If you are a fitness fanatic you will know how much of a juggling act counting your steps and tracking calories can be without the proper tools. The Fitbit Charge HR and Fitbit Charge 2 are both fitness tracking bands that will help you set yourself fitness goals and follow up on your progress.
I will be comparing the two by looking at their features and benefits, how they differ from one another and finally judging by what is really important to have in a smartwatch device.
Table of Contents
Fitbit Charge 2 Heart Rate + Fitness Wristband
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- Automatic Tracking
- All of your activities are tracked automatically on the Fitbit Charge 2 device. There is no need to set yourself a reminder to track a workout or to pay attention to ‘in-between’ activity because it does it all for you.
- Heart Beat and Zone Calculation
- Your heartbeat during a workout tells you more than you think. Everyone’s fat burning heart rate is different depending on fitness level, age and weight. The Fitbit Charge 2 displays your very own heart rate levels perfect for peak, cardio, and fat burning.
- Alarms and Sleep Monitoring
- You can set yourself a soft vibrating alarm for any time of the day and it is not limited to the need to be used to wake up in the morning. Your sleeping pattern is also tracked and you can evaluate how good asleep you are really getting and find ways to improve it.
- Automatic Computer and Phone Sync
- Sync your Charge 2 to any device, you can even link it up to your computer.
- GPS Tracking
Map out the running route and see how long it takes you to complete your run. Monitor your progression during the workout and see if you need to step the exercise up a notch.
- Operates at What Maximum Temperature and Altitude
You could take your Charge 2 on hikes with you as the maximum altitude for the smartwatch is 30,000 feet. The smartwatch can only stand temperatures as hot as 113 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Battery Performance
The fully charged Fitbit Charge 2 will go five days without needing to be recharged and still work great.
PROS
- Handwashing and sweat doesn’t hinder its ability to work well
- The bands are replaceable with original Fitbit wristbands
- The calorie and heart rate trackers are accurate
- The Fitbit Charge 2 scores your fitness
- You will get cool graphics popping up once you reach targets
CONS
- Fitbit Charge has a longer battery life of seven days versus the Charge 2 with a battery life of five days
- You can not pause during a workout activity
Fitbit Charge HR
- Automatic Tracking
- The Charge HR uses PurePulse heart rate monitoring. This will automatically track your heart rate during rest and exercise.
- Heart Beat and Zone Calculation
- The Charge HR displays and collects your heart rate data for your analytic purposes.
- Alarms and Sleep Monitoring
Your sleep patterns will not be monitored with the Charge HR and therefore, you can’t analyze your sleeping patterns for sleep improvement.
- Automatic Computer and Phone Sync
If you download the Fitbit app you can see the data the Charge HR has collected and the subsequent plans for future workouts.
- GPS Tracking
You will only be able to see your GPS through the Fitbit app and not through the smartwatch itself.
- Operates at What Maximum Temperature and Altitude
Maximum altitude is 30,000 feet and temperature maximum threshold is 113 farenheit.
- Battery Performance
When fully charged, the battery can last five days before it needs to be recharged.
PROS
- It really helps to get you motivated
- There are some cool challenges that you can try on the smartwatch
- You won’t need to wear a watch and carry your phone, it’s an all in one. Rummaging around for your ringing mobile phone that is located somewhere near the bottom of your bag, only to see it’s a marketing call can be infuriating. The Charge HR will show you who is calling and then you can decide if it’s worth rooting around for your phone or not
- There is a silent alarm that can wake you up gently in the morning
CONS
- Can sometimes miss-steps throughout the day making incorrect calculations at the end of the day
- Chunky in appearance and can look out of place when worn with casual clothing and not gym gear
Winner – Fitbit Charge 2
The Fitbit Charge 2 beats the Fitbit HR in this face-off. The answer is simple, the Fitbit Charge 2 really replaces having your phone in your hand to monitor certain things, for example, GPS training routes.
You will also find that it gets in the way far less during workouts. There is less adjustment necessary in order to get your heart rate. If you want to look at your progress mid-exercise all your information is readily available on the screen for you to view.
The Charge 2 also looks a lot newer than Charge HR, the style is sleeker and looks a bit gentler and less chunky. Style, however, is a matter of taste but we can appreciate the thought that has gone into the Charge 2 to make it that bit more chic.
