When it comes to smart wearables, Fitbit bands are easily the most recognizable and reliable devices on the market. Several companies have launched smart-bands over the past three years, but many people’s first reaction is, “Is this a Fitbit?” However, brands like Xiaomi and Huawei have taken the game to the next level and started offering features that even the Fitbit band was lacking. all that was in the past, and now we finally have fitbit charge 5 — offering a large, colorful display without any physical buttons on the sides and noticeable features like ECG and blood oxygen monitors — commonly present on smartwatches, including the Google-owned Fitbit.
Now, the Fitbit Charge 5, isn’t cheap by any means. It is priced at Rs 14,999 in India, which is expensive compared to fitness trackers like the Mi Smart Band 6 (Rs 3,499), Huawei Band 6 (Rs 4,490), and the OnePlus Smart Band/Realme Band 2 (Rs 2,499 and Rs 2,999, respectively) . However, I’d like to add that I’ve used the older-gen Fitbit Charge 2 for over three years, and there’s something special about the device. It still provides around five days of battery backup without taking much time to charge. It gets the job done and is perfect as a no-frills device, especially in this day and age where your gadgets are full of notifications and ads. This is the reason why I have taken so long to write this review, as I got this unit about two months back. And quite honestly, the band has stuck to my wrist ever since. If you’re wondering what’s so special about this band and whether you should consider buying it, here’s a breakdown.
Design: It is clear that Fitbit is taking a leap of faith with the design of the Fitbit Charge 5. As I mentioned, there are no buttons, and instead, we get metal plates on the sides helping with electrocardiography (ECG) and EDA scans. To detect electrodermal activity. The fitness tracker looks like an enlarged version of the Fitbit Lux that debuted in April this year. That doesn’t mean the band looks unattractive by any metric. It weighs 28 grams, just 2 grams lighter than the Fitbit Charge 3 (by 2 grams) that I used regularly for three years.
We find two similarly colored straps inside the box, a regular one (the wrist fits 130mm – 170mm in circumference) and a larger silicone strap if you’ve got thicker sides (170mm – 210mm in circumference). I tested the Lunar White/Soft Gold Stainless Steel color model, but customers can choose between Black/Graphite Stainless Steel and Steel Blue/Platinum Stainless Steel options. Honestly, all the color options look elegant, and the right mix of chic and minimalism sets it apart completely.
The straps also get rid of the metal buckle, and for first time Charge 5 users, putting on the band can seem a bit complicated. But after a few tries, you can adjust the fit to even the most uncomfortable posture in bed.
Display: Coming to the screen, the Fitbit Charge 5 finally gets a color display that offers a 1.04-inch (diagonal) viewing area as against the 1-inch screen on the Fitbit Charge 4. The smart-band fully supports touch control and can work with it. Android and iPhone (we tested it with the iPhone 12).
The screen offers decent brightness both indoors and outdoors, and users can choose between three modes from the inbuilt settings – dim, normal and maximum. I tested under normal brightness mode which gave satisfactory results and also extended the battery life per charge. The Fitbit Charge 5 also has an always-on display mode, but sadly, you get less than 24 hours of battery life. Additionally, the band is water resistant to 50 meters, and doesn’t seem to have an IP rating for dust protection. After occasional (and accidental) bumps against various surfaces, the screen does suffer scratch marks.
Display: But a look aside, Fitbit insists that the band remains a primary for fitness-oriented customers, despite adding a bigger screen to the latest-gen bands from rivals Huawei and Xiaomi. Customers get to enjoy many features some of which are present on the fitness band and others are unique to this device.
I will keep this section short and highlight the features that users will enjoy the most. That being said, the first will be the notifications. I opted to receive notifications from WhatsApp, Instagram and iMessage. The fitness tracker receives notifications as long as your phone has internet, without any lag or delay. However, Android users get an additional option to answer what iPhones (including me) lack.
To be honest, I didn’t miss the reply back feature because I prefer a bigger display if I’m typing a message longer than a sentence. The band also comes with an inbuilt DND (Do Not Disturb) mode if you want to silence notifications while reading or working out.
Then we have the highest priced ECG (EDA scan too) and daily readiness score – the latter only works with a premium subscription (which we get for 90 days free). Both are highly useful features, but there is also a catch. The ECG is for reference only and gives a general overview, so if you plan to compare it to the Apple Watch, there’s still a long road ahead. Daily readiness scores, on the other hand, are calculated by tracking a bunch of parameters like your daily activity, sleep, and more, and you’ll need to sync between the phone app to see the results. I got favorable results during my testing, but it still needs some improvement. For example, despite wearing the band for several days and weeks, it failed to score a single at the start of the day.
But when it comes to missing features, the omission of altimeter is something I miss. You’ll still get some altitude details from outdoor workouts via GPS, but COVID 19 has limited outdoor trips. Similarly, I expect Fitbit to also add support for weather apps and music controls. Overall, there is no doubt that the Fitbit Charge 5 performs well when we look at the features it offers; However, the absence of these controls at this price tag may upset select customers.
Battery: Likewise, more features naturally mean more battery consumption, and one needs to appreciate Fitbit for providing 5-day backup with a color display (normal brightness), background notifications, and other health trackers. Is. If you use the EDA scan, I noticed a sudden drop of about two percent of the battery, so keep that in mind. As mentioned, if you use the AOD feature, the band will barely provide a day’s worth of battery backup.
But what I don’t like is the magnetic charger instead of the clip-on charger that we got with the Fitbit Charge 4 and Charge 3. This essentially means that if it gets damaged, you’ll have to buy a new charger, while the old one just dusts off in your closet.
Decision: Despite a sleek and modern design, nifty features, and good battery backup – the Fitbit Charge 5 is a very difficult device to recommend, which is why I deliberately took so long to review this unit. In that case, I would try to break it down based on customer type and preferences.
First, to clarify – the Fitbit Charge 5 is by no means an average fitness tracker if this is your first smart wearable. In fact, it will meet your expectations for the Charge 6 or even the Charge 7, whichever company chooses to call them. But the other factor that remains is the price – the hefty price tag of Rs 14,999.
So without further digressing, if you are planning to get a new fitness band to fight the fatigue of the big screen, then the Fitness Charge 5 is your answer. But if you want something bigger and equally advanced, a Fitbit smartwatch or OnePlus Watch should suffice. And, if you’re an old Fitbit Charge customer and planning to upgrade, the Charge 5 should definitely be at the top of your list if you have the budget.
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