Buzz
The latest iteration of Fitbit’s beloved Charge series, the Charge 6, introduces Google Maps, Google Wallet, and YouTube Music integration. It also boasts advanced heart rate monitoring, claimed by the company to be their most precise yet. Priced at $159.95, it’s only slightly higher than the Charge 5. Here’s a breakdown of the new features:
Google claims enhanced accuracy in heart rate monitoring
While the sensors remain identical to the Charge 5, Google states that the Charge 6 incorporates algorithms from the Pixel smartwatch lineup. This upgrade reportedly improves heart rate accuracy and enhances metrics such as Readiness, which rely on heart rate data.
Certain Google applications come pre-installed
The Charge 6 integrates more seamlessly with the Google ecosystem compared to its predecessor, the Charge 5. It features Google Wallet in place of Fitbit Pay and includes controls for YouTube Music, which is owned by Google.
Similar to the Charge 5, the Charge 6 is equipped with built-in GPS and GLONASS. A new addition is the capability to access Google Maps directly on the device, provided your phone is within Bluetooth range. (All Google apps necessitate having your phone nearby.)
Using the Charge 6 requires a Google Account, replacing the need for a Fitbit account if you don’t already have one.
Music control functionality has been reintroduced to the Charge series
With the release of the Charge 5, Fitbit removed Spotify playback support, but music controls have returned—now tailored for YouTube Music.
A YouTube Music Premium subscription is required to access this functionality. However, buying the Charge 6 grants you a complimentary one-month trial.
The Charge 6 is compatible with select gym equipment
Featuring the Bluetooth Heart Rate Profile, the Charge 6 enables heart rate display on compatible devices from brands like NordicTrack, Peloton, Concept2, and Tonal, as well as the Peloton app. A list of supported machines for the Charge 6 can be found here.
A new zoom feature has been added to the Charge 6
For those struggling to read text on a small watch display, the Charge 6 introduces a zoom feature to make it easier.
A comparison between the Charge 6 and its predecessor, the Charge 5
While the Charge 6 maintains the same dimensions as the Charge 5, it now includes a side button, absent in the Charge 5. Google refers to it as a “haptic” button and explained to The Verge that it’s not mechanical. It provides a subtle vibration when pressed, similar to the haptic feedback on a MacBook trackpad or an iPhone Home Button.
The Charge 6 is compatible with certain Charge 5 bands, offering flexibility for those who want to switch up strap colors beyond the three default options: obsidian (black device with a black band), coral (rose gold device with a warm red band), and porcelain (light silvery device with an off-white band).
Steps to preorder the latest Charge 6
The Charge 6 is set to launch “later this fall,” but preorders are already open. According to Google, it’s available on Google and Fitbit’s online stores, as well as through “select global retailers,” with wider availability expected this fall. Here are the outlets where it’s currently listed:
Fitbit.com ($159.95)
Google Store ($159.95)
Best Buy ($159.95)
Amazon ($159.95)
To access certain features, such as the readiness score and Fitbit app workouts, a Fitbit Premium subscription is required. Purchasing the Charge 6 includes a complimentary six-month Premium subscription. Additionally, a YouTube Music Premium subscription is needed for music controls, and a Google Account (instead of just a Fitbit account) is mandatory to use the device.
