Upgrade to Fitbit Edge? Here’s what you’ll get and what you’ll miss

If Google’s screenless health tracker from earlier this year was too simple for your needs, the company has another wearable for your wrist: the Fitbit Edge. It’s got a big screen and some new tricks, but there are also a couple of bugs worth knowing about before upgrading.

This is essentially the successor to the Fitbit Charge 6 that came out in 2023. The Edge’s 1.34-inch AMOLED display is 45% larger and 40% brighter than the previous model, but you’ll still get the same seven days of use on a full battery charge.

Speaking of which, Google says you’ll be able to replace the battery once it starts to wear out, a really welcome touch.

In addition to the touch screen, you now have a physical button on the side to interact with the renewed interface. That should make it easier to use when it’s raining or if your fingers are too sweaty to glide accurately.

The on-screen interface is more in line with Google’s Material 3 Expressive design system, similar to what you’d see on the Pixel Watch 5. That should make it easier to read your fitness data in Edge.

Next, there’s an altimeter to track your climbs during outdoor workouts, such as hill walks and sprints, and covering flights of stairs. I cope well with the gasping and wheezing that tells me I’ve pushed myself too hard, but fitter people may find it helpful.

There’s also improved women’s health tracking in Edge, so you can see the current stage of your cycle and understand how that will affect your fitness and daily routines. This model can also track your cardiovascular load, which is a score that tells you how hard your heart works during physical activity.

Edge can display in-workout metrics and pace goals, heart rate zones for HIIT intervals, and other live numbers to show you how your workout is going. It will also record skin temperature using a newly added sensor, and an updated chipset features 40% more accurate GPS tracking for your outdoor running routes.

While both the Charge 6 and Edge feature aluminum builds and are water resistant up to 50 meters (making them suitable for swimming), the latter gets IP68 for added water and dust resistance.

Software-wise, Edge does a couple of new and useful things. You can send predetermined responses to incoming messages, get turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps (a feature usually reserved for more powerful smartwatches), and view monthly insulin resistance and blood pressure trends.

All of that makes it a new fitness tracker, but Google left out an NFC chip for this one, so you can’t make contactless payments. It also comes with a new strap attachment mechanism, so you can’t use previous Fitbits bands or universal watch bands. Google’s current range of alternatives cost $39 or more. The larger screen also lacks Gorilla Glass for protection.

Now, the big one: The Fitbit Edge costs $179.99, which is higher than the Charge 6’s launch price of $159, and much more than the $132.59 it currently costs on Amazon. Sales are even lower. And if you don’t have a screen, the Fitbit Air is only $100.

Much of what makes the Fitbit Edge attractive for long-term use comes from the companion Google Health app, as well as the functionality you get with a premium subscription. That includes AI-powered proactive coaching, advanced sleep tracking, nutritional and metabolic coaching, and adaptive fitness plans.

Virtually all of them are also available for Charge 6 owners, so you’re really paying a bit more for a larger screen and some cool features.

So should you consider the Fitbit Edge? Honestly, it seems like a good option on paper if you’re buying your first fitness tracker or upgrading from an outdated one from, say, 2020. But if you already have a Charge 6, I wouldn’t recommend upgrading unless yours is falling apart.

Check out the Fitbit Edge on the Google Store and on Amazon, where you can pre-order the device. Shipments begin October 27.

Source: Google

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