Every thing we all know and what we wish to see

Replace, September 26, 2023 (5:29 PM ET): We’ve got up to date our Fitbit Cost 6 rumor hub with new renders of the Fitbit Cost 6 in three colours.

The Fitbit Cost sequence is among the many finest health trackers you may spend money on. It packs loads of well being monitoring equipment right into a slim physique, making it standard with informal wearers and extra critical fitness-focused customers. The most recent addition to this sequence got here in 2021 — the Fitbit Cost 5 — so we’re properly due for a brand new mannequin. However is the corporate planning a Fitbit Cost 6? We’ve gathered every part we all know in regards to the health tracker, together with what we hope to see additional down.

We’d be fairly stunned if Fitbit canned its Cost line. It contains a few of finest Fitbit gadgets you should purchase and is great worth for cash. Nonetheless, the Cost sequence has been among the many firm’s least energetic of late.

Fitbit did not launch a brand new Cost mannequin alongside the Sense 2, Versa 4, and Encourage 3 at its August 2022 occasion, however this doesn’t essentially imply the Cost 6 gained’t debut in any respect. Fitbit is understood for its unpredictable launch schedule, so it’s not an enormous concern that the Cost 6 didn’t launch precisely a 12 months after the Cost 5. Actually, the corporate additionally skipped a 12 months earlier than launching the newest Versa mannequin.

• Fitbit Cost: November 2014
• Fitbit Cost HR: January 2015
• Fitbit Cost 2: September 2016
• Fitbit Cost 3: August 2018
• Fitbit Cost 4: March 2020
• Fitbit Cost 5: August 2021

Though Fitbit missed the primary anniversary of the Cost 5, we simply bought one of the best indication that the Cost 6 will arrive later this month. Fitbit revealed a new teaser by which the mannequin wears a health tracker with a silver border. We’re additionally offered a date: September 28, 2023. Primarily based on the main points gleaned from the teaser, it appears possible that this would be the launch date of the Cost 6.

Like Apple and Samsung, Fitbit has adopted an evolution-over-revolution strategy with its latest gadgets. The times of untamed aesthetic tweaks are seemingly over. The Sense 2 and Versa 4 are much like their predecessors, whereas the Encourage 3 is the spitting picture of the Luxe. Given this proof, we anticipate the Fitbit Cost 6 to look very similar to the Cost 5.

There’s some proof to help this, too. In accordance with a 9to5Google supply, the Fitbit Cost 6 “is close to an identical” to the Cost 5. It’s nice information concerning band compatibility and pricing, however it might give Cost 5 homeowners little purpose to improve. This additionally suggests we will anticipate a compact type issue, curved glass facade, and brilliant AMOLED display screen to return. A newer 9to5Google report hints on the return of a bodily button, making it a lot simpler to regulate the observe whereas on the transfer.

Notably, the official Fitbit teaser additionally hints at a tool with minimal modifications whether it is certainly the Cost 6. See a nonetheless of the clip above. Nonetheless, we bought a good higher take care of a leak from MySmartPrice. The leak reveals the Cost 6 in three totally different colours: black, beige, and orange. Design-wise, it appears an terrible lot just like the Cost 5, as anticipated. Nonetheless, it encompasses a bodily button off to the aspect.

We anticipate the Fitbit Cost 6 to be the top health tracker within the firm’s vary. This implies constructing on the Cost 5, which crammed a lot of the Sense’s options right into a slimmer physique. If Fitbit sticks to this play, we might see some core Sense 2 options make their manner onto the Cost 6.

Essentially the most thrilling addition can be the addition of the continual physique response (cEDA) sensor. This may enable for all-day automated stress monitoring by testing electrical present modifications prompted by sweat on the pores and skin. The Cost 5 does have an EDA sensor, however it may well solely present handbook spot readings, making it far much less helpful. It’s price noting that the cEDA sensor chews by way of the battery on the Sense 2, so Fitbit must bolster the Cost 6’s battery measurement in response. Past this, the Fitbit Cost 6 ought to embrace the usual health monitoring equipment, from a coronary heart fee monitor and SpO2 sensor to sleep monitoring. It’s unclear if the altimeter will return to the tracker.

Concerning non-fitness options, there’s likelihood the Cost 6 might have a contactless cost choice just like the Cost 5. The FCC itemizing talked about in 9to5Google‘s report says that the unnamed machine has Bluetooth and NFC. Because the Cost 5 was the one line to supply wi-fi funds, the itemizing possible refers back to the Cost 6.

Now below Google’s wing, you may anticipate the Fitbit Cost 6 to lock these options behind a Google account login. From June 6, Google sign-ins shall be obligatory for brand spanking new Fitbit customers, whereas present customers can choose to proceed logging in with their Fitbit account till 2025.

The most recent line of Fitbit gadgets has not seen a pointy value enhance. The Sense 2, Versa 4, and Encourage 3 price the identical as their predecessors at launch. If that is so with the Fitbit Cost 6, we will anticipate a $179 asking value on debut. That’s somewhat steeper than most health trackers out there, so we’ll must see if the corporate has room to slice a couple of digits off that price.

Contemplating that the Encourage 3 appears just like the Luxe, it’s unclear if Fitbit would hassle launching a Luxe sequel. This may unlock the $149 value level for the brand new Cost mannequin and regain some much-needed goodwill from the Fitbit group.

Now for the large query: must you look forward to the Fitbit Cost 6, or purchase a health tracker or smartwatch already obtainable?

In brief, in case you want a health tracker at this time, the Fitbit Cost 5 ($134 at Amazon) will serve you properly. Though it’s a couple of years previous, its function set stays unmatched in its phase. We don’t imagine Fitbit will convey too many modifications to this platform; if it does, you may all the time improve later. Keep in mind, the Cost 6 doesn’t have a confirmed launch date — you can be ready a very long time.

If you happen to can afford to attend, have your coronary heart set on a Fitbit tracker, and don’t contemplate the Cost 5 to offer one of the best worth for cash, it’ll be higher in case you look forward to the Cost 6.

For choices past the Cost line, you could contemplate the Xiaomi Sensible Band 7 Professional ($89 at Amazon). It features a built-in GPS, a give attention to working metrics, and a big smartwatch-like show. The Xiaomi Mi Band 7 ($46 at Amazon) can be a stable and extremely reasonably priced selection if GPS isn’t essential to you.

A wholesome record of smartwatches that don’t price an excessive amount of must also function in your shopping for determination. For one, the Fitbit Versa 3 ($158 at Amazon) stays a stellar smartwatch with a balanced function set, Google Assistant onboard, and a beautiful show. If you happen to can afford to stretch your funds, contemplate the Pixel Watch ($329 at Amazon). You’ll get most of Fitbit’s core health options crammed into a wonderful glass dome machine working on the Put on OS platform.

Fitbit Cost 6: What we wish to see

Primarily based on our expertise with Fitbit’s earlier Cost fashions, we have now an inventory of options we’d wish to see on the brand new mannequin. Discover our Fitbit Cost 6 wishlist under.

Regardless of a laundry record of upgrades, Fitbit stripped the Cost 5 of this underappreciated Cost 4 function. The altimeter helped the Cost 4 and its homeowners preserve tabs on elevation and flooring climbed. It was an excellent metric for hikers, climbers, and people who dwell in excessive rises. Nonetheless, Fitbit nixed this function on the Cost 5 for some unclear purpose.

Because the Cost line tends to realize new health options annually, Fitbit should embrace an altimeter on the Cost 6. Not solely will it make the tracker a worthwhile improve over the Cost 5, but it surely’ll additionally make it an entire health tracker for many who practice in undulating areas.

As talked about above, Fitbit included a number of Sense-exclusive options on the Cost 5, together with the ECG, pores and skin temperature sensor, and EDA sensor. The latter just lately obtained an replace on the Sense 2, which screens EDA exercise constantly. This steady physique response sensor makes for extra intuitive stress monitoring.

This function on the Cost 6 can be an excellent addition to the Cost 5’s well being monitoring equipment and provides it a leg up on its health tracker rivals. It’s additionally the one readily-available and main new sensor Fitbit might add to the machine to set it other than its predecessor.

The Cost 5 took a substantial battery life hit when it gained a brand new sensor loadout and brilliant AMOLED display screen. It was a sore level throughout our evaluation. With the always-on show activated and display screen brightness and vibrations set to their most, we bought simply 72 hours from a single cost. The Cost 6 wants extra strong battery life to maintain tempo with extra reasonably priced smartwatches and health trackers.

It’s unclear how Fitbit might obtain this. It’ll must increase the Cost 6’s dimensions to suit an even bigger battery. This appears unlikely, given the rumor of its an identical design to the Cost 5.

The Fitbit Cost 4 launched with rudimentary Spotify controls that permit Premium subscribers management tracks enjoying on their telephones. This function was stripped completely from the Cost 5, whereas the band additionally failed to realize common music controls that permit customers cease, pause, or skip tracks on their telephones.

In 2023, this might be nearly unforgivable. Historically, the Cost sequence has lacked music controls, however its excessive time Fitbit provides this to its premier health tracker line. That is very true contemplating that the majority its rivals at or under its value bracket, just like the Xiaomi Mi Band 7 and HUAWEI Band 7, embrace music controls.

Trying on the Fitbit vary at massive, we don’t anticipate music controls to make a return. The Sense 2 and Versa 4 launched with out this function, so we doubt Fitbit would come with it on the Cost 6. However, we will dream.

Now that Google is establishing itself as Fitbit’s proprietor, we’d wish to see extra of the corporate’s options on the Cost 6. Google Maps’ turn-by-turn navigation help would possible make it the most affordable new tracker with this function. Including Google Assistant for on-the-fly queries, Google Pockets for funds, and Google House controls for good residence instructions would sweeten the deal.

We’ll unlikely get Assistant help on the Cost 6 when the Sense 2 and Versa 4 didn’t. Nonetheless, it could give the Cost 6 some welcome Pixel Watch-like utility.

That’s every part we wish to see from the Fitbit Cost 6. Which options do you hope for many? Tell us by voting within the ballot under.