Fitbit Charge 5 Review – The Most Comprehensive Fitness Tracker?

Fitbit Charge 5

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Current testing methodology is v1.2

Release Date
August 26, 2021
Price
$117.99
Model:
810038855875
Weight
1.02 oz
Size
1.45 x 0.9 x 0.44 in
Waterproof
Yes

Released in August 2021, the Fitbit Charge 5 may be considered the brand’s best fitness tracker, with Fitbit being in the smartwatch and fitness tracking industry for several years now.

For less than $150, this fitness tracker is packed with features and numerous options for tracking to keep your physical fitness in check – including trackers you didn’t know you needed.

It ranks high among other fitness trackers and can even compete with the Garmin Fenix 7S smartwatch and Oura Ring Gen 3 fitness band, considering that both of them cost more than twice the price of the Fitbit Charge 5.

To preface this review, do keep in mind that the Charge 5 is a fitness tracker and not a smartwatch. This means that it doesn’t let you check emails and social media, but it does let you check text messages.

It doesn’t have the usual smartwatch features but it does display the time and it’s designed primarily for health and fitness tracking.

Budget Pick

Fitbit Charge 5

One of the best fitness trackers for less than $150.

4.5/5
Price Range: $$
Brand: Fitbit
Fitbit Charge 5 and app

TL:DR;

For a retail price of less than $150, or $145 to be exact, the Fitbit Charge 5 is packed with features and tracking capabilities that can rival fitness watches twice its price.

It can track the basics such as calories burned, daily steps, heart rate, and hours of sleep, and has so much more to offer, including numerous workout modes, blood oxygen tracking, sleep scoring, and an EDA scan for stress management.

It may not be for everyone because of its small screen and lack of media playback feature, but for its price, it definitely delivers more than most fitness trackers.

The Specs

  • Screen Size:  1.04 Inches
  • Battery Life:  7 days
  • Display:  1.04″ AMOLED display
  • Radio Transceiver:  Bluetooth
  • Compatible Devices:  iOS and Android Devices
  • Connectivity Technology:  Built-in GPS + GLONASS
  • Special Feature:  3-axis accelerometer | Red and infrared sensors for oxygen saturation (SpO2) monitoring | Skin temperature sensor | Ambient light sensor | Vibration motor | Multipurpose electrical sensors for ECG app & EDA scan app

What’s in the Box?

  • Fitbit Charge 5
  • Infinity Band (small & large)
  • Charging Cable

Stuff I like

  • Sleek and simple design
  • Long battery life
  • User-friendly interface
  • Excellent heart rate and sleep monitoring
  • Numerous workout modes

Stuff I like less

  • Small display
  • No music controls

Product Files

Comparable products to consider

Garmin Vivosmart 5
Garmin Vivosmart 5

This fitness tracker has all the basics with different activity profiles and blood oxygen tracking.

First Impressions

Fitbit’s design hasn’t changed much over the past years. 

The Fitbit Charge 5 comes with a slim body that makes it look more like a bracelet. 

Personally, I like the simplicity of its design. It has a very minimalist look that goes well with almost anything – be it my gym clothes or casual attire. It comes in three colors but I decided to get the black one so that it matches any outfit. 

It has a sleek design with no physical buttons. On each side of the tracker are oval sensors for its Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Electrodermal Activity (EDA) tracking features, which will be discussed later.

Even though the screen is smaller compared to that of other fitness trackers, it boasts an AMOLED display that offers a lot of contrast with the colorful elements. This means that you can still easily see what’s on the screen even on bright sunny days.

Fitbit Charge 5 Battery Percentage
Fitbit Charge 5 Battery Percentage Display | Make Life Click

I don’t mind the small screen but it can be an issue for some people.

Out of the box, the Fitbit Charge 5 comes with an extra strap, giving you two length options. It also includes a USB-A charging cable and a manual.

Battery Life

Fitbit claims that the Charge 5 has a battery life of 7 days, and so far, I’ve found that to be true. When I’m using it like a normal watch, since it does display the time and date, I can use it for up to a week on a single charge. 

Of course, it’s different if you use its fitness tracking features.

I’ve found that its battery only lasts for 4 to 5 days whenever I use its exercise tracking functions, be it for running, walking, or cycling. 

That’s because these functions utilize the built-in GPS which tends to drain the power quickly.

Comprehensive Health & Fitness Tracking

What I love about this watch is its capability to track almost anything that helps me keep my physical fitness in check.

Just like all other fitness trackers on the market, the Fitbit Charge 5 can track the number of steps you’ve taken for the day, calories burned, sleep hours, resting heart rate, and hours that you’ve been active.

Unlike other models, this tracker can also log calories burned even if you’re not wearing it.

It estimates the calories you burn depending on your basal metabolic rate – which is the amount of energy that your body uses while at rest, based on your height and weight.

Fitbit Charge 5 and app
Comprehensive health tracking using the Fitbit app | Make Life Click

This is very useful especially if you’re on a caloric-deficit diet.

It has several exercise modes, which you can customize through the Fitbit app. So if you don’t have a bike, you can remove the Outdoor Bike option from the settings.

You can choose from the usual exercises such as walking, running, outdoor biking, swimming, and interval workout. But there are so much more workouts available for tracking like pilates, yoga, kickboxing, martial arts, golf, and tennis, among many others.

This is a cool feature because it can give you the most accurate data based on your activity for the day. For example, the number of calories you burn in an hour of running is different when you do an hour of yoga.

And even if you forget to turn on the exercise tracker, it will still log your active hours as a workout by basing it on your heart rate and calories burned.

Unlike other fitness trackers, the Charge 5 can track the menstrual cycle, which is very handy for women. I just enter the first day of my last cycle and other details, and it will tell me how many days ‘til the next cycle.

It can also track my blood oxygen levels and identify changes in my skin temperature, which are good health and wellness indicators. 

If the Fitbit Charge 5 detects any irregularities in my body, I get notified. For example, if my resting heart rate is abnormally high or low based on my usual range, I will get a notification in the Fitbit app.

Fitbit Charge 5 Display
Vibrant 1.04″ AMOLED display | Make Life Click

Sleep Tracking & Stress Management

Another useful feature of the Fitbit Charge 5 is its sleep tracking and stress management features. 

This fitness tracker automatically tracks how many hours I sleep every night. It also tracks the time I spend in light, deep, and REM stages of sleep.

When I wake up, I check it to see my Sleep Score, which tells me the quality of my sleep from the previous night.

I also like how it checks my stress levels through the EDA scan. By touching the sensors on the side and keeping still, I can take a 3-minute mindfulness session to help me relax as it measures my heart rate. 

After the session, I get instant feedback on my stress. 

Compatibility

Through the Fitbit mobile app, the Charge 5 is compatible with both iOS and Android phones. It uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone. 

As the fitness tracker logs every activity and fitness metric, the Fitbit app automatically stores all this data so you can get daily, weekly, and monthly reports. 

These health reports may come in handy during your next doctor visit, especially if you’re noticing some irregularities in your heart rate, blood oxygen levels, and heart rhythms.

The app also lets you customize the tracker, by adding or removing workout modes, changing the clock face, and installing apps such as Fitbit Pay and Find My Phone.

Apart from the Fitbit app, you can also sync the Charge 5 with other fitness-tracking mobile apps, such as MyFitnessPal, Strava, and Weight Watchers.

Fitbit Charge 5 Infinity Band
Infinity Band perfect for workouts and all-day wear | Make Life Click

Final Thoughts

Overall, I love my Fitbit Charge 5 because of its minimalist look and all the tracking features that it offers. I especially love the numerous workout modes available as it estimates the calories burned based on my preferred activity for the day.

One thing I don’t like about the Charge 5 is that it doesn’t offer media playback, unlike other Fitbit models. I can’t use it to control Spotify and other music apps. 

So if I’m running and I want to skip a song on my playlist, I still have to take out my phone and do it from there instead of doing it on the tracker.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS ONE?
Fitbit Charge 5 Advanced Health & Fitness Tracker with Built-in GPS, Stress Management Tools, Sleep Tracking, 24/7 Heart Rate and More, Lunar White/Soft Gold, One Size (S &L Bands Included)
Fitbit Charge 5

Other than that, I have no complaints about the Fitbit Charge 5. The screen may be small but it’s not an issue for me.

It may not be a smartwatch but it does have normal watch functions, such as displaying the date and time. And the Charge 5 does that with a single tap on the screen. 

As a fitness tracker, it offers comprehensive tracking for health, fitness, sleep, and stress management. It has a lot to offer and even more compared to other models, including the pricier ones. 

It’s no surprise that the Fitbit Charge 5 ranks high on the list of best fitness trackers.

Fitbit Charge 5 Tracker
Fitbit Charge 5
Accuracy
Battery Life
Easy to use
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Eva is a content writer and digital creator who's passionate about traveling, photography, and fitness. When she's not writing or traveling, she enjoys watching movies on Netflix and playing Sims 4 and Animal Crossing. She also dabbles in graphic design and video editing.

This post was last updated on 2024-03-18 / Some images from Amazon Product API & some links may be affiliate links which may earn us a commission from purchases.


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