In 2022, you’ll find a Fitbit for practically each funds and well being aim. Whereas Fitbits aren’t meant for probably the most hardcore of athletes, they’re glorious units for monitoring general exercise in addition to monitoring sure well being and wellness metrics like EKGs and blood oxygen ranges. 

You may marvel if Fitbit continues to be related after greater than a decade within the sport. However whereas there are extra smartwatches and health trackers than ever, Fitbit stays some of the recognizable names within the trade. And Fitbit trackers are comparatively reasonably priced, particularly since they usually go on sale.  The Fitbit neighborhood is large, with 31 million energetic customers, making it a beginner-friendly platform. All of the units include a free trial to Fitbit Premium, the corporate’s subscription service that provides guided exercises, meditations, and entry to extra in-depth metrics.

This broad vary of merchandise could be a bit difficult to navigate. Is it nonetheless value shopping for a Versa 3 in 2022? What’s the distinction between the Encourage 3 and the Luxe? Does the Pixel Watch change issues?

No worries. We’ve examined each Fitbit tracker and smartwatch on the block. Whether or not you’re simply getting began in your health journey otherwise you’re a veteran attempting to improve, right here’s what you should purchase.

The $349.99 Pixel Watch has thrown a wrench in Fitbit’s smartwatch lineup. Technically, it’s a Google product, however Google owns Fitbit, so that they’re all Google merchandise now. Fitbit  powers the entire Pixel Watch’s well being and health options. However actually, that is the smartwatch that Fitbit by no means might handle to construct by itself.

For starters, it’s acquired a fantastic design with a round domed show that appears far more elegant than the squircle Versa or Sense smartwatches ever did. In your wrist, it seems like a watch, not a tracker dressed up as one. 

The Pixel Watch can also be lots smarter than the Versa 4 or Sense 2, partly as a result of Fitbit made its watches much less sensible. You get Google Assistant — which was faraway from the aforementioned Fitbits — and the entire suite of Google companies like Maps, Residence, YouTube Music, and Pockets. The Google Play Retailer has a ton of third-party apps, and the quantity retains rising. Fitbit’s native app retailer is naked, and the Versa 4 and Sense 2 don’t assist third-party apps anyway, although their predecessors did. The Pixel Watch additionally has an LTE model for $50 extra, and in 2023, Google will add emergency SOS calling. Regardless of the way you have a look at it, the Pixel Watch is a greater smartwatch than the Versa 4 and Sense 2. 

For well being and health monitoring, the Pixel Watch is basically a Fitbit. Fitbit integration is constructed proper into the watch, and the Fitbit app is the place you’ll view your knowledge. There are just a few shortcomings, nevertheless. Whereas the watch has EKG capabilities, it doesn’t supply alerts for abnormally excessive / low coronary heart charges or irregular coronary heart rhythms. Its model of automated monitoring is much less helpful than an actual Fitbit’s, and it doesn’t supply stroke monitoring for swimmers or nightly SpO2 percentages. This will change, nevertheless, as Google and Fitbit lately reversed course and added the Sleep Profile function to the Pixel Watch.

If all you need is a health tracker that seems like a smartwatch, you may contemplate the Versa 4 or Sense 2. They’ll get the job carried out. The $229 Versa 4 is the extra budget-friendly possibility, and I solely suggest the $299.95 Sense 2 for those who care about EKG readings and extra sturdy stress monitoring.

The Encourage line hasn’t all the time felt, effectively, impressed. However the $99.95 Encourage 3 is completely different. With a shade OLED show, it’s paying homage to the Fitbit Luxe (previously $149.95, now usually round $99.99), simply with a matte black plastic case as a substitute of a steel one. It’s a fantastic throwback to traditional Fitbits for individuals who solely need the fundamentals.

The Encourage 3 doesn’t overcomplicate issues. It’s a health band. You received’t get built-in GPS, contactless funds, or digital assistants. Nonetheless, what it lacks in smarts it makes up for with Fitbit’s superior sleep monitoring, stress administration options, and irregular coronary heart price notifications. The OLED show can also be a step up from the Encourage 2’s monochrome display screen, and you continue to get 10 days of battery life. (Although it’s extra like two to a few for those who allow the always-on show.) 

The Encourage 3 has a wide range of equipment, together with a clip attachment if you wish to discreetly monitor steps. There’s even a gold or silver mesh strap if you wish to gown it up a bit. 

To be sincere, the Encourage 3 and Luxe are fairly related, and so they’re usually across the identical worth. It’ll boil down as to if you assume the Luxe’s nicer case is value buying and selling half the battery life for — the Luxe will get an estimated 5 days as a substitute of 10.

The Cost collection has all the time been fashionable, and the $149.95 Cost 5 is not any exception. It’s Fitbit’s higher-end health band however simply competes with the costlier Versa 4 on options. There’s now a shade OLED display screen plus an EKG and EDA sensor. You additionally get built-in GPS, NFC funds, and SpO2 sensors — the one factor you’re actually lacking is a digital assistant.

The one qualm we’ve got with the Cost 5 is the always-on show. Whereas it’s lovely, it’s a significant battery drain. The Cost 5 has an estimated seven days of battery life, however that dwindles right down to about two when you’ve got the always-on show enabled. It’s a disgrace as a result of the OLED is lots simpler on the eyes than the monochrome LED display screen on the Cost 4. 

Altogether although, you’re getting a hell of lots for the value. It’s the one FDA-cleared EKG wearable you’ll find for below $200, and the one different Fitbits able to EKG and EDA readings are the Sense and Sense 2. So except you’re lifeless set on the smartwatch type issue, the Cost 5 is the higher general deal. 

In case you’re attempting to determine between the Cost 5 and Versa 4, we suggest the Cost 5 typically. Each will get you related well being monitoring experiences, although the Cost 5 packs in slightly further because of the EKG and EDA sensors. (However as I discussed earlier, most individuals most likely received’t use these sensors that a lot.) The Versa 4 will get Google Maps and Pockets within the close to future, but it surely’s been nerfed on the subject of third-party apps. All issues thought-about, the Cost 5 is the higher worth.

That just about covers the present Fitbit lineup. The one one we haven’t touched so far — and the one one which I haven’t examined myself — is the $79.95 Ace 3. That’s Fitbit’s tracker for teenagers — and it’s the only Fitbit out there for minors. It’s a fundamental tracker with a rugged bumper and comes with parental controls. It’s acquired higher battery life than its predecessor however doesn’t include GPS. Additionally, whereas it does have coronary heart price sensors, it’s not a metric that’s actively tracked for kids. As an alternative, it’s used to find out what number of “energetic minutes” they’re getting. Total, it’s an honest alternative for fogeys whose principal precedence is ensuring their children get sufficient each day train. If you would like location monitoring, nevertheless, you’re going to should search for one thing aside from a Fitbit.