Fitbit Charge 6 test: an activity bracelet always in great shape

 The Fitbit Charge 6 (€160) has many features that make it a significant upgrade over the Charge 5, including a button for more convenient navigation, heart rate streaming on gym equipment and Integrated Google Maps and Wallet applications. The Charge 6 also stands out for its very long battery life. An ideal activity bracelet for those looking for a more discreet and durable health or fitness companion than a connected watch.

The Charge 6 is Android and iOS compatible. The user experience on both OS is almost identical. It has the same sensors as the Charge 5:

• GPS
• Blood oxygen
• AED or Electrodermal Activity for Stress Monitoring
• ECG or electrocardiogram with high, low and irregular heartbeat alerts

Le design du Fitbit Charge 6

Older Fitbit bands, like the Charge 4, had a physical button. The Charge 6 uses a slightly protruding haptic button on the left side of the case. A nice addition which makes it more practical to use compared to the Charge 5 which does not have one. It allows you to return to the time display. And when you're doing a workout, the button is used to scroll the screen to press pause.

photo credit: Marc ZaffagniThe Amoled screen of the Fitbit Charge 6 offers good readability in direct sunlight.

The Charge 6 offers four new dials in addition to those previously available (around thirty in total). We find an Amoled screen like on the Charge 5 with three brightness levels accessible in the settings. For those who have difficulty reading on this small screen, a new magnification tool allows you to zoom in 2x or 3x by tapping three times.

Like previous Fitbit trackers, the Charge 6 can receive notifications from the phone, including SMS or WhatsApp messages, take or reject calls... All this is configured in the Fitbit app. You should know that quick replies to SMS are only available on Android.

A bouquet of Google apps

The Fitbit Charge 6 integrates Google Maps, Google Wallet and YouTube Music applications. To use them, you must have your phone with you. For example, when you start a Maps route on your mobile, navigation is automatically activated on the bracelet.

photo credit: Marc ZaffagniWhen you pair the Fitbit Charge 6 with Google Maps, turn-by-turn guidance is automatically displayed on the bracelet.

The principle is the same with YouTube Music. The Charge 6 transforms into a remote control to control song playback and volume. It can also provide specific music recommendations for sports, if you agree to share usage data with YouTube Music. Another condition is that you must subscribe to the streaming music service at €10.99/month to benefit from these features. There is a one-month free trial.

The Fitbit Charge 6 can receive phone notifications. Here a Gmail message. The narrow screen is not suitable for reading long messages.

Knowing that the Charge 6 does not allow you to control playback from a third-party music service ( Deezer, Spotify, Qobuz , etc.), there is a potentially penalizing restriction. Indeed, if you want to benefit from both the control of YouTube Music and the advanced functions offered by Fitbit Premium (daily fitness score, training programs, sleep analysis, etc.), you will need to take out another subscription. at €8.99/month.

Of course, you can use the Charge 6 without either of these subscriptions. You have to do without the music control and additional data of Fitbit Premium, which is done without problem and does not alter the intrinsic quality of the bracelet.

The Charge 6 now uses Google Wallet instead of Fitbit Pay for mobile payments. You must register your bank card(s) from the Fitbit application, then create a PIN code on the bracelet. The Charge 6's screen is small, so entering the PIN is a tedious process.

The Fitbit Charge 6 offers four new watch faces. This is only available with the Fitbit Premium subscription.

Charge 6 offers even more fitness features

The Charge 6 now supports broadcasting heart rate to sports equipment such as bikes, treadmills and other Bluetooth-enabled rowing machines. Google specifies that the brands iFit, NordicTrack, Peloton, Concept2 and Tonal manage the Charge 6.

There are also 20 new activity tracking modes, including surfing, skiing, CrossFit and HIIT. This brings the total number of workout types the Charge 6 can do to 40. Recently used activities appear at the top of the list, which is more convenient than having to scroll to find your favorite workout.

Another Fitbit feature borrowed from the Pixel Watch is its heart rate algorithms. According to Google, during high-intensity activities, like HIIT sessions, indoor cycling, and rowing, the Charge 6's heart rate tracking is " up to 60% more accurate than before ."

photo credit: Marc Zaffagni

We find the very comprehensive sleep tracking that previous Fitbit products already offered. Most useful data, such as sleep score and quality, is accessible without the Fitbit Premium subscription.

The Daily Aptitude Score, which is part of the paid package, is a nice feature. It takes into account the variability of sleep, activity and heart rate. This is useful for knowing if you need to take a day off or if you are fit enough for a workout.

The Charge 6's battery life is excellent

The autonomy offered by the Charge 6 is incommensurate with that of connected watches like the Apple Watch and Google's Pixel Watch. Fitbit claims up to seven days of light use with the always-on display turned off. A deadline that we were actually able to achieve with minimalist use, just checking the time, notifications and tracking sleep. Adding multiple workouts per week and the always-on display brought us down to 4-5 days, which is still better than most smartwatches. You should also know that broadcasting heart rate via Bluetooth has a significant impact on battery life if you use it for several hours in a gym.

photo credit: Marc Zaffagni

Conclusion: our opinion on the Fitbit Charge 6

The Charge 6 is Fitbit's best fitness tracker and one of the best in its class. The presence of a haptic button makes it more pleasant to use than its predecessor, it is comfortable to wear and discreet. Its autonomy is excellent and its fitness functions are very complete for those who want to get in shape or get back in shape.