness trackers for the avid runner.

Best overall: Fitbit Ionic

There is a reason that the Fitbit Ionic costs a bit more than other Fitbit models. This smartwatch comes with a gang of features that will make any runner's life easier. First of all, built-in GPS is a huge bonus, so you can check your route and analyze where and when your performance was best during any run. Even better, it doesn't need a smartphone nearby to use the GPS or music features.

The Ionic can store music as well as apps, any of which will function independently of your smartphone. You can also use it to track heart rate, running pace, calories burned, elevation, and individual lap times. This is the most complete solution on the Fitbit lineup, but they offer other options as well.

With built-in GPS and in-depth analytics for runners, this smartwatch is the most complete solution in the Fitbit lineup.

Best value: Fitbit Inspire 2

If you just want a simple heart rate monitor and distance tracker, the Fitbit Inspire 2 is an excellent affordable choice. This is a tracker, not a smartwatch, so it doesn't come with all the apps and functionality of a smartwatch, but it's a great tool to track fitness and running goals.

You can use the Inspire 2 during a run to watch your heart rate and aerobic fitness, as well as steps traveled. When used in conjunction with a smartphone, this tracker can also provide basic GPS and distance information. Also, it tracks sleep, women's health, and overall activity.

A simple solution, the Inspire 2 is great for tracking heart rate and distance during your runs. It's also very affordable!

Best-looking Fitbit: Fitbit Versa 2

If you love a sleek-looking smartwatch with fun color options, then you may prefer a Fitbit Versa 2 over the Ionic. The Versa comes in several fun colors (such as this lovely shade of pink!), and it packs in quite a few useful features as well. When used in conjunction with a smartphone, the Versa will give you reliable GPS guidance, distance and route info, as well as music streaming functionality.

The only downside here is that if you want to do a marathon without carrying your phone on you, a lot of these Fitbit Versa features will not be available without it. If you have no problem keeping both the watch and the phone on hand, however, this is a great all-around running solution.

This lovely smartwatch comes in several eye-catching colors and provides great running features when used with a smartphone.

Best tracker: Fitbit Charge 4

Here's a good in-between option if you'd like a fitness tracker with little more functionality, but you're not ready to shell out for a smartwatch. The Fitbit Charge 4 provides a heart rate monitor and distance tracking like the Inspire HR, but it also gives you more in-depth stats about pace and speed.

This tracker is great for monitoring other types of exercise too, like stair-climbing and swimming. It will provide you with insights into your sleep habits and activities, and you can pair it with your smartphone for GPS functionality as well.

For in-depth fitness tracking and analytics, there's no tracker as complete as the Charge 4. It's the best you'll get short of a smartwatch.

Bottom line

So you see, there's a lot of options for the best Fitbit for runners. Having a good idea of your running goals can help you decide which Fitbit features are most important. Without a doubt, the Fitbit Ionic is the most complete option available, with in-depth running analytics, built-in GPS and music, as well as full smartwatch functionality. Although it is the most expensive Fitbit, we think you get what you pay for, and this watch is worth the price.

Regardless of which Fitbit you choose, you'll be well on your way to improving your fitness and exceeding those running goals. Consider what your needs and goals are before making a decision. By choosing the right device, you can have more fun with your runs as you watch your fitness progress improve!

Fitbit has been a leading giant in the fitness tracking industry for quite some time and offers a variety of products that track every part of your day. We believe that every step makes a big difference, and not every Fitbit is built the same. The Fitbit Versa 2 is the best overall because its Fitbit's latest and greatest second-generation smartwatch and features a lighter, sleeker design than the Fitbit Versa 1, a faster processor, longer battery life (5+ days), and a microphone and Amazon Alexa built-in for convenient voice commands and speedy text replies. Smart, feature-heavy, and versatile, the Fitbit Versa 2 is the best of the best when it comes to the Fitbit family.

Best Overall: Fitbit Versa 2

The Fitbit Versa 2 is Fitbit's second-generation hybrid smartwatch and fitness tracker. It has versatility and style with its numerous features and the option to trick it out with designer accessories and a customizable watch face. While customisation is excellent, the Versa 2 wins best in show simply for everything that it does! This model showcases all of Fitbit's health and fitness features, a lighter, sleeker design than the previous generation, a faster processor, an AWOLED screen, longer battery life, and a microphone and Amazon Alexa built-in.

When it comes to working out, the Versa 2 has SmartTrack exercise recognition, movement reminders, swim tracking, 15+ exercise modes, heart rate monitoring, and on-screen workouts. It doesn't stop there. Additionally, it has smart-tech features such as call & text notifications, quick replies, apps, music storage, and Fitbit pay. If that's not enough, the Versa 2 is also swim-proof and has a five-day battery life.

When it comes to cutting edge Smart Tech, the Fitbit Versa 2 features a built-in microphone and Amazon Alexa. You can ask Alexa questions like "what's the temperature?" and "how far have I run?" Just press the button and speak to check for updates, set reminders, get on-screen answers to your questions, and even shop with Amazon Alexa. If you have an Android phone, you can also use the mic to reply to texts and notifications.

On the downside, the Versa does not have a built-in GPS tracking system, though you can track pace and distance through the GPS on your phone. But with all of the other outstanding features, the Versa 2 is a cut above the rest.

This Smartwatch features Amazon Alexa, a light, sleek design, fitness tracking, has a battery life of 5+ days, and more.

Best Value: Fitbit Inspire HR

If you're looking for a great value in a fitness tracker, you can't do much better than the Fitbit Inspire HR. This Fitbit comes in three different colours and has a sleek, lightweight design. You can also change the look with a customizable watch face and additional Fitbit accessories.

The Inspire HR showcases features such as steps and activity tracking, calories burned, sleep and female health-tracking, SmartTrack exercise recognition, hourly activity, 15+ exercise modes, heart rate monitoring, and it's swim-proof. Outside of fitness, it can call and receive text notifications. On the downside, there's no app or music storage, nor can you send quick replies. This model also does not count floors climbed. If you are looking for a good value fitness tracker, the Inspire HR is a good fit.

Track all-day activity and sleep, utilise 24/7 heart rate monitoring, calories burned, and workouts.

Best Features: Fitbit Ionic

This Fitbit has all the bells and whistles. It's a hybrid smartwatch and fitness tracker and pulls out all the stops when it comes to features and versatility. The design features customizable options, including accessories and different clock faces. Unlike the Versa, the Ionic has a built-in GPS tracker so you can track pace and distance without your phone.

It also showcases the best features Fitbit has to offer with its all-encompassing health features: steps & activity, calories, floors climbed, sleep and female health-tracking, and guided breathing sessions. Its exercise features include SmartTrack exercise recognition, movement reminders, swim tracking, 15+ exercise modes, heart rate monitoring, & on-screen workouts. On top of all that, it has smart features like call & text notifications, quick replies, apps, music storage, & Fitbit pay. Plus, it's swim-proof and has a five-day battery life.

On the downside, the Ionic does not come with designer accessories, so it's not the pick for you if you want to trick it out with style. Also, users have reported that the phone to watch synch can be time-consuming, so be sure to set some serious minutes aside for this process.

This Smartwatch, fitness tracker hybrid features a built-in GPS, expert fitness tracking, sleep tracking, a synching range of 30' and more.

Best Tracker: Fitbit Charge 3

The Fitbit Charge 3 takes the cake as Fitbit's best fitness tracker, sans all the Smartwatch apps and music storage. The Charge 3 is the ultimate when it comes to fitness. It tracks steps and activity, calories burned, floors climbed. Additionally, it has sleep and female health-tracking, guided breath sessions, SmartTrack auto-exercise recognition, 15+ exercise modes, and 24/7 heart rate monitoring. Plus, it's swim-proof!

As far as smart features, the Fitbit Charge 3 can call, text, & has quick replies. It utilises Fitbit pay, and you can customise it with Fitbit accessories and customizable clock faces. Unfortunately, it does not have a built-in GPS, though you can track pace and distance with your phone, and there is no app or music storage. Also, contrary to its Smartwatch cousins, it does not feature on-screen workouts.

The ultimate tracker with 15+ exercise modes, expert fitness tracking, 24/7 heart rate, and is swim-proof and water-resistant up to 50m.

Best Kids: Fitbit Ace 2

Fitbit's model specifically designed for children, the Ace 2 lets kids see stats, goal celebrations, parent-approved friends, and call notifications. It gives your kids reminders to move; plus, it records steps, active minutes, and comes with a handy timer and stopwatch. It's brightly coloured and cool to customise. Kids can make it their own by picking a clock face and choosing their avatar cover photos for the app.

On the downside, animated clock faces require more frequent charging, and this tracker only tracks steps, activity, and sleep, so the features are somewhat limited. There is also no GPS.

This Fitbit for kids is colourful, customizable, swim-proof, and will send kids call notifications.

Bottom line

It's easy to get lost in the sea of Fitbit products and accessories, and Fitbit is a brand name that is highly regarded and highly reputable. So, we understand that it's challenging to find the best one. After researching extensively, we feel that the Fitbit Versa 2 is the best Fitbit overall because it has all of the features Fitbit has to offer and Amazon Alexa built-in!

The Versa 2 tracks it all, including steps & activity, calories, floors climbed, swim, sleep, and female health. Plus, it showcases a 24/7 heart rate monitor. This tracker has smart features like Amazon Alexa and Apple Pay, plus the ability to download all of your favourite apps. It has a lighter sleeker design than the Versa 1, five-day battery life and an AWOLED screen that grants the wearer sharper blacks and more vibrant colours. Though it doesn't have a GPS built-in, you can still track your pace and distance when syncing it to your smartphone. This baby pulls out all the stops when it comes to features, versatility, and style.

While we have a favorite in our Fitbit Versa 3 vs. Charge 4 competition, they're both capable fitness trackers. It ultimately comes down to what you want out of your tracker and what you're willing to pay. The Fitbit Versa 3 is a blend of smartwatch and fitness tracker, with plenty of great perks with a price tag to match. On the other hand, the Charge 4 is an excellent tracker, perfect for those who don't need all the extras of a smartwatch at a more affordable price. So, which one is right for you?

Fitbit Versa 3 vs. Fitbit Charge 4: Let's break it down

The third generation Versa arrived on the scene in 2020, and it has all the bells and whistles of most smartwatches. You'll get a large color touchscreen, app compatibility, fast charging, and the ability to play music, reply to texts, and make calls from your wrists. Our Fitbit Versa 2 review explored the many reasons why that model was a better fitness tracker than a smartwatch. Fitbit has improved everything we took issue with last year, turning out a well-rounded, affordable watch with the Versa 3.

The swimproof Versa is also an advanced fitness tracker with 24/7 heart rate tracking, oxygen saturation monitoring, onboard GPS, cardio fitness level monitoring, sleep stages and scores, and a workout intensity map. The always-on display is beautiful, albeit huge. If you have small wrists, this will feel oversized on your body. The Versa 3 isn't quite on par with the likes of the more mature Apple Watch 6, but it's a capable fitness tracker/smartwatch combo that will please those who favor a touchscreen and GPS. And some of the best accessories for the Fitbit Versa came out this year. Let's look at the specs.

The wallet-friendly Fitbit Charge 4 has many features users have requested for years, including GPS. With the Charge 4, you can head out for a run or a hike and leave your phone behind as satellite tracking keeps tabs on your location, distance, and pace. Battery life takes a hit with built-in GPS, but for those of us who don't want to carry a phone during outdoor exercising, it's a long-overdue feature we love.

The Charge 4 looks identical to its predecessor. The inside is where the magic happens here. In addition to GPS, you can track your fitness intensity with something Fitbit calls Active Zones. Basically, it registers various heart rate zones throughout the day to give you a better estimate of calorie burn, energy depleted, etc. The Charge 4 also comes with swim-tracking and now delivers info on swim lengths, distance, pace, and duration. As with all Fitbits, it's water-resistant down to 50 meters, and can be customized with your favorite color Fitbit band.

Fitbit Versa 3 vs. Fitbit Charge 4: Which should you buy?

The Fitbit Versa 3 and the Fitbit Charge 4 are both capable fitness trackers. You'll get a reliable heart rate monitor, calorie counter, sleep tracker, female health tracker, and stopwatch with both models. The deciding factor is whether you favor a smartwatch-style watch with a touchscreen or a basic tracker.

If you want a tracker that will compliment your phone, the Versa 3 is the better choice. You'll get Alexa and Google Assistant, GPS, notifications, apps, space for music, a microphone, and a big, beautiful touch screen. If you want a rugged, budget-friendly tracker that will stand up to anything, you'll love the Charge 4. It's built tough, has standalone GPS, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, swim tracking, and a screen you won't have to worry about scratching.

So who wins our Fitbit Versa vs. Charge 4 challenge? If I were jumping on the Fitbit bandwagon today, I wouldn't hesitate to invest in the newer Versa 3. For me, the GPS, precise heart rate tracking, and color touchscreen make it the clear winner.

For various reasons, you might not always have a smartphone handy to customize your Fitbit. Not to worry, if you have a Fitbit and you're using a Mac operating system, you can customize your Fitbit on one of your Mac devices. By installing the free Fitbit Connect app (for Mac), you can control all your settings via your Fitbit Dashboard from your laptop or Mac. Here's how to customize your Fitbit on Mac.

How to customize your Fitbit on Mac

1. To customize your Fitbit, you must download the Fitbit app on your device. Go to Fitbit's website and download Fitbit Connect for Mac.

2. Install Fitbit Connect Software on your Mac.

3. Set up or sync your Fitbit with the Fitbit app on your laptop or device by clicking the Set Up a New Fitbit Device or Sync Now option displayed on your screen. Make sure your Fitbit wearable is powered on and in range. If you're having trouble syncing your device, click the Check for device update/Troubleshooting link.

4. Once you've set up or synced your Fitbit with your Mac, open the Fitbit app to get to your Fitbit Dashboard.

5. From your Fitbit Dashboard, click the gear icon in the upper right hand corner of the screen.

6. After you click the gear icon, you'll see a drop down menu. Click settings.

7. Once you click Settings, it will open a new window where you can edit your profile and customize your settings.
8. Go to the settings menu on the left side of the page that displays: Personal Info, Notifications, Privacy, Data Export, Manage Data, Manage Account Access, Applications, and Help.
9. Click any category and fully customize all of your settings from there.

It's super easy to customize your Fitbit on your Mac. You just have to download the Fitbit app to your Mac, open the app, make sure your Fitbit wearable is synced, access your Fitbit dashboard, click the gear icon, select settings from the drop-down menu, and customize your settings from your profile/settings page.

Our top equipment picks

To customize a Fitbit on a Mac, you absolutely need two things: a Fitbit and a Mac. Any device running a Mac operating system will work. We love the 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 because it's fast, efficient, offers unmatched battery life, has a scissor-switch keyboard, and touchscreen with touch ID. You can check out our Fitbit favorites on our Best Fitbit list as well. Bottom line: you can customize your Fitbit on any Mac device with the simple steps mentioned above.

When it comes to a wearable device, you don't want something that's only going to do one thing. If you're going to invest in and wear a fitness band, then shouldn't it also tell you the time? The good news is that there are plenty of fitness trackers that do just that. From Fitbit, Garmin, and others, our savvy selection of the best fitness trackers out there with time displays makes it easy to keep up with both your fitness statistics and the time of day.

If you want our recommendation

All of these fitness trackers let you view the time as well as your fitness stats. Given that Fitbit has been on top of the fitness band game for forever and a day, the Fitbit Inspire HR has become a popular choice and is a good mid-range option. Though not quite as advanced as the Charge models, the Inspire HR features the sensors to do what it needs to do at a much lower price than Fitbit's more advanced trackers.

If you're looking something a little more advanced, the Fitbit Charge 4 comes top of our list as our overall Staff Pick. It does the same things that the Inspire HR does, monitoring your heart rate, tracking activity and sleep, and offering specialized activity tracking modes. Still, it has a bigger display, which better presents the time, as well as up to seven days of battery life, as opposed to the Inspire's five days.

If having to have a brand name on your wrist doesn't bother you, then you can save money with the excellent Xiaomi Mi Band 4. It's an affordable option that offers the same useful features as more expensive models, including heart rate monitoring functionality, and it gets a gorgeous AMOLED color display.

Is the data from your Fitbit not syncing back to your iPhone when it's supposed to? There are several different ways you can try to fix that, though some are better than others.

• Fitbit's latest tracker: Fitbit Charge 4 ($150 at Fitbit)
• Colorful and powerful: iPhone 11 (From $699)

How to fix syncing issues between your Fitbit and iPhone

Syncing is the term to describe the data transfer from your Fitbit tracker to your Fitbit app. It happens via Bluetooth connection, and it's what causes the Dashboard on your phone to stay updated with all your daily stats.

Syncing also transfers data back to your Fitbit tracker, like newly set alarms, for example, so your tracker and your Fitbit app are always on the same page.

Anytime you open the Fitbit app, it will initiate a sync. You can also turn on the All-Day sync option, which will allow your tracker to sync to the Fitbit app periodically throughout the day. Fair warning, the All-Day sync option can cause your phone and tracker battery to drain more quickly.

You sure can. Inside the Fitbit app, you can tap the Sync Now button to initiate sync anytime you want; here's how to do it!

1. Launch Fitbit app form your Home screen.
2. Tap on your tracker icon in the top left corner of your screen.
3. Tap Sync Now.

If you find that your tracker won't sync to your app, there are a few things you can try to try and get rolling again. The list below goes from the simplest fixes to the more drastic measures.

• Make sure your tracker's battery is charged. If your tracker is dead, it won't be able to sync with your phone.
• Close the Fitbit app and then open it again. Every time you open the app, it should initiate a sync.
• Turn off Bluetooth, then on again, and then open the Fitbit app. This will temporarily stop the Bluetooth connection, which will force it to reconnect and could help the problem.
• Try turning your iPhone off and on again. This old faithful trick can sometimes snap your phone back to reality and fix mysterious problems.
• Uninstall and re-install the Fitbit app. This could be especially crucial if you have recently updated the Fitbit app, and that's why you started having problems.
• Try resetting your tracker. This is an option for dire circumstances, but in some cases, it can certainly help re-establish any connection issues. Restarting your tracker is different for every model and takes several minutes to complete.

One or more of these steps should set you on the right path in getting your Fitbit and your phone syncing again.

Our top equipment picks

It tracks 15 types of workouts, can dive 50 meters into the water, gets seven days of battery life, and does notifications from your iPhone or Android device. It's a truly versatile product for a very reasonable price.

All you need to do is pair your iPhone with your Fitbit, and you're ready to go. The iPhone 11 utilizes Bluetooth 5.0, the latest version of the wireless protocol, allowing for higher data transfer rates and a better range on compatible devices.

You don't just have to use your Fitbit on iPhone. If you have a Mac at home, work, or school, you can totally set up and manage your Fitbit fitness tracker on macOS as well. There's both a Fitbit Connect app and a web portal, that'll help you get set up and going, right from your Mac!

• Best Fitbit for most people: Fitbit Charge 4 ($150 at Fitbit)
• Smartwatch and fitness tracker hybrid: Fitbit Versa 2 ($170 at Fitbit)

How to download the Fitbit Connect app for Mac

Fitbit has an app known as Fitbit Connect, which allows you pair and sync your Fitbit tracker with your Mac using the handy wireless USB dongle.

1. First, download the free Fitbit Connect app.
   • Download now
2. Click Download for Mac.
3. Open a new Finder window.
4. Click Downloads in the menu.

5. Double click the Fitbit disk image file. Its name will start with "FibtitConnect_Mac..."
6. Double click the Fitbit installer file. It looks like a cardboard box and is called "Install Fitbit Connect.pkg."

7. Click Continue on the introduction page of the install wizard.
8. Click Continue on the software license agreement.

9. Click Agree to agree to the terms and conditions.
10. Click Continue when you have chosen the drive on which to save the Fitbit Connect app.

11. Click Install.
12. Enter your password and click Install Software.

Boom, you've got the Fitbit Connect app! You open it just as you would any other application – either from the Finder or from your dock. Now you'll be able to access your Dashboard, participate in challenges, and more, all from your Mac!

How to pair a new Fitbit tracker with your Mac

Now that you've got the Fitbit Connect app downloaded, you'll probably want to pair your Fitbit with your Mac. This is done using the wireless dongle that came in your Fitbit's box, so make sure you plug it into an available USB port before starting the setup process. It looks like a thumb drive, but just the tip.

This process continues straight from installing Fitbit Connect.

1. Click Set Up a New Fitbit Device.
2. Click New to Fitbit.

3. Enter your email address and create a password.
4. Click the box next to "I agree to the Fitbit Terms of Service and Privacy Policy."
5. Click Sign Up.

6. Enter your info on the "Tell us about yourself" page.
7. Click Sign Up.
8. Click the Fitbit tracker that you're setting up.

9. Click Next through the information screens.
10. Perform the action requested.
    • Enter the code that appears on your Fitbit's display.
    • Tap your Flex until you feel it vibrate.
11. Click Next or I felt it buzz, depending on your Fitbit model.

12. Click Next on the connection confirmation screen.
13. Click Go to Dashboard.

That's all there is to it; your Fitbit tracker is now paired with your Mac. Not only that, but you've now signed up for a Fitbit account as well. Two birds are dead, and you've only tossed one stone.

Keep in mind that you'll need that dongle plugged in all the time if you want your tracker to sync with your Mac continually.

So long as your Mac remains connected to the internet, your Fitbit tracker will wirelessly sync when you're within 20 feet of it. You'll be able to log in to your Fitbit Connect app and see your up-to-date progress without having to connect any cables or clicking the Sync button.

Our top equipment picks

It tracks 15 types of workouts, can dive 50 meters into the water, gets seven days of battery life, and does notifications from your iPhone or Android device. It's a truly versatile product for a very reasonable price.

The Versa looks and feels the most like a smartwatch out of Fitbit's lineup, and it offers a comprehensive suite of apps, watch faces, and fitness-related features to satisfy even the most hardcore of users. While it's fully waterproof, it lacks GPS for standalone runs, and its 5-day battery life isn't quite as long as the Charge 4's.

The Fitbit Charge 4 is a fantastic fitness tracker that can monitor your heart rate, track your steps, and show you how many calories you've burned. If you don't like the standard band that comes with the Fitbit Charge 4, there are a ton of options out there to get different bands, and swapping them out doesn't take to long. Here's how you can swap out the Fitbit Charge 4 band.

• Best Fitbit for most people: Fitbit Charge 4 ($150 at Fitbit)
• Smooth leather style: YOOSIDE Leather Band (From $15 at Amazon)
• Cold hard steel: Shangpule Stainless Steel Metal Strap (From $15 at Amazon)

How to replace the Fitbit Charge 4 band

It's important to remember that a Fitbit Charge 4 band is in two parts, that both need to be disconnected and reattached to the tracker itself.

1. Turn over your Fitbit Charge 4.
2. Press down on the latch button next to the tracker. Look at the picture above for reference.
3. Pull the band away from the tracker.
4. Press down on the latch button next to the tracker on the opposite side.
5. Pull the band away from the tracker.

6. Take the new band and slide the latch onto the tracker. You should hear a snap when it's locked in place.
7. Repeat Step 6 for the other side of the band.

Now you know how to switch the band on your Fitbit Charge 3, and you can do it as often as you want. When you're working out, you may want to keep the silicone band in place, but if you're out of the town, a nice leather band may be a better choice — just follow these steps every time you want to make the swap!

Our top equipment picks

If you're looking for a replacement band, there are a ton of options, but the Dsytom Fitbit Charge 3 leather band is a personal favorite of mine.

YOOSIDE Leather Band (From $15 at Amazon)

Made from genuine leather, this band from YOOSIDE gives you a comfortable and classic look for your Charge 4. Since the band is actual leather, as you wear it, the fit and color will change to be as unique as you.

Shangpule Stainless Steel Metal Strap (From $15 at Amazon)

You can have your Fitbit and the feel of steel on your wrist again with the Shangpule Stainless Steel Metal Strap. The strong material and secure clasp will ensure you get the style you miss and durability you expect.

You can dive up to 50 meters with your Fitbit Charge 3. Anything deeper than that and you might ruin your Fitbit, but 50 meters is pretty deep, so unless you're planning on scuba diving, you're probably going to be fine.

Working out and sweating regularly, or taking a bath or shower with your Charge 3 shouldn't damage your device in the slightest. If you're diving to retrieve salvage from the Titanic, that might be a different story...

The Fitbit Charge 3 is a robust fitness tracker, but if it's not quite what you're looking for today, there are other Fitbit devices on the market. The newer Fitbit Charge 4, the Fitbit Inspire, and the Fitbit Versa 2 are all water-resistant, and offer a unique set of features.

The feature set of the Fitbit Inspire HR and the Charger 4 is fairly close. They are both full-featured health and fitness trackers. So, how do you tell the difference to figure out which one is best for you?

What's the difference?

The two Fitbits are actually somewhat similar. Both the Fitbit Inspire HR and the Fitbit Charger 4 track steps, calories, sleep, and menstrual cycles. They both offer guided breathing and will automatically detect and track a wide variety of exercises. They both pair with your smartphone and let you stay in the loop with notifications and alerts.

Which Fitbit style you choose comes down to a few differences, which may or may not be significant depending on your use case. The Fitbit Charge 4 has a built-in GPS while the Inspire HR doesn't. The Fitbit Charge 4 tracks how many flights of stairs you climb, whereas the Fitbit Inspire HR does not. The Charge 4 offers Quick Replies, which allow you to respond to texts, but only if your Fitbit is paired to an Android phone. You can use Fitbit Pay on the Charge 4, but not on the Inspire HR. You can control your Spotify music on the Charge 4, but not the Inspire HR.

The Charge 4 is also a larger tracker, which could certainly be appealing to some people. To match its larger size, it also has a longer battery life of up to seven days, as opposed to five for the Inspire HR. Note that if you're using the Fitbit Charge 4's built-in GPS, the battery life will be about five hours.

Since I use an iPhone, the Quick Replies wouldn't work for me. And since I use Apple Pay, I don't see a need to use FitBit Pay. I don't need GPS on a wearable; having it on my phone is enough. I'm not a Spotify user. So for me, the price difference between the Fitbit Inspire HR and the Fitbit Charge 4 comes down to counting my flights of stairs and color options. I prefer a smaller device, so the Inspire HR is more appealing in that regard. For my money, I'd choose the less expensive of the two.

The bands can be changed regardless of which model you get. There is a difference in battery life, but the Inspire HR's five-day battery life is sufficient for me; I wouldn't pay more just to get seven days from the Charge 4.

The Fitbit Inspire HR comes only in Black, but you get your choice of three different color bands: Black, Lilac, and White. The Charge 4 comes in Black with a matching silicone band, Rosewood, with a matching band, Black with a Storm Blue band. The Fitbit Charge 4 Special Edition is the Black color, but it also comes with a Granite Reflective Woven band. Both Fitbits come in just one size; the small and large bands are included.

Overall, it's worth it to save some money and skip on some features with the Inspire HR. You'll still get plenty of extras with it and will be able to do most, if not all, of your fitness tracking. However, if the extra features will be useful to you, definitely go for the Fitbit Charge 4. Many will find the built-in tracking, Fitbit Pay, quick replies, Spotify control, and stair-tracking worth the extra money.

If you're interested in some of the other Fitbits on the market, check out some of our other favorite Fitbits.

The Fitbit Charge 4 syncs automatically and wirelessly to computers and over 200 leading iOS, Android, and Windows devices using Bluetooth LE wireless technology. For syncing, your mobile device needs to be an iPhone 5S and later, iPad 5 gen. and later, or Android 7.0 and later. With the free Fitbit app, you can see a running history of your steps, distance, calories burned, and active minutes, and your sleeping information.

Thanks to the integration between the Fitbit Charge 4 and your smartphone, you can also receive notifications that allow you to stay connected when you're on the move. Included here are call and calendar alerts, text notifications, and more.

The Fitbit Charge 4 is the company's most feature-rich fitness tracker to date. Among the tools available are continuous heart rate tracking, automatic exercise recognition, real-time pace and distance, goal-based exercises, all-day calories burn, sleep tracking, and much more. It also ships with over 20 exercise modes, including run, bike, swim, yoga, and circuit training. There's also personalized guided breathing sessions based on your heart rate, and a female health and wellness tracker.

The fitness tracker will last for up to seven days between charges. And because it's water-resistant to 50 meters, you can wear the Fitbit Charge 4 virtually anywhere.

The Charge 4 is Fitbit's latest and most powerful fitness band. It has all of the health features you've come to expect while also adding some smartwatch-like features and built-in GPS. If you don't care about those and want to save some cash, the Inspire HR is still an excellent product.

How do these two fitness bands compare?

If you're in the market for a wearable that'll track your daily activity and help you lead a healthier life, the Charge 4 and Inspire HR are both well-equipped in these regards. Both fitness bands count your steps, calories burned, stairs climbed, distance, and more. Each tracks a variety of different workouts and comes outfitted with a heart-rate monitor that'll keep tabs on your ticker all-day long.

The Charge 4 and Inspire HR also share the same outstanding battery life that's rated for up to seven days on a single charge and can track your sleep if you wear either one throughout the night.

Where the Charge 4 gets the upper-hand is with more minute health features. With this tracker, you can receive real-time GPS and pace-tracking without a smartphone on you, while it also supports a broader range of activities and workouts.

The Charge 4 also gets an edge when it comes to non-fitness features. Although the Inspire HR can show basic call, text, and calendar appointment notifications from your phone, that's about it. The Charge 4, on the other hand, retrieves any notification your phone gets and even allows you to send off quick replies to texts, WhatsApp messages, etc.

Also, while the app selection for the Charge 4 isn't anywhere close to what you'll find on something like the Apple Watch, it does have basic apps for checking the weather, your calendar, set an alarm or timer, and more. Lastly, the combined power of built-in GPS and Fitbit Pay make this a really complete fitness tracker.

The Fitbit Zip is a nifty little gadget from one of the biggest names in fitness wearables. It actually came out several years ago but it's so good at what it does that it's stuck around for more than a few years (which really is saying something in the tech world where the average life span of a gadget is about two years). It's quite small and inconspicuous — measuring in at less than half an inch thick.

Even though it's small, Fitbit was able to cram some solid features into it. The Zip will accurately track all your steps during the day, as well as the distance traveled and the amount of calories you burned. The best part is that you can effortlessly sync all of your data back to your smartphone and keep track of your goals in the Fitbit app. You won't even have to worry about battery life as it uses a standard CR2032 watch battery that will give it up to six months of juice.

The small size also allows you to wear it virtually anywhere. You can either throw it in your pocket or you can slide it into the included clip holder which will allow you to clip it almost anywhere you want on your clothes during the day. It's so small too that you'll hardly even know it's there so it won't get in your way. If you want, there's even some wrist bands you can get for it so you can wear it like a watch.

Unfortunately, there are still some things the Zip can't do. It's not waterproof so you won't be able to take it into the pool or shower and there's no GPS or anything so you can really track where you've been, just that you moved. There is a display on it but all you can do is just tap on it to scroll through the different screens.

All-in-all, the Fitbit Zip is a great entry into the world of fitness tracking that will track your movement, stay out of your way, and not break the bank in the process. It does the absolute basics that a fitness tracker can do, and for some, that might be enough.

A Fitbit is an excellent low-cost option to track fitness, sleep, and activity. It also doubles as a nifty watch. The higher-end Fitbit smartwatches, however, can be pretty pricey — upwards of $200. If you'd like to enjoy the benefits of a Fitbit fitness tracker without spending all that dough, try one of their more affordable tracker options or the lite version of their smartwatch. The best deal is the Fitbit Inspire. It costs less than any smartwatch, but with a lot of the same fitness and sleep tracking features. It also displays the time! Keep scrolling to see the cheapest options available from Fitbit.

Best Overall: Fitbit Inspire

If you're looking for the most affordable Fitbit, this is it. The Fitbit Inspire is a reliable fitness tracker that records your steps, activity, exercise, and sleep. It also displays the time, reminds you to keep moving, and tracks women's cycles. The Inspire is waterproof, so you can use it to track your laps or just a rainy day jog. The only downside of this model is that it doesn't track your heart rate. For that, you'll need to buy the upgraded Fitbit HR.

Fitbit's most affordable option is great for basic fitness tracking, such as steps, activity, and sleep. It also tracks women's cycles!

Best for Kids: Fitbit Ace 2

Want to get your kid moving? Try out the Fitbit Ace! This kid-friendly fitness tracker makes fitness fun by setting challenges and family-friendly activities, so everyone can connect and join in. Parents can use the Ace to track kids' activity, exercise, and sleep habits, and its durable band keeps the tracker safe even during rough playground play. Some users did complain that the band stretches out over time, so it may need to be replaced from time to time to prevent the loss of the tracker.

Help kids prioritize fitness and healthy habits with this family-friendly fitness tracker. The Ace provides parental controls as well!

Best Upgraded Value: Fitbit Inspire HR

For those who need a fitness tracker with a little more oomph, the Fitbit Inspire HR has all the same features as the Fitbit Inspire with the bonus of a heart rate tracker. That means you can measure the effectiveness of your cardio and aerobic workouts by watching their effect on your heart rate. The Inspire HR also displays the time, tracks activity and sleep, and send you reminders throughout the day, just like other trackers. This model will cost you a bit more than its simpler counterpart.

If you'd like an upgrade from the Fitbit Inspire without investing in an actual smartwatch, take a look at the Fitbit Inspire HR

Cheapest Fitbit Smartwatch: Fitbit Versa Lite

While the Fitbit Versa Lite is certainly not the cheapest Fitbit available, it is the most affordable smartwatch in the Fitbit lineup. If you're looking for more functionality that lines up with your smartphone applications, you'll need a smartwatch, and this one comes at a pretty good price. Like other smartwatches, the Versa Lite supports lots of apps and smartphone syncing benefits, such as notifications and music. Of course, it also provides all of the fitness benefits of a Fitbit tracker.

Enjoy all your favorite smartwatch features for less using the Fitbit Versa Lite: smartphone syncing, apps, and fitness tracking!

Bottom line

Fitbit is the leader in fitness trackers and devices, but some of their products are more affordable than others. The products above are the best Fitbits you'll find for the money. The best option for you will depend on what you expect of a fitness tracker.

Our favorite is the Fitbit Inspire because of its nice low price point and well-rounded features offering. This tracker offers all of the basic health features you need, from steps counting and activity tracking to sleep monitoring. It also provides handy reminders when you've been sedentary too long and gives guided breathing practices when you "need a moment." Overall, it's an excellent fitness device for the price.

Both Fitbits will track your steps, distance, calorie burn, exercise, and sleep. You'll get move reminders as well as notifications from your smartphone on both, though you can get more types of notifications on the Inspire. Battery life extends to about five days on both. Bands can be swapped out for different looks on the Fitbit Inspire. You can swim with both devices, as they are both waterproof.

The most apparent difference between them is that the Flex 2 does not have a screen, and the Inspire does. Not only can the Inspire's screen tell you the time, but having your current stats in a dashboard on your wrist can inspire you to make healthier choices.

You can also see your exercise stats as your work out with the Inspire. There's a button on the Inspire so you can start and stop exercises manually if you wish, while you must rely on auto-tracking on the buttonless Flex 2. The Inspire has female health tracking and food logging, whereas the Flex 2 does not.

Fitbit doesn't even make the Flex 2 anymore; it's been replaced by the Inspire line. You can still find it, with the price greatly inflated, but I'd strongly recommend buying the Inspire instead.

While fitness bands used to be king just a few years back, smartwatches have quickly become the norm when it comes to smart wearables. This is evident not only by the Apple Watch being the best smartwatch/health device around, but also by Fitbit's last two products — the Versa and Ionic.

Fitbit knows it needs to keep pushing forward with smartwatches in order to stay relevant, but it can't abandon its bread and butter just yet.

The Charge 3 is a culmination of everything Fitbit's been working towards, and the end result is perhaps one of the best fitness bands we'll ever see before they're completely dominated by smartwatches.

• Excellent slim design
• Battery lasts up to 7 days
• Phenomenal fitness tracking
• Fitbit Pay on Special Edition
• Waterproof

• Notification support isn't very reliable
• The Fitbit Versa offers a full smartwatch experience for just $50 more

Fitbit Charge 3 What I like

The Fitbit Charge 3 does more right than wrong, so let's dive right into the good stuff.

Although I never owned the Charge 2, it's immediately apparent that the Charge 3 has a vastly superior design compared to its predecessor. The aerospace-grade aluminum body comes in two colors (Graphite Aluminum and Rose Gold Aluminum) and does an excellent job at pairing well with either a sporty silicone band or a fancier leather one. It's lightweight, clean, and just an all-around great design.

Speaking of bands, Fitbit's four collections (Sport, Classic, Horween Leather, and Woven) offer good variety for changing up your look. There's a new band system to connect these to the Charge 3 that's easier to use than any other Fitbit wearable, but that also means your old Charge 2 bands won't work here.

Each end of the bands you end up choosing flank the Charge 3's touchscreen display that's quite a bit larger than that of the Charge 2's. The screen is plenty sharp and bright for this kind of device, and the experience you get while interacting with it is surprisingly feature-rich.

A swipe up from the clock brings you to the Fitbit Today dashboard where you can see your steps, distance, active minutes, heart-rate, and more. If you do a swipe down, you'll see any notifications you've received from your phone. Unlike the Charge 2 that was limited to just texts, calls, and calendar appointments, the Charge 3 can retrieve any and all notifications. Also, if you're using the Charge 3 with an Android phone, you can send off quick replies to texts, WhatsApp messages, etc.

Lastly, a swipe to the right shows a small selection of available apps, including Exercise, Relax, Timers, Alarms, and Weather (a Calendar app is coming soon). You shouldn't expect app support similar to the Apple Watch anytime soon, but for a device that's primarily a fitness band, this added functionality is great to have.

All of those extra features are simply extras that live alongside the Charge 3's health and activity tracking, and in those regards, the Charge 3 excels. Along with your regular fitness tracking you've come to expect, the Charge 3 also offers guided breathing sessions, 5ATM waterproofing so you can record swims in the pool, and if you use Fitbit's female health tracking tools, you can view data relating to that directly on your wrist.

This is a Fitbit through and though, and when you combine that with the added smarts, great design, and a battery that easily lasts one week on a single charge, you end up with a seriously powerful fitness band.

Fitbit Charge 3 What needs some work

The Charge 3 is the first fitness band from Fitbit to go beyond basic call and text notification support, and while that's a change I'm glad the company made, the execution hasn't been the best.

Some notifications come through in a timely manner, but others take a solid 30 seconds or up to a minute from hitting my phone to actually appear on the Charge 3. Notifications certainly aren't the main focus for a device like this, but if the feature's being offered, I'd prefer it to actually work and be consistent.

Should you buy it? Yes, but keep your options open

On its own, the Fitbit Charge 3 is an insanely good gadget and probably one of the best products Fitbit's made to date. It brings a ton of fitness + health features to the table and absolutely nails them while offering fantastic battery life and a seriously great design. Add that together with some decent smart features and a starting price of $149, and you end up with a winning formula.

However, if you're willing to spend just $50 more, you can step up to the Fitbit Versa and get a full-fledged smartwatch with all of the same fitness features, on-screen workouts, better notification support, and access to a ton more apps.

If you were looking into the Charge 3 because you want something that gets you into the Fitbit ecosystem while also offering smart features, I'd take a hard look at the Versa before throwing your money down on the Charge 3. It does a better job at combing health + fitness into a good-looking package that's still not terribly expensive.

On the flip side, if your main focus is getting a rock-solid fitness band that just happens to support notifications and basic apps, the Charge 3 won't let you down. It's unclear how much longer Fitbit will keep making fitness trackers before it moves over completely to smartwatches, but right now, this is the best one the company's ever made.

See at Amazon

This review was originally written in October 2018.

Fitbit has built a solid reputation based on the quality of its wearables and its easy-to-understand in-app analytics. It was one of the first companies to popularize wrist-based heart rate monitoring, and also one of the first to include a built-in SpO2 sensor to measure blood oxygen levels. Now that this feature has been cleared by the FDA and activated by Fitbit, we'll explain how to use it and why it is important.

• Versatile smartwatch: Fitbit Versa 2 (From $186 at Amazon)
• Iconic fitness watch: Fitbit Ionic (From $182 at Amazon)
• Favorite fitness band: Fitbit Charge 3 (From $125 at Amazon)

How to check your blood oxygen levels with your Fitbit

Note that at the time of publication, this feature has just started to roll out to Fitbit customers, so it may not have appeared in your app just yet. But keep checking — it will be worth it!

This feature is available on many, but not all, Fitbit models, including the Ionic (released in 2017), as well as all versions of the Charge 3 and Versa lines (from 2018 onwards).

1. Make sure your device is fully charged or is plugged into a charger for the update process.
2. Open the Fitbit app on your smartphone
3. Tap on your profile avatar on the top left corner of the app
4. When you see a list of your Fitbit devices, check to see if your compatible device (Ionic, Versa 1, 2, or Lite, or Charge 3) has an update pending. If so, tap on the device icon.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

5. Once your device has updated, all you have to do to check your blood oxygen is to tap on the sleep tile from the Today menu (on the bottom of the app).Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

6. Tap on a sleep log (a night's sleep record) to see an Estimated Oxygen Variation graph personalized for you like the one below.

That's all there is to it! If you have the update and follow these steps, you'll be able to see your blood oxygen levels too.

What does SpO2 mean, and why is it important?

Your SpO2 is a measure of your blood oxygen levels, or as Fitbit refers to it, your estimated oxygen variation (EOV). According to Fitbit's help center:

The Fitbit devices mentioned above use red and infrared sensors that are already on the back of the watch case to shine light into your blood vessels and read the light colors and levels that "bounce back" to them. Based on these readings, your Fitbit can then provide a relatively accurate estimate of the oxygen levels in your blood.

Unlike in other use cases, the color red signifies a good value, whereas blue signifies a poor value. The more red light your blood returns, the more oxygen you have. The more blue light, the less oxygen is present in your bloodstream.

So why is this important? The medical community claims that knowing your blood oxygen levels (particularly during sleep) can be a good way to predict or monitor conditions such as sleep apnea and provide valuable data for people who have preexisting breathing conditions.

If you do notice any abnormalities or "big variations' in your EOV graph data, you should get in contact with your physician to interpret the findings and discuss treatment options.

It should be noted that Fitbit is not the only company with wearables capable of taking SpO2 readings. Both Withings and Garmin have watches that support this feature, and more companies are expected to roll out devices with similar functionality over the next year, pending regulatory approvals. One surprising omission to date is Apple, whose category-leading Apple Watch Series 5 sports all manner of health tech from fall-detection to ECG monitoring, but does not have a SpO2 sensor. Perhaps that will come in the Series 6 line or later.

To your health!

I hope you were able to update your device and app and have started to use this new feature. I recently received my update, and it has been interesting to see how my periods of high variation correlate to bad sleep or excessive snoring!

Our top equipment picks

This SpO2 functionality is available on Fitbit's top-tier smartwatches and fitness bands like the Ionic, Versa line, and Charge 3.

Fitbit continues to refine its popular Versa line with a more streamlined casing, larger and better screen, and enhanced fitness features.

The Ionic may be getting a little long in the tooth, but it's still a feature-packed fitness watch. As it ages, its price has come down to be competitive with the Versa 2.

With a six-plus day battery life and smaller profile, the Charge 3 is comfortable to wear all day and all night to track everything important to me (like sleep!).

If you decide to wear your Fitbit to bed to track your SpO2 while you sleep, consider one of these softer bands for added comfort.

CAVN Woven Band for Versa 2 ($9 at Amazon)

With this CAVN band, you can get the look of the more expensive Versa 2 Special Edition for a lot less. Plus, this band will stay secure with its buckle and clasp.

Bandmax Rainbow Band for Ionic ($14 at Amazon)

Show your spirit with this festive woven Ionic band. If this one catches your eye, they also make a cool rainbow one with a black background that really stands out.

VEAQEE Nylon Woven Sport Band for Charge 3 ($8 at Amazon)

This nylon wrap-around band is the most comfortable I've tried with my Charge 3. It comes in nine colors and is available in three packs as well.

Though the Apple Watch Series 5 and Fitbit Versa 2 fit into two very different categories — Versa 2 is fitness-focused, and Apple Watch Series 5 is smarts focused — they're more alike than you might realize. Both offer an app ecosystem, solid fitness trackers, notifications, and Bluetooth connections so you can listen to music right from your watch.

The most significant difference between the two is that Fitbit was designed with a focus on fitness and with the bonus of smart technology. At the same time, Apple Watch was created as an all-around smartwatch with the bonus of fitness tracking.

When it comes to the number of features, Apple Watch Series 5 is the clear winner, but not everyone needs all those smarts.

The details

When it comes to deciding whether you want a Fitbit Versa 2 or an Apple Watch Series 5, the main thing you should consider is what you want it for. Though there are a lot of similarities, where Apple Watch Series 5 and Fitbit Versa 2 differ will make all the difference.

The Fitbit Versa 2 has a seriously great battery life for a smartwatch, even with the continuous heart rate monitor, step tracking, sleep tracking, and automatic workout recording. In addition to the improved battery life over the original Versa and Versa Lite, Fitbit added a better OLED screen and pushbutton access to Amazon's Alexa smart voice assistant for simple queries, reminders, and automation.

As far as fitness goes, the Versa 2 has an on-screen workout guide and connectivity to Fitbit Premium, which is a subscription-based personalized training program. Fitbit Premium includes adaptive workout videos, audio coaching, and in-depth analytics and insights covering your sleep, nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness data. Fitbit has always had a robust and easy-to-use app with tons of fitness data, but it's worth noting that this data is all self-contained within the app and is not shared with the Apple Health app.

The Fitbit app store is very limited right now and mostly focuses on either fitness, minimal productivity tools, and a few major brand apps, like Starbucks and Yelp. It does, however, have a lot of room to grow. There may only be a couple hundred right now, but it could reach Apple Watch's 10,000+ mark in the future.

The Apple Watch has everything you could want from a wearable device: fitness tracking, productivity, lifestyle, and more. You can make and receive calls, send and receive text messages, and even use the walkie-talkie app for quick conversations. Apple Watch supports Siri, which means you can ask it to set an alarm or give you directions, all without needing your iPhone in hand. Siri can send and read texts and emails for you, right from your Apple Watch, answer questions about movies, music, sports, and more, and even search the web.

Apple Watch Series 3 and newer also can stream Apple Music right from your wrist. So even if your iPhone is on the other side of the room, or nowhere near you, if you're on the same Wi-Fi network, you can listen to thousands of songs without having to download anything to your Watch.

The Apple Watch GPS + Cellular lets you use your watch untethered (without your phone) for anything an Apple Watch with an iPhone could do, including sending messages, making calls, getting directions, and more. Perhaps most important of all, the Series 4 and 5 both feature the ability to take on-wrist EKG recordings and can detect if you've fallen and notify emergency responders and close contacts. Series 5 even has international SOS that works without a cellular plan for those emergencies overseas.

When looking at all of the available features between the Apple Watch Series 5 and the Fitbit Versa 2, the first question you should be asking is what do you want your smartwatch to do for you.

Do you want a step tracker, sleep tracker, workout planner, and guide to help you get fit? Do you switch between iPhone and Android? Do you want to have a device with battery life for up to a week? If that describes you, then the Fitbit Versa 2 is your style.

Are you an upwardly mobile, go-getter who needs to stay connected to essential communications? Do you have a busy life that keeps you on the go? Do you prefer a little autonomy from your iPhone? Sound more familiar? Then the Apple Watch Series 5 is more for you.

The Fitbit Versa family hosts a variety of different body colors and band options so you can really find the perfect aesthetic for you. The Versa family has recently expanded and now includes the Fitbit Versa Lite, Fitbit Versa, and Fitbit's latest and greatest smartwatch, the Fitbit Versa 2. Each Versa has a variety of different color schemes to choose from, which is why we created this list, so you can stay true to your style and make your Versa your own.

Fitbit Versa 2

Fitbit's second-generation smartwatch, the Fitbit Versa 2 features Fitbit's fastest processor yet, all of the Fitbit health and fitness tracking features, a 5+ day battery life, an AMOLED screen for sharper blacks and more vibrant colors, and a microphone and Amazon Alexa built-in for convenient voice commands and speedy text replies.

Fitbit Versa 2 Special Edition

The Versa 2 Special Edition watches include one designer jacquard woven band as well as the classic original black band for even more style and versatility options. Upgrading to special edition also snags you a free 3-month trial of Fitbit premium, which personalizes your health and fitness guidance.

Fitbit Versa

The Fitbit Versa is an incredibly reliable and functional waterproof wearable that allows you to monitor your steps, your sleep pattern, calories consumed, female hormone cycles, and so much more. The original Versa design comes in three different color options: rose gold, black, and silver.

Fitbit Versa Special Edition

With the Fitbit Versa Special Edition, you get the additional option of making convenient payments thanks to an NFC chip that the other two Versa models don't come with. With the regular Versa and Special Edition, you also get the options of on-screen workouts, the ability to store 300+ songs, all-day activity tracking, and the ability to dive up to 50 meters. You don't get these with the Versa Lite.

Fitbit Versa Lite Edition

If you do decide to go with the Versa Lite, you have very vibrant colors to choose from. The Versa Lite also has basic features like Bluetooth capability, real-time pace and distance tracking, app access, smartphone notifications, a four-day battery life, heart-rate monitoring, more than 15 different exercise modes, the ability to track your workouts, female health-tracking, personalized reminders, sleep tracking, cardio tracking, guided breathing sessions, and more!

Find the perfect color for your style

The bottom line is, you have so many color options to choose from, you're guaranteed to find the perfect Versa to fit your unique style. Whether you're looking for vibrant and loud or understated and classy, we've got the perfect color scheme for you on this list of color options for your Fitbit.

We love the Fitbit Versa 2 Special Edition because who doesn't love a designer Jacquard band and the bonus of getting the classic black band as well? If you're looking for vibrant colors, check out the Fitbit Versa Lite family. Or maybe you want to go super classic with the OG Fitbit Versa 2 black on black color scheme. Whatever you choose, you'll find the perfect color to match your style on this list!

The Charge 3 is one of the best products Fitbit has ever made and ties in beautifully with the company's ecosystem. However, if you need GPS or want to be able to store music right on your wrist, the Samsung Gear Fit2 Pro will be a better fit.

Fitness band showdown

While there are a few key differences between these two fitness trackers that I'll dive into in just a second, I want to preface that by saying both gadgets do an excellent job with all of the regular fitness-tracking things you've come to expect. Both the Charge 3 and Gear Fit2 Pro can track your steps, distance, calories burned, heart-rate, and sleep.

Both wearables are also comfortable to wear with sleek designs, and each one uses a proprietary band system that can be used to change up the look of either one.

There are a couple notable differences on the health/fitness side of things, most importantly with built-in GPS. The Gear Fit2 Pro comes equipped with a GPS chip, meaning you can go running without your phone and still map where you went. The Fitbit Charge 3 doesn't have GPS, meaning you'll need to bring your phone with you on every walk, run, and jog if you want to keep a record of where you go.

If you're a woman, the Charge 3 gets the upper-hand with a native platform for female health tracking. Using both the Charge 3 and the companion Fitbit app, you can keep tabs on your menstural cycle to know when you're most fertile, detect any changes in your periods, and more.

In regards to other features, the Charge 3 is your only option if you want something that can make mobile payments via NFC like you can with Apple Pay on the iPhone and Apple Watch. The Charge 3 uses Fitbit's own Fitbit Pay system, but it works nearly the same. Just bring up your card, hold the Charge 3 near the payment terminal, and you're good to go (just keep in mind that only the $170 Special Edition Charge 3 actually supports this feature).

If you don't care so much about paying for things with your fitness band and would rather use it as a device for storing music, the Gear Fit2 Pro will be the better choice. Not only can you load your own music files on the Fit2 Pro, but there's also an official Spotify app. The Charge 3, on the other hand, has no options at all for music playback.

The breakdown

The Fitbit Versa is Fitbit's latest outright smartwatch, and it has all the smarts you'd want in a wearable, including quick replies to texts, other phone notifications, the ability to store up to 300 songs, and a lot more. The best part is that it's pressed better than many leading smartwatches. The trade-off is that its app gallery is still lacking just a tad.

The Fitbit Alta HR is Fitbit's tracker with a bit of a fashion focus, with tons of designer bands to choose from, as well as many third-party options. It's Fitbit's slimmest tracker with a heart rate monitor, making it a less clunky option for folks who like to where their tracker anywhere and everywhere.

The main difference here, and what should ultimately be your deciding factor is whether or not you want a smartwatch. Really take a look at the features and consider whether or not it's prudent for you to spend the additional $70 on the Versa.

Sure, it's cool to have a wearable that lets you respond quickly to texts, view on-screen coaching, and use a pile of apps (exercises apps, services apps like Starbucks, and many, many others). But if you think the novelty will wear off after a couple weeks and you merely want to see when someone messages you or your have a calendar event, then the Alta HR is more than enough.

The breakdown

At the end of the day, a smart scale is a smart scale. It syncs with an app, tells you a little more than the average scale, and helps you keep track of your metrics over time. Likewise, the Fitbit Aria 2 and Eufy BodySense are both concrete examples of great smart scales.

The biggest difference is in price and how you plan on using it. You really don't need a Fitbit tracker to use the Fitbit Aria 2 — you just need the app, but if you're not using a Fitbit, then why shell out $90 more than necessary? Believe it or not, there are a couple reasons, but your main deciding factor should be how you'll use the scale.

Looking at the table above, the Eufy BodySense tracks quite a few more metrics than the Fitbit Aria 2. Whether or not those are all accurate is another thing, since scales can only gather so much data via bioelectrical impedance analysis. That being said, if you're at all interested in those extra metrics, then the BodySense scale is a no-brainer.

Up until now, I've said that unless you're in the Fitbit universe, you may not want the Aria 2, but at the end of the day, you do need an app to use either of these scales. How this may factor into your purchase (if you don't already have a Fitbit tracker) is whether or not you find it inconvenient to have the app open at weigh-in (BodySense), or if you'd rather be able to sync any time, phone or not, via Wi-Fi (Aria 2).

Don't forget: the Eufy BodySense can connect with your Fitbit account via the EufyLife app. So you can still see your weight and body fat in the Fitbit app with all your other metrics from your Fitbit tracker.

Price should also be a motivator here. The Eufy BodySense boasts more features, and it's usually at least $90 cheaper than the Fitbit Aria 2. .

Google has recently agreed to buy Fitbit, and that has prompted many people to worry about who has control over their fitness data, and just what they can do about it. Whether or not you plan to abandon Fitbit as a company, you probably want to know how you can take control of your data on your own terms. This guide will show you how to do just that.

What kinds of data can you export from Fitbit?

As you probably know, Fitbit trackers, scales, and smartwatches can collect a ton of personal information, and there is even more that can be tracked from within the Fitbit app and Dashboard. This data includes: steps, distance, active minutes, calories, floors, heart rate, stationary time, cardio fitness score, exercise history, social posts within the Fitbit app, sleep data, Fitbit coach workout data, corporate wellness programs, personal profile information, direct messages from the Fitbit app, female health data, sleep score, your Fitbit friends, and Fitbit subscription information.

Thankfully, Fitbit has long allowed customers to control their data, and this includes exporting it for their own purposes, as well as deleting their account and data. We'll talk you through how to export your fitness data in the steps below.

How to export your Fitbit data (short-term)

If you just want to export a months-worth of your Fitbit data (technically 31 days), there is a way to do that.

1. Go to fitbit.com in your web browser of choice.
2. On the top right of the page, click on Log in to access your Dashboard.

3. Click on the gear icon.
4. Click on Settings.

5. Click on Data Export.

6. Choose the time period and data you want to download, as well as what file format you wish to download it in.
7. Click Download.

How to export the complete archive of your Fitbit data

1. Go to fitbit.com in your web browser of choice.
2. On the top right of the page, click on Log in to access your Dashboard.

3. Click on the gear icon.
4. Click on Settings.

5. Click on Data Export.

6. Click on Request Data under Export Your Account Archive.

7. After you do this, you'll receive an email at the address tied to your Fitbit account. Open the email and confirm your data archive request. This is a safety feature.
8. Once you've confirmed your data request, you'll receive another email with a link for you to download your Fitbit account data.
9. Download your data and save the file you your computer.

How to export your Fitbit community data

1. Go to fitbit.com in your web browser of choice.
2. On the top right of the page, click on Log in to access your Dashboard.

3. Click on your profile photo at the top right.

4. Click on the Community tab at the top of the screen.

5. Once more, click on your profile photo at the top right.
6. Click on Settings.

7. Click on the Personal tab.
8. Click on the Personal Information tab.
9. Click on the data you wish to download.

10. Download your data and save the file you your computer.

How to export your Fitbit GPS data (in-app)

You can download your GPS data for security or analysis in another application as a Training Center XML (TCX) file.

1. Open your Fitbit app and tap on the Today tab at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap the Excercise tile (looks like an orange stick figure running).
3. Tap the activity with the GPS data that you want to export.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

4. Tap the 3 dots in the top right corner.
5. Tap Export as TCX File (on Android phones, dap Download TCS file).Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

6. Share or save the file.

How to export your Fitbit GPS data (on the web)

If you prefer to download your TCX files directly to the desktop, then opt for this method.

1. Go to fitbit.com in your web browser of choice.
2. On the top right of the page, click on Log in to access your Dashboard.

3. Click on the Log tab in your Dashboard.

4. Find the actvity with the GPS data you want to export, and click View Details.

5. Click the 3 dots.
6. Click Export as TCX file.

7. Saved the downloaded file to your computer.

What to expect after you export your data

If you are trying to download more than one activity, day, or month of data, Fitbit says that it may take several days to generate your data archive, particularly if you have a large amount of data. You can check on your data archive request at any time in your account settings under Data Export.

The good news is that you are free to export, download, and save your data as often as you like. You don't need to delete your data or account, though you have that option as well if that is what you prefer. Whichever method you choose, Fitbit has provided several tools to allow you to manage and control your personal fitness data.

Privacy-focused fitness gear

As a Fitbit wearer, you no doubt value tracking your health and fitness goals and workouts regularly. Why not add additional watch smarts and a strong privacy focus with a feature-packed Apple Watch? We recommend looking at one of the standard aluminum Series 5 watches with a sport loop band for maximum comfort, utility, and peace of mind.

Sure, the Series 5 Apple Watch is capable of tracking and collecting a treasure trove of personal health and fitness data, but it also comes with some of the best tools to manage and protect that data. Additional safety features include fall detection, international SOS, and an emergency SOS feature.

If the thought of Google now owning your Fitbit data is keeping you up at night, or if you are just finally ready to make the jump to the Apple Watch, chances are you are thinking about dropping your Fitbit in a drawer and deleting your account. We'll show you how to do this in a few simple steps.

How to delete your Fitbit account (in-app)

1. Open your Fitbit app and tap on the Today tab at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap on your profile picture in the top left corner of the app.
3. Scroll down and tap on Manage Data.
4. Tap Delete Account and follow the on-screen prompts.Source: Jeramy Johnson / iMore

How to delete your Fitbit account (on the web)

1. Go to fitbit.com in your web browser of choice.
2. On the top right of the page, click on Log in to access your Dashboard.

3. Click on the gear icon.
4. Click on Settings.

5. Scroll down the page and click on Delete Account, then follow the on-screen prompts.

Now you've done it! Your Fitbit account and associated data will be deleted shortly. While your part is done, it isn't an immediate thing; and there's a reason for that.

Fitbit gives you up to a week (7 full days) to come back rejoin Fitbit with your data intact. This is in case you change your mind and want to stay in the Fitbit fold, or in case you forgot to download your data before you deleted your account. After that first week, your data is maintained by Fitbit, but you'll be locked out of the account and cannot access it.

Fitbit says that while most of your data will be permanently deleted within a month (30 days), it may take as long as three months (90 days) for them to flush their systems of your information completely. If you still have worries or concerns about Fitbit's data policies, we advise you to consult their Privacy Policy.

Protect your fitness privacy

The Series 5 Apple Watch Nike Edition is a great replacement for the privacy-conscious fitness enthusiast. Not only is your data encrypted on the watch, but Apple's privacy standards for how they handle data transferred to your Apple Health and related apps are also industry-leading.

The Series 5 Apple Watch Nike Edition packs the latest S5 processor and W3 wireless chip along with a variety of health sensors to monitor and track your fitness. It comes standard with GPS and has an available LTE model, and you can rest assured knowing that if you are injured or in danger, help is a button-press away.

Google is buying Fitbit, which previously bought Pebble, and if my Twitter feed is any indication, not everyone is happy about it. Small, beloved hardware companies that are struggling to survive on their own being gobbled up by the big tech titans is almost becoming a cliche. But it's also affecting a lot of customers. Namely, us. So, let's break it down.

First, shout out to the biz pubs for keeping their headlines on this real:

• Google buys Fitbit for 2.1 Billion to Boost Hardware
• Google to Buy Fitbit, Amping Up Wearables Race

Boosting! Amping up! And the Apple headlines from last week?

• Apple Revamping Smart Home Efforts After Falling Behind Amazon, Google
• Apple Bets on New $249 AirPods Pro Amid Weak iPhone Sales

Falling! Weak!

C'mon friends, you're not even trying to hide it!

Anyway, in a blog post, Google's Rick Osterloh, Senior Vice President, Devices & Services said:

In a second blog post Sameer Samat, Vice President, Product Management, Android, Google Play & Wear OS;

In other words, Google was never able to translate the success of Android for phones into Android for other product categories. Not tablets. Not watches. Neither Android Wear nor Wear OS ever helped create any truly compelling or competitive products to really catch on with consumers.

That's in stark contrast to the Apple Watch, which has been increasingly successful building off the iPhone and iOS platform.

Samsung, one of the biggest and most successful Android phone vendors, though, eschewed Android for their own Tizen platform instead.

Likewise Fitbit, which also built its own OS and gained a devoted following… just not one big enough to actually sustain it as an independent company, unfortunately.

We can see that by the bargain basement price Google ended up paying — 2.1 billion, less than 2x earnings, where 3x is usually the baseline.

James Park, co-founder and CEO of Fitbit, in a more traditional press release:

Hardware, apologies for the cliche, is just hard. I think sometimes we get excited and hyperbolic when new products are announced, and companies try to Jedi-mind-trick us about how far they've come in such short a time.

But Google has struggled with hardware. As much as the market likes to criticize Apple for being bad at services, Apple services keep expanding, as do their profits from services.

Google, on the other hand, bought and had to fire sale off Motorola, keeping only the patents and the aforementioned Osterloh. Google Glass shattered in the market. The Pixel Phones have never sold well and been plagued by different hardware issues over the years. The terrifying Boston Dynamics zombi-bots came and went. They bought HTC's design team and while I really like the looks of the Pixel 4, it's unclear how well that team is assimilating into Google. The Pixel Slate was so panned so badly they canceled the entire category. The original Pixel Buds didn't take root and the new ones aren't slated until next year. And they never managed to release the long-rumored Pixel watch.

Even software is tough, much less ecosystem. Bugs are one thing but establishing platforms — well, there's never a guarantee. Just look at Microsoft with mobile.

And, yeah, Google with tablets and watches. Particularly watches where, they've bought technology from Fossil and now the entirety of Fitbit.

Sameer Samet said:

Five years ago, Apple announced the original Apple Watch and it went on sale the next spring.

Much like Google's initial reaction to the iPad was Honeycomb, which really helped nobody and nothing, the announcement of Android Wear just didn't have much there, there.

With Android for phones, Google was smart but also fortunate. There were a bunch of skilled phone makers on the market who knew how to make the hardware. Samsung, Motorola, HTC, and others. Google undercut Microsoft and took over the software part of the modular play.

With tablets, there was Tablet PC, but it was nowhere nearly as competitive or innovative a space until the iPad. With smartwatches, there was Microsoft's spot, Pebble, and precious little else, until Apple Watch.

At the silicon level, it was and remains even worse. Apple is on the S5 system-in-package already, and is evens stuffing H1 systems-in-package into our ears now with AirPods Pro, and Qualcomm has only managed to serve up some twice rehashed old phone chips with a co-processor. They have more on the way, but it's hard to see them being able to even afford to invest in wearable silicon when they have profit and loss on each chip — unlike Apple which worries only about the whole device — without a successful market. Chicken, meet egg.

So, will Google + Fitbit be able to do any better than Google was alone? Maybe. I'd dearly love for there to be real competition for the Apple Watch on the market.

Apple is good at competing with themselves. See the previous music player market and the current tablet and watch markets, which were and are essentially iPod, iPad, and Apple Watch markets. But they're always best when they're competing against strong competitors, and that's always best for us, the customers.

But, with Google, it's never just about the product. It's about the data.

And that's where the biggest challenge in all this lies. People who love Fitbit LOVE Fitbit. The company. Their products. And their community. And they may not share or transfer that love over to Google. They may even be suspicious about their data and Google's intentions towards it.

Osterloh, to his credit, seems to understand this, saying:

Now, when Google talks about privacy, what they've been talking about to date is privacy from third parties and data retention with Google — giving you the ability to delete it once they've extracted all value from it. Which is totally not the same thing.

So, we'll have to wait and see how all of this is implemented.

Of course, Google doesn't sell anyone's personal information, it's way too valuable for that. And they don't have to run ads against all types of data either. A lot of it can be used to build the all-important algorithms that power everything internally.

So far, though, there are just too many questions and not enough answers. The end result some consumers will probably want to see, finally, is a Pixel Watch. Something that can help point the way forward for all of Google's Wear OS partners and kick-start a better, brighter computational watch world for everyone.

And for Google, it's to have a fleet of Watches out there, Pixel and otherwise, just collecting all the data they need to keep building that Star Trek computer they've always wanted to take from fiction and make fact.

And we, all of us, are going to have to very carefully navigate between their interests and hour, love for Fitbit and what Fitbit becomes.

What you need to know

• Fitbit has announced the Versa 2 — its latest smartwatch with Alexa, 5+ days of battery, and more.
• The company's launching Fitbit Premium for $10/month to access personalized programs/coaching.
• Also unveiled is the $50 Aria Air smart scale.

Once or twice a year, Fitbit takes to New York City to talk about its latest lineup of products to carry it though the next few months. Last March saw the unveiling of the Versa Lite, Inspire Series, and Ace 2, and on August 28, Fitbit showcased a new smartwatch and smart scale.

In addition to the new hardware, however, Fitbit also announced a big shift for the company — a renewed focus on services to tie all of its tech together.

Fitbit Versa 2

First thing's first, let's talk about Fitbit's latest smartwatch, the Versa 2.

The Versa 2 looks a lot like last year's Versa, and that's not a bad thing at all. The squircle design is sticking around for another year, and just like the Versa Lite that was announced this past March, Versa 2 opts for the single-button design instead of the original Versa's three-button system. The body looks a bit chunkier than the first Versa, but it feels comfy and lightweight when worn.

You'll still find pretty large bezels surrounding the Versa 2's display, but one thing that has changed is the type of panel being used. The Versa 2 ships with an AMOLED screen, and as expected, it's more colorful and vibrant than with deeper blacks compared to previous iterations of the smartwatch.

And, perhaps most important of all, the ugly "Fitbit" logo that used to be plastered below the display is no more 👏.

On the right frame of the Versa 2 is its biggest functional change over the first-gen model — a microphone. This is Fitbit's first wearable to offer a microphone, and that allows for a lot of new possibilities. Not only can you now use your voice to reply to text messages (this functionality is limited to Android users, similar to Quick Replies), you can also talk to Alexa. Similar to how you'd use Alexa on an Echo speaker, you can use the assistant on the Versa 2 to ask about the weather, check your calendar, start workouts, add items to your Amazon shopping list, etc. Accessing Alexa on the Versa 2 simply requires a press-and-hold of the side button, prompting everyone's favorite AI to be at your call and beckon.

Other aspects of the Versa 2 remain mostly the same. There's no dedicated GPS built into the watch, meaning you'll need to carry your phone with you in order to map outdoor walks/runs. Battery life has been slightly upgraded from 4+ days of use to 5+, while Fitbit Pay is now available as a default feature and not limited to the Special Edition model.

The Versa 2 is launching on September 15, and it retains the same price of the original Versa with a starting price of $199.95 and the Special Edition selling for slightly more at $229.95. The Special Edition comes with two watch bands instead of one, along with a 90-day free trial for Fitbit Premium (more on that soon).

If you want to be among the first to own Versa 2, pre-orders are open today.

Fitbit Aria Air

Fitbit's second hardware announcement took the form of the Aria Air.

The Aria Air records your weight and BMI when you step on it, and similar to other Aria scales, that information is synced with the Fitbit app.

This is Fitbit's first smart scale under $50, and it's a smart move for the company. Fitbit already dominates the $100+ smart scale niche with a market share of 73%, so this transition to a more affordable option is nice to see.

There's not a firm launch date for the Aria Air quite yet, but Fitbit says it'll be available at some point in October for $49.95.

Fitbit Premium

Launching in September, Fitbit Premium is an enhanced version of the regular Fitbit app experience that's designed to give users more tools to live healthier lives.

There are many different layers to Fitbit Premium, with the main features being:

• Premium sleep tools — Guided sleep sessions, Sleep Score breakdown
• Guided programs — Activity, nutrition, and sleep programs that are tailored specifically for you
• Premium Challenges — New types of challenges to compete and work with friends towards fitness goals
• Premium Wellness Report — Printable report of your Fitbit data that can be shared with your doctor
• Premium Health Coaching — One-on-one coaching to help with weight-loss and diabetes management

Fitbit made a big deal about Premium during its press event, and rightfully so. As CEO James Park put it, the company's transitioning away from "episodic device sales" and moving towards a long-term service that'll instill an idea of "what it means to be on Fitbit versus using a Fitbit device."

Fitbit Premium will be entering a very crowded market, as services like MyFitnessPal, Lifesum, Lose It!, Noom, and others offer similar feature sets. With that said, Fitbit does have the unique advantage of combining so many tools into one program and tying that together with its hardware.

You'll be able to sign up for Fitbit Premium this September for either $9.99/month or $79.99/year. All Fitbit users will be able to get a free trial, and if you already pay for Fitbit Coach at $7.99/month, you'll be grandfathered into that price and migrate over to the Premium service.

A new age for Fitbit

I've been a fan of Fitbit's for a few years now, and as excited as I am for the Versa 2, I'm most intrigued by how Fitbit Premium will shape the company over the next few years.

The Fitbit ecosystem is one of the best in the health-tracking world, with a large part of this revolving around how well all of Fitbit's devices tie into the Fitbit app. In its current stage, the app offers in-depth statistics on your activity, free challenges for you to do with your friends, and access to Fitbit's in-app social network for other like-minded users.

Fitbit Premium looks like an enticing package and is priced quite competitively, but I am a little anxious to see how much Fitbit pushes it at people that use the app for free. None of the current functionality will be taken away, but constantly being asked to sign up for Premium could get annoying.

What is certain, however, is that Fitbit is entering this upcoming holiday season with an impressive package of hardware and software. For new and existing Fitbit users alike, these next couple of months should be pretty exciting.

The breakdown

We're a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. We know scales are for more than just tracking weight — they can be a powerful health tool, and the right smart scale can be huge for your fitness journey. Our top pick is the Withings Body+. The largest difference between the Withings Body+ and the Fitbit Aria 2 is the number of measurements each scale tracks. While the Fitbit Aria 2 is an excellent simple scale for Fitbit users, it's missing some key smart scale measurements that the Withings Body+ tracks quite well.

As you can see from the above table, the Body+ just measures more, offering a better total picture of your weight. It even gives you the local weather so that you can plan your day.

The Withings Body+ is geared toward need specific measurements such as water weight, bone mass, muscle mass, and nutrition tracking. It's also great for growing families, with the Pregnancy Tracker and Baby Mode. The Fitbit Aria 2 is more of an "everyone" scale. It measures and tracks the aspects of your body that are important for everyday health, like BMI and body fat percentage. The accompanying Withings Health Mate app syncs with over 100 other health apps, including Apple Health, MyFitnessPal, and RunKeeper.

The Aria 2's measurements are more than good enough for anyone wanting to track weight loss and progressive fitness, without getting unnecessarily in-depth. If you already own a Fitbit, you'll already have the Fitbit app you need to use with the scale.

While it seems like you might need to have a Fitbit to use a Fitbit-friendly scale, in reality, all you need is the app.

While the app is keen on keeping track of your weight day in and day out, even if you don't have the app, you'll still be able to step on the scale and have your weight displayed without an issue - but we do recommend downloading it if you pick up your Fitbit Aria 2 to get the most out of your smart scale and weight loss journey.

Using the Fitbit App, you can track and monitor your weight gain and loss and log even the slightest differences in your body changes. Simply step on the scale and your Fitbit app will automatically receive your weight at that moment, logging it so you can compare your body mass form day to day.

Although it's not necessary to have a Fitbit in order to use a Fitbit Aria 2, having a fitness tracking wearable is always a beneficial and convenient tool to have wrapped around your wrist.

Most Fitbits are waterproof, track your sleep schedule, allow for female health tracking, and depending on the model you end up going with, can do so much more to custom-fit your day-to-day life style.

The Fitbit Versa is a sleek, smart, and incredibly stylish fitness accessory that tracks your daily steps, sleep cycle, caloric intake, female cycle, heart rate, and so, so much more.

You get a whopping four-day battery life with the Fitbit Versa, and the device itself is both swim proof and boasts 15+ different exercise modes, so whether you're biking, sprinting, lifting, skating, swimming, skipping, jogging, or all of the above, the Versa has you covered.

How's your Fitbit Charge 2 doing? If it's beginning to seem a bit dingy, swapping out its band can give it a fresh look, and now you can grab a three-pack of silicone bands by SKYLET in the color and size of your choice for as low as $3.85 when you enter promo code Q6EC8JE5 during checkout at Amazon. None of the options rise above $5 when you use the code, so it's a perfect time to stock up. These 3-packs normally sell for up to $12 otherwise.

Each three-pack comes with bands of three different colors, from blue to red, pink, gray, and more. There's a choice of small or large bands for most of the color combinations, though they're only compatible with the Fitbit Charge 2. The bands are made of high-quality rubber that's breathable and soft. That makes them a good choice for athletes and exercising too. They have an adjustable length, a stainless steel buckle, and a rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars based on over 400 reviews at Amazon.

Mother's Day is almost here, and Fitbit is celebrating by offering discounts of up to $30 off new activity trackers and more, like the Fitbit Charge 3. Those deals are set to expire on May 11 though, so be sure to check out the sale while you still have time.

You can grab a Fitbit Versa in a bunch of different colors including black and silver aluminum, but one of the more popular colors is the eye-catching rose gold. The Fitbit Versa Special Edition comes in black and rose gold aluminum color options, while the Fitbit Versa Lite only comes in silver, blue, and mulberry color choices.

The Fitbit Versa may be a sleek and stylish pick in rose gold, but it also comes in black aluminum and silver aluminum colors, too. Be sure to check out all three eye-catching options before making your final choice.

There are tons of different options out there for Fitbit Versa bands, but if you wanted something that matched your rose gold Fitbit perfectly while still being functional for working out, we suggest taking a peek at the super comfortable and affordable Humenn Silicone Band in rose gold in their shiny rose gold color.

If you wanted something a bit more formal and business-y (aka something not as good for working out but a lot more professional for day-to-day wear) then the iGK Milanese Band is worth checking out, too.

To stay on top of your health game, it makes sense to sync your two favorite fitness devices. For awhile, users have been requesting a sync feature between Fitbit and Apple Health. Unfortunately, Fitbit still doesn't have plans to implement a convenient sync feature between the two. While downloading a third-party app another may not be your first choice, it does solve the problem. Here's how to do it.

• Sync your fitness: Sync Solver for Fitbit ($5 at App Store)

1. Once you've downloaded the Sync Solver for Fitbit app, open it and press Sync Now.
2. Next, your Apple Health app will open. You can choose to turn on all the categories or only the ones you're interested in syncing.
3. You'll be prompted to log in to your Fitbit account and asked for permission to your data, press Allow.

4. After granting permission, open Sync Solver so it can begin syncing. It might take some time, so be patient.
5. Upon completion, check your data on Apple Health to confirm the sync was successful.

Your work is pretty much done after that. Sync Solver uses Apple's background sync feature. The app will automatically sync data from your Fitbit throughout the day. You can always open the app and sync manually, too. Not everyone loves third-party apps, but it's the best solution available until Fitbit and Apple Health decide to make things easier.

Our favorite app

When it comes to choosing an app for syncing Fitbit data to Apple Health, Sync Solver is a popular favorite among Fitbit community members and we have to agree.

myFitnessSync ($6 at App Store)

This is another sync app worth checking out if you like to compare your options. It functions the same but costs a dollar more.

Power Sync (FREE at App Store)

That's right, this sync app is free. So, what's the catch? You won't be able to enjoy auto syncing without making an in-app purchase. If you don't mind manually syncing your data, this is a viable option.

Fitbit Applet from IFTTT (FREE at IFTTT)

A nice alternative to downloading a third-party app, this applet is also free. You can opt for this applet that syncs all of your Fitbit data or choose one that has a specific use, like syncing your sleep readings.

Fitbit.com is the best place you can pick up your Fitbit Charge 3. Besides giving you peace of mind because you're ordering straight from Fitbit itself, you also get the opportunity to order extended warranty on your fitness tracker, which is a convenient and practical feature Amazon can't offer you.

On the hunt for a good deal? Then Amazon.com is a terrific marketplace to check out. Not only are there frequent sales and consistently thorough user reviews that allow you to get the best bang for your buck, but you can use Amazon Prime to get the device shipped to your house quickly and efficiently. Amazon is a prime choice when it comes to the Fitbit Charge 3.

If you're wondering what the big differences are between the Fitbit Charge 3 and the Fitbit Charge 2, there are a few. The Charge 2's screen is a little bit smaller, is made out of stainless steel, and it has an OLED tap display. Meanwhile, the Fitbit Charge 3 has a slightly larger display, is made from aluminum, has an SPO2 monitor, sports an OLED touchscreen display rather than tap. It's also water resistant up to 50 meters, so you don't have to worry about shorting it out on your daily swim or if you splash it with water.

Both the Fitbit Charge 3 and Fitbit Charge 2 come with interchangeable straps that you can change and customize depending on your daily life. Some people prefer to have a silicone strap with their fitness band since it's the best for active lifestyles, but you can always go for a leather or metal strap if you want to class your Fitbit Charge up.

Fitbit's always been about adding to its collection — unlike many other tech companies, products stick around for years on its proverbial shelves. The Zip, for instance, that clip-based instigator of the Fitbit revolution back in 2012, was only recently discontinued. Why? Because people still wanted it, so Fitbit still sold it.

What replaced it — the Inspire and Inspire HR — also replaced three other Fitbit products, and from the looks of things, this spring cleaning has done the now-public company some much-needed good.

The Inspire and Inspire HR are very similar products, with a couple of notable differences. They're also two of the best and most useful Fitbits ever released, especially for the price. So should you buy one and, if so, which one? Let's dig in.

• Tiny form factor that's comfortable to wear 24/7
• Heart rate and sleep tracking
• Attractive design with easy-to-change bands
• Fully waterproof and swimproof
• Excellent 5-day battery life

• Vertical screen is tiny and narrow
• Notifications are real-time only, no archive
• No additional app support beyond what's on tracker
• No Fitbit Pay

• Tiny form factor that's comfortable to wear 24/7
• Attractive design with easy-to-change bands
• Fully waterproof and swimproof
• Excellent 5-day battery life

• Lack of heart rate means losing many fitness features
• Vertical screen is tiny and narrow
• Notifications are real-time only, no archive
• No additional app support beyond what's on tracker
• No Fitbit Pay

Note: I'm going to talk mainly about the Inspire HR in this review, as I think it's the better product overall, but most of the points pertain to the Inspire, too.

Fitbit Inspire and Inspire HR Review

The last Fitbit I wore for any length of time was the Charge 3, a near-perfect blend of fitness tracking and smartwatch features. I think it's the best fitness tracker ever made and still the best Fitbit product you can buy. So I was kind of shocked to see, upon buckling the Inspire HR to my wrist, just how close this tiny wrist tracklette (yes, that's what I'm calling it) gets to its larger, more expensive counterpart from a features perspective. But for a couple of minor features, the Inspire HR is a full-fledged Fitbit, and it's become my preferred wearable.

Before we get too deep into the weeds, let's talk about the differences between the $70 Inspire and $100 Inspire HR. Fundamentally, the two trackers differ in only two ways: the former lacks a heart rate monitor, and comes with a cheaper peg-and-loop band that's akin to the Apple Watch's sport band, whereas the Inspire HR has the aforementioned 24/7 heart rate sensor and a more traditional buckle, though the band is still made from a comfortable rubberized plastic.

The Inspire is small, way smaller than I thought it would be. The tracker, sans band, is about 1.4 inches tall — more than the Charge 3, actually — but it's considerably narrower, at .63 inches, which makes it feel less cumbersome on the wrist. The underside of the Inspire also slopes inward as it meets the wrist, which tricks your brain into thinking it's thinner than it is. Regardless of what head games the designers are playing, this is about as close to invisible as I've felt a Fitbit to be in my many years wearing these products.

I'm also a huge fan of the black-and-white "panda" contrast of the Inspire HR the company is selling; you can get the HR in all-black, lilac, and panda, while the Inspire comes in all-black and a darker "sangria" option. Both models have both small and large band options in the box, which is generous, and there's no difference in the size or quality of the OLED touch panel.

Being much narrower than the Charge 3, Fitbit necessarily needed to make some usability sacrifices here, and while it did the best it could, focusing on a vertical-only interface, reading text on here is a challenge. That's likely why there's no place to see notifications once they've come through — you either see 'em as they come in, or you miss them.

The home screen is the watch face, which by default also shows you one additional stat — steps taken, heart rate (for the HR), today's date, etc. — and you swipe up to see additional stats in slightly more detail, pressing the single button to return to the home screen. Swiping down lets you start exercising, from a run to a swim to weight training or intervals. While the UI is simplistic, the actual statistics gleaned from your workouts are the same, at least on the HR, as Fitbit's more expensive trackers.

Fitbit makes the software experience that much better by incorporating subtle animations into every transition and icon. Every time I begin a run, I look forward to the little stick-figure person who begins the journey with me. There's a fluidity to the interface that's been absent on previous Fitbit trackers, and it gives the band a life — and liveliness — that is sorely needed when you're interacting with something on your wrist. That the Inspire duo replaces three distinct lines within Fitbit — the Alta and Alta HR, the Flex 2, and the Zip — speaks to the confidence the company has in the finished product.

Of course, given the diminutive size and relatively low prices, both the Inspire and Inspire HR are hampered in some ways. The touchscreen really is quite small, and that limits the number of things you can do on the thing itself; you can't even set alarms without going into the app first. There's no GPS radio, so you'll need a phone with you if you want to accurately track the traversed area of a run or bike ride.

There's no NFC, so no Fitbit Pay. Battery life is on the shorter side of five days — I got around four and a half days in two separate charging sessions — and the information density on the tracker itself is sorely lacking. Yes, you can tell how many steps you've taken or what your current heart rate is, but anything that requires a bit of study needs to be referred to on the app. The included watch faces, if you can even call them that, are about as boring and plain as they come. And unlike the larger-screened Charge 3, neither of the Inspire products support Quick Replies on Android, a better-on-paper feature, granted, but still one that comes in handy every once in a whioe.

Still, none of these few downsides detract much from the sublime reality that this is easily the most comfortable Fitbit — wearable in general — that I've worn to date. I wear it to sleep, I wear it in the shower and when bathing my daughter, I wear it while working, and the only time I notice it is when I'm admiring the panda color scheme.

Fitbit Inspire ($70)

The Inspire is in a difficult spot, because without heart rate tracking it's basically the same product Fitbit's been releasing annually for nearly 10 years now. Yes, the form factor is the same as its HR counterpart, but you lose so much in the way of functionality I really can't recommend it.

Fitbit Inspire HR ($100)

The Inspire HR, on the other hand, is my new favorite fitness tracker, period. It does everything I want, including receive notifications (albeit so does the regular Inspire), taking stock of my resting and working heart rates, tracking my steps, my runs, and my (lack of) sleep. Even the magnetic charger isn't a disaster, which is a surprise given Fitbit's track record.

Both of these products are worthy successors to the products they replace, and prove that even without massive innovation, Fitbit still has an uncanny ability to build fitness products for every type of person. The Versa Lite may be a better smartwatch, and the Charge 3 a more well-rounded tracker, but the Inspire HR is the one that's staying on my wrist and, to me, that means much more at the end of five days.

See at Fitbit

Unless you need built-in GPS, the Fitbit Versa is the better purchase for most people. It does just about everything the Ionic can, and if you step up to the Special Edition, you can still get Fitbit Pay for a great deal less than the Ionic's starting price.

Don't need built-in GPS? Get the Fitbit Versa.

The Fitbit Versa and Ionic are very, very similar products. They share more features than they don't, but there are a couple of key things to keep in mind. For starters, let's talk about those designs.

The Versa is Fitbit's best-looking smartwatch to-date, and it draws a lot of inspiration from both the Apple Watch and Pebble Time. Fitbit chose a squircle shape for Versa's body, and this gives it a very clean and minimalistic design that looks right at home whether you're at the gym or attending a formal dinner.

Along with the good looks, the Versa is also designed to fit and be comfortable on just about anyone's wrist. Versa is incredibly comfy to wear, and it practically disappears from your mind once you put it on thanks to how lightweight it is.

The Ionic feels just as good to wear, but its design pales in comparison when placed next to the Versa. While the Versa is sleek and fashion-forward, the Ionic has a sporty aesthetic that certainly won't appeal to everyone. It can be dressed up with a leather or metal watch band to look a touch classier, but even so, the Versa has a much more appealing and flexible design.

However, while the Ionic may not be as stylish as the Versa, it is the more powerful smartwatch. One big advantage it has is built-in GPS. When you go running with the Ionic, it can map your route without having to be connected to your phone. The Versa can record a route of where you run/walk, too, but it requires a constant connection to your phone in order to do so.

The Ionic also gets a lead in battery life at up to seven days of use, but with a 4+ day rating on the Versa, it still has much better endurance than just about every other smartwatch in its price range.

One look at the Fitbit Ace 2 and it's apparent that Fitbit put a lot of thought behind its design. Where the original Ace was a sleek and slim tracker, the Ace 2 has a much more kid-friendly design.

Fitbit says it learned that kids aren't quite as careful with wearables as adults are, and as such, designed the Ace 2 to be durable and resistant against the wear-and-tear of even the roughest kiddos.

The sturdy rubber case surrounding the tracker (available in colors Fitbit worked with kids to create) has a raised edge over the display to keep it protected against scratches and cracks. There's also waterproofing up to 50 meters and a battery that should last up to five days on a single charge.

Other features include activity and sleep tracking, fun clock faces, reminders to move, and more.

While all of that's great, what really helps the Ace 2 stand out is its excellent suite of parental controls that Fitbit gives parents/guardians.

Kids using the Ace 2 are limited to a Protected Kid View by default in the Fitbit app, only allowing them to see their fitness stats, badges, and change their clock face and avatar. If they want to be friends with other Fitbit users, they need to get parental permission first.

In the Parent View, you can keep tabs on your kids' activity, enable/disable certain features, and approve any friend requests your kids have made.

While the Fitbit Ace 2 isn't available for purchase quite yet, Fitbit says it'll be launching this summer for just $70.

Until that time comes, you can still buy the original Ace from 2018. It has the same fitness tracking and parental control features, but it doesn't have as good water resistance and the design may be a little too exposed for kids that are particularly rough. However, if you want a fitness tracker for your kid right now and don't feel like waiting for the Ace 2, it's still a solid buy.

Fitbit has announced a selection of new fitness trackers, each more budget-friendly than some of the company's current lineup. These include the Versa Lite Edition smartwatch, the Inspire and Inspire HR, and the kid-oriented Ace 2.

The Fitbit Versa Lite smartwatch and both the Inspire and Inspire HR bands are available for pre-order now, with shipping set to being within a couple of weeks. But the Fitbit Ace 2 isn't yet up for pre-order, and will instead ship this summer.

The Fitbit Versa Lite is a new smartwatch that looks a lot like the standard Versa, though there are important differences. The Versa Lite features only a single side button, rather than the three found on the Versa. It also lacks Wi-Fi and features four new color ways: Marina Blue, Mulberry, Lilac, and White.

The Inspire and Inspire HR fitness bands replace Fitbit's Alta, Alta HR, and Flex 2. They are geared more towards people who are new to fitness tracking and are just starting out, looking for something simple and affordable. The Inspire trackers feature all-day activity and sleep tracking, a 50-meter water resistance, and Fitbits' female health tracking. The Inspire HR also features 24/7 heart rate monitoring, a Cardio Fitness Level tracker, sleep stage tracking and 15 goal-based modes. Other than the heart rate-specific features, though, it's the same device as the Inspire.

Finally, there's the Fitbit Ace 2. Aimed towards kids, the Ace 2 comes in two color combinations: watermelon pink with a teal clasp, and night sky blue with a neon yellow clasp. It features all-day activity tracking and up to five days of battery life. It also improves on the original Ace's water resistance, offer resistance up to 50M. The Ace 2's colorful protective casing is also removable, so if your child wants something more grown up, that can one day take it out of the case and use it with an Inspire wrist band.

Fitbit recently held a press event in New York City to unveil its latest wave of fitness trackers for the upcoming Spring season. The new products include the Fitbit Versa Lite Edition, Inspire/Inspire HR, and Ace 2. Here's what you can look forward to from each one.

Fitbit Versa Lite Edition

From a design point of view, the Versa Lite is almost identical to the regular Versa — save for a few new colors. It has the same squircle body, LCD display, and uses the same watch band system. Fitbit's launching four new colorways for the Lite, including Marina Blue, Mulberry, Lilac, and White.

As you might have noticed by now, the Versa Lite only has one button on the left — no two additional buttons on its right side like the normal Versa does. In my initial hands-on with the Versa Lite, this didn't really make much of a difference. A single press of the button takes you back to the watch face and holding it down brings up a quick settings menu. The only thing you miss out on with the omission of the other two buttons is customizable app shortcuts.

Another big difference with the Versa Lite is that it doesn't have Wi-Fi. Because of this, software updates are handled a little differently. Rather than downloading it all at once, any available software updates will be seamlessly downloaded in the background in small chunks each time you sync the Versa Lite with the Fitbit app on your phone. When an update is fully downloaded, you'll get a notification to install and you'll be on your way.

Elsewhere, everything else with the Fitbit Versa Lite is pretty much the same. It has 24/7 heart-rate tracking, has access to Fitbit's female health tracking, showcases notifications from your phone, Quick Replies on Android, is waterproof up to 50M, and is rated for 4 days of use on a single charge.

What the Versa Lite cannot do is track floors climbed, on-device swim lap counting, store music, showcase on-screens workouts, or use Fitbit Pay.

If you're interested, the Fitbit Versa Lite Edition is available for pre-order starting today, March 6, for $159.95. That makes it a healthy $40 less than the regular Versa, and according to Fitbit, is designed for people that are looking for their first smartwatch but don't want to spend too much money for something with features they'll never use.

The value proposition here is quite enticing, and after some additional hands-on use, it'll be interesting to see if it makes sense buying a Versa Lite or just splurging anyways for the regular version.

$160 at Fitbit

Fitbit Inspire & Inspire HR

The Inspire and Inspire HR replace Fitbit's popular Alta, Alta HR, and Flex 2 which isn't all that surprising considering these trackers have been around for 2-3 years. According to Fitbit, the Inspire series is created for people that are just starting their fitness journey, want a wearable that's easy to use, and are conscious about the money they spend.

Based on what we've seen so far, it looks like the Inspire could be an absolute hit.

The design of the Inspire trackers is something Fitbit spent a lot of time on, and that became immediately evident when I put it on my wrist.

The overall size is incredibly small, it's ridiculously lightweight, and while the display is small, it's still easy to read and use its touchscreen.

Because of the Inspire's small size, Fitbit was able to do something pretty unique with it. In addition to being able to wear it on your wrist, you can also put it in a clip-on case and clip it onto your belt or pants. This is the first tracker of Fitbit's that you can do this with, and because of this functionality, the Inspire trackers are also replacing the Fitbit Zip.

In regards to health/fitness features, the Inspire does just about everything you'd expect. It has all-day activity and sleep tracking, 50M water resistance, the battery lasts up to 5 days per charge, and it supports Fitbit's female health tracking. When you upgrade to the Inspire HR, you have access to all of that in addition to 24/7 heart-rate monitoring, Cardio Fitness Level, sleep stage tracking, guided breathing sessions, and over 15 goal-based exercise modes.

The Inspire is available in Black and Sangria colors with the Inspire HR getting Black, Lilac, and White options. Pre-orders are open as of today, March 6, with the Inspire costing $69.95 and the Inspire HR going for just a little more at $99.95.

From $70 at Fitbit

Fitbit Ace 2

Third third and final tracker that was announced is the Ace 2 — a successor to the Ace from last year that served as Fitbit's debut into kid-focused wearables.

The Ace 2 retains a lot of what made the original Ace great, including all-day activity tracking and up to 5 days of battery life. As you can probably tell by now, the biggest change is the Ace 2's design.

Where the original Ace's designed didn't differ too much from the slim and lightweight Alta, the Ace 2 is protected by a durable plastic case that's raised over the display. This ensures that the tracker stays safe no matter what your kiddos get up to, and in addition to the Watermelon and Night Sky colors that are available by default, you can buy additional cases to change up the Ace 2's style. Also included is better waterproofing up to 50M.

Something else that's interesting is that the Ace 2's body is identical to that of the Inspire and Inspire HR. As such, when kids grow older and decide they want something that looks more grown-up, they can take off the Ace 2's protective case and equip it with a regular Inspire watch band. Parents can also give kids access to additional watch faces instead of the kid-specific ones.

The Fitbit Ace 2 will be available this summer for $69.95, and according to Fitbit, it's designed for children 6 years and older.

$70 at Fitbit

Fitbit Rewards & an updated Fitbit app

Along with the three new trackers, Fitbit also announced two other things — a new rewards system and a complete overhaul to the existing Fitbit app.

Fitbit Rewards is currently available to a limited number of beta testers and allows users to earn points for using their Fitbit trackers for tracking steps, sleep, and active minutes. As you acquire points, you can redeem them for rewards from Adidas, Blue Apron, Deezer, and Fitbit itself.

There's currently no set date as to when Fitbit Rewards will be available for everyone, but I certainly hope it sees a proper launch sooner rather than later. Everyone likes free stuff, and if people can track their daily activity with a Fitbit tracker and get real, tangible prizes for doing so, that could be incentive enough to go with a Fitbit tracker instead of a competiting one from Samsung, Garmin, etc.

As for the Fitbit app update, an upcoming redesign will make it easier to use and see all of your logged data. The app will be broken up into just three pages instead of the current five, a new Fitbit Focus section will showcase "relevant insights, messages, and tips to keep users engaged", and the overall aesthetic just looks a lot cleaner and more pleasing.

The update is coming "soon", but that's as specific of a timeframe that we have at the moment.

The Fitbit Zip is a small, inconspicuous, yet robust fitness tracker from one of the best names in the business. It's designed to be a simple and easy way to get into the world of fitness tracking. This little coin-like device will keep track of your steps, distance, and calories burned throughout the day and will let you sync it all up to your smartphone with the Fitbit App as well.

One of the best parts of the Zip is just how small and compact it is. This device comes with a silicon clip holder that will allow you to tuck it away anywhere either on your clothes or in your bag so you can track all your stuff without anything getting in your way. The hardest part might be remembering that it's there at all.

The clip is not the only way to wear it though. Sometimes when you're running or working out, you want it to be a bit more accessible and thanks to good old fashioned intuition, some folks out there figured out that the Zip is also the perfect size gadget to wear on your wrist and created some wrist bands for it. If you prefer the wrist-worn method or you would just rather have your Zip more accessible during your activity then you should pick up a wristband or two.

When it comes to fitness trackers and wearables, Fitbit is definitely one of the most well-known companies in the business and for good reason. For most of the past decade, it has been making robust and feature-packed gadgets that go quite a long way in helping us stay healthy and fit. The Zip and the Flex 2 have both been around for a few years and are some of the more basic of the company's gadgets, but they both do a great job at what they do. When choosing between the two, it really comes down to what kind of workouts you prefer.

The same but different

For the most part these two products have the same features, but they go about them in different ways. Both devices are designed to be simple yet robust fitness trackers. They are small and inconspicuous and will help you accurately keep track of your basic movement throughout the day.

Let's start with what's the same. Both devices will track your steps, distance traveled, and calories burned throughout the day and both will allow you to sync your data back to your smartphone so you can record all your data in the Fitbit app. That's where the similarities end.

The most obvious difference between the two trackers is their design. The Zip is a small, almost coin-like device that's meant to be clipped onto your clothes with the provided silicon clip holder. The Flex 2 is a tiny cylindrical gadget that is meant to be worn on your wrist via the included wristband.

The way you interact with them is also very different. On the Zip, you simply tap the screen to scroll between the basic, non-customizable screens. The Flex 2 ditches a screen for a series of LED lights and a haptic engine that lights up and buzzes you to tell you how close you are to your fitness goals or to notify you of incoming texts on your smartphone. The responses can be a bit confusing as well, if you're not used to what it's trying to tell you.

In addition to tracking the basics described above, the Flex 2 also tracks your sleep and your active minutes during the day. This means that if you are moving at all, even a walk around the block at lunch, the Flex 2 will note that and keep track of it. The best part is you don't have to tell it that you're moving. With something called SmartTrack, the Flex 2 will automatically detect exercise and begin tracking it for you. This only works when worn on your wrist, however.

This brings me to another difference between the two products. The Zip has a very limited array of accessories for it mainly just in different colored clips you can buy. The Flex 2, on the other hand, has lots of different necklaces and holders for it, so you can wear it in a bunch of different ways and to accessorize it to your hearts content.

Probably the most important difference between them is the waterproofing — or lack thereof in the Zip's case. The Zip is sweat resistant but certainly not waterproof and it's advised that you keep it well away from the shower and the pool. The Flex 2 is a whole different story. The Flex 2 is so waterproof that it will even keep track of your laps if you go for a swim.

The last thing to touch on is battery life. Again, both products go about battery life in different ways. The Zip is powered by a standard CR2032 watch battery that Fitbit claims will get you up to six months of battery life. This also means that you never have to worry about charging it. Yes, you will need to buy batteries every now and then but those watch batteries are super cheap. The Flex 2 has a built-in rechargeable battery that Fitbit claims will get you up to five days of battery life. Charging it up can also be annoying because you have to remove the tracker from whatever holder it's in and use the proprietary charger to juice it up, meaning if you need extra chargers, you'll have to buy some separately.

Basically, both products are solid fitness trackers that will do a great job at keeping track of your basic fitness activity throughout the day. The biggest deciding factors will be if you want to be able to take your tracker in the pool with your to track your laps (and you're willing to pay more for the privilege), or you want battery life that you don't have to worry about.

Despite this, it's hard not to recommend the Flex 2 over the Zip. At only $20 more, it offers more features in a more flexible package.

The Fitbit Zip is a great little fitness tracker from one of the biggest names in fitness wearables. It was designed to be an inconspicuous yet effective pedometer to help you keep track of your fitness goals. It's about an inch big and less than half an inch thick and comes with a silicon case with a clip so you can hook it to your clothes and keep it out of the way during your work day or workout. The Zip will accurately keep track of your steps, distance traveled, and calories burned and will also sync up all this data to your smartphone. It's a pretty great way to get yourself started in the world of fitness tracking.

It's not too often you come across a product that actually costs more on Amazon than it does from the manufacturer itself, but unfortunately, that is the case here. Directly from Fitbit's website you can get the Zip for around $60, which isn't too bad of a price. Head on over to Amazon, however, and the cheapest you can find them is for around $80. They only other legitimate place I could find to buy them was on eBay.

Aside from being the cheapest place to get it, buying the Zip directly from Fitbit has some advantages. First is simply the knowledge that you're getting it directly from the folks that make it. Fitbit also offers free shipping on orders over $50, as well as a 45-day money back guarantee. The Zip also comes with a 1-year manufacturer warranty.

The downside is that Fitbit only sells them in one color, Charcoal. When the Zip first launched you could get it in Green, Blue, Charcoal or Magenta, but now Fitbit only sells them in Charcoal. You can still find the Blue and Magenta versions on Amazon but they cost around $120 or more. At that point, you're better off getting a Charge 3 for ten dollars more. If you really want one of the other colors but don't want to spend twice the money, you can find the others on eBay. Just keep in mind that they might be used and you'll have to deal with seller fees.

The Zip has been around for several years now and over time Fitbit has moved away from offering multiple color options to just one: charcoal. In truth, the fact that the Zip is still even sold directly by Fitbit after it's almost 7-year lifespan is a testament to how robust this fitness tracker is.

That being said, as time moves on and companies shift their focus to newer products, they have to make some tough decisions regarding older products. Offering a product in multiple colors is more expensive for a company, so scaling back to one offering has undoubtedly been cheaper for Fitbit.

To sum it all up: it makes sense that Fitbit wouldn't offer other colors directly, but it's disappointing if you're looking for anything besides boring ol' black.

Even though Fitbit only offers the Zip in its most boring color, we thankfully live in a world with this little thing called the internet. The green, blue, and pink are definitely more exciting but will also be tougher to find. If you want to snag the green version of the Zip, Amazon has them in stock for about $85, which is quite a premium to pay just for a different color.

The pink and blue versions can usually be found on eBay, but more often than not they are used or at least opened. Pricing there can vary quite a bit. The lowest I generally found them for was around $55.

The Zip actually comes with a silicon clip that you can hook onto your clothes to keep it out of your way when you're working out, which opens up a whole new world of possibilities. If you don't want to stress about getting a used Zip or if you don't want to pay more than the retail price (good call, don't do that), then there is another option. There are a few companies that have developed plenty of inexpensive replacement clips available in a wide variety of colors so you can spice up the black one a bit if it's just a little too boring for you. Prices on those start around $7 on Amazon.

The Zip is still a fantastic little fitness tracker but it might be a tad more difficult to get a hold of any other color than black. If you still want to add some color, might I recommend a replacement clip?

Fitbit has become a household name in the world of fitness trackers and wearables for creating a wide range of products with an impressive list of features. It has everything from fitness bands to full on smartwatches that have a bevy of impressive features, including GPS tracking for your runs and workouts.

The Zip is the most basic of their offerings. It's barely more than an inch big and less than half an inch thick so it's designed to be extremely portable. The objective with the Zip is to have a device that will track your steps, distance, and calories burned with the least possible intrusion on your day. It even comes with a little clip so you can attach it to your clothes and simply forget about it throughout your day.

While the Zip doesn't offer GPS, it's still a pretty robust fitness tracker, especially if you're just starting out and want something basic that doesn't get in your way.

Thankfully if you do need GPS tracking on your Fitbit, you can absolutely get it. The Charge 3 is the company's newest wearable and it's packed full of features including GPS tracking. Once you pair it up with your smartphone, the Charge 3 will use the GPS from your phone and track your run or workout wherever you go. After your run, you can see your route from the Fitbit app.

If that's still not quite what you're looking for, there are plenty of other great Fitbits on the market now that can fit your budget or your specific needs.

The Fitbit Zip is designed to be more of a pedometer than a full on fitness tracker. It will keep track of things like your steps, distance moved, and calories burned throughout the day but that's about it. It is about an inch big and half an inch thick so as to be as indiscreet as possible. It even comes with a silicon case with a hook on it so you clip it anywhere and forget about it. It also will sync all your data back to your smartphone so you can keep track of all your fitness goals right from the Fitbit app.

Due to the nature of workouts, sweat is bound to happen and there the Zip has you covered. It's sweat and splash proof meaning you'll be fine on your runs and gym visits but Fitbit does not recommend taking it into the pool. It won't track your swim laps either so it's not really worth trying.

If you are a swimmer and you're looking for a fitness tracker that you can get wet, you should definitely check out the Fitbit Charge 3. It's the company's newest wearable and it's designed to be waterproof so you can take it in the pool or even the shower too. Best of all, it has a swim workout built into it so it will keep track of your laps as you're swimming. It comes packed full with a ton of other features too including GPS tracking, yoga workout tracking, and much more. Check out our full review for even more coverage.

For $30, Fitbit offers a protection plan for the Charge 3 fitness band, which you can buy at the time of purchase online through the Fitbit website. This two-year plan is separate from the one-year limited warranty that's included automatically when you buy your band. Provided by Square Trade, the extra warranty overlaps Fitbit's limited warranty for one year. In other words, the protection plan doesn't extend the warranty period for your device by two years, only by one.

With the Square Trade warranty, your device is protected from normal wear and tear. There's also one battery repair or replacement included.

Fitbit's limited product warranty is granted to the original buyer only (keep the receipt) and promises that your device will be free from "defects in materials and workmanship under normal use" for a period of one year from the date of purchase. If you live in the European Economic Area (EEA), the warranty period is two years.

This warranty doesn't cover scratches and dents or normal wear and tear, but does cover battery replacement. Additionally, "Fitbit does not warrant that the operation of the Product will be uninterrupted or error-free. This Limited Product Warranty does not cover software embedded in any Product and related services provided by Fitbit."

The Fitbit Charge 3 is a relatively inexpensive product and one that's covered for 12 months by a limited warranty that covers hardware defects. If your Fitbit is faulty, you're likely to discover this within this period of time. Beyond this, if your wearable device has a problem, the odds are very high Fitbit will have released a next-generation model that you'll want to consider. Our advice is to put the money aside you would have used to purchase the Square Trade protection plan for a future upgrade.

We highly recommend the Fitbit Charge 3, which we've called "Fitbit's best (and smartest) fitness band yet." Offering workout and sleep tracking, 24/7 heart rate monitoring, and much more, the Charge 3 is the best Fitbit you can buy that isn't a full-fledged smartwatch. It's also perhaps the most stylish Fitbit to date.

The Fitbit Charge 3 offers so-called quick replies to send customized responses to text messages. Currently, however, this feature is only available on wearable devices that are paired to an Android phone running Android 7.0 or later. If your Fitbit Charge 3 is paired with an iPhone, you can only respond to Fitbit app notifications, such as messages, cheers, taunts, and friend requests. Responses require that your smartphone is nearby your Charge 3 fitness device.

Note: These messenging restrictions extend to Fitbit's current lineup of smartwatches too, including the Fitbit Versa and Fitbit Ionic. Also, it's worth noting that you cannot send new text messages from any of these devices.

A Fitbit support document explains the current messaging options available to Charge 3 users based on the type of smartphone they own.

If you're an iPhone owner and want the option to send and receive full texts from your wearable device, you should consider buying an Apple Watch. This all-in-one wearable solution might be ideal. Though still pricier than a Charge 3, you can get an Apple Watch Series 3 for as little as $279. The newer Apple Watch Series 4 starts at $399.

If texting from your wearable device isn't that important and you're only looking for a fitness tracker (not a smartwatch), the Fitbit Charge 3 is a nearly perfect option. While the device is mostly weak on messaging capabilities (especially for iPhone users), it does include a long list of useful features. Offering up to seven days of battery life between charges, the wearable device includes a 24/7 heart rate monitor, all-day activity tracking, sleep monitoring, and much more.

Again, the entire thing about whether it's too big or not is entirely subjective. You're still free to give a try for yourself to see if it works for you.

The Fitbit Charge 3 is available in both Small and Large sizes, and every Charge 3 gives you both S and L bands in the box. But if you are reading this because you have a small wrist, then it's safe to say that you should be using the small band instead of the large one. However, if you just want to double check, we also have a guide on how to measure your wrist before buying a Fitbit.

Since the Charge 3 has a continuous heart rate monitor, you'll want to make sure that it fits snugly when you wear it. The Charge 3 should not be too tight, but it should also not be very loose. With activity trackers that have heart rate monitors, you want to ensure that they're snug but comfortable, because this is the best way to get a fairly accurate reading.

However, as mentioned earlier, if the bulkiness of the Charge 3 is causing discomfort because it's pressing against your wrist bone or something else, then it probably isn't the best choice for you.

Personally, for smaller wrists, I would recommend the Alta HR, especially if you want to stay in the continuous heart rate monitoring family of Fitbit activity trackers. The Alta HR is one of the smallest trackers that the company makes, and it's also very stylish and never looks bulky or out of place.

Both the Fitbit Charge 3 and Alta HR can be personalized with different band accessories, and Fitbit even has some official options for you on their website.

However, we personally like to go with third-party bands for the Charge 3 and Alta HR, because there are more options to choose from and they're usually cheaper.

According to Fitbit, the Alta HR can offer up to seven days of battery life between charges. As with any device, your battery life will vary depending on how you use the Alta HR. The various features of the Fitbit Alta HR will all steadily chip away at your battery, so you'll want to make sure you're keeping an eye on it.

The Alta HR has a number of capabilities that will drain your battery faster the more you use them. All-day sync is a big one. This feature continually updates the Fitbit app on your phone with new fitness data. Turning it off can save battery life not just on your Fitbit, but on your phone as well. The Fitbit app will still update with the latest data from your Alta HR whenever you open it.

Other features that can drain your battery faster include checking your heart rate constantly and having notifications for calls, messages, and movement reminders turned on.

If you're seeing significantly lower battery life than the seven days Fitbit advertises for the Alta HR and you've turned off all the intensive features, you might need to reset your device. If that's the case you'll need to follow Fitbit's instructions for resetting the Alta HR.

After a reset, your Alta HR should see a battery life improvement, again, depending on how you use it.