Fitbit Charge 5: All information about the latest Fitbit tracker

Jennifer Kastner

The activity fitness tracker market has become increasingly competitive in recent years. Products like the Amazfit Band 5 and the XiaomiMi Band 5 offer numerous functions at unrivaled low prices. How does Fitbit intend to address these challenges with the newly launched Fitbit Charge 5 (in price comparison)? We take a look at the company’s latest tracker, its various features and of course the unique benefits of combining a Charge 5 with Fitbit Premium.

When will the Fitbit Charge 5 be launched?

Charge 5 has been available for pre-order in various markets since August 25th. The delivery takes place from the end of September / beginning of October depending on the shop. Up until last year, Fitbit was still relatively consistent in updating the Charge range, but the cycles seem to be getting shorter. Here you can see when the individual batch models were introduced:

After the initial two-year cycle, the Fitbit Charge 4 came on the market just a year and a half after Charge 3, and there is a similar period of time between Charge 4 and Charge 5. So it is quite possible that Fitbit will continue its Charge series in an 18-month update pattern in the future.

A major reason for this change could be the problem we mentioned earlier: Fitbit needs to accelerate its design and production schedule to ensure that the company is not overtaken by the mass of low-cost competitors who are driving the fitness market. Fill out the tracker now.

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How much does the Fitbit Charge 5 cost?

The Charge 5 is based more on Fitbit’s smartwatch-like wearables than its predecessors, while at the same time placing a stronger focus on wellness and health, resulting in the highest entry-level price for a charge tracker to date. In comparison:

The batch contains 5

six months of Fitbit Premium

(the company’s subscription service) that provides access to additional new features such as daily readiness. Plus, the latest model is compatible with a range of interchangeable wristbands included in the price:

What new features does the Fitbit Charge 5 offer?

With the Fitbit Charge 4, functions such as integrated GPS and

Active zone minutes

introduced, whereby the latter adjusts the activity measurement to your age and your resting heart rate. The Charge 5 retains these outstanding innovations, but packs them in a sleek, innovative design and adds other functions that have been partially taken over from more expensive devices from the Fitbit portfolio.

Like the company’s other trackers – such as Sense, Inspire 2, Versa 3 and Luxe – Charge 5 has softer shapes compared to the more straightforward Charge 4, based on what the company calls its “Biologic Industrial Design Language”.

Part of this design manifests itself in a buttonless stainless steel frame with contacts on the sides that support the

EDA sensor

(electrodermal activity sensor) of Charge 5, which is used for stress management. The Charge 4 (and many other competing trackers) monitor stress based on heart rate fluctuations. However, with the Fitbit Sense, a more reliable / accurate EDA stress monitoring was introduced last year, which is now also included in the Charge 5.

The Fitbit Charge 5 is also the first in the family to come in color – thanks to a vibrant-looking AMOLED display that supports always-on functionality and 20 watch faces (to start with) – some even with customizable elements.

Other integrated highlights are the support of 20 training modes, the recording of the skin temperature, an EKG app with AFib detection, the monitoring of the oxygen content in the blood and the support of Google Fast Pair.

The full datasheet of the Fitbit Charge 5:

Fitbit Premium – exclusive features

With the introduction of Fitbit Premium – the company’s monthly or annual subscription service – in 2019, most Fitbit trackers received additional functions that are tied to this paid extension.

The Charge 5 now also has the premium function ”

Daily readiness

“, which uses the recorded data to create a” readiness score “that shows whether the body is better equipped for training or needs recovery on a particular day.

The premium version also provides a better insight into your fitness, sleep behavior and stress level and offers access to over 500 guided video and audio workouts, mindfulness and nutrition sessions (including content from new partners such as Les Mills and Calm) and mindfulness tools like sleeping sounds and guided meditations.