Charge 5: The Perfect Time to Upgrade Fitbit's Go-To Tracker

I have to admit, when I saw that Fitbit was announcing a new Charge tracker at its annual reveal last month instead of a smartwatch, it got my attention. Why would Fitbit forego a golden opportunity to press ahead in the fast-moving, hotly-contested smartwatch arena in favor of a new Charge offering in the consolidating tracker segment?

It didn’t make sense. At the reveal last year, Fitbit had just started to find a rhythm with its mainstream Versa smartwatch. And it had just cracked into the premium segment dominated by Apple and Samsung with the new Sense.

And then I saw what Apple and Samsung announced. Despite the fanfare at their respective events, it was clear that the consumer electronics giants were phoning it in with their new Apple Watch 7 and Galaxy Watch4, respectively.

Whether by prophecy or by luck, it turned out that introducing a new tracker was exactly the right device to unveil for this year’s holiday season. It gave Fitbit the chance to waterfall the latest metrics into its go-to tracker line – all without giving up its rung in the smartwatch market.

I’ve been evaluating the new Charge 5 for nearly two weeks now, and I like it. It’s smaller, lighter and more comfortable to wear than the Charge 4. Plus, it adds the EDA scan Fitbit introduced in its smartwatches last year. (The ECG app is promised soon.) Battery life is great – an easy five days, as advertised. Oh yes, and the color display’s a big improvement over the Charge 4.

That may not sound like it will set your world on fire. Which is correct. It won’t. But it will add to the picture Fitbit trackers paint of your overall health each day. And the color display is a huge leap over the the white-on-black Charge 4.

And if you’re still not convinced, take a look at what the new Apple Watch 7 and Samsung Galaxy Watch4 give you over the Apple Watch 6 and Watch3.

I rest my case.