Fitbit Charge 6 review: I tested how well this fitness tracker logged my running and sleep stats
This fitness tracker is a comfortable choice for everyday wear whether you’re going swimming, running, or just going about your day
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Our rating: 8/10
We like:
- The slim lightweight design
- GPS and accurate running stats
- Water-resistant up to 50m
We don’t like:
- Sleep data didn’t always match with other devices
- Tracking data breakdown is in the app, not on the device
What is the Fitbit Charge 6?
The Fitbit Charge 6 first launched two years ago and remains a slim and lightweight device for everyday use. It was named our Best Value fitness tracker by our expert reviewers and is the go-to choice for people who want to start recording their workouts and step counts without having something bulky on their wrist.
At just over £100, this tracker sits at the lower end of the smartwatch market price-wise, but it still carries the standard step count and sleep tracking features with an improved heart monitor and the ability to log more than 40 types of exercises. It also brought back the popular side button to help access different modes and now has a payment feature akin to an Apple Watch.
Although this is the most recent version in the Charge line, Fitbit will not release updated versions since the company was bought by Google in 2021, as it has been largely overtaken by the Google Pixel smartwatch. Fitbit’s devices remain on sale, however.
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How we test fitness trackers
I have tested a number of different fitness trackers, from Whoop to the Garmin Venu 3S, and I use an Apple Watch every day to keep track of my fitness stats. I swapped it out for the Fitbit Charge 6 for a full month to track my steps throughout the day and my heart rate while on a run. I also wore it while taking pilates and yoga classes and wore it to bed to track my sleep cycles, too.
I considered whether the design was practical for wearing on my wrist everyday and how well it performed between charges, how easy it was to set up, how useful the additional features were like having a built-in payment system, and finally I checked how accurately it recorded my fitness stats and data by comparing to my records on other devices.
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Set up and battery life
Score: 8/10
The battery on this Fitbit had no power when I first unboxed it and it needed to be completely charged before I could turn it on and use it, but it only took around an hour to get to 100 per cent, which is fairly average for a fitness tracker.
I found the charger slightly tricky to attach at first; it has two pins at the bottom of the charging device that clip onto the back of the Fitbit, which kept slipping off until I worked out the correct positioning which then allowed it to start charging.
Once it was on I downloaded the app, which was pretty easy to set up as I already have a Google account, and it showed me a quick overview of the app features such as step count, sleep tracking and heart rate monitoring, and I added some statistics about myself.
You can sync the Fitbit with other data apps, such as Apple Health or Strava. The watch has a seven day battery life, so I never found myself worried I’d run out of charge. The battery ran down more quickly if I had a heavy exercise day that included a long run, but as I’m used to charging my Apple Watch daily it felt like a novelty to not have to worry about the Fitbit’s battery.
Health and fitness features
Score: 9/10
The Charge 6 has more than 40 exercise modes you can choose to track. The standard choices of running, cycling, swimming, HIIT and strength training are all there, but some of the more unusual options (roller skating, paddleboarding, or cross country skiing) may feel a little unnecessary until you’re in a specific situation. It also has a built-in GPS, which I found handy for walking and running as it gave me accurate data that let me track my routes in the app and try for personal bests.
It took me a while to get used to accessing the data as I worked out; the Apple Watch tracks so many stats that it’s easy to see how many steps you’ve done or what pace you’re running at in one glance, whereas the Fitbit’s information screen information is more basic such as the distance I had travelled or the amount of calories I’d burned.
The Charge 6’s active zone minutes, which track how long you’re in a particular heart rate zone (fat burn, cardio or peak), helped when I was training in the gym. You can scroll through its stats while working out to see which zone you’re in and whether you need to work harder or take a rest. Other basic health stats such as heart rate and steps are also displayed, but if you want more detailed information you have to take a look at the stats on the app.
I also kept an eye on my sleep with the Fitbit over the month, which tracks how much time you spend in REM, light or deep sleep throughout the night based on your heart rate and movement, but again this detailed in the app. I compared the Fitbit timings against the data tracked by my Whoop 4.0 and found it was consistently off by around half an hour, however.
Other lifestyle features
Score: 9/10
The Fitbit can also track your menstrual health and get a stress management score based on your heart rate, sleep and activity levels, though in my opinion not super thoroughly, as the stress monitor did not quite match with how I felt. I would rather have a watch that does a few things very well than one that tracked everything in a basic manner. The improved heart rate monitor promises better accuracy during vigorous work outs however, while you can also connect the device to exercise machines like NordicTrack, Peloton and Concept2 to monitor your heart rate as you use them.
The watch is also water-resistant up to 50 metres. I didn’t take it swimming but I did a cold plunge while wearing it and the tracker survived unscathed. One of its newest features is the ability to set up a payment wallet and pay directly via your tracker, but I didn’t feel confident setting this up because the Fitbit app is not password protected.
App and data tracking
Score: 8/10
Although the tracker can tell you basic health stats like how far you’ve run, your heart rate and even how many hours you’ve slept, you’ll need to open the Fitbit app to get a more detailed breakdown of all the health stats it tracks.
Like most fitness tracker apps you’ll find a landing page of your daily habits, such as activity completed, heart rate, calories burned and steps taken. To delve more into your stats you simply click on the statistic you want to know more about. Over time it will be able to outline your trends over the week, month or year.
The Charge 6 comes with a free six month period to try out Fitbit Premium, which provides you with extra features such as a library of workouts to access and a sleep profile (created by assessing your metrics over a month to determine what type of sleeper you are and how you can improve your overall sleep quality). It costs £7.99 a month so just remember to cancel it if you don’t want to carry on with the service.
Although I found the app easy to use, and at points it gave me some good insights into my personal performance such as my running stats, it didn’t tell me a huge amount that I didn’t know already. It’s probably better suited to someone looking to track basic stats, rather than someone training for a marathon or a triathlon.
Design and display
Score: 8/10
This tracker has a colour AMELOD display which is bright, clear, and easy to read. It is one of the slimmest options on the market and has a silicone strap that closes with a comfortable peg-and-loop system instead of a traditional buckle, available in black, porcelain or coral.
With one button on the side to activate the watch, it’s mainly powered by its touch screen, where you can navigate easily to your notifications, steps taken and exercise tracking. The Charge 6 supports mobile notifications such as tests, emails and calendar notifications being delivered to the screen, but I find these distracting when I work, so I turned them off. You can also mute notifications or dim the screen by switching on the Do Not Disturb mode.
Technical specifications
The Garmin Vivosmart 5 is the biggest competitor to the Fitbit Charge 6 within the market. Both feature oval displays set within a fitness strap. The main difference being able to track GPS. Here’s how they stack up:
Should you buy the Fitbit Charge 6?
Fitbit is still a great name in the fitness tracker world, but since Google bought the brand it hasn’t made any major updates to the software. The Charge 6 is still a solid value option, but you can certainly find more advanced hardware elsewhere.
Yes if:
- You’re a newbie to tracking your health and fitness
- You want to develop good fitness and sleep habits
- You want to track a range of different exercises
No if:
- You’re a regular gym-goer
- You want detailed data tracking
Fitbit Charge 6 FAQs
Can the Charge 6 sync with iPhone and Android phones?
Yes, the Fitbit Charge 6 syncs with both iPhones and Androids with the Fitbit app, which shows data including sleep, steps, heart rate and menstrual tracking.
What is the battery life of the Fitbit Charge 6?
The Fitbit Charge 6 lasts up to seven days on one full charge.
Is the Fitbit Charge 6 water-resistant and suitable for swimming?
Yes, the Fitbit Charge 6 is water-resistant up to 50 metres, making it a great fitness tracker for swimming.